"Ryu, wake up" Kai's voice woke me up, she walked in, I pulled myself up but stopped when I realize his arm is around me, I looked up, Ryu has walked in looking at the paper's in her hands,
"Kai Get out now" I yelled, "No Ryu today is your wedding you can't sleep any longer"
"What is happening?" his morning voice boomed through the room, making Kai drop the paper's in her hands, she is looking behind me, I followed her gaze, Zuko was holding himself by one arm other around me, he is shirtless,
"Fire lord?" Kai said, I looked back at her, we made eye contact, "Kai get out, Knock next time" I yelled,
"I am so sorry" she bends down to gather the papers, "Kai now out" I yelled running impatient,
"Ryu calm down you are scarring poor girl," he said laying back down, he ran his hand through his hair,
Kai stood back up, "I am so sorry fire lord, I didn't know you were here"
"Kai?" I warned again, she left closing the door behind her, I looked back at Zuko, "You scared that poor girl" he said smiling at me, "She should be a little scared, doesn't matter how many times we fight over this she never knocks"
He pulled me back down, "I don't think she would do the same mistake again" he chuckled making his chest move, I put my head on it, "She better not"
"We should probably get up," I said tracing my finger through his abs, "No, I like it like this"
"Being late to their own wedding will not look good for the king and queen" I argued,
"Too bad" he took my hand in his and kissed it, "Are you excited?" he asked,
"Yeah, maybe more worried", "Worried?" he asked,
"Yeah what if I did something wrong, the whole kingdom not to mention people from other kingdoms will be watching"
"Don't worry you will do amazing, other than that I will be there" he kissed my hand again,
Today we decided to have breakfast alone just two of us, we ate in mostly comfortable silence, he told who is coming, Chiefs from both water tribe are coming, King Bumi is coming, King of Ba Sing Sa is not coming but the crowned prince is, all the officials will be there, all these big people just to watch us get married, this didn't help with my anxiety at all,
After breakfast he left to welcome king Bumi, who is apparently Aang's childhood best friend from hundred years ago, that's crazy,
I heard a knock, "Come in" Kai slowly opened the door, she looked around the room before laying her eyes on me, "He is gone?" she asked,
"Who told you to just barged in" I yelled hitting her on the arm, "I always barge in, I have been barging in my whole life, I never found a half-naked boy in your room, how would I know today will be different" she rubbed her arm,
"Don't ever do that again", I warned her, "So...?" she asked,
"So nothing, nothing happened we cuddled; now if you got what you were looking for can we get back to work I am getting married and crowned today"
"Yeah, I and Jun are handling everything, you just worry about looking pretty" I walked up to the mirror,
"I saw your crown; it is so shinny" she smiled, "Can you ask staff to prepare me a bath?"
She nodded and left, I took a deep breath trying to calm myself, I am already married to him, this should be easier but somehow it is more difficult,
***
"Ryu hold still" Kai said, making the small bun on which crown will be placed, we decided to leave hair just open my long jet black hair down till my waist, I am sitting in my rob, almost ready with hair and makeup done, I tried to go more natural,
All the girls are outside in the sitting area, their laughter can be heard, Katara opened the bedroom door, "How long, your grandma wants to know?" she asked,
"I am almost done, she just has to change" Kai answered, I have this weird feeling in my stomach, I think I am getting cold feet, Kai put her hand on my shoulder looking through the mirror, "You okay?"
