"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." Sirius Black, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Disclaimer: The odds of me owning Hunger Games are about as good as my odds of walking up one day with superpowers (would be so cool but won't happen).
Review if you me to improve as a writer! Or if you really liked it 3
Finnick walked to the Queen's study and as soon as he entered the room, an elegant, low voice demanded, "Who is she?"
The Queen was elegantly dressed, in black gown with gold trim and rich furs around her arms. She had an elaborate crown atop her pale yellow hair.
Her face did not match her clothes for she had a hard glint to her eyes and an ugly twist to her thin lips.
"Now Aunt Coin," Finnick began holding his hands out placatingly.
"Don't you 'Now aunt' me!" She scolded. "Who is the girl you rode in with?"
Finnick sighed. "She is a mute, I found her on the beach all alone."
"How sad." The queen nodded and fluttered her hand. "Send her away."
"Aunt Coin!" Finnick was indignant, "How can you say such a thing?"
"Have you forgotten your duty, as prince and future king?" The Queen's skirts swirled around as she moved to her chair.
"You must marry for the good of the kingdom, for advantage, for once you marry, you become king and rule in my place."
"A king's heart is not his to give away." Finnick stated reluctantly the idea that had been drilled into him since he turned fourteen.
"No, my dear boy. You must use your brain, not your manhood to find a girl of noble bearing with wealth." The Queen patted his hand as he knelt down beside her.
Finnick sighed as the Queen continued. "Even though you won those naval battles, the risk for war will never be gone. You must marry for the good of the kingdom."
"What was the point of the battles then, all of the lives lost, if not to bring about peace?" Finnick asked, anguish barely masked.
"Why my dear boy, if our kingdom wants to expand and become a true player in the games, we need to conquer the twelve surrounding kingdoms eventually. The soldiers know what they fight for after all, and it's for the greater good."
Finnick looked away in disgust. He didn't not agree with the Queen's ambitions and had long suspected her of wanting to keep the throne for as long as she could.
Meanwhile, Annie was having a wonderful time with Rue. She had been bathed with perfumed soaps for the first time since Snow had married her mother and had her hair styled in a fancy bun.
Right now, Ruby and Rue were helping her pick a new dress to wear.
"Oh, miss, this would be lovely on you, don't you think?" Rue asked her with a smile.
Annie nodded as she looked at the lovely cream colored gown.
"Or perhaps this would suit her?" Ruby asked, holding a pink gown.
Annie fingered her auburn hair and looked at Rue for help.
Rue nodded. "Oh no, this one, now this one will be perfect." She held out an sea green and light blue pin striped dress and started helping Annie into it.
Ruby's eyes narrowed but she plastered on a fake smile. "Yes, perfect for one of his girls. You can't say that Finnick doesn't have an eye for...beauty... or trouble unfastening gowns"
"Ruby" Rue hissed. "That is no way to talk about his-"
"I meant nothing by it, just ensuring that the girl knows what she is getting into." Ruby said airily, helping Annie into the gown.
Though Ruby stuck Annie with pins several times, Annie made not a sound. She wondered what Ruby meant about one of his girls.
Just as Rue was tying a ribbon in her hair, Finnick came in.
Rue bobbed a curtsey, "Oh, your highness, doesn't she look-"
"Adorable" Finnick breathed out with a big smile on his face.
Annie, however, panicked a bit internally. He was a prince? She had thought he was part of the nobility, but a prince?
It had been so long since she had been around any royalty that wasn't family that she felt awkward and undeserving.
She started to curtsey when Finnick stopped her with a hand on her arm. He placed a finger under her chin and pulled up her face.
"Positively adorable". Then he got a mischievous glint in his eyes, and picked her up and twirled her around.
Annie smiled and her chest shook with silent giggles.
She and Finnick walked around the castle, while he told her about his life till then they ended up in his study.
Annie sensed Finnick's frustration and sadness as he began to speak.
"Ever since I turned fourteen, my life has been nothing but lessons and training for battle and spending time in court, learning the ways of a king. I have had very little time to call my own. Then, the wars came and I had to lead several men to their deaths, all for a peace that seems all too precarious now."
He whirled around in agitation while Annie looked on sympathetically.
