The Wedding!

My nephew, Firelord Zuko, is now married! And he looks so happy! Even Mai could not stop smiling all day yesterday.

They were married yesterday at ten in the morning. The Great Fire Sage performed their ceremony, of course. He is losing the last of his hair, now, though he is still as skinny as a wizened old stick. I am sure I caught him laughing at my belly that afternoon. But I needed somewhere to balance my third plate of cinder puffs! I don't think he even ate anything.

Poor fellow. I should suggest that Zuko get him a nurse to make sure he looks after himself, ha ha! I am sure he would appreciate my thoughtfulness, heh.

But yes, he performed the wedding ceremony. Zuko and Mai both looked wonderful. Zuko wears the robe of the Firelord well. Avatar Aang was beside him as his best man, and Mai had chosen her friend Ty Lee to be her maid of honor. The courtyard was filled to overflowing with friends from every nation. Literally overflowing: there were people sitting on top of all the walls!

Zuko had prepared a short speech including vows of loyalty and love for his bride, but he seemed to have forgotten it as soon as he saw her. The heartfelt vows that he spoke instead were far better than his rehearsed speech could have been. Even though he stuttered through every word, heh, and even if he was starting to look a little bit green by the end, I have never heard more passion or conviction, not even from him.

When it looked like he was really getting ready to faint, though, that was when Mai told him that it was "enough already," ha ha ha, because she had vows of her own. She did not turn green, though. Oh well. She expressed her love and faithfulness to him. She also expressed a rather lengthy list of Zuko's, uh, shortcomings, but she said that she loved him because of them and not inspite of them. It was really very touching.

When the Great Sage concluded the ceremony, Zuko and Mai were presented to the throng as husband and wife, Firelord and Firelady. Every small, blind earthbender in attendance shouted unrepeatable recommendations of the new couple's next activities. Everyone else just cheered. Tradition, I guess.

After that, Zuko and Mai stood for three hours while many formed a line to offer them kind congratulations. Meanwhile I went to make sure that the wedding supper tasted acceptible. The Avatar found me after only a couple plates, but he could offer no opinion on the smoked kasugo I gave him. He said something about vegetarianism. I understand that he is an airbender, but he bends fire too! How can someone appreciate fire without tasting the heat of a fine cut of meat? Mmmm...

Soon the head servants arrived, though, and they chased me from the kitchen, sending me off with nothing more than a handful of rescued sweet rolls.

Back in the main hall, the party had already begun. It was excellent. Aang performed several times for all to see. He got some of the guests very wet at one point, ha ha, but the waterbenders helped him dry everyone off. When the people asked to see a reenactment of the Avatar's defeat of my brother, I suggested that Aang and Zuko put on a joint display of master firebending instead. I think the Avatar was very much relieved at the idea.

The Kyoshi warriors astounded us all with a warlike dance and some very quick fan work. Afterward, Mai's maid of honor, who had participated in this remarkable dance, removed her facepaint and gave a solo exhibition of tremendous acrobatics. That one seemed very popular with the young men of the Earth Kingdom, heh.

What else? Piandao followed the Kyoshi warriors and Ty Lee with a demonstration of his sword prowess, assisted by Sokka. I could not tell whether Sokka was more afraid of embarrassment or mortal wounding, ha ha. There were also tall, splendid statues of Zuko and Mai that had been moved in front of the palace. Even King Bumi was impressed with the craftsmanship. There were fire dancers, floating lanterns that showered burning confetti high over our heads, and a few very funny shadow puppet plays. The Ember Island Players presented a short reenactment of Zuko's life. I think they treated him a little bit more accurately this time, although I was disappointed that they had cast a different actor for my part. The old one was much more fun, ha ha ha!

And the food! What food, like I have never tasted! I understood then why the servants had been so put out over my sampling of their cooking earlier - they hadn't given it their finishing touches yet! Aang offered me some of his vegetarian dishes, and they were exquisite! And the tea! Between Katara's masterful stirring of seven hundred teapots at once, and my own careful heating, the tea turned out perfectly! It was the highlight of everyone's evening, I think, ha ha.

Finally, Zuko, Aang, Katara, and Toph took to the stage and performed a dazzling dance of all four elements together. Toph seemed to have a little more trouble bending than usual, though. Perhaps it was because Teo was seated right at the front. Or perhaps it was because she was wearing a dress! I often heard her complaining about it, but I think she secretly liked it. And Aang's lemur also seemed to be wearing a dress. At least that's what I think it was. Katara was very proud of it, whatever it was.

Contrary to what you may hear, I was not drunk. At least not very much. But I find that a few drinks can get you just tipsy enough that people think you are drunk. This makes some tolerate you more than they usually would, ha ha! Oh, I had fun. I was able to tell all sorts of embarrassing stories about Zuko, and he was helpless to stop me! My favorite was the story of Zuko and the noodles. He hates that one, ha ha ha ha! I believe Mai suspected me, but she wasn't going to interrupt the fun! I think Bumi got a little "drunk" too, but it is hard to tell with him.

In the end, the bride and groom retired to the royal chambers, and soon afterward the guests began returning to the inns around the city. The palace grew nearly empty except for the servants. I saw some of Zuko's friends taking moonlight strolls, and I am sure I spotted the Avatar hanging from the pinnacle of the palace. I don't know what he drank.

Ah, what a day it was! A wedding to remember! Now Zuko and Mai are preparing for their honeymoon at the old house on Ember Island. As for me, I think I will enjoy the city for a few days more before returning to my teashop. I hear Smellerbee and Longshot are still taking excellent care of it. If only Katara would take a job as a permanent tea-stirrer...