Author's Notes: Mild adult language below. Just a little warning everyone! And this chapter is quite long.

Mockings Hall

Chapter 2

Alternate Title: The Summoned Mockingjay and Her Misadventures

Katniss's first thought was that she could breathe again without the smell of burned flesh assaulting her nose.

And there was the absence of the pain as well.

She tested if her motor movements are back with a wiggle of her toe. They were, and something tickled at her feet.

It felt like she had been asleep for a long time. Surely Aunt Effie would be knocking at her door soon and she'd be arguing with Prim over first dibs at their shared bathroom.

But the smell around her was earthy and the air too cold. Had she left the window open? She did not remember even walking around her room last night.

Katniss turned to her left and the light was suddenly too bright and painful to her eyes that it made her see white spots.

She remembered a bright light from her dream. She turned back right and opened her eyes. The golden stalks of grass disoriented her. Did she somehow fall to the garden during sleep? And when did Aunt Effie plant ridiculously tall grasses in their yard?

She moved her hand and something cold pressed against her skin. She sat up and saw the locket, looking innocuous in her palm. The locket mesmerized her with the dancing rays of the sun that glinted on it.

It's hard to imagine that the last thought she associated with the locket was pain. But oddly, pain was the farthest thing she was feeling now. She felt wonderful, and light, like the wind can blow right through her and she would fly with it. It was the same when she dreamt, where the burden of realities were forbidden. Her thoughts were bumping against each other in her mind until they formed an incoherent stream and she did not bother with them anymore. Yes, perhaps she awoke into another dream. That already happened to her before anyway.

She got up and found that the tall golden grasses were almost her height and some stalks were even taller than her. They were pale gold with delicate, upward-pointed tips. She touched one tip and the small white spores attached to the edge burst with the wind.

How delightful! She giggled as she watched the white spores dance in the wind.

She twirled to catch the others that flew in the other direction. The light felt warm on her skin. Her tummy grumbled, but it was not of any importance now. What was important was that she find another tip, and poke it, and watch its spores tumble in the wind! And the golden field stretched endlessly for what seemed like miles, which meant more spores for her to play with.

She was on her fourth stalk when she heard a faint melody behind her. There were distant mountains to her front, beyond the golden field, and dotted with bright orange and red trees.

They looked like fire trees, she thought, thinking of those tall trees with wiry branches ending in small leaves and bright red flowers that line her childhood neighborhood, setting the streets ablaze in their fiery color when they rose to their peak in the season.

But the sound was to her back so she should go there. She affixed the locket around her neck and walked towards the woods. The shorter stalks of grass tickled her bare back and she let out a small giggle at the sensation.

The sound was getting louder and she could make out more pronounced words wherever it was coming from. The ground was cooler beneath her in the woods, softer, and molded to the contours of her feet. The woods were peaceful and silent. Only the rays of the sun pierced the canopy and shed soft light between the golden leaves of the trees. There were bushes here and there with plump berries of every color that she longed to burst them in her mouth. She picked a dark one, less shiny than the others, and was about to plop it in when a gentle breeze whipped past her and the berry fell from her palm to the ground. She turned and saw a small, dark-haired figure clothed in gossamer.

She was a young girl, and that joyful sparkle in her unusually large eyes reminded her of Prim's laughter. Katniss smiled at the figure and the girl smiled back. She walked slowly towards Katniss, her finger pointing at Katniss' chest until she touched the locket.

Her lips did not move but Katniss heard the word "treasured" echo in the same soft melody around them.

"Is it coming from you? The sound?" Katniss asked.

The girl smiled and gently nodded. Then she turned and sprinted and stopped after a short distance to beckon Katniss to follow her.

Katniss heard the soft peals of bells around her as she ran too and she laughed as the wind swayed her hair back. She had never felt this light and carefree since her childhood, when she and her father would play. Or when her mother would do her hair in the morning before going to school.

The young girl stopped at a brook and knelt in the bed of flowers by its edge. Katniss did the same and looked at her reflection in the water. Her hair was wavy at it fell around her shoulders and the locket seemed to be glowing against her bare chest. She turned towards the girl and saw that she has cupped water in her hands. She blew this towards Katniss and Katniss closed her eyes, anticipating the cold drops of water. Instead, a cool mist hit her and she opened her eyes and saw the golden mist heading towards her from the girl's hands. A tickling feeling settled over her head, skin, and body where the mist landed.

