Welcome back! Chapter five already! Okay, normally, the Games would start next chapter. Unfortunately, Katniss, Peeta and Legolas decided otherwise. Next will be the interview with Cesar... and a surprise ;)

ATTENTION: the idea with the blindfold and thrown apple belongs to Silme-Quesse! Thank you! :)

anani: welcome back! :) Glad you liked it! :)

clavina: I fear you'll have to wait still another chapter, but I promise the Games will begin soon :P

Duchess of Night: Nice penname! Thank you!

dancinqueen18: You do too? Wonderful! Too bad there is no movie of it! I was just too late to go to London and see it. Otherwise, I really would have crossed the Channel for it! Did you see it live?
Anyway, thank you! If you see a mistake that is really to bad to leave there (which is the case with all of the actually, but you know what I mean ;) ), could you please tell me? I'm not having english anymore, so the only way I can improve it, is with this site ;)
Yep, I agree, but I figured he did it because it's his way to coope a situation of which he understands nothing. :P

eldingo59: Here you got it ;)

Falca: Oh, off course! Blessed easter! (is this how you say it in english?) :)

LikeIdTellU: Yes, we'll see about that... :P

TheButterflyCurse996: Haha, they are a bit docile still :P Otherwise, I would have considered it :P Yes! Did I not send you a youtube-link of it? Oh, it's the one you said you wouldn't want to meet him in a dark corner, remember? :)

Zee: your wish is fulfilled. The training is up ;)

"20% of you will die of dehydratation. 10 % of infection. So don't ignore the survival skills."

So that what we are to you. Mere statistics. Fine to know, Katniss thought wryly. She had to force herself not to show her disgust too clearly. The good grace of one of the Capitol was valuable, or at least it was good not having the hostility of one of them. Fortunately, the woman who had explained the various devices in the training hall, walked to Seneca, said something to the Gamemaker and disappeared through the iron door. Seneca and the other Gamemakers took their places upon the luxury balcony and started eating and chatting, keeping one eye upon 25 children beneath them.

The tributes from the first Districts had already gone to some of the posts – against the given advice not to the survival skills, but to the sword –and spear training and power exercises. One by one, the lower districts started choosing a post too where they would start. Las went to climbing wall, though Katniss had seen him watching the bow with a very tempted gaze. She suspected that Strider, just as Haymitch, had admonished him not so show his talents already. Peeta seemed to follow Las. Katniss noted that she was almost the last one still standing inactively, and glanced around her. There was barely anyone near the survival skills. Perhaps she should start there.

As she was practising how to make a fire quickly, her thoughts went back to the Welcome Ceremony. She remembered the soft touching of the flames, and the cameras that had been pointed at the last two chariots all the time, especially after Peeta had taken her hand. Perhaps she should follow his tactic, and pretend like they were friends. It certainly would give them some sponsors. She just had to take care she wouldn't become to attached to the baker's son who had saved her life once… – but that was the past. She had promised Prim to come home. That was far more important then a carelessly thrown burnt bread.

Then there was Las too… She had to admit he had looked impressive in his chariot. Dark and dangerous. Deadly and threatening. A warrior. Carefully, still watching her smouldering fire in the corner of her eye, she turned her head to the climbing wall. Las was dangling halfway, making it looking like it was the easiest thing in the world. In a record tempo, he had reached the top and there, he spanned his muscles, and pushed himself slightly away from the wall, releasing the holds… and fell.

Katniss caught her breath, just as most tributes in the area. She knew some of them hoped that the stranger would end his life here and now, on his own terms, instead of being thrown in a game he did not comprehend the rules of… but she could only think about his ever-present smile and his childish jokes, and his friendly discussions with Strider. And though she would never admit it, she knew she would mourn over his death.

Just as she came to that conclusion, Las stretched his arms again and grabbed the holds just above the ground. His arms should have given way to the terrible shock, but instead, he curled his body in a position that seemed to absorbed the sudden halt, and a moment later, he elegantly hung about a meter above the ground, before dropping and landing softly.

All movement seemed to have ceased in the hall, and Katniss saw some of the first tributes look at him threateningly. She contemplated whether she should warn Las, but at that moment, Peeta joined Las, and whispered something. His eyes flashed to the first tributes, just for a split second, but long enough for Katniss to realise the warning had been received. Both Peeta and Las went to the camouflage area, and Katniss focused upon her little fire again.

He really didn't understand what he had done wrong. He had climbed neatly up the wall, not too fast (Aragorn had warned him for that), not too easily (he had even tried to let his feet slip one time) and still, Peeta warned him that the others now saw him as a possible threat, one that they had to eliminate as soon as possible. Perhaps he should have descended in the normal fashion. But that would have been so slow!

Thinking it over, he had followed Peeta, and now he found himself in the camouflage area. Inwardly, he groaned. That was another thing Aragorn had warned him for. He was not to show how easily he could blend with the trees. He began inventing an excuse to go to another spot when he saw the painting upon Peeta's arm. For a moment he thought the boy had laid some bast upon his skin, until he saw it was actually paint.

