The Lady of the Lake

Thank you to Clema and to Reviewer08 who reviewed Chapter 1!

So the planning begins for Darrien's and Schuyler's strategies in the arena, along with their arrival in the Capitol and the Tribute's parade.

This chapter also features Finnick Odair in largely charming chunks and also Mags...who in my head kind of treats him like a son. A troublesome one.


Chapter 2

I wake up, the breath shuddering in my lungs, feeling disoriented for a brief moment.

The black ceiling above my head, reflecting my pale face back down at me, etched with silver, is not the white wood that I have woken up to every day of my life. The air is different too, heavier, without the tang of salt that permeates the air so much back home. Memory returns as I sit up, brushing my hair out of my face. The Reaping, my parent's farewell….watching the replay, all of it returns to me.

I wish it had not.

Its then I realise there is a steady and insistent knocking on my door, a rhythmic tapping of knuckles on dark wood.

I scramble out of bed, and yank it open to reveal Finnick, hand raised slightly to keep knocking. A bright smile blooms across his impossibly handsome face and his eyes slowly trail down my nightdress.

"Blue is definitely your colour."

I glare at him and shut the door once more, tugging the plush black robe hanging nearby on and belting it up securely before yanking the door open once more. He's still there, a grin on his face.

"Did you need something?" I ask him, tucking my hair back behind my ears self-consciously.

"I'm here to work out strategy with you." And he brushes past me into my small sleeping cabin, to drape himself casually into the single armchair in the room. Slowly I shut the door and walk back in, sitting on the bed cross legged, tucking my feet under my robe, "We have to find a way to help you win this thing."

"I...don't think I can win this thing." I say softly, hand lifting to tuck my hair back again, "I don't have any skills that would help me in the Arena…I struggle watching fish being caught and flop around in the bottom of the boats."

It's an understatement, I'd cried a little and the captain of the boat looked at me like I was crazy. He told my teachers and they decided life on the boats was not for me.

"Let's keep that on the down low." Finnick suggests with a shake of his head, "Rule number one, no advertising weaknesses that can be exploited by your opponents…." He looks at me shrewdly, "Anything else I should know about before devising a plan?"

"I…" my face flushes darkly and I look down at my hands, "I…can't see properly."

Silence.

"I need more information than that." Finnick's voice is serious now, "How much can you see?"

"Close up I can see perfectly." I don't look up, "The further away things get…the blurrier they are…and…"

"And?" he prompts when I stop, "There's more?"

"It gets worse depending on my state of being…" I wince, because put like that it sounds lame, "I mean…the more tired I am, the more frightened, angry… the more my eyes shake and the less I see…."

Silence again.

"That…is a challenge." Finnick's voice sounds forcedly optimistic, "So, you have basic combat skills…."

"….at best."

"…you have no killer instinct…"

"…to put it mildly." My lips quirk up despite themselves, he's not being accusing, his voice is merely pondering the information I've given to him.

"…and you struggle to see, something that will get worse in the Arena…any good news?"

"I can swim well."

Finnick nods, "Good, water is usually District 4's domain in the Arena. You'll need to stay near that if there is some in yours, might give you an advantage." He considers me, and tilts his head to the side, I squirm under his scrutiny and it makes him smile.

"What?" I ask him, shoulders hunching slightly.

"What we need is a hook." Finnick says thoughtfully, standing from his chair and walking over to me. I look up as he tilts my chin up, tilting my head left and right, examining me with an impersonal and interested stare, "Something to lure the Capitol audiences in to your cause…they can make a Victor out of anyone…"

"A hook?" I say softly, "Like what?"

"To the Capitol…this is a television show…" his blue green eyes meet mine, "There are those who bet to get money back, an investment, but more of them bet with their hearts, sponsors too. They sponsor Tributes that touch them…They want a show, a story, something that captures their attention."

A story…

"A story…" I say softly, and his eyes light up.

"They love a good pageant." He touches my hair again, and I can see his mind working, "We make you the embodiment of a story, a legend. That's how we'll present you, and as long as you do your part in staying alive in the Arena, I'll get you sponsors to help."

"What about Darrien?" I ask, biting my lip slightly.

