Peeta POV
"Your highness?" It is a whispered question. Quickly followed by a shout, "It's the prince! He's invaded the Hob. Grab him." The anger and tension in the room grow ten-fold. Men draw their weapons and surround me.
I stare at the man I bumped into and he bares his teeth slightly.
"How did you find this place? Does the Queen know you are here? Is the guard behind you?" The point of his sword settles on my chest.
"Hold on!" Finnick steps in, placing himself between the angry mob and me. "He's with us. He can be trusted."
They look apprehensive, unsure whether to trust Finnick's claim or not. Only a few stand down. Others still look to me with fury.
"Why should we trust you? He's the Prince. Heir to the throne. His mother has ruined our nation! And he will follow in her footsteps!" The rage has returned, many voices shout and it is deafening.
Everdeen's cloaked figure appears beside Finnick. Wordlessly he stands there, I can see his head as it cocks to the side. Even from behind this gesture is intimidating. It is questioning…as if the ask why they do not trust his judgment.
Immediately the crowd backs down. The calming effect is unbelievable. Without words Everdeen manages to still the angry crowd. My respect and awe for him increases… as does my jealousy. It's no wonder Katniss is with Everdeen and willing to do something as dangerous as helping him steal from the Queen! I find myself hating and admiring him all in the same moment.
Finnick helps me up from the ground and I dust off my tunic.
Tension still fills the air until we leave the Hob with sacks filled with coins.
"Now you get to see Everdeen at his best." Finnick says proudly as we mount our steeds again.
We ride until we reach the edge of a nearby town. I notice Everdeen pull hundreds of small woven pouches from his tunic. He hands them out and everyone begins to fill them equally with coins.
Once nightfall arrives and the town is sleeping we creep out from the bushes and onto the streets. With pouches in hand everyone creeps from door to door and place the pouches where they will be found in the morning.
We ride to the next few towns before morning arrives. Finnick tells me that next time they will bring coins to different towns. Everdeen always makes sure that all towns receive equal share…but never in a predictable pattern.
It warms my heart to know that I am helping my people. That in the morning their faces will light up with hope and happiness because of me and more importantly because of Everdeen.
The sun begins to rise as we place the last few pouches in front of the last doors. We visited fours villages that night.
Behind me I hear the creak of an opening door.
A small gasp causes me to turn around. A young woman with a small baby cradled to her body is holding the pouch of coins we had placed on her doorstep. Tears shine in her eyes and glimmer off her cheeks.
"Thank you." She speaks softly, her voice breaking with emotion. She clutches the small child to her chest and smiles brightly. I look back to Everdeen who bows deeply to the young mother.
Astonishment crosses the young mother's face. But it is clear from the faces of the others around me that Everdeen has done this before. He has made it clear that he does not bow to just anyone. He will not bow before royalty. He will not acknowledge them as worthy of his respect. But he will bow to those who struggle to make their living. To those who have earned their life. To those who work everyday to make a better life for themselves. They are the ones who have earned his respect.
He stands straight again before turning and walking down the road out of the village. Everyone turns one by one to do the same. The young mother stands and watches with a smile on her face.
Once out of town we locate the horses and begin the return journey to camp. As we come close to camp the trees begin to look more familiar I'm still not entirely sure where their camp is located but I know we are getting close. Everdeen looks to Cato and nods, he rides his horse close beside him. Cato reaches out and takes Madge's hand and pulls her from Everdeen's horse to his. Everdeen steers his horse away and rides the opposite direction of the rest of us.
"Finnick, where's he going?" I ask over Finnick's shoulder.
"I'm not entirely sure. He could be going a number of places. Sometimes he needs time on his own, time to think and clear his head. He could also be going to visit his family." He stutters slightly and adds, as if last minute, "Or he could be going to see her."
He doesn't say her name. But I still feel my heart clench. Katniss.
Jealousy flares inside me. He could be going to visit her…wherever he keeps her. I close my eyes, only to immediately regret doing so. Images of my perception of Everdeen and Katniss flash on the screens of my eyelids. Images of him holding her. Pulling her close to him. Leaning down to kiss her gently and then more deeply and passionately. His fingers unweaving her braid as I have longed to do. She smiles for him and laughs with him. He sleeps with her curled to his side. His hand caressing her cheeks and running over her soft skin, her bare flesh.
I force my eyes open before my thoughts can betray me even further. The idea of him and her…together is far too much. No matter how I respect Everdeen I cannot help but feel anger and jealousy at the thought of Katniss being with him. My mood has immediately soured.
