Soah had heard of the banished prince before and as fate would have it, she would meet him in passing today. As she walked with Zhao out of their tent she scanned the docks for the ship in question. She found it quickly, incredibly small compared to the other cruisers harbored and heavily damaged on the bow.
"What on earth happened...?" she breathed.
Zhao smirked and said "We'll find out soon dear."
"Is that the prince? He seems angry." Soah observed a teenage boy.
"Banished prince, Soah. You have more honor than he'll have in his dizziest daydreams."
"He's just a child Zhao." Soah observed empathetically. The prince was glaring around and talking in short sentences to a shorter man.
"- - - I don't want anyone getting in the way." They heard coming up on the duo. Soah saw her husband smirk, she knew that look all to well. Zhao was going on a typical power trip. She let go of his arm and stayed a step behind him until she was properly introduced. 'Best to let him do what he wants, but the poor child...' Soah thought.
"Getting in the way of what? Prince Zuko?" Zhao asked smugly.
"Captain Zhao." Zuko replied with disdain. It was clear that the two had encountered before.
'Wait!' Soah remembered. 'This *is* prince Zuko. Zhao smiled when the fire lord scarred him!' Now she remembered. In a single moment it all clicked. Zhao was thoroughly enjoying himself at the prince's expense. 'The bastard.' Soah shook her head.
"It's Commander now. And General Iroh, great hero of our nation." He did with a bow to Iroh. "I present my lovely wife, Soah."
"My prince, General Iroh." Soah said bowing to each in turn. "It is an honor and a pleasure to meet you both." Zhao gave her a look of exasperation after she bowed to Zuko.
"Soah, you are too kind." He said to her before turning back to Iroh and Zuko. "The firelord's brother and son are welcome guests anytime. What brings you to my harbor?"
"Our ship is being repaired." Iroh said gesturing to the small ship behind them. It looked like a hodgepodge repair job was made until they could sail it to this harbor.
"That's quite a bit of damage." Zhao observed dryly. Soah already knew he was going to get to the bottom of how the ship became damaged. But he was humoring Zuko and Iroh.
"Yes! You won't believe what happened. Uncle! Tell commander Zhao what happened."
"Yes, I will do that. It was incredible..." Iroh muttered something about crashing to his nephew.
"Yes, we crashed right into an Earth Kingdom ship!"
"Really?" Soah saw the amusement in Zhao's posture. He knew they were lying. "You must regale me with the thrilling details." He leaned into Zuko's face. "Care to join me for a drink?" He smirked.
"Sorry, but we have to go." Zhao continued to smirk as Zuko turned away.
"Prince Zuko, show commander Zhao your respect." Iroh said while putting a hand on the prince's shoulder. "We would be honored to join you. Do you have any ginseng tea? It's my favorite."
Zhao turned and offered his arm to Soah. "As a matter of fact, Soah has quite the tea collection. I'm sure ginseng is included." That was her cue to prepare the tea personally and serve it to them. She gave Zhao a befuddled look. She had just arrived at the harbor today and knew nothing about where things were located. Mai hadn't returned to her yet. She was lost. Fortunately Zhao must have realized this. As they approached a tent, one of the guards that let them in offered his hand to Soah and led her nearby where Zhao had a small kitchen area set up. Mimi was there to assist her while the guard waited outside.
Soah could tell that she was more skittish than usual, and she could vaguely make out the burn marks on her neck that she tried to conceal with her collar. Something had happened while she was away, and Soah couldn't help but feel responsible somehow. Mimi was a maid in her service and she had insisted that Mai accompany her over Mimi. Perhaps Zhao had punished her while she was away. Soah felt her stomach churn at the thought. Not only was someone innocent getting hurt because of her, but it meant that Zhao was also watching her closely.
"Mimi, I-"
"What does the general want to drink?" She snapped, clearly not pleased to see Soah.
'So it was over me.' Soah thought as she swallowed back the beginnings of tears. "General Iroh insists on Ginseng tea." She said shakily. Mimi set of working while Soah tried to make small conversation. What she said was either ignored by or received a glare from Mimi. Soah would have to ask Mai what to do with her and how to make amends when she came back. Perhaps they both could tend to her burns.
Before Soah knew it, she was being escorted by the guard back to Zhao's command tent. Mimi carried the tea tray behind them. As they approached, the guard looked at Mimi who fearfully handed the tray to Soah before darting away. The guard then opened the flap for her.
"If my father thinks the world will follow him willingly, then he is a fool." Zuko said as she came in. She saw Zhao sit beside the prince, his joy at tormenting the term apparent on his face. Iroh was near Zhao's weapon rack.
"Two years at sea have done little to temper your tongue." He smiled before looking at Soah. Their eyes locked before a loud crash was heard. Iroh had accidentally knocked the weapons over. Zhao looked behind him mildly annoyed.
"My fault...entirely." Iroh said sheepishly.
"General Iroh, I have the tea." Soah said warmly to try to diffuse the embarrassment. 'At least the General is a man who will admit his mistakes.' She respected that. She sat the tray on a table and poured the tea for him. "It was ginseng you wanted?" She wanted to be sure.
"Yes, thank you Soah. By the way, I recognize the emblem on your belt and hairpiece. I was gravely saddened to hear of Chinatsu's passing." He said bowing his head towards her.
"You knew her?" Soah knew her grandmother was influential, but she had no idea just who she knew.
"All old people know each other." Iroh said with a laugh. Soah smiled, it was hard to be unhappy with Iroh nearby.
