Katherine
I have been dreading this moment. Their eyes burn holes in the back of my head as they judge me. I can already hear their words.
How can she be the princess?
She looks like a peasant.
She is an imposter
She is no queen.
Peter's father has been staring at Peter for some time with no words being exchanged between the two. The man in front of us looks restless, not like the young one from eight years ago who always wore a smile, thanked everyone and congratulated his son on his good manners. This man has aged a lot in his expression and figure. He tries to stand tall, but an invisible weight pushes him down.
"What was on your mind when you decided to leave?" He finally says.
Peter glances at me and memorizes every line and corner of my face. I assure him with a tiny closed-mouth smile.
"Yet, you weren't thinking of the consequences of your decision." Peter stays silent as he stares at his father. "I told you of the queen's games. I told you countless times not to get involved with her, but you didn't listen. When you set your mind on something, it's impossible to get it out."
"Why didn't you wait a bit longer? I would have found a way to help you."
"I had enough waiting." Peter says, angrily. "One more year and there would be nothing both of us could have done!"
"Let's not discuss this again, Peter." His father orders, sternly. "There is a more importan matter. Because of your reckless decision, there were repurcutions and now we have to prepare ourselves for a battle against the queen's army."
"However, there won't be any place for you in the battle. The fault is in your hands and so you must get your penance." Peter's father turns to Finnick. "Commander Odair, escort the prince to his cell."
"What?" I look at Peter and try to understand such idiotic decision. I turn to the king. "Is this really necessary?"
"Katherine, you don't have to." Peter tries to stop me, but two guards advance and seize him.
"He isn't a criminal. If you want to teach him a lesson, take me instead. I'm the cause of your problem." The king eyes me, possibly thinking I have gone insane. "I'm the one the queen wants. She wants to show her power, to fill you with fear. There won't be a choice but to bow to her will. Yet, you aren't resolving the problem by locking your son in a cell."
"Commander Odair, take him to his cell."
I sigh, exasperated and quickly turn around to grab Peter's hand before he leaves.
"I will see you as soon as possible." The guards take him and I'm left staring at his retreating figure.
The people are looking at me. Every one of their expressions is a reflection of my own fears. I have a lot of convincing to do. I'm startled and look behind to see the king's hand on my shoulder.
"A word, please."
I take one last look at the entrance of the Great Hall, waiting for a miracle, and follow the king to a private room connected to the Hall.
"Are you here on your own or did my son persuade you?" I'm taken aback by the question.
"I'm not sure." I realise I didn't decide to follow Peter. Something strong and powerful decided for me.
"Three years ago," He says, bringing back the past. "you chose a different path. It never occured to you that we were here to take you in? Did we do something for you to distrust us?"
"You expected me to remember who were my friends and enemies in that moment?" I snap, ignoring the king's shock at my angry words. "I was trying not to get killed! I just wanted to run and find somewhere other than that castle. I never thought there was a safe place for me."
"Yet, you had three years to figure it out."
"Are your really questioning my decisions in these last years? Do you want an apology for not coming sooner?"
"I don't want an apology, Katherine." He assures me. "I just want to understand. Our families were so close."
"Until my father married Coin and your son stopped answering my letters!" I shout.
Anger hangs between us and I have disrespect him in many ways, it's possible I will also be sent to the dungeons.
"I don't blame you for what happened to our families' relationship." He sighs and scratchs his chin. "I too feared for your life. It's a surprise to know you are alive. However, I apologise for sounding heartless, your family is deceased, but the throne is yours by right. You are only a nineteen-years-old girl. It's hard to believe rumours, but to know you want to defeat the queen is painful to hear."
"It's a suicidal choice. I don't want to see my friend's daughter killed at such a young age. And I know my son will be scarred if his effort to protect you is wasted away." The king admits. Such words remind me of the relationship my father and I had and his protectiveness. "What I want to know is if you will really step in and accept such role, despite these last years."
This is one of the many questions I ask myself. I can't never answer it myself, because I'm afraid to discover the consequences if I decide to answer the question.
"I'm still trying to answer that question." I say, obscuring the fear I feel.