"That's impressive." The boy looked up and smiled.

"Thank you. I did the glazing in my mum's bakery."

"You mum had a bakery?" Legolas inquired curiously. He didn't know anything about Peeta or Katniss before the Reaping Day, and he was eager to learn more, but Peeta wouldn't reveal much. He just nodded, and continued smearing the paint upon his skin. Then, to Legolas' horror, he made a welcoming gesture to the other side of the paint.

"Why don't you try some?"

"Er… no thanks." At this, Peeta looked up. Legolas fought the urge just to walk away. He was terrible in lying.

"Why not?"

"Well… I…" Perhaps lying wasn't necessary. Not telling everything was not really a lie after all.

"I think I can use my time better. When I'm in trouble, I'll just climb in a tree. They will not find me there, I assure you." He smiled, but the boy didn't return the laugh. Instead, he frowned and concentrated upon his hand again. When he spoke, his voice sounded pained.

"You shouldn't tell me this. Don't forget that in the area, we are enemies." Legolas was silent for a moment.

"Then why did you warn me for the others?"

"The foolishness of the one inside me who would have been your friend in better circumstances." Peeta caught his gaze. "I like you, Las. But in the area, there is no friendship nor compassion. You just want to save your own life. I've seen it enough on the telly. I just had hoped I would never play a part in this sick game." With a bitter gesture, he spread the paint to harshly, and disturbed the regular pattern. Peeta cursed silently. He reached for the rag, but Legolas had already taken it and handed it over to him. The boy accepted it, but did not meet his eyes.

"I will take a vow, here and now, Peeta of District Twelve. I will not kill you in the area. I promise."

"Do not swear such thing. You're a stranger! You do not know anything about this world."

"I care not. I swear." Peeta sighed and wanted to try to persuade Las once more to forsake his oath, as a loud cry pierced the rumour of the training. Las and Peeta sprung up and found Katniss lying prone upon the ground, with Marvel towering above her.

"Not so hot as I had expected you to be, Girl on Fire. Watch your step! I do not wish to be stained with the coal of District Twelve." The disdain and mock in Marvels eyes made Legolas' veins burn, but Katniss had already scrambled up and pushed her hands threateningly upon her middle, her legs planted firmly upon the floor.

"I did not know you were blind, Marvel. But then again, perhaps you got some of your whore's make-up in your eye." Her gaze at Glimmer made it clear whom she was referring to. Marvel balled his hands and raised them to hit her, but Las was quicker and caught the fist against his arm, before sinking to his feet and pushing Marvels legs away from beneath his body with his shank. The boy landed unceremoniously upon his back, where he lied for some moments, gasping.

For a moment, everyone held his breath, then there was a small chuckle from a little, black-skinned girl, causing most of the lower tributes to laugh and smile, though they valiantly tried to hide it. Marvel started to blush furiously and pushed Glimmer's helping hand rudely away. Raging, he again raised his hand to hit Legolas, but then decided against it and managed to lower his hands, fighting to regain self-control.

"I'll meet you in the Arena, Thirteen! You won't survive the Cornucopia, I swear!" He stamped away, Glimmer in his wake, who was gesturing angrily at Las and apparently tried to convince him to beat that stranger to the ground. Marvel ignored her.

"That was stupid of you! And I do not need your help!" Katniss seemed angry with him as well. Before he could react, she had left in the opposite direction of Marvel, towards the climbing area. Peeta laid a hand upon his shoulder.

"She is right. It was foolish of you. Now you'll be Marvel's first target."

"Otherwise, it would have been her." Peeta's grip strengthened.

"Las, listen to me. Do not think about anyone else safe for yourself in the area. Compassion will be punished hardly there." He turned to go back to the camouflage area, but he managed to hear Las' response.

"If you were following your own advice, you would not be telling me this."

Peeta had never before seen such a juicy steak in his life. In fact, he hadn't seen such a large slice before. Back home, meat was a luxury rarity, one they could afford once in a year, at his granddad's birthday. The old man had died many years ago, but he had been the one who had established the bakery, which made their family a little richer than most people in District Twelve. Therefore, they celebrated his birthday every year with a meal that only they could afford.

"Do you want some more fries, my dear?" Effie held a bowl filled with the crispy, golden rods before him. Couldn't she see he still had some? This edacity of the Capitol still amazed him. He managed a polite smile, and shook his head.

"No, thank you."

"Las perhaps?" The boy too politely declined. Peeta casted a glance at him. He hadn't forgotten the last words Las had spoken to him before they had resumed their training. He was right. He shouldn't help the stranger. If he got himself killed with his compassion, there would be a rival less for Peeta. But he didn't want Las to die. Frustrated he watched his meat. He wasn't hungry anymore. Quickly, he threw his serviette upon the table.

