Here it is! The chapter everyone has been waiting on!
Thank you norbertsmom and famousfremous!
Enjoy!
"Sweetheart, do you have any idea who this is?" Her grumpy uncle by marriage asks her.
She scowls at him, and says, "This is Peeta. He is a member of the king's guard."
Haymitch smirks. "You really don't know, do you?"
By now, everyone in the make-shift hospital has stopped what they are doing, to watch them. She meets her mother's wide eyes, and gestures towards Peeta, who is groaning in what she hopes is just sleep. "Help me, please." She turns back to Haymitch and answers, "What in the world are you talking about, old man?"
He points to Peeta, and says, "That is King Peeta of Dosean."
Before she can say anything, Prim comes rushing by, heading straight towards Peeta. She watches as her mother and Prim start cutting Peeta's clothes off. Madge joins them, with a steaming bowl of water and starts to clean his wounds.
Katniss moves to help them, slowly getting closer until she hears him moan. She freezes at his sound, then she feels a pair of hands grabbing her, and pulling her back. She struggles against them, not wanting to leave his side. With a sob, she cries, "Peeta!"
She is pulled out of the room, into the kitchen. She recognizes Haymitch's tunic before she realizes that it's him, who is holding her. "Let them get the boy cleaned up," he mutters in her ear. "You can't help him now."
She sobs into his chest, while he holds her tight. It takes her a moment to compose herself again. When she does and pulls away from her adoptive uncle, she isn't at all surprised when he says, "We need to go tell the castle."
Her gaze finds Peeta, the king, a shiver tickles her spine. She just isn't sure if it's good, or bad. She whispers, "Is he going to be alright?"
"I don't know, sweetheart, I don't know."
After a small argument, Katniss, along with Haymitch and Thom are soon on the way to the castle. Katniss wanted to go through the woods, but Haymitch insisted that the road was quicker. Thom just happened to be there, checking on his men. He offers the use of his wagon and before she can decline, Haymitch accepts, and they are on their way.
She tries not to worry, but she can't help it. She thinks the men beside her are saying something, but she is too busy hoping, praying, and wishing that somehow, Peeta, King Peeta will be alright.
Thom pulls the wagon to a halt and Katniss looks around surprised. They are in the small courtyard behind the kitchens. She gathers her skirts in her fists, and climbs down from the wagon, not waiting for anyone to help her. She isn't sure what she is going to do once she gets to her, but she just knows, that she needs to get to Sae.
The old woman opens the door and Katniss throws her arms around her neck. What Katniss doesn't see is how wide Sae's eyes grow when she sees Haymitch coming up behind the sobbing young woman in her arms. "Come in, dear, come in."
Katniss allows herself to be ushered in and pulls herself away so she can compose herself. She opens her mouth to say, well anything, but Haymitch starts, "We need to see the Duke. Is he in?"
Sae nods. "They have been searching for the king."
Haymitch smirks. "We might be able to help with that."
Sae ushers them through halls so wonderful that Katniss wonders how her Peeta can belong to this world too. They round a corner and Haymitch stops so quickly, she bumps into his back. She then peers over his shoulder, at a richly dressed couple in an even finer room. The lady is dabbing her eyes, and the gentleman is trying to comfort her. It's the blond whirl that comes racing to her that gets everyone's attention.
Ethan tackles Katniss' legs, and she crouches down so she can return his hug. She is so grateful to be holding him, glad that he didn't come into the woods with his father like he usually does, that she doesn't even realize the tears that are running down her cheeks.
The beautiful lady has made her way over to her side and pats Ethan on the back. "Ethan, come now."
He doesn't let go of her but instead turns his head so he can reply, "This is my friend, Aunt Annie." Ethan pulls away from her and his sweet eyes, that make her heart pang with how much they look like his father's, and puts his little hands on either side of her face and leans in close so he can whisper, "Daddy isn't here," he says with a sob. "I don't know where he is."
She pulls the boy in for another hug while Haymitch says, "This is Katniss Everdeen Abernathy. She is my nephew's widow. She found the king in the woods this morning while she was out gathering herbs for the men who were hurt in the mine explosion in Gual yesterday."
Katniss hears Annie gasp beside her and Finnick ask, "Where is his majesty at now?"
