Peter
Lord Heavensbee's laugh echoes above the sound of the music. I glance at my father and his eyes shine with amusement and he has a permanent smile on. It is the first time I see my father so happy in years.
"Your Highness, your father told me you will leave tomorrow for Esbart." Lord Heavensbee turns to me. "I do hope I am present to welcome you back."
"Thank you, Lord Heavensbee." I smile in gratitude. "Your presence will be appreciated. I leave for Esbart as soon as the sun rises. I hope to make Esbart our ally in this crucial war. I also hope you will help us sprend the word around the other kingdoms. The more allies, the better."
"Absolutely." He grins before taking a sip of his wine. "I must once again remind you of your bright future and how much of a phenomenal king you will be one day."
"Lord Heavensbee has nothing but praise for you, Peter." My father places his hand on my shoulder.
"He is too kind."
"I sure am not." He laughs. "However, I do believe Lord Lyme will welcome you and accept your offer. He is a bit tough on the outside, but very fair in the heart and mind."
I nod, acknowledging his words. I take a look around the Great Hall. There aren't many people in the room since we couldn't dismiss every guard. People talk merrily and enjoy themselves as new plates of food arrive from the kitchens. Rabbit pie, venison and some sea food are being served at the moment and people surround the tables to get a taste. The musicians play a happy tune that reminds me of spring. I find Katherine with a group of people, one of them being Magdalen. By her expression, she doesn't look very comfortable or interested.
She glances in my direction. She sighs silently and fumbles with her sleeve.
"Excuse me for a moment." I say to my father and Lord Heavensbee.
I place my goblet on a table and walk to Katherine. She immediately grabs my wrist when I stand next to her.
"If I was one minute later, you would have done something reckless." I whisper in her ear.
"I was deciding to cut my ears."
I chuckle at her dark humour. The group looks at me, smiling gently. I know Magdalen and I recognize a few faces. The castle homes a few visitors once in a while, but I am not very familiar with their names.
"How are you enjoying the feast, Miss Heavensbee?" I ask her.
"It is wonderful. I am sure my father is enjoying himself very much." She smiles. "And the people are very kind."
"Miss Heavensbee was telling us tales from Bluemoon. Does Your Highness remember any from Saldrian?" A young woman with brown hair, green eyes and skin lighter than Katherine's asks.
Katherine's grip tightens on my wrist and she swallows thickly. One question from her past and she loses all focus and composure. I place my hand over hers, discreetly, and give it a light squeeze.
"The beach. The sand has small pebbles of various colours and the water is a green-ish blue." She says, slowly. "I remember spending many summer afternoons searching for bright coloured pebbles to collect. I apologise." She walks away from the group. They are left with confused expressions.
"Is she alright, Your Highness?" Magdalen asks, quietly, while the others talk between them.
"She is." I smile to cover up the lie. "I will be back in a moment."
I leave the group and search for Katherine. I find her by one of the tables drinking wine.
"Why did they ask me that?" She accuses, angrily. "They always want to know my past. I just want to forget it."
I take the goblet from her hand. "How are they suppose to know what to ask you when you won't talk to them?"
"I don't want to talk to them. They will only ask me questions I don't want to answer." She snatchs the goblet from my hands and drink some more. "They talk of ordinary subjects as if they are the most important thing in the world."
"Do ordinary subjects also frighten you?" I raise an eyebrow. "I believe they are the most easy subject for you to talk to other people."
"I never knew ordinary, Peter." She scolds. "The memories before I ran away are a bit blurred. I only remember fighting and death. Is that a subject I should use to talk to other people?"
"Of course not." I say. "However, it would be very entertaining to see their expressions while you tell them how you killed such and such."
"Perhaps you shouldn't have drank so many goblets of wine." She chuckles, bitterly.
The horn sounds and we turn to the raised platform. My father glances at the people in the room, waiting for them to look at him.
"I would like to toast to our new visitor, Lord Heavensbee, and his charming daughter." He says, raising his goblet. "That we may create a strong alliance and that it lasts once the war is over."
The room fills with cheers and applause as they drink in honour of Lord Heavensbee. I prevent Katherine from taking another sip of wine.
"Do you want to see me go with a strong headache?"
"I'm trying to avoid talking about that." She lowers her head and fumbles once again with her sleeve. It is an odd habit. "Can we talk about a different subject?"
The music changes to a more melodious tune and the meat and sea food plates are removed. Sweet pies and cakes are brought in their place.
"Care for a dance?" I grab her hand, making her glance up at me.
"Absolutely not!" A few eyes look at us in surprise at her tone. "I might as well as cut off my feet. I haven't danced in a very long time and you want to make a fool of yourself, but specially myself."