"I'm done." He shove his chair away and wanted to rise, but Haymitch motioned him to sit down again.

"A second, lad. Tomorrow, you'll have to demonstrate your skills before the Gamemakers. That will be the time to show them everything. That means that you, Peeta, demonstrate your strength. Katniss, there will be a bow, be sure you use it. Las… do whatever you can do."

"I think he will use the bow," Katniss commented, taking some more of the salad. Las raised his eyebrow.

"How do you know?" The girl just smiled mysteriously.

"Haymitch, perhaps you could explain to us what there will happen?" Strider asked. Usually, Peeta and Effie made sure they explained most of the rules of the Games, but this time, they had forgotten.

"The Gamemakers will give points on you skills. The more impressive they are, the more points you will get. High points will give you sponsors. It's a scale from one 'till twelve, the latter being the most deadly. Normally, the first Districts get the highest score."

"How could that be?"

"They are trained since they are twelve. When they have reached the age of eighteen, they volunteer. At that time, they are…" Haymitch made face that faltered between respect and contempt, "… pretty lethal."

"But they don't receive any privileges. And I don't think they get a dessert. And you do," Effie quickly intervened. She hated when one insinuated that the tributes of the Capitol got any special attention. Katniss and Peeta exchanged a glance.

"I think I'm going to get some sleep. Goodnight." Strider stood up and laid his hand upon Las' shoulder. "Make sure you're rested tomorrow. I wouldn't want you missing your shot." Las scowled and gave him a gentle blow. Strider merely laughed.

And not for the first time, Peeta dreaded the day that would take them to the Arena.

"Las Greenleaf." The metallic voice ran through the empty room, pragmatically. Legolas startled. He wondered what he could expect. Katniss had been gone quite a long time, longer than most of the other tributes. Peeta had been worried too, he had seen it in the tension in his shoulders and his frown. When he had been summoned, he hadn't even reacted upon Legolas' whispered 'success!'. That would have been about ten minutes ago.

The iron gate opened noiselessly. Legolas rose. The only way to find out what was awaiting him, was meeting it. Quietly, he entered the large training room. It seemed much larger now, now that all of the training instruments had been stored away. Where there used to be the voices of the instructors, the metallic biting of swords and knifes, and the rattles of the high trail near the ceiling that was being tread upon, now the only sound was that of glasses and whispers. On the opposite of the red room, a few meters lower, there was a rack with a bow. Legolas' face lit up. Good. A bow.

Through his relief that his favourite weapon was there, the elf noticed the tension in the room, and the almost irate gazes of the Gamemakers. He wondered what Peeta had done. Then he saw the apple on the wall, pierced by an arrow, and he had his answer. It didn't seem Katniss had been too friendly to the Capitol men. Legolas grinned broadly.

"Las Greenleaf?" Seneca's voice was stern and slightly irritated. Quickly, the elf hid his smile.

"Yes?"

"Do you have something to show us?"

"Oh. Yes, off course. But perhaps I might inquire your assistance?" Seneca raised his eyebrow.

"That is not very customary."

"I would not know sir. As you certainly know, I'm not very familiar with your traditions," Legolas answered smoothly, but inwardly, he seethed at his drawling tone. What a high thought the man had of himself! Seneca seemed to be doubting still.

"The only thing you'll have to do, is to throw the apple. Unless off course, you would prefer I aim at it where it is now." Many of the man turned into an interesting shade of red, and Legolas caught his breath. Perhaps that was too audacious. But at the moment he wanted to say something to lighten the tension, Seneca gritted his teeth and nodded at an older man near the apple. The greybeard grabbed the arrow and pulled it out of the apple, then he looked at Legolas.

"Where do you want me to throw it?" He had a warm and friendly voice, and his eyes held only curiosity, no disdain. Legolas bowed slightly.

"Right before you, my lord, as high as you can without touching the ceiling. But please, hold on a moment. Does any of you have a blindfold?"

"A blindfold?" Seneca inquired haughtily.

"Yes, my lord. Or a piece of cloth the cover my eyes with."

"Here. Give him this." A scarf was thrown down. "It's an old one anyway. A present of Lilianne. I never liked the colour." Legolas forced himself not to reply, and folded the cloth before his eyes. Then he grabbed his bow.

"When you are ready my lord." He pricked up his ears, and forced his breathing to slow down. His senses sharpened, and he picked up every movement in the hall. The breathing of the spectators. Metallic noises of the heating. Light footsteps of men who came closer to watch.

The rustling of a cloak that was moving.

A hand that released an object.

An apple that touched the air.

A caught breath.

Legolas took the time to empty his lungs, and pulled the string, raising his bow in one, fluid movement. For a second he waited, taking in every sound the flight of the apple made. Then he released the string.

There was a satisfying noise of a apple hit by an arrow, and gasps of the Gamemakers.

Hardly necessary to mention that that evening, he got an eleven.

Hope you liked it! Please Read and Review! :)

xXx Archiril