Moves and Countermoves: Hannah
Chapter 14: The Closing Ceremony
Tuesday 9th July
The Capitol
The adults watched Hannah in shifts but couldn't get Hannah to talk, eat or even drink.
Not Haymitch who forced his fingers down her throat causing her to throw up the poison berries she's swallowed, before rushing out the room for a doctor. He'd whacked his palm against her back until he was sure the entire contents of her stomach were splattered around the floor. When he'd returned with the nervous doctor, he took the pen out of her hand and jabbed it in the side of Hannah's neck.
He'd tried, gentle at first.
'We're almost there, Shorty', holding her hands lightly in his larger ones. She could feel his eyes pleading with her because she wouldn't looking at him - or anyone - in the eye. 'Just one more short five minute interview, a small ceremony and then a dinner, and then we can go home to District 12. 'But you have to talk, you have to eat, Sweetheart'.
His behaviour towards her wasn't what she expected. She expected shouting, she expected his angry flying arms, his angry walk as he demanded her what to do. Like how he usually acted towards her. She hadn't expected him to treat her like she was a fragile, baby bird.
Not Euphemia Coin either. Whom, after Haymitch had thumped the contents of her stomach out of her and fled the room, she couldn't help running into her arms for safety. The woman hadn't seemed to mind her dirty appearance or the added vomit that trailed all the way down from her mouth to her body. Euphemia Coin held Hannah to her tight, alternating between kissing her and whispering kind words against her hair.
She'd tried, always gentle.
'Darling, you must eat. At least drink', she'd rubbed her back as she held Hannah in a sitting position.
At night whilst she thought Hannah slept she would whisper pleads into Hananh's skin, pleading her to drink, pleading her to eat, pleading her to talk.
Neither the two stylists either, not that they asked. Hannah had only seen them once in her bedroom whilst she was awake. Portia had kissed her softly on the top of her forehead when her shift was relieved and Cinna had rested a hand on her shoulder.
Katniss Everdeen hadn't tried either (who like Peeta Mellark wasn't technically an adult, but to Hannah their years, height and Victorship meant they was).
Hannah remembered in her groggy state being surprised seeing her's and Peeta Mellark's faces as Haymitch carried her out the hospital room. When she had first awoken after, she had thought she had been dreaming but then she felt eyes on her, and those eyes had been of Peeta Mellark.
He'd been sat on a chair next to her bed. He had paper and pen in his hand and when he realised she was watching him, he'd turned it around to show her. It was a drawing of her and Euphemia Coin sleeping.
She'd looked back at his blonder hair, so much like Pig Boy's. His skin white like Pig Boy's. His face like Pig Boy's ... Pig Boy's blue eyes. She had almost opened her mouth to say 'sorry', when she saw his eyes fill with tears before turning away from her. She'd hid back away inside Euphemia Coin's arms and started crying.
It had woken Euphemia Coin. 'Peeta?' Euphemia Coin surprised. There was a pause and then, 'I think it's best you leave'.
Hannah heard his heavy step leave the room.
~xXx~
He returned later.
It was only an Avox in the room with her.
He had a plate of food and a paper cup, he put them on the bedside table next to the other food her parents had left. 'It's good. Eat it while it's warm. You dip the pastry into the hot chocolate', he demonstrated.
She looked away from him and crawled under the covers.
When she heard he had left, she saw he had left something other than food, his drawing of her and Euphemia Coin.
Her fingers traced the lines he had made.
'You like drawing?' A voice asked from the doorway. Him. He had been watching her from the doorway. 'Shall we draw together?'
He didn't wait for her answer and quickly returned with papers and pencils.
He placed a paper and pencil next to her but she didn't touch them.
He opened his sketchbook and explained to her the pages inside.
Hannah watched from a distance. The drawings were of people and places in District 12 and she began creeping closer to get a better look. She hadn't realised just how close she had gotten until she had placed her hand over the page that had drawings of Haymitch smiling.
'Peeta'. It was her father's voice behind her and she turned to find both her parents watching them from the doorway. 'They've come to fit your new leg'.
Peeta Mellark smiled at her. 'They can do it here'.
'I don't think-' Euphemia Coin had started, but Haymitch had pulled her away out of sight.
She could hear them arguing quietly.
Katniss Everdeen joined them in Euphemia Coin's room. Sitting next to Hannah, she picked up Peeta Mellark's sketchbook, looking through it whilst also looking at what was happening with Peeta Mellark.
'It's my fault he lost his leg', she said. Hannah wasn't sure if he was speaking to her because although she was sat next to her, she hadn't said 'hello' or made an indication that she knew Hannah was there. She hadn't talked at her at all, all the times she'd watched Hannah, she'd just read in silent, and Hannah liked that just fine about her. That - and how she would always change the walls in Euphemia Coin's room to show the District 12 woods. 'If I hadn't have taken so long to get him...'