Katniss looks at them and offers, "He is at Haymitch's house. My mother and sister are tending him."
Annie looks to Finnick and says, "You must go fetch him. He needs to be here with the castle doctors."
"I'm going too," Ethan's sorrow filled voice stops them all. "Come on, Ms. Katniss. Take me to see Daddy."
Annie begins to say something, but Finnick stops her with a touch on her arm. He asks Katniss, "Is it safe for Ethan to go?"
Katniss nods. "I will protect him with my life."
Finnick nods, and presses a kiss to Annie's temple. "I'll go check on Peeta."
Annie nods, and then Finnick pulls Haymitch over to the side of the great room for a moment. Annie rubs Ethan's back. "Will Peeta be-"
Katniss interrupts, "Mama has saved many people. She will make sure that nothing happens."
Annie nods, relief visible in her face. "That's good news. Oh I'm Annie, I'm Ethan's aunt."
She isn't sure what to do, and she is still holding Ethan, so she nods at the Duchess. Haymitch, thankfully breaks the tension in the room. "Come on sweetheart. Let's take them to the king."
As soon as they all get outside, Ethan jumps into the wagon with Katniss. Thom set the horses for Gual, while Finnick rides astride beside them. It seems to take them even longer to get back to the village, and not for the first time, Katniss wishes they were in the forest instead out on the open road.
The sun has already disappeared by the time the reach Gual. Thom takes them straight-away to Haymitch's house. As soon as the wagon stops, Katniss is jumping down. She doesn't even wait for Ethan but runs up to the front door anyway.
The men who have been waiting around all day see her coming and get out of her way. She stops as soon as she is in the great room, scanning the people for any of the blond heads that belong to her. She finds Prim first, and her heart aches to see the look of dismay her sister shoots her.
She dodges everyone to get to the corner where he is. She looks down on Peeta, the king. He is lying there on the table with a thin blanket pull up to his shoulders. He is so still, so pale. Prim is saying something to her, but she can't hear over the roar of her heart pounding in her ears. She reaches for his hand, and she starts to cry when it's not the wonderful warm touch she is craving. Someone must have brought over a chair, because when her knees buckle, she doesn't land on the floor like she expects.
She is aware of people gathering around her, but she is lost watching his chest rise and fall. His breath stops for a moment, and hers catches. She doesn't start breathing again until he does.
She feels Ethan come up beside her, and she finally looks away from Peeta. She sees the tears escaping from his eyes, and her heart melts so she pulls him into her lap. About the time she wraps her arms around him, he is hanging on to her sobbing into her shoulder. She hears the whispers, around them. It's only when she hears Finnick say, "We need to move him to the castle-"
That she stands up with Ethan in still in her arms interrupting what he was going to say. "He can't be moved! Can't you see that? He was talking when I found him, but he has gotten worse as the day passed."
Her mother, wraps her arm around her and Ethan both. "They aren't moving anyone, much less the king." Lily shoots Finnick a look, and Katniss is so proud of her strength at this moment. "If he had to travel all the way to the castle, he would never wake up again. If you leave him here, he can at least have a fighting chance."
Katniss watches as Finnick finally studies Peeta. His face turns pale and Haymitch grabs a hold of his arm to steady him. This time it's Jo who brings over a chair for the Duke to sit on the other side of the king. He nods agreement. "Yes mistress. He will not be moved."
Katniss isn't sure when Finnick and Ethan leave. Violet came in before they left to see her friend. She thinks anyway. She is still sitting in the chair by his head, watching his chest rise and fall, and the pupils move behind his eye lids. She wonders, hopes that he is but dreaming, and not in pain like she is afraid he is.
It's not until Prim brings her a plate of food, and a water bucket that she even takes her eyes off of him. Her sister softly commands, "Eat. Then I need your help."
"What are you going to do?" The smell of the food is turning her growling stomach, but she forces herself to take a bite anyway.
"I need to clean his wounds, and I figured you could tell me what you know about them."
Katniss nods, but decides not to eat anymore. Its then she notices that all of the visitors and many of the helpers have left. In fact, it looks like she and Prim are the only ones awake. She turns to see her sister starting at the wounds on his shoulders. "I've been wondering where he got those."
Prim dabs the sores. They are long and deep, almost like knife wounds or scratches from crawling through under brush. "They aren't closing up. I might have to stitch them," Prim whispers.
