Hey Guys! Thank-you for all your kind encouragement with this story. I'm definitely going to continue withit, so let me know when you review what you'd like to see with the plot or characters. You can find me on tumblr at: imlahey dot tumblr dot com. Happy Reading! xx

Katniss POV

"It doesn't make any sense." I shake my head. "I'm… I'm a…"

"Girl from the seam?" Finnick finishes for me. "That means nothing now. You are to be royal blood, what does it matter where you came from?" He seems to sense my tension, calming me with his words, –words that most definitely would not be popular opinions of the Capitol. Status, and where you come from are everything there. "There are certain expectations from being chosen, some of which I'm sure you can guess, but others may be foreign to you. I suggest you read over the contract in your own time before we leave for the Capitol." he says sternly, and his eyes suddenly turn more serious than before.

Expectations? What on earth does he mean? Is it not expected enough of me to leave my family and marry a strange prince? I feel slightly dizzy.

"Katniss, these expectations must be met, and if not there may be dire consequences for you and your family." he pauses, "Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes," I croak, although it's not completely true. I comprehend the undertones, that there's danger if I don't do what I'm told, but the expectations of what I must fulfill are confusing and vague. As a Princess, or a potential Queen, what must one do?

"Good." he looks into the fire, where our kettle sits perched on a small makeshift stove. "I shouldn't be saying this, but I fear I must warn you. I can see there's a fire in you, the way you speak and what you say suddenly or –or without thinking. That will not be tolerated in the Capitol castle, by officials, or most importantly by the Queen herself. You may think that the districts are a hard place to live, but trust me, the Capitol is harder. I admire your spirit but… but sometimes, things must change." he whispers.

All these things, all these things, all these things. They crowd my head and make it hard to breathe. I push the thoughts outward and look to Prim, the one thing I can hold onto. I clear my throat and meet Finnick's bright green eyes. "When… when will my family be taken care of? When will they be –be able to eat?" Asking such simple questions in somewhat difficult when your body refuses to respond. Prim's tiny hands sit neatly in her lap, and her knuckles protrude sharply in all the places they shouldn't.

His brow furrows. "Katniss, I assure you that before you leave, you will see that your family is presented with a key to a new house across town. I'm almost certain the King gave the task to your mistress of the household." he seems to ponder on it for a moment, "But yes, your family will be well taken care of. The house will be regularly stocked with food, electricity, and anything else they may need." His eyes dart over to Prim. "And if you require anything in particular for school, or merely for pleasure, you must only ask one of the Capitol servants."

Servants? I look up. Did I hear him correctly?

Mother and Finnick exchange words for a few minutes, but I'm not listening to anything they say. I focus on a small corner in the room and try not to pass out. Everything is changing so suddenly, and I barely even know how to feel about it. I don't know much about the Princes –only what I've seen on the television like everyone else. I know that their father, the King, is a kind man. But everyone looks down, or changes the subject whenever the Queen is mentioned. I feel slightly sorry for him, apparently she's awful. But, I suppose, because her head is still atop her shoulders, she must've fulfilled her duties well. I'm suddenly trying to remember what the three Princes look like. I know they're all blonde haired, but I can't even remember their names.

When I focus back in to the conversation, it's Prim who speaks. "Out of the three, who is the brother-"

"I am forbidden to discuss such matters." Finnick says curtly, "It's the law, I'm afraid." Prim shrinks backwards into the chair. Finnick suddenly turns to me, and I feel his eyes trace my face. I'm sure I look sickly pale. "I'll see you on the train tomorrow, Katniss. Around midday."

"Tomorrow?" I gawk. So soon?

"Yes, tomorrow." he inspects his watch and stands up slowly. "I must be off; I'm sorry, I didn't realize I'd spoken for so long. I'm late for a conference call."

"How will we know where to go?" My mother asks, afraid he'll leave before he can answer.

"A capitol representative native to your district will come to collect her. He knows the address." he says simply, putting his gloves back on. We all follow behind him, standing awkwardly in the hallway. He wanders over to the front door and kicks his boots a few times on the mat. I stare, because I should ask something –something about my family, when I'll see them, if they can come on the train. But I don't, because everything seems to blur into one big colour and I suddenly have the urge to vomit.

Prim wishes him goodnight, and then the door slams shut with a bang.

Stupid, stupid purple.

