Author's note: Hello, my dears! I've been taking a break working on some original things. But I'm back to finish this story for you! I dearly hope that you enjoy this chapter as much as I liked writing it. I cannot wait to hear what you think!

Many thanks to my beta oh_well AKA karin6824!

And thanks to my dear bestie writingbutunpublished for always reading my things!

Happy reading!

Part Ten

Katniss had to focus to keep her teacup from shaking on the saucer.

King Coriolanus was speaking in a soothing voice about the advances that had been made under his rule. She was so intent on her cup that his words weren't quite clear.

"Katniss, my dear, are you listening?" The king asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Katniss said quickly, "All your enemies get defeated."

The king stood quickly. "Come with me."

Katniss looked at Peeta and Prim.

"Alone." King Coriolanus said it in a way that wasn't to be argued against. "They can finish their tea."

Katniss followed, her gaze lingering over her shoulder as she went along. She was frightened. Where was he taking her? Would he incapacitate her? She was his heir, after all.

"I need to show you something, my dear." They started ascending a steep flight of stairs. "Something that is very important to the success of our kingdom. What happens to those that will go against my rule in even the smallest ways."

They were in the bowels of the castle. There were heavy doors with bars along small windows. It was dark in the rooms beyond save for a bit of sunlight coming through the tiny slits that served as outside windows. The silence was deafening, though she could feel there were people inside.

"This is where the criminals are kept, my dear," the King explained, "People who wrong the crown." He paused in front of one of the cells and twitched a finger to one of the guards to bring a torch closer.

There was a man inside. He moved toward the door and his eyes caught the firelight.

"Gale?" Katniss asked softly.

The man behind the bars had a full beard and was gaunt, but she knew those slate eyes. They were so like hers.

He took another step closer. "Catnip? What are you doing here?"

"It's a long story," she said evasively. She wouldn't give away all her secrets with her tyrant grandfather just a few feet away. She grasped the bars of the window as her old friend's presence fully set in. "I thought you were dead."

"Very much alive. Unfortunately." Gale's eyes landed on the ring on her finger. "Who did you marry?"

Was that weariness for her?

Katniss swallowed hard. "Peeta Mellark, Duke of Mallory."

"Oh, so you're a duchess now?" Gale's voice held that old teasing quality she so missed. "Too good for the Seam?"

She shook her head adamantly. "I'm a princess. The heir to the throne. That's why I couldn't marry you." She swallowed past the tears forming in her throat. "Are you being fed, Gale?"

He looked past her and his eyes hardened. "Oh, yes, Your Royal Highness. I am well fed. The bread I received today only had a small patch of mold. And the broth tasted less of piss and just a little more of chicken."

Katniss glanced behind her to see her grandfather glowering and hid a smile. She slipped her hand through the bars. "At least you're alive."

Gale took it and squeezed. "You look well enough for the both of us, at any rate."

"We must be going, my dear," King Coriolanus said.

Katniss nodded. "I'll try to come back." She promised her friend.

Gale shook his head. "Please don't. I cannot bear it." He kissed her fingers and leaned his cheek on her palm. "Farewell, your highness."

"Goodbye, Gale." She reluctantly pulled her hand away and followed the king down the hallway, her eyes glancing back to see Gale had receded into the shadows.

"You see, my dear," King Coriolanus said, "I will do all I can to keep order. Even if it's something as small as trapping a squirrel or two." He stopped at the top of the stairs. There were deep shadows.

Katniss swallowed hard as the king leaned into the light. Her heart sped and her skin crawled.

"You will do as I say. Or you can join your friend in that cell." He turned and continued on.

Her step faltered for just a moment. But Katniss quickly regained herself and followed in her grandfather's wake. Her mind ran through all the things she had done in the past and wondered if he had known she was there with Gale all along. Would she have been in one of those other cells if she hadn't run that day? And what of Prim?

When they sat down, Katniss noted a bit of weariness in her grandfather's expression. But as quickly as it was there, it was gone, and he looked the very image of health.

Prim said, "His Grace and I were just discussing your art, Your Majesty."

"It's all quite dark, isn't it?" Peeta said. He walked over to one that depicted a field of dead bodies and a man triumphant on a horse front and center. "Is this Napoleon?"

"It is," King Coriolanus said from his seat, sipping his tea. "Defeating his enemies."

Katniss and Peeta's eyes met and held a moment.

Prim asked about the artist and the king started going on about the feelings they evoked in him. It was all very ominous. Katniss couldn't wait for the tea to be over.