Then she saw the girl open her mouth to speak.

"Such glad tidings you bring Mockingjay."

What was a Mockingjay? Katniss thought. Her silent question must have reflected on her face because the girl giggled and replied,

"You are the Mockingjay."

"No, my name is Katniss," she smiled.

The girl giggled some more and pointed at her locket and whispered "Mockingjay" again.

"Is that what you call humans here?"

"No," the girl said.

"So what is a Mockingjay?"

"You."

Katniss sighed at that reply. They were not going anywhere with this. She missed that carefree feeling she had back when they were running. She had an idea.

"Ok, can we play now?"

The girl laughed and nodded her head and moved so fast that a second later was the only time that Katniss realized that the girl was running.

Katniss stood up and ran after the girl. This part of the forest seemed livelier than the part where she met the girl. She could see furry little creatures poking their heads from beneath the ground to look at them. The soothing melody was back and the air thrummed with it. She laughed when the furry creatures started following them and playing with them. They looked like bunnies and puppies but their fur had golden glints at the tips.

They stopped at a small meadow inside the forest. It felt magical to Katniss, what with the soft light from above and the colorful buds at their feet. The furry creatures joined them too, encircling the two as they held hands and began to move faster and faster in a circle. Katniss was delighted that she was not getting dizzy, not like when she and Prim would do this. They collapsed to the ground, side by side, sending petals floating to the air and Katniss was trying to catch her breath when one of the puppies jumped enthusiastically at her and began licking her face. She laughed at the warm, velvety feeling and tickled the puppy.

All too soon, the girl rose and told Katniss to follow her.

"Where are we going?"

"Near others, like you."

Katniss followed the girl out the meadow and back to another part of the forest. There were no furry creatures here and the air was silent as they walked. They passed by snares with trapped and dead animals and Katniss let out a soft cry. The girl comforted her and said that it was all right. She does not grieve for them for life moves in cycles.

The girl led her to a pond. Katniss sat by the edge once again and looked at the girl. She was smiling at Katniss a bit sadly. Then the girl burst into golden dust that startled Katniss. There was a buzzing to her right and she saw the girl once again, but tinier and with gossamer wings. She whispered to Katniss that she will see her again and disappeared.


He wanted to check the snares he left before they departed for the Capitol. Though he was fed well in the palace and there was never a shortage of food, he found that his taste preferred the gamey kind, not the farm-raised ones. He happily stuffed his haul of three rabbits, four squirrels, and a lone wild chicken in his game bag and set off once again out the forest. His long trek made him thirsty so he went to the direction of a pond he once came across.

He was busily hacking at the shrubs with his hunting sword that he did not notice a girl huddled near the pond. When he looked up, she was looking at him. He turned red when he realized that the girl had nothing on but thankfully her back was to him.

It was the oddest thing he came across in his life, a naked girl in a forest.

He cleared his throat to get her attention.

She had already turned her head back to the pond but was now looking again at him after he cleared his throat. He was unprepared for her motion to stand up and was painfully exposed to him as she walked and stopped before him. It took him a second to look away but the damage her curves had done felt very real now. The temptation to look again was strong but he resisted as he put down his game bag, shook his hunting coat off, and tried to put it on the girl without looking too much at her directly. He managed to get her covered decently when he looked again.

She was frail, with wavy dark hair, and expressive grey eyes. The hand that tentatively reached for the coat was shivering. She looked curiously at him and tilted her head to the side. Something was changing in her eyes though, like a clearing mist. Then they turned a steely color and that was the last thing he remembered before a closed fist hit him in the jaw and the girl was running away with his coat.


Prince Peeta didn't remember going back to his room yet he felt the plush pillows his head rested on, the warmth of the duvets, and the firm mattress beneath him. The sun was already out and harshly falling over his closed eyes.

Then a cool hand touched his forehead and someone called his name.

He opened his eyes and saw a pair of blue ones smiling back.

"Delly?" He mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

"Shhhh. Your Privy Gentlemen brought you here after they were alerted by the priestess."

