***Disclaimer I don't own the Hunger Games or, its Characters***

The Legend of the Black Rose

The Trial of Peeta Mellark

Chapter 7

Trial, Trial Pants on Fire

After the meeting, everybody went to bed. Despite the fact that Peeta is no longer in the arena, Glimmer & Katniss did not sleep well that night. Both knew that they would have to testify here in the arena. Both knew that the defense would use slander against both yet the only relief is that Peeta was no longer in the arena & that no other will be subjected to what they went through. For them tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.

Cato: "It's going to be okay Katniss. Either way he will never bother you again. Katniss Shh go to sleep. I will be there & there will be no way he can touch you honey. I won't allow him near you. Shh it's okay, it's okay. You got to be strong for Rue. Be strong for Rue."

Marvel was saying pretty much the same thing to Glimmer. Glimmer hate herself for feeling this weak & helpless. Marvel looked over at Cato both shook their heads no. Has soon as they clam the girls down they got up & had a plan in case they did show up with the prick & the witch. They want the girls to feel safe again.

Cato: "You know Marvel, Katniss still blames herself for not getting Peeta in the bloodbath."

Marvel: "Dude, you're joking right? She even saved my ass & had my back in the bloodbath & she was never trained as a career until after the reaping. No wonder she looks like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders."

Cato: "From what Haymitch told me, she taken on a lot since she was 11 & her dad died in a mining explosion. Haymitch told me she use to smile like Prim & it would light up a room. You couldn't tell now could you?"

Marvel: "That's it! That's fucking it! Glimmer & I are talking to her tomorrow. I am not going to let her be guilty for a crime she didn't commit. The plan was if memory calls, if she didn't get him, we were. The three of us will talk to her tomorrow before they get here." Marvel respects Katniss. "Hell I owe her my life. She's like a sister & because of her help, Glimmer is no longer afraid of her own shadow. "

Cato: "I'm going back in see ya in few." Cato goes back inside and holds Katniss close as her hand is already twitching again. However in both their sleep their clasped hands.

Capitol Hover Craft:

President Snow: Are we ready with everything?

Crane & Haymitch: yes Sir.

Snow: "Oh & Haymitch."

Haymitch: "Sir?"

Snow: "You should talk to your Ms. Everdeen & Mr. Stone while you're there."

Haymitch: "Sir?"

Snow: "Give them these papers Haymitch. It'll explain it all for them." Snow passes the documents over to Haymitch. Haymitch looks at them grins, closes it up.

Haymitch: "Yes Sir. I'm going to need to make a call before leaving." Haymitch calls back to his place where Brutus is teaching Prim history in battles & strategy.

Brutus answers the phone goes ok. Effie watch Prim will you I need to make a pit stop at the office. Be back soon. Where one could hear him mutter damn teenagers. Where an hour before the hover craft takes off Brutus brings a bag of caramel in to Haymitch. Brutus returns back to d-12

At 6 am in the arena:

Four people get up to chat including Katniss. In which Katniss has a heart to heart with both Glimmer & Marvel.

Glimmer: "I have a bone to pick with you."

Katniss: "What?"

Glimmer: "You're feeling guilty." At that point both boys came by on either side of Katniss. Katniss looks at Cato with you are so on my list but Glimmer continued on:

"You didn't attack me. That animal (sorry insulting animals) did. You saved Marvel by only injuring Peeta in the bloodbath so you could get to the bow in time. In turn saved probably nine others from certain death in these games. You have nothing to be ashamed or to feel guilty about. So Stop."

Then Marvel takes over: "Look I owe you my life because of what you did in the bloodbath. You did what you could. Katniss YOU are NOT super woman so, stop feeling guilty for it. YOU never trained as a career like Cato, Glimmer, Clove or I. YOU didn't fail. If memory serves the plan was if you didn't Peeta, WE ALL were supposed to get him soon after in these damn games to give him a dignified death Katniss. At least you injured him first time around on your own talents. I had to wait until Clove got a piece of him with that knife to slow him down to be captured."

Katniss: "Fine, you're right but I can't help how I feel about it. Now can somebody please get me something to eat before our guest get here." When Glimmer & Marvel left to get the rest of the crew up & food for me.

Cato: Katniss I have a question to ask you if you are so incline. Hover Craft arrives early. "Damn, you & Glimmer got to get ready now Kat. They're early." as He kisses her.

Now I'm curious as to the question or questions he was going to ask. Everyone gets up for this. I get Glimmer's hair braided then do mine. Getting dress after it's own challenges boots, grabs our roses & we're off. Boy what I would give for a pair of my comfortable leggings & jeans right now. Much of my relief it's Haymitch, a package & documents.

Haymitch: "Hi, Here's something for you from Brutus & I"

Katniss accepts the bag looks in, caramels (YES!)& a... but the big surprise was when I opened the documents to which I had to call Cato over. "Cato did you know..."

Cato: "It's news to me but I do like the idea there Mrs. Stone."

Katniss: "I'd like the toasting idea better Mr. Stone."

Cato: "You're going to have to explain what one is Katniss."

Katniss: "After the meeting dear. You are now off my list."

Haymitch: "Give the bag to Cato for a minute Cinna sent some stuff for you too. Bring Cato & come on. They still have to set up for the sentencing trial."

Katniss: "Sentencing Trial?"

Haymitch: "Hey had their trial early this morning. Guilty on all charges. Glimmer & you are talking to President Snow about their sentencing why we get better shelter built for you kids while you're out here."

Earlier that day in a cell in the capitol:

The cell door of Joanna & Peeta Mellark opens. They sedate Peeta cuff him in shackles & take both into the down stairs training room a level below the regular training room.

The room is converted to a court room with four game makers & Seneca Crane has the Judge. They read the charges. The defendants were not even given a chance to speak in their defense. The prosecution reads charge after charge after charge. Stating that Joanna Mellark endangered District 12, voided the games by betraying her country, letting Peeta register for the games with a known medical condition, then denying him his medication in which prior to said games he assaulted & battered his District partner over 6 times, fought with another district for no reason, caused the rape of a Tribute from District One, He then tried unsuccessfully tried to rape his district partner in said arena. Joanna was the cause & Peeta was the effect has he carried out these attacks. Again the defense was not allowed to speak nor defend itself in any way. The prosecution then spoke that they ask for the highest slowest punishment for Joanna Mellark & Peeta, death by whatever means decided by their victims, the Head Game Maker or, by President Snow himself.

When it came time for the jury, each one passed the accused laying the bud of the black rose toward both mother & son. Guilty was the verdict.

They were quickly found guilty on all accounts & Led back to their cell.

Meanwhile back at the arena where the trial was just broadcasted:

Everyone saw this now they understand what happened to the games & why they may never go home again including Rue. Rue wanted to go home. She misses her family, running with her friends, climbing trees & listening to the Mocking Jays with their song. The younger ones like Rue also want to go home but know they can't. For them it hurts because they committed no crime.

In the mists of the cell transfer something goes horribly wrong. Joanna distracts Peeta's guards so she can steal Peeta's sedatives. Peeta goes bat shit during the transfer, kills three Peace Keepers, two prison guards before escaping into the dark country side in the middle of the night. Peeta has escaped & is on the run. He couldn't save his mother actually he didn't plan on it. He has to get the Mocking Jay & the rest of the tributes before the rebellion begins. In his mind if he kills the Mocking Jay he'll save the country. In the beginnings of the rebellion. The girls are in danger again from a psychotic rapist