"Come on Uncle, we're going." Zuko interrupted their conversation and stood up to leave. He was immediately blocked by the guards. Soah recognizes the officer who interrupted her bath with Zhao earlier as he walked in.
"Commander Zhao, we interrogated the crew as you instructed. They confirmed that prince Zuko had the avatar in custody...but let him escape."
Soah was in shock. The avatar. Zuko had the avatar. Now Zhao knows the avatar is alive. Everything Chinatsu has told her swam back to her mind. A look of pure horror and shock was plastered on her face. 'Zhao cannot get the avatar. He just can't.'
"Now remind me..." Zhao walked behind Zuko and leaned into his ear. "Just how exactly was your ship damaged?" Her husband's hellish glee was palpable, as was Zuko's rage. The prince said nothing. Zhao put his hand on Zuko's shoulder and guided him back to the chair to sit.
"Your full report officer." Zhao commanded smugly. The officer then divulged details of how the avatar was captured, provided a physical description of the boy and how he escaped. Soah watched Zhao's face. He was forming his own plan, she could see his kind working. A grin was plastered to his face as he began to pace around the tent.
"So a twelve year old boy bested you and your fire benders? You're more pathetic than I thought." His disrespect towards the prince was obvious now.
'Why am I not stopping this?' Soah thought as she glared at her husband. She had been sitting at a table with Iroh this entire time and had done nothing to stop Zhao from tormenting another person. She felt a gentle hand on her arm and she looked to see Iroh gently removing her cup from her grip. The tea in it was almost boiling and the paint was beginning to singe where she had been holding it. Her eyes met his and he shook his head ever so slightly. She tried to take a deep calming breath as Iroh poured her a new cup of not boiling tea.
"I underestimated him once! It will not happen again!" Zuko was alarmed.
"No it will not! Because you will not have a second chance." Zhao countered.
"I have been hunting the avatar for two years and I-"
"And you failed. Capturing the avatar is too important to leave in a teenager's hands. He's mine now." Zhao's contempt for Zuko was felt by all present.
Zhao offered his hand to Soah who obediently and reluctantly took it. She saw Zuko's face contort with rage as he began to charge Zhao. Two guards behind him restrained him and Zhao merely chuckled at the attempt.
"Keep them here." He commanded before guiding Soah away. She heard the table she had been sitting at break apart and turned to see that the prince had kicked it in rage.
"More tea please." Iroh asked calmly. Zhao smirked and lead Soah outside.
"You will bring them more tea and see if you can get any more information from them." Zhao told her as he led her back to the kitchenette.
"I'm not a soldier of yours to command Zhao. I'm your-"
"You're my wife. Your loyalty is mine. Regardless of how conflicted you feel. Did you think I did not notice your face? Don't look so shocked pet." They entered the kitchenette tent and Mimi instantly got to work preparing more tea. Mimi bowed to Zhao and presented a new tray to Soah.
"I don't understand why you need me to do your dirty work. And be disrespectful of the prince and General Iroh in your stead." Soah said softly.
Zhao took her chin in his thumb and forefinger and made her look at him. "You are my wife and mine to use as I see fit. Oh yes, we do have an agreement. I haven't forgotten about that. But since you're not pregnant you have to uphold your part in different ways for now. And right now one of those ways is trying to get more information for me." He placed a hand in the small of her back and guided her from the tent and back to his command tent. Before allowing her to go in he gave her her final instructions. "See if they will tell you what Zuko plans to do after his stop here. Obviously the repairs to his ship have been addressed and quickly made...but I won't allow them to leave just yet. Find out where he's going, what he plans to do..." he leaned toward her face and kissed her cheek before holding the tent flap open. "Go on." He gestured.
She bowed her head and went into the tent. The guards were still standing by Zuko, the destroyed table had been removed and replaced already. Soah placed the tea tray on the new table by Iroh who generously thanked her. The two guards assured Soah that they would be just outside the tent and left. The three sat in silence until Zuko broke it.
"If you're not here to tell us we can leave, then be on your way." He growled.
"Zuko, show your respect for Soah." Iroh said calmly before taking a sip of tea. "Why are you here though?" He asked.
"I think you might know. I'm sure the guards are still listening so what we say will make it to my husband. But I've been sent in here to figure out your next move. Forgive me General Iroh."
Iroh nodded gravely. "You're unhappy in marriage Soah." It wasn't a question, but Soah was glad that some one wasn't fooled by Zhao. "Your grandmother didn't like it much either I bet."
"She tried to teach me what she could before she departed this life." Soah said solemnly. "Although, some of what she told me I have yet to understand." Her hand fell to her stomach where the belt was. Chinatsu's emblem worn proudly on it.
"Understanding comes in time." Iroh said. "The way she may have went about it I might have done differently. But the key is focusing on the now and what you can do."
"You knew her that well?" Soah asked in disbelief.
"You could say that. As a fire priestess her bending was legendary. I myself trained with her a few times." Iroh smiled and took another sip of tea. "She could also play an exhilarating game of Pai Sho!" The two shared a laugh while Zuko glowered.
"There's a few things I'm having trouble with. Like...well, actually generating lightening." Soah shrugged. She explained that she could produce a spark at best, but nothing more.
Iroh stroked his beard. "It seems you are still trying to figure out exactly what you want to do. Your purposes and drives, what motivates you. Once you know that, I'd say mastery will come in time. I'm surprised she tried to teach you though. It is an incredibly difficult skill. There are not many who know how."
"I'll have to keep practicing then." Soah said.
