Part XXX:

Two Months Later...

"Lady Shura, you have been convicted on all counts of arson, theft, treason, terrorism, blackmail, torture, conspiracy, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, attempted regicide, and attempted assassination by a group of your peers. A sentence has been handed out by those peers as death by fire, in the oldest tradition of the Fire Nation. As the Fire Lord, the ultimate decision as to your fate falls upon my shoulders. It is within my power to commute your death sentence to life in prison. I want you to know that, Lady Shura. I also want you to know that, while it is within my power to show you mercy and spare your life, I am not inclined to grant you that mercy. Your sentence will be carried out immediately, by my own hand."

Zuko's words rang out in the courtyard, where members of the Royal Court, the Council, military officials, judges, Fire Sages, and the common people of the Fire Nation were gathered. In the center of the courtyard, tied to a stake, was Lady Shura.

She was dressed in her finest clothing, a deep red velvet dress that flattered her ample figure. She looked like a tiny jewel tied to a rough beam, piles of oil-soaked wood beneath her. Her face was a blank mask, her skin pale and sallow from her incarceration.

Suki couldn't tear her eyes away from the woman, the cause of so much suffering and fear. She stood a little behind Zuko, one hand on her fan. The Kyoshi Warriors were spread out, watching for signs of trouble. Iroh stood on Zuko's right, a grave look on his face as he stared at Lady Shura. He disapproved of Zuko's decision, but hadn't done anything to stop it, leaving the decision in Zuko's hands.

"Then what are you waiting for? Do it," Shura said in a shaking voice that carried. "I'll be with my sons again. Anything is better than living without them."

Zuko took a steadying breath and walked forward, closing the space between them. He stopped ten feet away and met Shura's watery, terror-filled eyes. Suki had to give her credit; she had shown remarkable calm in the face of her own death. At the trial she had been mute, slumping in her seat and refusing to answer questions. The trial had been over quickly, the evidence overwhelming. Twelve of the highest ranking members of the Smoke Demons had been put to death already. The rest had been given life sentences.

Suki watched dispassionately as Zuko dropped into a firebending form, flames growing in his hands, the sunlight glinting off of the golden, flame-shaped crown in his long black hair. Shura lifted her chin and closed her eyes as Zuko threw the flames at the wood at her feet. The pyre went up with a hot flash, the flames rising in a lusty rush. Her dress caught fire instantly and flames crawled up her body, devouring her.

Zuko stood very still, not turning away from the sight of the woman on fire before him. Shura's screams pierced the air, making Suki's stomach turn. She refused to look away as well; she wanted to watch as Aiko's murderer died. She saw Iroh turn away though, a sad look on his face.

It was over in a few minutes, Shura's screams fading into the flames, the smoke rising from the pyre twisting like a demon in the air. Zuko didn't move an inch, watching the fire until there was nothing left but ashes.

"I know you disapproved," Zuko said later that evening in his office. Iroh sat in a chair, sipping steaming hot tea. His face was lined, his eyes grave and sad as he stared into the dark depths of his tea. "You think I should have commuted her sentence."

Iroh glanced up at him and then sighed a little. "I do not know what I think. When I lost my son, I lost my taste for death. I saw peace where others saw war and swore never to take another life. But I am a realist, and while I have sworn myself to peace, I understand why you made your choice, Zuko. I will not judge you for your decision."

Zuko nodded and took a sip of his own tea, letting the strong flavor of the oolong banish the sour taste in his mouth. "I thought I would feel satisfied or vindicated afterward. I just feel...sad."

"You pitied her."

"I shouldn't, but yes. She lost her sons. If nothing else, Shura loved her children, and while they were terrible men, raised on the poison she fed them on her path to revenge, I believe her grief for them was real. Once we took them from her, her whole plan fell apart. She fell apart. She tried to kill herself in her cell, did you know that?"

Iroh nodded deeply. "I know that grief, Zuko. I still cannot believe that Shura was behind the whole thing. I blame myself."

"Why?"

Iroh looked uncomfortable. "I was a different man in my youth, Zuko. I was brash and bold, determined to slay every dragon and win every battle. I was very much a spoiled prince, and I had the unfortunate tendency to use the women who flocked to me because of my crown. Shura was one of those women. She wanted me to marry her and I refused. I told her that I was not interested in marriage, broke her heart, and then turned around and married Kiyo. I could see how she might be bitter about the whole thing. I was not kind to her."

