Once in his room, Merlin let out a sigh. What was he doing? Nothing made sense. Already he had gotten caught using magic and allied himself with a girl that had as little chance of winning the Games as he did. How was he going to even survive the bloodbath at this rate? Absently, Merlin stepped into the shower, gasping as the water automatically turned on, blasting his back with icy water. "Well that ought to clear anyone's head," he grumbled, quickly fumbling for a button on the wall that would make the water get warmer. He pressed the first one his hand came to and winced as jets of lavender-scented water pummeled his shoulders. He selected another and hopped up and down in pain as boiling and freezing water was dumped on him alternately. In desperation, he slammed his hand down on four buttons in the center of the wall and sighed in relief as he was met with a gentle spray of warm, lemon scented water.
Stepping out of the shower, he looked in the mirror. His torso was bright red, courtesy of the scalding water, and he glared accusingly at the shower, knowing that he had lost that battle. "Not a good way to start out the Hunger Games," he laughed to himself, wondering if he would ever be able to successfully find that same combination of buttons again. He doubted it.
He pulled back on the same clothes that he had selected earlier and realized that his stomach was rumbling again. Gaius had mentioned something about eating dinner in their rooms. Did he have to go to the dining car and bring food back? Or could he ask someone to bring him something?
Suddenly his eyes settled on a folded pamphlet on the desk across from the bed. He walked over and fingered it curiously. A menu. Grinning broadly, he slid it open and gasped at the endless options the piece of paper offered. Chocolate fondue, veal cutlets, plum stew, lobster tails in cream sauce; the possibilities were endless! Picking up the headset from the table and placing it over his ears, he heard a robotic voice ask him what he would like to order.
"Erm… I'll try the plum stew please."
Minutes later a knock on his door revealed a steaming silver platter waiting for him in the hallway. The savory stew melted in his mouth, the plums acting as a tart yet sweet accompaniment. Before he knew it, Merlin had devoured it all and was seriously considering licking the bowl clean when he realized that the stew came with a small bread roll on the side. Wiping up the last vestiges of his dinner with the flaky bread, Merlin groaned with contentment. "I don't think I'll ever be able to eat again... Until tomorrow at least."
Celeste leaned her head around the door and looked surprised to see him still awake. "Why are you still up? Leave those dishes in the hallway and go to bed. Tomorrow is a very important day!"
With that, she whirled out dramatically, and Merlin was surprised to find that his eyelids were drooping with exhaustion. "Maybe I should get to sleep," he admitted. He placed his used plate carefully outside in the hallway and fell back into bed, asleep before his head even hit the pillow.
The next morning, Merlin was woken by a sharp rapping at his door and Celeste's shrill, "Up, up, up you lazy boy! Today is a very big and important day."
Merlin groaned and rolled over. "Yeah, Celeste. Considering the fact that I will very likely die in a few days, every day is important, so I should be able to do what I want to do; sleep," he retorted under his breath. As he heard Celeste move across the hallway and repeat the same routine in Gwen's room, he slowly sat up and forced himself to stand up. He wasn't and had never been a morning person.
"Don't you dare throw pillows at me, you wretched girl!" Celeste screeched.
Merlin grinned. Clearly Gwen didn't take kindly to being woken up early either. Hair sticking up and rubbing his eyes wearily, Merlin shuffled reluctantly to the dining car and was met with a glare from Celeste and a "good morning" from Gaius. He plopped himself into the same chair as lunch the day before and began methodically smearing jam across a piece of toast. It was then that Gwen made her entrance, walking quickly over to the table and obviously hiding a smile as Celeste stared daggers at her. If looks could kill, thought Merlin, this woman would have the Hunger Games in the bag.
"Now that you're all here, we can begin to discuss your strategies for training, the interviews, and the arena." Gaius said.
Merlin groaned to himself, wishing more and more that he could just go back to bed or that he was still sleeping and this was all a bad dream.
