The Princess Of Panem

Chapter Five: The Importance Of Grapes

By BluebirdBrigade

Aurora

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We were brought to the chariots that would guide us in to the ceremony. I could hear the crowd chanting loudly, each call was animalistic and blood thirsty. Anger swelled within me but I gulped it down and turned to Christian who looked nervous. It was not only a competition between tributes but also the stylists. To add to this element of surprise and hinder any chance of other stylists stealing his ideas, Cinna had had us wear thin black cloaks over our costumes.

Christian and I shifted uncomfortably wrapping our cloaks more tightly around us. Every single one of the tributes was self-absorbed with their costumes and their stylists and overall, themselves. At least that was what I thought.

There were two who weren't paying attention to their clothing or their stylists at all. One was a little girl aged 12 who was twisting her auburn locks around her finger and chewing on her lip. Her eyes were focused on the corner of the room as if oblivious to the world. Her dreamy eyes never blinked but seemed glazed over. A tiny smile crept up onto her rosebud lips and I tried to figure out what could have put it there. The second person who wasn't in a flap was a boy around 17. It was clear from the number 1 on his chariot, the way he held himself and the way he looked that he was a Career. His muscles were clearly defined beneath his gladiator-esque costume. He was unbelievably handsome with dark hair that curled at the edges and hadn't been cut in a while. It wasn't long enough to reach his shoulder but give it 3-4 weeks and it would. His eyes were a deep chocolate brown and his lips were set in a grim line. It was uncommon that a Career would look so…miserable. The typical Career look was cocky, arrogant, smarmy, vicious… But one would never have guessed. Well, I couldn't say he looked miserable because nothing on his face indicated that he was. His jaw was tight but his features were not sad. But there were something about the way he grinded his teeth together and brushed a finger down his straight nose that made me curious.

But what was even more curious was what he did next.

He looked straight at me.

His eyes met mine and I could feel myself become shocked. Tributes tend to ignore each other if they can help it. But the eye contact between us maintained and I began to feel incredibly self-conscious. What was I doing?

I looked away hastily. From the corner of my eye I saw him smirk. Ah, so there was the famous Career characteristic. I felt my cheeks grow warm and I didn't look in his direction again. But I felt his gaze upon me as I turned my back and pretended to be engrossed in the gleaming chariot.

Then Cinna turned up, carrying a small box with fancy lettering and symbols on the lid. I raised an eyebrow at him but he jerked his head purposefully at the other tributes. He would show me when the rest had left.

A noise blew somewhere but I wasn't focused enough to know what it was and who had made the sound. All I knew was that I should get into the Chariot. My feet planted firmly in the chariot, my heart in my mouth. I looked at Chris who was shaking slightly. I took his hand into my own and gave him what I hoped to be a reassuring smile. He tried to return it but faltered at the last second. The tributes had begun to leave. The boy, the career who had been watching me, had just exited. One by one the tributes left. When the tenth chariot had disappeared, Cinna ordered us to throw off our cloaks. The district eleven tributes were too busy with themselves to see us, but I swear the other stylists stopped, stared and glowered at Cinna with envy. I smiled widely and cheekily at this. Good. We'll create a stir. Cinna opened up the box and pulled out a tiara.

The jewels glistened, sapphires that shone so beautifully it was like fresh water on a hot summer day. He tucked the beauty into my silver hair that he had elaborately done up with twisting braids. But most of it hung loose around my shoulders in curls, free from the hood that had been shielding the from view. The cloak had had a hood too, Cinna wasn't taking any chances. Before I could say anything more than, "Thank you." The chariot was moving rapidly towards the doors.

Chris's hand still lay tucked within my own. In an attempt to comfort him, I rubbed my thumb over the back of his hand. The tight, locked muscles in his shoulders relaxed and he smiled at me. I could hear the crowd chanting the names of tributes, loud and in frenzy.

And then we entered.

No one had been expecting that we'd look decent. Sure, they'd loved President Snow's changes to this year's games but it was apparent from the look of shock that adorned every single one of the Capitol people's faces that they weren't expecting…us. They stopped chanting, pausing for a couple of seconds to marvel at us. Tributes in the other chariots twisted to get a glimpse of us and their jaws dropped in surprise and jealousy.