"Mags is with him now," the other mentor, she wasn't there yesterday, "She finds Reaping's tiring…" his smile was fond for a moment, "His persona was a little easier…so she's handling that. Does he know about you? Your…" and he waves a hand at his eyes.

"No…" I shake my head, "No it wasn't something we told many people. When it was obvious I would be a hindrance on any ship or fishing group they found me the position in the archives. Knowing why wasn't important."

"Good," Finnick nods, "I doubt he would use it against you, normally you can trust your district partner longer than most of the other Tributes…but eventually he'll be the enemy and I don't want him using that against you."

"He has more chance of winning than I do." I say softly, "Wouldn't it be wiser to concentrate your efforts on keeping him alive..?"

"Some Districts may do that." Finnick's hand touches my cheek reassuringly, "We don't. We want both of you to have as much chance as you can. No favourites. We're going to focus on both of you."

He straightens and moves towards the door, "Breakfast will be in about half an hour, and then we'll be getting ready to arrive in the Capitol."

"Finnick?" I say, and he pauses in the doorway, looking back at me with those incredible eyes, "Thank you."

He looks surprised and then smiles gently.

"Thank me when you win."

And the door shuts silently behind him.


No one is more surprised than me when I actually find myself enjoying the short walk from the train to the car that will take us to the training centre.

It's not the walk itself that is surprising, it's the fact that it's a gauntlet of Capitol citizenry standing like a riot of colours, crowding the platform as we arrive, as well as the photographers pressing forward, hoping for a photo of the District 4 Tributes.

Darrien withdraws into himself, scowling at the people who scream his name, waving at him franticly. He walks with Mags, the eighty year old woman who is the other half of our mentoring team, and she tries to get him to relax by waving at the crowds.

Flora embraces the frantic scene with her usual flamboyancy, waving frantically and calling out, "District 4 has arrived!" with far too much enthusiasm.

Finnick of course gets a loud scream of delight from the ladies, which he plays up, posing and winking and giving that charming little grin of his. He catches kisses and blows them back, causing some women and men to faint with joy. He's beloved by the Capitol, the perfect Victor and he uses that charm to help us now, shaking Darrien's hand and escorting me out of the train with a kiss to the hand.

"Be sweet but serene," his whispered instructions to me, delivered just before the doors opened, carry me through the crowd. Somehow I don't find it hard to smile at the people, to stop for photographs, to sign things. I give them my time, letting them know that I appreciate their support, and their cries of my name get louder and louder as I walk to the car.

Finally the door shuts and the sound dulls before fading completely as we pull away from the station.

"That is just your first taste of Capitol hospitality." Finnick informs a dazed Darrien and me with a wicked smirk, "Wait until the Tribute parade tonight."

Mags smacks his arm lightly, "Wicked boy," she says softly, dark eyes twinkling, "Stop tormenting the dears."

"Are we going to be dressed like fish?" Darrien's face scrunches up and I can feel my own following, "District 4 is always bloody fish."

"We're letting our stylists stretch their legs this year," Finnick grins slightly, winking at me, "We think you'll approve."

"You'll look dashing Darrien," Mags, pats his knee lightly, "I sent a message to Arterius this morning."

"And I spoke to Felvia." Finnick's sea green eyes meet mine and he winks again, "You'll look ravishing."

I blush and look down, but I hear Mags smacking his arm again and Finnick's wounded, "Ow, Mags!"


It's been hours.

Hours of plucking, tweezing, rubbing, waxing, moisturising and primping. Every inch of my body has been rid of hair, except for the top of my head, I am clean and my skin seems to shine from all the products they've rubbed into it.

My preparation team are a trio of flamboyant Capitol citizens, with dazzling green wigs and butterfly wing eyelashes. They twitter about Finnick and fashion and Finnick and shoes and Finnick and water and….Finnick."

"I think I'd just die if he looked at me," Demia gushes, her pale yellow skin almost quivering at the thought, "Just die!"

Help me, I think, anyone please!

Finally they pronounce me perfect and leave me for Felvia, who arrives short moments later, a short woman with bright red hair and a pair of sharp brown eyes. She carries a garment bag and looks rather harried.

"Your mentor does know that we do, do months of preparation work before Reaping day doesn't he?" she barks at me, making me jump, "Even if we don't know your sizes until them we have all the materials ready to piece it together. It's no simple thing to just change it on a whim."