I nodded, standing up, I walked up to the dress laying on the bed, I sat next to it, "Kai can you get me a glass of water?" I asked, she nodded and left closing the door behind her, I walked up to the glass door, is he in his room, I want to see him, it will be wrong to go to him wouldn't it be,
The door opened again reviling Kai with water, we got dressed, the ceremony is in the evening and after-party at night,
I ran my hand through the dress, here I am fire lady Ryu, this is something I will have to get used to, I turned around Kai is standing behind me with small tears in her eyes, I turned around to hug her,
"Thank you for being here for me, I don't know what I would have done without you" I tightened the hug, I haven't talked to Jiang since I found about them, a part of me doesn't want to, I know it is wrong but I still feel betrayed, I will have to face the music
I walked out in the sitting area where everyone is, "Here comes the bride" Kai said walking out,
They all turned around to see me, I stood there awkwardly with everyone's eyes on me, some gasped, other smiling, I looked around the room, Grandma is sitting with Ursa with Kiyi in her lap, Katara and Suki on floor cushions, Toph is sitting on the single chair, Mai and Ty Lee are standing on the corner,
Mai came no one told me, I nodded at her which she returned,
"Ryu you look beautiful," My grandma said standing up, I walked up to her, she kissed my forehead, I kissed her hand, Kiyi jumped off Ursa's lap and tugged on my dress,
I coached down, "You look beautiful," she said with a bright smile, I kissed her on the cheek, "So do you"
"You look stunning dear," Ursa said hugging me, "We better head out, Ceremony is about to start," Suki said, everyone left for the door, Mai came and stood next to me,
"I am glad you came", "Me too"
She had a rose in her hand, she put it in front of me for me to take, "Take care of him" she said with a smile, I took the flower "I will" with that she left, leaving me and Kai behind,
"What was that about?" Kai asked confused, "Nothing, we better leave too"
***
Everyone gathered around, standing on both sides, Kai has done a good job, it's all red and white, with a red aisle, there are white lilies around it, which leads to the stairs, Zuko is already there, standing up there, with his eyes fixed on me,
it Started with Kiyi who was the flower girl she walked up to Zuko, who kissed her before she returns to her mother, the first to go were Aang and Katara, Suki and Sokka than Kai and Jiang, before he left he kissed me cheek "You look beautiful" with that he walked away with Kai, there I let you go, you are freed I thought to myself seeing him walk away with Kai.
I slowly walked toward him, keeping my eyes on him, he is all I need from today, he is my present and future, he is all there is, when I was close enough I could see his smirk I call mine, I smiled at him keeping my head high, I saw Grandma and Bao to my right with Ursa and Uncle on my left standing at the front,
When I reached the end of the stairs, I bowed, he walked down and put his hand in front of me, I put my hand in his, it fit right in like it was meant for him to hold, at that moment we were alone, just us
He helps me up the stair, "You look stunning" he whispered leaning in, "Thank you, my lord" I smiled at him,
"Kiyi was right I love it" I smiled at him, the sages are standing on top waiting for us,
"Lady Ryu from Dragon blood Line do you take Fire lord Zuko as your Husband?" The head sage asked, "I do" his eyes burning into mine,
"Lord Zuko from royal bloodline do you take Ryu Dragon as your wife?", his grip on my hand become tightened, with a smile on his face he said, "I do"
"With power rested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife, my lord you may kiss your bride" Sage took a step back,
Zuko wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me into him, his lips collide with mine, his kiss was soft unlike the one that morning in front of the rising sun which was filled with passion, but this one was warm and loving, like a warm hug, like hot chocolate in cold winter,
He pulled away, still inches away from my face, I hold his face into my hands and kissed him again, I can feel him smiling through the kiss,
When we stepped away all the voices came back, everyone was cheering, why haven't I noticed that when he was holding me, we turned around and waved
"Now it is time to crown our new fire lady" The head sage came in front, making everyone quite, other sage behind him is standing holding the platter with the crown on it,
I looked back at him he is trying to study me, I smiled at him, I took a knee, facing the crowd, "By the order of our Fire lord Zuko, I Prounce you fire Lady Ryu" he placed the crown on my head, I can feel it,
