The trunks were packed full of her belongings, telling her that there was no turning back. All around her, the maids packed up her whole life, everything she owned, from her clothing to her jewels, to her bedding and even her drapes. Her father had commissioned the dressmaker to make her ten new gowns, cut to the newest trends of the Fire Nation, which as of tomorrow, would be her new home.

Her new home… New. It was a long time coming, this wedding of hers to the newly crowned Fire Lord. He was a young man, only a few years older than she, good looking and apparently not much like his recently deceased father. The previous Fire Lord had been nothing short of evil- a chaotic man with the ambition of the devil. He had continued wars his own fore fathers had started and many lives had been lost over the last hundred wars. It would end with his son, Zuko, they said; it was rumored that the Prince was unlike his father in every way; kind, but with a slight temper, handsome and strong, he was sought after by any nation with a daughter. But her own father, the king of the Water Tribes, had formed a relationship with the late Fire Lord and had thus, their betrothal was soon announced.

They had been young back then- only twelve and thirteen at the time- but now that they had come of age, seven years later, they were to marry. It had not been planned on the Fire Lord dying so suddenly, but it only made the marriage all the more beneficial to King Hakoda. Now his daughter would be queen of the Fire Nation, ruling in her own right beside her husband. And should his own son die heirless, she would be queen of their own nation too. In all the years, neither child of the betrothal had ever met. There had been some correspondence, portraits exchanged, and a ring sent from Zuko to her only a few months earlier. That same ring she twisted around her fourth finger, idly watching as the maids finished packing the last of her trunks.

"Princess?"

Turning around, the dark-haired princess came face-to-face with her chamberlain, a man she had known since her birth. "It's time to go," he said after a moment, gesturing towards the doors as a set of men carried out the last few trunks. She nodded, turning this way and that way, blue eyes taking in the sight of her barren room; in a few short hours everything she had was packed away, leaving nothing but memories in their wake. Escaping out of the door, she tried not to pay mind to the sniffles of her various servants- maids and ladies alike. She had her goodbyes with her favorites over the last few days, but in truth, she would miss them all. Her goodbyes with her father had also already been said, the day before, which meant there was no one left to say it to. Her mother had died years before, murdered during a trip into the mainland, when Fire Nation soldiers attacked the city. She had been with her mother that day, but told to run on, back to where their party had waited for them to return to the castle. It had been awful, to lose her mother in such a violent way, especially being so young. And having no older sister nor any aunts, she had no one to talk to about her upcoming nuptials. Well, aside from her grandmother, but she wasn't much help. All she spoke of was duty and tradition, she could give her no advice on love and the details of a marriage. In that, she was all on her own.

Sighing, the princess allowed herself to be led to her carriage, which would take her the twenty miles to her port city, which is where she would board a boat that would take her to her destiny.

[ x x x ]

"Zuko, there's no need for worry."

His uncle's voice filtered into his racing thoughts, bringing him back to planet earth, if only for a moment or two. "She'll be here shortly." His uncle continued, his tone soothing, his warm hand reaching out to grasp his shoulder. "Fear not."

Well, he wasn't about to open his mouth and tell him that wasn't the reason he was so nervous. No, he knew she would arrive soon. The problem was: would she like him? Would they get along? He had seen her portrait, in truth he kept it in his presence chamber, where he could look at it any time he wished. She was a beautiful creature, with her bronze skin and those blue eyes… Eyes that even in a painting looked as if they would swallow him whole. "That's not what I'm worried about," he admitted, but his uncle didn't have time to respond. They both heard the knock upon the door, which swung open a few seconds later and in walked his chamberlain, who swept the men a bow before speaking.

"My Lord, the princess has arrived," he announced, and Zuko turned away, to glance out the window, where sure enough her carriage was pulling up. "Shall I send her to you immediately?" The man asked when silence had descended. For a moment, the Fire Lord was quiet, lids falling closed across golden eyes, but then he released a deep breath and shook his head.

"No, show her to her quarters, let her rest and send her something to eat. Tell her… I will come to her rooms shortly, to meet her. But let's allow her time to get somewhat settled before bombarding her with greetings." The chamberlain nodded, offering a quick bow before he turned and was gone. "She's here," he murmured when the man had gone, turning to his uncle who was smiling slightly. Their betrothal had been formed years ago, when he had been but thirteen. In truth, he had not thought the marriage would ever truly come to be anything at all- his father had been so unstable, so violent, Zuko hadn't been sure King Hakoda would send his daughter to him. But, then his father had died to unexpectedly and at the urging of his own advisors, he had set the marriage into motion. He knew next to nothing of the princess, but his uncle had said to him "you have years to get to know each other" and now that she was here, he had to believe that was true. It was too late to go back now.

[ x x x ]

So many names, so many faces.

