The Lady of the Lake
So here we are! Chapter 28 and we've almost hit the 115,000 word mark and we blasted through to 500 reviews. Congratulations to Cookiecrazy224 for being the 500th!
You guys, I can't even...seriously. Thank you.
Anyway as you know I had a poll going about the MODERN AU. And congratulations on a very tight poll but the winner is!
The Age of Dragons! Which was number 2.
Also, those of you who follow our Tumblr, seriously all of you should ask me questions on the Tumblr, it keeps me sane, know that I got my first flame the other day.
I'm taking it as...we're like an actual fandom now guys. Lady of the Lake is its own little fandom...with it's own little troll!
:D
Anyway the Tumblr, WHICH YOU SHOULD ALL FOLLOW is located at
thgladyofthelake.
So! This chapter features the beginning of the Victory Tour, snowball fights, Peeta, Cato, Finnick and also the appearance of one of your favourite Victors. JOHANNA!
Review Responses are at the end as always!
Enjoy!
Chapter 28
I don't go back to sleep after Snow has me escorted back home.
Re-entering my house I find Finnick and Mags in my kitchen, Finnick pacing and Mags making hot chocolate. Neither of them say anything, but neither of them have to, their faces tell me everything as they look up and see me in the doorway, safe and sound. Finnick hugs me tightly, pressing a kiss to my hair and Mags simply hands me a mug of warm beverage.
They don't leave, and the three of us stay together until the sun is up and the Capitol descends on my peaceful home.
The first person to arrive is Flora, accompanied by my prep team, who twitter about the state of my skin and hair. I'm whisked into the bathroom, and there the beautifying process begins in earnest once more.
Demia, Nepture and Galcus are in raptures about getting to accompany a Victor on the Victory tour, and so they are extra finicky about my hair, makeup and general beauty. I'm waxed, teased, tweezed, plucked, primped and plumped within an inch of my life, and then bundled into my bedroom, before I snap and beat them all with their beauty products.
There Felvia is waiting, smiling as she shows me my dress for the journey up to 12. It's a soft sandy gold dress, that has a warm winter jacket, boots, hat and scarf to go with it for when we get to the icy District. As Peeta told me, there is snow at 12 at this time of year, and it pays to be prepared.
The tour doesn't officially begin until tomorrow, where we start at 12 and work our way through Districts 11 to 5, skip my 4, visit 3, skip 2, visit 1 and the Capitol and then on the way back north we visit 2, 4 and have the final party at 12. Protocol had to be changed this year with four victors, but everyone seems content with the adjustments.
Even though the official part of the tour doesn't begin until tomorrow, the cameras will be joining us for the journey, just to capture Cato's and my reunion. Which is why I'm being prepped a day early. Sadly.
Soon enough I'm ready, my clothes perfect, hair neat, make up on, and smile in place, and they whisk me away after I say my goodbyes to my family, Shia and the kids, Mags and Annie.
Finnick of course is coming with me, but it doesn't stop him from pouting when I don't give him a hug and a kiss too.
Just before I get whisked away into the car, I remember my joking with Peeta, and so, grinning, I dash back to my house, to the garden that Annie has had so much fun growing with me, and pick some daisies.
Turning back, Annie is there, and her dark green eyes gleam happily as she takes the daisies from me, and thread them gently into the artfully casual bun they've put my hair into.
She smiles at me, and I smile back, hugging her tightly.
Then Flora is there, a sparkly blue clipboard in hand as she ushers us into cars, zooming us away from the Victors village up to the wooden train platform.
It turns out Flora's time management is flawless, because we are just stepping onto the train platform as the train slowly pulls into the station. Eagerly I scan the windows of the sleek train for Cato, and then I beam as I see a flash of golden hair.
The doors open and I fly forward, crashing into his chest and almost sending him back onto the train with my enthusiasm.
I hear him laugh, and everything settles around me.
For the first time since I'd been hauled out of my bed the night before, I feel like I can relax.
Cato will keep me safe.
It's already night by the time we reach District 12.
Our entourage stays behind on the train, comfortable enough in their cabins while Finnick, Cato and I bundle into a car and travel through the still district to the Victors Village. There we pile out of the car, and I yelp as something wet and cold smacks me in the head.
