A/N: And, alas! Chapter two is finally up! I originally had it longer but then cut it short to fit another slot on my bingo card. The prompt for this one is "it's barbaric, but it's home."

Warnings: AU, rare pair

Stella of the North
Chapter Two
By: Nuit Songeur

Lu Ten led Yue to a small courtyard that held an overhanging tree which dangled its brambles over a small pond. Yue wondered at the creatures residing in it as Ly Ten steered them to the pond's edge.

"Turtle ducks," he explained as they sat. Yue stared at them, watching as the larger mother led her three babies. They swam to the edge of the pond to greet the two visitors, and Yue giggled, holding out her hand to the approaching turtle ducks. The three ducklings hopped out of the water and gently nipped at her fingertips for food.

"I'm afraid I don't have anything," Yue told them. They issued small quacks of protests, and she chuckled at them again.

"Gentle creatures," Lu Ten said, watching her. "Aren't they?" Yue nodded, turning her attention back to him. "Until you hurt one of them. Then the mother becomes protective."

"I've never seen anything like them," Yue said. "There's not much animal life at the North Pole." Lu Ten smiled, but there was something melancholy in his expression that Yue did no understand. He turned his eyes onto the pond.

"Yue," he started hesitantly. "I can understand if you hate me, hate my entire country. You've been taken from your home because of an arranged marriage to me." Yue turned to the pond as well.

"I don't hate you," she said. "You've done no wrong to me."

"But you hate the Fire Nation." Yue took a deep breath. Was he testing her?

"I do not hate the country that I am soon to be a member of. Though, I do resent some things your military has done to my previous home." Suddenly, Lu Ten was laughing. Yue glanced up at him, confused.

"You are quite the diplomat." Yue smiled back in response. Le Ten turned back toward the pond. "Your father probably arranged this marriage in order to protect you. Water Tribe women are becoming quite popular among gentlemen houses." He let the implication hand in the air for Yue to stare horrified at him.

"What?" she gasped.

"But, rest assured, I have no such plans for you," he said quickly. "I want our marriage to be honest, faithful, and seen as a tie between political equals even though it's necessarily not."

"A political marriage," she said. That was what she was meant for.

"But, I want more than mere politics in our marriage, Yue. My hope is that, in time, we'll be close— emotionally and physically. Or, at least friends, civil."

"I hope for the same thing." Lu Ten turned to give her a small smiled.

"Then, for this to happen, we must learn to trust each other. I can promise you that I'll not harm you. But I can also warn you that there will be people who are not happy about our engagement, and I wouldn't put my complete trust in them with you."

Yue nodded in comprehension.

"We'll stay here on Fire Island for a few months, to help everyone get used to the two of us. I've taken the liberty of scheduling the wedding day in two weeks."

"Two weeks?" she repeated, surprised. Did they not offer any sort of courtship here in the Fire Nation? She detected a pattern forming— he would make the decisions and she would agree with him. Of course, she shouldn't have expected any different.

"Yes— I wanted it done quickly so no more dissension would come up about it, and we can return to our home in New Flame without other… influences." Yue quirked an eyebrow but said nothing more. The original charm he had over her was all but dimmed. Clearly he was a man of action that was so used to the realm of politics, that his words reflected it. Almost self-contradiction. First, he wanted an attachment with Yue. Now he just wanted the wedding to be over as soon as possible. He wanted them to be seen as political equals while he made all the decisions. Yue wasn't sure of what to make of it or of the edgy behavior he had toward Fire Island.

"Where is your father?" she asked him.

"I suspect he's in his library."

"Does he approve of me?"

"Moreso than anyone else," he said. Then a smiled touched his face. "But perhaps you should see for yourself. Come." Lu Ten stood up, brushing off his robes, and held a hand out to Yue, who took it after a moment's hesitation.

He didn't lead her back to the large room with the many pillars. Instead, he took her further into the depths of the palace, traversing more narrow corridors. They passed several servants who all nodded their head in respect to Lu Ten. Soon, they came upon a doorway with an intricate, jeweled frame. Yue awed at the craftsmanship as Lu Ten steered her inside.

The library was more of a personal study, Yue noticed. But it took her a moment of blinking to realize they had interrupted a conversation of sorts. By the tensed atmosphere, Yue guessed it to be a disagreement. She knew of Fire Lord Iroh through the many banners that had his face on them. He was sitting on a cushioned pillow on the floor. The other man in the room was standing, much younger than the Fire Lord with his ink black hair. His fists were clenched and his expression was squared as if he was physically forcing himself not to glare once he noticed Yue in the room. Lu Ten broke the silence.

"I apologize, Father," he said. "We did not mean to intrude. We'll leave the two of your alone." Le Ten turned to leave but the Fire Lord called out to him.

"Nonsense, Lu Ten," he said, an old, gravelly voice. "Your uncle here was just leaving." The Fire Lord turned his golden eyes one the other man who had straightened in posture and held his neck high, placing his hands into his sleeves.

"I will pick this conversation back up later, Iroh," he said. His voice made Yue's spine tingle with apprehension. It was a voice that reminded her of ashes and smoke, all the more threatening since he spoke so contemptuously. He made a curt bow but before he could exit the room, Lu Ten addressed him.

"Uncle Ozai, this is my bride, Princess Yue." Ozai froze and glanced sideways to her through angled slits.

"A tribal girl with a throne," he remarked coldly. "How delightful." The shrewd sarcasm hung in the air even after he disappeared with a swish of his robes.

"But nonetheless, a beautiful tribal girl," the Fire Lord said, rising to his feet. "Don't mind my brother. He only wishes he could be like me and soon have a beautiful daughter such as you." Yue smiled an honest smile that easily stretched across her face as the Fire Lord raised her hand to his lips.

"You are too kind," she said, blushing. All the worries of Ozai's presence left her. There was something about Lu Ten's father that made him so likeable. Perhaps it was his friendly manner or stubby, jovial appearance. Certainly he did not kill ten thousand men in the Fall of Ba Sing Se.

"I trust Lu Ten has told you about the wedding date arrangement?"

"He has," she assured him.

"Good. I apologize for the abruptness; there are several precarious situations which must be dealt with accordingly."

"It's fine." Maybe there was a real reason to the speedy arrangement. Judging from the personalities of Azula and Ozai, Yue would guess that there was tension among the royal family. Lu Ten's words echoed in her mind.

"In the meantime, you've yet to have a proper welcoming party. Let us depart— Lu Ten, go get properly dressed for a feast. I'll escort the lady to her room." The Fire Lord grinned mischievously, and Yue couldn't help but laugh at his expression.

Hope you enjoyed! Please review!

-NuitSongeur