I was a bit confused. I hadn't seen myself in a mirror yet, Cinna didn't want me to. The dramatic man definitely had a theatrical flair. In the few seconds of stillness, I glanced up at the screen that showed us in our glory and my breath caught in my throat.

"Is that us?" I heard Chris whisper breathlessly.

What I saw blew me away. My dress was a literally like falling water. Cinna, oh perfect, amazing Cinna, had used some kind of shimmery and reflective material to imitatate falling water. As I shifted, the soft cloth rippled like a downward stream of water. A tight, band of gold spread across my middle and round my waist to emphasise what little curves I had and how small my waist was. It was beautiful, shining and the gold swirled in intricate patterns. The same patterns of gold could be found on the very tips of my shoudlers, holding the blue material in place. They were like little dainty wings. The tiara that lay upon my head did more than give the impression of royalty, I was a princess.

My heart hammered and I looked at Christian to check if I was really seeing correctly and saw that he indeed was dressed as a handsome prince. He looked so young, fit and regal. He suited the role perfectly. She realised in that moment that they had all been given a role. District 2 were gypsies, with silky cloths and veils that covered half their faces, District 5 were pirates. It was clear that Cinna had bagged the best option. Or he'd been given it because of his talent. It struck me that Cinna probably should have a had a better district to style than us. I was unsure why he was with us.

Chris had on a smart, red jacket with gold buttons that shone like money. I smiled at him and he smiled at me. That's when the crowd went wild. They were chanting our names, completely ignoring the rest. I felt like…I was floating on air. I completely forgot my hatred for these people, for the capitol. I beamed and gently lifted mine and Christian's clasped hands into air. Men and women were calling to me, throwing roses at my feet. I grinned with all my might, until my jaw ached.

I noticed that on the screen, a small cloak that Cinna had fashioned to the back of my unbelievably beautiful dress rippled into the air behind me and my chariot giving the effect of waves of water. We stood in front of President Snow who was stood on top of the platform. In an effort to become myself once again, I ignored his entire speech and instead glanced around the arena or sang lullabies in my head. At one point I sized up the competition, looking around at all the other tributes and to dismay saw that almost every single one of them save for the twelve year old and Chris were a head taller than me and almost twice my weight in muscle. I gulped slightly and then my eyes locked on a pair of familiar eyes that had somehow wormed themselves back into my mind.

It was the boy from District 1 and he was no longer just looking at me. He was looking at me with interest and… I frowned hoping that it wasn't what I thought it was. Because if it were true what I was thinking, he was looking at me with desire. Which would be impossible and unimpressive from a Career. Did he really think I was a silly stupid girl who would fall at his feet?

I turned my head away and realised that the Chariots were leaving the stadium. They moved swiftly and gracefully, never jolting us from our positions. My face had relaxed over the period of time where Snow had given the speech, and so my jaw didn't ache anymore. Cinna was waiting for us as we entered along with Effie and Haymitch.

"You were fabulous!" Screeches Effie as soon as she lays her eyes on us. She rushes towards us and envelops us in hugs that smell like an overwhelming stench of perfume and powder. I catch Haymitch's eye and he gives me a curt nod but I see the hint of a smirk on his smug face. I role my eyes but can't resist the smile that forms on my lips. "And you look absolutely gorgeous."

"It's not me." I say, looking at Cinna with ultimate gratitude. "It's because of Cinna."

"I just gave you the product. You gave the perfection." He says and I can't help but think how heart-warming yet cheesy it is. Chris laughs quietly next to me. "Now, let's get going."

"What? Where?" I ask in panic.

"Well…usually you are escorted to your rooms. But President Snow has decided to add more events for this years 'Hunger Games' to honour his new grandson." Cinna leads us through a door marked '12' and down a blinding white corridor. "I think he realised some members of the capitol were getting bored with the consistency every year."

"How awful. Well, of course he couldn't let the Capitol people get bored! That would just be utterly horrific." I say out loud and bitterly before I can register the words I've just uttered. It's sarcastic and sullen and it stops everyone in their tracks. They all stare at me wide-eyed and Haymitch says to me sharply and harshly, "Shut up girl. They have cameras everywhere. Don't be an idiot."

