"Leave me," Ozai ordered, and the messenger scuttled out of the room. As soon as the door closed behind him, Ozai let out a ferocious growl and got to his feet. Damn that Zhao. He had ruined everything.

How on earth had he misunderstood Ozai's orders of shaming that Water Tribe girl to think he should force himself on her? Ozai had made himself clear. He needed Zhao to publicly shame her in such a way that his people would believe that the people of the Water Tribe couldn't be trusted. That they had lose morals, no honor, whatever it took for his subjects to think that the Water Tribes weren't like them.

Instead, Zhao decided to force himself on her the first night they met. Attacked her, if the message he had just received was to be trusted. And not only that, oh no, Zhao had done it just in time for the Prince of the Fire Nation to rush in and save her. Defended her honor, winning an Agni Kai against the Commander.

It had become a damned spectacle, a story to be told for years to come. The brave prince rushing in to save the innocent young bride to be from the evil soldier. It sounded as if it had come straight out of a fairy tale. As soon as word got out of this incident, the people of the Fire Nation would sing the praises of their heroic prince Zuko; and rally around the young Katara, who was still bravely going forward with her promise, even though she had been attacked by a Fire Nation soldier who she was supposed to be able to trust.

He tugged on his beard as he struggled to come up with a way to salvage this disaster. He had been hoping that Zhao would make Katara look like a self-serving woman who was only looking out for herself, willing to switch allegiances as soon as it suited her better. He needed his people to feel insulted enough that they would not oppose a full-out war with the Water Tribes. And now…now Katara looked like a saint in the eyes of his people.

He wasn't sure if he could change his people's opinion, now. He wouldn't be able to keep this story quiet. If he did anything less than welcome her with open arms, he would seem cold and cruel.

Ozai didn't know how to proceed. He may be the Fire Lord, but he still needed his people's approval to rule. Should the public become displeased with him, it would hurt morale. Divide his people. It could even snow-ball into rebellions. Not that he thought the situation was that dire, but he had to be careful.

All was not lost, though. He still had the girl. He could still use her against her own, if the need came to it. She may only be a single girl, but she was loved by her people. Surely they wouldn't want anything to happen to her. All-out war might be off the table, but he could still manipulate the situation to his will.

XXXXX

Katara sighed as she floated in the water, closing her eyes. A smile crossed her face. It had been a long time since she had relaxed like this, just letting her mind drift as if nothing else existed.

She had left the camp behind half an hour ago, telling them she was going to find a private place to bathe. Zuko had merely nodded, barely looking up from the double swords he was trying to sharpen with borrowed equipment from one of the other soldiers. Katara didn't particularly mind. She was a bit embarrassed about crying in front of him, and figured he probably felt the same way. It was probably best if they kept some distance between them for the moment.

She had made sure that the pond she chose was far away from camp—not that she thought anyone would peep, but she still didn't want a bored soldier wandering across her while she was trying to bathe. She had also promised herself she would be quick so there was no chance of that happening, but as soon as she had dove into the water…well. It was funny how even though she had been on a ship for weeks, surrounded by water, she hadn't been able to enjoy it.

And it wasn't as if she had anything to do today. They weren't expecting the rest of the crew to return until tomorrow. Why not waste an hour or so enjoying herself?

She dove under, kicking down until she reached the bottom. Katara turned so her feet were in the muddy silt, and then propelled herself back up, laughing when she broke the surface. She tossed her hair out of her face and dipped back under again, lazily circling the pond.

If she hadn't been underwater, she might have heard the twigs snapping underfoot.

XXXXX

Zuko carefully ran his thumb over the Dao sword, noting that he had managed to put an edge on it, but it still wasn't as sharp as he would like. Figuring he wouldn't get much better with the tools he was using, he set it aside and started on its twin.