Katniss says, "As long as he lives. Then the scars won't matter."
Prim sighs, "No, I suppose it won't. He's not going to die."
"Really?" She tries to keep the hope that is creeping into her voice out.
Prim pulls back the blanket, so she can see the deep gash on his leg. She doesn't say a word while she changes the compress, but Katniss has to look away, the sight making her queasy stomach churn even more. "As long as we can keep this clean, and keep the infection out, he will be fine. The king will even be able to walk without help."
"That's good. When will he wake up?"
Prim sets the back of her hand against his forehead. She tisks and shakes her head. "We need to get his fever down. Once we do that, then he will start to wake. Why don't you-"
Katniss shakes her head. "No. I'm staying right here." She reaches for his hand while Prim continues her exam. He doesn't moan or groan or even flinch while Prim works, and Katniss can't help the shiver of dread that dances along her spine.
Prim leaves her alone while she prays, "Dear Lord, please let him wake up," over and over again.
"Katniss," someone shakes her awake. "Katniss?" The person talking to her sounds like her sister-in-law Johanna, but the only time she has talked her like that- she startles herself awake- is when Mitch was dying. She opens her eyes to indeed find Jo bending over her. She looks immediately to Peeta. "Is he alright? What happened?"
"He's still alive. You fell asleep next to him. When was the last time you ate?"
She shakes her head, before she has a chance to answer, her mother joins them. "Katniss, you need to get some rest."
She rubs her eyes, "But Mother-"
Lily pats her on the back. "Violet asks after you. Go and see her at Hazelle's, get a bite to eat and come back. I will send someone after you if he wakes."
She stands up, her tired muscles protesting at the movement. "You promise?"
"I do," Lily answers. She guides Katniss away from the king, but she leans over him before she is too far away, and presses a kiss to his forehead, not liking how hot he still is.
"He's hot, Mother," Katniss protests.
"That's what I'm going to do, get some medicine into him, so he will start to feel better."
Jo nudges her towards the door. "Go. I'll come and find you myself if something happens."
Katniss steps out into the dawn's early light. If they were still at home, Violet would still be asleep. That's when she looks down, and sees the blood splattered dress she still wears. "No wonder they wanted me to leave, if nothing else to change clothes," she mutters to herself.
She goes quickly to her cottage, closing the door behind her. She releases a breath that feels like she has been holding in since she found Peeta, the king. She makes it to her rocking chair beside the cold and empty fireplace and sinks into its cushions. She wraps her arms around herself, aching instead for someone else's and lets the tears that she has been holding in come.
She supposes that she should be upset, or even mad that he didn't let her know who he is, but it's been a year now since she has met him and Ethan and she likes the fact that they are in her and Violet's life. She adds a sob to her tears as she wonders if this means that the silly thoughts she has had about him coming to live with them here in her cottage, in her village are for naught.
When Mitch died, many of her dreams for Violet, for them, died with him. It's not until that moment that she realizes that she dared to dream again. Just this time, the dreams were full Peeta and Ethan and what may come. She doesn't let herself think about anything else, afraid to think that this past year was nothing to him, while it was everything to her.
It's on the way to see Violet, she notices the guards. While she didn't know who Peeta was, she does know the colors his palace guards wear. After everything that he told her that happened the day before, the guards are a good idea.
No sooner than she opens the door, both Violet and Colton are running and clinging to her legs. She shuts the door behind her, and collapses in a chair. They both climb into her lap and she quiets them with a hush. "Have you two had breakfast yet?" Katniss asks as she notices that they are still wearing their night shirts.
"No Mama. Hazelle said that you might come to see us."
Colton adds, "'Sides, we just woke up."
She scoots them off her lap, and says, "Go wash up. I'll help get breakfast."
Violet and Colton both give her sleepy grins and then scamper off to the wash bucket. She stands up, and joins Hazelle at the table. She helps her to set the table, and Hazelle hands her a mug of steaming, hot tea. Katniss takes it gratefully, and blows on it. Violet and Colton return, and they hurry up and eat.
Katniss finishes before they do, but before she has a chance to give Hazelle her plate, Violet asks, "Is Peeta going to be alright?"
