Bitter Alliance

Warning! There is violence in this chapter. It was not an easy chapter to write so I do not think it will be an easy chapter to read.

A/N – Elemental Harmony and omgasp for the reviews! They are like candy.


Chapter Eight –

I make my way to Katara’s bedchamber with good, but bitter news. Sokka is safe. But it will take at least a month before I can get her to safety. Resistance forces are not ready to move. They are waiting on reinforcements. Once they are in place, my time will be at hand.

I move through the shadows, my thoughts in turmoil. How do I keep my lover safe for another month?

Pushing my way through the maze of suites, I nod to the guard at Katara’s door who leers at me with disrespect. I move to reprimand him, but a scream echoes throughout the halls.

I shove the heavy door open and stop in my tracks.

Katara is naked, tied to the bed. My father is standing on one side of the bed while three Fire Sages stand on the other. Incense burns in the air and the Sages are muttering a low chant.

My lover hisses and spits as one of the holy men places his palm upon her stomach.

Her bottom lip is swollen and bloodied. Her left eye is puffy and purple. Her wrists and ankles are bloodied from her struggle.

“She should be taken quickly.” The Sage moves his hand lower. “She will conceive tonight. Born of fire and water, the child will command all elements.”

Exhaling, I hurl a fireball at the Sage, who shrieks in pain as his robes catch on fire. “Get away from her!”

A blast of hot air knocks me to the ground – a cowardly and feeble attempt by one of the other Fire Sages.

“Enough!” my father bellows as the fight was only sure to escalate.

Jumping up, I straighten my uniform and approach the bed. I present an air of indifferent calm, but I am terrified inside. As I draw closer, I avoid her gaze, knowing that my father has destroyed the last vestiges of anything Katara may have felt for me.

“All privileges have been revoked, Zuko,” my father hisses, slamming his fist on the bedding next to Katara. “You shall be locked in this room with the Water Tribe peasant until the deed is done.”

The Fire Sages back away at the display of my father’s temper.

“I would sire the child myself, but I won’t dare sully myself with such distasteful flesh.” The Fire Lord walks toward the door and motions the Sages to follow him. He pauses at the door and turns. “I trust you to perform your duties, no matter how distasteful you may find it. If she bleeds again, both your lives are forfeit.”

I watch my father leave, listening to the locks being set behind the heavy doors.

--

I close my eyes as tears spill down my cheeks. Every muscle is sore and my spirit feels as though it has been shattered into a million pieces. I was slapped and mocked, stripped and ridiculed.

Whereas Ozai would have killed me without thought, the Fire Sages were adamant that I remain alive – a vessel for the next Avatar.

I wail. My despair overcomes me. There is no hope. The Avatar is gone. Aang is dead. My body trembles with grief and I pray for an end to my existence.

So caught up in my own feelings, I startle when a hand touches one of my wrists.

“Hush,” Zuko’s compassionate voice resonates around me, calling me from the pits of this hell.

“I’m… sorry,” he whispers softly, loosening the knots so that I can free my wrists. “I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you.”

I want to hate him, but I can’t. I know he is trying. “Sokka,” I utter my brother’s name in the hope that there is news.

Zuko works the knots from around one of my ankles. “He is safe.”

I make no attempt to stem the flood of tears.

My lover hisses as he presses a cool washrag to my swollen lip. “Please, Katara. You must try,” he pleads, his voice laden with guilt.

At first I don’t realize what he is speaking about, but then I realize he wants me to heal myself. Flexing my fingers, I give a shuddering breath. The Fire Sages had suggested breaking my fingers to prevent me from washing Zuko’s seed from my womb, but the Fire Lord hadn’t followed their suggestion.

Summoning the water from the basin, I touch my lip first, and then my eye. It is then I realize how tired I am. Exhaustion seeps into my bones and I stop for a moment.

--

She looks beaten, her once vibrant youth stolen by our circumstances. “Please, Katara. You must heal.”

“I’m so tired,” she whispers and closes her eyes.

Touching her shoulder, I give her a little shake. “You must stay awake,” I declare, mindful of what little medicine I have learned throughout the years. “Did you hit your head?”

She shakes her head, but makes no attempt to open her eyes.

“Please, Katara,” I make one last request. “Please try for Sokka’s sake.”

Begrudgingly, she opens her eyes and stares at me. “Will you always fight so dirty?” she asks the question as though there is a future for us.

“Only for the woman I…love,” the admission sticks in my throat.

A faint smile touches her lips and she calls the water from the bowl and sends it over her entire body. I am almost envious as the liquid dissolves into her body. Standing up, I remove my uniform and return to the bed, pulling her against me and entwining one of my legs between hers.

At first, she tenses, but quickly settles down. “I love you, too,” she murmurs so softly that I almost do not hear it.

I stare into sad blue eyes, imagining that in a perfect world we are husband and wife. There is no threat hanging over us. In fact, the rest of the world does not exist.

“I’m afraid you find me quite dull,” she chuckles, making me realize that I had spoken my fantasy out loud.

“Never,” I whisper as I place a gentle kiss on her forehead.

She kisses me, the barest brush of her lips against mine. She reaches for my sex, but I gently hold her wrist to prevent her from touching me.

A slight scowl lines her brow.

“You’ve suffered enough today.” My voice is husky and raw. “You needn’t suffer my affections as well.”

She shivers against me and closes her eyes. “Your affections are always welcome,” she sighs sleepily and settles against me.

I welcome her slight weight and let her sleep for a little while. We have little time left as it is.

--

TBC

A/N – Thanks to Spleef and Moncapitan for the spit and polish and making sure I keep my pronouns straight.