The Transformation...Katniss has been stranded on an island with little recourses but to become what she is not. Survival makes us do strange and wonderful things and to think outside of the box.

My greatest gratitude to Norbertsmom for Beta'ing this story. Also to Chele20035 my friend who loves Shakespeare as much as I do.

PS I do not own the Hunger Games nor 12th Night


The morning arrived. The small group awoke before the sun broke the in the sky. Katniss tried to fix her tresses the best she could. The light of day brought on a whole host of questions she did not think of the night before. She approached the men after managing to make herself look somewhat presentable.

"Is this the island where Sir Cray lives?"

"No my lady, it is not," Blight replied.

"Then where are we?"

"We are shipwrecked on the island Duodecimo of Illyria."

The name of the island held no meaning for her, other than its meaning. There were twelve islands which were off the coast of Quattro, she knew some were inhabited and others were not. "Who is the authority on this Twelfth Island?"

"It is ruled by Duke Peeta Orsino Mellark."

The earlier conversation she held with Blight gave her an orientation. They were close to Sir Cray's island. Though it was the name Blight uttered that Katniss found funny, "Peeta?"

Blight laughed. "His father lost a wager. He thought for sure his last born would be a girl. He named him after bread eaten in the Holy Land."

Katniss shook her head. "If he is the last son-"

"The Duke lost his family to the plague."

Katniss felt empathy for the Duke. She wondered what he was like, a man named after a bread who lost the world but gained riches. She couldn't imagine that life. "I suppose he must be lonely."

"You can say that, a month after he buried his father he defended the island against nefarious men who thought him weak." Blight recalled the skirmish in which the Duke came out victorious to Brutus.

Katniss wondered why Blight knew so much history about this island and its family. "Is this one of the ports your ship traded with?"

"Yes, our vessel traded here. But these rocks are familiar to us, we all hail from here," Blight answered. "Castor, Pollux how long has it been since we came here?"

"Six months," the brothers replied.

"The sea beckons you, does it not?"

"Aye, my lady, it does."

"The hunt beckons me," Katniss said, she squinted in the bright sunlight, then quickly notched and dispatched an arrow. "Go and fetch what I have caught for us."

Castor and Pollux looked at each other.

"Go," Katniss urged. "You'll find it over there."

Both men reluctantly stood but when they headed in the direction she indicated they shouted and came back running, "She sliced two birds with one arrow!"

Katniss looked to her possessions carefully cleaning the arrow. Questioning how she was to live. "In my homeland my father taught me to hunt."

Blight remained silent.

"Let us make a fire and eat," Castor said happily leaving with his brother to find wood.

"My lady, may I suggest something."

"Surely," Katniss trusted Blight.

"You have gift that is beneficial." Blight smiled at her in a fatherly way.

Intrigued Katniss said. "Go on."

"My lady with your excellent skills you can mislead the gentry," Blight urged.

She caught on quickly, recalling Gale told him the story of when they switched places in the tournament. "You want me to become a man?"

Blight said, "Your brother said it best, my lady. People saw what they wanted to."

"I can be a eunuch."

Blight walked around her, "With splendid archery skills."

"Will you help me with this deception?"

"I shall."

Katniss looked at herself, "What of my hair, my clothing?"

"There is a man in town I know. He is peculiar fool but he is a splendid sort. He will help once he hears your story."

"What of Castor and Pollux?"

"They are men of the sea. As soon as they reach the path toward town they will depart seeking employment on another vessel."

Hope stirred in her heart and she recalled Prim's words to follow her heart. "Alright, let us go."

After they ate they made their way from the beach up the hills. Katniss stopped walking to see the large castle set upon the side of a cliff. Its towers stood like giants in the horizon.

"That is the Duke's castle." Castor pointed out.

The white stone looked charred, "Does he go to war often?"

"Several times. Sir Cray wishes to lay claim to the island. Though the plague killed off enough men on both sides to prevent the last battle, both me need to marry. Sir Cray is older and has no heir, his time is running out."

Katniss was curious about this man called Peeta, "What of the Duke?"

"He is young and until now did not have need to marry. He has no haste to follow the Queen's decree. He is too busy amassing an army."

She grasped a thick branch to pull herself up, glad to be on solid land instead of gravel or sand. Knowing the Duke had need for men at arms gave her comfort. They continued forward on the path. Just as Blight predicted, when the road split Castor and Pollux bid them luck, heading for a smaller village where sailors often found employment.

Blight and Katniss moved forward.

The forest density increased, and soon the path was lined with a canopy of trees so beautiful Katniss stopped to look at the flowers. Springtime was her favorite time of year. Glancing up at the sky she guessed it to be well past the noon hour.

She began to hum a song absentmindedly as she walked.