"A broken heart isn't an excuse though. I think she stopped wanting you back a long time ago, Uncle. She wanted the throne instead. That's why she slept with my father, and why she tried desperately to sleep with me and when that didn't work, she realized she'd have to find a way to trap you in a marriage she had to have known you wouldn't want. Even if you'd married her back then, I think her greed and hunger for power would have still destroyed her. Don't blame yourself."

"I will try to remember that," Iroh said lightly and took a sip.

Zuko put his tea down and bent forward with one arm on his knee. He rubbed at his face with his other hand, feeling weary and sick. "I'm just glad it's over, Uncle. Maybe things can start to feel normal around here again."

"Things seem calmer already."

Zuko blew out a breath and sat back. "It does. We've interrogated all of the servants, but they're all clean. Some of Shura's men flipped on her and spilled details and names. We found several more of her spies in the army. None in the palace. It seems that Osamu and Aiko really were her only spies here. Or at least, we can't seem to find any others. As of tomorrow, General Mak will pull back his guards on the palace and return them to active duty, leaving the palace guards in charge again. It'll be nice to walk around this place without running into soldiers every five minutes. I feel like I'm living in a fishbowl."

Iroh nodded deeply. "And the Council?"

Zuko groaned a little. "Not happy. Some of them were pretty offended that I didn't trust them and had them put on house arrest after Osamu was exposed, but Guo seems to have talked them down."

"You don't think he had anything to do with Shura or Osamu?"

"We couldn't find anything, and he swears that he didn't know anything about Osamu's activity, despite the fact that they were as thick as thieves. None of Shura's men have named him, and he's done everything he can to help in the effort to expose the rest of her men. My instincts are telling me that he really is clean. I think he really is loyal to me, even if he and I disagree about a lot of things."

Iroh was quiet for a long moment. "Like the new Seneschal?"

Zuko pulled a grin. "Oh, he definitely had an opinion about that. The Council all agreed that Jiang was incompetent though and needed replaced. I think my choice was a little...surprising to them. They protested. I told them to fuck off and deal with it. In those words. There was a lot of yelling. I wasn't nice about it."

Iroh pulled a grin. "And where is the Seneschal now?"

"Overseeing a few household matters," he said and then his grin faded. "How is Azula?"

Iroh's smile was grim, but hopeful. "Broken hearted, though she won't talk about what happened between her and Sokka when we left the South Pole. The medicine and therapy the doctors in Ba Sing Se are giving her have helped though. Her panic attacks are not as frequent as they were in the beginning, in any case. She doesn't talk to me much, but we have a routine. It's nice to have company. I didn't want to leave her in Ba Sing Se, but she insisted she could handle the tea shop in my absence."

"You left Azula in charge of your shop?"

"I may yet regret it, but I need her to know that I trust her. Also, Mai is there with her. I trust her, if nothing else. Your sister and I have had a complicated relationship over the years. I saw too much of Ozai in her and I treated her unfairly because of that. I would like to do right by her. She's my niece, and I love her. One day perhaps she will understand that. For now, it is enough to know that she is safe in my home. She experienced many horrors when she was alone, Zuko. Many hurts. They will take a long time to heal," he said with a solemn weight in his voice.

"My offer to her stands. She can come home whenever she wants. We'll make it work."

"I do not think she is ready for that. Perhaps one day."

"I know, but please let her know."

"I will." Iroh sighed. "I think she loved him very much."

Zuko thought of Sokka, and the way he had looked at his sister. He couldn't imagine what might have driven them apart. Maybe the odds had been too stacked against their relationship. Maybe love wasn't enough to keep two different people together sometimes.

According to Aang's last letter, Sokka was still in the South Pole, and had no immediate plans on returning to Republic City. All of Zuko's letters to him had gone unanswered so far. Aang, Katara and Toph were due for a visit in a couple of weeks. His friends were feeling guilty about staying out of the fight, but Zuko knew that Mai had insisted in the first place, afraid that they might expose Sokka and Azula. After the failed assassination attempt at the ball, there had just been no time to contact the Avatar for help and the thought hadn't even particularly crossed his mind anyway. Aang especially felt bad about leaving him to fight the Smoke Demons alone. He'd have to put the Avatar straight when he arrived.

"I wonder what happened between them?"

Iroh shook his head and then eyed Zuko knowingly. "Love is a mysterious thing."

"Why did you fall in love with Aunt Kiyo?" Zuko asked suddenly.

