"I'd not expected such a young child."

A sigh of relief escaped Iroh's lungs, his eyes closing.

The risk—

He'd known the plan of his held risk, which was what Ursa wanted him to ask of Fire Lord Azulon held risks. There, of course, lay the risk of overstepping, of his being the beloved eldest and crown prince not preventing his father's ire from coming down on his head, although a part of him knew he'd fare better than whatever happened to Ozai, whom he didn't want to see, the whispers as he passed through the halls saying Azulon left Ozai alive, burned from the fight in a prison cell who knew where.

And then he'd realized just how much risk there was, yet, "I should have honestly suspected it, that the waterbender we found wouldn't want to heal Prince Zuko, might even prove to be a threat to his life, something I'd never forgive myself for if it happened."

He also didn't like the promise that half the waterbenders in their prisons would die should something happen to Prince Zuko, though—

"Please. Don't breathe a word regarding what Fire Lord Azulon said to Prince Zuko," Iroh said as he brought the old woman to Lu ten's old bedroom.

"Why? I care not what someone of your ilk thinks of me," the woman said, then, "Or should I say what they think of themselves? Good riddance if they realize how cruel the Fire Nation's been."

"He's seen enough cruelty," Iroh said, not telling the woman of Zuko's young age, yet—

The moment she saw the boy, how young she was, her attitude changed. She moved closer, frowning, sitting on the edge of the bed so she might unwrap the burned arms, shaking her head. "This will be no easy task, but should I simply heal arms that may one day go on to kill my people?"

"My son isn't like that," Ursa blurted out, glaring at the woman.

The woman, in turn, looked at her and then waved her hand. "You can leave."

"What?" Ursa's eyes blinked.

"A mother doesn't need to see this," the woman said. "It will take time, but it also won't be painless. It is burns after all."

"I'll remain, Ursa," Iroh said. "You trusted me to bring him a healer, a waterbender if I could, but please. Trust me some more."

Ursa frowned, then stood. "Goodness knows I trust you more than I do my husband, Prince Iroh."

Iroh let out a deep breath as she bowed, taking her leave. The woman looked at the boy, then said, "I'll need lots of water, but I'll need someone to remove the old water when it starts becoming unclean."

"You heard her," Iroh said, noticing the servants hesitate. "She is able to heal Prince Zuko, and the Fire Nation needs their prince well." The servants hurried off while Iroh remained. "Satisfied?"

"When am I ever?" the woman said, the sarcasm there. She looked around the room. "This room—it belongs to an older person, no?"

"It used to belong to my son, Lu Ten," Iroh said.

"You're being honest?"

"Better, I think, to be honest, and secure a favorable result for..."

"I can't promise anything," the woman said. "It's not a fresh injury, these burns." She lifted her arms, turning her head. "And who did this to a child? I knew the Fire Nation was inhuman, but I never thought I'd see this."

"Then know it is someone you never want to become Fire Lord," Iroh said.

She let out a ticking sound. "And you—you aren't being truthful now. You're leaving something out."

"The boy's father, my younger brother," Iroh said. "But please, not in front of the boy. As I said..."

"Enough credulities, this one's face?" the woman said, then, "My name. It is Hama, but know if I wanted, I could end his life any moment I wanted to."

"But you won't because right now he is an innocent child?"

"I won't because it secures the freedom of my kin. I'd rather not heal the enemy," Hama said. "I'd rather kill them."

The servants returned, bringing the tubs of water, and Hama started drawing water out, placing the water on the burns.

Iroh watched the healing take effect, letting out a deep breath before moving to the other side of the bed, gently reaching out to grasp Zuko's hand as slowly, the burns worked their way to a healed state, the woman taking her time. "This, many have forgotten there is a good reason not to eradicate our opposing element completely."

"I care not," the woman muttered, removing the burns. Zuko's eyes flickered open at that moment.

"Hi."

