Chapter 0 - Prologue
Submitted April 18, 2007 Updated May 27, 2007 Status Incomplete | The upper aristocracy of the Fire Nation isn't something you live with, it’s something you survive. It soon becomes necessary to learn what you can with out letting any one know what you know, and occasionally, tiptoe around those who wish to rule.
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Chapter 0 - Prologue
Chapter 0 - Prologue
Prologue
The upper aristocracy of the fire nation isn't something you live with, it's something you survive. I learned this lesson as a surprisingly early age. My father was the first adviser to the Fire Lord. One might say he was the voice of reason on a council of idiots. Most of the time they argued over how many troops were needed to hold an area that didn't need to be held at all, or whether the court ball should have a floral place setting or a traditional one, or my favorite, what to have to drink that day, coffee or tea.
My father quite frequently stayed out of these arguments altogether, and though his opinion wasn't always what the others wished to hear, it was always, always, soundly founded. This perhaps is why he was the first adviser and not decapitated. The Fire Lord was not known for his good temper. My father was always firm with my brothers and me, but there was also a sparkle in his eye. He encouraged our growth and love of learning. My family never wanted for anything, though I'm not sure if this was due to his hard work, or the fact that people would often offer 'gifts' to gain a quicker audience with the Fire Lord. He would entertain us with stories of the current court intrigues. And would present us with problems and ask what our solutions would be. In this way he would challenge our minds and teach us to think in unusual ways. I would often lie awake at night, waiting for him to come home. I would then crawl out of bed and go in search of him. If I was lucky, and he hadn't already gone to bed himself, I would find him in the family library sitting in his favorite chair. My father would take me in his arms, set me in his lap, and read to me from one of the many histories of the Fire Nation he kept in his collection.
My mother was, in the interest of simplicity, a house wife. Though to the rest of us she was so much more. Mother, teacher, scholar, beautician, medic, story teller, and on occasion cook. She raised my two older brothers with a firm hand. Weathered their various escapades and saw them through school with the highest education it was possible to pay for. Not to mention she raised me, one little turtle duck, when all the rest had flown away. She taught me to know gems from glass, to be able to tell the quality of a gown by the tailor's stitch, to dance, and sing (though I never thought my voice was worth much) and to pour tea with grace. And then she would chase the cooks from the kitchen and the two of us would attempt to bake with our own hands. She would also allow me to stay when the society ladies came for lunch. How was I to learn with out practice? They all petted me and called me a dear little thing, which I put up with because I would then be allowed to stay and listen to the newest gossip about who had slighted whom, and whose son was expected to marry whose daughter. There was never very much of importance in the gossip, but most of it was exaggerated and I enjoyed trying to peace together the truth.
There were twenty years between myself and the youngest of my brothers. My mother had been led to believe she would never have another child after the complications with her second pregnancy, and so when I arrived the entire house was over come with joy. My brothers were both old enough to be my own father and for the most part I was treated as their own, though neither ever disciplined me. I was gently corrected when something was amiss, and for the rest spoiled. Each of my brothers taught me something they thought valuable. One encourage my love of puzzles, and the other taught me how to fight. In fact it was under my brothers eye that I learned to fire bend. Neither of my parents had that talent. One of my brothers married had two children of his own, and became 'one of the most promising young men' to enter into Fire Nation politics. The other joined the army and gained the rank of first lieutenant.
I am Lien, daughter of Natsu and Reina, sister of Jung and Tao. There is much I could tell you about myself, and even more you could learn from my family, but none of that is truly very important. That information was given simply so you might understand where I came from.
What you need to know is the truth of the Fire Nation. Why its citizens love her, why its soldiers fight for her, why its nobility dominate her, and why people in general despise her.
I intend to tell you of the royal family.
The upper aristocracy of the fire nation isn't something you live with, it's something you survive. I learned this lesson as a surprisingly early age. My father was the first adviser to the Fire Lord. One might say he was the voice of reason on a council of idiots. Most of the time they argued over how many troops were needed to hold an area that didn't need to be held at all, or whether the court ball should have a floral place setting or a traditional one, or my favorite, what to have to drink that day, coffee or tea.
My father quite frequently stayed out of these arguments altogether, and though his opinion wasn't always what the others wished to hear, it was always, always, soundly founded. This perhaps is why he was the first adviser and not decapitated. The Fire Lord was not known for his good temper. My father was always firm with my brothers and me, but there was also a sparkle in his eye. He encouraged our growth and love of learning. My family never wanted for anything, though I'm not sure if this was due to his hard work, or the fact that people would often offer 'gifts' to gain a quicker audience with the Fire Lord. He would entertain us with stories of the current court intrigues. And would present us with problems and ask what our solutions would be. In this way he would challenge our minds and teach us to think in unusual ways. I would often lie awake at night, waiting for him to come home. I would then crawl out of bed and go in search of him. If I was lucky, and he hadn't already gone to bed himself, I would find him in the family library sitting in his favorite chair. My father would take me in his arms, set me in his lap, and read to me from one of the many histories of the Fire Nation he kept in his collection.
My mother was, in the interest of simplicity, a house wife. Though to the rest of us she was so much more. Mother, teacher, scholar, beautician, medic, story teller, and on occasion cook. She raised my two older brothers with a firm hand. Weathered their various escapades and saw them through school with the highest education it was possible to pay for. Not to mention she raised me, one little turtle duck, when all the rest had flown away. She taught me to know gems from glass, to be able to tell the quality of a gown by the tailor's stitch, to dance, and sing (though I never thought my voice was worth much) and to pour tea with grace. And then she would chase the cooks from the kitchen and the two of us would attempt to bake with our own hands. She would also allow me to stay when the society ladies came for lunch. How was I to learn with out practice? They all petted me and called me a dear little thing, which I put up with because I would then be allowed to stay and listen to the newest gossip about who had slighted whom, and whose son was expected to marry whose daughter. There was never very much of importance in the gossip, but most of it was exaggerated and I enjoyed trying to peace together the truth.
There were twenty years between myself and the youngest of my brothers. My mother had been led to believe she would never have another child after the complications with her second pregnancy, and so when I arrived the entire house was over come with joy. My brothers were both old enough to be my own father and for the most part I was treated as their own, though neither ever disciplined me. I was gently corrected when something was amiss, and for the rest spoiled. Each of my brothers taught me something they thought valuable. One encourage my love of puzzles, and the other taught me how to fight. In fact it was under my brothers eye that I learned to fire bend. Neither of my parents had that talent. One of my brothers married had two children of his own, and became 'one of the most promising young men' to enter into Fire Nation politics. The other joined the army and gained the rank of first lieutenant.
I am Lien, daughter of Natsu and Reina, sister of Jung and Tao. There is much I could tell you about myself, and even more you could learn from my family, but none of that is truly very important. That information was given simply so you might understand where I came from.
What you need to know is the truth of the Fire Nation. Why its citizens love her, why its soldiers fight for her, why its nobility dominate her, and why people in general despise her.
I intend to tell you of the royal family.
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