Iroh's eyes were misty and far away. "She was different from the others. She did not see my title. She saw me, all the flaws, all the warts and loved me anyway. She made me feel like I could be a better man, that I could do anything, so long as I had her by my side. I loved her so very much, Zuko. Losing her destroyed a part of me. Even now, the pain of losing her makes my heart ache, but the memory of her, how happy she made me, fills me with joy."

"How did you know you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her?"

Iroh's smile was soft and knowing. "I could not imagine my life without her in it. I suspect you know what I'm talking about, nephew."

"I do."

Iroh leaned forward and caught Zuko's hand, giving it a squeeze. "Then perhaps you should do something about it?"

"I'm working on it," Zuko said, feeling his face flush with embarrassment. A knock on the door, made him turn and Iroh dropped his hand with a reassuring pat. "Enter!"

The door opened and Ty Lee walked in, closed the door and stood at attention before him. "Fire Lord Zuko, General Iroh, I'm sorry to interrupt."

Zuko smiled warmly at his old friend. It was her first week back on duty since her injuries, but she had recovered far more quickly than even Nam-Kyu had guessed. She stood before him in her full uniform, her long brown hair pulled back in a braid, her makeup perfect. She looked smart and capable, strong and mature. Her near-death experience had wrought a change in her. She was still an impish flirt, but there was a graveness in her eyes that had not been there before.

"It's all right, Captain," Zuko said to the new leader of the Kyoshi Warriors and the head of his bodyguards. "You look well."

Ty Lee's impish smile came out of hiding for a moment. "Thank you, Zuko. I'm just glad to be out of the hospital ward. I was going out of my skin in that bed. It's good to be back on duty."

"I missed you. Don't you ever scare me like that again," Zuko said, standing and walking over to her. Ty Lee beamed up at him.

"I'll try not to," she said and then glanced at Iroh. "How is Azula?"

"Well enough. I will send her your regards," Iroh said, and Ty Lee looked momentarily uncomfortable at the thought. No doubt she was still feeling guilty about pulling a crossbow on Azula.

"Did you need something, Captain?"

"I'm never going to get used to you calling me that," Ty Lee remarked, her lips twisting. "I feel like one of the other girls should have taken over. They've been Warriors longer than me, after all."

"No one knows the palace and the people in it like you do, Ty Lee. You're the perfect liaison," he reminded her gently; they'd had this conversation when he and Suki had promoted her to the rank. "Besides, you've earned it."

"Thank you, Zuko. I'll try to do you proud," she said and then drew herself up. "Anyway, the Seneschal is waiting in your suite. I believe they have a very important matter to discuss with you."

Zuko nodded and glanced at Iroh, who finished off his tea. "Go ahead, nephew. I will see myself to my room. I'm very tired after this mornings trials."

"I'll see you later, Uncle," Zuko said and then gestured Ty Lee out the door, where Chao-Ahn and Kikki joined them. They had been guarding his office door. Chao-Ahn had recovered from her burns during the battle with the Smoke Demons, though she would be scarred for life. He would forever be grateful to the Kyoshi Warriors for their sacrifices. He hoped they knew that. He thought they did.

Together they walked through the cool marble halls of the palace. Autumn had come, turning the air crisp, which made a nice change from the unbearable summer heat. They arrived at the doors to Zuko's new suite. He wasn't used to the place yet, but it was better than walking up and down six flights of stairs to get there. The earthbenders had also assured him that there were no hidden passages in the walls.

"Thank you, Captain, ladies. I don't think I'll need guards for the rest of tonight," Zuko said and Ty Lee smiled a little.

"Have a good evening, Zuko," Ty Lee said knowingly, and winked at him. Together she and the others walked away, leaving him to furrow his brow. Ty Lee definitely knew something he didn't.

When he opened the door to his suite, he found himself surrounded by dozens of tiny flames. He closed and locked the door behind him, staring at the candles burning on every available surface. The room was aglow with light, warm after the cool hallway. Music tinkled through the air, soft and seductive.

"Good evening, Fire Lord Zuko."

Zuko turned toward the balcony, where a lithe, gold-clad woman stood silhouetted against the dark backdrop of the night. His mouth went dry as he took her in. One leg was bare, peaking through a slit in her dress, which clung indecently to her every curve. Her hair was braided back, little curled strands framing her face. Her lips were red, her blue eyes blazing in the firelight.

"Seneschal," Zuko said as Suki bit down on her lower lip. "What's all this?"

"I'm seducing you," she said, leaning away from the door frame as he walked toward her. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

"That's not very professional of you," he said seriously. "What would the Council say about their new member?"

