She saw him and the world paled in comparison.

Broad-shouldered and tall for a fourteen-year-old, he walked with his head held high, the paragon of handsome confidence. As he trained, his father's men hailed him a hero of the training grounds, a ruthless champion destined for great things.

But she saw him.

She saw him slip bits of food to the slaves and the beggars. She saw him defend his friends when the older squires bullied them. She saw him scold his younger brothers who were pages and chuckle at their antics when he thought no one was looking. She saw him lift a little girl up so she could see a squirrel, and heard his soft chuckles at her shocked exclamation when it scurried away from her grubby hands.

Every day she watched him, she fell more in like. Every day she liked him, she fell more in love.

She reveled in the courteous bow he'd give her as they passed in the corridors. She looked forward to their quiet words exchanged in the courtyard each day. As few words blossomed into conversations, and silent observations evolved into shared memories, Madge began to hope. Perhaps he saw her as more than just his master's daughter. Perhaps it was possible for a princess and a squire to be together. Perhaps he loved her too.

When he neared his eighteenth birthday, Gale met her in the gardens, excitement radiating off him.

"I'm going to be in the tournament this fall," he said, breathlessly.

"But you're not yet twenty-one, you're not yet a knight," she exclaimed.

"The swords-master says I'm good enough, and your father has approved." He grinned. "And my...friend from Seamland will also be here to visit. She and her husband are going to watch."

Madge thought back to the last tournament her father had hosted. She remembered the mangled bodies of the losers and the morbid smirk of the victor, whose arm had been bent in an unnatural position when he had fallen off his horse.

"Y-you can't!" she exclaimed. "How can they send you into the arena? You're but a boy." Gale recoiled, and his excited expression contorting.

"I thought you'd believe in me, I thought you were my friend."

As he stormed off, Madge felt her heart sink to the soles of her feet.

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Gale ignored her for the next three eighteenth birthday came and went. He lived at the training grounds, practicing nonstop for the joust beneath the burning glare of the summer sun. Madge watched him from afar and worried. As the tournament drew nearer, Madge saw Gale smile less and less. He hardly spoke to his friends and his younger brothers seemed to avoid him. Madge wanted to comfort him, ask what was wrong, but she was afraid.

She feared he would spurn her, that he wouldn't forgive her. She feared facing the problem and possibly pushing him further away.

As she sat, once again a spectator as opposed to a player in his life, a servant girl told her that her father had requested her presence.

"Father," she murmured, curtsying.

"Daughter," he replied from his throne, frowning. "You have recently turned sixteen, have you not?"

"Yes, my birthday was last week," the king scrutinized her, eyes narrowed.

"You are of marriageable age, and we have received a more than agreeable offer from Prince Cato of Panem. He is the crown prince. You shall be first in line to the throne. You shall be a queen."

Madge did not say anything. She simply glanced at her father in surprise and then quickly lowered her eyes. The king, perhaps sensing her discontent, became angry.

"Panem is much stronger than Dodici, and much more land-hungry. The situation is only exacerbated by the tensions and cultural prejudices between our kingdoms. It is only a matter of time before they attack. We are fortunate that Cato became infatuated with you during their last visit." The king rubbed his jaw, his eyes sad and tired. "What would you have me do, Margaret? Panem's domination is inevitable, and I'd rather see it happen bloodlessly through political marriage than watch helplessly as my people are massacred."

"...I understand, Father."

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Thanks for reading!

This chapter is kind of short, but I wanted to see some feedback/response before I posted more.