"I will guide you." I promise, pulling her slowly to the middle of the room.
"You will regret this." She smiles, sarcastically.
"Of course I won't."
We stop in the middle and I turn her around so she is facing forward. Her hands are tense when mine embrace hers.
"Take a step forward." I whisper to her.
She complies and I follow her, but I am the one leading her. She stumbles just a bit and ends up stepping on my right foot.
"I am sorry." Her hands squeeze mine.
We move in a small square, nonetheless I quicken the pace and we move in a circle. I let go of her left hand and spin her around; our raised arms stand between us. I take a step back not letting go of her hand, yet she doesn't imitate me and stands still. Her eyes glance around the room. Her mind is too set on the looks the others give her and words they say about her. I take another step closer to her and place her right hand on my shoulder. She glances at me, surprised with my action. With my right one on her waist, I spin us four times before spinning Katherine out of my embrace.
Her breath quickens when I pull her to me. I have forgotten the world around us and she is slowly losing herself in the music and dance. Her hands loosen their hold on mine, telling me she feels secure. Her small smile turns into a grin and soon she is laughing as we dance around the small opening. The dance ends and the room fills with applause, waking her from a day-dream.
"I don't regret a moment of this dance." I kiss her hand and give her a warm look.
"Neither do I." She admits.
...
Katherine
"Your Highness danced stunningly." Magdalen praises as we walk down the hall to her room. "I believe the other guests were a bit nervous to follow up."
Peter laughs. "They were afraid to challenge Katherine and I."
The small feast ended in good spirits. The food was delicious as ever. Royalty is slowly growing on me and I'm afraid to lose the mores that made me who I am today. The adventures and obstacles that define me.
"When will Your Highness leave?"
"As soon as the sun rises." Peter says and I'm suddenly remembered of his absence in the days to come. "I hope to arrive at Esbart on the day after tomorrow."
"Perhaps Your Highness would like to show me around the castle and possibly town tomorrow." Magdalen looks at me.
"That is a great idea, Miss Heavensbee." Peter smiles at her and then glance at me. "Katherine would gladly accept your offer."
I open my mouth to protest, but Peter silences me with a look.
"Gladly." I say, accepting Magdalen's offer.
We say good-night to her once we reach her room and then walk to mine.
"I am going to spend the entire day with her. How am I suppose to talk to her?" I scold Peter. "This is your fault. When you return, she will hate me and the alliance will be broken."
"It is going to be alright, Katherine." He reassures me. "Approach her slowly and gently. If you can talk to me, you can make a conversation with Magdalen."
"It is different with you."
"How different?" He asks and his voice holds a double meaning.
"Are you jesting with me?"
"Maybe." He smiles, mockingly.
We stop in front of my door. I place my hand on the handler, but I am incapable of opening the door. He is going to leave tomorrow and I will be left without his presence for a whole week. I glance at him.
"May I sleep in your room tonight?" I ask, forgetting all my inhibitions.
"Yes." He doesn't hesitate.
I let go of the handler and walk with him to his room. Once inside, there is a bit of awkwardness between us. I watch him take off his boots and then his sword belt.
"Do you need help undoing the lace in the back your dress?" He asks and I try to come up with a response to his bold question.
"Yes, please." I quickly turn around. He stands too close to me as his fingers pull the lace, loosing it.
I glance behind me and he smiles gently at me. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
I take my arms off the sleeves and then let the dress pool around my feet. I step out of it, pick it up and place it on a chair next to the fireplace. Peter's room doesn't have a folding-screen and I need one at the moment to remove my socks.
"Would you..." I say, embarassed to ask such a question. "... would you mind turning around, please?"
"Okay." He walks to the window and stays with his back to me.
I place my foot on the chair's seat and roll the sock down my knee. I do the same with the other. I glance at Peter and I catch him glimpsing at me. I clear my throat.
"It is okay to look." He closes the curtains and turns around. The light from the fireplace makes his blue eyes look like forged fire.
"We should go to sleep. Tomorrow is a new day." He walks to the bed and blows out the candles beside the headboard.
We settle down on the bed, one on each side of the bed. One week ago, we were on this same bed nestled against each other. Now, there is a big space between us. I don't fight the urge and move closer to him. He immediately welcomes me with an arm around my waist. My head rests on his shoulder and I rest my right arm over his belly.
"Will you wake me up before the sun rises?" I ask him.
"Of course." His warm lips on my forehead are enough to lull me to sleep.
I find a comfortable position against his body and fall asleep.
...
"Katherine."
A voice stirrs me from my sleep. A tender touch on my cheek makes me open my eyes. A soft smile brings me into focus and I realise I'm staring at Peter.
