Katniss POV
"Katniss please." Prim whined. "Come into town with me today? Please. They're having the fall festival today. It'll be so much fun. Katniss there will be food and dancing. I've never been dancing Katniss!" She whines as if she is still a young child instead of a young woman.
Of course I intend to go into town with her today. In truth I am curious about this festival. This year, thanks to the new found prosperity in the land, the festival promises to be an exciting event indeed. Peeta has certainly held to his promises in the past months the entire kingdom has experienced happiness like never before. No longer is anyone worried about money because they no longer have to pay the outrageous taxes the Queen had imposed. No longer is everyone starving, food is in abundance. Peeta has done what he promised and more. This year there is indeed much to celebrate.
In mid afternoon I set out with my mother and Prim—who had donned her favorite pale blue dress—to the village. I myself had worn, after much insistence on Prim's part, a rich red gown with a soft ivory underskirt and gold stitching. It is a new dress that my mother bought for me upon my return. Apparently my other dresses had become far too shabby after trekking through the woods in them for the past years. Along with this red one she purchased me a deep green dress with a light green underskirt and decorative stitching. I would have preferred to wear the green one but Prim insisted that the red one was better suited to the fall festival. The two dresses my mother purchased are not near as extravagant as the ones I'd worn during my time in the palace however while they were beautiful I would stick out painfully wearing them here.
The sound of a crowd, the laughter of children, could be heard as we neared the village. Flowers had been strung together in chains, wildflowers and garden flowers together, that have been hung all around the square. Everyone who lived nearby had dragged out their tables and chairs and pushed them all together to form a long banquet table.
A couple of fires burn near the edges of the square. A few villagers slaughtered their pigs for tonight's celebration and they currently roast on spits over the fires. Along the banquet table bowls are filled with greens, vegetables and roots, some are waiting to be cooked and others are to be served cold. The baker has supplied dozens of rolls and loaves, some baked with cheese and herbs. The smells wafting from the square make my mouth water.
The crowd greets us as we enter into the square. Friends and neighbors all gathered together in celebration. Young Posy Hawthorne ran towards Prim and Prim scooped her up and twirled her around while the little girl screeched and laughed.
Rory Hawthorne had followed close behind his younger sister. When he spotted her in Prim's arms his eyes shone and his smile brightened. He kissed my sister softly on the cheek. Their developing relationship brought me nothing but joy…and jealousy. For I had nearly known what it was to feel that way.
Posy begins to speak rapidly. Her excited chatter brings a smile to my face. "Posy slow down I can barely catch a word you're saying." Prim laughs.
Posy takes an overly dramatic breath. "I'm going to have a big sister! Just like you have Katniss!" She squeals.
"Oh?" Prim asks with misunderstanding.
"Gale brought home a girl! He says he loves her like mommy loved my daddy and that they're getting married!" Her smile is so bright and her eyes twinkle with excitement.
Prim looks over to me and I smile at her questioning glace. Johanna. I mouth and Prim nods, remembering Johanna from my stories.
I turn away from them and search the square for the happy couple. I see Gale and Johanna standing with Hazel and Vick. Hazel's wide smile matches her daughter's and she gestures wildly to the couple in front of her. No doubt spilling her excitement on her son's upcoming marriage.
I weave my way through the crowd towards them. Gale spots me before I arrive in front of them and he nudges Johanna towards me. Hazel doesn't even notice they've left.
"Katniss!" Gale envelops me in a brotherly hug. His newfound happiness is nearly contagious. Even Johanna can't seem to wipe the grin from her lips. "It's good to see you."
"Congratulations." I saw and muster a warm smile.
"How did you…"
"Posy." I need no further explanation. "How long have you been here?"
"A few weeks. We've been meaning to come by for a visit. However it has been impossible to spare a moment away from my mother or Posy. They are entirely to thrilled to have another girl around." Gale chuckles and Johanna grimaces slightly but I can tell she is quite happy to be welcomed into Gale's family.