Peeta sat up, rolled his head around, and looked at the lady by his bed.

He smiled. "Now who did you trick to get in here Lady Cartwright?"

"Lest you forget, my brother is a member of the Guard. I have eyes on every wall." Delly winked and motioned to the side door.

"Breakfast is over there." Then she got up and kissed Peeta's forehead.

Peeta stretched his arms and proceeded to get dressed.

There was a modest breakfast laid out in the salon adjacent to his room. Delly was already seated and sipping her tea.

"To what do I owe this pleasure Lady Cartwright?" Peeta started as he settled onto his seat.

Delly put her cup down.

"Why, is there a proclamation preventing old friends from visiting old friends before they embark on an arduous journey to another court?" Her cheeks dimpled with a small smile.

"Surely there are other gentlemen deserving of that honor."

Lady Cartwright threw a thumb-sized fruit at him and he laughed.

"So which court shall be graced by your shining presence?" He mocked.

"Oh stop it Peeta."

He smiled a bit and began to serve Delly the delicate pastries laid out before them. Some were his favorite, like the flaky, chocolate-filled roll or the sweet cloud puff Delly was munching on now. They ate in companionable silence. It was different from how they used to be when they always tried to fill conversations even if the words were hollow.

But now there were farewells that paused on his lips as he watched Delly look out the window and drink in the scene. The sunlight always touched parts of her face that made her glow. He exhaled wistfully, purging himself of any doubt of the decision to part a year ago. But looking at Delly now, he understood that it was always harder on her.

Lady Cartwright turned to face him.

"I am finally heeding your word." She said with a sad smile before she looked down bashfully and bit her lip.

Peeta remembered that it was he who suggested that she visit another court to make the coping easier. It will be beneficial to her too since it never hurt to make acquaintances and connections.

"It took you long enough, if I may say so. The blood moon had to return to its former state before you vaulted into action," he teased as he broke a roll and dipped it in the hot, silky chocolate.

"And you always never heeded me anyways. I have uncanny foresight for these matters you know," he joked haughtily.

When they finished eating, Lady Cartwright touched his hand that was on the table as she held his gaze.

"I will miss you Peeta." She whispered and he could see the beginnings of salty tears in her eyes.

He stood up when she did, and watched as she took soft steps toward him, pausing a hand's length from his chest.

She reached up to thread her hand on his hair and stopped at his cheek. Peeta touched the hand on his face, and closed his eyes as he felt bittersweet stirrings in his chest that were more for the memories than the thought of their farewell.

"No one in the Fifth Kingdom can ever match your blonde eyelashes my Prince."

And they both laughed softly at their old joke. When they stilled, Lady Cartwright once again whispered for his permission for one more favor.

"May I take one with me?" she said as she tilted her head.

Peeta closed his eyes and pressed a chaste kiss on her lips as he ran a finger down her cheek.

When he opened his eyes, he pressed his forehead to her and softly said goodbye.

And everything was once again changing. He was saying goodbye to a dear friend the morning after the signs shattered the peaceful lull of his kingdom and leaving uncertainty in its wake.

He watched in silence as she went out the door, the sunlight shining bright on the delicate beads of her dress.


What the fuck?!

Katniss's hand throbbed and she wanted to scream as the humiliation settled on her. What she thought was a dream was painfully the opposite. Thin branches of bushes were scratching her calf as she ran but she did not care. She had to get away from that man she just landed her right hook on. Then she realized she had no clue where to go and that man may have one.

She stopped and looked if he followed her. She was alone in the woods. She had been feeling exceptionally good until the fairy left. Katniss looked around to see if anything felt familiar to her. Her father brought her to the woods near their house when she was young but the trees here were foreign to her.

Where am I?

She tried to painfully recall the events that happened. There was the pond, then the meadow with the creatures, then and the forest with a melody. It seemed silly to her now as she thought about the things she did, like running around stark naked.

Then she remembered the field then,

The locket!

She looked down at the golden locket and remembered all the pain it caused her before she passed out in her room.

And then she was here.

She felt tears of frustration leak down, whimpering as she knelt to the ground and covered her head.

Where the hell am I? She almost moaned it aloud then she heard footsteps behind her.

She was trying to calm down before her hyperventilation takes over her then blind panic would come afterwards.