Katara tried to keep them straight in her brain as she looked from face to face of her small court. The Fire Lord had clearly took the time finding the ladies for her train, a smiling set of six girls, as well as a score of maids and men servants. They all seemed pleasant enough, though her ladies were clearly daughters and sisters of Zuko's men, of his nobles. But, each woman and every man offered her the customary bow of the Fire Nation, some going as far as to drop a knee in reverence of her station.

"Lady Padme." She suddenly spoke up from her place on a chair, where she had been looking through a chest of her personal belongings. The dark-haired woman, pretty and thin, was at once by her side, her set of crimson robes cut into the trendy style of the Fire Nation. Katara did have to admit the women were very stylish here and she was happy to have her own set of clothing already made. "I would like to change before the Fire Lord comes," she said before the woman could speak, rising up, smiling upon the woman. "My clothes have been unpacked?"

"Oh, yes my lady," Padme nodded, turning to gesture for the maids across the room to come to their side. "The blue silk will suffice," she instructed the women, who nodded, at once springing into action. Padme herself guided the young woman across the room, to her vanity, where she sat her down and picked up a brush. Within the hour, she was freshly dressed and waiting for the knock upon her door. The knock that was surely going to change everything.

Zuko couldn't stop his hand from shaking as he reached out to knock upon her chamber door- the guards outside her door bowed at his arrival, but he waved them away in order to knock on the door himself. As Fire Lord, he no longer had to knock, could come and go in any room as he pleased without asking, but this… This was so much different. With only his uncle to accompany him, Zuko took a deep breath as the footsteps sounded, and the door swung open. The face that peered back at him was familiar and it was then he realized it was Padme, the woman he'd appointed Katara's chief lady, who had opened the door. "My Lord," she greeted with a smile, offering a bow before she stepped back to let the men pass by.

His eyes sought her out- he could not help but to do so; golden eyes fell upon her then, a face too beautiful for words. He stumbled over a greeting as she rose to her feet and he reached out a hand, to take hers, drawing it to his lips for a brief kiss. She was beautiful. More beautiful that her portrait had captured. Nothing could capture the look in her eyes, so bright blue and penetrating with their stare. Her hair was dark and tucked away beneath a simple gemstone head piece, the strands twisted into an elaborate knot at the back of her head. "It's wonderful to meet you," he uttered, still captured by her beauty, by her very essence. Behind him, he heard the footsteps as the servants and ladies left, even his uncle with them, leaving both alone when the door fell shut. His eyes swept over her, taking in the sight of her brilliantly blue robes, cut in style of the Fire Nation, the few jewels at her throat, looking very much the part of the Water Nation princess.

She was mesmerized; he was handsome, far more so than his portrait had let on. The scar over his eye was indeed heavily pronounced, but it added to his features, rather than took away from them. His eyes were bronze, golden in the sun she bet, his dark hair tucked up in the traditional way of the Fire Lord. He was casually dressed, crimson robes and dark pants, and he looked nervous, as if he had never spoken to a woman before. It was cute, really. Especially in one such as him. Being so good looking, Katara would have easily assumed he was with woman, that he had had women. Not that it was any of her business. "I'm happy to be here. To meet you as well," she said, drawing her hand back, unable to deny the warmth that spread through her fingertips to her whole body. A smile touched her lips, her hands clasping, shifting her weight from foot to foot, suddenly feeling shy.

"Did you have an enjoyable journey?" He found himself asking, groaning inwardly the moment it had left his lips. What a boring question, what a stupid question. What he should have asked her was do you realize how beautiful you are? He gestured for her to sit and he himself took the seat typically reserved for one of her ladies. "You're probably tired from the traveling." Oh, great, just keep it coming.

Taking her seat, Katara smiled yet again, nodding her head. "Oh yes, it was a breeze. I love traveling. And I loved seeing the countryside. The Fire Nation really is beautiful." She had spent the hours in her carriage, curtains parted, staring out at what would become her new home. Katara had never seen such beautiful flowers and other foliage, and in such striking colors! The weather was different too, warm and shining, hot really. Quite unlike her own home nation. She figured that would be the hardest thing to adjust to. Already she was beginning to understand why the clothing was made from such lightweight materials. "It is very hot, though."

At that, Zuko laughed aloud, that same statement quite common from newcomers. The Fire Nation was indeed quite hot, all year round. And for someone like her, who came from somewhere so cold, it probably felt much hotter than usual. "You'll adjust," he assured her with a smile, watching as she reached a hand up, brushing hair away from her face. It was then that he saw the glitter of a ring on her left hand, the ring which he had sent to her months ago. His heart skipped a beat, eyes widening slightly; their eyes met and Katara blushed slightly, looking away a moment later. She was wearing his ring. She was wearing the ring that he had sent her. He could not believe it.