"Always remember your basics though. Foundations are what things are built upon, if the roots are weak then a tree will not stand long." Iroh said warmly while glancing to Zuko. The prince sat in his chair with his arms crossed.
"Just tell her our plans so she can leave." He popped.
"Forgive me General Iroh." Soah bowed her head.
"I understand. After this we'll set sail again. Probably go to some of the colonies." Iroh said quietly.
"And I will continue my hunt for the avatar." Zuko added. Iroh looked mournfully at him. Soah understood. The guards were listening and Iroh was trying to make Zhao release them earlier. The guards would directly report to Zhao and he would block them from leaving the harbor.
"Thank you for talking with me General Iroh." And bowed towards Zuko. "My prince." Soah stood up to leave and stopped before reaching the tent flap. "If you need any more tea, so please let me know."
"This should be fine." Iroh said with a smile.
Soah nodded and stepped out to Zhao waiting. "You heard it all." She said.
"Yes."
"He will resume his search for the avatar. Obviously."
"I thought he would. I've already ordered a search party and they'll be ready shortly. Since he seems obstinate, he'll have to stay awhile until we're out to sea." Zhao kissed the top of Soah's head. "Go get some rest, and thank you for having hem confirm what I already knew."
Zhao nodded to a guard who offered his own arm to Soah. An escort again. She took the guard's arm and was walked some ways to Zhao's personal tent. She recognized the tent where the bath was. They walked past it and into another flap. Here the guard allowed her to continue on her own way. She saw another flap between two tall lanterns and went through it. She entered the biggest part of the tent, the space held the bed that she presumed she would share with Zhao, two desks, trunks of varying sizes. Her luggage from her journey to Chinatsu's estates were also piled into the space. Overall, the area was kept dark so when Soah saw the serving girl she was taken aback.
"Sorry. I didn't see you." She said. The girl was one she had no met before. She held up both her hands and shrugged. "Pardon?" Soah had never seen such antics before. The girl waved her hand back and forth, and opened her mouth. The girl's tongue had been cut out at some point. She could not speak.
"Forgive me." Soah said bowing to her. "I was insensitive." The girl shook her head and placed two fingers under Soah's chin so she would look up. The girl smiled and motioned Soah to the foot of the bed where a sleeping robe was already set out for her.
"Thank you." Soah said. After she had helped her undress and put the robe on. She hadn't realized how tired she was until her head hit the pillows.

Soah heard a stirring outside of the tents. It was enough noise to wake her. She sat up in the darkness and rubbed her eyes. It was darker now, Soah wondered if she had slept into the night. 'No, surely Zhao would be in here and those lanterns would be lit.' She thought to herself. An officer pushed his way into the room and allowed the lantern light from its anti-chamber to fill the space.
"My lady, it is near sundown and commander Zhao requires your presence immediately."
"What's happening?" Soah asked groggily.
"The banished prince challenged your husband to an Agni Kai." The officer explained with a sneer before leaving Soah in darkness again.
An Agni Kai. 'Zhao will destroy him.' Soah thought mournfully. Without waiting for a servant she lit the lanterns herself with her bending and set about to find clothes. The mute girl had taken her white mourning clothes away and laid out a black evening outfit. 'He'll even take away my mourning period.' Soah was hurt by that. Typical mourning periods lasted months, and white wasn't switched to black until at least the first month had past. No forty-nine of mourning for Soah. She wondered if she'll be allowed to offer prayers for the full one hundred.
The black was trimmed in gold and had few red accents on it. Much like the outfit she had on earlier, she was wearing long trousers underneath the tunic. At least the belt and the headpiece were left for her. She dressed and pulled the top part of her hair into a top knot before putting the headpiece on. Satisfied that she was presentable she pushed her way into the rooms anti-chamber and saw that the guards were waiting to escort her to her husband.

Zhao was in the training area. It doubled as training grounds, a public gathering place and also held the occasional Agni Kai. She noticed a whipping post being set up on the other side of it as well. 'I suppose this is also where public punishments are given out too.' She thought with terror. She looked at Zhao as he went through several different forms. Soah always acknowledged that Zhao was powerful. Where Soah's bending was fluid and continuous, ever changing and adapting. Zhao's bending was heavy and rigid. His bending was as unyielding as his attitude, and each fiery blast hammered home a different point it seemed. 'How can Prince Zuko possibly defeat him?'
Zhao noticed Soah and began to walk towards her. Soah observed that Zhao was already dressed for the traditional honor battle. Feet and chest bare, the trousers and arm bands already on.
"I hope you had a good rest dear." He said taking her fingers and kissing them. "It's also good to see you out of mourning."
"It's too soon and you know it's too soon." She retorted, abandoning formality. "I loved Chinatsu dearly." She hissed. "It's disrespectful."
"You're not just her heir, you're my wife. That's a fun fact you've seemed to forget recently. I'll have to remind you of that fact after I deal with that failure of a prince." He said calmly.
"We have our arrangement." Soah cooly said.
"Hush." Zhao led Soah to his side of the arena where a few guards were waiting for him. One held the traditional vestment.
"Put this on me, dear wife." Zhao growled as a guard handed the garment to her. Zhao kneeled on one knee, a fist planted firmly on the ground. Soah placed the garment over his shoulders. This period was for the opponents to pray for victory or parlay favor of the gods. Soah didn't know what Zhao used it for.
She looked across from them to see Zuko alone with General Iroh. Placing the cape on his nephew and talking to him in confident tones. The prince stood up shortly after, the cape dropping to the ground. Zhao stood a moment after Zuko. "This will be over quickly." He said confidently as he turned to face Zuko.