Soon the doctor left. Then Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen had left. Then eventually Haymitch and Euphemia Coin left.
~xXx~
She slept mostly, having nightmares of the arena, of dead bodies; Pig Boy squealing around the arena like a pig before the Careers caught him, roasted him and ate him. She dreamed she'd won and saved Pig Boy too. She dreamed that her group of allies had ran to the beach and all eaten the poison berries together, dying together, showing the Capitol that they hadn't let the Games change them.
One time when they were all out Hannah had put all her gifts into the bathtub and filled it up with water. She later watched the Avox leave the bathroom with a see-through big bag full of the ruined gifts. Her eyes had zoned in on the plastic sword, it made her think of Pig Boy.
Food was brought and when the hunger got so unbearable she hid underneath the covers to make the smell go away. Cutlery was never brought. The plates and the cups were all made out of paper.
A doctor would visit daily for a check up. They told her parents the same thing, how she had to eat and drink because she had already been severely underweight. They then would pierce a drip into her skin. They always got Katniss Everdeen to sit in with her the hours she had to keep in. She didn't dare pull it out after the glance she'd given her the first time she had went to remove it, which she guesses was why continued to be chosen.
Sometimes she would get such a feeling inside her that she would jump around the furniture in Euphemia Coin's room, pretending she was in the woods of District 12. She - neither Avox - cared for the bumps or bruises or what of Euphemia Coin's things she might break - not that there was many things left out to break. She had once tried opening the draws on the vanity and found them all to be locked shut. Even ordering them open hadn't helped.
It was during that same time that she had first looked at herself in the mirror since the Games.
Her hair was tied back in one plait.
Her face looked sunken and thin, like it should belong on someone as old as Sae was.
They had dressed her in Capitol pyjamas.
Hannah removed those first.
'Your hair is so beautiful, Hannah. Everyone in the Capitol will be envious of your hair', she'd remembered Euphemia Coin's words on the train. So she gripped a fist around the top of her plait and pulled with all her might, hoping to pull the hair from her scalp, but she'd only ended up falling on the floor.
Then she jumped on the vanity and started banging her fists against the mirror.
It was then that the stoic Avox came into action, emerging behind Hannah in the mirror.
She ran from it to the bedroom door but that had been locked.
She ran from it to the bathroom door but that had also been locked.
Finally she ran under the covers of the bed and stayed.
~xXx~
On the third day, gentle Haymitch had enough.
Euphemia Coin had already left the bed after placing kisses on her head, leaving her and Haymitch.
'Do you want to stay here in the Capitol? Is that why you are dragging this all out longer than necessary?'
Hannah shook her head, no, tears starting to fall.
Haymitch grabbed her harshly. 'Then talk. Eat, drink. So we can all get the fuck out of here', he loosened his grip on her completely. 'Or else they'll think you want to stay here and they'll keep you here. Not that you're not already behaving like a spoilt Capitol brat, you'll fit right in, Sweetheart'
Hannah screamed at in his face before diving under the covers.
His hands grabbed her through the sheets, throwing her into the air, sheet and all. 'If you don't eat. I will strap you to this bed and force food down your throat'.
She could hear Euphemia Coin shouting at him.
Next thing she knew she was thrown on the floor.
She escaped her bindings just in time to see Euphemia Coin wrapped in a towel and Haymitch about to strike her, when Katniss Everdeen held his hand back and held it tight.
Euphemia Coin scooped Hannah into her arms and ran out the room.
Sat on Hannah's bed, Euphemia Coin held Hannah for a long time, her heart thumping widely against Hannah's chest.
'You must eat, Darling', she eventually said when her heartbeat was normal. 'Please, for me'.
Hannah escaped her arms and hid under the covers. How could she eat when Pig Boy ate nothing? How could she live knowing that Pig Boy had died so she could live? Knowing that all of them had died so she could live. She'd thought she'd understood the concept of becoming a Victor before, but now having lived and survived ... Haymitch had never explained the guilt you felt as a Victor in managing to stay alive.
~xXx~
The day had passed and Hannah had not moved when she felt the bed dip - too heavy to be Euphemia Coin - and she worried that it was Haymitch, returning to make good on his promise.
It was only when she heard the sketching did she realise who it was.
Emerging from beneath the covers she watched his hand for a while before she looked for his prosthetic leg. He had long trousers, socks and shoes on but it was easy to tell which wasn't real.
She stole a look to confirm that he was still busy drawing and crawled down to gently feel the prosthetic.
She glanced up and saw that it hadn't seemed to bother him and before she knew it she had taken off his shoe and sock, and was touching the leathery foot of the prosthetic.
She then rolled up his trouser leg and found the top of zip and pulled on it removing the flesh coloured leather off so it just showed the metal contraption.
'Apparently it's more realistic', he spoke. 'Everyone prefers it. It makes them feel less guilty about what happened'.