"I will admit I harbour a small anger for your unexpected arrival." He confesses, shame strong in his voice. "Nonetheless, I want to help you. Introduce you back to the world of royalty and possibly prepare you for war. The queen's threat will soon turn into action. If you want to defeat her, you need to be ready for her power."
"I already know her power and what she is capable of." A line of memories, memories of assassins, wounds, death, unrolls inside my mind and it's impossible to ignore it. "I have faced Death many times and one more won't be my end. I just need to think about what I want to do."
"Of course. Still, time flows and you have to decide what you want now."
"I want to rest." I say, tired, ending the conversation.
"I will send for a maid to take you to a vacant room." The king says, more calmly. The age lines in his face make him look older than he probably is. "I will also order for food to be delievered to your room."
"Thank you."
"One more question, Katherine." He says, stopping me from opening the door. "Do you feel something for my son?"
I scratch my hand, embarassed with the question. "I care for Peter."
"It didn't look like care. There was something else behind your atittude a few minutes ago."
"I don't want to talk about this." My chest tightens around my lungs.
"Of course. I apologise."
The king opens the door and then approaches a guard. The Great Hall isn't full, but the remaining people turn their heads when they see me. They all suspect my sudden arrival. I don't look like a princess at all. I'm more of a broken girl hoping to hide behind safe walls. Some look at me like I'm a savage. Maybe I am one.
...
Peter
A splash of icy water hits me in the face and I stumble back with the impact.
"Is this the treatment of a criminal?" I ask, passing a hand through my face to remove the excessive water.
The cell is badly lit and there's an awful smell inside it. Finnick drops the bucket of water and then hands me a clean towel.
"Almost the same. However, I would be treating a criminal like a criminal. You aren't one." He smiles, sadly.
"I was expecting something like this from my father." I clean my bare chest and suddenly wince. There's an unknown scar in my ribs painted in purples and yellows. "This is new."
"If I didn't know you, I would think you were a criminal." Finnick teases. "Have you seen yourself in a looking-glass?"
"I know I look like horse shit. You said it yourself."
"Now, you are a clean horse shit." He laughs at his own jest.
I shake my head, hoping he will stop with the jests, and hand him back the towel.
"Will you be alright for the night?" He asks, putting aside all mockery, and hands me a shirt and pants..
"I'll make it." I assure him and accept the clean clothes. "I have been through worse in these last two months."
"One day, you will have to tell me your adventures." He smiles.
"I wouldn't call them adventures. It felt more like Hell."
Finnick nods, acknowledging my words. "Well, I have to go. Have a pleasant night."
"Yeah." I mumble to myself.
He closes the door and the cell transforms into a cage. A very small window lets the moonlight in and the window on the door the light from torches out in the corridor. I dress the shirt and dispose myself of the old pants and dress the clean ones. I sit down on a small bed of hay and lean against the humid wall. My father's words invade my mind. I'm resentful he blamed me for the queen's threat. They stang as he looked at me ashamed of my actions.
Still, there's nothing I can do to undone my decision. Not even Katherine's words can change it. I was surprised to see her defend me with such power and strenght. However, I know her words aren't enough to convince the council and the rest of the court. She will have to show them what she is capable of.
...
Katherine
The floor-lenght looking-glass reflects my image as the maid buttons the back of the dress.
After the warm bath, the sweat, dead skin and dirt disappeared and left a fragile body covered in scars. The one of my left temple is a circle of soft pink skin and the one on the right side of face is a faded red line. I notice that the line is one inch away from the corner of my eye. I pass my fingers through the one on my collarbone. The skin is scarred and sensitive. The 'x' marks my collarbone as the target of something to come.
"Your Highness."
I turn to the maid. She holds out a pair of sandals, waiting for me to accept them. I thank her and she curtsies, going back to her chores. I put them on and when I straighten up, I don't recognize myself. I look like an unhuman girl trying to step in the shoes of someone else. I don't belong here. The maid looped the green ribbon my father gave me around my head and tied it at the nape of my neck, because my hair too short to braid. I swipe my bangs off of my forehead and turn around.
