The DragonBorn

Chapter 22

Pain. It was all that Zeraphina could feel at that moment. The still stinging pain of taking the lightning bolt attack for Iroh. She lay in a rough lumpy bed made out of any kind of cloth Iroh and Zuko could find. They were able to find water to clean the wound, but when they unbuttoned her shirt, they saw more than just the wound Azula gave her, but a scarred wound from years ago.

Zuko was surprised to see that scar, but he couldn't worry about that at the moment. He helped his uncle clean and dress the wound. After they were done, all they could was wait for Zeraphina to wake up.

~~~~~

Zeraphina looked out at the soldiers from the seat of her bedroom window. It was near dawn and the soldiers were finally coming home from one of the many battles against the Earth Kingdom. It had been three years since she was brought to the Fire Nation capital, and it still hurt her so much to see some of the soldiers coming back with missing limbs, terrible injuries and broken spirits. She knew that one day all of this war would end, but she wanted the pain to end sooner than the future showed her in her flames.

"How terrible." She said to herself, "Seeing all of these people suffer for such a coward wearing a false crown."

"I understand your pain, child, but at the moment, we cannot do anything to help them. It is the Avatar's duty to bring balance to this corrupt world."

"Honestly, I do hope that is in the near future. I want this suffering to end."

Zeraphina sighed and looked away from all the soldiers outside her window. Just as she closed her curtains, a knock came to her door.

"Who's there?" She asked, walking up to the large doors.

"It's me, Zuko. Open the door, Zera." The young prince whispered. Zeraphina didn't hesitate to open the door. Zuko without warning barged into the room and closed the door behind him.

"My Prince, what's the matter? You can't come into my room, it's forbidden by your grandfather's orders." She said, but Zuko just shushed her and grabbed her by the arms.

"Are you okay? Did something happen between you and my grandfather?" Zuko was asking in a panic, fear evident in his eyes but more confusion was left in hers.

"What do you mean? What's the matter?" Zeraphina asked.

"There were rumors going around that my grandfather was planning your future. And from the way others were talking about it, it sounds like he doesn't like you anymore! You're--"

"My Prince, be calm." Zeraphina said gently to calm the young prince's nerves, "Fire Lord Azulon has not hurt me in the slightest, and as for the future, they must've heard wrong and thought of when I told the Fire Lord his future and not my own."

Zuko was concerned for a moment, but then sighed in reliefand did something a prince of the Fire Nation should never even think about. He hugged the young DragonBorn tightly in his arms.

"Thank goodness. Is that really what happened?" Zuko asked.

"It's true, My Prince. The Fire Lord has never spoken about my own future. After all, the DragonBorn is nothing but a pawn or tool to be used for the Fire Nation's own goals and fulfillments towards the future."

"That's not what you are to me." Zuko said, clutching her tighter than before, "You're my best friend, Zera. You'll never be a tool to me."

Zeraphina was surprised, as it wasn't often that Zuko would call her a friend. She decided to take whatever kindness she could get in this cruel nation. Zeraphina wrapped her arms around Zuko to hug him back, smiling as she leaned her head into his chest. However, she was holding back the tears, since her wounds hurt too much when Zuko grabbed her arms.