"You have a beautiful voice, my lady."

Katniss blushed. "My voice is passable, kind sir. It was my father's voice, however, that was a thing of beauty. When he sang the birds stopped to listen."

"I can see now why your family is known as the Mockingjays; you can enchant with your voice."

Katniss did not speak, she nor did she sing. She kept walking. When the sun looked like it was about dip into the horizon she asked, "How long till we reach the village?"

Blight answered, "We shall reach it by nightfall."

"Will your friend be available to our audience?" Katniss was concerned about the details. She did not know who to trust. This whole experience was teaching her to be independent.

Blight looked behind him briefly before he answered, "Yes. He is a tailor by trade. Do not fear. He is a gentle, kind man. Many believe him to be a fool but he is the opposite."

"I trust you with my life, Blight."

Blight did not speak, but he smiled kindly.

They kept going until they came upon a procession. A woman dressed for mourning cried hysterically in the middle of the procession. A priest led them.

"Blight, who is she?"

Blights voice lost its warmth. "The widowed Countess Cartwright, the woman the Duke wishes to woo and marry."

Katniss weighed her options carefully. If she could find favor in the Duke's eyes she could live safely, protected. "Perhaps I can help the Duke in his quest."

"My lady, the countess loves no man or beast."

Katniss looked to the woman. "She loves not a man?"

Blight shook his head, "The Countess is particular in her love. She has sworn chastity to her dead husband."

She was curious as to this woman as her procession passed by, "How long since his death?"

Blight answered, "Over a year."

"Then the Duke's attempts have been in vain." Katniss sighed. She'd never been in love though, she always held a bond with that boy she'd met as child.

Blight waited until they left. "Come, my lady. We cannot wait longer we must press on to reach our destination on time."

Katniss nodded and continued following Blight, though the countess' actions made an impression.

It was dark when they reached the small village. Thick dark clouds hung over the village. The wind blew, and it smelled like rain. The rumbling thunder was the only noise in the streets. Katniss perceived the same stillness she felt in Quattro. Many homes did not have light seeping from under the doors. "It is so empty."

"There was a time this village was teaming with life. Now," Blight shook his head. "Now, it is void."

Katniss looked to the cross displayed in the center of town.

Blight stopped walking, "A year and a half ago, nearly a third of the populace died on this island. The plague affected so many people."

Katniss compassionately said, "I am sorry, Blight, for your loss."

"We have all faced great losses; it is only those who can follow their hearts that make it." Blight lowered his head to pay respects to the dead.

Katniss stood still. Her sister was still with her. Not wanting to make a scene she followed Blight.

"We must hurry. It is about to rain." Blight took a path that led to one small thatched cottage house set apart from the others.

He quickly rapped on the door. The loud rumbling of thunder filled the air. A man with dark curled hair and what looked like gold liner on his eyes opened the door. "Blight?"

"Cinna, I need your assistance," Blight replied.

Thunder wrung again.

The man, Cinna, looked past Blight toward her. Katniss lowered her head. In society it was not allowed for women to make direct eye contact with men. Especially those that were considered a stranger. Now that she did not have her brother with her, Katniss had to be doubly careful.

"Please, quickly come inside; welcome to my home."

Blight allowed Katniss to walk in first. She looked at the interior of the home. There was a spindle in the corner, and shelves full of fabric. One of them a bright green silk she wanted to touch. She'd only seen this fabric once in the palace on a lady of great nobility. She could not touch it back then and here she was just feet away and forbidden to feel it once more.

She did not notice both men speaking in private. She saw many spools of brightly colored threads. Her fingers itched to pick them up, she forced her hands to her side. Blight's acquaintance kept on looking at her. Katniss avoided looking at him.

"My lady," Blight called to her.

Shyly she lifted her lashes.

"Cinna has agreed to help you." Blight pointed to his friend.

Her grey eyes turned to stare at the man.

"You have spirit, my lady." Cinna quietly spoke. "Now to make the deception complete I have to measure you. Come forward child, and let me weave my web."

Katniss eyes widened.

"It's alright child, Cinna will present you at the Duke's court tomorrow. But first he needs to dress you accordingly."

The logical side of her wanted to withdraw; it screamed for her to back away and run. But then her sister's soft voice drifted into her ears and sweetly reminded her to follow her heart. Bravely she took a step forward.

"Good," Cinna seemed pleased with her look of determination.

"What must I do?" Katniss inched backwards, scowling.

"Well first we must draw you a bath and groom you. Pardon me for saying so, but you smell like dead fish."

Katniss blushed red. She had not been able to bathe since leaving the port. Blight had buckets in his hands ready to fetch water just as the rain began. They made use of the falling water, and soon Katniss found herself soaking in a tub with rose petals, and olive and sage soap. Such small comforts were hard to come by on the road. She lifted her limbs scrubbing viciously, not knowing when her next bath would be. She scrubbed her hair, and combed it out to remove the knots.