Ignorant of Merlin's feeling of dread, Gaius continued. "First of all, you two need to decide if you would like to train together or separately- for example if you have a secret talent that you don't want the other knowing about." He sent a meaningful glance in Merlin's direction.
Unsure, Gwen and Merlin looked at eachother. "Umm… Well… we already agreed to be allies, so I guess we should train together. I don't have any secret talents." Gwen said uncertainly.
"Uh yeah, me neither." Merlin agreed hastily. "So we can train together."
"Alright," stated Gaius. "Let's get started then. What talents do you have that you could use in the arena?"
After a moment's hesitation, Merlin replied, "Well, I know a lot about medicine and edible plants from helping my mum in her apothecary shop. And I can run pretty fast when needed."
Gaius turned to Gwen. "And what about you?"
She blushed. "I don't really think that I have any useful talents for staying alive in the arena."
"What are you talking about?" exclaimed Merlin. "Your father is the village blacksmith, remember? I'm sure you know loads about knives and hammers and that kind of thing."
Gwen gave a small smile. "I guess. So then we'd be a great team. I'll do the weapon stuff and you can do the food and healing things in the arena."
Merlin returned the smile. "Of course."
Merlin spent the rest of the morning exploring the train, and, after finding the window stretching across the back wall of the caboose, watching the districts speed by and be left behind the swiftly moving train. At noon, the view went black as darkness enveloped the train. They had entered the tunnel through the mountains to the Capitol.
Soon after, the doors swished open to admit Gwen, who joined him at the window seat. "Are you ready?" she asked simply.
Merlin grimaced. "Never."
She nodded, and they rode in silence until the darkness was replaced with blinding sunlight and a spectacular view across the lake at the Capitol. They let out a collective gasp. The ivory-white buildings towered over the train, gleaming in the sunlight, and as they got nearer, Merlin saw that people of every size, shape, and remarkably, color filled the streets. Upon spotting the train, they cheered and waved excitedly, and Merlin winced, but tentatively waved back. So everyone from the Capitol did look like a walking, talking circus act. But these were the people that could keep him alive in the arena through sponsorships, so acknowledging them was a necessary evil. Looking over at Gwen, he saw her doing the same thing. The train shuddered to a stop, and Celeste burst through the doors.
"It's go time, you two! Come on we've got a first impression to make, and then it's off to your stylists to get beautified for tonight's ceremonies!"
She strutted out excitedly, and Gwen and Merlin hurried to follow her. Gaius joined them as they stepped off the train, and they wound through the crowd, similar to that at the train station in District Eleven, but much bigger, louder, and more vibrant. Learning from that experience, Merlin looked straight ahead, focusing on simply putting one foot in front of the other and reaching the doors of the Training Center without tripping.
The silence was deafening as they stepped through the huge double doors of the Training Center. Celeste immediately hurried them down a long hallway to two doors marked with the number eleven and pushed them towards it, explaining that their stylists were waiting to dress them up for the parade that night. Merlin had just enough time to wish Gwen a hurried "good luck" before he was forced into an empty room except for a reclining chair and a mirror. It was blissfully silent for several minutes until what he supposed were his stylists burst into the room in a cloud of chatter and bright colors.
"Why you must be our tribute for this year! I'm Accalia," said one woman with bright pink hair and swirling green tattoos. She gestured to a short man with a purple Mohawk and diamond earrings. "This is Matta."
A third woman stood up from where she had been dumping several bags on the floor next to the chair. Merlin was startled to see that she seemed to have cat ears as well as light purple skin. "My name is Canadia. We're your prep team."
Merlin swallowed uncomfortably and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you. I'm Merlin."
Accalia seemed to take his proffered handshake as a signal that he was ready to be made over. She pulled him with surprising strength over to the chair and pushed him into it. The three stylists circled him, looking him over, and Merlin crossed his arms uneasily.