I'm on the floor instantly, craning my neck in on itself –because in the span of about ten minutes my entire life has changed. I look up to my mother through my tears –I realize, I've started sobbing– and find nothing. It's the same expression she wore for months and months after father died, and right now I see she's coming to terms with the fact she may never see me again.

"Katniss…" Prim starts, and I hear the break in her voice. "You can't just… you can't just go and leave!"

What will become of them? I wonder. Food and shelter is guaranteed, but what of school and friends and jealousy among others? If mother fades out again, who will ensure Prim attends all her classes? Who will cook the food they receive in order for it to be consumed? I'm suddenly shaken with a new fear, that despite all the positives to this trade –the trade of my life- Prim's life may end up no better without me.

"I have no choice, little duck. You heard Finnick, I-I must go for our country, f-for the King and his sons." I sniffle, rubbing my nose on my sleeve. She moves gently past mother, who still stands frozen in the doorway, and guides me off the floor towards the fire.

"You were chosen." Prim says softly, "That's got to count for something, right?"

Chosen. What a strange word for it. Part of it comes down to chance. They pick ten names out of a bowl of thousands, and then it's up to the Princes to choose. Though it's often debated how much input they actually have.

I plunk myself down by the fire's warmth and don't try to stop the tears that fall.

"I always… I always though I wanted to be chosen." she whispers, "But now I see… I would never want to leave you and mother."

"I don't want to leave you either, I-I don't even know if the Prin- my fiancé will let me see you again."

"Oh, Katniss! You don't think he'd be cruel to you, do you?" she raises her voice in sadness. Cruelty isn't unheard of in the Capitol, especially in the royal family. I know for a fact that many of the Prince's cousins have been charged with horrible crimes relating to women and beatings. As Finnick said, the Capitol is a dangerous place.

"I will… I will try to do what is right for the royal family, but I know I can only take so much before I'd –I'd say or do something they may find off-putting." my eyes sting painfully at my words. "Prim… what if they did something to you? I… I could never forgive myself!"

There's a long silence between us, because we've both heard of examples before. Being Chosen is a rarity, but every now and again there are lower members of the royal family who come out to the districts to find themselves a wife or husband. It's nothing as grand as the reaping or the television programs, but still, there are large amounts of pressure.

I remember a young merchant girl -Sienna, I think her name was- with short blonde hair, smooth curves, and plump cheeks, was taken by the King's nephew not three or four years ago. She was scared and shy, and obviously didn't want to go with the man because he was so much older than she. There were rumors that she was unable to carry children, that she was a disgrace to the nation because of her barren, broken body. Video tapes of their consummation were inspected, and it declared that due to her unenthusiastic behavior, it was impossible for the unhappy couple to conceive.

There were a few weeks of inspections and medical treatments, but the shy girl was kept ever so quiet and away from the cameras. We haven't heard about her since last year, and her family were moved away from the district. But we all knew what it meant. My best friend Gale told me they were most probably dead. I closed my ear to rumors after that.

But now, as I'm sitting here with my sister, I cannot help but be shaken by his words. What if my fiancé, the Prince, is unhappy with me? I decide, now and forever, to do whatever it is the royal family wants. I will smile politely and keep my strong thoughts to myself. I'll bite my tongue and bow and curtsey and cook and dance any do anything. I realize, I'd do anything for my family. Even this.

I hadn't noticed until now, but mother has finally snapped out of her trance and come over to us. She's brought over the small envelop with the purple seal, reading it with a look of concern.

"Is it bad?" I ask.

"It's… definitely lengthy. Mostly just about… submissiveness, doing what the Prince wishes of you, meeting standards of royal etiquette… and," she adds very quietly, "…heirs."

I suddenly tense up, and push all these thoughts away. That's the least of my worries right now.

We sit quietly, all of us around the fire and enjoying this last night as a somewhat family. After a while I grow tired, my body reciprocating what my mind has felt the moment since Finnick arrived. My mother kisses me goodnight, and for a moment I swear I see tears in her eyes. She's never been much of a mother, but tonight I want nothing more than for her to be one.

I pull myself away and climb the ladder up to our bed, helping to guide Prim up before me. I start to shiver under the sheets at the thought of what tomorrow holds. The only steadying thing is Prim's warm hand around mine as I finally begin drift off to sleep.

The next morning, there's a harsh knock at the door –so different to Finnick's– that it jolts me awake. I listen as my mother walks over to the door and opens it abruptly. A gush of freezing winter air floods into the house, along with the stumbling and grunting of a near-frozen man.