Zuko made his move first with a blast directly to Zhao. Zhao sidestepped the first few before launching his own assault on the prince. Soah had seen Zhao use these same techniques on with her. He was baiting and wearing the boy down first. Blast after blast, Zhao grew cocky. Before anyone knew it he was on top of the prince about to make the finishing blow. Soah almost turned away. One of the guards placed their hand on her shoulder and motioned for her to keep watching. The thing that happened next was astounding, Zuko maneuvered his legs and swiftly knocked Zhao off of his feet. Tripping him up broken his stance.
"Sheer dumb luck..." she whispered in awe.
Zuko kept knocking Zhao back with each blast under the older man was lying on his back. He turned his head and Zuko stood above him.
"DO IT!" Zhao yelled at Zuko. This time Soah couldn't turn her head away, but Zuko didn't burn Zhao. He blasted the ground next to him. "That's it? Your father raised a coward." Zhao hissed.
"Next time you get in my way, I promise I won't hold back." The prince said before turning away.
"Dishonorable..." Soah hissed allowed as Zhao stood up and kicked fire at Zuko's back. The guard turned his head and looked at her as the word came out of her mouth.
Fortunately for Zuko, General Iroh had stopped the blast and pushed Zhao back to the ground with a single hand. Zuko realized what was happening and made a rush at Zhao, which Iroh stopped. "No prince Zuko. Do not taint your victory." Iroh turned to Zhao, disgusted. "So, this is how the great commander Zhao acts in defeat? Disgraceful. Even in exile my nephew is more honorable than you." Iroh stopped and bowed towards Soah, Soah bowing back. "Thank you again for the tea. It was delicious." The duo turned and both left the arena. Zhao sat up and motioned for Soah to come to him. Soah obeyed and the guards followed her.
"Don't get any ideas wife." Zhao growled as he got up from the ground. He looked at his men. "Her reaction?"
"She said it was "sheer dumb luck" when Zuko did that. She also said your behavior at the end was dishonorable. Your wife also looked away when you hand the upper hand." One of the guards reported. Another brought Zhao a robe.
"My my, I wasn't aware you hated me quite that much. Since you enjoy the company of General Iroh and the bastard prince so much, I've decided that they are to stay in this harbor." Zhao said as he closed the robe and fastened it around his waist. He nodded towards one of the guards who went to convey his order.
"You said you were going to remind me of something." Soah said.
"Ah yes, I did order this to happen after the Agni Kai." He realized as two soldiers entered as they dragged a person between them. "I'm sure you'll recognize Mai." He placed his hand on top of her head and made her look.
"Why?" Soah demanded instantly.
"I questioned her loyalty, I had her interrogated. She admitted wrongdoing, she's being punished. I have to do this with my soldiers from time to time." Zhao explained with a smile on his face.
"Torture does bring you pleasure doesn't it?" She cooly said.
"Only when it's merited." He smugly replied.

The arena was filling up with soldiers from around the harbor. Zhao usually made it a point to make punishments a mandatory viewing. He wanted to discourage disobedience before it even happened.
He stepped forward to address the crowd. "Tonight we witness the price of disloyalty." He boomed across the area. "This woman is a servant of my wife's household, and she was caught smuggling information of troop movements to the enemies in the Earth Kingdom!" A series of boo's and hisses filled the air. All manner of jeers and sneering were directed at Mai. Zhao waited until his men had calmed down before continuing. "My lovely and dutiful wife informed me of her suspicious activity and I immediately investigated and discovered this woman's insidious nature. Now, before she is taken to a penal colony, this woman is sentenced to be whipped forty times." Cheers from around the arena filled Soah's ears. She kept her face stoic, she knew Zhao's narration was nothing but a bold face lie. Zhao walked back to where Soah was and stood by her side.
"I expect you to watch every single lash across her back. I want you to know what happens to people who are more loyal to you than me." He whispered in her ear as guards stripped Mai of her tunic and chained her to the post. "Forty lashes. And don't you dare look away." No wonder Mimi had treated Soah so coldly. No wonder Zhao had guard's following her every move. But why? Was it because she wasn't showing signs of pregnancy yet? Although she had her suspicions about her current state she had not voiced them to anyone yet. She was missing a piece of the puzzle. Zhao had found something out. 'Does he know the true meaning of the lotus in Chinatsu's emblem?' She thought with panic. Zhao was a well-read man. It wouldn't be too hard for him to find out.
The first crack of the whip forced Soah back to reality. The crack followed by a scream. Mai's scream. She forced her eyes to watch but they also betrayed her.
"Thirty-nine to go Soah." Zhao cooed from beside her.
"What do you want from me?" She hissed at him, not taking her eyes off Mai's back.
Zhao waited until the second crack of the whip before responding. "Everything. Your loyalty, your body, your future. All of it."
"Why?"
Third. Fourth. Fifth. Then the sixth crack of the whip. The soldier with it took their time and waited between each turn. Zhao has not responded yet. 'Perhaps he's thinking about it himself. He did just show up out of nowhere one evening.' Soah thought.
"We'll discuss this later dear wife. I don't want you to have any excuse to not think about what Mai is enduring for your sake. Thirty-four lashes left." He gently reminded her. Soah looked and saw that Mai's back was beginning to bleed as the welts overlapped.
"Why do they wait between lashes...?" Soah asked pleadingly.
"Maximizes pain. If you strike too often and too fast, the flesh goes into a type of shock. This not only prolongs the pain, but the body doesn't know when to expect it next." Zhao mused. "Keep watching Soah."