Sharpening his weapons was keeping his hands busy, but not his mind. He kept thinking about what he and Katara had spoken of the day before. He had never, ever, shared his thoughts like that with someone, until he met her. Not even his uncle. He idly wondered if Iroh knew what Zuko thought of his father. He wondered whether Iroh felt the same. Did he suspect that Ozai had killed his own wife, and their father? If he did, why did he keep his silence? Ozai had taken the throne, which was rightfully his older brother's. Was Iroh just sick with grief, over losing his son, and his father, and his sister-in-law? When he had come back from the failed attack on the Earth Kingdom, was his uncle just tired of violence, of war?

Zuko thought about how quickly Iroh had latched onto him. As soon as Iroh returned and found out what had changed, he took Zuko under his wing. Even as his face was still healing, Iroh made a point of making sure Zuko trained every day. Zuko didn't want to. He had just lost his mother, and, in a way, his father. He had no interest in learning how to use his bending to hurt people.

Iroh didn't force him. After his face had been burned, for months afterwards, Zuko didn't bend. At all. Instead, Iroh taught him how to fight the way non-benders did. With their hands. And weapons.

Both of them had been surprised with how quickly Zuko had taken to it. Iroh had been reluctant to teach Zuko so much, so quickly, but eventually decided that if Zuko wanted to learn there was no harm in that. When Zuko found a new weapon that Iroh wasn't familiar with, he brought in a tutor. Iroh had sure Zuko always had plenty of sparring partners, making sure to change them regularly so that Zuko never had it easy.

Now, years later, he thought about that. Was Iroh trying to prepare him? Make sure that he could always protect himself, no matter what? Did he think that he hadn't prepared his own son well enough, and that was why he lost him?

Zuko pressed his lips together as his hands stilled, and he stared down at the sword he had been sharpening. Iroh was always trying to protect Zuko, but now Zuko had someone he wanted to protect. He wanted to protect Katara, his friend. Except…he couldn't. Swords wouldn't help him. Nothing could help him, help her. He had told Katara his big plans for the future, about waiting his father out so he could change the direction of the country…but what about Katara? She couldn't wait. She didn't have time.

Zuko let out a long sigh and straightened, letting his head fall back. Thinking like this wasn't going to help either of them. Katara was old enough to make her own decisions; she didn't need or want him to swoop in and save her. And he shouldn't want to. She wasn't his to save. She wasn't his anything, besides friend. That was it.

He was beginning to get concerned with the number of times he'd had to tell himself that, over and over. Zuko didn't have much experience with friendships, but this was beginning to feel like something different. Something he wasn't allowed to feel. Something that, if Zuko ever stopped trying to fight, would open such a can of worms that what he had already been through would merely feel like a walk in the park.

Zuko dug his thumb against the edge of the sword, satisfied when it bit into his skin and drew blood. Don't even think about it, he told himself. If you don't think about it, it doesn't exist.

It was time he found something to do that would keep his mind busy, not just his hands. All this thinking wasn't good, not when it was heading in that certain direction. He stood and sheathed the swords.

Just as he bent down to pick up the sharpening tools he had been borrowing, a shout and a burst of heat from the other side of camp made him whirl around.

XXXXX

Katara pulled herself out of the water, figuring that she had spent enough time to herself. She didn't want the others to get worried about why she had been gone for so long. With one quick motion, she wicked the water off her body, sending it back into the pond. After donning her clothes, Katara began leisurely walking back to camp, braiding her hair as she went. She had decided to leave it wet, since it was always easier to manage when it was dripping rather than dry.

If she hadn't been looking down, watching her fingers as she braided her hair across her shoulder, she probably wouldn't have seen the boot-print in the dirt. Katara stilled her hands as she stared down at it.

It was definitely fresh, she registered. And she recognized the shape. Fire Nation issue.

Katara immediately spun around, searching the trees. She'd kill whoever had been peeping on her, the creep. "Who's there?" she demanded, voice sharp. She couldn't see anyone, but that didn't mean they weren't hiding now that she realized she wasn't alone. "I know you're there!"

There was no response. Katara turned in a circle, glaring. When she found out who it was, she would rip them limb from limb. Pervert, watching her bathe!

