A servant knocked at the door of the room that once belonged to his son Lu Ten, letting those on the other side know General Iroh had arrived. From inside the room, Ursa's soft voice beckoned him. A servant opened the door, and Iroh stepped in, taking in the medicinal smell that lingered in the room, as well as—

Iroh swallowed, his mouth twisting, his eyes focused on the small figure lying in Lu Ten's old bed; his eyes also took in the bandages wrapped around the young prince's arms and sucked in his breath, stepping over to the other side of the bed, kneeling and reaching out gently for the small hand, only to hesitate, worried he might hurt the boy. He took another deep breath. "How long? How long since..."

He didn't finish, not wanting to utter his brother's sin, as Ursa shifted slightly, her jaw clenched tightly, her hands in her lap unseen. "A few days? I've not left Prince Zuko's side, General..."

Iroh waved his hand. "You need not be so formal, dear sister."

A soft sound alerted him to his nephew stirring, and he sat up straighter, surprised to hear Zuko speak first. "Uncle Iroh?"

"Zuko?" Iroh said, leaning in. "I'm here. I'm here, my dear boy." He looked at the boy's hands, wanting to ask Zuko if touching his hands would be alright, noting they were only bandaged around the wrist area while his mind—Iroh's eyes closed.

"Where's Lu Ten?"

Iroh's eyes blinked open, his mouth opening slightly before he said, "He's..." He finally reached for Zuko's hand, patting the part not bandaged lightly. "Not here. But it's alright, my dear boy."

"I want to play with him," Zuko said, sweat on the boy's brow. Iroh reaches his free hand up, wiping away some of the sweat. "When I'm better. And he promised when he has a chance...." Zuko's eyes closed, the boy's ember-colored eyes lacking the usual fire behind them. "To teach me how to bend properly."

"Sorry," Ursa said. "They say it's the result of the fever."

"What do the healers say?" Iroh asked.

Ursa remained silent, her lips pushing together.

"Ursa?" Iroh took a deep breath.

"He'll live," Ursa said, her mouth pushing firmly, before following up with, "There are certain things a child should have to worry about."

Iroh swallowed, nodding his head and letting out a deep breath. "Things that are for us parents to worry about instead, right?" He watched his sister-in-law swallow, the worry on her face evident. "Have you left his side at all?"

"No," Ursa said. "Well, except to check on Azula and speak with the healers outside Lu Ten's room."

"Then let us adults step outside to talk about adult things children shouldn't have to worry about," Iroh said, standing and heading out of the room, swallowing as he leaned against the wall. Ursa joined him, glancing back at the room, her lips pushed together. "What is it you don't have the heart to tell Zuko?"

"The healers are limited in what they can do," Ursa said, her hands folded in front of her as she stood there. "Under their care, he'll live, but they don't know what kind of effect those injuries will have on his ability to bend, to—many things. And as you saw, it's not just one arm. It's both. Only..."

Iroh watched her mouth shut tight. "Only?"

"I dare not ask," Ursa said. "But it may not even be possible."

"What?"

Ursa took a deep breath. "Our healers may not be able to do anything, but..."

She stopped again, her entire body tense as if she'd almost suggested something forbidden, yet Iroh knew. "Have they suggested as much to Father?"

Ursa's eyes blinked, another breath escaping. "Suggest—I would never presume..." Her eyes closed, and she swallowed. Her hands nervously brushed her elaborate clothing even though it was unnecessary to smooth it over. "They're too afraid of the Fire Lord."

"And you?"

"I don't know," Ursa said, looking at the ground. "I shouldn't be. I normally wouldn't be. But Ozai—after what Ozai did, and to ask that?"

"I'll ask," Iroh said. "Though it may be more of an issue thinking of how to get one of them to help." He took a deep breath. "A waterbender?" He shook his head. "The ones we have imprisoned have no reason to help us, but it's also dangerous, given it means giving them direct access to the royal family." He turned his head. "Father has not been to see Zuko?"

"There are things Zuko forgets," Ursa said, "Such as Prince Lu Ten's passing." She took a deep breath. "And then there are things he remembers. And for that reason, Fire Lord Azulon keeps his distance."

"So then, not because of the rumors?" Iroh asked.

"What rumors?" Ursa's eyes widened.

"Never you mind," Iroh said, reaching out and squeezing her shoulder. "If father doesn't..."

"It's not that the Fire Lord hasn't visited," Ursa said, swallowing. "He did try, but Zuko—he can't come near Zuko. Not without..." Ursa took a deep breath. "How much did you hear? About what happened?"

"That Ozai tried to kill father, then tried to kill Zuko."

"Ozai tried to use me to kill the Fire Lord," Ursa said. "I decided to place my faith in the Fire Lord instead."

Iroh felt a chill run down his spine, his inner fires cooling as a hand reached for his chest. He swallowed. "I'd not heard that."

"I doubt the Fire Lord wanted it known. The details," Ursa said. "Even I'm not privy to all the details. I was in the throne room when Ozai—he asked for your birthright."

"My birthright?" Iroh tilted his head. "This has to do with..." He shook his head. "Not that I care about my birthright when there are more important things, such as the loss of my only child. But given what Ozai did..."

"Azula and her bending were presented to the Fire Lord in hopes of accomplishing this goal."

"And not his first-born, Zuko?"

"Zuko's bending," Ursa started to say, then shook her head. "Does it matter? What about his injuries?"

"That must have angered him, not seeing Zuko bend."

"He saw Zuko bend. What may be..."

"Don't give up hope on that," Iroh said.

"I'm not sure what the actual punishment the Fire Lord had in mind for Prince Ozai, but..." Ursa swallowed. "According to Azula, Ozai was to know how you feel by losing his own first-born."

"By making Zuko my heir?" Iroh said. "And Ozai wanted you to kill Father because of that?"

Ursa turned her head, her eyes looking right into Iroh's. "You of all people should know the love a parent has, or should have for their first-born child and the thought of losing them."

"Wait?" Iroh swallowed. "Do you believe—do you really believe father would have had Ozai..."

"No," Ursa said. "Not unless the Fire Lord was absolutely mad, as it doesn't make sense to snuff out more of his bloodline. But still..." She swallowed. "As a mother, seeing my son believe it—a part of me, I think."

"Then, Zuko is afraid of Father because..."

"Azula told him Fire Lord Azulon wanted him dead, so Ozai would know what it was like to lose a first-born son."

"Sounds like I need to speak to Father," Iroh said, sighing and looking back at the room. "I'd love to linger, to see my nephew, but I need to speak with him about some things.