When the lashes were concluded, Mai was hauled away between two guards. And Soah was whisked by Zhao to their tent. He deposited her there and left. The mute girl was waiting for Soah to assist her in dressing for bed.
'What does Zhao know?' Soah accused herself. She tried to think of any moment when she could have given him reason, but nothing came to mind. Akemi and Chinatsu were careful to seclude her away from his guards while she was with them. She wracked her brain long after the mute girl had bowed and showed herself out. She sat on the end of the bed and kept thinking in circles. Once she got up and looked past the entrance to find two guards in the anti-chamber. She asked them for water so it wasn't too suspicious and went back to the bed. Whatever it was, it was enough to make Soah a prisoner. 'Perhaps this was his plan all along? Wait until Chinatsu passed so he could do this...' she speculated with herself.

After a few hours, Zhao came into the room. He had donned his armor since Mai's lashings. He found Soah curled up near the foot of the bed. The guards he posted said that she had stuck her head out and asked for water, but no other attempts at conversation or escape. He was tempted to wake her up, their conversation was not over. But he decided it could wait until morning. Soah wasn't going anywhere.
He had heard rumors about the grandchild of Chinatsu when he was still a captain. Then he saw her at a party and he knew he had to possess her. He had already planned to work out a proposal for Sato before seeing her though. It was well known that Chinatsu's son was not a fire bender, but there were rumors that his daughter was. The bloodline seemed to skip over him and went directly to Soah.
Everyone knew that Chinatsu was legendary. She had won herself many honors throughout her extremely long lifetime. But her fire bending was exquisite. People had sought her as a teacher for decades before she became too old. Zhao had even tried to seek her out before he settled on another. It was often recommended by matchmakers to have children by fire mages or priestesses. Obviously, Chinatsu was far past her childbearing years, but there was Soah. Young and ripe for the picking.
The only obstacle had been Sato. But he had been easy to persuade. Soah was older than a traditional bride, not by much but definitely older than what Sato wanted. Zhao's popularity with the Fire Lord is what cinched the deal for Sato though. He was a pandering noble, notable and wealthy, but he craved advancement and notoriety in his own way. Where Zhao wanted power, Sato wanted attention. It was a reciprocal transaction. Wed and bed Soah and gain her bloodline for his heirs, and in return Sato received more advancement in the noble court due to his son in law's status.
But managing Soah was a different matter for him. She was remarkable in her own way, curious, intelligent, she had potential...but she was inexperienced and naive. Zhao's demonstration with Mai was another ploy to keep Soah in check. He knew that Akemi would soon join her, and that would embolden her more.
But there was another matter. He knew Soah had knowledge of the avatar's return before he did. His guards had noticed that Mai had been pushed aside by Akemi and Chinatsu, she failed in her mission to spy on Soah. One guard took it upon himself to spy in her stead. He reported that Chinatsu claimed that the avatar returned, and something about white lotuses. He paid no mind to the flowers, the important subject was the avatar. He couldn't put Soah on the whipping post, but he could hurt her in other ways. He glanced at her sleeping form. She was beautiful, he just wished she'd submit fully and willingly.

Soah was deep asleep and dreaming. Usually her dreams involved running from Zhao or reuniting with Sanzi, but tonight she had a peculiar one.
She stood in a meadow, the fire grass swaying beautifully in the wind. It's golden and blood red colors dancing around her. It was unusually serene for her dreams. She began to walk towards a tree she saw in the distance, as she got closer there was a figure sitting on a large boulder underneath it.
She realized that the figure was Chinatsu. She rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times. How could her grandmother be before her? She is dead.
"I hadn't expected you here for another few years Soah." Chinatsu beamed at Soah once she reached the shade under the tree. "But then again we fire mages journey to the spirit world one time or another in our lives."
Soah stared dumbfounded at her grandmother. "How?" Is all she could manage.
"Most people reach this plane by meditation and strict mental discipline. It speaks volumes about your power that you can step here in your dreams." Chinatsu explained.
Soah sank to her knees beside the boulder and hugged Chinatsu's legs. "I just miss you so much grandmother. I'm lost without your guidance now."
"Dear child, you need only listen to your heart. I am part of you." She replied while lifting Soah's chin to look at her. "You cannot stay long though child."
"I don't want to leave. I don't want to go back to him." Tears welled up in Soah's eyes.
"Your purpose is not yet complete my child. I think you know that you cannot allow your husband to capture the avatar!"
"How Grandmother?" Soah cried. "He'll hurt anybody close to me! He'll manipulate and hurt others so he can achieve his own ends. He's a monster."
Chinatsu stared mournfully at Soah. "If I could take your place I would. But this is a burden for you to bear my child. But it's okay to be afraid. I know I pressured you to accept the destiny I had for you. But you must decide what *you* want my love." Chinatsu began. "If you choose not to, the balance will restore itself another way. You will still have my love and blessing if you choose to stay safe."
"What?"
Chinatsu nodded and smiled. "You are allowed to make your own choice. I will love and cherish you no matter what."
Soah cried and Chinatsu held her. After Soah had cried until she couldn't anymore she faced her grandmother again.
"I think I'm with child. It's too early to tell I know, but I missed my moon's blood by a month or more now."
"You are." Chinatsu said calmly.
"How can you tell?!"
"The way the energy is flowing around you. You are becoming a portal for life to flow through. When your time comes, you will journey to the gates of death and ferry your children safely to life." Soah looked at her grandmother in confusion. "Oh dear, most women aren't even aware of the journey. But I did it with your father. If Zinnia were attuned to the spirits she would have noticed how she did it with you."