Hannah jumped on the leather before throwing it into the bathroom to show what she thought of it. Then she rolled both of the trouser legs high up his thigh and nodded when she'd finished.
Hannah hadn't expected his hug.
'You've seen me before in the morning's? Haven't you?' Peeta Mellark asked in his embrace. 'A very few times when I've baked, I've sworn I made more than what I was left with. But it was you, wasn't it?'
Hannah didn't respond.
But he left and when he returned he wore just his shorts and a long sleeved top.
'Only when I'm by myself do I dress like this. I cover it up to make people more comfortable. But I shouldn't hide what I am. What's been done to me, right?'
Hannah nodded.
'Shall I show them. Make them see what they've done?'
She nodded.
He knelt to her height and looked her in the eye. 'I would feel much more confident if you came out there with me, but the cameras are still on, so you're going to have to wear something more than you've got on. Do you think you can do that for me?'
She dressed in the pyjamas he had taken from her wardrobe and then took Peeta Mellark's outstretched hand.
As they left the corridor of bedrooms, starting to make their way to the open planned part of the penthouse, to where the cameras recorded, the noises got louder. People laughing and talking. Not just any people, she recognised Haymitch's low voice and Euphemia Coin's and Portia's high pitched laughter.
She started to slow down and Peeta Mellark crouched and indicated she should climb on his back.
She had only done this with Haymitch a few rare times, but Peeta Mellark smelt like the cakes she liked to swipe from his widow sill so obliged.
The noise all stopped when they entered the room and Hannah hid behind Peeta Mellark's back.
'We fancied doing a bit of cooking', Peeta Mellark announced to the room and instead of walking into the living room where everyone else was. He walked them to the kitchen.
He placed Hannah on the cooking surface and she watched as he searched the cupboards for everything they needed, placing them beside Hannah.
He made Hannah help.
Katniss Everdeen joined them at some point. She rested a gentle hand on Peeta Mellark's back whilst he stirred the hot chocolate before getting three ceramic cups out.
Katniss Everdeen looked her in the eye as she handed her a cup of the warm drink, the same look she gave Hannah when Hannah had tried to pull out her drip. She then smiled the most beautiful smile Hannah had ever seen before grabbing her own cup. She toasted Peeta before toasting Hannah.
Hannah copied her.
She drank the hot chocolate with them, before eating three of the cupcakes she had helped bake.
Yes, Peeta Mellark had gotten her to eat and drink, but she still would not talk. Because how could she talk when Pig Boy had been silenced by death.
~xXx~
It was Madam Coin that had gotten her to talk in the end, the day of her closing Victor interview.
By the morning after hot chocolate and cupcakes, the Gamemakers had been decided that what the audience wanted most was to have Hannah be interviewed with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.
'Finally, Sweetheart, we can leave this shit show behind us for a few months and go home', Haymitch had said after he had told her. They would leave the Capitol that evening. All that stood in their way was the closing interview, ceremony and dinner.
"My little Mockingjay", Hannah startles and turns in her seat at the words whispered so close to her ear. How had she not heard anyone walking up behind her? Was she really so consumed in her mirrored reflection?
It's Madam Coin, and she has her pets.
She had completely forgotten about them. Again, how ... she didn't know.
But there they are. Silver and Buffo and they look well and healthy.
Madame Coin places the cage on the table and kneels to Hannah's height. Rubbing Hannah's knees.
Hannah has never been this close to her, getting lost in her black eyes, trying to discern where the pupils end and the iris begins.
She is waiting to go on stage, Portia and Cinna and finished getting her ready ages ago but they and Euphemia Coin and Haymitch are still busy working on Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. It seems very intense all the movement and noise around the two Victors as they are pulled in different directions by the stylists, her parents constantly giving them orders. She is glad she is not them.
The fact that none of them had noticed Madame Coin proved how busy they all currently were.
"Your mother tells me my little bird has lost her voice?"
Hannah looks away. She is still unsure why Madam Coin gave her all those Nightlock berries.
"It's such a shame events didn't play out the way we wanted them to, but...", and she leans in closer, "we cannot give up on Theodore's dream can we?" Whispering. "A Panem where everyone is free".
"But what can I do?" She asks, surprised at how easily her voice speaks despite the days of not using it. "I couldn't save him", tears starting to form in her eyes.
"It had to be you, don't you understand. It had to be you who survived".
The days she did not eat, drink or speak, Hannah had already figured out that from the beginning, it was always going to be her that survived, Haymitch and Euphemia Coin would have made sure of that.
"Because my mother is a Capitol", looking away ashamed. In the end, it hadn't mattered how skilled a Tribute she was, or that she came from District 12, or that she was the daughter of the Third Quarter Quell Victor; it was because she was one of them.
"Exactly!" She exclaims quietly. "And do you know just how many more Capitols you have questioning the Hunger Games existence? Questioning the Snow presidency? How many citizens in the Districts you had rooting for a Capitol child? You asked what you could do Little Bird, you can sing Theodore's song. A song of freedom and equality. Where no more innocent District children will be slaughtered for entertainment".