I look around and there is Peeta, grinning widely, a white ball of something held packed into his mittened hand.
He throws again, and I duck, but this one is not intended for me. Instead it splatters wetly against Cato's shoulder and head.
"Oh you are dead Loverboy." Cato calls, and next thing I know the two boys are pelting snow at one another over the fence. Finnick and I watch them for a moment before my former mentor manages to stuff some of the icy stuff down the back of my coat.
After that it's just every man, woman and child for themselves, until we eventually all flop down on the snow, laughing with exhaustion.
At first I don't even realise we have an audience until a hand appears in my view up of the stars twinkling above. Looking around I blink up at a young girl, who is grinning down at me.
She has blonde hair, very pretty, with blue eyes and a sweet smile, and after a moment I remember her face with a jolt. This is Katniss' sister, the one she Volunteered for.
"That was awesome." She says to me, giggling softly as I take her hand and struggle my way to my feet.
I look around, and see Haymitch rolling his eyes, hauling Finnick up out of the snow, and Katniss standing on the stairs to the house next door, next to a smiling blonde woman, who must be her mother.
I wave at Katniss, who looks surprised for a moment before waving back with a small smile.
"You're Sky," the girl beside me says, beaming a bright smile up at me as I glance down, "I'm Prim, Primrose Everdeen. But everyone calls me Prim."
"Yes I'm Sky," I crouch down to look up at her, and she smiles again, "It's very nice to meet you Prim,"
"You too," she glances behind me just as a large hand rests gently on my shoulder. I look up and back and see Cato, his face flushed from laughing, and the play fight, his previously perfectly styled blond hair, wet and shaggy, and blue eyes bright in the half light.
Next to him, Prim is tiny, and I feel a shiver tremble down my spine at the thought of this small girl in the Arena, against someone as brutal as Cato.
It doesn't bear thinking about.
Prim looks a little nervous when I turn back to her, and I can't blame her. She's probably only seen Cato as he's shown on television, as a bloody Victor, and I doubt Katniss would have corrected the misconception, since that's all he is to her as well.
Cato crouches beside me, and stretches out a hand to the little girl.
"You must be Primrose," he says, with a deep rumble, and a crooked little grin, "You're as pretty as Peeta describes."
At once the hesitation in Prim's face vanishes and she grins shyly at him as she shakes his large hand with her tiny one.
"Prim," she corrects, "I like to be called Prim."
"Prim," he nods, "I'll remember that."
Then Katniss' voice calls her sisters name, and the young girl scampers off with a bye, and see you tomorrow! And Peeta comes over to join us.
It's then that I notice he's wearing a thick blue scarf, and start laughing. He grins, realising what I've seen and reaches into my hair, pulling out one sodden, slightly wilted daisy.
"Peeta I almost didn't recognise you." I say teasingly, pressing a hand to my heart, "Can it really be you?"
Finnick snorts as Peeta takes my hand in his.
"Sky, my jewel, my pearl…my life has been a wasteland-Ow!" He's knocked over by another precise snowball shot from my lover.
"Peeta you bloody traitor," Cato growls, "You've been talking to Odair haven't you? That little spiel had him written all over it!"
Finnick and Peeta hi-five, Peeta still in the snow as Finnick walks by to enter the house, and I can't stop laughing.
They are so weird, but I love them all.
I wake early the next morning, and slip out of the warm bed with Cato still lying sound asleep in it, to pad out into the house. I can smell the fresh scent of baking, and the house is deliciously warm, so I know that Peeta at least is awake.
I slip into some casual, warm clothes and clatter downstairs to find the young man in the kitchen, tugging some fresh baked goods out of his oven.
"Morning," he says, grinning at me as I move over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"Morning sunshine," I return, wrapping my arms around him snugly and feeling him kiss the top of my head, "Fancy a walk? You have to show me this snow in the actual daylight."
"Now?" he says, wrapping up some loaves in a kerchief and nodding, "I'll drop these off to Mrs Everdeen and Prim, and then I'll show you some of the sights before the circus descends upon us."
I grin at him, and slip my feet into the warm, furred boots that Felvia had given me the day before. Together the two of us track our way out of the house and across to Katniss' where her mother opens the door to accept Peeta's offerings.
