Peeta's POV
What a mysterious character. Everyone always talks about Everdeen like he is some tall and incredibly muscular man. Instead he is...well…short. At least for a man. His stature is nothing to be feared yet still he has a powerful presence. And he wouldn't even say anything to me. I hope he accepts my proposal, I know he is the only one who can remove my mother and her court from power.
And then there was the whole matter of finding out that Delly Cartwright is actually not Delly Cartwright. It hurts my mind to trying to understand it. Who was she really and where was she? Also how did she come to be involved with these ruffians? But more than that is she ok. Something still doesn't add up though, if she really was involved in Everdeen's plan then there was no way she was just let go. So what really happened to her?
I look over to Jo; she seems to be very distraught after finding out that she had been smitten with a criminal. Annie is chewing on her bottom lip.
"Peeta? Do you think George is here too?"
"Annie, I don't think his name is really George." I smile sympathetically.
"He was so sweet Peeta. Do you think he was lying to me?" She looks heart broken. I nudge my shoulder against her. There is nothing I can say because right now I just don't know.
Katniss POV
Everyone wants to see that witch of a Queen fall. But how do we know we can trust them. The argument is long and heated. Gale and Haymitch are in utter refusal. Cato and Marvel think that should definitely trust them and take this opportunity. I myself will not trust them. They cannot know who I am, especially not the Prince. His family had been hunting my family for two generations now. First my father and now me. Although what they didn't know was that they had killed the original Everdeen and now there was a new one. However I have been far more of a nuisance than my father ever was.
We ended up taking a vote Haymitch, Gale, Madge and I voted no. But everyone else voted yes. Since all votes were equal and their votes outnumbered ours, yes was our answer. But no I wouldn't agree to trust them. Not only was he a royal, but also some how he knew more about my appearance then anyone outside of the group had ever known. I still don't know how he did it, but it is more reason not to trust him.
Finnick has been silent the whole day so after the meeting I nudge him on the shoulder, "What's troubling you Finn?"
"I really like her Kat. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She's different than most women I know," I snicker considering the only women he knows are Rue, Madge and myself. Rue is like a little sister to everyone here. Madge is sweet, but terrifying. She is only here fore revenge against the Queen for killing her fiance. And Finn and I consider each other family.
"I'm serious Kat. Now she'll only think I am a lousy criminal."
I give him a small smile, "I always knew you were a big ol' softie Odair. Just be careful all right? We can't afford to take any risks." He gives me a smile and heads over to his old hut. I see Gale drag Peeta from the hut and down to the forest floor to begin training. I lean over the edge and observe. He turns out to be a truly incredible fighter. I find myself curious as to who would win if I took him on. I already know it would be me but I feel like it would still be an interesting fight.
He's definitely had lots of training. As the training continues the temperature continues to rise. The men all collectively remove their shirts in the heat of the day. Even the shelter of the trees can't keep out the heat of the sun. My heart does a strange flutter at the sight of Peeta's shirtless form. He is incredibly well defined, his pale skin flawless as it stretches across his rolling muscles. Oh my... As if he can feel my eyes upon him he and the others look up towards me. Thankfully my hood still shields my identity from him.
Jo and Annie have agreed, very willingly, to live here with us and join our newly formed rebellion. Their fancy ball gowns have been replaced with huntresses clothing. They have started training as well. It turns out Jo is ruthless and has incredible talent with an ax. She is pretty vicious, and not very lady like. Annie however has started cooking for us. They have all made excellent editions to our gang and hopefully by the time I return from my journey home they will be fully adjusted.
I take my leave that night after everyone had gone to bed. Only Gale knows where I have gone. Thankfully I live not half a days journey from our camp. About a mile outside of the camp I find my hollow log and change my outfit. I make it to the cabin just as the sunlight breaks through the trees. Prim and mom are still asleep. I put the basket of berries on the counter along with the animals I caught and skinned last night.
Prim bounds down the stairs, "Katniss! You're back!" She hugs me tightly.
"Hey there little duck. I'm only here for the day. But I have something I need to tell you. Come for a walk with me."
We wander through the woods, Prim constantly picking wild flowers. She breaks the silence.
"Katniss what did you want to talk to me about?" I have to tell her. I'll be gone for who knows how long this time. I may not even make it back. This is going to be our most risky mission ever, and by far our most important.
"Prim I've been lying to you. I don't go on long hunting trips. You know of Everdeen?"
