Author's note: Hi! This is my first time writing a HG fanfic. Clove and Cato will be the main pairing. Other pairings include Katniss and Peeta and Rue and Thresh. This whole fic will be set in my own ancient imaginary world…. Somewhere in China without knowing the exact date… Characters are a little OOC though… Clove is not that sadistic… Erm.. Since it is set in China, some of their family name will be chinese.

Summary: Every year, girls will be taken from their homes to be sent to the palace. This year, Clove was chosen, to be the Crown Prince's present. Along with Katniss, chosen for the third prince, and Rue, chosen for the 2nd prince, they must try to survive in the place filled with jealously, backstabbing and the battle of women.

The Warrior Concubine

Clove fingers traced the cold blade of the throwing knife. A smile formed on her face as she gripped on the handle. She tucked the throwing knifes into her outer robe, leaving only one in her hands. She ran, throwing the knife at the dummy. It hit it, right on the forehead, digging right through the "head". Today was the day where people from the palace come and choose girls to enter the palace as maids or waiting ladies. She was absolutely sure that she wouldn't be chosen. There was a limit, and the other girls were fighting for them. She had always wondered why they want to be in the palace so much. For the tiny chance of being the Emperor's concubine? Neh! Clove would rather be a warrior.

"Young Mistress, Old master asks for your presence," one of her family maid, Lily, informed her. Clove smiled and nodded. She threw one last knife at the dummy before leaving.

"Father," she curtsied.

"Ah! My little princess Clove! Come here my darling," he gushed, pulling his daughter into a hug. He was Daemon Yang, the most influential merchant in the country. He trained his daughter in martial arts, wanting her to be able to protect herself. She was the apple of his eyes and he never knew that the day where she would leave him came so soon.

"Father?"

"Clove, you are selected to be sent to the palace as the Crown Prince's woman," he broke the news.

"What?" Clove's head snapped up. The palace was no better than prison. All of her freedom would be stolen away from her. She must act like a proper lady, no more knives and martial arts!

"I am so sorry, love. You are chosen as a gift to the crown prince as a reward for him winning the war along with the second prince. Of course, another girl is picked for him and another for the second prince's reward for his excellence in studies."

"When?" after a painful silence, that was all she could ask.

Before he could answer, Lily entered the room with two burly officers behind her.

"Old master, the officers escorting young mistress have arrived."

The world seemed to stop spinning. Everything was lost. From now on, Clove Yang was no longer what she was. She was now Clove, the crown prince's woman, part of the infamous palace.

The next thing she knew it, she was in a carriage, on her way to the capitol. "Where are we going?" she asked one of the guards.

"To district 11, miss. We have to escort the other two ladies." He replied.

Clove sighed and leaned back. Was this her fate? She drew open the curtain and a gasp escaped her. The scenery was beautiful. Colourful flowers that she had never seen before grew everywhere. Their fragrance mesmerized her. The blood red flower caught her eye. "What is that blood red flower?"

"It is called Manjusaka or Red spider lilies," the other guard replied. Manjusaka… Red spider lily… The blood red flower.

The carriage got to a stop. Two guards went off, leaving her behind with another 2. After a few minutes, the two guards returned. Clove turned away from the window and look at the new girl. She was petite, around 152 cm tall and had dark skin. Her curly dark brown hair was tied up and she wore a dark purple robe. She radiated innocence and purity. Innocent and pure. That was not what people would describe her as. She was usually the young mistress of the Yang household. The cold blooded lady.

"I am Clove Yang. You are?' Clove asked, just out of manners.

"Rue Dove, aged 15, apparently chosen for the second prince," she smiled, but with a sigh in her tone. Clove nodded and peered out of the window. Rue sat next to her, humming a song.

The carriage stopped once more not long after. The two guards left and came back with another girl, who was forced into the carriage.

She had olive skin and storm grey eyes. Her long black hair was tied into a braid. Clove could see the fire in her. She was a warrior, just like her.

"Hi, I am Rue Dove, for the second prince, and she's Clove, who I assumed is for the crown prince." Rue introduced herself.

"Oh. I am Katniss Everdeen, 16, for the third prince." Katniss introduced herself, a small smile on her face. Clove ignored her presence.

Katniss sat next to Rue, a girl she had took an immediate liking for. Rue reminded Katniss of her sister, Prim.

Clove sat in silence, looking at the scenery passing by. She was quiet for the whole ride, unlike Rue and Katniss, who were talking about their hometown. As they entered the capitol, Clove's heart raced. It was all over now. Her life was going to be destroyed completely. Was this her fate? Was this what she wants? No! She was not going to succumb to fate. She was a warrior. She, was going to escape.

The carriage screeched to a halt. A smirk formed on her face. The forest was just beside. The guards got down from the horses. "What is happening?" Rue asked.

"There's a block in a path. It's nothing," one of the guards shouted back. Clove smirk widened. The window was big enough for her to exit. She could sprint and in the forest, it would be difficult for anyone to catch up.

She took a deep breath, placed a leg over and hauled herself out. She ran, not looking back. Shouts could be heard. She continued on, ignoring her burning lungs. Sprinting, she cut through the forest, the branches cutting her. When she was absolutely certain that no one was following behind her, she stopped, resting for a moment.

Her body tensed. Rustling could be heard. Before she could count to three, bandits pounced out from all directions. They ran towards her, their knives drawn. She smiled. This, was her first real battle. She reached for her throwing knives and in a flash, she killed three of them, their blood staining her dress.

The other 15 lunged at her. Swiftly, she dodged their attacks, managing to plunge the knives into their neck. There was a limit to the amount of throwing knives she had and she made it a point to pull the knives out. No matter how many bandits she killed, the number of bandits kept growing.

She was wounded, tired and was surrounded. The odds were definitely not in her favour. When she thought that she would fall, a pair of strong arms whisked her up.

She looked up and found herself gazing into a pair of beautiful, haunting emerald eyes.