"You're a good lad Peeta," she says warmly before looking at me, and smiling, "And you must be Sky, it's a pleasure to meet you dear."
"You too Mrs Everdeen," I say politely, and she smiles even wider, before turning towards Peeta once more.
"Did your pre-Victory tour meeting with the President go well?" she asks him innocently, missing the way both Peeta and I tense at her words, "I had no idea he visited the Victors, seeing him last night gave me such a start."
"What…" Peeta began, but I swiftly interrupt him.
"I had no idea either," I shrug, "But apparently it's something he does every year. It's just not common knowledge."
Mrs Everdeen smiles again, and nods, "That's what Katniss said. Well I should let you kids get going, big day ahead. Have fun on the tour Peeta."
"Will do, Mrs Everdeen," Peeta says, but I can tell his brain is whirling a mile a minute, and sure enough the instant we are a ways away, heading towards the countryside surrounding the Victors Village, he turns towards me, "What….?"
"Not yet…"
We walk a ways further until I'm sure we're far enough away and then I flop into the snow. Slowly Peeta slumps down beside me, and looks over, waiting for me to start.
Slowly, bit by bit, I tell him everything.
I tell him about the Rebellion, Katniss' spark setting the Districts on edge, Snow's belief that I will quell them, the building momentum towards reform and the willingness of most of the Districts to join forces.
"Does Katniss know?" is his first question, and he understands when I say she can't know yet.
"Haymitch is guiding her," I say quietly, "But we have to be careful. One slip and this could all come crashing down around us."
"You really think we can do it?" He asks me softly, "Defeat the Capitol?"
I nod, "Now that I know we have District 2, yes. They are the Capitol's main source of manpower. We have every district except for 1."
"I doubt they're too fond of Katniss there," Peeta observes, "She killed Glimmer and Marvel."
Marvel.
My gut clenches but I push it away, chest aching. I'm barely aware when Peeta's arm curls around me, and he draws me close.
"Sky," he says quietly into my hair, "You know it's not your fault right? Marvel…Darrien….the girl from 5 and 8…none of it was your fault."
Tears prick my eyes and I burrow into his shoulder, trying to get a hold of myself.
"It feels like it is. I should have saved them…"
"You did everything you could," Peeta gives a short bark of laughter, "You did more than anyone else ever has…you have to let them go."
"I'm trying…" I close my eyes, and let his hand stroke my hair gently, "I'm just not there yet."
"No," he says it quietly, "Neither am I…"
District 11 is eye opening for me.
Here security is tight, Peacekeepers alert, with hands on their weapons, constantly ready to put down any trouble. The fields stretch on for miles, grain of all different kinds, trees, fruits, it's a bounty of food, but constantly surrounded by fences and watchful guards.
We are escorted onto a stage, faced with the family of Thresh and little Rue, and I glance towards Katniss who is staring at Rue's family.
Peeta speaks first for us, being the best public speaker out of the four of us, his natural charm holding the attention of the people arrayed before us. But most of them watch Katniss, Katniss and me. And their eyes are hungry.
Everything goes well at first, Peeta makes a generous gift of money to the families and things move to wrap up, and I think we're going to be able to leave without igniting the fire burning in the gazes of the people gazing at us.
Until Katniss lunges forward to speak.
It's a passionate and beautiful speech, and out of context it would have been fine. But today it's all it takes.
An old man whistles a four note tune, and as one, as a unit, the crowd makes the District 12 salute of respect that Katniss used during the Games, that her District gave her when she volunteered.
It's a salute, a gesture of loyalty.
A pledge of rebellion.
Instantly the Peacekeepers spring into action and we're ushered from the stage. Or rather, the others are. I merely look at the Peacekeeper who comes towards me, before his superior grabs his arm, "She's allowed to stay."
Cato tries to linger, but I nod to him reassuringly, stepping to the front of the stage in time to see a peacekeeper force the old man to his knees.
Another peacekeeper levels his weapon at his head, and suddenly I realise that I'm about to witness a summary execution.