"But I killed".
"Only because you were provoked. The whole of Panem heard Theodore's words that had already been echoed twice before by your other two allies. 'I am a pacifist. I refuse to spill District blood for Capitol entertainment. We are all one'. They know you aligned yourself with them, and that is what we'll work with. You have part to play Hannah, don't let Theodore's death be for nothing".
"So what shall I say?" Haymitch and Euphemia Coin said she wouldn't have to worry about talking. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark would cover for her?
Madam Coin goes to open her mouth but she is interrupted by Euphemia Coin's hand on her shoulder. "Alma?" Euphemia Coin looks distressed, frowning between Madam Coin and Hannah.
"My Love, I was just returning Hannah her pets", she says loudly, smiling at the cameras still clicking around them in the distance.
"Was Hannah speaking to you?" Euphemia Coin whispers incredulously.
"Yes, My Love. Our little bird has decided to sing again".
"What did you say?"
Madam Coin shrugs, "I think seeing her pets may have done it, My Love".
Euphemia Coin crouches and starts kissing Hannah all over. "I'm so proud of you", she whispers, kissing Hannah more.
"I must go before I get thrown out", Madam Coin kisses the top of Euphemia Coin's hair. "Speak, don't speak. Whatever you feel like saying will be perfect, Hannah", Madam Coin rests a hand on Hannah's cheek before leaving.
"Don't say anything Hannah in the interview", Euphemia Coin says quickly, "we haven't rehearsed anything and there isn't time now. It's very important that you don't say the wrong thing, OK, Hannah, My Love", she nods.
Hannah nods back.
"Peeta will handle everything. All you have to do is sit and smile and like Alma says, you will be perfect".
~xXx~
Instead of the studio, the interview takes place on a high stage that overlooks the audience. It is the same space the Opening Ceremony happened so it made sense that this is where the Closing Ceremony would happen. Although, Euphemia Coin said that it was only being hosted here because there was too much demand and not enough space in the studio. The lights are bright and although they are probably an acre away, Hannah feels she can make out every single one of the hundreds of Capitols that surround them in a towering circle.
Hannah is sitting closest to Caesar Flickman, Peeta Mellark is in the middle and Katniss Everdeen sits at the end. The three of them are sat on a settee like her interview with Haymitch and Euphemia Coin, but this time there are no divides between the seats and Peeta Mellark holds both her and Katniss Everdeen close to him. He's been doing that since the three of them walked on stage together.
"Well Ladies and Gentlemen, what a treat we have!" Caesar Flickman sings and the audience roars. "In what might be one of our quickest Hunger Games in history, we have Hannah Abernathy, our homegrown Third Quarter Quell Victor!"
Peeta Mellark moves his arm from around his shoulder and uses it to bring her face up to him, stroking her cheek.
"Twenty-five years later following in the footsteps of her father, just like we were all rooting her too!
"You OK?" He whispers in her ear.
Hannah nods.
"And if that wasn't cause to loose your heads enough Ladies and Gentlemen, we have our very own Star-Crossed Lovers, Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen!"
Peeta Mellark moves his hand and gaze off Hannah and waves at the audience. Katniss Everdeen waves too with the hand Peeta Mellark is not holding in his lap.
"Right here, right now, we will get the exclusive of what our two love birds have both been up to these past seven months!"
The audience starts cheering and whisteling and Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen laugh with each other. Katniss Everdeen then brings her waving hand - the one that also has the large diamond on it - and brings it over to Peeta Mellark who kisses it gently.
The audience gets even louder.
She feels herself being moved by Peeta Mellark as he places her to sit between himself and Katniss Everdeen. They share a kiss above her, before placing their conjoined hands in Hannah's lap.
There are cheers and screams from the audience, most of them have stood up to clap.
"Hide your face behind my jacket" Peeta Mellark suddenly whispers next to her ear.
Hannah doesn't have to be told twice, instantly hiding in the crook of his arm.
Everyone lets out a collective noise before it starts to quieten.
"Sorry", Katniss Everdeen laughs. "She's being a little shy".
And Peeta Mellark brings his hands down to hold Hannah's head in place before resting his lips in her hair.
"They are just so sweet together! Really they are just too adorable! And it's so authentic and real, and just hits me right in my heart, doesn't it you, Ladies and Gentlemen?"
The audience cheer again.
"As you can tell she has Peeta wrapped around her little finger".
"Oh. Is that jealousy I hear?"
"No", Katniss laughs. "We have both fallen in love with her".
The audience cheers louder.
"Has it made you broody? Will we be hearing the pit-pat of little Peeta feet soon?"
"I'm sorry beautiful people, I've tried, but I just can't convince this beautiful, little butterfly to come out of her cocoon", Peeta Mellark speaks, before placing his lips back in her hair.
