Peeta POV
Lady Cresta, in a very unladylike fashion, runs to embrace her daughter. Tears flow down her cheeks and I notice that Annie's eyes are glimmering as well. Sir Cresta hugs his daughter close as well. As they walk to the fire I watch Annie's parents give wary and curious looks to Finnick. Finnick looks nervous and unsure. I do not envy them of the awkward news that will soon have to be shared.
With everyone seated Annie turns to her parents. Her mother can't stop looking at Annie's outfit; the trousers are obviously not what Lady Cresta would have chosen for her daughter to wear. Her noble upbringing is obvious here, for it would be shocking and appalling for a lady to wear anything but fine dresses.
"Mother, Father. I have an announcement." She swallows loudly and I see Finnick shift uncomfortably beside her. "This is Finnick Odair." She gestures to Finnick and places a loving hand on his knee. "He is my husband."
"Your what?!" Sir Cresta bellows after a few moments of shocked silence. He proceeds to rant about how dare she marry so far below her rank. Phrases like "how could you sully the family name?" and "What have I done to earn such disappointment?" fill the air. To say that everyone looks uncomfortable would be an understatement. He yells of how he does not approve and that she will have to have the marriage ended and concealed immediately. He paces around the camp as he yells, he points a threatening finger, and flails his arms wildly as he talks.
Finnick looks stunned. Surely he wasn't excepting this kind of opposition from Annie's family. Honestly neither was I. Sir and Lady Cresta always seemed to be such forward thinkers. And maybe they still are but simply the shock of their daughter's marriage has temporarily reverted them back to their former patterns of thought.
"First thing in the morning Annie we will find the nearest town and have the minister amend your actions."
At this threat Annie stands to face her father. "No!" She yells in return.
Her father stops, shocked into silence at the behavior of his daughter.
"What? Did you just refuse me Annie?" Anger still seeps from his voice.
"Yes I did father. But you are wrong and deserve to be told so. I will not end my marriage with Finnick just because he is not the rank you would like. And I will not be ashamed and hide my marriage to him just because you do not like it. He is my husband now father, it is too late for your intervention for we have already sealed ourselves as husband and wife. Father I do not care about his position. I care not that he was merely a fisherman. To me he is a hero and that is far greater than any noble rank. He loves me father and I love him. With my whole heart I love him." Annie places a hand on Finnick's shoulder and he caresses it lovingly. Annie bends down and places a chaste kiss to his lips.
Lady Cresta blushes profusely at Annie declaration of the full meaning of Annie's words. Sir Cresta still gapes in disbelief. His face has visibly softened.
"You truly love him Annie?"
"I do father."
He looks to Finnick, "And you love my daughter, truly?"
Finnick nods enthusiastically, "Yes sir. I do. She is my whole heart. Forever and always."
Sir Cresta sighs loudly, "Very well then. If you are sure this is what you want then you have my blessing."
Annie lets out a cheerful giggle and rushes to hug her father. She places a sweet kiss to his cheek and thanks him profusely.
The four of them then go off into their own conversation. Obviously there is a lot for them to talk about.
"You're still bleeding." I hear Katniss' voice rumble over my shoulder.
I turn to look at her. Worry creases her forehead.
"It seems so." I look down to my arm. Truthfully I had completely forgotten about it.
"Come with me." I follow her to a small water basin and she carefully removes the bandage. With the clean cloth from the basin she begins to clean my wound. It stings a little at first but the cool water soon feels heavenly against the burning cut.
"We need to make sure it won't get infected." Katniss murmurs. She pulls a leaf from her pocket. "This is going to sting a fair bit but it will help."
She pops the leaf into her mouth and begins to chew. She takes the paste and presses it into the gash.
A small yelp escapes my lips despite my attempts to appear strong and unaffected. She wasn't joking when she said it would sting.
"Sorry." She mumbles.
She tightly wraps the cut, with the leaf paste still inside.
"It will need to sit for a bit. We'll clean it out again later. How does it feel?" She asks with concern in her voice.
"It hurts a little." I try to say lightly despite the throbbing in my arm.
"Would you like me to kiss it better?" She jests.
Before I can stop myself I hear the yes slip through my teeth. Momentarily she looks dazed. I hope she thinks I am joking with her. I hope I have not frightened her away.
Then I feel it…the warmth of her lips on my arm followed by the faint and quiet smack of her kiss. A blush quickly covers my cheeks and I notice Katniss' cheeks flush as well.
"There," She says in a small voice, "all better." She stares up at me in a trance. I find myself equally trapped in her gaze. Our eyes search each other's and in a moment of bravery I find myself leaning forward.
"Peeta!" Sir Cresta's voice interrupts and Katniss and I jump apart. Curses!
"The Cresta's wish to aid us in usurping the Queen!" Finnick says excitedly. "Isn't that wonderful!"