It had been his mother's; one thing they both had in common was the loss of their mother at a young age. She to death, and he to… well, to this day, he didn't know if his mother lived or died. She was gone though, gone for many years, dead to him more or less. He had looked, oh he had looked… Had searched for many years, both as a child and now as an adult. And as Fire Lord he had continued his search. But all searches came up empty. It was a fire opal, a dazzling multitude of colors, set with two small gems on either side. It had been her own mothers, his grandmother's, and was the only thing left of hers he had. He could not stop himself from reaching out to take her hand, golden eyes staring down at the ring upon her finger for several long moments til his gaze lifted to her face.

She let out a nervous little laugh, her hand momentarily tensing in his grip before she relaxed, his eyes rising to meet hers. His lips parted, as if he meant to speak, but then he could only shake his head, the smallest of smiles upon his face. She slid her fingers between his, clasping their hands together, the heat rising to her cheeks. It was strange how right such an act felt. She had only just met him and yet… It was as if they'd known one another all of their lives. "It is a beautiful ring," she said, breaking the silence, her eyes sparking like fire. "I have worn it since you sent it to me." Katara could still remember the moment the ring had fallen from the envelope and into her palm; she had been hardly able to believe it. Wear this, if you want, as a token of my heart. We have never met, but yet I still feel a connection to you, he had written, a letter she had kept tucked away from that day on.

They sat together awhile longer, for hours really, until the sun had risen high into the sky outside the window. Neither had even been aware how much time had truly passed, but they shared a laugh when Zuko's stomach rumbled, telling both royals that they had missed dinner. Rising up, Zuko went to the door, throwing it open, surprising the guards who stood outside. He waved over his uncle, who was dozing on a bench across the hall, who instantly was up and coming over with a yawn. "You did not bother getting us for dinner?" He asked to which his uncle had the grace to at least look apologetic, although he was chuckling softly.

"I did not want to interrupt," Iroh replied with wink, to which Zuko sighed, rolling his eyes, but he was smiling all the same. A smile that told the older man that things were going well with him and the newly arrived princess. "I will have something sent to you at once," Iroh then said, bowing quickly, before he turned to go, disappearing down the hall. Returning to the room, Zuko could not help but to stop and stare for a moment, catching her off guard as she fumbled with the headpiece she wore. It slipped from her grasp and tumbled to the floor, releasing her hair, and it tumbled down around her shoulders, falling nearly to her hips in length. She reached down at the same moment he did, their hands brushing as both reached to pick up the item, she drawing back a moment later. He picked it up, extending it out for her to take, which she did a moment later, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright.

He had never seen such magnificent hair. He longed to reach out for it, to touch it, to feel it against his skin. But, instead he drew his own hand back, fingers curling up to make a fist. A moment later there came a knock and he beckoned them into the room with a shout. "Come in!" The door opened and a flurry of attendants were upon them, bringing trays of leftovers, while a few others were busy setting up a small table just beside the big window on the east side of the room, one which overlooked the gardens. When they were alone once again, Zuko helped her into her chair, before taking his own across from her. They continued to talk while they ate, Zuko firstly telling her about his childhood, and then she about her own. It was late, oh so late, when they finally parted ways.

Standing there, face to face with her, Zuko could not find the strength to turn away; instead his eyes remained on hers, his hand still entwined with hers. "Until tomorrow," he finally said softly, smiling with affection as she tried to stifle a yawn. Of course she was tired, he was again reminded that she had spent most of the last two days traveling. "You'll join me in the morning? For breakfast? And I shall take you on a tour of the palace." Katara laughed, nodding her head, her face breaking out into a radiant smile.

Standing on tiptoe, Katara brushed her lips against his cheek, her words warm against his skin. "That sounds lovely." He was sent stumbling from her room, red-faced and slightly giddy, into the hall, where his uncle still waited for him.

"I thought you would never leave her chambers," Iroh teased as they walked down the hall, Zuko still stupidly smiling, reaching up to run a hand through his hair. "She's a beauty. I always heard such a rumor, but she is like a dream really." Zuko could only nod, could not find the words to speak. There were no words to describe his thoughts and feelings towards the princess. "And she likes you?" Iroh then asked, his tone a little more serious, his head turning to glance sidelong at his nephew. The boy, albeit no longer such a thing, needed no more loss in his life. He needed someone he could rely on, someone he could love and who would love him back. Iroh had only heard good things about the young woman who was to become his queen, but reputations could be deceiving. To his joy, Zuko nodded, and they came to stand in front of his chamber door for a moment before they too parted ways.

As both climbed into bed that night, both Zuko and Katara could not think of anyone else, of anything else. It was only day one, and it felt like day one thousand. Bound together by the thread of fate, it seemed, it drew them together, tugged at their hearts. They haunted one another's dreams and thoughts that evening, giving either hardly any rest at all. But that morning, despite the lack of sleep, both were first to rise, both eager to begin their days. Eager to meet once again.