"You've frightened her away!" Caesar Flickman tells off the audience, and they laugh before the noise finally quietens.
"It's OK, you don't have to speak", Peeta Mellark says loudly. "I'll take care of everything", placing kisses in her hair. "I'm afraid you're all just going to have to make do with myself and Katniss".
"See what I mean, she has him wrapped around her little finger", Katniss Everdeen laughs and the audience laughs with her.
"That's alright isn't it Ladies and Gentlemen? Perhaps she'll come out and play with us later but in the mean time, what a treat we have! We all felt truly robbed when you didn't accompany the Tributes for the Opening Ceremony this year and we all had suspicions as to why you might have to stay away. Namely a condition we thought Katniss may or may not be in? Now you both evaded my question earlier - don't think I didn't notice that! Nothing gets past Caesar Flickman! Will we be hearing the pit-pat of little Peeta feet before the year is ended?"
"Well first of all, we are both happy to be back in the Capitol. I'm sure you've all been following the press as they document our stay and us enjoying all the wonders that this city has to offer, so thank-you for welcoming us back so enthusiastically. To answer your earlier question Caesar, as you all know, Katniss' mother wishes her daughter not be married and remain under her roof until she is at least eighteen, and as her future son-in-law I feel the honourable thing to do is to respect her wishes. Obviously if it were up to me and Katniss, we would be already married and living together as husband and wife, but as someone who hopes to be blessed with children one day, I know I would ask the same for my daughter - or better yet her never get married - and I would hope that she and who ever she may marry respects my wishes as Katniss and I have both done. Katniss is my one and only, I've always known that, and I'm happy to wait".
"The Honourable Peeta Mellark, Ladies and Gentlemen".
The audience clap and Hannah pokes her head up slightly to look at Peeta Mellark. He spoke just like a Capitol.
Hannah already knew Katniss Everdeen's mother. She is a healer, her Sae took her to see her one time when she was sick.
"And in the meantime, we have seen photographs of you entering into various exclusive fashion houses Katniss with your escort?"
"She's been trying on wedding dresses".
"And have you picked one?"
"She can't", Peeta Mellark answers laughing.
"They are are all so beautiful", Katniss Everdeen.
"And I can't help her obviously because -"
"- because it is bad luck to see the wedding dress before the wedding day", Caesar Flickman finishes.
"But we think we have a solution", Peeta Mellark.
"You do?" Caesar Flickman.
"We do", Peeta Mellark.
"We are asking all you beautiful people to vote and pick your favourite one for Katniss to wear on our wedding day. Effie will release the shots she took of Katniss in them, which according to her, Katniss looks exquisite in them all-".
"-I'm sure she does-".
"- I know she does, Caesar, and I haven't even seen them! I can't wait to watch her walk down the aisle towards me in the chosen dress. I still can't believe I'll be marrying the girl of my dreams. The girl that I've been pining for since I was five years old".
"Any idea when the wedding is going to be or where? We know from Katniss' sister, the sweet Primrose Everdeen, that she wants the wedding to be in District 12 because she would like to be flower girl".
Flower girl. That was what Pig Boy said she could be in the wedding.
"We're still deciding on that", Peeta Mellark.
"Alright, well now we all know what you've been doing these days you've been in the Capitol, what have you both been up to these past seven months - and also if you can just both clarify, you both didn't realise Hannah existed until after her name was announced in the Reaping this year?"
"No, we didn't know - right? No we both didn't know".
"It was a shock", Katniss Everdeen.
"- A happy shock", Peeta Mellark. "We're happy to now have her in our lives. So, these past seven months, I've painted and baked -"
"-trying to get me fat", Katniss Everdeen, and the audience laugh.
"Katniss has been doing her dressmaking and she's just flourished with it-"
"Yes, as I understand she actually made the outfit Hannah is wearing for us now?"
"With a little help from Cinna", Katniss Everdeen.
"And it is simply darling. I have to say, seeing the three of you sat together like that, you look like a family, don't they Ladies and Gentlemen?"
The audience cheer.
"She's been Peeta's shadow these past few days, she likes drawing with him".
"Will that be her talent?"
"We can't say - ", Peeta Mellark.
" - of course, you can't. My, my, your escort has trained you well".
"I've been trained by the very best".
"That you have. Effie Trinket, Ladies and Gentlemen!"
And Hannah pokes her head out to see if she is walking on stage.
But she isn't.
She follows Peeta Mellark's gaze into the audience and Hannah sees her about to sit back down in the front row next to Haymitch and the rest of the District 12 team.
"Hannah, thank-you for joining us, are we behaving satisfactory now?" He asks her, but immediately turns to the audience and laughs. "On behalf of the Capitol, congratulations on your win! You were simply magnificent and very true to to your District We all, everyone of us believed you would be victorious and you were! Now, have you been enjoying your time with Katniss and Peeta?"
"She has. I think she likes Katniss' singing the best. Katniss sings her to sleep every night".