"Oh, probably that I'm a gold-digging Earth Kingdom hussy. The usual," she said lightly as he reached out and stroked her neck. "I figure why not live up to their expectations?"

"They love a good scandal anyway."

Suki ran her hand up his chest. "You mean sleeping with the Fire Lord isn't usually part of the Seneschal's duties?"

"Oh, it is, but Jiang was a selfish lover and I ended it fairly quickly," he said, deadpan.

A laugh bubbled up out of Suki and she tipped back her head as he wrapped his arms around her. Her arms slipped around his neck. "You never stop surprising me, Zuko."

"And you never stop amazing me," he said seriously and kissed her. They lingered for a long moment, wrapped up in each other. When he pulled back, he put his forehead against hers. "I needed this. I needed you, after..."

The words died in his throat. He knew that Suki knew though. She understood him better than anyone and she had known how difficult Shura's sentencing had been on him. They had spent hours together, discussing it, holding each other as he'd come to his final decision. Still, it had not been easy.

"I know," Suki said, her fingers stroking the hair on the back of his neck. He stared into her eyes, a soft smile on his lips. She was glowing, a woman full of fire and as strong as earth.

"You're not regretting your career change?" he said, eager to change the subject. He wanted to put the Smoke Demons behind him permanently.

Suki thought a moment and then said, "No. It's interesting. And I thought I would miss the girls, but we see each other every day. They're still under me, in a way, and I've been able to tighten security on the whole palace. I can make sure that everyone is doing their best to protect you in a way that I couldn't before."

"The ultimate bodyguard," he said as his hands slid to her hips. "I'm sorry you had to leave the Warriors."

She shook her head. "Once a Warrior, always a Warrior. It was my choice to put up my fan, but I will always be a Warrior of Kyoshi, paint or no."

"I hope you don't regret it."

"I think your Council is. They're not happy with your for appointing me, and now they have to treat me like an equal."

"You've always been their equal. It's time they learned it," he said and then kissed her again. Heat flashed in him as he held her close to him. A fierce feeling struck his heart, his uncle's words echoing in his ears. In that instant, he made a decision his soul had already come to. When he pulled back, he whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too."

"No, you don't understand. I love you, Suki. I can't imagine my life without you in it. I don't want to."

"Zuko..."

He took a deep breath and then plunged in, no regrets, no looking back.

"Would you marry me?"

Suki stiffened, her whole body tingling as Zuko's words spilled down her skin, sinking into her soul like the warmth from a fire. She pulled back, staring at him in shock.

"What?"

Zuko's eyes were soft in the flickering firelight. "Marry me."

They stared at each other, naked hope in Zuko's eyes, shock in hers that slowly turned to tears.

"Zuko... I..."

"You don't have to say yes right now, just think about it, please? I just-"

She put her fingers on his lips, stilling him. She searched his gaze and then took a trembling breath. "Yes. My answer is yes. Of course my answer is yes," she said as she dropped her hand. Zuko let out a soft sound, a half-laugh, half-gasp of joy. Then he scooped her up, lifting her up off of her feet and twirling her around.

When he put her down again, he pulled her into his arms, kissing her lips quickly. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. Are you sure?"

Zuko cupped her face. "You're the only thing in my life I've ever been sure of. I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

She felt the same way, but the words wouldn't come. She knew that he knew it anyway. She stared at him, so full of joy she felt like bursting. Months ago, she'd been in agony, guilt-ridden over her feelings for him, confused about her feelings for Sokka. Everything seemed so clear now. She found it hard to believe that they'd only been together for a couple of months. What would the rest of their life be like?

She couldn't wait to find out.

"I love you so much," she said as he buried his face in her hair, his warmth and his scent filling her to the brim. Zuko kissed her bare shoulder and then pulled back, pushing her hair behind one ear.

"I just have one last question for you, baby," he said seriously.

"Anything," she said, biting down on her lip. His eyes were soft and full of love. She would never get tired of the way he looked at her. She was addicted to the way he loved her.

Zuko stepped back and held out his hand to her. She took it and he twirled her around, bringing her back against his chest. He laced their fingers and then tipped her chin up to stare into her eyes. The expression on his face was intense but playful as his hand slid to her lower back, holding her against him.

"Would you dance with me?"

(end)

Thank you for reading! I know it was a long wait between updates sometimes, so thanks for sticking around! I'm jumping back into Bonfire Heart next, so watch out for updates to that, in case you're curious about what has happened to Sokka and Azula. :)