Katara calmed her embarrassment and anger enough so that she could focus on her bending. She planned on sensing for water around her, but she needn't have bothered, because in the next second, a form slipped out from behind one of the trees in front of her. "My lady. So nice to see you again."

Katara stared, speechless for a moment. All her anger fizzled away in seconds, to be replaced with confusion and creeping apprehension. "Zhao?" she breathed, horrified. How had he…what was he doing here? He was supposed to be locked up!

He smiled at her, but there was no warmth in it. "No hello? Lady Katara, I thought you would be happy to see me. I know I certainly am."

Katara's mind whirled, but she knew one thing. This was not good. She quickly got over her shock as she realized that she was in danger. Zhao was not her friend. He had tried to kill her the last time she had seen him.

His smile grew as he looked at her, slowing prowling forward. "Why, you look scared. I can't imagine why. It's not as if I might wish you harm, after how we parted."

"You're supposed to be locked up on your ship," she said stupidly, keeping space between them. "How—Why—"

Zhao seemed to take amusement from her stuttering. He held a hand out to his side, casually forming a small ball of fire in his palm. He kept his eyes on it, but spoke to her. "Well, you see, I have some very loyal men under me. Men willing to go against their orders to help their commanding officer."

Were there others? Katara swallowed hard and hastily sent her powers out, searching for more bodies around her. It was a small relief when she registered only her and Zhao were in the clearing. She was all alone with this maniac.

Zhao didn't notice her glancing around and tossed the flame into his other hand. "Men willing to…rise against those who showed no loyalty to me. I think you'd be surprised how easy it was to secure a crew and a ship in order to chase after those who had shamed me. Just the mention of the rewards that would come for following me…and suddenly I had my own little band of men." He turned his gaze to her. "And, if my math is correct, a larger number than the men that are traveling with you."

Katara's back hit a tree, and she took a steadying breath. If Zhao was telling the truth, and she and him were the only two here, then that meant they were attacking the camp. And their numbers were already depleted, with half of the crew taking off for the next village.

Zhao drew his hands together, then separated them, now sporting two balls of flame. "Imagine my surprise when we came across your traveling band, and found out that your ship had been marooned! Why, I couldn't believe my luck. And then, you went off and separated yourself?"

Katara saw the glint of madness in Zhao's eyes as he came closer and fought the urge to simply turn tail and run. She struggled to focus herself and prepared to meet Zhao's move when he made it.

"Such luck makes me think that it must be destiny. Your people believe in such things, don't you? That one could be chosen by the gods?" Zhao stopped a few feet away, tipping his head to stare at her. "Clearly, when things fell so easily into place, it was meant to be this way. The second you rose against me, you were doomed." He drew his lips back into a smile that was too wide, that showed too much teeth. "My lady, you should have taken my offer, when I first gave it to you. As much as I will enjoy killing you, I would have much preferred being able to keep you all to myself."

"I think you'll find me a bit more difficult than last time," Katara told him, trying to rally herself, even though her heart was thrumming in her throat. "You made a mistake. You shouldn't have faced me when there's water nearby."

Before she even finished speaking, Zhao had lunged. Katara dove out of the way and twisted, slinging a blade of water in his direction.

XXXXX

Zuko growled as he swept the fire away from him, standing to face yet another opponent. Jee was at his side, fighting off another. "Where are they all coming from?" he demanded, panting.

"I don't know! But they're overwhelming us!"

The ambush had been so quick, Zuko hadn't even realized what was happening before the camp had been surrounded. Easily two dozen, if not more, men had poured out of the trees, backing Zuko and his crew against the water. They had quickly banded together, doing their best to fend off the attack, but they were being overpowered.

Even more disorienting—they seemed to be Fire Nation. Unless this was some disguise by his enemies, Zuko was being attacked by his own people. He had run into rogue firebenders before, but those uniforms were Fire Nation Navy issue.

"Where's the General?" one of them yelled to another. "He was supposed to be with them!"

"Maybe he's with the Water girl!" the other soldier shouted back, knocking aside the crewmember that had leapt at him. "The Commander will deal with them!"