Singing ... Hannah thought of Madam Coin's words.
You asked what you could do Little Bird, you can sing.
"I can sing", Hannah says.
Both Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen laugh beside her.
"You can?!" Caesar Flickman. "Can you sing well?"
Hannah nods.
"As well as Katniss?"
Hannah nods.
"Would you like to sing a song for us now?"
Hannah nods.
"We would love that wouldn't we Ladies and Gentlemen?"
The audience cheers.
"Why don't you sing a song with Katniss", Peeta Mellark.
Katniss Everdeen laughs. "OK, what shall we sing?" Frowning at Peeta Mellark.
"The Meadow Song?" Hannah asks whilst they are thinking about it. That was the song Katniss sung to Rue when she died.
By the look in Katniss Everdeen eyes, Hannah knew the woman didn't want to sing that song.
"Or the Hanging Tree?" Hannah had heard her sing that song a lot in the woods.
Peeta Mellark laughs.
"The Hanging Tree?! That sounds horrifying!"
"It's not as morbid as the song sounds. ...It's - uh - what we call a willow tree because of how the leaves hang off the tree. What about the Valley Song? That was the first song I heard Katniss sing on our first day of school, and that was the day I decided I was going to marry her someday".
Katniss took Hannah's hands in hers and following Katniss' lead, they sang the Valley Song together, and when they had finished, there was silence in the audience.
From this valley they say you are going.
We will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile,
For they say you are taking the sunshine
That has brightened our pathway a while.
So come sit by my side if you love me.
Do not hasten to bid me adieu.
Just remember our Valley,
And the boy that has loved you so true.
Katniss Everdeen smiles and then playfully pinches her nose.
Peeta Mellark stands and sits next to Katniss Everdeen.
Katniss Everdeen turns her head to face him and they share a kiss.
A warm, tingly feeling moves through Hannah and she can't help but smile her first smile since the Games.
This is what Euphemia Coin meant when she said that Katniss Everdeen loved Peeta Mellark.
This is the love Pig Boy spoke that his parents had.
Hannah could feel it in her bones.
She was wrong about Katniss Everdeen belonging to the Hunter Man, she belonged to Peeta Mellark.
Hannah was so consumed in the two Victors' moment, that she only now heard the audience's cheers and claps.
"Now Peeta, I hate to bring it up when we've ended on such a beautiful note - no pun intended", Caesar Flickman laughs at the audience. "But, I have to ask about your nephew..."
Hannah sees Peeta Mellark flinch, but Katniss Everdeen grabs Peeta Mellark's hand with hers and Hannah's already entwined hands. "We have Hannah now".
The interview finished not long after that.
Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen escorted her to where she was going to crowned by President Snow, who after placing the Victor crown on her and congratulating her, kissed her on both cheeks before shaking her hand.
When he went to shake Peeta Mellark's hand, Katniss Everdeen took her hand and gripped it hard.
President Snow then went over to she and Katniss Everdeen. He stared at her for a while before kissing both her cheeks too - Hannah thinks he might have whispered something in her ear too - but Katniss Everdeen just carried on smiling straight ahead.
Then Peeta Mellark joined them and instructed her to wave.
~xXx~
The Closing Feast was exactly how Euphemia Coin had described it. It was in a very large room, all fancily made up and as the crowning Victor, her and her team had entered the room last and everyone stood and cheered and clapped for them. She was sat in the middle of a rectangle of tables - full of lots of different foods - that went around the outskirts of the room. Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen were sat either side of her, and then Euphemia Coin and Haymitch either side of them. Followed by Portia and Cinna either side of them. Then the other District Victors and their stylists were sat in a rectangle shape around the room.
The Capitols, whom Euphemia Coin said were mostly exclusive Sponsors, Stakeholders and Gamemakers, were in the middle sat around large circular tables - also over spilling with food. She would have to go round each table at the end to thank everyone after the eating was over, but again she would do that with the rest of her team.
She felt guilty about it, but she was actually enjoying the feast, especially after she had seen Madam Coin, who walked up to where she was sat and said that she enjoyed her singing, and Peeta Mellark was explaining to her all the different foods, telling her what was the best to eat. Just like Euphemia Coin had done.
Sat inbetween Peeta Mellark and Portia, Hannah had stolen looks at her throughout the feast. She knew that she would be leaving soon back to District 12 and whilst she didn't feel sad, her heart felt unsettled, and it wasn't just because she would be going home with Pig Boy in a box and would have to see Pig Boy's family so sad, and that she would feel ashamed that she hadn't managed to save him like Katniss Everdeen had saved Peeta Mellark.
It's when dessert had been served and she is trying profiteroles that she notices Euphemia Coin stand and talk to a Capitol that has walked around the tables to speak to her. He's smiling and whispering something in her ear. She laughs back loudly at him and nudges him playfully before leaving the table.
