Winter's Daughter

Cal's eyes were gorgeous; one of the first things you were captured by when you first met. His freckles were another, alongside the scars that he had acquired from his revolt against The Empire. Before, he'd stiffen under your gaze, worried about how he appeared in your eyes.

And yet this time around, it made him feel warm, fingers gripping the blanket below you. He could see the love and admiration in your eyes, the lust.

"You're staring." He mumbled softly, moving to kiss along your neck. You let out a low moan with a laugh, bringing your fingers to run through his hair.

"You're beautiful, Cal." At your words, he began to thrust harder, the coil in your stomach growing tighter and tighter. He moaned softly, licking and sucking at your collarbones; places hidden to the naked eye, but clear and visible to you when alone.

"You know what that does to me, love." He angled your hips, a gasp leaving your throat at the newly found position. Cal rested his hand over your mouth, drowning out your moans as his thrusts moved deeper.

"Shhh, can't let the others hear how good I'm taking care of you right now." Your eyes rolled to the top of your head with each thrust, sweat lingering between your bodies. His fingers moved towards your clit, lightly stroking it as he sucked another hickey into your shoulder. His head moved to your breast, your back arching off the soft fabric of the blanket. The Koboh Abyss lit up the sky above you, sending another wave of arousal as you remembered where the two of you were.

Outside.

Where anyone could find you.

But Merrin made sure to keep them away for the day, Cal asking as a favor for wanting free time with you. The two of you had worked endlessly to prepare the Temple for the refugees, and within that time, Cal felt as if he had neglected you. Though you didn't mind, if it meant having sex like this, you'd start complaining.

"Cal, I'm close." You mumbled, pulling his face down to kiss him. That was before he stopped, pulling a sob from your lips.

"Shhh, shhh. I'm not going anywhere." He spoke as he shifted your body to all fours, pressing his large hand at the base of your spine to position you into the perfect arch. With that, he slid inside once more, thumb immediately moving to rub your clit. You moaned into the blanket, the meal and snacks that had been packed for the date long gone, your only fullness being Cal.

The new position made your toes curl, eyes rolling into the back of your head. Cal gave your ass a firm squeeze behind you, moving his hand to your neck, pulling you up to rest you back against his chest. His hand rested there, while the other continued to rub at your clit. You moaned out his name like a mantra, the coil growing tighter and tighter.

"Cal, I'm gonna-"

"Do it, let go for me."

With a gasp, you came, shuddering around him. He pushed you through your high while he went after his, pulling another orgasm out of you as he followed suit. He used the force to pull the other end of the blanket over the two of you, covering your bodies as you snuggled into his chest.

"I love you, Cal Kestis."

Cal was gone for a week.

Gone. More like mentally caged.

He had lost two people: one a Jedi Master and another a close friend. Cere and Bode’s bodies, along with Master Cordova’s, had been burned to ash the week prior, and no matter how hard you tried to crack him open, he wouldn’t.

So you decided to love him at a distance.

You and the crew tried to stay clear of Cal, sometimes Greez leaving with Kata to travel back to Koboh. Other times, Merrin joined them, leaving you and Cal alone for a few hours. They were bold, traveling through the Koboh Abyss alone without two Jedi. Yet Greez boasted, claiming that he had mastered it. Besides, for the Order to get here, someone had to guide the ships to bring them. Greez was only practicing.

You slipped into his room, giving up on the distance that had lingered between you for the past week and a half. He sat near one of the bookshelves that grew upon the walls, some material scattered on the floor, meditating. A nice-sized cot, more like a bed, lay tucked away, blankets neatly spread across the mattress.

Everyone had taken to their own rooms, small spaces similar to offices, just enough to feel comfortable and not suffocating. While you had set up your own, you knew there would come a time that you would join Cal, leaving your room behind as an extra space.

You love Cal. As he does you, being the first to admit it. You couldn’t stand the sight of your love suffering the way he was, but you knew he needed space. Yet the space was driving you insane, to the point where you had to confront him.

