5 Years Later Chapter 18

Avatar: The Last Airbender

5 Years Later

Chapter 18

     A few weeks after their wonderful night together, Katara left with her ship to sail to the Earth Kingdom. From there arrangements had been made for her brother to meet her with their own retinue and she would travel with them the rest of the way.
     She had already switched out her red wardrobe for a more favorable blue and was delighted in seeing her brother again. As she rummaged through her trunk of clothes she came across her crown. It had been tucked neatly inside her trunk. She had set it aside on purpose while she was packing but she guessed Zuko had purposefully slipped it in, so she would remember to come home. She shook her head exasperated.
     When she docked at a small port to a neutral town she met up with Sokka. It had only been about four months since she had last seen him, but it felt like an eternity. He looked the same but he greeted her with a weariness she couldn’t quite place.
     “Sokka? Is everything alright?” She asked as he stepped back from her embrace. She wore a blue dress designed to be close to the ones she had worn back home but as he looked at her he regarded her suspiciously.
     “Has he hurt you at all?” He blurted out to her. Her smile fell to a frown and she backed away from him.
     “Who?” She asked.
     “You know who I mean, Zuko! You know Prince of the Fire Nation? Firebending master? Any of this ringing a bell?” She regarded him coolly and knew this was treading on dangerous grounds.
     “No he has not harmed me in any way.” She said coldly and crossed her arms in defiance.
     “So he hasn’t touched you, that’s a relief. Maybe we can still undo this marriage…If only…” Her arm came around fast and she slapped him hard across the face. His eyes regarded her coldly.
     “What I do with my husband is of no concern to you Sokka!” She yelled at him. She felt her face burning and he turned away from her refusing to rub his cheek where she had slapped him. Those who had been watching in silence began to go about their way slowly still interested in the dueling siblings. The retinue was moving and Katara followed them in silence. She had not expected to meet with such hostility from her own brother.
     Why had she been so harsh on him? He was only trying to help. But she loved being with Zuko and a part of her was almost ashamed of those feelings.
     She regarded her brother with unease as the next day he came up to her. A few of the witnesses from the day before watched wearily, expecting confrontation. She turned her back to him, still angry with him.
     “Look Katara, I had no right to say those things to you. I just don’t trust him and you’re my baby sister. I don’t even want to have to think about what he does to you.”
     “Then don’t.” she snapped back to him. The expression that fell over his face was one of complete surprise.
     “Do you…Do you love him?” He asked hesitantly. She felt the blood drain from her face. She had been with Zuko for only four months. Was it possible she loved him? She cared for him but was it love? She didn’t think so.
     “No, he is my husband and I am his wife. He treats me with respect and kindness. It’s not bad.” She said quietly, realizing just how good she had it. Most arranged marriages never work out as well as hers. She had passion and respect in her relationship. She was happy for the most part, but she missed her family and friends.
     “I’m glad to hear that. Father will be also, but we should really get going. Ba Sing Se is another day away and we’re not making the best of time. I’m sure Toph will be excited to see you and you never know, maybe Aang will be there too.” Her smile brightened at the notion and then she felt sad. Was she truly not over Aang yet? Did she still wish to maybe be more than friends with him? Or has she forsaken thoughts of the Avatar for Zuko? She promised herself she would try to figure this out before she returned to the Fire Nation, a place she still refused to call home, no matter how much she sometimes almost did.