Hannah turns the other direction to see if Haymitch has noticed, but he is not sat either. She looks around the rest of the room looking for him, but she can't see him, and Euphemia Coin is now heading out the room.
She wonders if she should follow her?
She tries to make eye contact with Madam Coin, but she is engrossed in a conversation.
"Are you OK?" Peeta Mellark asks.
"- Hannah", the Capitol man now addresses her. "Plutarch Heavensbee, Head Gamemaker for this year's Hunger Games, it's a pleasure to meet you, and congratulations on your win", he smiles but his eyes glower at her, before turning to smile at a camera.
Hannah nods. "Where's my mother gone?" She asks. She feels uneasy about her just leaving like that, without saying something to them first.
"Your mother?" He frowns quizzically at her.
"I just saw you speak to her".
"Well you're certainly no longer abstaining from speech are you now".
"Excuse you", Katniss Everdeen says, cutting in. "I don't think you're supposed to be this side of the table".
"Katniss".
"I don't know where your mother has gone, I was simply telling her 'Congratulations' and then she left, so 'Congratulations'... to all three of you", he says before walking away from them.
"Katniss he's a Head Gamemaker", Peeta Mellark hisses quietly.
"With this year's travesty of a show, I'm sure he will be following Seneca Crane's footsteps pretty soon. Although, I don't think he has to worry about what he's eating, only where he steps".
"You shouldn't be talking like this. Not here".
"Who is Seneca Crane?" Hannah asks.
"He was the Head Gamemaker last year, when me and Peeta won. He was given a -".
"- Katniss. She's the same age as Prim".
"Yeah and she is the same age Rue was when she died. She's going to be a Mentor next year. She has to know these things".
"I agree, but right now? Here?"
"She asked me a question and I'm not lying to her, Peeta". Katniss Everdeen pulls her hard glare from Peeta Mellark and looks at Hannah. "He was given a bowl of Nightlock berries for breaking the rules of only one Victor".
"Did he die?" Hannah asks.
Katniss Everdeen throws her a frown, "of course he did".
Effie! You're going to end up with your head on a spike!
Hannah goes to move.
"Where are you going?" Katniss Everdeen asks.
"To find Euph - Effie".
"You're worried about her, aren't you?"
Hannah nods.
Katniss Everdeen bites her lip, looking briefly up at - Hannah guesses - Peeta Mellark. "I'll go with you".
It took a long time to actually leave the room as they kept being stopped by other Victors, despite Katniss Everdeen telling them they were trying to hurry to the bathroom.
They checked the female bathrooms first but they were only asked to take bathroom selfies with different Capitols.
"Maybe we should check upstairs", Katniss Everdeen suggests and they make their way towards the stairs. "Don't worry", she pats Hannah's hand. "We'll find her, I promise".
" - Katniss? Hannah?" Haymitch's voice comes from behind them.
"We're looking for Effie", Katniss Everdeen says. "Hannah is worried about her. She saw the Head Gamemaker speaking to her".
"Well aren't you girls both knights in shining armours", he says, picking Hannah up. "Effie's fine, she's -".
"- What are you all doing out here?"
"She's there. They thought something might have happened to you Princess and came to your rescue".
"Well I am very touched".
"Hannah saw the Head Gamemaker talking to you. I thought maybe ...".
"Just a quick interview Haymitch and I had to do as the winning Escort and Mentor, that's all Dear", she strokes Katniss Everdeen's cheek. "Now, we should all get back to our seats, it's rude so many of us missing, and what about poor Peeta just left behind", she starts to walk back towards the dining room.
"Didn't you say you wanted to check you appearance first?" Haymitch.
"Yes, I did", starting to walk back past them, and Hannah quickly outstretches her arms towards her. "You want to stay with me?"
Hannah nods.
Euphemia Coin takes Hannah from Haymitch and gives her kiss before setting her down.
"I know what happened to Seneca Crane, I know that's why you couldn't save both me and Theodore", Hannah tells her quietly when it's just the two of them in the bathroom.
Euphemia Coin's eyes looks at Hannah, wide and frightened. She shakes her head, no. "Whatever are you talking about my dear?" She laughs.
But when they leave the bathroom, Euphemia Coin walks her outside, they walk hand in hand in the lit darkness of the gardens until Euphemia Coin decides to stop. "You can't talk about such things like that in public places, Darling. There are bugs everywhere. Especially in bathrooms at events like these. Only if you know you're in a room that has frequency jammers or you have an instrument - like this watch - that tells you is it safe", Euphemia Coin crouches to her height. "Now this is very important darling, do you understand?"
Hannah nods.
Euphemia Coin stands back up. "How do you even know who Seneca Crane is? Who told you?" She demands. "Was it Cinna?"
"No", Hannah says truthfully.