“Cal, love. Please. It’s been over a week, and I miss you. I know that sounds selfish, especially with everything we’ve been through, that you’ve gone through. But I can’t stand seeing you like this anymore. Merrin and Greez miss you. Kata misses you. I understand your pain, but I can fully feel your suffering.”

It was true. Over the years that you and Cal grew together, well before your relationship began; you had formed a bond. A bond in the force, allowing you to feel each other and understand each other's emotions. It was something shared only between Jedi who were closely bonded, and that, in itself, was against the Jedi Code.

But as you stood behind him, you could feel the sadness radiating from him. The fear, anger, frustration, disappointment, grief. All of it was there. And damn you, damn you for feeling so selfish! But you knew, deep down, that Cal understood. It was how he was built, putting others' needs before his own. You knew he’d understand that the people who loved him needed him. That in their need was a desire for comfort, to take on the pain together.

But Cal felt that he had disappointed everyone. He knew that Master Cordova and Cere died due to faulty judgment. He knew that killing Bode was the right thing to do, as he posed a threat to everything he loved and cared about. Yet, he still felt guilty for taking his life. He felt guilty for taking the only person Kata had left of her family.

You felt that through him, through the bond.

“This is not your fault, Cal. No one would have thought Bode would turn his back on you, that he would spark a damn near massacre. No one would have thought that Vader would come for Cere himself; we were all blind sighted.”

“Then why do I feel guilty?” Cal shouted, teary-eyed, turning towards you. You could see the bags under his eyes, noticing the lack of life that was a part of him.

“Because that’s who you are, Cal. You take on everything as if it’s your weight to carry, alone. You keep trying to save everyone else, but you never stop to let anyone save you.” You paused, speaking to him in a tone he would understand.

“The Force was never meant to walk alone." He turned his body towards you, his body shaking as he let out a sob. You dropped to your knees, pulling his body into yours. He sobbed into your chest, the tears slowly freely. The two of you sat there for what felt like hours, you rubbing his back. Eventually, he pulled away from you, resting your forehead against his.

“How do I stop?”

“Stop what, my love?” You spoke softly, rubbing his arms.

“How do I stop carrying this weight? How do I share the burden?” You kissed his lips softly, resting your arms on his shoulders.

“By putting it down long enough for someone else to pick up the other end." Cal took in your words, sighing softly as he kissed your lips.

“Thank you, my love.”

“Always, Cal. Never forget that.”

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Most of the time, when Zuko had business outside the nation, Iroh would fill in his place during meetings. Council members didn’t believe that a woman should sit in the Fire Lord’s place. Yet you weren’t just any woman; you were the daughter of the Chief of the Northern Water Tribe and, importantly, the Fire Lady. You sat with your father during his council meetings and, as you got older, took on small roles to get yourself more involved with your Tribe.

So when Iroh complained about the upcoming council meeting, you happily took his irritation as an invitation to take his place.

“Are you worried about a lack of knowledge, Uncle Iroh? I can assure you, I-“

“I am not worried about that, Y/N. In fact, I think you should be sitting in these meetings rather than me.” He smiled at you, grabbing your hands. You stood in front of one another outside the chamber, his eyes staring deeply into yours, as if he were reading your soul.

“Then what is it, Uncle?”

“I am worried about how the council members will treat you. You know our nation’s history just as much as I do. Women are not to be in places where the men are. And if they are, they are to be seen and not heard. While I don’t believe in those standards, many of them still do, and I worry that they will let that slip off their tongue.” You smiled at him, planting your hand firmly on his shoulder and squeezing.

“I assure you, Uncle, I will be fine. My father didn’t raise me to linger in a man’s shadow.” And he didn’t. After your mother fell ill, you stepped up, considering you were the oldest. Sure, you remained in a woman’s place in the Tribe, taming your bending and healing the ill and injured, but you sat in your father’s council meetings, having earned that right by proving your potential and importance. You read reports, you voiced your opinion on matters that deemed important to you, and when the men of the court questioned your opinion, you didn’t hesitate to defend your name. Neither did your father.