Please, please, I would rather endure triple Calculus everyday if I could just be back…

"My lady?"

She whipped her head back and saw the man she punched. She eyed him warily. After all, not a lot of men take too kindly to physical injury.

She stood and tried to adjust the coat she had on when she realized she could not possibly do this without exposing herself again. The man seemed to sense her discomfort and turned.

"Perhaps the lady wishes to clothe herself more fully."

She scowled at him even though his back was turned as she put on the coat more snugly against her when he began to speak again.

"I would offer my assistance but my unfortunate jaw cannot take another beating."

"I'm decent."

The man turned and their eyes met.

"I would like to apologize my lady for my earlier behavior. The moment has been most inopportune and dare I say that you took me by surprise. I mean no disrespect. And if I may, I would like to again offer my assistance to ease any discomfiture you have gained from our interaction."

Katniss's mouth hung open sometime during the middle of his speech.

He speaks funny, she thought.

He was waiting for her to respond so she cleared her throat before looking at him again. Better start with the simplest, most pressing matter then.

"Where am I?"

"You are in the South Forest of the Twelfth Kingdom of Panem my lady. Not a very safe place for a lady such as yourself to be dallying in alone."

"Kingdom?" She sputtered out in a squeak. She wanted to clear her ear to see if what she heard was right. But that would probably disgust this man.

"Why yes my lady."

"What's Panem?" She followed up quickly.

"It is what we call the collective union of the Twelve Kingdoms to which our kingdom belongs. We are governed by King Owain while a Council oversees Panem."

This was all too much for her to digest. She inhaled heavily through her nose and looked around when the man spoke again and began to approach her. She took a step back instinctively.

"My lady, it is best that we move now while there is still light and the hours of the moon have not arrived. You may have misgivings but I sincerely hope that you have accepted my apology. I do want to help you and I swear on my honor that I will not do anything untoward."

She nodded and asked, "What's your name?"

He smiled and introduced himself as Lord Gale Hawthorne, a Privy Gentleman of the Grand Duke.

She replied with her own.

"My name is Katniss Everdeen."

Her own introduction was amusingly insipient next to this Lord Hawthorne but she could care less. She extended her right hand to shake his but was surprised when Lord Hawthorne folded her hand, raised it, and brushed her knuckles to his lips.

"I am honored to meet you my Lady Everdeen," he murmured.

Katniss giggled and snorted in a very un-lady-like manner at the surprising gesture. This was the stuff of Prim's dreams, not hers! But she can't deny that it made her feel giddy.

Lord Hawthorne still had her hand in his when he began to lead her out the forest. The handholding made Katniss uncomfortable and she finally could not take it and asked Lord Hawthorne why he was still holding her hand. Lord Hawthorne gave her a look, brow furrowed, which said he did not understand why she was questioning it. But what about the brambles, he said, or the uneven forest floor. It would not do for her to trip. He was merely helping to make the journey less cumbersome for her, to which Katniss had no reply.

He did not let go until they reached his horse, a formidable-looking chestnut beauty. He asked permission if he could lift her onto the saddle.

Now this posed another tricky situation, Katniss thought. There was no way she was spreading her legs and sitting on that dirty saddle. On the other hand, she did not want to be rude to Lord Hawthorne when he had been nothing but gentlemanly and helpful to her.

Lord Hawthorne seemed to sense her hesitation and explained to her that she'll be riding side-saddled, with a hint of blush on his cheeks.

"Not to worry my lady, we will just be trotting and not running to make it less uncomfortable for you. My younger sister always complains about riding side-saddled."

And with that, he hoisted her onto the horse, affixed his game bag, and mounted.

He took her hands and placed them on his hips and it was Katniss's turn to blush when she felt his hard muscles beneath the shirt.

She spent most of the time trying to not fall off the trotting beast.

"How are you faring my Lady Everdeen?"

"Please, just call me Katniss. That's what they call me back home."

"And where is your home, if I may ask?"

It was only then she realized that Lord Hawthorne was indeed true to his word that he will not make her uncomfortable, that the pace of their acquaintanceship was up to her, and that included questions about where she came from or why he found her naked by a pond. She decided to test the waters to see how far he may be receptive to the story of her true origins.

