I know, it's been ages. I'm so sorry. :/ I just didn't feel like writing, and I rarely had the time anyway. Back now though. :) I don't own The Hunger Games.

Clove groaned as a beam of light jutted into her bedroom, waking her up and blinding her at the same time.

"Clove Fuhrman, you are a royal pain in my bottom!" Effie yelled. She was stood in front of the window, the curtains now drawn back. The midday sunlight lit her up like a fireball. Clove wished sometimes that Effie would burst into flames.

"Shut the curtains, Effie." Clove mumbled into her pillow. "That's an order."

"You can't order me around, Princess!" Effie yelled. She was going a deep shade of red as she continued to yell at Clove,

"We've been waiting for you down in the dining hall for almost ten minutes! A true Princess is never late!"

"Well then, maybe I'm adopted." Clove muttered, wearily sitting up.

"Don't even joke about that! I want you downstairs in five minutes!" Effie snapped, before flouncing out of the room.

"What an ass." Clove sighed, pulling herself out of bed.

"I heard that!" Effie's voice was muffled from the over side of the door. Clove narrowed her eyes and waited until the clip-clop of her annoying mentor's heels as she headed down the stone hallway disappeared. Clove sighed again and stumbled over to her wardrobe. Sundays were the only day that she didn't have to be assaulted by her wacky prep team, but ever since her engagement she had been forced to wear dresses to meals. He wasn't even in the castle, and Clove wouldn't have cared anyway if he was.

"Hmm." She pulled out the most comfortable dress she could find. It was floor length and green, with full sleeves and black cloth tied around the middle, at the side. She took of her nightgown and threw the dress on. As a last minute thought, she placed around her neck the locket her brother had given her one year for her birthday and made her way down to the dining hall.

"Father, I love her."

Clove stopped outside the closed dining room door. Augustus' loud voice could be heard faintly through the thick oak door.

"I don't care! She's a commoner!" Their father responded. Clove felt her heart beat quicken a little as she pressed her ear against the door.

"Don't call her that!" Gus snapped. "She's funny, kind, beautiful…I love her. Who gives a damn if she's not royalty?!"

"Our ancestors, that's who!" The king sighed before carrying on in a softer voice. Clove strained to hear them. "I'm sorry. The only way you could be with her is if you stepped down from the throne line. What if your mother and I were to die tomorrow? Do you really think that Clove is ready to be queen?"

"No." Augustus sighed. "But if I win the tournament, she will be accepted, as my one wish." Clove waited a few minutes before pushing open the door.

"Mother, father." Clove smiled politely and curtsied, pretending like she hadn't overheard the personal conversation. She wasn't quite sure how Augustus, her by the book, commanding, soldier brother had fallen for a village girl. Clove didn't even know that he got out all that often.

"Clove. Sit, please." The queen smiled warmly at her daughter. Clove sat down next to Augustus, opposite her father. Servers instantly set a plate in front of her and spooned on carrots, cauliflower, potatoes and roast chicken.

"Is there any reason why I have to be here? You never call me to lunch on a Sunday." Clove asked.

"Yes." Her father said, glancing at her mother.

"Clove." Her mother sighed. "I know you don't like him, but…"

"What?" Clove asked suspiciously, sipping at her glass of wine.

"Prince Marvel and his mother are coming to stay with us until the wedding. Afterwards, you will all leave for Odesta and King Quaid will step down from the throne. You will rule alongside Marvel." King Fuhrman said, calm and cool as ever.

"What?!" Clove yelled, spluttering wine everywhere.

"Clove. Ew." Augustus frowned, leaning away from her slightly. She glared at him before turning to her parents again.

"You can't be serious." She choked. As if on cue, the doors burst open and Marvel strode into the room, his mother being escorted by two of Odesta's knights behind him.

"Hello, Clover dear." Marvel grinned and placed a kiss on Clove's cheek. He sat down in the chair next to him and threw his feet up on the table. "So, what are we having?"

Queen Quaid sat down opposite her son.

"Marvel! Don't be so rude!" She scowled. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of Clove's plate. "Don't eat too much, dear. You'll gain weight."

Clove rolled her eyes and rested her forehead against her hands.

"Kill me."

…

"Cato!"

Cato internally groaned at the all too recognizable voice. Slowly, he turned around to face his two cousins in the marketplace.

"Hey Cashmere, hey Gloss." He said miserably. If the twins picked up on his tone, they didn't say anything.

"It's so good to see you again!" Cashmere squealed, hugging him tightly.

"You too, Cash." Cato half-heartedly wrapped his arms around her.

"What about me?" Gloss asked, pretending to be offended.

"Good to see you Gloss." Cato let go of Cashmere and smiled politely at them both. "What brings you to the village? You hardly ever leave your farm."

"Maybe we just wanted to see you." Cashmere shrugged.

"Are you not going to take us back to the house then?" Gloss asked. Cato hesitated for a moment. He hadn't finished at the marketplace; there were three loads of eggs to be dropped off soon and he wanted to see what he could get his hands on.

"Just a second." He replied, before strolling over to a stall selling shell necklaces and a collection of fish.

"Hey." He greeted the vendor warmly.

"Hello, sir. What'll it be?" The vendor replied.

"A pound of mackerel, please." Cato said. When the market vendor's back was turned, Cato pocketed one of the white shell necklaces. He turned around with a clear bag and loaded the fish into it.

"Thank you." Cato said when the man handed him the bag.

"That's three silver coins, sir." The vendor said, holding his hand out.

"Sure. Just a second." Cato shoved his hand into his pocket. He let his eyes wander to the left of the stall.

"Oh my God!" He yelled. The vendor turned around quickly, and Cato dashed off.

"Run!" He yelled at Cashmere and Gloss. They watched him dash by, startled, before tearing off down the road after him.