"Hello?" the woman asked, an eyebrow rising.

"I'm Zuko. What's your name? And where's Lu Ten."

"Elsewhere," Iroh said. "Elsewhere, dear boy."

"I'm guessing," Hama said, only for Iroh to shake his head. "He'll need to eat, as shall I."

"Understood," Iroh said, motioning for one of the servants to fetch food, but when they returned, he stepped away, taking the tray of food, "Tell Ursa things are progressing so far, but I don't yet know..."

A shattering sound was heard on the roof...

Iroh shoved the tray back into the servant's hands, turning to find the roof caved in. He lit a fire in his hands, expecting Hama to have gone back on her word, only to discover the collapsed roof wasn't because of her actions, but that of—

"Azula!" Iroh's eyes widened, swallowing and confused. He saw Azula pinned ice around her, and Hama stood in defense, her eyes filled with the usual distrust.

"And this? This is why all of your ilk are my enemy. Even the children," Hama said.

"Please," Zuko said, attempting to move, but his arms did not allow him to sit up. He then reached out. "Please, don't hurt my sister."

Hama turned her head, eyeing Zuko carefully. "Your sister, she tried to kill you?"

"I know. She's always doing that," Zuko said, taking a deep breath. "She's still my sister." His eyes closed as the servants came, and Hama lowered her hands.

"So be it," Hama said as a servant hurried off, the sight catching them off guard. She nodded her head. "I'd like to renegotiate the terms of the Fire Lord's agreement."

"You'd dare to challenge him?" Azula said, spitting out fire, trying to melt the ice.

"It's a deal he'll find favorable," Hama said, "But let's discuss it while they move the boy to another room so I can continue my healing and..." She glared at Azula. "And do whatever must be done with that thing."

"Azula," Iroh said, letting out a deep breath as the soldiers came, starting to thaw her ice out. "Behave." He took a deep breath. "I'm afraid Azula has indeed inherited her father's unhinged nature, so please, keep her under lock and key with at least three guards capable of firebending, but the Fire Lord may request further restraint." He stepped over, looking at Azula with pity. "I'm sorry, my dear child, but hopefully, we can still reach you, although there is no telling how deep your father's ambitions with you run."

"I'm the better firebender," Azula said. "A genius. You won't keep me locked up."

"My child, after attacking your brother, do you not think your movements will henceforth be heavily restricted, at least for the time being?" Iroh said. "Hopefully, the Fire Lord will be as kind to you as your brother."

"He's weak," Azula said.

"No, he is strong," Hama said, motioning Iroh to follow as the soldiers secured Azula and the servants started moving Zuko to a different room.

Iroh took one last look at the ruins of his son's old room, then followed her. "You said you wanted to make a new deal?"

"I need some of the waterbender to stay behind. Younger, if possible," Hama said. "Actually," she said, a crafty smile forming. "If they could be of mixed ethnicity and be able to pass as a member of the fire nation completely, the better."

"What are you thinking?"

"As I said, that prince of yours is strong," Hama said. "How he came to be in a kingdom like this, full of the cruelty that exists here, I do not know, and he might be a fool, being willing to forgive an enemy that quickly, but perhaps one day his word as Fire Lord will actually mean something."

"I see," Iroh said. "Partially."

"I am too old for the task. Otherwise, I would not ask for a waterbender to take my place, robbing them of their chance to return home, but he should have a good healer at his side, and also, if you can find a waterbender who can pass as Fire Nation, someone who can guard that prince of yours."

Iroh's eyes narrowed. "And if you are planning something else?"

"Well, you can't trust me, nor can we trust any waterbender that we pick, given the crulities your nation inflicted on my people, can we," Hama said, watching her patient be carried past. "But I?" She nodded her head. "I want to take a gamble on that child, as he showed me something quite interesting. Let the Fire Lord know that, but it should come from your own mouth."

"Understood," Iroh said, feeling confused at the matter.