She looks down, not wanting her daughter to see the tears that spring to her eyes. She nods. "Grandma and Prim are helping him. He'll make it." She blinks fast trying to keep the tears from her daughter.
Violet gives her a hug and says, "He'll be alright, Mama. Can I go play with Colton?"
Katniss nods. They hurry up and eat their last bites so they can run out the door. She picks up the remains, and takes them to Hazelle's work area. The two women, old friends, clean up the plates.
"Thank you," Katniss offers.
Hazelle nods. "Is he really the king?"
"That is what they are saying. He never-"
Hazelle interrupts with a touch. "You saved him out of the goodness of your heart, not because of his title." Hazelle is quiet for a moment, then says, "You are in love with him."
This time, she lets the tears come. "He's dying, Hazelle. What if he doesn't wake up?"
Her mother's old friend pulls her close, holding her while she cries against her shoulder. "The king and Gale both are going to wake up and be just fine."
She cries until the tears are exhausted. Hazelle rubs her back. "Why don't you go lay down and get some rest?"
"I can't. I need to go-"
Hazelle pulls away from her, and cups her face in her old weathered hands. "Go and take care of him. I'll keep an eye on Violet. Can you come back for supper?"
"I'll try?"
"I'll bring you something if I don't see you by dark."
Katniss nods. "Thank you."
The women separate, and Katniss turns to go, but Hazelle presses a cloth bundle into her hands. Katniss gives her a kiss on the cheek and makes her way to Haymitch's.
As soon as she walks in, she can tell that something is different. It's not until she sees Ethan's aunt and uncle standing by the still sleeping Peeta that she knows something is wrong. She almost runs across the room to get to her mother's side. She expects to find him dead, but instead the duke and duchess are arguing with her mother about moving the king.
"He isn't going anywhere," she interrupts them.
"You are hardly the one who makes those decisions for him-" the duke begins.
"My mother said that if you move him, he would probably die." Katniss scowls at him. "Aren't you in line for the throne? Are you trying to kill him?"
The duchess gasps, and Lily wraps her arm around her. Katniss doesn't notice Sae standing there too until she steps forward. "Katniss," she says, "it's nothing like that at all. They want to take him the castle so they can protect him better."
"I can protect him better than anyone. Who was it who found him in the woods? It was me. I didn't even see anyone out looking for him."
"Yes we did," Finnick growls. "You found him by sheer dumb luck."
"I found him because I knew something was wrong and followed the trail."
"Dumb luck."
"I followed the bloody trail," she growls back.
"Dumb luck!"
"Stop it you two!" Haymitch says, coming to stand in between them. "I know that you two love him very much, but right now I think he needs to stay here. I've known Lily Everdeen for a long time, and if she thinks that he shouldn't be moved, then the boy shouldn't be moved."
"Thank you Haymitch," Lily answers. "Now if you will all step back, I was going to check his wounds, before you two starting fighting."
"Why is he not waking up?" Annie asks.
"The king went through a lot over the past couple of days. He is sleeping because that is what his body requires." She lifts up the blanket on the side that he received the gash. She pokes around the site, and Katniss wants to look away, but she can't seem to make herself. Lily says to Sae, who is watching over her shoulder, "I've got to save this leg; after all he can't be king without it, can he?"
Sae shakes her head. "No, he can't. And I don't think the young prince is ready to be king."
The women continue talking, but Katniss doesn't pay them any more attention. She instead gets lost again watching his chest rise with the inhale and lower with his exhale. She only glances away when Finnick taps her on the shoulder. She looks warily at him and he motions for her to join him. She follows him outside but as soon as they are on the porch, she leads him away from the villagers who are gathering there. Understanding lights up his eyes, and he follows her to the end of the wide porch. It's not until they are at the corner of the house that she notices that Annie follows them, too.
"I need to apologize-"
Katniss interrupts Finnick. "No, my lord, tis' I who needs to apologize to you."
Annie says, "I think we all do. I couldn't help but to think the worst of you, Katniss. But after seeing you argue with Finnick, well I know that you really do care for the king." Katniss scowls but Annie keeps on talking, "Do you think your mother will need the palace doctor?"
Katniss shakes her head.
"Mother knows what she is doing, but she might need some medicines that I can't go and get for her."
Annie asks, "You go and gather for her?" She waits for Katniss to nod. "I'll will go and ask her what she might need. Thank you for saving him."
