Summer Apples

salixj:

 
 
 
 

After supper Sokka had taken to going for walks in the palace gardens. The late summer, air redolent with the scents of jasmine and wisteria, tuberose and moonflower,offered respite from thick heat which clung to the furniture and curtains indoors. Another week and he would return to Republic City. Usually that would make him happy. Since breaking up with Suki trips to the Palace were fraught with awkwardness.

This last month he found his return to Republic City less and less desirable, and kept manufacturing reasons to stay, and it was only recently that he admitted what those reasons were.
Or more correctly who.

“Sokka.” Azula stepped out from behind a tree. “How pleasant to find you here.” She was, according to Zuko, turning over a new leaf, trying hard to be accepted, though most people weren’t receptive. Polite but cold was how Zuko put it. The way he and Suki were now. “So maybe if you could be a little friendly with her when you meet her. I know it is a lot to ask.“
And it was. At first.
“As you told me yesterday, a stroll after a meal is good for digestion.”
“It is. In fact I was about to go for a stroll in the apple orchard.”
Sokka approached her. “I didn’t even know you had an apple orchard. Would you show it to me?”
Azula shrugged.smiled. “If you would like.you may,“ she condescended.  She turned and waved  her hand at the tree she just came from behind. “It is a bit far from the Palace.”
“I’m strong,” he assured her. Coming closer to her he saw that indeed, there was a dirt path through a copse of wood. “It’s around that stone outcrop.”  He could barely make out the stone outcrop in the gathering twilight.
“A large orchard I expect.”
“Not so large.” Azula told him. “Just 100 trees,“ she said, and stepped onto the path.
Sokka followed. Neither said a word until they came to the orchard. ”
“The apple orchard was begun seven years ago.” They walked through the orchard, and Azula pointed out all the different types of trees, their growing season, what they were best meant for. “And these,” she came to a stop before seven trees, whose limbs were heavy with fruit. “This is the reason we have apples at all. It started,“ she leaned against one tree. “With this tree. And the six trees on either side of this one. This was the first apple tree planted. The sweetest apples you could ever hope to taste.”
Sokka came to stand beside her. “Oh? I thought apple trees were grafted.“
Azula frowned a bit then went on. “Of course.However, these seven trees came from elsewhere. These seven trees had been in the garden of the daughter of a Warlord. The warlord who lived here,” she circled her arms to indicate the island. “Married a rival’s daughter. ”
“Oh? A rival’s daughter.” Sokka stepped closer to her, so he could more easily see her face. It was growing dark, especially there among the trees.
“Yes.” Azula bit her lip. “And as a gift, to help his daughter feel more at home, he planted these trees right here.”
“Far from the palace?”
“It wasn’t so far then. The warlord lived just over there…” she pointed to a plain nearby. There were ruins, though whether a wall or a former palace Sokka couldn’t tell.
“Did they love each other? The warlord and his bride?“ Sokka reached an arm over her shoulder, and touched the tree, stroking it.
“Very much. They often picnicked here.”
“Oh?”
Azula nodded“These are the sweetest apples in the orchard. In the world. And of all the trees, this one bears the sweetest fruit.”  Sokka looked upward. A branch hung low. Azula lay one hand on his shoulder and with her other hand reached upward. Sokka looked up. A apple hung from a branch above their head, just out of reach of her fingers. “It’s too high. Or I’d pick one and let you taste.” Sokka reached up, his hand alongside of hers.
“Too high for me as well. Perhaps I could…“
“Lift me?” She rested her other hand on his other shoulder while his hands slipped down to her waist. She pressed down with her hands and he lifted her up, one arm stretched above her head and came down with the apple. Sokka lowered her to the ground.
Azula held the apple between their lips. “Would like to taste?” she asked?
Sokka lifted one hand from her waist and pressed the apple away.
“I thought you would never ask,” he said.
And Azula leaned forward to meet his lips.