"I lead those men because they trusted me, I thought I was protecting the kingdom. Now my aunt wants to expand beyond our borders. She wants a big kingdom so, no one will ever question her right to rule while I was at war, and it seems she wishes I were still at war. There is no peace to be found at court either, with all of the intrigues and secrets." Finnick said bitterly, shaking his head.
"I have not had time to myself, to just relax or play music in a while." He sighed.
Annie looked around the room, and found a lute covered in dust. She blew it off and held it out to him, trying to convey that he could play music now.
Finnick looked up and smiled. He took the lute and started to play a little ditty.
Annie smiled and looked around the room. She found a drum and started to play a beat to accompany him.
Finnick looked at her in astonishment and then happiness as he started to sing.
The most recent song on his mind had to do with mermaids. He had heard it in one of the ports their ships had stopped in to resupply during the naval battles...it might have been Tortuga...but that night was a bit of a blur, Finnick grinned internally.
Still he remembered the song and thought he could play it for Annie now.
Jolly Sailor Bold
"Upon one summer's morning, I carefully did stray,
Down by the Walls of Wapping, where I met a sailor gay,
Conversing with a bouncing lass, who seem'd to be in pain,
Saying, William, when you go, I fear you will ne'er return again.
His hair hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as soles,
My happiness attend him wherever he goes,
From Tower Hill, down to Blackwall, I'll wander, weep and moan,
All for my jolly sailor bold, until he does return.
My father is a merchant — the truth I will now tell,
And in great London City in opulence doth dwell,
His fortune doth exceed 300,000 gold,
And he frowns upon his daughter, 'cause she loves a sailor bold.
Finnick winked at Annie who blushed.
A fig for his riches, his merchandise, and gold,
True love has grafted my heart; give me my sailor bold:
Should he return in poverty, from o'er the ocean far,
To my tender bosom, I'll fondly press my jolly tar.
My sailor is as smiling as the pleasant month of May,
And oft we have wandered through Ratcliffe Highway,
Where many a pretty blooming girl we did behold,
Reclining on the bosom of her jolly sailor bold.
My name it is Maria, a merchant's daughter fair,
And I have left my parents and three thousand pounds a year,
Come all you pretty fair maids, whoever you may be
Who love a jolly sailor bold that ploughs the raging sea,
While up aloft, in storm, from me his absence mourn,
And firmly pray, arrive the day, he home will safe return.
My heart is pierced by Cupid, I disdain all glittering gold,
There is nothing that can console me but my jolly sailor bold."
Annie clapped at the end of the song. She was practically shivering at Finnick's smooth voice.
Finnick stepped closer to Annie, feeling Cupid's spell himself and just when she thought her heart would explode, a servant cleared his throat.
"Begging you pardon, your highness." He said with no emotion. "You are needed to meet with the captain of the guard."
Finnick sighed. "The breaks are never long." He looked at Annie. "Will you be alright while I take care of this matter?"
Annie nodded and some of the tension left Finnick's face.
"Will you take her to the stables? She can meet Peeta and some of the horses." Annie smiled at this idea.
Finnick patted her hand and then left.
Ruby approached the castle priest, Heavensbee.
"Father, she truly is dumb, I poked her with a pin and she made nary a sound."
"I see. I must inform the queen of this." Heavensbee nodded to Ruby and she bowed her head.
"You must keep an eye on her. Who knows why he brought her here?"
Ruby scoffed. "She's a woman, your Holiness, and Prince Finnick is not known for his vows of chastity, if I may be so bold."
"You may only be so bold when you are with me, my dear." Heavensbee preached and patted her on the head. "Though you are my eyes and ears, it is a battlefield out there and you would do well to use the wily nature of yours to protect my interests and I will protect yours." His hands slid down to her shoulders and his thumbs drifted toward her chest.
"Still, he seems to be treating her differently than the others, bringing her in the middle of the day, sober, and she doesn't look like the others." Ruby said, stepping closer. Heavensbee's attentions weren't desired but she liked how it made her important to him.
She didn't want to be replaceable and he could be her ticket to a place of importance. If she had to put up with fondling, so be it.
Heavensbee continued. "We would do well to spy upon her, for queen, country and the Lord."
Ruby nodded, her lips curling into a sly grin.
She would enjoy seeing this dumb girl gone, then perhaps she could entice the prince to notice her assets and use him to get ahead.
Now Annie knows how Finnick is. I had fun turning Foxface into Ruby and taking some liberties with her character.
Till next time...where the Queen meets Annie.