For some reason, Katniss can't help but to ask, "It was your sister who was the queen?"
"Yes, she loved Ethan so much. And she held Peeta in high regard."
Katniss is speechless for a long moment as she listens to Annie go on about her sister's marriage. "She didn't love Peeta?"
Annie shakes her head. "Not at all like I love Finnick, or you love him. Her true love was a stable master who ran our father's stable." She sees the stricken look on Katniss' face. "Oh, nothing ever came of it. She loved him from afar. When you are a royal, you don't get to fall in love when you are betrothed. Now Peeta has a second chance with you."
"W-w-what do you mean? A second chance with me? I-I-I- cant-"
"Of course he can dear. He has Ethan, who will be king one day. Now he can live the rest of his life being happy with you. And if you give him any children, they will be princes and princesses."
"I-I-I-'m not- I-I-I-can't-" Katniss stutters again.
"Oh dear, I have overwhelmed you. Come now, let's see what is happening. He might have woken up."
Katniss watches Annie drag Finnick back into the house, while she leans against it with a huff. She can't think straight, everything that Annie just told her spinning in her head. She isn't sure how long she stands there until Prim finds her.
"There you are! Are you alright?" Prim asks, and Katniss flinches when she hears the worry in her voice. She nods, and Prim pulls her back into the house. There are many people helping her mother and Prim. Katniss seeks out Peeta first, relief washing over her when she sees that the duke and duchess have gone. Sae stayed, and she sits beside him holding his hand.
Prim nudges her. "When was the last time he had something to eat?"
"Yesterday. He ate a couple of bites of squirrel. It wasn't until we were on the way that he passed out and hasn't woken up yet."
"We'll give him some more time then."
"More time for what?"
"To see if he is going to wake up before we try to feed him." Katniss nods in understanding, before Prim continues, "He does need to be washed off. With the fever he has, he's been sweating like nothing else."
"Do you want me to help you?"
Prim chuckles. "I need you to do it. I've got to go check on the other men. I'm sure Sae can help you. Let me get you some water."
Katniss goes on over to where Peeta is. She can feel Sae's eyes on her. "Has he stirred any?"
Sae shakes her head sadly. "I've been talking to him, but nothing." Prim appears at her side with a bucket of clean water. Sae doesn't say anything about the blush that stays on Katniss' cheeks while they work together to sponge the king down, and make him more comfortable.
Katniss keeps running, trying to get away from the mutts that are chasing her. She finally makes to the huge rock that overlooks Peeta's castle and she climbs on top.
She turns and sees the horrid, misshaped things that have been chasing her and knows that she isn't going to escape them. She starts looking for another escape when she sees Bishop galloping towards her. Peeta isn't on him but the mighty horse comes close enough so she can leap onto his back. But before she can, one of the mutts sinks its teeth into her leg, dragging her down-
She jerks herself awake with a start, gasping for air and grabbing her leg. She looks around sheepishly, finding herself back in Haymitch's house. Only a few lanterns are still burning, and she is the only one awake.
Peeta moans softly, turning his head. She scoots closer to him, brushing his damp curls off of his forehead. Her foot knocks something under the table, and she glances down, seeing Prim's bucket of water. She gets the cloth, and after wringing it out, she washes the sweat off of his forehead.
The lines that were around his eyes ease some, but not much at all. "Oh your highness," she whispers, using one of his titles for the first time, with a sob. "I don't think I could stand it if you were in pain, but I think you are." She looks around for Prim, her mother, Jo. She doesn't see anyone.
"Is it your leg that pains you?" she asks, still whispering while she eases the blanket off of him. She isn't sure exactly what it's supposed to look like, but when she sees the angry red lines streaking his thigh, she knows that they aren't supposed to be there.
"You should go home-" Jo says coming up behind her. "Oh hell! I need to go get your mother!"
Katniss can't take her eyes off of Peeta's leg. "Fetch her, please."
She keeps his leg uncovered, and continues to bathe his face. She knows that it only takes Jo a moment, but it feels like forever until her mother joins her. She isn't sure what her mother and Jo are doing, because she is watching the pain cross his face every time she knows that her mother is poking and trying to make him better. She finally presses her forehead against his temple, and continues her prayer, "Don't let him die-"