"Hey." He says, the sleep still heavy in his voice.
"What time is it?" I ask, half-awake as I move to lie on my back.
"There is still time left before the sun rises." He tells.
The room is very badly lit by a single candle beside the headboard. I make out the clothes on Peter's body. He is already dressed in warm clothes. He is ready to leave...
"Are you going now?"
"I can only stay a few minutes." He smiles, sadly. "I know you are worried, but there is no need to. I will only be gone for a week. You won't even notice the time flying by."
"Will you be going alone?"
"Two guards will accompany me. I don't want to catch a lot of attention along the way to Esbart."
The silence grows between us and I'm afraid to say anything. I feel the anxiety increases inside my chest as the minutes pass by.
"Here." I undo the ribbon around my wrist and hand it to Peter. "A remembrance."
"It's your father's last gift, Katherine. I can't accept it." He pushes my hand away, gently.
"Yes, you can. Accept it, for me."
He hesitates, glancing at the ribbon and then at me before accepting it. "I will keep it and I will give it to you when I return."
I smile at him and he returns the smile.
"I have to go." He says, sitting straighter. "I hope to see you in front of the main door when I return home."
"I will be there waiting for you." I promise.
"Thank you." He stands up and glances at me one last time.
I know there is something missing and I call out his name to stop him from opening the door. I get out of the bed and walk barefoot to him. He stares at me, expectantly.
"Come back to me." I say, pulling him down for a kiss.
He surrounds me with warmth and I hold on to him for safety. My feet don't touch the floor when Peter lifts me to kiss me more ardently. I don't want him to go, but he has to. He can't delay his journey any longer. My feet touch the floor and he pulls away just an inch. I realise tears have fallen down my eyes.
"You are making it hard to leave." He whispers against my mouth.
"Then don't." He chuckles and kisses me one more time.
"I really have to go, Katherine."
"Okay." I pull away, reluctantly.
He opens the door, flashes me a big smile and closes the door. I stare at it, hoping it will open at any moment, but it remains closed. I go back to the bed, lie down and hold his pillow to my chest as more silent tears fall.
...
I must look like, what most people call, a fool in love.
I don't know if it is love, but there is something very strong that I feel for Peter or else I wouldn't be feeling like a valuable object was stolen from me. The Great Hall isn't very full, since most people are still asleep. The sun rose a few minutes ago, yet I couldn't stay in bed. My mind couldn't stop thinking of Peter's absence.
There are at least fifteen guards eating breakfast. I decided to sit on one of the long tables instead of the main one. I look at them and at their playfulness at this hour. One of them glances at me and I quickly look away.
"What a surprise to see you up at this hour." I glance at the person who disrupts me.
"I thought we were on non-speaking terms." I recall.
"We are." Gale raises the corner of his mouth in a mocking manner. "Does something trouble you? Perhaps you have a headache from last night's feast. I heard it was a success."
"I'm not ill, physically."
"I believe I already know your illness." He says. "I saw him fetching a horse from the stables and passing under the barbican."
"Why are you here, Gale?"
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. The guard uniform looks very different on him. "This past week I thought of approaching you with an apology."
"An apology?" I sit straighter. "Is there something to forgive?"
"I'm only doing this, because my mind tells me something needs to be forgiven." He defends. "I must apologize for the way I treated you when we saw each other in the throne room."
"You should have apologized on the same day, right in that moment." I snap, quietly.
"I shouldn't." He sits in front of me. "I said the truth. Yet, I shouldn't have been so straight-forward."
"Are you jesting me?" I'm now angry instead of ill. "I know I am a coward for running and hiding. You didn't need to throw it at my face and, specially, not in front of Peter and his father. Imagine if the room had other people. You would be ruinning any chance of me making an impression."
"Do you actually need their approval? The ones you need approval from are beyond these walls. The real people you should be trying to impress. They are the ones who will fight beside you, not these ones."
"I know..." I lower my head, not believing I'm agreeing with Gale.
"You don't have the prince following you around this week." He says, standing up. "Do something useful instead of sulking in a corner."
"I am not allowed to go out without a guard." I huff.
"What happened to Katniss Everdeen, the famous outlaw?" He surprises me with a heartfelt smile before walking away to join the other guards.
I never stopped to ask what happened to my fake persona. The kingdoms built my reputation. I just had to keep fighting for another sunrise. The assassins made me forget who I was for a moment. I was a fearless human being, ready to strike at any moment. I wasn't Katherine of Saldrian, a orphan girl filled with fear and uncontrollable fury.
However, will the people follow the real me or the one they built?
"Your Highness."