But I don't take it back and we carry on in an uncomfortable silence. Haymitch hates the Capitol as much as I do and everyone else in the poorer districts but he knows how to regulate that hatred. And unfortunately, I needed to learn that.

As Cinna carries on leading us through different hallways and through multi-coloured doors, Christian questions, "So, Where are we headed?"

"President Snow has cordially invited you to his ball."

I stare in shock at the back of Cinna's head and stumble furiously over my words in an effort to get them out of my mouth, "A-A B-Ball?"

"Yes."

Chris looks amazed but shrugs at me. The cogs turn in my brain, and I realise that this must be an event that Snow has decided to add to this years 'Hunger Games'. From what I had read about in books and learnt in school, Balls were social events where people got together and danced. Slow dancing was the most famous and the most common, although fast dancing was more impressive.

"I can't dance." I confess, running my fingers over each other nervously. Haymitch snorts unattractively and turns his head towards me with a raised eyebrow.

"Learn fast. Find someone who does. I'm guessing this is going to be another way to attract sponsors."

I moan inwardly, feeling dread creeping down my back. I was going to embarrass myself in front of everyone.

We entered a large circular room with hardwood floors and large chandeliers that hung from the oval ceiling. We seemed to be the last to arrive, as everyone had gathered already in the hall. Many twisted around to get a glimpse of us as we entered. No longer covered by the black cloak or too far away for anyone to reach me, I became a bit self-conscious but resisted hugging myself in case I looked weak. But that didn't stop my eyes being glued to the floor.

We were seated at a silver table marked '12' by an Avox. I remembered what Haymitch had told me about them Imagine being stripped of your voice for the rest of your life. The idea made me not only shudder but overwhelmed with sadness and sympathy. The girl, the Avox, caught my eyes but turned away quickly though not before I saw the amount of pain that was hidden in those forest green eyes.

We were all handed some kind of liquor at our tables, which Haymitch downed immediately and ordered more of, as well as a plate of grapes that were so fat and juicy that they looked ready to burst. Such a delicacy would cost a fortune in District 12. All for some fruit. I grabbed a couple and popped one in my mouth, biting it and savouring the sweet elixir that spread across my tongue.

"They good?" Asked Chris, and all I could do was nod. He laughed to himself and grabbed a couple. Soon he was moaning in pleasure. "They're superb!"

Effie blinked at us in confusion and surprise, and said to us, "They're just grapes…" But of course she would never understand. I hadn't even heard that there was an announcement until a Game Maker shouted through a large metal piece of equipment, "President Snow wishes that you all have a pleasant time, and reminds you that with it being a ball, there must be boy-girl couples. A rule has also been set in place that no tributes of the same district may dance with each other—"

"What?" I exclaimed, letting my childish side takeover as I pouted at Chris. He chuckled at my expression. "I'm not going to dance without Chris."

Haymitch raised an eyebrow and brought his liquor to his mouth again and drank. Once he'd finished he said to us, "You need to draw attention. Don't you want sponsors?"

I gritted my teeth. "Whose going to ask me?"

From the looks of things, the careers had paired of with each other leaving the rest of the tributes standing about nervously and uncomfortable.

"If no one asks you," replies Cinna "Then they are blind."

I blush slightly and try and hide my embarrassment at his compliment by turning my burning face away.

"Oi, Chris." I say to him, nudging him slightly and gleefully.

"Whafft?" He mumbles through a mouthful of grapes. I point over to the pretty girl I had spotted before the parade. Her auburn hair was slightly curly at the tips and her leaf green eyes sparkled as she smiled at the dancers. I could now see that she was from district 9, from the number on her table. If Chris had to dance with anyone, it was going to be her.

"See that girl." I say, pointing at her. He nods, slightly confused, then realisation dawns on him and his face heats up.

"No." He chokes on a grape, looking around at the others for help but they are all nodding enthusiastically except Haymitch who just winks. "I can't fraternise with the enemy."

"Tonight you're going to have to." Says Haymitch gruffly. "Go on. Be a man."