"We'll need a full body wax, steam bath, and complete hair restyling." Accalia asserted.
Merlin clasped his hand to his head in alarm and was about to protest that he liked his hair just fine, thank you very much, when Matta spoke up.
"No, we don't have time to do the hair. Just look at the state of him. And we must get rid of that ugly rag around his neck."
Merlin didn't know whether to be relieved or offended, but he did want to make sure he kept his neckerchief. "This is my district token," he said defensively.
Accalia raised her eyebrows in surprise, but did not argue. She grabbed his neckerchief and stuffed it into her apron pocket and swiveled the chair to face her. "Time to get started. You are going to love your outfit. We decided to go with a farming theme this year."
Merlin resisted the urge to inform her that they "went with a farming theme" every single year. He could only imagine what horror of an outfit they had in store for him. He could guess even without seeing it that it was likely not going to win them any sponsors or admirers in the crowd at the parade that night.
After hours of poking, prodding, ripping, and overall agony for Merlin, he was almost relieved when the prep team announced that he was now worthy to go see the stylist. That was until he saw what he was to be wearing for the parade. A hideous hat with a plume of green and blue feathers went with a long, red trench coat with huge golden buttons that had wheat emblazoned on them. His stylist, named Beta, told him excitedly that he was supposed to resemble a rooster, and asked him how great it looked. He decided not to tell her that they didn't have roosters in District eleven, and told her in a strangled voice that it looked great.
It got even worse when Merlin realized he had to wear makeup. Wincing the whole time, Beta liberally applied golden eyeliner and drew wheat all over his face and hands. Wishing for the millionth time that day that he could just go back to bed and pretend that none of this happened, Merlin was handed a scythe and told to go wait in the lobby for the chariot. He found Gwen in the hallway, looking almost as ridiculous as he did. Her stylists had made her into an apple tree, and the leaves on her hat were falling off every time she moved. For a moment they just stared at eachother, then burst out into uncontrollable laughter. Every time he tried to get control of himself and stop laughing, he would look at the expression on Gwen's face and bust into fresh mirth. He laughed until his stomach ached and tears ran down his face, and wiping them away, he saw with satisfaction that he had been able to take off most of the golden eyeliner with the moisture and his sleeve.
With Gwen still giggling, they set off down the hallway to the lobby, where the other tributes were also waiting for their chariots. Looking around in awe, Merlin saw to his disappointment that most of the other district costumes looked amazing. District seven were the usual trees and District ten were dressed as cows, but District two wore armor that seemed to have flames running along the golden plates, and District four's outfits looked like they were sewn from sea foam. Even District twelve, who were usually coal miners, were dressed in a nice, normal-looking black suit and red tie for the boy and a red dress for the girl.
Then District one walked in; Arthur with chainmail and a regal red cape with the dragon crest from Merlin's dream and Morgana wore a flowing purple silk dress that made her resemble a queen. Both wore hammered gold circlets on their brows and carried themselves with as much poise as real royalty. Merlin took a step back as he was barraged with another wave of memories. The silhouette of a dragon against the pearly white moon… a castle wreathed in dancing flames… a lake with an island and a tower in the center. The same voice from his dream murmured, "Emrys, this is your destiny."
Then it was gone, as suddenly as it came. Gwen looked at him curiously, but then they were being called to their chariots, and the regal District one rode out to thunderous cheers from the crowd. Gwen took Merlin's hand as they stepped into the chariots and squeezed it nervously as it lurched forward into line with the others. From the sounds the crowd was making, Districts one and two were the overwhelming crowd favorites. Merlin wondered halfheartedly what kind of response their appearance would garner. Would they be ignored? Or maybe pelted with rotten fruit?
As District Ten rolled out, Gwen squeezed Merlin's hand so hard that he felt like it was going to fall off. He managed a weak smile in her direction. "It'll be fine. Hopefully they just won't pay us much attention and we'll get through it. Then we'll go find your brother, alright?"