"Seneca Crane was my friend. One of my real friends. I asked him for a favour last year with Katniss and Peeta, and he was punished because two Victors were crowned not one. I know it seems Haymitch and I have kept a lot from you, but we wanted you to stay focussed and still keep it a game for you at least until it was time for you to know better. But the truth is that not everyone likes your father, not everyone likes me, not everyone likes Alma. There are a lot of people who would want to hurt us by hurting you, so it's imperative that you start telling us the truth and following our instructions. Alright?"
Hannah nods.
"So who told you?"
"Someone who tells me the truth and doesn't break their promises", Hannah answers.
Euphemia Coin lets out a laugh. "I look at you Hannah and I still see my helpless baby. Haymitch and I we carry and coddle you around like you're a toddler to make up for lost time, to make up for the time when you'll no longer want us around, but I forget sometimes the life experience that dwells within your tiny little body. But please don't grow up too quickly. Let Haymitch and I coddle and kiss you for as long as you can stand it", grabbing her hand and walking back towards the building.
"I loved him".
"You only met him nine days ago".
Hannah stays silent, thinking.
"I may have only known him nine days but he showed me more kindness than either you or Haymitch have in my lifetime", she tells her mother when they reach the steps of the building.
"Is that so?" Euphemia Coin stops, and by the edge in her voice and the way her grip tightens around Hannah's wrist, Hannah starts to regret her choice of words. Even if she did mean them. "You don't know what your father and I have done to keep you alive".
"I know you killed Theodore. I know you killed my friends. Why else was I sectioned away from everyone else? That wasn't a mistake, that was you".
"Your friends? They weren't you friends Hannah, you knew them for a week if that!"
"Well ... they were the closest things to friends I had".
Euphemia Coin crouched to her height again and hugged her. "I know, and that's all my fault, Darling, but it will be different now", kissing the side of her cheek. "You know Hannah, I used to think that in a way, every Tribute I've ever escorted to the Hunger Games has been my child. But it wasn't until this year. Until I pulled your name out of all those thousands of names, until I visualised you on that starting platform, did I realise just how savage I would become to save you. I loved Theodore too, I just love you more, so it was always going to be you in the end. It wasn't mine or Haymitch's idea to section you off like that. That was the Gamemakers idea. They were having so many technical faults with the arena they just wanted to tie everything up as quickly as possible".
~xXx~
They were in the car ride to the train station. She had already said her goodbyes to Cinna and Portia. Euphemia Coin has pulled her on to her lap and just held her, placing frequent kisses on her hair. She allowed the woman to do this because she wouldn't be seeing her for over five months.
When the car stopped, Euphemia Coin pulled Hannah in closer. "Time for our real goodbyes", she says cheerfully.
"Bye Effie", Peeta Mellark says first, kissing her cheek.
"Goodbye, My Darling", she kisses him back on the lips.
"Bye Effie", Katniss Everdeen says, giving her a one handed hug around Hannah.
Euphemia Coin holds Katniss Everdeen's face and kisses her cheek multiple of times. "Stay well, My Love. Watch that temper of yours, don't spend too much of your time with Johanna and Haymitch, and make smart choices".
"I know", Katniss Everdeen says, before taking Peeta Mellark's hand.
When the door opens, there is lots of flashing lights and cheering.
The door shuts and Haymitch moves from where he was sat opposite to them and kisses Euphemia Coin on the lips.
Euphemia Coin pulls his head closer to hers.
When they pull apart there are tears in Euphemia Coin's eyes and she kisses Haymitch again before kissing Hannah and bringing the three of their hands together.
"I'll keep them safe", resting his forehead against Euphemia Coin's.
"I know you will".
There is a knock on the door, and Haymitch unlinks from their chain. "Don't do anything stupid, Sweetheart. Keep that pretty head of yours on straight", giving her one more hard kiss.
Then he opens the door and there is another wave of lights and cheers before the door is shut again.
"We're next", she sings, wiping away her tears. "I love you, Hannah, and I'll see you in my dreams, alright?"
Hannah nods. "I'll see you in five months, right?"
"Right. For your Victory Tour", she says tickling her.
Hannah smiles, nodding. "And you'll be OK, right? Without us there to protect you?"
Euphemia Coin laughs, before stroking Hannah's nose. "I don't want you to worry about me at all, I've been looking after myself for a long time. You have fun with your father. Make friends and tell me all about it when I see you. I'll try and call you if I can".
There is another knock.
"It's show time", Euphemia Coins says excitedly.
It's not until the doors close on Euphemia Coin and Hannah can't see her anymore that she starts to panic that it might be the last time she sees Euphemia Coin.
She jumps to try and look out the window but she's too small.
"Come with me", Katniss Everdeen says and they run in the direction of the end of the train. There is a large window and when it goes past Euphemia Coin, Hannah waves frantically.
Euphemia Coin waves back.
"I love you", Hannah whispers. She doesn't move until Haymitch comes to collect her.
AN:/ Honestly, I don't know what the last 4000 words were. It just escaped me. Until next update!
The Valley Song is Red River Valley minorly edited.