That makes Chris stand up determinedly. He walks over to the girl stoically but as he reaches her, he runs a hand through his hair nervously. She looks up at him, her eyebrows knitting together. Even from here I can see him stumbling over his words. She beams at him and grabs his hand, leading him onto the dance floor. It is his lead that makes all the other tributes pair up.

I turn back in my seat, pleased with myself.

"Excuse me." I feel a tap on my shoulder and I see a freckly young boy around my age offer me his hand. He has a couple spots and his nose is slightly broken in the middle but I admire his courage. "Would you like to dance?"

I stand up gracefully, or at least I hope I do, and nod my head in acceptance. Hopefully this boy can dance because I certainly can't. I take his hand and ignore how clammy and sweaty they are. He sounds nice, and has a fairly even voice and stands a good head above me. So I let him lead me onto the dance floor.

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But I soon learn that this is the last of his good qualities.

I was prepared to just sway on the spot and dance till the song was over, but it seemed that the boy had other ideas. He wanted to chat. Well, no so much chat as talk about himself. And he wouldn't let me walk away. It was getting slightly painful, having him talk my ear off. And he couldn't dance, I had a couple bruises on my toes because of his feet.

"—So I knew I'd get picked because everyone always said I was amazing at sports and everything, I always got picked for school competitions so I guess it's just fate that I got chosen really for the games…" His voice droned on in my ear. I sighed slightly sending another pleading look at Chris who was completely oblivious because he was dancing with his district 9 girl.

"What district are you anyway?" I but in and he looks momentarily startled that he doesn't answer straight away. He flashes me a smirk that he believes looks attractive and I force myself not to roll my eyes.

"District 2." I blink in shock.

"You're a career?" I frown. He didn't particularly look like one on first sight but now that I look hard enough, I see muscles ripple slightly under his shirt. But even then, they're not particularly impressive.

"That's right." He spins me away from him but looses control of me and I almost fall. Another arm reaches out and steadies me and I think, 'Finally, Chris, You've come to save me from this total idiot.' but I realise that it isn't Chris. It's the district 1 boy who was watching me before. I stare at him wildly and jerk out of his grip.

I breathe heavily and I don't know why but my tongue feels thick in my dry mouth and my lungs feel swollen and polluted.

The boy is incredibly handsome. Tanned skin, that is like a light bronze colour and dark hair that falls into his eyes and a strong, edgy chin. His face is almost flawless except for a dark red cut that scrapes along his jawline. His nose slopes down and his chocolate eyes searched my blue ones and after a couple of seconds he raised an eyebrow.

"Thanks." I mumble. I turn my back to him and reluctantly face the district 2 boy. I can't remember his name, or if he's even told me it.

But suddenly there is a hot hand on my bare arm, sending shivers down my spine and goose bumps cover my skin. I hope that he doesn't notice.

"Would you like to dance?" I first feel relief that I will be no longer dancing with this boy, but fear takes over when I realise that this guy may be worse. But before I can ask, my partner answers for me.

"She's with me, actually." I look up incredulously and in disbelief at my partner but he doesn't look at me but instead glares at the District 1 boy. Aren't they supposed to be allies? Instead their arguing over someone like me? How childish.

"Bit possessive are we, 2?" replies 1, raising his eyebrows and his rough, deep voice takes on a cocky tone. I feel 2's hand tighten on my wrist and I fight the urge to smack him. Well, he is definitely strong.

"Get lost." Snarls 1, and that's when I step away from the boy. He's starting to annoy me but tonight I have to act as if I'm above it all and used to boys fighting over me, haha, yeah right. I curtsy to the District 2 boy and smile a glossy but fake smile. He goes a bit red but bows and leaves. I sigh a breath of relief and scrunch my eyebrows together when the District 1 boy stretches out his arm.

"Don't worry. I don't bite. Hard." He smirks at me and I let myself be swallowed by him even though I know it's wrong.

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I hope you guys like my idea :) I don't know if it's original or not because I've read like, one hunger games fanfic on here. Anyway, if you want to see who I think would be playing Aurora or what kind of dress she'd be wearing at the ceremony then check out my profile because I posted some links. Please message me if they don't work and I'll fix them straight away :)

Thank you for your beautiful reviews :) I guess all I can say is keep reviewing and may the odds be ever in your favour (cheesy, but hey),

Lex