I look at her stricken.

"Oh don't you fret love," she bustles over and nods approvingly at what my team has done with my hair and makeup, "It's not your fault, and you can be sure I'll be giving that overgrown feckless boy mentor of yours a good piece of my mind myself."

"He wants to give me a story," I say quietly, shifting slightly, "I don't exactly have much else going for me…"

"Nonsense," Felvia huffs, fixing something in my hair until it's perfect, "You're quite lovely you know, fresh…innocent. They'll eat that up…"

"Even as a fish?" I dare to ask.

She gives me a look, "You would have been a lovely fish."

"I'm sure," I say meekly, and smile when she grins.

She helps me into my dress, which has a cover over it to protect it, so even I cannot see it and then she fusses over me, fixing things here and there, and tuts quietly to herself.

Finally she steps back, nodding her satisfaction, "You'll be beautiful," she reassures me and slips the covering off before turning me to face the mirror.

The girl in the mirror isn't me, she can't be me.

She is dressed in a gown that seems to ripple around her like water, and with every slight movement she makes it flows around her body. It's made of a myriad of shades of blue, trailing out behind her like a river. The material is almost sheer, giving it a natural look, like at the right angle or in the right light you will be able to see right through it to the body underneath.

But it's the face that shocks me the most, and makes me realise that it is in fact me. Those are my green eyes, framed by dark eyeliner and a swathe of blues that make me look like some kind of unearthly creature. It's my eyes that dominate my whole face, large, framed by dark lashes, intent eyes.

"Who am I meant to be?" I ask, hand lifting to touch the creatures face.

Felvia smiles, seemingly pleased by my obviously stunned reaction to her creation.

"You're the Lady of the Lake."


Finnick's reaction is a whistle, which makes me blush.

I know he did it deliberately to tease me, but still, my cheeks pink slightly and I look away and down.

"Ah ah…" his fingers tilt my chin up, "The Lady of the Lake fears no man."

"She wouldn't blush if you didn't torment the poor girl." Mags rolls her eyes at him and steps forward to cup my cheek lightly, looking at me in a motherly way, "You look beautiful."

"Thank you Mags," I say softly as Darrien comes over to join us, looking dashing in watery armour.

We fuss over him for a little while, Finnick turning his teasing onto the scowling boy and drawing him out of his unhappy state as Tributes begin to join us. Finally its time for us to step up into our chariot and Felvia and Arterius fuss around us, draping material just so.

"It will stream out behind you," She tells me, settling it carefully, "As will your hair."

"Look serene but smile," Finnick's hand pats mine clutching the rail, "Felvia, do you have the…"

"Don't you be telling me how to do my job Mr Odair." Felvia scolds him, pushing him out of the way and attaching a band to my wrist, which has a long ripple of blue material behind it, rather like my dress. "Hold the end of that, and raise your arm at the moment you think it best, and the crowd will go nuts for you."

"Felvia…" I look down at her, feeling oddly terrified as the District 1 chariot moves off, taking the two beautiful Tributes with it, clad in clothes made of gemstones.

"You can do it." Finnick is the one to answer me, winking, "Remember the train station? You're a natural at this. Just enjoy yourself."

District 2 moves off and I glance at Darrien who looks ill, "We can do this," I reassure him, "Pretend that they're all here to admire you."

He glances at me and nods slightly, as the District 3 chariot leaves, taking it's two tributes, dressed like electronic beings away, "I'm going to pretend that they're here to admire you…and that I'm just escorting you." He corrects with a small smile, "I hate people staring at me."

Our group leave, disappearing off into the crowd and our chariot begins to move, the horses picking up their pace to a steady canter, causing our clothes to stream out behind us, just like Felvia and Arterius promised.

We emerge into the promenade and I gasp at the hundreds of thousands of people crowding the way, all waving and screaming. The levels rise as we emerge and suddenly there are screams of our names. They are all a blur to me, splotches of bright colour amongst the neutrals but I know they are the citizenry of the Capitol. Maybe that is why this is easier for me...I can't see them.

"Darrien! Darrien!" they chant, and Darrien looks at me, shocked.

"Wave…" I tell him, smiling at him and the crowd goes wild.