"Damn snow storm!" he shouts, stomping his boots on our door mat. I clench my eyes shut at the sound of his voice. I recognize it instantly. Haymitch Abernathy. "Where's the girl, then?" he asks abruptly.

"In bed." My mother replies.

"Hmph."

"Shall I wake her?"

"That would be wise."

I relish these few moments in my warm bed. It feels as though my limbs are sinking into the mattress. I suspect once I'm at the palace, I'll never be allowed to sleep in a bed alone again. I shiver at the thought. When she comes over, I roll away and bury my face in the pillow. "Katniss, don't be rude. You must come down at once. We have a visitor."

"I didn't invite him." I mumble.

"Up. Now." she hisses. I lie there for another couple of minutes, while mother chit chats and makes a fuss downstairs. It's Prim's voice that truly rouses me from downstairs. I can't hear what they're talking about, but clearly she's comfortable. She would've have been a much better choice for the Princes. I'm just so unsociable. I eventually wrap a blanket around myself, slide on some slippers, and clamber down the ladder. Prim smiles at me from the kitchen –she's pouring cups of tea. I cross the room without looking at him and plunk myself down in the further chair available. Haymitch chuckles lightly.

"Well, I do like a challenge if I ever did see one. But my oh my, this is gonna be a treat."

I glare at him. Is he mocking me?

Mother shuffles over with a tray of cups, and Prim follows behind with the remaining teapot. I'd half lied when I told Finnick we had no tea yesterday. We do, but it's a very small amount and not the nice kind from the Capitol. We'd usually save tea for special occasions, but I suppose after I leave my family won't have to worry about having enough food anymore. That's at least a small comfort in the grand scheme of things.

"Here." says Prim, handing me a mug of tea. The warmth spreads through my fingertips. They each sit down, and I can't help the burning feeling in the side of my face. Haymitch is staring at me, waiting for me to say something. But I remain silent.

"I'm gonna be honest. I was expecting someone a little more lively, let alone excited." he explains.

Excited? Yes, I guess I should be. I've never even been to the other districts, let alone the capitol or the palace. But… there's just something so terrifying about facing something new. Not to mention marrying someone I've never met. How could I not feel this way?

"I guess I'll just tell you the facts." he starts, "Today, at midday, you and I will board the train. It's a direct express to the Capitol, with only two minor stops to pick up the other girls. You will learn the customs, learn how to dress, learn how to eat, learn how to be presentable." he stops for a moment, probably because he sees the look of shock on my face. "…You will learn. And you will be fine, as long as you do what I say."

My heart is beating so fast, and when I move my hands to put back down my cup –it's shaking.

"Katniss." Prim breathes, moving over to me. She sits on the arm chair and laces my fingers through hers.

"When we arrive at the Capitol, that's where the official handover will take place. You will be presented to the King, the Queen, and his sons –obviously one of which is your fiancé."

"Have… you ever met them?" I pick at the fabric at the end of my shirt.

"One, once. At a dinner party."

Haymitch is known for throwing parties, that's kind of what he does for a job. Drugs… Alcohol… Everything really, he has access too. It's all part of the corrupt Capitol lifestyle, which is sometimes why I wonder he returns so frequently to district twelve –his original home. He married into the royal family a long time ago, but his wife died in labor. They lost the baby too.

"What was he like?" Prim asks gently.

"He spent most of his time chatting up pretty women and drinking all my damn liquor. I think he got kicked out for being violent –got in all the papers. Probably got that side to him from his mother." he says with a grimace, "However, you've got a two out of three change for not being stuck with him."

"Great." I deadpan. He takes a long sip from the tea mother gave him, which I realize he's poured more liquor into from the smell. How can he drink so early?

"Get dressed. We have to leave soon, I didn't think you'd sleep so late." he tells me.

"I haven't even packed."

"Packed?" he frowns, "No –no. It's a custom for all chosen to leave everything behind from their old life. You're not allowed to bring anything on the train apart from yourself."

This shocks me. My bow, my books, my clothes, my pictures, all of it. Gone.

"When will I see my family?" I finally ask, knowing I should've asked Finnick instead last night. I squeeze Prim's hand cautiously. I spend every day with her, how could I suddenly just leave and never look back?

"That depends on what your husband will allow."