"Far, far away, my Lord Hawthorne."

"And how far is this 'far, far away' home of yours?"

"Really far." To which Lord Hawthorne sighed.

"My lady, I really do wish to help you. If you are in danger from another kingdom or if ruffians are chasing you, please, I beg you, tell me. I can help you. It may be too much to ask for your trust but I am."

Katniss was staring stonily out to the mountains as he said this. He sounded sincere and if he indeed wished to harm her he had plenty of opportunities already.

Ok, here we go.

"Do you promise to keep an open mind Lord Hawthorne? And will you let me finish before asking me questions?"

"As you wish, my lady."

Show time.

"I don't think I'm from this world Lord Hawthorne." She began quietly.

"Wherever this Panem is, it's not where I come from. The trees are never this red, orange, or yellow, I've never heard of golden fields or Panem, and we don't travel on horses anymore. I don't know how else to say this but I just woke up here, in a field of tall, pale gold grass and I walked to the forest then to the pond where you found me. I was in a daze, I thought I was just dreaming and then you were there."

She omitted the part of the fairy and the furry creatures. She did not want to be unceremoniously shoved from the moving horse.

"That's a very original story my lady."

"I'm not lying, and it's Katniss please. Besides, you agreed to have an open mind."

"Yes indeed. Do I have your permission to ask my queries now Lady Katniss?"

Katniss let out a puff of air. Oh boy, at least it's progress from Lady Everdeen.

"Yes you have my permission Lord Hawthorne."

"How did you get here then?"

"You promise not to stop and leave me all alone if I tell you?" Katniss asked in a small voice.

Lord Hawthorne let out a throaty laugh and asked her to continue.

"I think it's my locket. My aunt gave it to me as a gift. It once belonged to my mother. I opened it and read the inscription inside out loud then boom! I'm here."

Lord Hawthorne was quiet and Katniss was thinking the worse. Oh well, she thought. She'd rather walk anyway than continue riding side-saddled. It was making her lower back crick.

"Where are we going?" She asked when he did not say anything.

"To my home. I surmise you must be in dire want of clothing that fits you well instead of my hunting coat."

"So you believe me?" It was too much to hope for. She wouldn't believe herself if she were in Lord Hawthorne's place. But she was thankful that so far, everything was good. She knows she could have done a lot worse than honorable Lord Hawthorne.

"May I see that locket of yours Lady Katniss? When we arrive at my home?"

"Sure. How far do we still need to go?"

"Not very far. My home is halfway between the city and the forest."

"Ooh do you live in a castle?"

Lord Hawthorne chuckled. "No, my lady, but I do wish the comforts it can offer will be to your satisfaction."

She sighed. Why does he keep talking like that? It's not as if she can reply in the same manner.

She noticed when they entered the property. It was certainly different from the untrimmed forest she had been looking at earlier. The trees were lined perfectly and the bushes were neatly shaped. There was no mud either but a smooth, sandy road that bore a multitude of horse hoof prints. She turned to see a tall and broad stone house with imposing pillars but they did not stop there.

Katniss asked Lord Hawthorne why and he replied that he would rather they pass by the side entrance so the servants would not see her.

"Attention seems to be a sore point with you Lady Katniss." She rolled her eyes at that.

They stopped and he carried her down. He took her hand again and led her to the house.

They entered a handsome room lined to the ceiling with books and dotted with plush sofas and chairs. The late afternoon sun shone through large windows and Katniss saw the sprawling, manicured lawn that fronted the estate.

Lord Hawthorne excused himself after looking at her locket and said he will have a servant bring her food while he speaks with his lady mother.

As if on cue, her stomach rumbled noisily, and Lord Hawthorne smirked at her.


It can't be, he thought, as he raced up the steps to his mother's study.

It was an old preposterous tale that was confined to childhood and nothing more. But the girl sounded truthful. He was straining to hear any lying lilt as she relayed her story but he found none. The locket was another proof.

His lady mother was teaching his youngest sister when he entered. Her governess had been ill so his mother substituted for now.

He bowed as he entered the room. His sister ran towards him and he threw her around in an embrace.

"You're baaaack!"

He laughed at her energetic greeting and put her down. But his little sister did not let go of his neck and she dangled from him.