I consider my room the epitome of luxury. It's big enough to harbour dozens of people. There is a four-post bed with a high mattress flanked by two windows that almost touch the ceiling, a wide wardrobe and a very tall folding-screen line the west wall and a large fireplace occupies the center of the east wall.
"Your Highness?"
"Yes." I look at the maid. I will be hearing that name many times.
"Are you in need of something more?" Her small and delicate voice irritates me a bit.
"No. Wait!" I take an unvoluntary step forth. "The food."
"It will be brought with Your Highness's permission. Would you like it now?"
"Uh..." The walls are finally closing on me. "Can I eat in the kitchens?"
The look of astonishment in her face tells me my idea is very unusual to her.
"As you wish, Your Highness." She curtsies and takes her leave.
My throat is clogged with fear and unshed tears. I look around the room, trying to find something to do. I change my mind and quickly leave the room. My steps echo around the empty hall as I walk without direction. I grab a fistful of the skirt to avoid stepping on the hem. I almost collide with a servant. I'm too straight-forward when I ask her which directions should I take to the dungeons. She gives me the directions hesitatingly and steps aside quickly when I thank her as I walk down the hall.
The castle is a maze of halls and stairs, but I finally find the last passage to the dungeons. Two flights of narrow stairs curl down and I think I'm lost when I sight an arched entrance to a cold and humid corridor. There are only four torches along the long corridor.
"Hello?"
My voice echoes around the empty corridor and catches the attention of a guard. He rouns a corner and looks at me, strangely.
"Do you have permission to be here?"
"Yes."
I see in his eyes that he doesn't believe my lie, but he disappears from my sight and I run to follow him. He stops in front of a door with a small window at the top and unlocks the door.
"Who's there?" A voice asks from inside.
"Five minutes." The guards says as he opens the door to let me in.
"Okay."
As the door closes, I'm startled by two strong arms pulling me against a hard body. I let out a gasp at the feeling of a soft kiss on my neck. I turn around in Peter's arms and his electrifing blue eyes gaze into mine. I place my hands on each side of his face and the ticklish sensation of his beard soothes my raging breath. I pull him down for a small kiss and he isn't shocked at all by my sudden action. I pull away for a moment to hear his breath agaisnt my lips and to feel his hands on my waist.
He touches my lips once more. His move against mine, passionately. My hands shift to his neck and I stand on my tiptoes to get closer. The way his lips felt agaisnt mine that first time won't leave my mind. I want to feel them again and again. I'm out of breath when I pull away. There's surprise and questions in his eyes, yet there's also something else in them.
"Was that a good night kiss?" He asks, also out of breath.
"I don't know." I confess. "I just wanted... There was too much going on in the room I'm staying in."
"I also not used to such small rooms." He teases and I relax in his embrace.
My hands fumble with the material of his shirt. "Your father asked me if there was something between us."
"There is?" He wonders, but his voice betrays him and he sounds too hopefull.
I open my mouth to answer, but I immediately close it afraid to make a mistake.
"I am certain the question is do you feel something for me." He corrects. "You wouldn't be kissing me like that if you didn't feel something."
"That was an impulse." I say, defensively.
"So every time you have an impulse you will kiss me?" He chuckles. I have never felt so embarassed.
"No, I -"
"Don't conceal it anymore, Katherine." He says. "Don't pretend there isn't something there. You are repressing it, because you are afraid it will consume you. Please, stop doing that."
Repressing it is the only way I'm certain it won't end my life. I care for him, yet is it more than care? I don't love him, but I feel something for him, something strong. I want to feel that emotion. I want, but I'm afraid.
I'm startled by the sound of the door being unlocked. I quickly leave Peter's embrace, but I already miss his warmth.
"Time's over." The guards says, ordering me to leave.
"Okay."
I look at Peter. He smiles, sadly and rests his hand on my cheek.
"I will see you tomorrow."
I nod and touch his hand one last time before leaving.
Right before the door closes, I turn around and, summoning all my courage, admit what he wants to knows.
"I do feel something for you."