She returned the gesture in a twisting of her lips that never reached the fear in her eyes. "Alright."
The chariot lurched into motion and Merlin clutched at the metallic sides with white-knuckled fingers so as not to fall out. Knowing his own clumsiness, this was a very real possibility. As they exited the relative safety of the Training Center, the noise and light hit Merlin like a physical blow and his grip on the sides of the chariot intensified. It took all his willpower not to curl up in a ball with his hands over his ears and his eyes screwed tightly shut. But he had to do it. He and Gwen looked enough like freaks; he didn't need to be acting like one to discourage the few sponsors they may have a chance of getting.
Merlin chanced a quick glance at Gwen and found to his surprise that she was waving happily to the crowd, blowing kisses and generously smiling at anyone who looked their way. Not that many people were. Luckily the general attention of the audience still seemed to be on the career districts, although Merlin could swear he heard a few snickers aimed in their direction. Making a forced effort to smile and wave a bit, the ride finally came to an end as they pulled into the main square.
The cheers finally died down as President Snow stepped out onto the balcony of the Presidential Mansion and raised his hand for silence. The President was a man of average height with a beard as white as his name signified and eyes as dead and colorless as a snake's. Needless to say, Merlin did not like him very much.
"People of Panem! Tonight we gather together to celebrate the beginning of the sixty-first Hunger Games and another year of peace and prosperity." Merlin snorted quietly in derision.
He continued. "Tributes, we welcome you and laud you all for your courage and skill in combat. Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favor!"
Then it was over. The chariots were wheeled back to the Training Center and unloaded without any more pomp or ceremony. Celeste and their stylists and prep teams came over, chatting loudly and congratulating them, lying through their teeth and telling them how great they looked. But neither Merlin nor Gwen were listening. Merlin was gazing at the pair from District one, deep in thought, and Gwen was scanning the crowd for her brother. Their eyes met; he was standing in a corner away from the crowd, beckoning her over. Gwen grabbed Merlin's wrist, startling him out of his reverie.
"Merlin! My brother is over there. Let's go!"
They wound their way through the crowd, away from their own entourage and toward the dark-skinned boy in the corner. Gwen flung herself at him in a ferocious hug, and he reciprocated cautiously. "We need to talk… later when we won't be disturbed," he murmured, sending a meaningful look in Merlin's direction.
Gwen blushed, remembering Merlin was still standing awkwardly behind her. "Oh! This is Merlin. We're allies."
Her brother's face brightened. "Well met, Merlin. My name's Elyan." He shook Merlin's hand enthusiastically. Some of the other tributes were beginning to look curiously in their direction.
"Meet me on the roof at ten tonight," he added and walked away.
Gwen and Merlin walked back to rejoin their stylists, ignoring the stares of the other tributes and walked over to the elevator, where they joined a tall blond girl and a curly-haired boy from District six. Having never ridden in an elevator before, Merlin was extremely surprised when the doors closed and his stomach seemed to drop as they quickly began to rise. Upon reaching their floor, Gaius was waiting to meet them, and their stylists finally left, leaving the rooms in blessed quiet.
They all sat down to a dinner even more extravagant than that on the train, but both Gwen and Merlin found it hard to concentrate on the meal and Gwen kept turning to glance at the clock on the wall behind her. When the last course of lemon pie had been devoured, they hurriedly excused themselves to go to their separate rooms to shower and change.
Merlin took the fastest shower in the history of mankind, as he was unable to change the water temperature from its icy cold tendency, and pulled on another blue shirt similar to the one he wore on the train. The clock only read 9:35.
A quiet knock on his door revealed a very nervous Gaius with a large item in his arms wrapped in brown paper. "May I have a moment?" he asked quietly.
"Of course!" Merlin replied, pulling the door open and shutting it behind them. "What is it?"