"Posy, might I speak with mother for a moment? I promise to tell you our usual stories afterwards." He pinched her nose for good measure. Posy giggled and left for her room.

He turned to his mother and he did not know where to begin. He was pacing the room back and forth as his mother patiently watched.

"Mother, I have a girl downstairs in need of clothes and rest and a multitude of other things before I take her to the palace."

Lady Hawthorne sipped her tea as she looked to her eldest. He inherited his serious demeanor from his father's father. He rarely frets and she was rather enjoying watching her serious-mannered boy act like this.

"Well, we will need to have her measurements taken first—"

"We must move with haste, Mother. I need to present her to the king tomorrow as we depart for the Capitol the day after. I think she's the Mockingjay." Lord Hawthorne told his mother what happened earlier.

Lady Hawthorne set her cup down, folded her gloved hands on her lap, and spoke.

"The Mockingjay is merely an oral story about a feathered animal—"

"A legend."

"—passed from priests and governesses to their charges for years. How are you so sure about this? There are many desperate, disreputable women out there who will tell a two-bit story in exchange for any comfort."

"The signs Mother, the blood moon, that scarlet comet, and the red aurora. And if her timing is correct, the signs disappeared when she said she appeared here, which was this morning. I heard from the servants that the comet burst into many falling streaks across the sky before dawn and is nowhere to be found now. And I am sure the moon will not shine red tonight."

"Do you have proof other than the girl's story?"

"She said she has a locket. That it's the one that brought her here. Etched in it is a bird, Mother, a Mockingjay, and an inscription."

Lady Hawthorne gave her son a pointed look and exhaled deeply.

"You are aware of what is at stake should you decide to pursue the matter of presenting her to the King. He's still very much shaken after what happened to the first Grand Duke and he will not tolerate any tall tales, never mind that you are a part of the Privy Chamber. As we speak, there are probably hundreds of other girls that are readying to present themselves as the Mockingjay in the hopes of catching a better life. And there is the matter of the family honor!"

Gale pinched the bridge of his nose and inhaled. Technically, as he had inherited his father's title already, he was in charge of the family. But of course, his mother still played an important role in his life and he included her in consequential decisions. He spoke slowly.

"I will operate under the manner of extreme discretion Mother. Please, I need your blessing before I proceed. I do believe the girl is telling the truth."

It was Lady Hawthorne's turn to want to pinch the bridge of her nose as her stubborn son pressed on. After a long pause, she replied.

"I will need to see her first, as well as that locket, before I give my permission."


The palace had seen more commotion this week than when news of the first Grand Duke's demise reached them. The appearance of the signs as well as its sudden disappearance had sent the priests and mages into a flurry of convocations and debates and scholarly searches.

The old priestess, who never bothered with such cumbersome meetings, had just lighted the thin candle laid in front of the Protector's symbol when a figure stood beside her.

"Perhaps it is in my better interest that I light one for myself too, don't you think Priestess Sae?"

She looked to see the Grand Duke looking up at the stone symbol before them.

The priestess smiled and offered Prince Aldran a candle.

"I suppose the Sect feels vindicated that the legend possesses truth to itself. The signs cannot have been a coincidence." Prince Aldran spoke softly. He was past believing such stories at the turn of age when he started pursuing the young ladies in the kingdom.

The priestess softly laughed. "Until the being presents itself, the recent events are exactly as you put them my Prince, a coincidence."

It was Prince Aldran's turn to smile at the Priestess's response as he got the light of another candle to start the flame in his.

"But I know my Prince, that the advent of such events are still difficult to accept for most of the court. After all, what place do legends have when power, money, and jewels fill the concerns of the nobility? We were never one to worry though, as we have faith in the course set out for each of us."

"Faith."

He tested the word in his tongue.

"I have not heard that word for some time Priestess."

"Well you best reacquaint with it, my Prince, what with the place you are about to embark for and all."

Aldran watched as the priestess turned and left, after bowing their respects to one another, her motions slowed by the years her body carried. After a hasty prayer, Aldran departed the Hall of Reverence and looked for his brother.

It was not difficult to find Peeta. In the afternoons, his carefree brother spends his time in the inner gardens of the royal residences. Peeta was at his usual spot but he was brooding and lacking the art instruments he was usually surrounded with.

