Haymitch had successfully been completely drunk for two days, the minute Effie Trinket showed up on Peeta's doorstep, Haymitch had taken that as an invitation to get as inebriated as possible. Effie would tsk at him when ever he would pass her, and he would respond by carefully chosen hand gestures. "Come on now," Effie said practically shoving us out the door, "We have a big day ahead of us!" Effie took the lead of our little group as we walked out of the Victor's Village, clipboard in hand, heels clacking on the pave stones, and toward the train station next to the Justice building. Peeta and I bringing up the rear.
Steam rolled out from the train, as we all piled in, Effie, Peeta and I, and stumbling Haymitch. Effie had brought some people from the Capital to help us, one stylist I had never seen before, and two servants, that I was assured are not Avoxes and are getting paid handsomely for their services.
A camera crew came from one of the back train cars and exited, Effie leaned in my ear, "They are going to stay back and film some rebuilding." Her voice tight with anticipated excitement. I nod, already knowing that's what was going on, Effie ushered us into the dinning car.
Every inch of the long mahogany table was laden with food. Small sandwiches in three-tier trays, soups in large serving bowls, bread from all twelve districts, pastries with chocolate and vanilla cream fillings, that Peeta took turns examining. Fizzy juice in every color in pitchers lined the middle of the table. Miniature cakes with a sugar mockingjay placed on top of the white frosting cloud on sparkling glass plates in between each pitcher.
Haymitch had headed straight to his car, and Effie had positioned herself on a plush chair, checking things off a list. I plopped myself on the couch across from her. "Well, we should be in the Capital by tomorrow at 2:00 PM, then," She looked up examining my face, "you need to get prepared for your interview at 6:00 PM, then it's on to the festival at 8:00 PM." She looked back up at me, making sure I was paying attention. "Oh it's going to be wonderful!"
I tried to catch Peeta's gaze but he was too interested in the small cakes then anything that Effie was saying.
Effie pulled my attention back to her, "Oh no, Katniss, I almost forgot, this is Mila Valley." She swept her arm out to the woman still hanging by the door of the train. "She's your new stylist. She studied under Cinna, you know." I hadn't really noticed her before, her appearance so easily looked over. She was not flashy or gaudy like Effie was, or anyone else for that matter. She had a pale, olive skin tone, like she had not seen the sun for months, her dead-of-night black hair was pin straight and hung to the middle of her back. When she moved into the light, I could see that it had a blue shine to it, she extended her hand out to me. I shook it, and then saw the most breath-taking thing about her. Her eyes. Rimmed in a bright silver eyeliner, no doubt tattooed, was just as subtle as Cinna's gold. Her actual eyes were the exact color of bottom side of a maple leaf, circled by a thick line of evergreen pine needles.
"Cinna talked of you often," She said, her voice melodic. "If you have some time before we get to the Capital, I would love it if you would come look at the dresses you'll be wearing tomorrow. We can always change anything you don't like." She bowed her head, as if afraid I would strike her.
"I'm sure they're beautiful." I try to reassure her.
When she raised her head she had a brilliant smile, "Cinna was a great mentor."
I couldn't help but smile back, her's was just so infectious, the feeling she gave off, too calming. "I have to agree with you there."
She nodded and left the car. "Isn't she just so positively tranquil?" Effie asked to no one in particular. Mila did have an extremely calming effect, that didn't just seem to have an effect on me. Peeta was slumped in one of the plush arm chairs around the table, Effie leaned back in her own chair, clearly relaxed. No wonder Cinna took Mila under his wing.
Haymitch made a short appearance at dinner, even if it was just to grab a new bottle of liquor and a plate of food. Effie ran through her list with anyone that would listen ever half hour, and Peeta and I tried are best to avoid her. After dinner however I followed Mila down to the dress car. "Now, I want you to know that I worked on these designs with Cinna, so I really hope you approve." She took a key from a small pocket on the inside of her sleeve on her biceps, a pocket just big enough for a key, and unlocked the door.
On a mannequin in the middle of the room was a strapless black dress, it had a heart shaped neckline, and went straight down to the hips, then fanned out elegantly, the underside of the folds were a deep red, as if the dress was coal cooling. Mila circled around me as I stood in awe of the dress, it sparkled just slightly as she pulled up the bottom of the dress, "Cinna and I worked on this design for days!" She exasperated. "We wanted a material, that would shine a gold red color no matter what color light hit it. It took us forever to find it!" She smiled at the memory, "But when we did, it was as if it were meant for this dress and the wearer."
I gently brushed my finger tips along the fabric. "What is it?" I had never seen this before, small stones were sewn into the dress in triangle designs, I plucked one in my fingers.
"They're diamonds." She moved to the back of the dress, unhooking it and looking at me from over the mannequin, "Made from coal. Would you mind if I have you try it on? I want to make sure I got the measurements correct."
I stripped myself and held my arms over my head as Mila pulled the dress down into position. It felt like a second skin, it fit absolutely perfect.