"Sometimes you I don't make much sense grandmother. But I miss it."
"I miss you too child. I will see you again when you come for your children. But now you must go. You must wake up."
"But..."
"Wake up!"

Soah opened her eyes to Zhao's back. He was at his desk writing. She could hear the scratching of the stylus on the paper. Even in his more calm and docile state, he was frightening. As if he could hear her thoughts, he turned his head and saw that she was awake.
"You're awake now." Is all he said.
"Yes. Why are you still up?"
"We have to finish our discussion from earlier this evening. Do you still want to know what I want from you?"
"You told me that you wanted everything from me."
"Then I said that we'd discuss it later, it's later Soah."
"I can't give you everything, I need to keep some things for myself." Soah pleaded.
"Like what?" He growled. "Information about the avatar from your grandmother?"
'That's it. That's the missing piece.' Soah thought. "She was old, sink, and dying. She could have just been rambling." Soah countered.
"The avatar is the only thing that threatens the fire nation from winning this war. To withhold information like that is treason." He cooly replied as he rose from his chair.
"I ought to have known that regardless of our agreement you'd still spy on me." Soah bent her head down at her own foolishness. She knew she should had known better. She looked up and he was standing before her.
"Yes, you should have. Do you understand why I'm upset? Your loyalty is mine. Everything you are belongs to me."
"I'm not a thing to be possessed Zhao." Soah glared at him. Their eyes were locked.
"Careful Soah." He warned. "I can't have you whipped in public, that would just make me look bad. But don't make me hurt you." He took her chin in his thumb and forefinger. "Or did you forget how fragile you are in my hands?" His hand moved to envelop her neck. Soah remained still, to move was to invoke his wrath and actually be hurt. It had been awhile since Zhao actually tried to hurt her. She knew if he truly wanted to, he was more than capable. Without warning, Zhao smacked her across her face. The sound echoed in Soah's ears and she felt the hot sting of it on her right cheek. She quickly shot her hand up to retaliate when Zhao grabbed her wrist and burned her. Pain exploded in and around her left hand, searing and hot. The smell of burnt flesh filled their bedroom and Soah cried out instantly. She shot a deadly stare at her husband, her eyes already stained with tears.
"Consider that a warning." He said softly. "Disobey me or make me out to be a fool again...and I will do something worse." He still towered over her, all Soah could was glare.
"I hate you." She hissed under her breath.
"I know." He said indifferently and with a shrug. "Fortunately, love isn't needed for submission." He kneeled down to her level, as she was still perched on the bed. "I'll keep to our agreement. I'm a man of word after all. But I'm adding the caveat that one of my men will guard you when you're not with me...for your safety of course dear wife." He caressed the cheek he had slapped before standing up. Soah looked at her arm, blurry through her tears and assessed it. From the tips of her fingers to her elbow was nothing but a wad of blisters.
"See that someone dresses my wife's wound." He commanded to a guard outside of the door. Soon after a physician and his captured slave came in.
"My lady..." he bowed and kneeled to her level to take her arm. He turned it this way and that and tutted under his breath. "Usha!" He commanded. The slave came forward and peered at Soah's arm with brilliant blue eyes.
"You're from the water tribe..." Soah said, amazed at her startling eyes.
"A recent acquisition." The physician gloated. "She's came in handy when we have boys limping home."
Usha was now assessing Soah's arm with her delicate fingers. Soah could see faint lines across the backs of her hands and fingers, they continued well beneath her sleeves. 'He beaten her...' Soah thought with a horrified expression.
"You're doing excellent my lady." The physician said after misinterpreting her expression for fear and pain. "Some grown men cry when someone is touching their burns. Remember Usha, the commander wants us to begin the healing process, not finish it. He wants this to scar."
'Of course he would.' Soah fumed internally.
Usha pulled water from a bottle the physician handed her and bended it around Soah's entire forearm and hand. Relief rushed through her as the blistered and majority of the burn healed instantly.
"Enough!" Soah heard a slap and saw Usha on the ground where the physician had smacked her.
"There is no need for violence." Soah said glaring.
"My lady, you have a gentle heart. But when you have someone who doesn't listen you have to punish them."
"I couldn't agree more." Zhao said as he came back into the room. He strode over to where Soah still sat and appraised her arm. "A little more healed than what I'd like, but it will still leave a good scar." The physician bowed and shoved his slave to the ground.
"You two may leave us." Zhao dismissively waved his hand and the two left. Usha looked back at Soah and the two locked eyes. Soah resolved to find some way to free the water bender from her torment even if she couldn't escape her own.
"I hope when you see that scar, you remember just to whom you belong." Zhao said. "Have you learned your lesson for this evening?"
Soah swallowed her pride and pointed her eyes to the ground. "Yes I have." A rage burned inside her though.
"Good. Shall we to bed?" Soah's guess that they would share a bed was correct. She stayed awake most of the night while she listened to Zhao snore off and on. She watched him a good portion of the night too. Every line of his face was something she hated. Every hair on his head was something she vowed to loath. Soah wanted revenge more than a body needs breath. 'But how?' She desperately asked herself. Right now Zhao held all of the cards, he had the reigns of both their fates. Except...Soah reflexively placed a hand on her abdomen. She suspected that she was pregnant for awhile. The Chinatsu in her dream confirmed it. 'If dreams could be trusted.' Soah mused. Telling Zhao of her condition would do one of two things. He would either allow her greater freedom or he would double down on his scrutiny of her. Both are possible at the same time too. Zhao had proven that he had ways to spy on her even when she thought she was safe.