"No! Wait…" I scramble down off the platform, but I'm too late,
The gun fires into the old mans skull, spraying me with bone, skin, blood and brain matter. A part of me screams at the sight, but I hold myself together, forcing myself to walk past the sight to stand before the milling people.
"Go back to your homes," I say, and everyone is silent, thousands of eyes staring at me, "Please." I walk forward a pace, "Go in peace." Not yet, I try to tell them with my eyes, Not yet but soon, "I know you're hurting, but it will fade. In time it will fade." I look at them all, and I see them staring at me, hunger on their faces, "Not yet…but soon." I say, repeating Deccia's words to me. "Soon, it will fade."
There is silence for a long moment as everyone seems to hold their breaths, and then slowly the crowd bows.
I stand before them, mouth slightly ajar with surprise, as the mob, the crowd of District 11, bows, and then leaves. Calm. Silent.
"Well I'll be…" A Peacekeeper mutters.
I'm too stunned to even nod.
I get back inside and Flora shrieks at the state of my dress, at the splatters of gore over the material.
It alerts the others, and I see Finnick's sea green eyes widen and Peeta gasps, before Cato is there, large hands running over me, checking for injuries.
"What happened?" he growls, blue eyes snapping angrily, although he relaxes a little when he realises I'm unharmed, "Fuck I knew I should have stayed."
"It's nothing, nothing at all," I manage to get out, trying to appear calm and unruffled, like I don't have blood and brains splattered over my sweet sundress, "I'm fine Cato…just need a change of clothes…maybe a shower, and I'll be right for the party."
He knows I'm lying, and so do Finnick and Peeta, the three people who know me the best. The three of them share a look and Finnick and Peeta nod at Cato, who scoops me up in his arms and carries me as we follow a peacekeeper to a room to get changed.
"Felvia is bringing a new dress over," Finnick calls after us, and I can hear the tense anxiety in his voice. He wants nothing more than to follow me, but he knows that this is Cato's domain as my partner. So he stays back, and waits.
I'm so grateful to him it hurts.
Cato is gentle as he strips me out of the ruined dress, and careful as he puts me in the warm shower, one large hand smoothing my hair gently, holding it back, out of the water.
Here with the waterspray loud around us, I tell him what happened, whispering it to him, and he rubs my back soothingly.
I'm shaking as I tell him, because as real as the rebellion felt in 4 it feels a hundred times more real now, and a million times more dangerous. This game we're playing…it's for keeps, and its even more deadly than the game I left.
I begin to cry, shock wracking me at the memory of the execution, and Cato tugs me close, seemingly uncaring about how I'm dampening his shirt.
It had been brutal and efficient.
How many people could we lose to the Capitol? What if I lost Peeta, or Finnick, or Cato.
Cato seems to know what I'm thinking, because just before he shuts the water off and lifts me out he whispers in my ear.
"In the end. It will be worth it."
I have to believe he's right.
I have to.
Not yet, but soon, soon becomes the calling card for the Rebellion.
The other three are kept away from the people of Panem, their speeches scripted, and the gazes of the Capitol heavy upon Katniss. Districts 10 and then 9 go much better than 11, the crowd focusing less on the Girl on Fire, and more on me, soothed a little by a subtle promise that their time is coming.
Those two districts were relatively easy to attend for me; I hadn't known the tributes from 9, or the girl from 10. The boy had tried to drown me, which made it hard to look at his family, but afterwards his mother merely asked me to thank Cato for killing her son quickly.
8 is hard, as it was the home of Zara. Her little sister buries her face in my stomach, hugging me tightly, and her mother hugs me close, tears falling from her eyes. She thanks me, for being there, and asks me to thank Peeta for ending her suffering. I don't miss the glares that were sent Cato's way.
He wisely stays back.
And then we reach 7.
"So this is her," Johanna Mason mutters to Finnick, leaning against the trunk of the tree beside her, "She doesn't look like much."
"Neither do you," is Finnick's retort, "But yes, this is Sky."
Johanna Mason is one of the most famous Victors in Hunger Games history, despite having only won a few years ago. She played the system, pretending to be weak and helpless, getting a low mark in training, until she got into the Arena. There she waited until she got her hands on some axes, until the game was half over, and then she took the rest of the unsuspecting Tributes out.
