Katniss stopped walking as she reached the bottom of the stage where just moments earlier the entire district gathered. Romulus Thread was standing in front of her staring. He looked her up and down before speaking. "Come with me," He said as he walked towards the Justice Building and into the main hall.
"Mrs. Mellark, the President would like a moment with you." Romulus Thread said as he opened the door to the office of the Head Peacekeeper in the Justice building.
Katniss said nothing. Her conversations with President Snow never went well.
"Katniss," The President said as Katniss walked into the room. "I figured you would be happier to see me."
"What makes you think that?"
"I just eliminated all of your temptation here in the District."
"Gale?"
"And I saved your sister."
"You sent my mother and sister to District 6. You did it so that the District cannot keep her out of the Games again."
"Where they will work on medicines, which I hear they are good with making. I also ensured that none of the families that were relocated will be in the reaping this year."
"So why are you doing all of this?"
"I need your help,"
"What do you need?" Katniss said barely hiding the contempt in her voice.
"I need you to help me save face in the Capital. You are aware that this is an election year."
"And better the enemy you know, than one you do not?" Katniss asked.
"I have given you what you want. I have made your mother and sister safe. Now I want something from you."
"And just what is that"
"I need your help to win the election. You are the most popular of Victors now. Seems that you have the best public relations team, ever. You are personally nothing special, but when you put you and your entire team together you become the girl on fire. I need some of that spark to win re-election. I can promise you that should Desdemona Merrythought win this election, she is going to crack down on everything."
"Why would she crack down on one of the few Districts that did not even look at the Peacekeeper wrong?"
"Because you are the girl that lit the fire,"
"So I go to the Capital and shake a few hands?"
"I think that is a start. However I have a more important task for you."
"Why would the citizens of the Capital vote for you, because I shake a few hands?"
"They would no longer see you as the person who started the rebellion, but as someone I trust."
"Fine! If it will keep people I love safe. I have one final request though. Since District 12 stayed out of the rebellion, can you relocate Thread to a place where he is needed more?"
"I will see what can be done."
"Good,"
"I will announce to the nation on Friday that I am naming you to the Gamemaker Council. It is a lifetime position.
"But I know nothing about being a Game Maker!"
"Did you know anything about being a tribute?"
"No"
"And yet you walked out of the arena a champion."
"I knew how to survive. I figured out the rest as I went."
"And you will do the same here. You know how to give the Capital the entertainment they are looking for. Plus you will only be a figurehead. No major decisions will have to come from you. You will sit down for an interview with Flickermann about the latest batch of tributes. You will presided over the main galas, and give commentary of the course of the games. Other than that, you will have no duties."
"I do not have the same relationship that Peeta has with Flickermann,"
"That is why your husband will be going with you."
"So you did all of this moving around, just to manipulate me into being one of the people that I hate the most?"
"The plan has been in place for a while. I took note of your guidance with the young Mr. Herron and his friends in the last games. How you purposefully kept the story of romance between two of them out of the public eye. You knew how to walk that fine line between entertainment and reality with them. You managed to keep some of the most dynamic personalities that have come out of the games in years in line. That is not a simple feat Mrs. Mellark.
