Author's Note:

Hi everyone! I'm Tessa and this is my first piece of FanFiction that I have written(:

This is a song-fic of Deep in the Meadow, the song Katniss sings to Rue when Rue is dying, and is in Katniss's point of view.

Please, please PLEASE leave a review, this is my first piece of FanFiction writing, so please don't judge.

PLEASE NOTE:

Some of this work is not mine. The lyrics to Deep in the Meadow belong to Suzanne Collins, and some of the pieces of text are chunks of text put together.

"Deep in the Meadow"

"Sing," she says, but I barely catch the word.
Sing? I think. Sing what? My throat is tight with tears, hoarse from smoke and fatigue. But if this is Prim's I mean Rue's – last request, I have to at least try.
I give a small cough, swallow hard and begin.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

I look at the small clearing in which Rue lays. The grass moves softly in the wind, its green vibrancy welcoming and pleasant. At least this is a nice spot for Rue to spend her last few minutes alive.

Lay down your head and close your sleepy eyes
And when again the open, the sun will rise

Rue looks as if she is asleep. Within an inch of death, yet still alive enough to hear the soft singing of distant mockingjays, and my soft, quavering voice.

Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm

I know that heaven will keep a special place just for Rue. My imagination tells me that heaven will look similar to this. The soft whistling of the wind. The singing of the birds. The peace, quiet, tranquillity. Rue lies in a cushioned mound of grass, surrounded by daisies that guard and protect her. They are doing to Rue what I failed to do.

Here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you

Rue will always be in my heart. From now until forever. Just like Prim will be. Come to think of it, if I hadn't volunteered for Prim at the reaping, I think her and Rue would be friends. Or allies at the very least.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray

A young mockingjay appears and starts to whistle Rue's four note song. The one that means she is safe. Safe and sound, I think. No one can hurt her anymore. The meadow encloses us, the trees and foliage around us like a warm blanket. The perfect place to say goodbye. Maybe it'll better this way, I think. At least it won't come down to the two of us.

Forget your woes, and let your troubles lay
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away

Rue's eyes have fluttered shut. Her chest moves, but only slightly. My throat released the tears and they slide down my cheeks. The last lines are barely audible, but I know I must continue.

Here your dreams are sweet, and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you

By this point I am trembling. I clutch Rue's hand like a lifeline as I sob, my shoulders shaking and moving up and down. For a moment, I calm down and sit in silence, letting reality sink in. The cannon then fires, and Rue is gone.
"Goodbye, Rue," I whisper as I let her hand go. She looks like a small possum, curled up, face as innocent as a raindrop. And for a moment, my eyes unfocus and I see Prim.
Sweet, tiny Prim, who cried when I cried before she even knew the reason. I blink, and Rue appears again. I get to my feet and press the three middle fingers of my left hand to my lips, and hold them out in Rue's direction.
It means thanks, it means admiration.

It means goodbye to someone you love.