At that, Zuko glanced at Jee. They shared a look. Katara was in danger.

"Go to her!" Jee shouted, kicking away a soldier that got too close. "We'll hold them back."

Zuko didn't argue. He charged the line that was pinning them in, and used a startled soldier to springboard himself over them. Without looking back, he darted off into the trees.

"Don't let the Prince escape!" one of them shouted, turning to chase after him.

Jee tackled him down. "Men! Don't let them get away! Protect the Water Lady!" The crew shouted in response, fighting to detain any of the soldiers from following Zuko.

Zuko ran through the trees, praying that Katara hadn't gone too far, and that she hadn't already run into trouble. He should have never let her out of his sight, if she got hurt—

No, Katara was strong, he tried to assure himself as he ran. He couldn't think like that. He had sparred against her, seen her in action. She could hold her own, at least until he got there.

So long as she didn't have to face a whole group of them. Zuko ran faster.

XXXXX

Katara knelt by the water's edge, panting. She ripped off the sleeve of her gown that was smoking and tossed it aside. "That the best you got?" she demanded, trying to ignore the pain from her arm.

Zhao snarled at her, wiping blood from his mouth. His uniform was slashed across the front, and shallow wounds were still bleeding across his chest.

Katara licked her lips. This wasn't good. She may be a good bender, but Zhao was a Commander of the Fire Nation Navy. And he had the power of insanity pushing him on. The crazed look in his eyes was enough to convince her. He had lost it—completely, absolutely lost his grip on reality.

He had continued talking to her as he tried to kill her. Between obscenities and curses, Katara had pieced together he thought that if he killed her, and Zuko and Iroh and the crew, he would be welcomed back to the Fire Nation. It was her fault all this had happened, her fault his life had fallen apart—

Katara threw up a shield of ice as Zhao thrust more fire at her, just in time. The ferocity of it almost knocked her over. She struggled to keep her feet as the burst of flame pushed her back, eating away at the ice she fought to keep between them. A biting pain on her ankle alerted her that her dress had once again caught fire.

In that moment of distraction, Zhao had rushed her, using his body to break through the now-brittle shield and knocking her to the ground. Katara had enough time to punch her fist into his cheek before the weight of his body slammed her against the dirt, knocking the breath out of her.

Zhao merely shook off the blow. Leaning close, he whispered to her, "Isn't this familiar? And you seemed to think that having water would help you. Funny how even though you have it right at hand you're right back where you were."

Katara choked for breath as his hand tightened on her throat. Closing her eyes, she gathered water into her hand, freezing it. "Get—off—me," she grit out, and stabbed the ice-dagger deep into his side.

Zhao bellowed with pain, letting go of her throat and twisting away. Katara scrambled out from under him, coughing and trying to see through the spots that were dancing before her eyes.

"Bitch!" Zhao yanked out the dagger with a grunt, and turned his attention to her. She hadn't put enough distance between them, and he grabbed her hand, yanking her to him. Katara didn't fight him and went with it, throwing herself into the motion and smashing her elbow into his face. Zhao reeled back, dropping the dagger, but not letting her go. He stumbled back into the water, free hand held to his face, dragging her with him. Katara fought his grip, trying to get away, but his grip was too strong. Her feet slipped in the muddy bottom, and she fell, throwing Zhao off-balance as well.

Katara desperately tried to regain her feet and get away, but Zhao's hands were on her again, this time slamming her head down. Her forehead smacked against a rock that was half-buried in the mud, and she gasped with the impact. Water flooded her lungs, and she spewed it out as Zhao dragged her back up.

He turned her so they were face to face, dragging her close. "I'm going to drown you, water rat. In your own element." He shoved her under again, ignoring Katara's flailing limbs. "And then I'm going to burn your little prince to a crisp."

Katara gouged at Zhao's hands with her nails, drawing blood, but he didn't release her. She couldn't kick him, not when his knee was on her stomach, pinning her into the mud. She swallowed more water as she tried to fight him, choking on it.