Gaius looked around furtively, as if to make sure that no one was peeping through the eleventh-story window or hiding in Merlin's closet. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he placed the object on Merlin's bed and began to unwrap it, revealing an old, peeling book.
A strange feeling of power rushed through Merlin, and he felt the magic flow through his blood, making his hair stand on end and his fingertips tingle. His eyes briefly gleamed gold, and Gaius looked inquisitively at him.
"A magic book!" exclaimed Merlin in awe. "Where did you find this?"
Gaius looked around again fearfully. "It used to belong to me in the days before the Great Purge, before magic was outlawed. I used to practice magic."
"Why are you giving this to me?"
"It was my hope that you could use this book to help you and Gwen survive in the games; to teach you new spells and maybe help you keep your magic hidden. Use it wisely. I must go now, but good luck." And Gaius was gone.
Merlin spent the next twenty minutes absorbed in the depths of his new book, reading about hemlock, and griffins, and aging spells until Gwen's knock at his door interrupted him,
"Merlin, we need to go meet Elyan now. It's almost ten. Are you ready?"
"Coming!" Merlin yelled, frantically scanning the room for anywhere he could hide the magic book. Suddenly and idea struck him. "Ahebban." He muttered, and the floorboard in the corner lifted silently. Hastily shoving the volume under the panel and pushing it shut, he dusted himself off and rushed to meet Gwen outside.
Once in the elevator, they easily found the button for the roof, and arrived in seconds. The cool evening breeze blew refreshingly over them as they examined their surroundings. A garden in the corner was filled with the shadowy silhouettes of plants and a wind chime twinkled merrily in the wind. Overall, Merlin thought that it would be somewhere he wouldn't mind spending a nice relaxing afternoon had circumstances been different.
Something moved in the shadows and Merlin tensed reflexively, magic at the ready. Elyan stepped out into the pool of light thrown by the lone lantern on the roof, and both Merlin and Gwen relaxed.
"What were you doing?" exclaimed Gwen.
Elyan smiled sheepishly. "Just testing the force field. I guess they really don't want us ruining their show by dying before they want us to."
Merlin spotted several items scattered across the patio as a result of Elyan experiments; a shoe, some pebbles, and what looked suspiciously like the remains of a chocolate cake.
Gwen's eyes gleamed dangerously. "You weren't actually thinking of throwing yourself against that were you? Because if you were…"
"Of course I wasn't!" Elyan replied hastily. "Why would I do that?"
Gwen maintained her expression of disbelief and exasperation, but decided to continue. "So, Elyan. You have a lot of explaining to do… what happened to you after you left District eleven?"
"As you know, I intended to find a job in transportation in District six, but the Capitol supposedly 'messed up' my paperwork and transcripts, so I ended up as a blacksmith in District ten shoeing horses and stuff… that's about it really."
Anger flickered across Gwen's kind face. "How could you leave us like that? We thought you died! You never even wrote or called or anything!" She hissed.
Elyan looked regretfully at the ground. "I tried, I really did. They wouldn't let me contact you because they see any communication between the districts as rebellious behavior."
Gwen's expression softened and she surprised both boys by hugging Elyan fiercely. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"For now," Elyan replied wryly. "In a few days though… It's anyone's guess."
"Don't say that!" Gwen said forcefully. She looked at the two boys; Merlin tall, thin, but with a mysterious aura of strength and her muscular, physically powerful brother. She knew she would trust both with her life. "Allies?"
Merlin nodded without hesitation. For some reason he liked Elyan already, and if Gwen trusted him, then he believed he could too.
Elyan held out his hand toward Merlin and they shook solemnly. "Allies."
"It's getting really late. We should probably rest for training tomorrow," Gwen advised.
"See you there," added Merlin.
As Merlin reentered his room, the now-familiar voice in his head announced, "The friendships that bind those of the roundtable together have begun to form. But take heed, young warlock, for not all are what they seem.