“While I understand your efforts in allowing your daughter to attend our meetings, Chief, she is a woman. And a woman is to have a woman’s place. She should have no opinion on things that do not concern her. These things are to be handled by the men.” Before your father could respond, you rose from your seat, turning your attention to the man in front of you.

“General, you are of great service to this court, let alone our tribe. However, please be wise with your words. I am the Princess, and whether I hold the crown or not, you are to respect my opinion and my word.” You spoke and your father looked at you with pride.

“She’s right. And if you ever disrespect my daughter in front of an audience again, you will be stripped of your title. Do you understand?”

The memory faded as you made your way into the chamber, robes dusting the floor. The room had grown silent, too silent for your liking; nevertheless, you held your head with pride. Before sitting upon the throne, you greeted the court with a smile.

“Thank you all for joining me today. As we are all aware, Fire Lord Zuko is outside the nation handling business with the Avatar. While General Iroh normally takes his place, today I offered him a break and will be taking his place instead.” The room grew quiet once more before an older minister in the far back of the room spoke.

“With all due respect, my Lady, these matters are usually handled by the men of the nation. Men who wield the power of fire. While I do not underestimate your knowledge, I do not believe you are best fit to hold this meeting.” A smirk appeared on your face, your head tipping down before lifting once more as you spoke.

“Thank you so much for you… speech Councilmen Shinu. I appreciate your concern. I’d like to inform you, however, that I have been involved in politics since age 14, so I am quite knowledgeable. I’d also like to remind you that although Zuko may be Fire Lord, I am the Fire Lady. We are equal. We both sit on this throne, and we both run the nation together. I would be a failure to our nation if I did not engage in these types of conversations.” You kindly sat on the throne, the room growing quiet once more. The meeting began, council members arguing their points.

“Trade routes! Pirates are bleeding our merchants dry.”

“Pirates are the least of our problems. The treasury is running dry.”

“That’s because our trade routes are-“

“Because our ports are clogged! Ships sit offshore for weeks.”

“Then send more warships to guard them.”

“With what money?”

“Raise tariffs.”

“Raise them again and merchants will stop coming.”

“Then they’ll pay because they have no choice.”

“They do have a choice. They’ll sail elsewhere.”

The room continues to grow louder with arguments, each member trying to make a point. A sigh left your lips before you interjected.

“If the council has finished their arguing over whose problem is more important, I believe I’ve found a solution that addresses everything.” You rose from your seat, moving from the throne to the table below. The councilmen all stepped back as you pointed to the Fire Nation map spread across the table.

“First, the pirates. Piracy thrives because merchants travel whenever it suits them. Establish scheduled trade convoys so ships travel together, and construct watchtowers along our busiest routes. That way, we have eyes on our ships and can warn them long before the pirates have the opportunity to strike.” The Minister of Trade began taking notes, allowing you to move to the next point.

“Our ports are equally inefficient. Separate the docks by cargo, require standardized shipping manifests before arrival, and reserve length inspections for each shipment. That should not deter any smuggling, but allows us to check the goods for anything that may be deemed unsafe for the public.” The Harbor Master nodded his head, a younger man, filling in notes and drawing sketches on the scrolls before him.

"It'll also keep us more organized, familiarize us with the people who are bringing in our goods, and build a stronger relationship with them; all good for business."

Finally, you faced the Minister of Finance.

“Lower the tariffs.”

A murmur spread through the chamber.

“My Lady, I don’t believe that is wise-“

“Merchants trade where it is safest, quickest, and most profitable. If we lower the cost of doing business, more merchants will choose our ports. More ships mean more commerce, and more commerce will replenish the treasury far more effectively than taxing away the merchants we already have. Also,” you paused before you completed your sentence, starting into the Minister’s eyes.

“I did not ask whether my decision was wise. You proposed a problem; I proposed a solution. If you have a problem with it, you can take it up with my husband when he returns. Though I doubt seriously that he’ll disagree with me.” You moved from the table, returning to your rightful place on the throne.