He had been meaning to talk to his brother. Surely the revelations of the King have shaken Peeta, much like the way it disconcerted him when his father confided after Matthis's death.

The inner gardens were tranquil. There were no throngs of people and no bustling servants to add to the noise. Aldran sat beside Peeta under the shady tree, like they did as children. But to Peeta's right was the gaping absence of their brother. They were both thinking the same thing because neither said anything for some time, just content with having the wind chime in their ears.

"I assume, with my impending leave, that our Lord Father must have told you about Matthis."

Peeta's expression remained stony as he squared his shoulders, very unlike the jolly brother Aldran knew him to be.

"You have to understand Father's reasons, Peeta."

Peeta stood abruptly and faced Aldran. His expression was steely and Aldran could see the hurt in the way Peeta's lips formed a grim line.

"Why? Because I am the third, inconsequential son so far away from the throne? That I was the spare of the spare that didn't deserve the truth?"

He let the spare gibe slide and replied calmly.

"Because father, in his naïve thinking, hoped that you can grow up without having to deal with all of this fucked up mess. It took mother away from him, and then Matthis. The old man was clinging to the hope of keeping you unsullied—"

"Ignorant!"

"—innocent, of the tangled mess of lies and deceit so that maybe one day, when he chooses his heir for our kingdom, it will be a person of unquestionable integrity."

Peeta's fist was still clenched but Aldran pressed on.

"Father, Matthis, and soon myself, have been left with no choice but to be embroiled in the Chancellor's web and we have to fight him with his own machinations, but Father hopes for something better for the future of our kingdom."

Aldran was looking at Peeta but his brother would not meet his eyes.

"Then why did you not tell me, as a brother?" Peeta whispered.

Aldran smiled sadly. "Because I'm also a prince of this land, bound by the orders of my King."


They departed for the city the following day. Katniss was thankful that Lady Hawthorne made them use the carriage and gave her the dresses meant for Lady Posy when she comes of age. She was surprised when she saw the sheer volume and magnificence of the dresses and thanked the lady of the house profusely. She dined in merriment the night before with Lord Hawthorne's family and she slept well with a full stomach in the enormous bed with feather-tipped posters. But Katniss could feel that Lord Hawthorne was keeping something from her and she itched to know what.

The silence in the carriage was maddening that she could not resist poking around the matter.

"What are you not telling me Lord Hawthorne? You've barely spoken and looked at me."

He turned to her and said "Apologies if I seem aloof my lady. I am merely preoccupied."

"May I… know what… occupies your thoughts?" I suck at this formality.

"Well the matter is proving to be more complicated than I thought now that I am breaking down the steps.

"I may have withheld matters from you my lady but I will reveal them in due time. I have my reasons for doing so but I need your trust. Right now, after we arrive at the palace, I will speak to the priestess in the Hall of Reverence to ask her about the Legend of the Mockingjay."

Mockingjay. Mockingjay. That's what the fairy called her!

"Mockingjay? I've heard that before. What is a Mockingjay?"

Lord Hawthorne raised his eyebrow at her. "Where did you hear it?"

Irked at being kept in the dark, Katniss retorted "Lord Hawthorne, I may have withheld matters from you but I will reveal them in due time. I have my reasons for doing so."

"Why I never thought such formalities in speech would become you Lady Katniss." Lord Hawthorne teased in return.

She narrowed her eyes. "Lord Hawthorne, you're not the one who got transplanted to another realm, naked as the day you were born. I think I can take whatever it is you have to say."

Lord Hawthorne stared at her for a long time, judging her, but gave in and relayed to Katniss what he knew of the Legend of the Mockingjay, how it was supposed to bring peace to the kingdom, and how he suspects her to be the Mockingjay. He also delved on how the signs have played a role and affected the current mood of the kingdom, and how he still has not exactly figured out how he will reveal her to the king, the court, and to the priests and priestess.

Katniss blanched at what he said then expelled a hearty laugh. Her? Some sort of legendary harbinger of peace? He made it sound so clinical and simple! But when the laughter died, she was feeling a panic attack and before she threw up her breakfast at Lord Hawthorne's splendid attire, she screamed for the carriage to stop. When her companion just looked at her, she motioned for the door and Lord Hawthorne had the carriage halted.

