The Price of Peace

Summary – Katara and Zuko prepare for their wedding.

Chapter Ten –

“I am not getting on her back!” Katara did her best to ignore the distress she was causing her “good luck woman.” The woman was even older than her hairstylist and looked as though she could barely support her own weight.

“But you must,” the hairstylist stated, pouring a glass of jiu and waving it in front of the bride. “You must do as we say. You do not want bad luck for your marriage, do you?”

Katara crossed her arms over chest. “I do not want to disrespect your ways, but the “good luck woman” can hardly even support her own weight. How is she supposed to carry me? And how is she lucky? She looks like she’s in pain.”

The hairstylist scoffed, pouring another glass of jiu and handing it to Katara who eyed it warily. “She’s lucky because she’s lived this long. True, her bones hurt, but that is beside the point. She must do this for our nation!”

Somehow she kept from rolling her eyes as she downed the fire drink. “Wait a minute!” she declared. “I can heal her! Bring me some water from the basin…quickly!”

Katara snapped her fingers, her nervousness growing worse by the second. She tended to get bossy when nervous. At least, that’s what Aang had always told her.

The hairdresser gave her a look of irritation, but complied.

Grasping the elder woman’s hand, Katara smiled. Her mind was a little fuzzy, but she was sure she could remember the healing ways.

The old woman looked around nervously. She looked as though she were going to be sick.

“You’ll feel better,” Katara soothed, calling the water from the pitcher and wrapping it around her hands. “It may tickle a little, but you’ll feel better in the long run. I promise.”

Her good luck woman shied away, but quickly leaned into Katara’s touch as soon as relief settled into her arthritic joints. As the water dissolved against the wrinkled skin, Katara smiled.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

The woman looked at her hands, an expression of awe on her face as she flexed her fingers. “I haven’t been able to do this in years,” she whispered shakily.

Watching the woman flex her joints, Katara felt a pang of guilt. There was still no way that she was going to allow herself to be carried to the back of this woman. “I know!”

Both women startled at Katara’s outburst.

“You’re so concerned with luck,” the young bride-to-be exclaimed, the fire drink loosening her inhibitions and tongue. “Wouldn’t it be lucky, if the bride carried the good luck woman instead of the other way around?”

The two women looked at her as though she had sprouted horns.

“It would show how healthy I am.” Katara patted her flat stomach. “It would show how strong I am…what a good ‘fertile’ prospect I am for Fire Lord Zuko.”

The hairdresser’s eyes sparkled as she contemplated the unorthodox plan as the old woman continued flexing her joints. “A strong mother and father will give the Fire Nation strong heirs.”

Inwardly, Katara cringed. The prospect of children was somewhat daunting at this stage, but she nodded her head in hopeful agreement.

“Get on the Waterbender’s back,” the hairdresser instructed the good luck woman.

Katara crouched low and readied herself to receive the slight weight of the old woman.

--

“You look very handsome,” Iroh said, complimenting his nephew as Zuko fidgeted with his gown and red silk slash.

“Thank you, Uncle.” Zuko gave a slight bow of acknowledgment. “Is everything in order?”

“Yes,” replied Iroh with a curt reciprocal bow. “I received an inventory of the dowry. Everything is accounted for and will come in useful. Her father is a very resourceful warrior. I hear the bride looks lovely.”

Zuko scowled at his reflection in the mirror. “You have the ang pau?”

“Of course.” Iroh pretended a look of disbelief. “I will deliver the packets of money with honor and dignity.”

The Fire Lord gave his uncle’s reflection a look of disbelief. His uncle was many things. But dignified was not an adjective he would use to describe him. “Thank you, Uncle.”

“Shall we go, then?” Iroh motioned to the blue and yellow sedan chair.

Nodding, Zuko climbed up the stairs to the chair and took his seat.

--

“You look…nice,” Sokka choked on the compliment as he took in his sister’s foreign appearance.

Toph jabbed him in the ribs for his hesitation. “I’m sure you do look nice, Katara. Of course, I wouldn’t know seeing as I can’t see. Just be careful, okay?”

Katara patted the pouch of water Sokka had given her. It didn’t really go with her wedding outfit, but she would not leave without it. It was her only defense against the assassin that still roamed free.

“You look like a…uh…bird,” Aang mumbled, scratching his head and trying to come up with a compliment.

“Thank you, Aang,” Katara replied.

“Yeah,” Sokka snorted. “A deranged chicken-bird.”

The Water Tribe warrior dodged the Earthbender’s renewed attacks to silence him. “Hah! You missed!”

Toph glared in his direction. “Just wait. I’ll get you sooner or later.”

“Oh! I’m scared,” retorted Sokka.

“You better be.” Toph smiled.

“You look very pretty, Katara,” Meng announced shyly.

“Yes, yes,” Aunt Wu concurred. “Very pretty! You see! I said you would marry a powerful bender.”

Sokka rolled his eyes.

“Thank you, Meng. Thank you, Aunt Wu.” The young bride bowed to her guests.

Nervous laughter filled the room, but was quickly interrupted by a sharp, “Hum Hum!”

Katara bowed to her former Waterbending Master.

“Your father is ready,” Pakku announced, pulling aside a curtain as Katara entered the reception area of her father’s rooms.

Still feeling the warming effects of the fire drink, Katara stumbled into the room, which had obviously been decorated with great care. Outside the window, she could hear the noise of the firecrackers and fireworks to ward off evil spirits. The small table was set with fine goblets, some covered bowls, and a plate of hardboiled eggs.

“Sit here, Katara,” Hakoda instructed, indicating the place setting that was next to him.

As she did what she was told, a moment of sadness washed over her as she looked into her father’s eyes. It was then that she knew she would never return to the South Pole.

“Do you have your mother’s necklace?” her father asked softly.

Just as her water pouch did not go with her wedding outfit, neither did her necklace. Out of respect for the Fire Nation’s traditions, she had removed it and had wrapped it around her wrist. Reluctantly, she removed it and handed it to her father.

Fingering the token of his love for his wife and daughter, Hakoda set the necklace across the table from Katara. “In honor of your mother,” he stated. “I am only sorry she could not be here for this day.”

Feeling tears prickle the back of her eyes, Katara blinked rapidly.

Her father covered her hand with his. “No matter what happens, you must trust in your husband and honor his ancestors.”

She nodded -- a sense of foreboding clinging to this moment of happiness. She heard some voices from the other room and was momentarily distracted.

The curtain was pushed to the side and Pakku stepped inside. “Fire Lord Zuko has arrived and he is eager to claim his bride.”

Hakoda nodded and squeezed his daughter’s hand. “Please let him in.”

--

TBC

A/N – Yeah! Yeah! I know! I’m a big fat meany for cliff-hanging the story here. I’ve had to research Chinese wedding traditions for this chapter. I have taken some liberties with what I’ve read about Chinese wedding traditions.

On the down side, I have to take a break from typing for a day or two. In my rush to update frequently, I’ve inflamed both wrists. Carpal tunnel hurts and the medication isn’t cutting the mustard. The only thing that is going to help is rest. Sniff! I should have the next update by this weekend. Hopefully sooner. So, keep checking back!