“This goes for everyone in this room. I hear your whispers, I know what you think of me. But let me remind you all that it is I who sit upon this throne. It is I who visit the villages, speak to the villagers, and take notes of their problems and suggestions. It is I who was selected for this position, even though it was an arranged marriage for peace between two nations. I am the Fire Lady. Therefore, you will follow what I say. Have I made myself clear?” The chamber grew quiet once more, the men within the chamber shaking their heads.

“Good. I’m glad we have reached an understanding. This meeting is adjourned. Any more proposals may be left on the table, and I will take the time to read them over. We will meet again tomorrow. Thank you all for your time.” At that, the chamber began to decongest, scrolls piling up on the long table that sat before you. Once the room was cleared, you removed your regalia, a sigh escaping your lips. You were too distracted to notice your husband come beside you, his warm presence instantly soothing you.

“If I had known you could hold a meeting like this, I would have invited you a long time ago. Hell, you could have taken my place.”

“Zuko!” You rose immediately, jewelry dropping to the floor as you flew into your husband’s arms, him spinning you around.

“When did you get back?” You asked, taking his face in your hands.

“Oh, a while ago. Right when you reminded Councilman Shinu of his place.” He pecked your lips, a smile ghosting his thereafter.

“And you didn’t think to sit in on this meeting?” You raised an eyebrow at him.

“I thought you were doing a wonderful job as is, my love. You didn’t need me.” He tilted your face towards him, staring into your eyes.

“Thank you, Zuko.” You met his lips in a deep kiss, only pulling away for air.

“I want to remind you that I know your experience, how you handle yourself, who you are. Your father made sure of that when we wed,” He paused, resting his forehead against yours.

“I will never doubt your judgement, never question your authority. You are my equal, and we will rule this nation together. As long as you’ll have me.” He chuckled at the end, stepping back and scratching his neck. You moved to kiss him again, this time warranting something more. But before either of you could make the move, Iroh came through the door.

“Uncle!” You both jumped away from one another, heat rushing to your cheeks.

“Hello, niece and nephew. I didn’t realize you returned, Zuko." He spoke, hands clasped in front of him, tucked into the sleeves of his robes.

“I did. Just in time to listen to Y/N’s meeting with the council. Her father did not do her skills justice.” Your cheeks grew warmer, Iroh moving to stand before you.

“I never doubted you. And truthfully, I was happy when you told me you’d take my place. And from the looks of it, it seems it went successfully.”

“Yes, you presented many solutions that are capable of being done and are sure to benefit the nation. I’ll start drawing up plans tonight.”

“You aren’t going to wait for your councilmen?” You questioned, tilting your head slightly as you looked up at your husband.

It was not supposed to go this way. No, you were supposed to keep your abilities hidden in your marriage and have them to yourself for safekeeping. But when you found yourself defending your injured husband, arranged, bending had been the only option.

Women of the Water Tribes were supposed to be healers - tend to the ill, heal the men who went to war, and those who handled the hard labor. Birth and care for the children, all to be seen and not heard.

You were no different, especially considering you were the Chief’s daughter. And that had been one of the terms that came with your arranged marriage to Zuko: that you would fall into place as Fire Lady and keep your bending to a minimum. While Zuko made it very clear that you did not have to abide by some of the rules and traditions of the Fire Nation, the councilmen and ministers made it known your place and who you were supposed to be while residing in their land.

Yet none of that came to mind when you were forced out of your bed with your husband, fighting for your lives as intruders invaded the palace. How they got past the guards was unknown, and Zuko would surely have countless meetings within the coming weeks addressing said issue. But for now, all you could do was bend to your best ability, using the small water basins that Zuko had placed along the walls of the palace. For each torch came a water basin, and you were truly grateful for his accommodations.

“When were you going to tell me you could bend like that? Where did you learn?” Zuko’s voice rang rough in your ears, tone laced with the strength and effort he was using to protect both of you.