She jumped off and ran into the grass and knelt a few feet from the carriage, hugging herself and breathing copious amounts of air.

This is not good, she thought. Some providential being somewhere made a mistake! It can't be her. She could not even keep a bunny alive that her sister gave her for more than a week.

Someone sat on the grass beside her and she turned to see Lord Hawthorne looking at her. There was a hint of concern and pity in his eyes that she did not like. No matter how much she doubted that she's the girl for the job, she cannot stand being pitied and treated with too much care. It was this thought that made her calm down, sneaking looks here and there and at Lord Hawthorne.

When Katniss was finally breathing normally, she turned to look forward as she seated more comfortably, closed her eyes, and felt the light breeze playing with her hair.

"Lady Katniss,"

"It's just Katniss, please." Katniss replied, annoyed.

"If it makes you more comfortable then… Katniss." Lord Hawthorne tentatively tested the less formal name he was unaccustomed to using.

"I want to go home Lord Hawthorne," Katniss suddenly said in a small voice, like a petty child.

She saw that Lord Hawthorne was trying to suppress a smile.

"It's Gale then. If I get to call you Katniss, please call me Gale. Now for the matter of bringing you home, I'm sorry to say this Katniss but what you may have not realized is that your going home is conditional to the fulfillment of the Mockingjay's duty, if you are the Mockingjay, which I believe you are."

"But I'm not fit for the job!" She kicked at the grass for good measure.

"Saving a kingdom is not something I learn regularly in the History period at school."

Then it clicked.

"Oh my god, are you at war? Is that why you need some legendary being to bring peace?" Katniss croaked out and turned with accusing eyes to Gale, who was looking at her with an emotion she cannot read.

"There are whispers of it; a sigh of discontent in one kingdom and another shout of grievance in the next but nothing that burns long enough. The kingdoms have not forgotten their lessons from our history. Our king will not allow the devastation of war to be brought upon to his people.

"But even though these matters are beyond my control, I gave you my word, Katniss, that no harm shall come to you. And I intend on keeping it. It's perfectly all right to be frightened." Gale finished softly and Katniss noticed for the first time how gently his eyes moved when whispering or how the breeze sweeps his hair into his high forehead. Lord Hawthorne, Gale, was quite dreamy and pleasant to look at.

She exhaled shakily and replied "Thank you."

"Think nothing of it Katniss. I took this upon myself and I shall see it until the end."

Katniss looked down and whispered in frustration. "But I still don't know how I'm going about this? How exactly will I fulfill this Mockingjay thing when I don't know where to start?"

Gale smiled. "Which is why we should be proceeding to the city and the palace. The multitude of priests and scholars there should be of help to our cause."

"What if they ask too much? What if I can't do it? I don't like to fail." Or die, she thought, as she pulled the dried grass at her side.

"See, you already accepted the responsibility," said Gale.

Katniss threw the grass at him.

"We shall take it a step at a time then. If you are uncomfortable with anything they ask of you, I shall speak on your behalf. Nobody shall force you into something you are uncomfortable with."

"Oh really? You got some clout in court we can test?" Katniss sniggered as she looked at Gale picking off the dried grass in his hair.

"Maybe for the priests, but I would not test the king's patience. I value the neck my head rests on." It was Gale's turn to smirk as the smile was wiped off Katniss' face.

He got up and offered a hand to Katniss and led her back to the carriage so they may get on their way. The sprawling city loomed in the distance, along with the faint spires of a palace high on a hill, and she shuddered at what awaited her.


Author's Notes:

Hi again! Thanks very much for reading!

I would also like to thank those who read and those who reviewed the last chapter. Your kind words and thoughts have sent my heart a-flutter and have motivated me. I am now guilty of not minding my life outside this because of my dedication to the story. Heehee.

Please let me know your thoughts. Oh and Katniss and Peeta will meet soon; fret not.

This chapter is also the start of the multi-character POV. While Katniss and Peeta will still narrate it predominantly, I feel that the story would be more complete if parts of it moved through the narration of other characters.

Once again, The Hunger Games characters are not mine. I am only borrowing them for the benefit of my readers and my amusement. The rights belong to Suzanne Collins and her publisher.