She was loathed to leave the comfort of the bath, but wrapped herself in the softest long, white chemise. It loosely fit over her slender frame. A plain brown kirtle lay within her reach. She shifted it over her head, tying it on the sides. She looked for the veil, but found none. She quickly braided her hair and stepped from behind the partition, her head bowed.

Cinna stood before her. "It is a shame to cover up such beauty."

Katniss could not help the blush that tinged her cheeks.

Cinna gently lifted her chin, turning it from side to side, gently inspecting the job that was created in her mother's womb. "My lady this is the last night you shall wear women's clothing. In the morning you will be presented before the Duke. Blight and I shall instruct you on how to behave like a man. The first thing you must unlearn is to hide from being stared at. You must be comfortable with being looked upon and you must learn to stare back."

Cinna began constructing her clothing while Blight instructed her on the art of being a man. Katniss paid close attention. She learned to walk without swinging her hips. She learned to sit like a man instead of the prim way she was taught by her mother. She was surprised by how quickly Cinna constructed her garments. He was brilliant.

Her instruction took all night, but in the morning she was ready.

They left early in the morning by horse. Katniss was exhausted but kept her strength up. This was no time for her to rest, or to feel nervous about her new wardrobe, until she stepped outdoors.

It was strange having her legs exposed. Her hose were not a bright color so as to not attract attention to the feminine curve of her legs. She wore a soft white shirt that fell to her thighs with a tunic over it. She felt bare before the eyes of others. Her hair was covered by what Cinna called a turban to hide her braid. He fashioned her pin to the side of it. She carried her bow and her quiver around her middle, though it was not her favorite place to put it.

The archers held their quivers filled with arrows belted on their hips. It was a practice she did not feel comfortable with. Katniss preferred her quiver strapped to her back. It was much more comfortable for her that way to load her bow, but she did not protest; she suffered through it.

As they neared the castle she scolded herself not to lower her lashes. She put to practice all that Blight and Cinna advised. The castle began to grow in size as they neared it. She gasped when they were in the shadow of the structure.

Katniss was reminded of the first tree she climbed as a child. It was massive compared to her diminutive size. The towers looked like they touched the clouds. The walls were thick smooth stones, made to keep invaders out. This was a fortress. Her ancestral home was home and made from wood and local stone. Gale and her father had plans to erect stone walls and fix up the keep. They wanted to enlarge it. But none of that would ever happen; she would never see her home again. Looking up, she feared this would be her home.

They arrived at the gates.

"Who goes there?"

"Cinna the tailor."

"What do we do now?" Katniss whispered.

"We wait to see if they will let us in, my lady."

Katniss nodded.

It seemed as if it took forever, but eventually the gates were opened. A tall man that looked like one of the Greek gods stood at the entrance.

Warmly, he greeted, "Cinna."

"Finnick." Cinna walked to greet him.

Katniss and Blight followed. She was cautious as she put to practice what she was taught.

"The Duke has been waiting for you." Finnick patted Cinna on the back with gleeful force. Katniss was sure if someone did that to her she would have been pushed to the ground.

Finnick grinned, "His Lordship wants to match in solidarity to win her favor."

"Is he still trying to find a way to woo the fair Lady Cartwright?"

"Right that you are," Finnick chuckled. "She is as fair as the sun, but has the temper of a shrew. Lady Cartwright decided to stay in mourning, feigning distress to marry."

"Strange, as I recall River was a man she loathed to marry. On the day she was to wed young Cartwright her father, Sir Undersea, ordered his men to escort her to the altar."

"That woman will not remove her black veil even for our Sovereign Queen," Finnick boasted.

Blight hid his smile.

"God rest her father's soul, he was a patient man to deal with his offspring." Cinna crossed himself.

They all did.

Blight said, "Undersea was a fair magistrate."

Katniss wondered who this woman was, but as she thought this Finnick's eyes rested on her. She could feel the heat enter her cheeks, so she scowled to hide her embarrassment.

"Who is this young lad? Another archer, come to try out for the Dukes guard?"

"This is the last of the Mockingjays," Cinna nodded at Katniss.

Finnick was puzzled, "The Mockingjays?"

"The Duke will know when he sees the emblem," Cinna confidently stated.

"Come then, the Duke is waiting anxiously for your arrival."

"Well lead the way."

They moved forward towards the far end of the bailey; there were archers practicing. Beyond the targets lay an obstacle course. Katniss watched the men's techniques, some were good, others were disastrous. She was so focused in on the men. Not noting a pair of blue eyes staring at her.