“I used to sneak out and watch the water-benders train. And when we traveled, I carried coins with me that I had saved to purchase scrolls with techniques.” You grunted, pulling water once more to form an ice shield in front of you, strong enough to take on the fire and earth of the benders. With every step, you pulled more water from the basins, making the ice wall thicker and thicker until it became harder to penetrate. But you and Zuko both know that eventually your efforts wouldn’t be enough, so you bolted for one of the secret passages kept in the palace.

Before you could make it down the stairs, a loud yelp came from beside you, followed by a thump. Your husband lay on the floor, clutching his side. Your eyes widened looking between your husband and the culprit, a smirk appearing on his face.

“Oh, what shall you do, Fire Lady?” He sneered, moving into a bending stance. Before he could make any movement, his body went stiff, the air becoming still. Your fingers moved expertly, a faint breeze blowing from your lips.

“What? Wha-“

Frost began to coat his body, limbs growing further rigid with the change in temperature. You could hear Zuko calling out your name in the background, but you were too focused on saving your husband.

The man’s body froze over, your stance changing as you pulled water from your sweat, a thin ice blade. Before you could move, Zuko grasped your hand, immediately warming your cold hands.

“Enough Y/N. Please.” He pleaded, to which you caught the bloody gash that resided on his side. Without a word, you stumbled into the passageway, freezing the door shut, another layer of thick ice barricading you in. The two of you stumbled down the steps, your grip on him tightening.

“This takes us to the closest shore of the nation. A boat will be waiting for us there. Taking Druk would be too obvious, and I’d prefer to keep him out of this and safe.” You hummed at his words, quickening your footsteps.

“Where will we go from here?”

“There’s a small island not too far off from the shore. From there, I don’t know. I was able to send a dragon hawk off with a distress message to the Avatar. Hopefully he’ll be able to meet us there before sunrise.” Zuko groaned, your hand steady against his waist.

You reached the shore, a small boat waiting for you alongside the tiny dock. Blood trickled behind you, falling against the sand, leaving a trail. You pulled Zuko into the boat, tearing off a piece of your nightgown to place on the wound.

“Hold that there; I’ll get us out of here.” You spoke softly, kissing his temple. You untied the rope connecting the boat to the docks, sending a massive wave upon the shore to remove your tracks. With that same wave, you pushed the boat away from the shore, throwing your arms into tight circles as you moved the current around you.

Zuko guided you with shallow breaths, the small island appearing within minutes of your departure. Once upon shore, Zuko guided you towards a cave. When deep inside, you sat Zuko down on the cool sands, immediately tending to his wounds. His face had grown pale, eyes fluttering.

“Stay with me, love. It’ll be over soon.” He nodded his head, eyes hooded as you did your work, bending the blood back into the wound. Drawing moisture from the sand, your hand began to glow as you healed the wound, color slowly returning to Zuko’s face. He looked at you with a soft smile, hands shakily moving towards your face. Tears grew at your lash line, a soft smile appearing on your face.

“My wife is badass.” He mumbled, to which you laughed, kissing him deeply. You pulled away, his hands moving to wipe your tears.

“I try, I try.” You spoke softly. Silence fell over you, your eyes running over your husband’s figure as you checked for injuries.

“I’m fine now, my love. I promise.” He spoke softly, fingers tilting your chin towards his face. You could see the questions in his eyes, and you sighed, sitting back on your haunches.

“My father came home once, late at night, with a large cut on his chest. He never told me why, and I never asked, but I had been the one to tend to his wounds. I couldn’t get the blood to stop; it was too much. So I just sought out the water, and it happened. I was able to bend the blood back into my father’s wound. He made me promise to never speak of the incident ever again, and he promised to allow me to train with some of the masters, but in secret.” You paused, looking at your husband for a response.

“You kept your promise as long as you could.”

“I did. Are you mad?”

“Why would I be? My wife saved us from intruders, got us to this island, and tended to my wounds. If anything, I’m honored.” He pressed his forehead against yours, smiling at you.

You smiled in response, kissing him back as he planted his lips on yours.

“I love you, Y/N.”

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