Chapter 1

(Peeta)

"Peeta?" my father calls, commanding my attention. I look up at him, meeting his blue eyes. My eyes are blue, too! Also, I have blonde curly hair like my father. "Come on, the King has a very important announcement to make." I put the shell I was playing with on the floor and swim to my Dad.

"I've never met the King, Dad, what's he like?" I ask.

"King Sage is a very good leader," my Dad says.

"Yeah, but what's he like?" I ask.

"I haven't met him, either Peeta. But I did know the Queen once. She's a very nice lady." says my Dad.

"Is she pretty?" I ask.

"Yes. She's beautiful." my Dad tells me.

"Did you want to marry her?" I ask.

My Dad chuckles. "That's enough, Peeta, let's go."

I grab my Dad's hand, as he gathers my brothers, Graham and Rye. Graham is nine years old, Rye is seven, and I'm five.

My mother waits outside, looking upset. "We are going to be late!" she shouts at us. "What took so long?"

"Never mind, Bryony, let's go." my Dad says.

Soon after we get to the palace, a merman with dark hair and a red tail greets us. "That's the King," my Dad whispers to me.

"Citizens of Panem," says the King. "I've gathered all of you here today so you can meet someone. As some of you may know, my wife, you're Queen has given birth again. And so I'd like everyone to meet Princess PrimRose."

A mermaid with blonde hair and a yellow tail, carrying a baby, and holding another mermaid's hand, comes out. The other mermaid had dark hair like the King, she has an orange tail, and I decide it's my favorite color. She looks my age.

"Who are they?" I ask my Dad.

"The mermaid with the yellow tail is Queen Iris, and the little mermaid next to her is Princess Katniss." he says. "The baby is Princess PrimRose."

"I'm a big sister now!" Princess Katniss announces. The Queen tells the Princess to be quiet, and everyone chuckles.

The King waits until everyone is quiet. "The humans have been fishing closer to Panem, recently. This means no one is to go near the surface until further notice." says the King. "Take extra care in watching your children. The surface can no longer be they're playground." The King nods. "That is all."

We swim back home, and my brothers follow me to our room.

"Who are you going to marry when you grow up?" I ask them.

Graham shakes his head. "I don't know yet. I've still got time to decide though." he tells me.

Rye considers his options. "I'm not sure either. But she should have red hair. That's pretty." he says.

"Why?" Graham asks. "Do you know who you're going to marry?"

"Yes." I tell them.

"Who?" Rye asks.

"Princess Katniss." I say. Graham and Rye both start laughing. "What's so funny?" I ask.

"You think your going to marry the Princess!" exclaims Rye.

"Rye, Graham," my mother calls. I didn't even know she came into our room. "Why don't you make yourselves useful, and help your father with dinner." They quietly leave the room. My mother looks at me. "Do you really think you'll marry the Princess?"

"Yes?" I say.

"It would be best for you to forget that." my mother says.

"But why?" I ask.

"She is a Princess." says my mother. "I wouldn't be surprised if she was already set to marry when she's older."

"She already agreed to marry someone? Graham doesn't even know who he wants to marry. And he's nine." I say.

"Of course she didn't agree to marriage, Princesses usually have their marriage arranged by their parents." says my mother.

"So she doesn't get to choose who she marries?" I ask.

"No." says my mother. "And even if she could, she wouldn't choose you."

"Why?" I ask.

"Look at you, Peeta. Who would want to marry you?" my mother asks.

"Dad says I'm handsome," I say.

"Forget what your father says! He's just trying to be nice." says my mother. "I'm the one telling the truth." I look at my hands. "You'll never be good enough for the Princess."

Once my mother swims out, and shuts the door, I swim underneath my blanket and cry.

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