2:3 – Marriage to a dead man.
"Now, now, Remus. Don't embarrass your new daughter-in-law," says the more serious man who is obviously Cato's uncle and not, as I thought at first, his father.
"Nonsense, Gaius! Young Katniss here isn't afraid of showing her charms to those who ask. Cato may not have emerged the victor as we hoped, but he did the next best thing for the Thorwald family … With the help of this beautiful young lady here."
"Um … It's the daughter-in-law thing I wanted to discuss with you," I say once I've recovered from my shock and realise I was being teased.
We find somewhere quiet to sit and I broach the subject of my marital status.
"… Yes, I agree there was no formal marriage ceremony," says Remus. "How could there be … but you did agree to marry Cato. Even though he died before a formal ceremony could take place, his offer and your acceptance are still a legally binding contract of marriage. That is, assuming you did consummate your union as we all seem to have witnessed."
"Um … yes, we did consu- … er … Well you may as well know … I'm expecting Cato's child. The pregnancy was confirmed last week. But I don't recall Cato asking me to marry him."
Effie nearly falls off her chair in shock. The two men just smile to each other.
"Then it is fortunate he proposed marriage and you accepted … for both you and your child's sake. An unwed mother is shunned in most parts of Panem, and her child is often treated even worse. You are part of the Thorwald family now and we shall protect and provide for you," says Gaius.
"As for the proposal of marriage, do you recall Cato asking you to wear his amulet, and you agreeing?" says Remus when I still seem bemused. "In District Two a man is given an amulet on reaching manhood. He offers it to the woman he wishes to take as his wife. Cato wasn't allowed to take his into the arena, but I have it with me now if you are willing to honour your promise."
In the arena I was too busy paying attention to what Cato was doing with his hands to bother with the words coming out of his mouth. But having seen the recordings yesterday there is an unmistakable segment where Cato does indeed ask me to wear his amulet followed by a loud 'yes' from me. I'm not certain it was Cato's question I was shouting 'yes' to, but I can't prove otherwise.
I quickly assess my options. Gaius is right about the difficulties of being an unwed mother anywhere in Panem, even for a Hunger Games victor. My reputation in District Twelve is already dirt in many peoples eyes, even before it becomes generally known that I'm pregnant.
"What happens if I accept Cato's amulet? There is no way I can support your District Council's claim that a District Two tribute won the 74th Hunger Games. The victory and the food parcels belong to District Twelve," I reply.
"I am on the District Two Council," replies Gaius. "I'm sure our council and the District Twelve council can reach an agreement of some kind without having to resort to legal proceedings. That is, providing you honour your promise to Cato. I will not have my dead nephew's name sullied by you reneging on your promise."
"Once you agree to wear Cato's amulet your marriage will be retrospectively formalised by the court and the judge will order that you become a resident of District Two. All those in the Thorwald family will make you welcome and help you settle. I'm not certain if you will be allocated a house in the Victors Village in District Two. As you say, you were a District Twelve tribute so that complicates matters," replies Remus.
"What about my sister Prim, and my mother?" I ask.
"They must remain in District Twelve unless they can obtain special dispensation from the authorities to move to District Two. You know as well as I that moving from one district to another is rarely allowed. "
Unfortunately I know he is right. There are very few marriages between couples who come from different districts simply because there are so few opportunities for them to meet. Getting a permit to travel to another district is hard enough … obtaining permission to live to another district is almost impossible. A wife moving district to join her husband is one of the few exceptions.
We agree to meet at the same time tomorrow to give me a chance to consider my position and for Gaius to open negotiations between the District Two and District Twelve councils. When I return to my hotel room I make three telephone calls; to my mother, the District Twelve mayor, and lastly to Patrick.
My mother can offer no useful advice … I suppose I should have expected that. But Prim says I should take the opportunity to get away from District Twelve and not to worry about them. The mayor confirms he has been approached by Gaius on behalf of the District Two council and good progress has already been made towards reaching an amicable agreement … providing I play my part. As for Patrick, he refuses to talk over the telephone but arrives at my room half an hour later.
Patrick's news about Haymitch isn't good. The court appearance today resulted in Haymitch being formally charged with murder and corruption. I can't believe it can be true, but Patrick says the prosecution has evidence that Haymitch took a huge bribe from a gambling syndicate to firstly set up the possibility of Peeta and I being joint victors, and then to arrange for one of us to be killed. A qualified lawyer has now been assigned to defend Haymitch, so neither Patrick nor I can see him.
I tell Patrick about my meeting with Gaius and Remus. He confirms what Gaius and Remus said to me is correct. Cato's offer of his amulet is considered a proposal of marriage in District Two, which can be retrospectively formalised. Patrick is less certain about the judge ordering my change of residency to District Two, and if he did, it is unlikely I would be granted a house in the District Two Victors Village. If it means Prim and my mother can continue to live in the Victors Village in District Twelve, then I don't mind. Without realising it I have come to terms with the prospect of accepting Cato's amulet and becoming his wife … widow.
Before he leaves, Patrick advises me to read up on the customs of District Two, some of which he says are very odd. The business about the amulet being one of the easier ones to understand. He doesn't stay late and I go to bed early, already wondering what it will be like being Katniss Thorwald.
The next morning there is word from the enquiry saying I'm required for further questioning in two days time. I dread what that means, but at least I can meet with Effie, Remus and Gaius today as promised. Later that day I'm standing in front of a Justice of the Peace as he records my marriage to Cato. Cato's metal amulet is now on my left arm. It is quite heavy and will take some time for me to become used to it. Why the people of District Two can't use wedding rings like everyone else is beyond me. The amulet is a three centimetre wide band of steel with two stylish motifs engraved on opposite sides … a bull representing Cato and a recently added mockingjay representing me. I've done some research into District Two customs as Patrick suggested and I know I'm fortunate that the amulet is made of steel rather than the usual brass one. Like Cato before me, I'm not supposed to remove the amulet unless compelled by law, and the brass ones can apparently cause all sorts of skin infections.
There is no wedding celebration since the groom is dead, but Remus and Gaius make every effort to make me feel welcome into their family. With my marriage certificate should be a document that officially transfers my residency from District Twelve to District Two, but there isn't. Cato being dead means there are complications. I accept Gaius's offer to sort out my residency issue. In any case, I can't leave the Capitol until the official enquiry into the 74th Hunger Games has finished with me.
Remus escorts me back to my hotel. As we reach my room he turns to me and says, "Now, my dear daughter-in-law, I must insist that you remove your trousers."