"Indeed that is great news." I try to smile but inside I am still upset over the interruption. Only a few more moments and I would have known what it would be like to kiss Katniss Everdeen.
"Anything we can do to assist you, please inform us immediately." Sir Cresta offers.
"Absolutely sir." I respond.
Sir Cresta starts to fidget. He opens his mouth as if to speak only to close it again.
"Is there something else Sir Cresta?" I ask.
"I know that there is a lot of secrecy needed in order to maintain this operation…however it would be nice…feel free to refuse if this is to much to request…we would very much like to meet Everdeen. Face to face. It would truly be the highest honor."
Everyone falls silent and unsure glances are exchanged.
"Father…you would not be able to breathe a word of this to anyone. No one could know that you have truly seen Everdeen. It would be so dangerous if anyone knew he…"Annie falters for a second, "Everdeen's true identity."
"I understand." He looks disappointed for a moment.
"It's all right." I hear Katniss speak beside me. She pulls off her hood and steps forward. "It is an honor to meet you Sir Cresta, Lady Cresta." Katniss offers a small bow to the extremely astonished couple. "If you are even half as trustworthy as your daughter it would be enough."
"You're a…not a…since when…" The Crestas stammer.
Katniss looks to me over her shoulder, "Why always the surprise?"
A small chuckle bursts from my chest; everyone soon follows in my laughter.
"Everdeen. It is truly the greatest honor. I could never express my gratitude for what you have done for our country." Sir Cresta bows low and Lady Cresta curtsies.
"And I would never be able to express my gratitude for your assistance." Katniss smiles kindly and the merriment of the night continues.
…:::…
Katniss finds me early the next morning.
"We need to see to that wound of yours." I follow her to the washbasin and she once again carefully removes the bandage. She takes the clean cloth and wrings it out. She wipes carefully at first and then dips the cloth in the water again. When the cloth is saturated she brings it to my arm. She wrings it over my arm and the leaf paste washes away.
I look down and already the cut looks much better. The angry red that I expected to appear around the rim is absent and it looks as if the healing has already begun.
Katniss wraps it again with a fresh bandage and proceeds to wash the last one thoroughly.
"Thank you Katniss. For helping me last night, it was greatly appreciated."
"Yes of course." She answers awkwardly. "Peeta…umm…last night I was not entirely myself. I'm sorry if I lead you to believe…something that is untrue."
My eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Katniss. I know that I have not kept my feelings towards you hidden. I admire you greatly. You must know that."
"Yes I… I have noticed. Peeta please do not mistake my actions last night for…"
"Katniss. Stop. I know that to some degree you reciprocate my feelings. Please, do not push away from me. I have enjoyed the relationship we have been building."
"There is no relationship Peeta. This is strictly business, you must know that."
"I don't believe you Katniss. Don't think I haven't noticed you. I've seen you watching me. I can read your eyes like an open book. I know you feel something for me too.
"I do not Peeta! Do not allow your wishful thinking to invade reality."
Her words cut me but I know there is no truth in them. I have noticed in the past weeks that she often watches me. When she taught me archery I heard the way her breath caught in her throat. The way her eyes lingered over me. Then it confused me. But last night when she did not pull away as I began leaning in I realized that she cares for me too.
"You do Katniss. Do not deny your feelings. Do not think it will make them any less true. I know that I care for you. I am unafraid to admit it. I care deeply for you Katniss. More than I think you realize."
Her face contorts with emotions. First anger, then confusion, sadness momentarily, and finally a look that I cannot interpret.
"No Peeta I do not…" she feebly begins to retort.
"Yes Katniss! Admit it! Do not run from your feelings. You can't always run and hide. Someday you will be found out." I say with a raised voice. "Just because you have successfully evaded capture all these years doesn't mean you can run away from everything. I know that night at the ball that there was a connection between us. I doubted it for a second when I learned that you were not Lady Cartwright… but I do not doubt it anymore. I know you felt that bond. I know you care for me more than you wish to admit to yourself. You cannot hide from the truth Katniss so please stop trying."
Determination crosses her face and she steps closer to me, her chest pressed to mine. Her hands reach up to grasp my neck and she pulls me down to her. My lips crash against hers and for a moment I am to stunned to respond. She begins to pull away so I cradle her head with one hand and secure the other around her waist and pull her tightly to me. She does not resist and instead our lips move together in tandem. Her hot breath spills across my face every time we pull away long enough for a breath. All to soon the kiss comes to an end and Katniss pulls away.
"Katniss," I exhale. I open my eyes to see her with one hand pressed to her lips.
"Peeta…I can't." Her voice is strained and I feel my heart begin to break. "It's to much. I can't…not now. There is too much happening. I cannot handle another…I just can't." She sobs quietly before running off and I can't find it in me stop her.
A/N:
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