Katara's bedroom window faced the harbor. She opened the shutter every morning and gazed down at the ships below. From this vantage point, Katara could spot any new vessels as they came into port. If there were any foreign ships, she would speculate why they'd come all this way to the South Pole as she dressed and went about her morning chores.

"There was one from the Fire Nation," Katara told Mom and Gran-Gran as they made breakfast. "It bore the royal insignia."
Seeing Fire Nation trading vessels in the harbor hadn't been uncommon these past ten years since Fire Lord Iroh ended the war and opened up trade with the Southern Water Tribe. But, ships carrying the royal insignia, denoting a diplomatic mission, were more noteworthy.
"How exciting, dear," said Gran-Gran, not even looking up from the dough she was kneading.  "Now stir the porridge."

Katara couldn't focus on helping Mom and Gran-Gran, who were infuriatingly calm and indifferent about the news. Did they even care that Uncle Bato might finally return after being away for six months? What presents had he brought them? Would there be a feast that night?
"Katara!" Mom shouted. Katara had stopped stirring the porridge, and it was starting to burn.
Sokka ended up proving Katara right. He'd left with Dad for an early morning finishing trip before Katara woke up and returned with a brace of salmon trout. Mom kissed Sokka's cheek, making him squirm.

Katara giggled. No matter how big her older brother got, he would always be their mother's baby boy.
"Where's your father?" Mom asked Sokka.
"Uncle Bato's ship came in this morning," said Sokka. He stuck his finger in the porridge to taste it. Katara swatted him away like the irritating gnat he was. "Needs honey... anyway, Dad sent me ahead to tell you."

Mom sighed. "I guess we need to make more food." She gave Katara a smile that said you know how older brothers are. They're like bottomless pits.
Katara nodded. Despite their gangly frames, Sokka and Uncle Bato were famous for how much food they could put away.
"A lot more," said Sokka. "There's going to be a feast tonight." 

Dad and Uncle Bato joined them for breakfast. When they walked through the door, Katara was the first to greet her father and uncle. Uncle Bato's visits usually meant one thing: presents, and he certainly didn't disappoint this time. He had chests of tea and sacks of brown rice, rare treats they only enjoyed on special occasions. For Mom, Gran-Gran, and Katara, there were skeins of embroidery floss, hair ribbons, and silk headscarves in every color imaginable, including a sapphire blue ribbon that would go perfectly with Katara's best dress.

Uncle Bato slipped Katara a bundle containing a silver pipe head and a tobacco pouch. "Don't tell your mother," he said.
Katara stifled a laugh. Mom thought smoking was a vulgar habit, and only the lowest sorts of women (such as courtesans and fishwives) indulged in it. Smoking was only barely tolerable when men did it, which was why Mom only allowed Dad and Sokka to have one pipe each after supper. Katara had to sneak away when no one was around and smoke her pipe behind the woodshed. Mom hadn't yet caught her.

"Kya..." Uncle Bato hugged Mom. "This blubber head treating you well?" He clapped Dad on the back. Dad smiled and embraced his brother-in-law and oldest friend.
All her life, Katara heard how Uncle Bato hadn't taken it well when he found out his best friend was courting his little sister. Though Uncle Bato eventually warmed up to the match, he still threatened to cut off Dad's balls and use them for fish bait if he didn't treat Mom like a queen.
"He could do better," said Mom. "But I'm not complaining." She kissed Dad on the lips.
Sokka gagged, but Katara smiled. If her future husband, whoever he might be, treated her half as well as Dad treated Mom, she would be a fortunate woman.
Over breakfast, Uncle Bato regaled them with news from the Fire Nation. Most of it held little interest for Katara. What had the price of whale oil or the tariffs on coal and lumber to do with her? But these were the issues that the Fire Nation diplomats, in whose honor tonight's feast was being held, had come to discuss.
Mom poured Uncle Bato a cup of tea and then one for herself. "How is Lord Ukano?" she said.
Lord Ukano was the governor of the Fire Nation's southernmost province bordering Southern Water Tribe territory. His post involved handling relations between the Fire Nation and the Southern Water Tribe on behalf of the crown. As Ambassador to the Fire Nation, Uncle Bato often met with him.
"He and his family are preparing to leave for the capital." Uncle Bato took a sip of his tea. "The Fire Lord's nephew, Crown Prince Zuko, turns eighteen next month and will be expected to choose a bride this year."
Katara picked at her porridge. The way royal princes of the Fire Nation chose their brides was the stuff of fairytales. Each of the major noble clans would send their oldest, unmarried daughter as well as a maiden of humbler origins who'd distinguished herself by her beauty or talent, and the prince would pick whichever of these girls he liked the best. But life wasn't a fairytale. No royal bride in living memory had been anything less than the daughter of a great lord.
"Katara?"
Katara looked up at Uncle Bato. "Yes, Uncle," she said.
"Lord Ukano's oldest child, Lady Mai, will attend court for Prince Zuko's bride season but the Ukano clan still needs to choose a second candidate. I put your name forward for consideration."
"Me?" This was a dream come true. For years, Uncle Bato told Katara stories about the Fire Nation royal court, and now she might finally see it for herself.
Uncle Bato smiled. "Why not you?" 