I turn to the left and I'm welcomed by Finnick.
"Morning."
"I would ask you why the early rise, but I guess I already know the reason." He says. "Did you bid him a safe journey?"
"Of course." I fumble with the hem of my sleeve. I should go back to my room and change into clean clothes.
"It was a different kind of farewell, I am assuming." He says, playfully. I stand up, immediately, embarassed with the assumption.
"Don't ever assume anything about me and Peter." I scold him. "I have to prepare myself for breakfast. I will see you in a moment, Commander."
"Your Highness." He curtsies, mockingly and moves to the side to let me through.
My room feels too empty when I close the door. I walk to the windows and open the curtains to let the light of the sunrise in. I try to look beyond the castle walls and search for any peculiar shadows in the distance. This week is going to last an eternity.
...
Four guards are assigned to me and Magdalen when we leave the protection of the castle walls. It must be around nine-in-the-morning, because the streets are already a commotion of people.
Some stare at us since the guards don't hide their armours and present them proudly. They also look a bit threatning to the people. A child halts her steps when we pass by her. Magdalen smiles at her and bids her good morning.
"It is very easy for you to interact with strangers." I point out.
"Thank you, Your Highness." She smiles, sweetly. "I enjoy making people feel welcomed. A smile always leads to another. It is enough to brighten someone's day."
"I have heard."
"These streets and houses are so different here." Magdalen comments, after a long period of silence. "The colours are sadder in contrast with the light and bright colours of Bluemoon. Do you recall the colours from Saldrian?"
"Uh..." I search in my mind for an answer. "It was a long time ago. I don't recall the colours or the design of the houses."
"I wish I could visit Saldrian." She declares. "It is my first time away from home."
Home. What an unusual word.
"I have never been to Bluemoon."
"Oh, you must visit it!" She says, excitedly. "The sky is always a clear blue and the fields around the town are a bright green, except on winter when they turn a light-brown. And there is always the smell of the sea breeze flowing through the streets."
"It sounds... refreshing."
"It is!" She grins. "However, it is also refreshing to leave Bluemoon and see other places. Nineteen years in the same place begins to feel a bit dull."
"Princess Katherine..." I'm startled by a middle-age man who appears out of nowhere.
The guards immediately push me behind them and unsheath their swords.
"Hey, lower your swords!" I order, approaching the man. The swords are still raised. I glance at the guards. "Lower your swords."
They comply, hesitantly, and I turn back to the man. He doesn't look frighten to be threaten by four swords.
"How did you recognize me?" I ask, suspicious. I only visited the town yesterday and I didn't even walked around the streets.
"It really is you." He says, mesmerized to see me. "You look so much like your father, the king of Saldrian."
My hands tremble at the mention of my father.
"We were told you had been found and you were staying at the castle." He tells, with a big smile on hsi face. "Our hearts filled with joy and hope when we were heard the news."
"That is very kind of you." I say, not finding other words to describe how his words make me feel.
"We hope you will disthrone the queen and take your rightful place as the queen of Saldrian." His eyes fill with so much hope, I am afraid to lie to him.
"I'll... I'll take my rightful place. I'll also restore peace to Panem."
"Long live the future queen." He murmurs and walks away.
I stare at the path he took. Long live the future queen... I can barely be a princess, how will I be a queen?
"Are you alright, Your Highness?"
I look at Magdalen and nod. "I'm good."
Small groups of people have gathered on both sides of the street. They all look at me and exchange words between each others. I'm starting to think the idea to visit the town wasn't so bad at all.
I try to show Magdalen the town as best as I can and by, possibly, eleven-in-the-morning we return to the castle. The walk has uplifeted my spirits and I feel better than I felt this morning. Dinner goes by normally and Peter's father offers me kind words. He doesn't show it, but I know he, too, feels Peter's absence.
The fireplace is lit up, when I come back to my room, and I sit down comfortably in a chair in front of the fire, hoping to pass the time. The flames become too hypnotic and I have to look away, but instead my eyes find the letter Peter gave me. I can't find the courage to open it and read it. Perhaps I'm afraid to feel rejection again.
I stand up and grab the letter. I turn it and admire my name written by Peter's feather. How the letters dance into each other and curve around the edges, carefully. On impulse, I ripp the seal open and unfold the letter. The first word I see is 'forget' and I immediately smack the letter against the table top, terrified to read more.
I have a whole week to read it. If it isn't today, it may be tomorrow.
Summer break is amazing to get inspiration. Now that I think about it, I don't really know how many chapters are left until the plot twist. Yet, I do have the scene in my head. I'm taking the story slowly and building their relationship to another level, so when the time comes I will destroy it completely.
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