Her wish was granted just a moment later when a man walked in and spoke in the king's ear. King Coriolanus nodded and turned to his guests. "I will be sending a dressmaker to you both. The official state announcement and celebration occurs one month from today." He stood and followed the man out of the room.

"Is that our dismissal?" Prim asked.

A servant announced, "Your carriage has arrived."

Katniss let out a breath. "I believe it is."

She waited until the carriage was safely out of the gates before she took a full breath, the first of the day.

Then she remembered, "Gale is alive." She turned and looked toward the palace as it receded.

"Gale?" Prim asked. "Rory's brother? I thought they executed him."

"Apparently not." Katniss grasped Peeta's hand. "He's alive. I must find a way to inform his mother."

"We have to be very careful with this, Katniss." Peeta brought her hand to his lips. "This information doesn't leave this carriage until I make some arrangements."

"Arrangements for what?" Prim asked.

Peeta gave her a smile. "Just wait. I have a plan that I think you will be very happy with." He leaned over and whispered in Katniss's ear, "It's all right, Katniss."

Letting out another one of those long breaths, Katniss leaned against Peeta's side.

Peeta made some vague excuse about going to his club after they settled into the house. "I promise to be home by supper." He kissed Katniss's cheek and slipped out the front door.

There was no need to take his horse. He could disappear into the crowd better without it. And he needed to disappear.

Three streets down from his home, he took a left turn and continued for two more streets before taking another left. This led him into the heart of a busy high street filled with shops and people. Across from him, Peeta saw Finnick leaning nonchalantly outside the dress shop. He was popping something into his mouth. Peeta couldn't tell what it was, but he was sure it was the lumps of sugar Finnick was so fond of eating.

Peeta crossed the street. Finnick turned around and went back into the building once he spotted Peeta. They moved into the back of the building where a group of other men waited them.

"Lovely of you to finally join us," Haymitch Abernathy said, taking a long drink from a flask.

"I was held over at another engagement." Peeta found a seat. "What news do we have?"

"You tell us," Haymitch said, "You're the one married to a princess." He spat the word out like a curse.

Peeta clenched his teeth. "There was good reason to keep that fact concealed, sir."

"We know," Plutarch Heavensbee said from across the room. "Don't we, Mr. Abernathy?"

Haymitch grumbled his agreement. "Other than that, your grace? How was the afternoon at the palace?"

Peeta looked around the room to take note of all who had gathered. "The king has an old friend of my wife's in his dungeon. He's holding the man to keep Princess Katniss in line. He's known of her existence for quite some time."

"And Princess Primrose?" Finnick asked, "How is she faring?"

"She's doing as well as can be expected," Peeta said. "She spent almost seventeen years thinking she was just another person in the crowd."

Finnick nodded.

"I need help getting the friend out. And I also need his family moved to safety," Peeta explained. "Until we are able to do anything else, they shouldn't be targets for the king's rage. Nor the thing that keeps Princesses Katniss and Primrose from keeping their distance from their grandfather."

"We will see what can be done," Plutarch promised.

"I thank you." Peeta stood. "I really need to get back to my wife, so if we are done…"

"Sit back down," Haymitch commanded, "we still have business."

Reluctantly, Peeta resumed his seat.

Katniss watched the sun falling through the trees. She was nestled at the base of a large oak in the center of the trees behind her new home. It felt familiar here.

"Hey," Peeta called as he ducked beneath a low branch. "Prim said you were out here."

She smiled and patted the ground beside her.

After sitting down, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She pushed him away.

"Is something wrong?" Peeta asked.

"I see Gale in that dark cell every time I close my eyes." Katniss pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "He was so thin, Peeta."

"Tell me, Katniss, do you love him?"

She looked into his eyes, so full of uncertainty. She took hold of his hands and squeezed. "I do. He was like a brother to me for as long as I could remember. And I thought for almost a year that he'd been executed." Her voice faltered and she swallowed. "But he's alive. And I am without any power to get him somewhere safe."

He kissed her palms and draped her arms over his shoulders. "What if I told you I'm trying?"

"Then I would kiss you."

He grinned. "I already get kisses."

She moved to sit on his lap. "Well, what do you want?"

He thought a moment and then his smile grew. "You. In my bed. Just you in my arms."

"Nothing else?"

"I don't always need to be pleasured by you. Or to pleasure you." He rested his forehead against hers. "I love you, Katniss."

She kissed him softly. "I love you, Peeta."

After sharing another soft kiss, Peeta leaned against the tree trunk and pulled Katniss against his chest to watch the last of the sunset.