"How are you Katniss?" Johanna's eyes are piercing, daring me to lie.
"I'm fine." Her eyes narrow into glaring slits. "Really Johanna. I am. I couldn't be better. It's nice to spend time with my family again." I know the words sound somewhat forced but I don't want to talk about myself anymore.
"Katniss, Peeta…" Gale begins.
"Don't. Please Gale." I plead. I know my eyes convey the pain I'm trying to hide. I know they see it. Thankfully it looks as though they are willing to let it go.
Lively music begins to play and the young children all squeal and dance. Their peals of laughter bring smiles to everyone's faces. The kingdom is good again, happy again, thanks to Peeta. He fulfilled their hopes that life could be good again. He has made life good again. A single tear trickles down my cheek and I hastily brush it away with the pad of my thumb.
Some where in the crowd someone cheers "Let us eat!"
Everyone rushes towards the banquet table. I sit between Prim, with Rory on her other side, and Gale who caresses the hand of Johanna next to him.
"A toast!" Shouts an elderly fellow sitting at the head of the table. "This year we have much to celebrate. Our gracious Prince has overthrown his wicked mother and we have a just and fair King again. His goodness can already be seen. Our kingdom thrives once again. None of this would have been possible without our glorious hero. Everdeen!" I can feel every eye turn towards me so I stare firmly at the table in front of me, memorizing the pattern in the wood. "To Everdeen and to King Peeta!"
Everyone cheers and they drain their glasses. The food is passed around and shared. Happy chatter and conversation fills the square. Everyone is smiling and laughing. It pleases me to see my people happy once again. To see them share what they have and not to worry any longer about how they will survive. It warms my heart and I soon find myself emerged in the conversation.
the table in favor of dancing in the square. The sun has nearly set and the fires still burning around the square are quickly becoming the only source of light. A few torches have been lit to provide extra light. The musicians have once again gathered their instruments and are happily plucking the strings. Gale and Johanna quickly join the dance. His one hand on her waist, one of hers on his shoulder, and their other hands joined together as they will always remain. Posy tugs on Rory and Prim's arms and the three of them dance together in a circle. Soon Hazel comes to gather Posy in her arms and though she whines a little she happily snuggles against her mother's neck and yawns. Rory and Prim continue to dance together and it seems to me that no one exists to them beyond each other.
My mother sidles up to sit beside me and she places one hand on my knee. She says nothing.
After a few songs Prim drags me from my seat and demands that I dance with her. It feels lighthearted to dance again. It's not the formal dancing that I had experienced at the palace. This dancing has no routine, no expectation, and requires no skill or lead. It is purely a dance of joy.
Peeta POV
The wind whips against my face. I can feel the air rush through the layers of my clothing. It pulls at my cloak, as if it only seeks to slow me down. To keep me from seeing her.
We've travelled most of the day. It is late afternoon and we are nearing the village where Katniss lives. The sun has already began to set and I am feeling anxious. She is so close. But not close enough. I feel as though I cannot wait another moment.
"We are nearing the outskirts of the village now my Lord. Perhaps we should slow down." I don't want to slow down but I know that we must. It would only cause a panic to have the armed guard barge into the village. Rather we must enter peacefully.
I tighten the reigns and my horse begins to slow. The wind no longer holds me back.]
I can hear the lively sounds before I can see the firelight.
"It is a festival sire. To celebrate the goodness and prosperity you've brought to us." Cato says from my right.
I give a hearty chuckle. "Cato, please don't call me sire. It is strange coming from you."
He laughs alongside me. "Thank you for coming with me Cato."
"I'd follow you anywhere. Especially to see our beloved hero." He jokes.
Katniss. Her name thrills me. She is so close now.
