I just couldn't keep you waiting for too long, so I'm publishing this chapter in two parts. This is the first part. You can expect the second part in a week and I promise that part will be longer.
Chapter 7
Katniss
WHY AM I HERE?
I shouldn't be here. Why am I here then? There is no villain from my world. This has nothing to do with me. Everything going on is so crazy! I've barely been able to talk to Peeta all this time also. Hopefully the person who's approaching now is Peeta. If it is, then I would certainly like to kiss him and in turn, escape from the madness around me. Perhaps that's too wild, even by my standards.
But anyway it doesn't matter because it isn't Peeta. It's a boy from that magic world. Martin or something I think is his name. It's really tough remembering so many names! He came up to the ledge on which I was resting my hands and after a moment of silence he clears his throat and says, "Hi, I'm Dean" If I take my Martin guess into consideration, I get Dean Martin. Kind of catchy. I reply, "Oh, I'm Katniss"
"Yeah I know"
Okay either this guy has got a really great memory power, which is hard to believe or he's remembered my name for some reason. And if things go about as I think they will, then he likes me which is crazy. I mean like I'm married! There is no way I am getting into this. No matter how nice this guy seems, I'm afraid I'll just have to be my usual rude self (which I'm happy to use) with poor Dean Martin.
"Okay, I've got to go now, bye."
"Fine, maybe we can meet up later?"
"Um okay" I say even though I already made up my mind not to 'meet up' with him again.
I enter inside to find everyone talking over a table in deep conversation. It was a short person with a beard (Gimli) who says, "Ouranos is easy to destroy. The main problem is Morgorth. Frodo- you still haven't discussed your plan yet"
"Well I thought we were gonna knock on his door and say 'Pizza delivery for Mr. Morgorth!'" says a curly haired boy (Leo)
Everyone stares at him including me. In self-defense he says, "What! Someone's gotta keep things light among all you serious guys!"
A faint smile spreads over his friend's (Jason's) face. A tall well-built boy (Frank) just shakes his head and says, "Frodo just get on with it"
And then Frodo gets up and says, "Okay so first of all, I really think the Valar are helping me and so I'm not going to take any praises from all of you."
"Just get on with it Mr. Modest!" says the same curly headed boy (Leo).
Frodo continued, "Well can someone give me a paper?" and Beetee passes him a piece of paper.
"I believe" Frodo continues, "that presently Morgorth is residing in his palace in Middle-Earth." And he drew a box and labeled it as 'Morgorth palace, "Now there are two entries here and here. Morgorth is an arrogant, vile beast and if he sees anyone strong enough to challenge him, he will take that person's very presence as a challenge. So we send two people to the front who will hopefully draw Morgorth's complete attention. Then I take a bunch of elite warriors through the other entrance which also will obviously heavily-guarded and enter. Inside, now this is the part where I think the Valar are helping out, it is vast. If the elite warriors are strong enough we may be able to destroy all of Morgorth's slaves and what not and gain access to his gate. The gate is so powerful that it can even keep one of the Valar outside. But now we will need some luck and when Morgorth has finished battling the two sent as a distraction, and he returns, we will close the gate at such a moment at such a point that Morgorth falls right under the gate and will be destroyed."
"In other words you want to use Morgorth's gate against him" sums up a boy who looked kind of like a werewolf (Bill)
"Exactly." says Frodo, "Any questions?"
"Yes" I say, "Who's going to die?" Okay, fine. I admit. I do care for my life. But I don't always drop down into the shackles of cowardice. Only under certain circumstances….I'm not sure whether I should or I should not classify this situation under 'red alert' Anyway, Frodo replies after a seemingly brief period of silence, "So this is certainly one of the hardest parts of our mission. Sacrificing our lives for an opportunity to save all of our races is difficult. It may be that at many times we value our life over others. And so I give you the freedom to decide whether you want to sacrifice your life or not"
Of course, the expected followed - silence. There were some murmurs among friends and couples. In this situation, the only person I would like to see would be Peeta. Fortunately, I didn't need to sweat it out to find him as I see him rushing tome. I embrace him. Peeta whispers, "Two of us are going to die. Two of us are going to die for sure."
I reply, "Don't say that! There's always hope"
"Okay fine. But I am not going to stand down as two brave individuals go out there. I'm going."
If I could not keep my instincts in check, Peeta would be lying on the floor right now requiring immediate hospitalization. Instead, I laugh. Yes, I laugh and every single eye in the room focuses on me almost as if I'm a maniac. And I don't care and I continue laughing. Slowly, the eyes draw away from me. If I am here in this room, which I am, then I am obviously talented which everyone must have realized. Moreover, they've got their own stuff to talk about with their friends. As my laughing subsides, I bring myself together and say to Peeta, "You know-you are the most idiotic, stupid boy that I've ever known and yet I love you!"
"Same feelings here. Though I've got to get going and volunteer"
Now I was serious, "Peeta, after all I've gone through to save you, after everything we've…"
"Sorry Katniss, this is my own decision."
I don't mean to exploit Peeta's weakness but when the situation calls! His weakness is very simple. It's me. So I say, "Peeta what about me? I can't go on without you. Please Peeta please; you can't do this….."
Peeta smiled, "Fine, I'm not going, but only for you."
See? It's as simple as that.
Meanwhile time ticks and it almost looks as if no one is ready to give up their lives when from the crowd comes one individual, one brave man who's ready to give up his life. He's seemingly young but I know that he's older. In fact, he's older by at least 500 years. Beetee had gone on and on about him.
Daedalus.
