Katniss POV
"No!" I shriek as the blade slices down through the air.
The heavy wooden doors behind me slam open and a knife cuts through the air hitting the sword with a loud clang. The sword flies out of the Queen's hand and her face, filled with rage, turns toward the intrusion.
The guards hold my head still, trained on the spot where Peeta lies. His body heaves under his labored breathing.
Behind me I hear the sounds of battle. I can't quite tell who has come to save us but I hear both masculine and feminine grunts mixed with the noise of clashing weapons.
The Queen still stands over Peeta, her eyes studying the fighting behind me. A small troop of guards have surrounded her and Peeta. Momentarily they have forgotten about killing the wounded prince, their efforts have been focused on protecting their queen.
I see the knife that knocked the Queen's blade away a dozen feet from where I am being held. I recognize it immediately as Madge's.
The fighting behind me seems to have lessened. Within a few minutes the noise behind me ceases. Then the footsteps and heavy breathing of multiple people close in behind us.
"Stand down." I hear Haymitch's gruff and gravely voice. "You are all but beaten your majesty." His sarcasm for her title brings a small smile to my lips. "Your guards have failed you. There is no one left to fight for you. You are beaten."
The two dozen guards surrounding her shift nervously from foot to foot. Nervousness flashes in their once steady eyes.
"Never." The Queen snarls once more. "My guards still outnumber your pathetic group."
I hear the sharp sound of many knives whizzing past and embedding themselves in flesh. A silent moment follows before half of her guards fall to the floor with a thud.
"Now we are evenly matched." Madge states smugly.
The two groups face off silently. Suddenly the guards drop their weapons and stand down. The grip on my body disappears and I stand tall once again.
"Seize her." I command, Cato and Thresh quickly grab hold of the seething Queen. Her face contorts with rage and confusion.
"Take them all to the dungeon." I hear Haymitch say.
I turn back to where Peeta still lies and run the distance between us. I slide to my knees and skid to a halt next to him. His body is covered in sweat. His clothes stick to his skin and his curls are plastered to his forehead. His skin is sickly pale and his unfocused eyes are a dull shade of blue.
"Someone find the physician. Peeta needs medical attention at once." My voice is slightly frantic as I call out to whomever might hear. I hear the scuffle of feet leaving the room. I smooth away Peeta's hair and wipe the sweat from his brow.
"Peeta?" I whisper. He stirs but does not wake. His breathing has slowed dramatically. My stomach feels knotted with worry.
I hold his head in my lap and sing to him. No particular words come from my mouth just a tune I hope is soothing.
Johanna bursts in with a strange man at her heels. I can only assume he is the physician.
"We should move him to his room." The man says with the calm monotone of a well-practiced man. "Grab that table there. Break off the legs. We must be careful when moving him." He instructs.
Gale does as he asks and soon Peeta has been slid onto the wooden slab. Gale and Cato lift the ends; Marvel and Finnick brace the sides. They follow the physician through the halls to another ornate door. Behind it is a vast bedroom with rich furnishings.
"Do any of you have experience with medicines?" The physician asks and Rue quickly steps forward. "Good. I am in need of your assistance. Everyone else please leave. I need privacy to work."
When I am reluctant to move, to leave Peeta's side, Haymitch grabs my arm and pulls me along with him.
"He'll be all right sweetheart." Haymitch mumbles in my ear as he wraps his arms around me in a rare moment of physical affection.
I nod with uncertainty. I want to believe so badly that he'll be okay. That he'll heal. But it is still so uncertain for now.
"Come on sweetheart. There's nothing we can do for now. Let's get you cleaned up." Haymitch moves his arm around my shoulder and gently leads me forward away from the door to Peeta's room.
I walk numbly, the shock of today's events wearing me thin. We continue down the hall until a female maid is spotted. Haymitch barks for her to draw me a bath. She scurries away and Haymitch seats me down on a bench in the hall.
A short while later the maid returns stating that the bath is ready. Haymitch stands me up and passes me over.
"Today has been quite the day. See to it that she is cleaned up and rested. Then get her fed and dressed. By then she should be escorted to his highness' room. She deserves to see him as soon as possible. Are we clear?" The maid nods quickly. Haymitch's fatherly tone, stern and commanding, is very intimidating when he pulls it out.
The maid's touch is feather light as she leads me through the halls to a bedroom. Into the bathroom there is a large tub with steam rising from the water. The water seems infused with heavenly scents I've never smelt before.
"I'll be in the next room when you are finished." The maid timidly speaks before backing out of the bathroom.
I strip off my tattered clothes. The ones the queen had ordered me in before my execution. They were dirty when I put them on but now they are extraordinarily filthy. Dirt and sweat mixed with blood and who knows what else.
I sink into the water, it is slightly hotter than I expected and it hurts my skin but it is welcome. The slight discomfort is proof that I still live. The warmth envelops me and I can feel it relax my every muscle. For once, even just for this moment, my mind can find peace.
Once the water has cooled and is thoroughly sullied with dirt I step out feeling clean and fresh. I grab one of the plush towels and wrap it snuggly around me.
I open the door to the bedroom to see the maid scurrying around. She stops upon my entrance.