Prime pipes up, "Do… Do you know which one of the brothers-"

"Not a clue." he replies, "They don't tell us."

There's silence again. This is the second time she's been shot down about asking which brother I'm intended to marry. I wonder if he's tall… short… smart…or strong. I don't think I really have a preference, any of which will be awful. Capitol people are often pretentious. I can only hope that he only wishes to use me, and not spend much time with me. If I can be alone with my thoughts, perhaps I can be happy.

"Well… I'd hoped she could at least write to us." Mother says worriedly, tutting to Haymitch. "You'll keep an eye on her there, won't you? Make sure he's not- not- unkind or... perhaps, hurtful or cr-"

She can't say it. What she's really fearing.

"I'll try my best, Miss Everdeen. But in reality, there's only so much I can do." I see him wave me off to go get dressed, so I stand awkwardly and weave out from between the old chairs. "Married spouses tend to spend a lot of time behind closed or locked doors, especially the Princes."

I go out to the back garden and throw a bucket of cold water over my head. I'm used to this, but I suspect in the castle they may even have warm baths all year round. The cold water sends pain into my skull, but the familiar chill does wake me properly. I put on the clothes my mother has laid out for me, clearly one of her old merchant girl dresses. I wonder what my father would think of me if he could see me now –the young girl he trained to hunt and survive by herself, now to be whisked away and have everything brought to her on a silver platter. Perhaps he would be ashamed.

I brush out the knots of my tangled hair and rebraid it, looking at myself in the mirror for the first time today. My dark, long braid falls neatly over my left shoulder, descending over the lace detail of my light blue collar. While I do love my pants and leather jacket, even I can admit the dress is beautiful. It's made of dark cotton fabric, with purple threading and lighter shades for pockets and lapels. I wonder if they'll strip me of it the moment I arrive in the Capitol.

I don't normally care for jewelry, but I can't bring myself to leave without it. It's a bracelet I made for myself from things I've collected in the woods over the years -that and a pearl my father gave me as a child. I still remember the day he found it. It was a hot summers evening in the Hob, when suddenly a fish merchant knocked over a crate of shellfish, oysters, clams and crabs. I remember squealing, disgusted at the sight of crawling things that looked like skeletons. Father only laughed, helping the fishmonger reload the crate for a while. He came back over to me and crouched low.

"Katniss, my child. Look what treasure I have found for you." he whispered, extending out his large, rough hand. In the middle of his palm sat a glowing white pearl, shimmering in the dim light which shone through the old glass windows. "See what life can give you, when you offer love and help? Treasures, beauty, the moon."

"It does look like the moon, father." I'd said, holding out my hand for him. He gave it to me, and kissed my head.

Now it sits firmly secured on the shiny silver bracelet around my wrist.

The trip into town is short, and I avoid looking around at all. Because eyes are everywhere, gaping at us, as my mother, Haymitch, Prim and I walk silently and directly into the town square. I wonder how it happened, and how people reacted when my name was called. Thirty girls in total, ten for each Prince. The chances of even one being from our districts was so slim in the first place. I suspect I was the only one from here picked out of the lottery. Our pictures, and common information about us are given to the Princes to choose. Of course nobody thought he'd choose me, so by not telling me about it at all I guess people were just really doing me a favour. But they were wrong. He did choose me, whoever this Prince is.

As we leave the seam, my stomach feels uneasy from guilt. Gale. I haven't gone to say goodbye, not that I've had any spare time, but still. He's more than a best friend –he's my hunting partner and companion for survival. He must've heard by now about it all, and I wonder madly if I passed him already in my daze. I hope so. I was never very good with goodbyes. We arrive at the train station on time, and I fidget awkwardly with my braid. All the banners are gone now, and the dull town square looks back to normal. Boring and empty perhaps, but to me it's home.

Prim taps my shoulder to get my attention. Her eyes are rimmed in red. "Haymitch said to come inside now, he just had to get something for us."

I nod to her, then climb the steps into the justice building. It doesn't take long before we've exited through the back and are staring at the large silver train sitting before us. I've never been this close to anything so large. It's at least a hundred times bigger than any tree or buck I've seen in the woods. I suddenly feel very small.

"May I present, your mistress of the household: Effie Trinket." Haymitch says from behind. I spin around, half startled and half scared, to see a peculiar looking woman addressing me up and down. Her skin is painted a pasty white, with purple hair that sits neatly in a curled twirl atop her head.

