Chapter Text
The union tying her to Ozai wasn’t the only marriage contract Ursa had received.
It wasn’t even her first – but it was the first she couldn’t say no to.
Her family had been hunted by proposal after proposal over the years – it got worse when she came of marrying age. Whenever Ursa walked in to see her mother burning a scroll or shooing a stranger away from their house, she didn’t need to ask.
Usually, it was various noble families from around the Fire Nation – power-hungry clan leaders asking for her hand in marriage, in the hopes of making their lineage look more appealing.
She knows her mother had to deal with it, too – according to family legend, when Grandfather was still alive, he would disarm any prospective suitors with a surprising level of hospitality. He was apparently more of the diplomatic type, trying to smooth things over with words instead of resorting to violence. With the way the world is now, Ursa thinks, it’s a lost art.
“Hosting them was the bare minimum of respect,” her mother had told her. “I know Father hated it when suitors showed up, but as the Avatar,” she practically spits the word, “shooing someone away like that could cause an... incident.”
As for the more stubborn suitors… well, they were dealt with accordingly. Grandfather leaned towards pacifism, yes, but he had no issues about putting someone in their place.
Ursa was never sure what exactly that meant, but she was grateful someone was looking out for her mother.
But that all changed when her mother’s childhood home – the place Mother was supposed to raise her – was drowned in magma – proud homes, lives reduced to nothing but ashes. Grandfather gone in the wake of its destruction. Whatever was left behind on Avatar Roku’s island was only a fraction of what was to come.
Mother was always surprised that their family wasn’t branded as traitors by Fire Lord Sozin, especially considering the things Grandmother had to say about the man. Perhaps exile would’ve made future courtship easier for the family. More peaceful. But with Grandfather out of the picture… unique opportunities began to present themselves. No one had to worry about potentially offending the Avatar to his face – no risk of being struck down by whatever element may prove to be most painful.
In an instant men, like viper leeches, began to swarm for her mother’s affections.
Even moving to Hira’a – a town close enough to Forgetful Valley, a forest in which most of the Fire Nation held a respectful amount of fear for – wasn’t enough to deter minor nobility. Blessedly, the proposals stopped once mother married father.
Unfortunately, they didn’t stop for long. The birth of a daughter with Avatar Roku’s only made suitors all the more eager.
While the letters were bad enough, matchmakers showing up at their door was infinitely worse.
Ursa had been deep in her studies when her mother’s raised voice alerted her to something very, very wrong. Mother didn’t yell very often, causing tight fear to grip her heart. Ursa rushes out of her room, racing to the front of the house –
Rina stands in front of the door, arguing with a man in… green robes?
Ursa stops, confused. The man looks past her mother, spotting her instantly.
“Lady Ursa,” He bows, deeply. “I am here on behalf of the great Téngyuán family, I implore you to listen to what I have to say.”
“I… okay.” Ursa finds herself saying in a small voice. Rina looks to her daughter, shocked. Ursa merely shrugs – maybe if we hear him out, he’ll leave quicker.
“My, you are even more charming than I had anticipated!” He smiles. “Clearly an excellent match already!”
...Match? Oh no.
“Get on with it.” Her mother crosses her arms. He clears his throat, before continuing in a haughty tone.
“Right. The Esteemed Governor Changyin Téngyuán of Kangfao desires a union between yourself and his son, Lieutenant Aiguo Téngyuán.”
“…Why would an Earth Kingdom family want my hand in marriage?” Ursa blurts out. Fire Nation families, yeah, made sense, but an Earth Kingdom one? If anyone knew about this, her family may actually be branded as traitors. Based on the way her mother’s jaw clenches, Ursa isn’t the only one who’s come to that conclusion. The matchmaker looks unperturbed – excited in fact, as if he’d been waiting for her to ask that very question.
“It is no secret that our nations are at war,” He starts. “This war has proven to be harmful to both of our nations – it is our belief that the bloodline of an Avatar may produce powerful benders. Ones powerful enough to end this war. Think about it!” He gestures wildly. “The Téngyuán Family has already boasted a proud line of strong benders, who knows what kind of power you could bring to the table!”
She’s sure she’s heard of some Avatars producing powerful benders, but she’s not sure how the statistics work. Her mom is a decent firebender, but Uncle Rihito isn’t even a bender, just like Ursa herself. She expresses that thought – only to be met with a scoff.
“Sometimes bending skips a generation or two – but considering your ancestry, your children are likely to be very strong.”
Ursa makes a face – sure, she wants the war to be over too, but not like this. Being used like this makes her feel beyond sick to her stomach.
“I don’t like this,” Ursa shakes her head – slowly at first, but it increases in speed as she takes a shaky step back. “I don’t accept.”
“I agree. I won’t entertain this matter any more,” Rina butts in, the lines across her face looking harsher and harsher. “My daughter will not be accepting any proposals at this time. I kindly ask you to leave,” she adds, through gritted teeth.
“My, my – Lady Rina,” He chides. Big mistake. “You put your father to shame! I know for a fact that Avatar Roku would hear out and even host potential suitors.”
“My father is dead,” Rina’s face darkens. Ursa takes a large step back. “I am not bound to the same social conventions as he was. Leave at once.”
A ball of fire forms alongside her mother’s fist – she raises it at the matchmaker, who stutters out an apology and all but runs away, nearly tripping over his robes.
If there was something to admire about the strategy, Ursa at least admired the boldness of it – sending such a message and messenger through Fire Nation territory like that took guts.
She doesn’t get any more proposals for a few years after that – until Ikem, who she gladly accepts.
Ursa runs home to deliver the good news to her family – she opens the door, feeling light, before spotting her mother, tears running down her face, clutching a headpiece she’d never seen before in her life. It looks like the one featured in statues of Grandfather, the one described to her on evening nights of her childhood, when she asked why she’d never met her mother’s parents before.
There’s no time to dwell on it, thought – as she’s whisked away to a future she never wanted, by people who want to use her as a conduit for future power. She’s reminded of the Earth Kingdom matchmaker from so many years ago and resists tears. She never wanted this – never wanted to be used in such a way. But no one can refuse the will of Fire Lord Azulon.
She dares one last look at Hira’a, home, through the curtain of the palanquin. A hand reaches over her – curtain closing, fluttering in her face as if taunting her. She turns to her right, as home flies out of her reach.
“No more of that, my love,” Ozai smirks. “it’s time to focus on the future. Our future.”