"Schuyler! Schuyler! Darrien! Darrien!"

They are screaming for us, and I smile at them, feeling like I'm floating. I wait until their screams reach fever pitch and then I raise my arm.

I didn't think it was possible for it to crescendo even more but they are shrieking now, flowers raining down on us as we race through the Capitol until we reach the Tribute tower, where our chariot pulls up beside the other three to wait for the President's speech.

The crowds are still roaring for us, until there is a sudden hush.

Then the screaming begins, a wild stampede of noise and approval and all of the Tributes look up at the screens nearby to see District 12 hurtling down the way, looking like they are on fire. Flames lick out behind them, and they are holding hands, defiant and beautiful.

"Wow," Darrien whispers to me.

"That's incredible," I breathe, "They're the coal on fire…"

"The Gamemakers are going to love this," he murmurs back, a wry smile curling up his lips, "Fire and Water."

We share a look, and I feel my heart constrict. There is a bond here, we're the Tributes of District 4 and this has brought us close together, but in a few days we'll be fighting for our lives and one of us will die.

His hand finds mine briefly and squeezes before letting go.

He won't kill me, and I won't kill him. We don't have to say it, both of us know it.

President Snow's traditional welcome goes over my head because suddenly I feel a prickle between my bare shoulderblades, the prickle of knowing someone is watching you.

Slowly I look around, and my eyes meet the cold blue gaze of the male District 2 Tribute. His lips are curled up in a faint smirk, and when our eyes meet, it widens even more, before his eyebrows rise slightly.

It's a challenge, but I'm not the kind of girl who can respond to that, so I look back around, to the front, cheeks burning, and step closer to Darrien.

"What?" he asks in an undertone.

"2 is staring."

He looks around and frowns, obviously giving tall blond male a warning look and I can't help but feel grateful to him.

"He's looking at you like you're a meal." Darrien growls, "Arrogant prick. We're from 4, we're traditionally part of that Career pack, like him."

The chariots move off towards the Training Centre and I shake my head at him, "They did see me throw up in terror Darrien."

"Still…" he frowns, "Reckon Finnick's got a strategy up his sleeve?"

"I think mine is to beat feet out of there." I say softly as the chariot pulls up, He gets out and helps me down, "Thank you. But you would probably be welcome with the Careers you know. You can handle yourself."

"That was perfect." Mags voice reaches us, interrupting the talk as she pulls Darrien and then me into a warm embrace. She smells like the sea, and I want to cling to her, to keep that safe smell in my nostrils.

"If it hadn't been for that damn District 12 it would have been, " Felvia scowls, even as she pats my cheek gently, "How is anything supposed to compete with setting your Tributes on fire?"

"We don't do well with fire," Finnick informs her dryly, walking up and giving me a kiss on the cheek which makes me blush and bat him off. He then gives Darrien one, ignoring the boy's irate 'Gerroff!', "You two will be remembered, which is what we wanted. The Lady of the Lake and the Water Warrior. Sponsors will lap it up."

"We have a problem though," Darrien informs him, rubbing his cheek, "The District 2 boy gave Schuyler a very unpleasant look."

I glance towards District 2 and see the boy is watching the District 12 pair.

"Was it desire?" Finnick wiggles his eyebrows as I look back, "I know mine would have been- ow, dammit all Mags!" he rubs his arms as the old woman gives him a stern look.

"No," Darrien glances towards 2 as well, "He was looking at her like…" he hesitates and looks at me.

"Like I was a meal." I use Darrien's way of describing it, "I think a Career alliance is out."

Finnick's face goes solemn and he glances at Darrien and then back at me.

"I think Darrien should still join them." I say quietly, "He should distance himself from me."

"Schuyler!" Darrien looks shocked, "I'm not going to just join the people who are going to hunt you down…"

"She's right." Finnick's voice is strangely serious, "But let's talk about this upstairs, away from prying eyes."

We move towards the elevator and I glance back towards 2 once more.

He's watching me again, but this time there's a faint smile curling his lips up. He's watching the outline of my body through the sheer gown, and I twitch it irritably to cover myself up further. His eyes flick up to mine and he smirks, before the elevator doors close, shutting him off.

"That was desire…" Finnick's voice breathes in my ear, followed by a loud yelp, "MAGS!"