'Akemi!' She remembered. The confidant of Chinatsu. Akemi would be making her way to Soah soon. Soon Soah would have someone to trust. Her arm gave a pulse of pain. 'But Zhao could make Akemi end up like Mai.' Soah thought mournfully. Anyone who dared have loyalty to Soah was at risk. And Akemi would no doubt be the first person on that list. Soah turned over to lay on her stomach. That way she could hang her left arm off the bed and look away from her husband for the night. She was startled when Zhao turned over and laid an arm across her lower back. She stayed still until she heard his breathing slow and a snore escape his lips. Soah let out a sigh of relief. Zhao was tolerable in his sleep.

It had been a few days since the Agni Kai. Zhao had left with his search party before Soah had woke, so she had a brief reprieve from him. She had taken walks around the harbor in his absence, with her new escort about her of course. She did not talk to the guards posted to her, she doubted that they would be valuable conversation. Mimi would always be frigid towards her now, Soah already missed the two fussing when they were nearby. Zhao had effectively alienated her from anyone, the only servant to talk to was the mute girl Zhao must have assigned her in Mai's stead. Even though Soah knew the girl would listen, she didn't want to put someone else in a compromising position. Soah tried to pass time with bending, but no matter what she did she couldn't summon a single flame. Another thing to add to the list of what irritated her.
Around noon the first day, she had received a message via messenger hawk that Akemi was enroute to her. Soah's heart soared when she realized that she would have someone who could guide her, or at least talk to her. After that, she took another walk about the harbor, and noticed that Zhao had not released Zuko's ship even after repairs had been made. Against her better judgement, she made her way up the gangplank and her escort followed.
A haunting melody from a tsungi horn met her ears. It felt like it sang to her loneliness and the fear that lurked in her mind. But it also felt serene, the sound was familiar in a way. She reached the deck and saw that General Iroh was the one playing it. He sat on a stool, a pot of tea next to him and an empty cup beside of it.
Iroh stopped playing when he saw Soah and warmly smiled at her.
"Ahh, Lady Soah! I hope you're here for a nice cup of jasmine tea." He said gesturing to the pot. "Or at least to tell us that we may be on our way, my nephew is most anxious." He added with a chuckle. Soah smiled her first smile in days. There was always a comfort in General Iroh.
"Unfortunately, no. I only heard the music and came to investigate. But if you're offering me a cup of tea, I can only say yes!" Soah replied, much to the dismay of her guards. They knew General Iroh could go on forever about tea, music, and Pai Sho.
Iroh grinned and waved to one of the crew to bring out another stool and cup. Soon the two were drinking tea and socializing. Her guards observed from the far wide of the deck, believing Iroh not able to pose a threat. And that became their noon routine in the day of Zhao's absence.

"If you don't mind me asking Lady Soah, you seem to always have two guards with you. Why is that?" Iroh asked one day. He was generally curious, but had also suspected that Zhao was watching Soah very closely.
"Ahh...yes. My escort." Soah replied side eyeing them. "For my protection of course. They irritate me." She smelled the tea for today, ginseng. She brought it to Iroh from her personal stash.
"I see. Forgive me for being so forward," he said taking the cup of tea from her hand, "but why would Zhao need extra protection for you? If rumors are true you are more than capable of fire bending. Is this extra protection for a possible little one?" Soah paled and Iroh laughed. "Forgive me Lady Soah. I'm just trying to figure it out." Soah laughed a little, Iroh was a comforting man. A fatherly figure. She felt relatively safe discussing it with him she decided.
"I'm actually not sure about the...er...little one scenario. I just haven't been able to bend recently and I feel more listless. But my dear husband had alienated me from..." Soah fumbled over words to explain her currently ailments.
"Ahhh. Well, I've heard of some women not being able to bend while carrying a child. But maybe it's best to avoid ginseng just in case."
"I...I had no idea." Soah sputtered. "How do you know this General Iroh?" She asked knitting her eyebrows together. "And do you think I could be..." Soah had suspected for a short time now but remained unsure. Any female guidance she had was either dead, banished or just out of reach.
"My late wife experienced it with my son." Iroh said warmly. "She also could not bend and was restless. It is best to avoid teas like ginseng from now on until you're for certain though." Soah felt relief, she wasn't the only woman in the world to lose their bending for seemingly no reason. And it seemed that she finally had an idea as of why.
"You look relieved."
"I haven't been able to speak with anybody about this. I just feel so alone." She confided in Iroh in a hushed tone. Soah felt safe enough to do so, her guards were on the other side of the deck.
"Ahh, such sadness should not be. Commander Zhao is wrong to isolate you like this. We as beings need to socialize and share in common interests to flourish." Iroh said while putting his hand of Soah's shoulder. "A moon blossom cannot bloom in full sunlight. You cannot bloom without support from others. And if you are with child, you will need more support now than ever. I think that if you have a midwife to check on you, or if you tell him that you suspect you are with child then he will come around and offer you more opportunity to flourish."
"Do you really think so? My husband, the man who gave me this," Soah pulled back her sleeve to reveal the bandages to her elbow, "will allow me to flourish?" Iroh's face fell. "Forgive me General, I just don't think Zhao is capable of caring for anything or anyone outside of himself."
Iroh thought for a moment before replying, "I believe that if you tell him that you are carrying his child, then he will be kind to you..."