Air. She needed air. She couldn't think. Too much water, it was killing her—she couldn't breathe—

Somewhere, as Katara's vision began to fade, her spirit rallied. No. She would not allow this man, this bastard, to kill her this way. If she was going to die, it would not be like this. With the last of her strength, Katara closed her fist around the water around her, and swung.

The hammer of ice she had created cracked against Zhao's skull. Instantly, the hands on her shoulders went slack. Zhao swayed, and then crashed into the water.

His body fell on top of her, trapping her even more surely than his hands had. Katara couldn't push him off. She had swallowed too much water, couldn't breathe, couldn't think…

And then, the weight was gone. Hands were on her, but they were dragging her out, not pushing her down. Katara spurted and coughed, vomiting out the water that had almost killed her, shaking in the arms that held her.

She ignored the fluttering hands on her, the questions, everything, only able to focus on the amazing thing that was air. Oh, she could breathe, and even if her throat was raw and it hurt, it was the best sensation ever. Katara gulped it in, head swimming. She pressed her forehead against her hands on the ground, fighting the coughing fit and glad to be above water.

Zuko stopped asking if she was okay when her breathing evened out and she quieted. He tightened his grip on her and pressed his face into her hair. "Oh, you're alright. Thank Agni."

"Zuko?" Katara asked, once she came back to herself. Zuko pulled away from her, but didn't let go of her arms.

"I thought you were dead."

"So did I," she said, voice raw and terrible. She turned to Zhao. Zuko had dragged him clear of the water to get at her, and he was lying motionless in the mud. "Did I kill him?" she asked quietly.

"I don't know."

Katara stared at his body for a moment, about to go over and see, when Zuko stood and tugged at her arm. When she turned to look at him, he pulled her to her feet. "Katara, we need to move. Zhao wasn't the only one. He brought a whole group of men, and they've attacked the camp."

"Oh." Katara turned in the direction of camp, just now recognizing the noises of battle. "Well. We should do something." She trembled with another coughing fit, then looked at Zuko. "We should go help."

Zuko stared down at her. She was swaying in his grasp. There was a cut on her forehead, still bleeding, and her lip had been split. Her arm looked badly burned. She was in no shape to be fighting. The dazed look in her eyes, he wasn't even sure if she remembered her own name, let alone stand on her own.

He looked over his shoulder towards camp, then back at her. Zhao had been trying to kill her, and undoubtedly that's what his men were trying to do as well. Katara couldn't protect herself right now. He wanted to go back and help his men, but he couldn't risk Zhao's men getting close to Katara.

As if to prove his point, Katara tried to step out of his grip. She tried to move towards camp, but the second Zuko's hands were off her she tottered dangerously to the side, throwing her hands out for balance. Zuko quickly grabbed her again.

"I think I'm going to be sick," she said, clenching her eyes shut. "I need to lie down."

"We don't have time," Zuko told her, bending down so he could look into her eyes.

"Just for a minute?" she begged.

Concussion, Zuko thought. Not good. "Katara, I need you to stay awake. Do you hear me?" She didn't respond, but flinched away when Zuko tried to swipe the blood off her forehead. "Stay awake. Katara."

She just mumbled, turning away from his hands. Zuko swore inwardly and glanced once more back towards camp. It sounded like they were getting closer.

"Come on, put your arm around me," he urged her, throwing her arm around his shoulders and sliding his own around her waist. "There you go."

"But camp's that way," Katara protested feebly.

"I know. Come on."

XXXXX

Zuko burst out onto the road, right in front of the travelling merchants. He scared them half to death, their cart birds balking and squawking. Zuko ignored the commotion he had caused. Hefting the barely-conscious Katara against him, trying to keep her upright, he stepped towards them.

"Please," he begged. "I need your help."

XXXXX

Short chapter, but a lot happens in it. Please review and let me know what you think, I'm a little divided on this one.

(I know I apologize every time for how long updates take, but I have three jobs at the moment, and have trouble finding time to write. I want to thank everyone for sticking with this very slow going story. It means a lot to me every time I sit down at my computer and see I've gotten another notification for this story.)