Lord Ukano had sent an emissary to inspect Katara to see if she was suitable to take to court. Katara gritted her teeth as the emissary, who introduced himself as Admiral Zhou, looked her over.

Dad scoffed. "He dresses like a prostitute and smells like a brothel," he whispered to Mom, who elbowed him in the gut.
Katara tried to keep a neutral but pleasant expression while Admiral Zhou's eyes lingered over her curves.  If she was to be judged like someone's prized cabbage at a fair, she might as well make a good impression even if her judge seemed little better than a flesh peddler.
Admiral Zhou hovered around Katara more closely than was necessary. "What is your name, my dear?" he said.
"Katara of the Southern Water Tribe," she answered, pride unmistakable in her voice. As the daughter of Chief Hakoda of Wolf Cove and Lady Kya, healer and priestess of Tui and La, she was every bit as good as any Fire Nation noblewoman.
"And how old are you?" He put a hand on her shoulder.
If Katara's chance to go to court weren't riding on this interview, she would have told him to remove his hand before she removed it for him.  "Sixteen come autumn," she said. Young enough to be your daughter, you perverted piece of seal shit.
"Well, Ambassador." The Admiral bowed to Uncle Bato. "Your niece certainly is a pearl among dried peas." 
Uncle Bato nodded. "A rare pearl indeed," he said. "Not only beautiful but skilled at all types of needlework."

Katara did a turn to show off the embroidery and beadwork on her dress. She'd spent all winter working on it when heavy blizzards had trapped her inside. She would have lost her mind if it weren't for her needlework.

Hopefully, her skill with the needle was enough to impress Admiral Zhou. Her education had been mostly practical and domestic. She hadn't learned the refined accomplishments expected of a court lady, such as calligraphy, poetry, and music (though she was said to have a lovely singing voice). But it was best to play up her strengths.
"And she's the last remaining Southern water bender," said Gran-Gran, not caring that etiquette required her to stay silent until directly addressed.
Katara's fingertips tingled. Her qi begged Admiral Zhou to ask her to display her bending. But Admiral Zhou brushed Gran-Gran aside as if she'd said nothing.
"I trust her purity has been closely guarded," he said, raising an eyebrow.
Mom huffed at the suggestion that she hadn't raised her daughter properly. Dad and Sokka would have drawn their weapons if they hadn't been required to turn them before entering the meeting hall. Gran-Gran looked like she wanted to throttle the Admiral.
But Katara kept her dignity. Zhao's rudeness was a test of her own good breeding. After all, a lady was supposed to rise above the muck like a lotus. So she said nothing. 
"Come now, Katara," said Admiral Zhao. "You're a beautiful girl. Do you have any serious suitors?"
"None." Katara had as much chance of becoming Prince Zuko's wife as she did catching the moon on a fishing line. But, if by some miracle she did, she would have the pleasure of shoving Admiral Zhao's words back down his throat.
Admiral Zhao looked at Dad, who met his gaze and said, "my daughter's heart and hand are free."
After pausing for several moments, just to torment Katara further, Admiral Zhao pronounced his verdict. "She'll do," he said. "Have her ready to leave with the tide."
Katara's family saw her off the next morning. They sprinkled her with milk and gave her their blessings. Mom was the last to hug her before she boarded Admiral Zhao's ship.
"Are you going to forbid me from leaving?" Katara asked her mother. All this was too good to be true and the daydream had to end sometime.
Mom stroked her cheek. "I'd be a bad mother if I stopped you from going," she said.
Attending court during Prince Zuko's bride season was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Katara had little to no chance of marrying the prince (Lord Ukano would no doubt be trying to put his own daughter forward) but there would be plenty of other potential husbands. And Fire Lord Iroh invited benders from all over the world to visit him at the palace. Katara would be able to find a master to train her.
"Who knows," said Katara. "Maybe this is my destiny."