The town square soon comes into sight. A great crowd, every villager is seems, has gathered to celebrate. A few of the stragglers near the edge of the dancing mass have noticed our arrival. They quickly gather the attention of those who stand nearest them. They look back to me in awe and many begin to bow. My eyes search the crowd, searching for her.
I see her, back to me. She wears a beautiful dress of red and ivory, mixed with the firelight her dress burns. Her chocolate hair is let down. With just two simple braids secured around the base of her head almost like a crown and the rest flows in soft waves down her back.
She dances with a blonde girl, neither have noticed my arrival. Not until the young blonde woman twirls Katniss around does she notice that nearly everyone has stopped. Her mouth parts in a surprised oh. Her eyes are wide with shock and disbelief.
My heart thunders in my chest. She is more beautiful than my mind had done her justice. I dismount my horse and stride purposefully towards her.
Katniss POV
He's here.
I had barely noticed the crowd had stopped dancing. Not until Prim turned me around and I saw the group who had entered the square on horseback.
My heart stopped for the briefest moment when I saw him there.
I stand frozen. He walks towards me with determination. The crowd parts for him. They murmur as he walks by.
I watch, dumbfounded, as he comes to a halt before me.
He breathes in slow and measured breaths while my own feel quick and erratic.
"Katniss." His lips loving caress my name like they once had.
I can barely breathe.
"I have something I need to say to you. Please. Hear my words. I love you. I have loved you for quite sometime now and I need you to know that. I can't stand the thought of living without you in my life. It is to grim to even consider living without at least telling you how I feel. I need you to know, you must know, that I love you. I…" He stops for a moment and closes his eyes to collect himself, his thoughts, his words.
"Katniss. I had a dream that you had come to me and told me you loved me. But when I awoke you weren't there. Then you never came. I thought it couldn't be true, you couldn't have come to me, and you couldn't love me. I thought I was merely respecting your wishes. I…"
"I do." The words are past my lips finally without hesitation. "I do love you. I did come to you… I did not have the courage to face you after you were awake. I was afraid to see that you had fallen out of love with me. That I had lost my chance. Then you avoided me. You wouldn't looked my way, and if you did your eyes…"
"I was trying so hard not to love you," he interrupts, "because you didn't love me. I thought I could convince myself that I didn't love you. But that'll never be true. It's always been you. It will always be you."
I smile, his hands caress my cheeks and his fingers gently brush the hair away from my face. "Always." I confirm.
"Promise you'll never leave me Katniss. Please stay with me forever." He whispers.
"I wi…"
"Marry me Katniss."
He states simply, passionately.
"What?" My breath rushes from my lungs.
He moves away, only to kneel in front of me. I am acutely aware of every eye watching our interaction.
"Katniss Everdeen. I have loved you since before I even met you and I will continue to love you for as long as you'll have me. Forever would be preferable. Please, marry me Katniss?"
The crowd murmurs. Women sigh. Children giggle.
I can't take my eyes off Peeta. His bright blue eyes shine in the darkness. My lips are parted, just barely open. He waits on my answer. Time seems to slow. Every exhale seems drawn out longer than the last. A smile begins at the corners of my mouth. It quickly spreads and a short, breathy laugh rushes past my parted lips.
"Yes." I whisper, just for him to hear. If he could smile wider I'm sure he would.
"Yes." I laugh once more as he stands and wraps his arms around me, lifting me from the ground and twirls me around. The crowd gathered around us erupts in uproarious applause.
Peeta sets me on my feet and with one hand on my waist and the other gripping the nape of my neck he pulls me to him. Our lips meet in a passionate embrace and the crowd is lost to us. His lips are plumb and soft. They mould to my own perfectly. From them comes warmth like I've never known. It fills me to my very core. I have never known happiness like this, nor will I ever let it go now that I have.
A/N: Hey All! Another update for you! Hope you like it! Life is still crazy busy and being the fool I am I got inspired to write another one shot and it has taken over my mind and put my other fics on hold for a bit.
Please read and review!