"It's…nice to-" I feel her harsh gaze on me, scrutinizing my dress and body. "…meet you." I finish through gritted teeth. I can read her thoughts: What a thin, skeletal creature. Hardly good for breeding.

She takes none of this to heart, suddenly pushing me along the platform in a flurry of sweet pleasantries about the district, how supposedly beautiful I am, and how lucky she feels to be escorting me. "Come come, we have much to discuss." she waves her hands around my face, then twirls on the backs of her heels "Oh," she turns around at the realization that my family is following. "Your family isn't allowed on the platform any further past the yellow line. You must say your goodbyes here." She reaches into the large fur pocket on her jacket and pulls out something small and silver. "This is for the two of you lovely family members! Isn't it just perfect? A new warm house for the both of you!" she says at the top of her lungs, but not quite shouting. I take the key from her and examine it in my hands. It's new and shining and perfect, just like the pearl father gave me. I pall it to Prim who looks like she's about to cry -not from sadness of me leaving, but of disbelief and wonder.

I twist my head back to my mother –my eyes instantly watering. I got a good deal of my crying out of the way last night, but still, my emotions are all over the place.

"Don't… Don't go like you did before –before father died." I manage to say firmly, but not too harshly. "Please, look after Prim. She… She needs you without me now. You need to be, a good mother for her. The way I'll try to be a good mother for... for..."

But her eyes aren't focusing on what I'm saying, I can tell. She pulls me back towards the building for a moment, away from the others. I'm confused for a moment, but then she pulls out a small blue bottle of pills. "Take one, every four weeks, and it'll keep you… you from falling pregnant." She thrusts the bottle into my hands and I nearly drop it from surprise. Her voice sounds like that of an Apothecary's daughter, tight and automatic. These pills are extremely rare and expensive, and mother has just given me the whole bottle.

"No!" I say, then lower my voice. "I cannot… I cannot take this, I-I must… I must do what they say and… the contract, it said… it said heirs mother. This could annul the marriage, and being chosen-"

"Please take them. You're too young! We never… I never taught you about-"

"No, mother." I blush deeply. "I know… most things. And I know I must… be able to bear his children. I cannot take this." I forcibly place the bottle back into her frail hands.

Effie suddenly calls out, "Make it quick, Katniss darling. We haven't got all day!"

I turn back to meet her blue eyes, which look nothing like mine.

"When… When he comes to your bed, try and relax, part your legs for him, and do what he likes. It'll be easier-"

"Enough! Please!" I turn away from her. She can't tell me nothing for years on end and then suddenly force so much knowledge upon me. I'll figure it all out later.

"Katniss," she starts, and I know where it's going. She'll start talking about missing me, and apologies that were never previously said, and that's not good, not good at all. Because then I'll get caught up in crying before I've even said a word to Prim.

"No, mother. Please." I pull her into a hug. "Just... be strong and know that, I'm doing thing for you. So you'll survive. I'll... I'll miss you, both of you."

Prim tattles over at the sight of our hug and nestles into my back. I lean down and press a kiss to the top of her forehead.

"I love you, Katniss." she cries, and the sounds from her throat make me tear up also. "You… You always took care of me –of us. Now it's someone else's turn to take care of you." she explains, and I look down to her. I don't have the heart to tell her that it's probably not true. There's a high chance it will all be awful "I hope I get to meet him one day, and maybe… maybe your children."

I wince at the words. Children. My children? I'd never wanted kids, but now I have to have them.

"I'll… I'll try to write." I pull back from mother, then lean down to her. She's left a damp mark on the side of my dress from her crying. "But… in case I don't. Know that I tried, okay little duck?"

"Okay." she whispers, and I hug her one last time, trying to remember the soft warmth of her little body against mine. Of course I'll try to remember it every time I hug a pillow when I miss her. But It'll never be the same.

So as I'm walking towards the opening at the very end of the train, I look back only once, and offer them both a wave with the best smile I can put on. It's not very convincing, but I hope from far away they can't see it so well.

Effie steps up and into the cart with the help of a large hand. I suddenly recognize the wave of scent as Haymitch, no doubt already slightly drunk. He offers me a hand and a crooked smile.

"Step up this way, sweetheart. It's time you learn how to be a Princess."

Hope you guys liked it! Don't forget to review and let me know what you'd like to see in the future. I'm on holidays now so I hope to update very soon.

Find me on tumblr at imlahey. xx