Zuko forward his hand for me to hold, I took it standing up, "Fire Lady Ryu, your queen" He said aloud, making every one form the kingdom take a knee, other's form other kingdom lowered their head,
I looked back at him, "My Queen" he acknowledged, "My King"
***
We are standing here in front of the whole crowd, in the main ballroom, we are being introduced to the officials well I am not him,
"King Bumi," said the man how is standing there letting us know who we are meeting, an old man came in front of us, we bowed, so did he,
"Ryu this is King Bumi, I told you about", "Yes it is truly an honor to meet you" I smiled at him,
"It's nice to meet you too, young fire lady, you are a dragon right," he said, he looks little weird, "Yes your highness, I guess you can say that"
"You don't believe that you are one," he asked little shock, "There is no proof other than that I am really good at bending, that I have a dragons sprit insist of a human soul"
"Hmm must be hard to not believe in your own existence," he said, running his hand through his long beard,
"You think I can be?" I asked, "I don't think I know you are" with that he left, I looked back at Zuko,
"I know he is a little off up there," he said pointing at his head, I chuckled, I never thought it is hard, I never thought about it if I believe it or not, does it even matter
"Chief Hakoda of northern water tribe" The man introduced, a man came forward, he bowed so did we,
"Ryu this is Sokka and Katara's father" Zuko introduced, "Nice to meet you, sir"
"Fire lady" he nodded, "My son told me about you, he seemed very fond of your leading style"
"Thank you, Sokka is inspirational himself too, I am sure he will be an amazing chief" I smiled at him, he looks at Sokka who is talking to Katara and Suki "I know he will" he smiled,
"Crown prince Wang lie of Ba sing Sa" The man introduced,
A young man about in his twenties walked up, he bowed so did we, "I apologies my father couldn't make it but I am here to make up for him" he smiled, he has light green eyes,
"That's okay, I am glad he send you" Zuko replied,
Wang looked smiling at me, "Fire lady Ryu", "Prince Wang lie" I nodded,
"You are truly stunning, I have heard of girls of fire nation being beautiful, good to see that it is true" I smiled at him, "Thank you"
"Fire lady I came here with a present if you allow me?" he asked, I nodded, he looked behind him, a servant gave him a box, "This stone is called the heart of the mountain" he opened the box revealing a ring with a red stone on it,
"It's beautiful" I complimented it, "But not as beautiful as you, may I?" he asked pulling the ring out, he raised his hand for me to put mine, okay he is too cliché at this point, is her really flirting with fire lords wife in front of fire lord,
I looked back at Zuko who have an uneasy look, I put my hand in his, he put the ring on my finger, "Perfect fit" he said smiling, he kissed my hand, I pulled it away as fast as I could,
I looked at the ring admiring it, "I hope you like it" he said fishing for compliments, "I do truly breathe taking"
"Nothing but best for fire lady" he smiled, before he could say anything Zuko Cut him, "Why don't we dance," He said holding my hand in mine and Walking away,
We danced in the middle as everyone is standing around, all eyes on us, "I don't like him" he said clearly pissed, "I am not a big fan myself" he tightened his grip on my waist,
"Don't let him come near again like that" he said coming close to my ear, "Zuko you don't trust me?" I asked,
"I trust you not him", I hold his face so we are face to face, "Trust me enough not to care about him" I kissed him,
***
Everyone is sitting around the table for diner; servants are walking around serving,
Sokka stood up "I would like to make a toast," he said with glass in his hand, "Zuko my good friend, who we once knew as Angry ponytail guy who followed us around the world looking for his honor, that reminds me Buddy did you find it or the search still going?" everyone laughed,
"But in his defense, it is hard to look for things with only one good eye"
"Sokka" Katara warned her brother, who ignored her and continued,
"Okay okay, that's enough, Zuko has changed okay, he truly proved himself to be a good friend and worthy king, I just want to say that I am proud of you, and Ryu I warn you he is hot head be care full, if he loses it again let me know, I and my boomerang will handle it, Zuko do you remember the first time we met my boomerang did some damage to that bald head of yours" he laughed, he is little drunk, "I remember," Zuko said laughing,
"I wish you both Happiness, may your marriage be long and happy" he raised his glass,
"To fire lord Zuko and fire Lady Ryu" everyone cheered.