She'd been as brutal and vicious as a Career, and everyone had underestimated her. It had been a flawless plan.
With her slight build, spiky hair and sharp brown eyes, she doesn't look like someone who could take out the rest of a Career pack, but that is what she did.
And now she's on our side.
Johanna and I stare at one another, and the older woman wrinkles her nose.
"She's softer than a white marshmallow Finnick," Johanna growls, "I could flatten her in an instant. How did she even survive the Games?"
"You were there Johanna," Finnick sighs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, "You know how she won."
"She didn't win," Johanna points a finger at him and growls as he bites at it, "Stop that. She survived at best."
"I'm here now," I say, trying not to show how much this woman intimidates me, "And doing my part."
"Oh fabulous," Johanna groans, "We're getting babies to do our work for us now Finnick?"
"We've already got you to be the bitch darling," Finnick retorts, "We need someone sweet to balance out all your sour."
"I'll give you sour in a minute," Johanna growls, but turns back to me, "So, you're our little rebel leader. I'm not impressed."
"You don't have to be," I reply evenly, "You just have to do your part."
Johanna grinned slightly and shot Finnick a look, "Oh she's one of yours alright."
Finnick kisses my temple, "She is, and with her and Katniss we'll set the Capitol on its head."
"Girl on Fire," Johanna cricked her neck, "How much does she know."
"Nothing much…yet." I say quietly, "Eventually she will have to be told."
"Take your time," Johanna smirks, "No rush."
"We're hoping to start before the Quarter Quell," I inform her, folding my arms, "No need for any more kids to die…especially not in a Quarter Quell."
All three of us eye each other seriously. Quarter Quells are tricky, dangerous and often full of surprises the Capitol has been saving up. I am determined to make sure the Quarter Quell doesn't happen. No more children like…like the Tributes from my Hunger Games, are going to die.
Not on my watch.
"Let the real games begin huh?" Johanna says, and chuckles, heading back towards the District 7 settlement, "Let the real games begin."
If you have a question for anyone from the story, please ask away at the Ask box on our Tumblr. They're more than happy to answer your questions...except if it's spoilery. However! Remember guys on Saturday we'll be having our first Spoiler Saturday, where you can send in Asks asking for little hints and tidbits of the story to come, and I will answer!
Sarah'1595 – Drama is building! Slowly and steadily building towards the Quarter Quell.
Loopyloola – Aw thank you love! I'm unfamiliar with SYOT's…what are they exactly?
Red Eyed Newborn – Thank you for your thoughts The AU is in the works.
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UnseenWonders – I'm so glad your assessment went well! And yeah I'm not really one for over describing the sexual stuff between characters. I mean…it's a romantic moment…why ruin it!
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Mt – They really are, cute little ducklings that they are, and don't worry, Deccia and the rest of Cato's siblings will play a substantial role in the Rebellion…and with Sky. 3 and I'm glad you haven't given up on fanfics.
Coco2008 – On summer holidays now! Summer break over Christmas which is awesome. Lots of time to write…although I'm starting to think that maybe I have too much time!
Bluetigers – Well as you can see Peeta HAS learned about the Rebellion…slowly but surely this is moving into more and more AU territory.
WonderGirl556 - :O Not a cliffhanger! And here is your update lovely.
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Germany – Ack don't give me any more ideas! You'll all be sick of Skato at some point!
Reviewer08 – Sunshine is now officially Sky's name for Peeta. Appropriate I think. And Creepy is the perfect word for Snow. Katniss and Sky have a heart to heart next chapter, and Haymitch tries to get Sky drunk. Finnick disapproves. I can't spoil things! Not even Finnick's fate! But I can say YES the quarter Quell is different…in some ways.
Hahaha – Katniss is big next chapter! Sky and Katniss bond, which will be sweet.
Blueberrytoast – Small changes all round…you'll see!
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Ciaraaawrrr – Oh he's still an arrogant prat. There is a hell of an argument coming up where his full prattishness flares up again.
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Blackraven88 – Happy Happy December!
Amaya-hime – I'm so glad you decided to read my story too! And I'm so glad you enjoyed Cato, Sky, Darrien and Finnick! Welcome to the family!
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