We finally ride into camp and the horses are put into their make shift pen. Everyone chatters happily amongst each other as we approach the camp. Annie and Rue are sitting around the fire, cooking dinner and truly it smells delicious. They two girls smile happily when they notice our return. Annie and Finnick hug unabashedly and he whispers into her ear, words that make her blush.
I still find myself sulking and so I trudge out into the woods to wallow in my misery alone.
Katniss POV
We made a great deal of money today. Four villages is a good haul indeed.
It was good to visit the Hob again. I've missed my friends there. Only a few of the merchants in the Hob have seen my face. Mostly I deal with them wordlessly. However Cinna and Portia are good people. I enjoy my time speaking to them. They always make good trades as well.
I also knew it was risky to bring the Prince here. I should have foreseen that someone would recognize him. But what truly baffles me is why did I feel so protective of him? Why did I feel a pang of worry and panic when their blades were pointed at him? Why? What does this mean? I know he can care for himself. I've seen his ability to fight. I never worry over the rest of the group. I know they can care for themselves, as can Peeta. So why did I panic for him. What makes him any different to me?
Why do I feel my heart flutter when I catch his eyes on me? I know he thinks I'm a man and I know of his respect for me, for Everdeen. But it still doesn't explain why I feel warmer knowing his eyes are on me. Everything about him confuses me.
I dismount and tie my steed to a nearby tree. I rode a fair distance from the camp so there would be no chance of another meeting with the Prince.
I push through the bushes and am greeted by the sparkling lake my father used to take me to.
The smooth waters call to me. I shed my cloak and hang it over a nearby branch. My bow and quiver I set gently beside the trunk. My vest and belt soon follow and I place them over my cloak. I unwrap my legs and arms and drape the strips of fabric over the branch. I remove my trousers and my tunic and hang them as well. I take off my undershorts and begin to unwrap the strip of fabric that binds my breasts.
I slide my body into the cool water and allow it to sooth my muscles and wash my skin free of the near constant presence of dirt. The cool water feels amazing as I drift through the peaceful lake.
When my skin starts to prune I hoist myself onto a large rock on the shore and allow to sun to dry my bare flesh.
Once the sun begins to set I begin to dress again. I pull on my undershorts and begin the task of binding my breasts again. I pull on my tunic and trousers, rewrap my forearms and calves and pull on my boots. I secure my vest and belt and grab my bow and quiver, slinging them over my shoulders. Finally I pull on my cloak, being sure to pull the hood far over my face. I mount my steed again and begin the ride back to camp.
When I arrive I find everyone around the fire. Finnick is ending an elaborate and obviously amusing tale. Everyone is laughing, except for the Prince. He looks sullen and even slightly angry. Oddly it pains me to see him miserable and I wish I could rid his face of that awful grimace. It doesn't belong on his face, which is so often lit up with smiles.
The group notices my arrival. A few raise their hands in greeting but they go back to their merriment. The Prince scowls at me before quickly turning away. Curiosity burns inside me to find out who or what has put him in such a foul mood.
I stand leaning against a tree observing the group from under my hood. I'm close enough to Annie and Finnick to over hear what they are saying.
"Does he ever join you guys? Or does he always stand around like that?" She asks him.
"Yeah but right now it's sort of complicated." He replies.
"It's because of us isn't it? I get it…can't let the secret out." She says in a quiet voice, her tone hints of apology for the intrusion she and the others have caused.
"Yeah something like that." He smiles at her and she returns it.
"Don't you ever get tired of all the secrecy?" She implores.
"Nah, it comes with the job. You just kind of get used to it. It's crucial that no one knows who he is and if possible that no one knows who we are. We do actually go out into the real world ya know. We all have families, except Cato, he left his to be here. But the rest of us have people we care about. We have to protect them, that is why our identities have to be a secret." She stares at him in awe. She gets it; she understands how important it is that our families are never connected to what we do. The Queen would undoubtedly have them captured, even executed. Our secrecy is of utter importance.
I feel a large yet strong grip twist my arm behind my back and before I can react a knife blade appears at throat.
How could I have let someone sneak up on me? How could I have been so stupid?
Author's Note:
Hey all! Sorry for the wait! Thanks for all your reviews so far! I really appreciate them. And I would love some more! Hint hint, wink wink. My finals are finally over. I just have a few last papers to finish up but it is pretty much summer! Yay!
Anyways, read and review please! Let me know what you are thinking.