Path Ahead

Letters and Gifts

When Aang returned from the South Pole, he bore a packet of letters. Hakoda and some of his warriors had made friends in other parts of the world, and since Aang was the only person to have a flying bison, it made sense to use him as a courier when he was traveling. Ships were slow, and hawks had limits to their endurance.

The correspondence that surprised Zuko the most was Hakoda's letter to Ursa. Aang mentioned it when reporting on the other errands he'd completed and comparing notes on their experiences of Sozin's Comet.

"Mom?" Zuko exclaimed, nonplussed. "Why is he writing to my mom?" Aang broke into a grin.

"I don't know exactly, of course, but when he handed the letters to me, I saw something I never thought I would - the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe blushed!" Aang seemed to be enjoying the situation, but Firelord Zuko was dumbfounded. Was it possible that his mother was being courted? It was just too strange. And if that was the case, would she move to the South Pole? He'd only just got her back, and he didn't want to let her go again so soon.

"But my father just died!" he blurted out, causing the Avatar to give him one of those wiser-than-his-years looks that always made Zuko feel like he was the kid and the airbender was the man.

"They were separated for years," Aang pointed out. "I'm sure she'll observe the traditional six months of mourning, despite their...strained relationship."

"That's one way of putting it," muttered Zuko.

"In the meantime, what's the harm in a few letters?" Aang added.

"I suppose you're right," Zuko admitted slowly. He knew that Hakoda had been a widower since Katara and Sokka were small. When he thought about it, he realized that his mother and Hakoda had really both been alone for a long time. If they could be happy together after all that they'd been through independently, how could he begrudge them that? He certainly couldn't claim that Firelord Ozai had been any prize as either a husband or a father, worthy of an extraordinary display of grief. He hadn't been much of a son or brother, either, come to think of it. Anyway, as Aang said, for the moment, it was only letters. There was no need to get ahead of himself on this.

"Will you be able to come to the wedding?" Aang changed the subject.

"I want to," replied Zuko. "If all goes well, I can have things set up here well enough that I can be away for a week or so. I assume I'll need to take a ship."

"Unless one of the dragons is willing to carry you. No offense, but I don't want to postpone my honeymoon because I have to bring you home."

"I understand," Zuko gave a dry chuckle. "And I don't blame you."

"Well, if you can make it, I was wondering...I'd like you to stand with me for the ceremony." Aang looked at the Firelord anxiously, waiting for the answer.

"Really? Me?" was the first thing Zuko managed to say. He was completely surprised by the question.

"Sokka will be there too, of course, but you and I have been through a lot in the last couple of months."

"What do I need to do?" Zuko had not had the opportunity to attend many weddings.

"Oh, you know, to support me," said Aang lightly. "Make sure I don't faint or try to run away or anything." His expression while saying this indicated how unlikely he thought these possibilities, and Zuko could not imagine the exuberant boy being anything less than ecstatic about marrying the love of his life.

"I think I can handle that," the Firelord remarked with a half smile.

"Also..." Aang paused here, becoming more serious and appearing to consider his words carefully. "To be honest, I think it would be really symbolic to have representatives from all of the nations in the ceremony."