Shock crosses her face. "You joined Everdeen? Is that where you always are? Oh my goodness Katniss! What is he like? Is he handsome? Is he nice? Oh he is isn't he! I'll bet he's really romantic. Oh! Are you in love?"
"Prim!" I stop her ridiculous rampage.
"Sorry Katniss. He is just everyone's hero. The whole kingdom loves him. Everyone wants to know who he is."
"In a way I did join Everdeen. There is something dad never told you and mom. Our last name isn't Smithson. It's Everdeen." Her jaw drops to the forest floor.
"Dad is Everdeen? But he's dead. Isn't he?" Her eyes grow sad and hopeful.
"No Prim...Dad did die, but he was the original Everdeen, just not the one you know as the legendary Everdeen. I'm Everdeen."
She looks like she is about to faint. "How…what…how?"
I take her little hands in mine and tell her the tale. "Prim, Dad went by the name Everdeen when he illegally hunted to provide for us. He changed our family name so that he wouldn't get caught. Then he started to steal little things, and stuff like that to help others that came across his path. He always kept it small, but still enough to get noticed. After he died I took on the name and started stealing more from the rich people. Dad taught me everything he knew. The reason everyone thinks Everdeen is a man is because of Dad. But I didn't change it or correct anyone because I had to keep my identity a secret. Only you and my band of men know this. So you have to keep it a secret. You can't say anything. Anyways we are going now to overthrow the evil Queen. The Prince himself came to us begging us to help him. I don't know how long I will be gone. And if I don't come back I just needed you to know."
"Oh my goodness Katniss you are the most wanted person in all of Panem! Oh and you are a hero! Every one talks about you all the time! Oh my goodness! Can you please tell me all about your adventures? Oh and the band of merry men!"
"The band of merry men?"
"Yeah that's what people have started calling all the men who help Everdeen."
"Oh they won't be happy about that name." I chuckle. "Well there is Gale, he is my right hand man. Finnick, he is a joker and a flirt. He is very attractive and he knows it. But he is a good guy. Then there is Haymitch; he's really taken over the father and protector roll. He looks out for me, you'd love him. There's Cato he was military commander Crane's nephew but he left to fight with us. He is a great fighter. Thresh is really intimidating but he is just hiding his kindness. Marvel is a bit of an airhead. There's not a lot going on up there. Chaff is quiet and keeps to himself. Beetee is brilliant and makes all our weapons and thinks out a lot of the logistics of our missions. I also have a few girls. Rue is incredibly stealthy and hard to catch. She taught me how to basically fly through the trees. And Madge is terrifyingly good with knives but she is a real sweetheart. I trust them with my life."
"Oh I would love to meet them. Now you said the Prince came to you. What is he like? Is he as handsome as everyone says?"
"Yeah Prim he is. I have something to tell you. I need your advice." So I tell her all about how Peeta dreams about my eyes and paints them. And how he apparently fallen for me at the ball.
"Oh that is so romantic! Katniss you could marry him and become Queen! Oh it's like a fairytale!" Her voice is dreamy and her eyes are far away.
"Prim this is serious! I am the most wanted criminal in Panem as well as a mere commoner. He is the Prince, that makes the whole thing impossible. I swore a long time ago to hate the nobles and the royals. I can't give in because he is attractive. Nor do I want to. I cannot trust him, not yet at least. What if this is all just a trap for me Prim? I cannot be so easily swayed. I have to keep my guard up just in case he tries to pull something."
She smiles and allows me to change the topic. We wander the woods together; Prim asks constant questions about my adventures. It is so nice to talk to her about it, especially because she is so in awe and so proud that I am her sister. I have dinner with my mother and Prim and once again settled into my old bed. The next morning I shoot a few things that day for my mother and Prim then departed back for the hide out. I would make it back near sunset.
As I traverse the woods, I sing to myself, songs that my father taught me. We used to sing together all the time. My hair flows around my shoulders and I cannot wait to braid it back. I also cannot wait to get out of this dress. It is so much more constricting than my hunting clothes. As I near the hollow tree I hear a loud set of footsteps approaching. I assume it is Haymitch since I've often found him out here just wandering in a drunken haze whenever he manages to find liquor. I turn around to confront my drunken mentor. But am met with an unexpected sight, deep blues eyes wide with shock.
Author's Note: Hello readers! I'm sorry about the wait. I have been very busy. It's the end of the semester and I have papers, projects and finals all looming on the horizon. I can't promise that updates will be regular but I will try. I'll be very busy all through April. Thank you for reading! Please review!