A horn interrupted what Iroh was going to say next. They both turned towards the mouth of the harbor where Zhao's flagship and two others were returning. Soah turned to see her escort coming to collect her. She bowed to Iroh and said "you are a fountain of wisdom General Iroh. I wish more with listen to people like you." as the guards came to collect her. Iroh nodded and waved to her as she left.

The guards didn't take her directly to Zhao, they took her to the tent he and she shared. A pit of anxiety swelled in Soah's chest. They'd make a report to him. He'd burn her again. He'd do worse this time. 'But surely not, Zhao actually has a healthy respect for General Iroh.' She thought and worried regardless.
The mute girl came and helped Soah change into something more fitting for dinner. She was arrayed in a crimson gown with black accents. It was subdued and called little attention to herself. 'Matronly' was what Soah thought about it. After she was dressed and decent, a guard informed her that she would be dining with Zhao within the hour. 'Well...dining isn't torture. But is there was a way to make it so, Zhao would.' Soah thought.

The dreaded time came and Soah was guided to the command tent that Zhao would host his underlings in. It didn't occur to Soah that this dinner was important until she was guided to her place at Zhao's right hand side. There were other personal and their wives present. Zhao was standing at the head of the table and kissed her right hand when she was close enough to him. He then pulled out her chair for her and she sat obediently. This was a night that Zhao was showing her off, so obeying him was the best course of action. She slide her left arm into her bell sleeves and hid the bandages.
When the wives of the present officers were seated, Zhao and the other men stayed standing. They wouldn't sit until he bade them to. They all looked to him for their guidance, Soah noted. He motioned for them to be seated but he remained standing.
"We set sail five days ago to search for the avatar." He began, his hand clasped behind his back. "The trail went cold. But we do have some intelligence that says he will be going to the heart of the fire nation."
A few of the wives gasped. 'The rumors are true' Soah heard one whisper.
"The winter solstice will be upon us soon. This is a time when the spirit world and our world are close enough for being to cross over. If you believe in that." He scoffed. "However, Fire sages tell me that the avatar may try to contact Avatar Roku, his past life. And the only way to do that is at the Fire temple on Crescent Island. Or so they assure me." Zhao had begun to pace around the table. Soah watched him attentively, her face unreadable.
"Tonight, I announce to you that my lovely wife and I will be joining the blockade. I will intercept the avatar and capture him for the glory of the fire nation!" This was met with applause from Zhao's officers. Murmurings from their wives. It was then that Soah noticed that her every move was being watched by those present. She directed her eyes to Zhao, but she could still feel their eyes upon her.
"We leave in three days' time. But tonight, we share it with you as friends! And I will announce my replacement at the end of our meal." More applause met this. It meant one officer here would be given command of this post. Completely approved of by the Fire Lord, and put in place by Zhao. 'Maybe even the heiress of Chinatsu would give her blessing too?' Some of the wives speculated. 'Poor dear, she doesn't look well.' Soah heard someone say.
Soah made it through the first two courses before fainting. She had set her glass of water down before sliding out of her chair into the floor. Zhao himself picked her up and carried her to their bed while calling for a guard to fetch his personal physician. While the physician and Usha examined Soah, Zhao made it back to the diner and apologized for the odd event. Soah must be very tired.

Zhao finished the party by naming his successor. An obscure captain who's name he had already forgotten. Soah troubled his mind. He had gotten over his stage of rage, Soah would not have planned a stunt to make them both look bad. 'She still better have a damned good reason for her spell though.' Zhao thought gruffly when he entered their tent. His men saluted him and he went into their room. Usha was bending water around different parts of Soah's body, the blue glow was around her torso now. Soah herself had been stripped down to a shift and covered with blankets. The physician turned to Zhao when he walked in.
"Well?" He demanded.
"Commander, while we do not have a way of definitely knowing...I want to be the first to extend my congratulations to you." The physician bowed. "So long as Lady Soah avoids high stress situations and follows these strict diet changes, she and the child should be fine."
"Excuse me...?" Zhao was flabbergasted.
"Commander, your lady wife appears to be pregnant." The physician bowed again.
Any rage or embarrassment Zhao felt was instantly replaced with a sort of triumph and joy. His wife was pregnant. "How long?" Was all he could ask.
"There isn't a definite way of knowing unless we had her and her ladies count back. Do you...happen to know when she ceased her bleeding? Do you know what she's consumed recently to make her sick?" These questions alarmed Zhao.
"Is there something wrong?"
"No no commander. Usha assures me that the child is healthy. Small." He raised his thumb and two forefingers and squeezed them together. "But healthy and alive. Water benders are quite useful for detecting these little details."
"Commander," Usha appealed to Zhao quietly, "my estimation would be that you're lady wife is almost past her third month. Not quite out of the danger stage, but almost."
The physician glared at his slave. Zhao himself counted back. That would mean that Soah conceived while they were on Ember Island together. He felt a small pang of remorse, it wasn't a time when he was gentle with Soah. 'But it clearly got the job done.' He justified himself.
"She served and had ginseng tea with General Iroh the first day they docked for repairs." Zhao recalled.
"That might be it. She needs to avoid certain teas. I'll make up a list of what she cannot have, and she needs to adhere to it." The physician nodded. "Come Usha, we must leave the commander and his wife for now. I will check up on her in the morning." Zhao nodded and watched them leave.
He looked at Soah and felt proud. He made a mental note to discuss a change in their agreement, her tea restriction and their damage control. Of course he wanted to announce her pregnancy as soon as possible. Zhao wanted to gloat and brag about his wife being with child.