"You'll have elbow length gloves, and short sweater to go over it if you would like. Effie said you may want to cover your scars?" Mila didn't even flinch as she traced one on my shoulder.
"No. I want them visible." I wanted the proof of what had happened written plainly on my skin for all to see.
"Good." Mila smiled at me. "That's what I wanted you to say." Mila started undoing the ties at the back of the dress, and let me step out of it, "I should tell you," She said to place the dress back on the mannequin. "I'm not originally from the Capital." She looked back at me, once she was done, twisting her hands together. "I'm from District 11. I won the games six years ago. From the minute I saw you," She paused trying to find the right words, deciding, she put her hands on my shoulders, "I knew you would change everything. I just knew it." She smiled, walking toward the door and ushering me past the threshold.
"What did they do to you?" I asked once she had locked the door to the car.
She turned to look at me, and was more fierce then I had ever seen her. "I was sold at auctions for years for all sorts of different things, love, anger, revenge, until Cinna, of course. He bought me from an auction and saved me. He said no one should be able to be bought, every human was priceless. He never touched me. He would confide in me, tell me things, take me to events, taught me to be a stylist. Taught me everything he knew. I loved him very much."
"I'm so sorry, I never wanted anything to happen to him."
"No need to be sorry, little bird." She held my face in her hands, "Cinna knew what he was doing. He knew they would kill him for what he did, and he knew it wouldn't be quick. He had told me goodbye before that night."
I knew in my heart that it was true. Cinna was a brilliant man and would know the consequences. But my head still screamed that she was wrong, that it was all my doing. I just nod. "Where are the others? Octavia? Venia and Flavius?"
"I wasn't supposed to come," Mila blushed. "I begged to, in fact. I just really wanted to meet you."
I smile, "Thank you." and I couldn't help myself but I wrapped my arms around her for a hug. The hug I was never able to give Cinna. Thank fully she returned it.
"Katniss?" I heard Peeta's voice coming down the long hallway.
"I'm down here," I called, letting go of Mila, "Thank you so much, I can't wait wear that dress."
Mila smiled wide, showing her pure white teeth, "I should be thanking you." She patted my cheek and headed toward her car, I turned the opposite way to meet Peeta.
"Hey, where'd you go?" He asked taking my hand in his, when I had left he was speaking with the chef about the pastries.
I entwined our fingers, the action almost involuntary, our bodies working with a mind of their own, always needing to be touching. "Mila showed me the dress for tomorrow. She's just as good as Cinna." I gush.
"That's impressive, especially for you to say." He smiled at me.
"How was the pastry talk?" I tried changing the subject, as we headed toward the car designated for one of us, it didn't really matter who at this point.
"Good, good, he's going to write down a couple of new recipes for me." I loved it when Peeta baked, I always benefited from his delicious experiments. "Cream Puffs and eclairs, is what he called them. They were the ones when we first got on the train."
I smiled up at him, "I can't wait." It was sincere. I was looking forward to it. That I was looking forward to anything was a miracle, with the impending festival in our honor just a few hours away. I stopped him in the middle of the hall, "What are we going to do about this festival?"
"Well we're going to do what we always do. We'll look out for each other, protect each other, and from what Haymitch says it sounds like this is actually a good thing."
"But what if it's not? What if it's a lie?" The thought had crossed my mind several times since Haymitch had told us, but I never wanted to think about it in depth. That if this was my death sentence I would walk right into it unflinching, full of fire. But now, here, with Peeta holding my hand, I was more terrified then ever. I could not loose him again.
Peeta pulled me into the car we would be staying, sat me on the bed and knelt down in front of me, my hands in his. "I know who you are. I know what the Capit- what Snow did to me. I know I love you and I would never let anyone hurt you. You will not loose me again." His eyes were glued to mine, unwavering, as I let out a shaky, relieved sigh.
I nod pulling him onto the bed to lay beside me. "Okay, I believe you." I whisper, the lights had begun to dim, and Peeta played with my hair soothingly.
"It's going to be okay. I'm here. Always." Was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep, wrapped in Peeta's arms.
That night I dreamed of Peeta, in a field of katniss flowers and a weeping tree, holding out a bouquet of primroses. I sat in a circle of the same flower I had given to Rue, legs out straight, leaning back on my hands. Peeta was dressed in the same clothes he had worn to the first Reaping and was beautiful. The sun shone bright off of his curls, his eyes glistening with what could only be descibed as love, and I felt a warm fluttering in my stomach. I wanted him to love me, with a hunger I had never felt. Suddenly I was terrified that I would never feel this, trying to attach this moment to my life, to make it real.
I woke up with a start, jarring Peeta from his own sleep. "Nightmare?" His voice was gravely from sleep. His arm tightened around me.
For the first time in months I felt safe. "No. I found you." He opened his eyes then, remembering our conversation about his painting, and all I could see was love shining back at me.
Had to put a little fluff in there at the end, couldn't help myself. Please, please tell me what you think! Just scroll down a bit and review ; )