"Oh miss you're done. All right well we should get you rested. I've turned down the bed."
"No." I interrupt.
"Pardon me?" She seems extraordinarily confused.
"No. I am not tired. I require no rest. Please bring me some clothes. I must go see Peeta."
With a few rapid blinks she collects herself and moves swiftly. She gathers up a gown from where it had been laid out on an elaborate trunk near the foot of the bed. She leaves the room in a hurry, allowing me my privacy.
With great speed I dress myself. The gown was indeed outstanding even in its simplicity. The deep blue cloth is soft and supple and is trimmed with silver accents. The long sleeves are fitted to my arms, coming to a point attaching to my middle finger. The skirt begins to flare at my hips and comes to an elegantly short train. The neckline swoops widely across my collarbone. The back remains unlaced and therefore the bodice sits a bit lose until it is properly tied.
I call out to the maid and she moves behind me to tighten the cords. Once the dress fits snugly the maid once again scurries away. I move across the room and stand before an ornate mirror. The dress is truly exquisite, even on me. I haven't braided my hair but it has begun to dry in its natural waves. The maid appears beside me once again, she runs her fingers through my hair before braiding two braids from near my temples which she pulls around my head and joins them together in a single braid which she secures with a leather tie. It is a simply hair style but allow most of my hair to flow freely suits this dress. I thank her and a small smile tugs at her lips.
She is not used to being thanked.
She pulls out my leather boots; they have been mended and polished. I slip my feet into the form fitted and comfortable leather.
"Would you like me to call for something to eat?" She asks.
"No thank you. I'm not hungry. I'll be going. Thank you again for your help."
Before she can say another word I whisk out the door with full intentions of seeing Peeta as quickly as possible.
As I stride with little confidence through the halls I realize I haven't the slightest idea where to go. I cannot remember which way to Peeta's room.
I stop to have a look around…they really should provide maps for castles as large as this one.
A young boy suddenly scurries out of one hallway with a broom in hand.
"Excuse me." I call for his attention. He stops suddenly and turns to me with fear. The fear dissipates when he takes a good look at me. "Where am I?"
"In the royal palace miss." He replies politely and I laugh lightly.
"Yes obviously. I meant to ask where in the castle am I?" I elaborate.
He smiles at the miscommunication and sets down his broom. With his right hand he gestures as he speaks, "Down that hallway is the dining hall and the rest of the palace. Behind you is the hall to the guest quarters. This hallway leads to the royal chambers and that one towards the basement and the dungeon."
"Thank you." Again I notice the look of surprise. Has no one here ever been thanked for their work?
I begin walking towards the royal chambers when I stop and turn. Instead I walk hastily towards the dungeons. I have a few unsettled matters with the former queen of Panem.
I search the dungeons until I find her. She seems genuinely surprised to see me.
"Why if it isn't my sons little wench. To what do I owe the honor." She says with malice and contempt.
"I am not what you imply. I came here because I wanted you to know one thing. Your search for Everdeen was successful. Your men killed him once."
Now she looks surprised.
"The man named Everdeen, the one you have always been chasing but never catching…you killed him. Many years ago in fact. It was after his death that his young child took up the mantle. That is why you have never been able to catch Everdeen. You have in your mind an illusion of who Everdeen is, one that has blinded you completely. If only you had known…" I smirk and she crunches her face in frustration.
"Who was this child then? What harm could it do to tell me now? I know I am defeated. Who was the child? Who is the son of Everdeen?"
"That is where you are blind once again. The child of Everdeen. The one who succeeded him was not a son but a daughter. All of this time you have been looking for the entirely wrong type of person. So convinced were you that you missed what was sitting right in front of you."
"Who?" I can see realization on her face. Her mistakes are now obvious to her but she still desires confirmation.
I turn to her with all seriousness. I lean close to where her face is pressed against the bars. Close enough that my words will brush across her face. "I am Everdeen."
She stumbles back in shock. It takes her a few moments to compose herself.
"It was you all along?"
"Yes. You were the only one who never realized it. The moment you brought me out for execution all the townspeople did not doubt. But still you thought you knew better. If you hadn't waited so long to execute me. If you hadn't prolonged it in hopes of drawing Everdeen out. If you weren't so blind you would have seen me for
who I am. Then you could have successfully killed Everdeen as you had always hoped. But your desires clouded your judgment and that is why you fail. You were never fit to be a Queen. Panem is lucky that Peeta will be a better ruler. It is lucky he inherited nothing from you."
She flaps her mouth like a fish brought out of the water so I leave her to dwell on all I had said. I have much more important matters to deal with now. I need to see Peeta.
A/N: Hello wonderful readers! I hope you enjoy this update. Also Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. I hope your Christmas' were more relaxing than mine. I have a big family and as much as I love them...it gets pretty overwhelming.
School starts in a few days so I don't know when I'll be able to update again. I will try I promise.
To the guest who asked me how to start a FanFiction account...as I recall you just click login. Then enter your email and a password. I'm pretty sure that's how I did it. Anyone feel free to correct me. I'm looking forward to reading your fics!
Please review and let me know what you thought of this chapter.