Salutations to my readers on this fine day. Here is one of my favorite chapters.

I would tell you why but to steal a phrase from River Song "Spoilers."

So go on, be bold and read at your own risk.

Disclaimer: The odds of me owning Hunger Games are about as good as my odds of walking up one day with superpowers (would be so cool but won't happen).

Review if you me to improve as a writer! Or if you really liked it 3

"It was a bright and sunny day, a perfect day" thought Annie.

She couldn't remember the last day where the sunshine was this bright with a such a gentle sea breeze blowing the scent of the ocean.

Annie had been working very hard on making the yarn for the fifth shirt.

The pain from the nettles was worse this time, as if the curse sensed she was getting close to finishing and was determined to goad her along the way.

It could also be because Annie had fallen ill with a fever and tried to work through her illness earlier that month.

She finally had to take a break and that delayed her. It was about the end of the fourth year, only a few weeks to go, and she had hoped to be on the cloth stage for the fifth shirt.

Instead she had just finished making the yarn.

Still, Annie felt the sea calling to her and she couldn't resist its siren call.

She decided she would go swimming.
She started a fire on the beach to dry her clothes when she was done washing them and to cook her dinner later on.

She then stripped down to her shift and washed her outer dress and petticoat and put them to dry in the sun.

She left her recorder and headband on the beach and ran into the surf, with a wide smile on her face.

Annie couldn't remember the last time she felt this at peace or this carefree.

She dove and splashed and thoroughly enjoyed herself, giggling on the inside.

She was so content and happy that she failed to notice another person on the beach.

Finnick had gone for a ride to the beach alone that day. He was frustrated with his aunt's demands for him to behave more like a king and yet she never let him take charge of anything.

Now, she seemed trying to get him married off, to curb his wild, philandering ways.

Finnick grimaced. He did get around a bit in his younger days, he couldn't deny that.

After he became a Navy hero, the girls of the kingdom flocked to him and...well...he was a red blooded male trying to escape the nightmares of battle and reluctant to be alone with his guilt and pain.

Still, he had never mistreated any of the girls. There were some broken hearts to be sure but Finnick only flirted, he was never serious with any of them.

None of the girls he had been with could handle meeting the real him, the damaged him, he thought sadly.

Finnick didn't fancy marriage to a total stranger, regardless of how much gold or land or soldiers she brought his kingdom.

He wanted someone he could trust, someone who was innocent of the manipulative ways of the courts, someone kind and willing to stand by his side.
However, his aunt seemed incapable of finding such a women and seemed to be inwardly rejoicing when he rejected another suitor. though she appeared stern on the outside.

But Finnick wasn't a good leader because of his devastating good looks.
He was a good leader, with loyal followers because he could read his men's behavior to know when to push and when to order and when to be a friend and when to be a king.

He had taken off riding, without giving John or Peeta time to join him for John was off hunting and Peeta was busy caring for the other horses in the stable.

He arrived at the beach, anxious to find some measure of peace in his life, when he heard splashing. He tied up his horse to a tree on the edge of the woods, where the beach started.

Finnick looked to the sea and saw a girl swimming. He was surprised, he had never met a girl that could actually swim as well as this one was nor one who was so daring as to swim alone.

He got closer, mesmerized by the sheer joy he saw on her face and by how much fun she seemed to be having, even though she was by herself.

She seemed to be unaware of him and he averted his eyes when she was about to emerge from the surf.

Still, as he turned, he cracked a branch that had blown on to the beach from the wooded edge.

Immediately, Annie's head snapped up at the foreign sound and her eyes filled with fear. She went back into the water.

Finnick recognized the signs of a deer about to bolt.

"Wait!" He called out. "I mean you no harm. Please don't leave because of me."

Annie calmed down, but only a little. Here was that handsome man again and alone and now she could at last see his eyes, his mesmerizing green eyes.

"I will turn around while you get out of the water." With that Finnick turned around, holding his breath with hope that she wouldn't disappear.

Annie waited a moment to be sure he was facing the other direction before she got out.

She quickly put on her clothes and was tying her belt on over her dress when Finnick turned around and started walking towards her.

He noticed her eyes were still wide, but now with more curiosity than fear.

"Hello" he called out. "My name is Finnick." He knelt and kissed her hand.

Annie was so surprised that she pulled back her hand and felt herself blushing madly.

"I did not mean to look at you...in a state of undress." Finnick apologized, feeling his usual suave and confident manner abandon him.

"Will you please tell me your name?"

Annie longed to answer him and even opened her mouth before she remember she could not speak.

She closed it and looked a bit worried as she wondered how to answer him.

"Wait a moment." Finnick then ran back to his saddle and pulled out some sugar cubes.

"Would you like one of these?" He offered.

Annie shyly took one and popped it in her mouth. Finnick followed suite and smiled broadly at her.

She smiled back, for his grin was like sunshine, so bright and warm.

"Now may I know your name?" Finnick pleaded. When Annie remained silent, he started to look a bit panicked.

"I did not mean to disturb you, I only-"

Annie cut him off with a shake of her head. She pointed to her throat and shook her head.

"You're can't speak? You're mute?" Finnick asked.

Annie nodded.

"Not mad?"

Annie smiled at how nervous he looked and shook her head again.

Just then, his horse snorted and Annie turned around to see him.

When Finnick saw the smile on her face and her wide eyes, he asked. "Would you like to ride him?"

Annie pretended to think about it, and then grabbed another sugar cube from his hand and darted away.

Finnick then chased her and the two of them had fun for a few minutes in a game of tag.

Finnick finally caught her and said, "We will let a flower decide."

He picked a wild flower from the wooded edge and began to pull off petals. "She will come...she won't come...she will come...she won't come..." Finnick tore off a bunch till one was left.

"She will come." He said with a wink.

Annie smiled and they walked over to his horse.

Annie gave him the sugar cube in her hand and then Finnick lifted her up.

As they rode, Annie couldn't keep a smile off her face. It was all so exciting.

Meanwhile, Finnick was pleased and at peace. It had been a while since someone played around with him and didn't expect him to be so serious or in charge or mad with lust after a battle.

It felt good, just to relax around this girl.

They rode into the courtyard of a castle, unaware of the strange looks they were getting from most of the staff.

Peeta saw him arrive. "So, I see you went mermaid hunting." He teased as Finnick lifted Annie off his horse.

"Please give him some extra apples today." Finnick said as Peeta took his horse. Peeta nodded and smiled at Annie who smiled back.

"The Queen wants to see you." John called out. "Now."

Annie looked around in surprise, she hadn't realized he was so important, that he was a noble high enough to have an audience with the Queen herself.

Finnick sought to reassure her. "It will be fine." He escorted her inside the castle, smiling all the while at her wide eyed amazement.

"Rue, Ruby," He called out to the castle servants. "Can you please take care of her while I meet with the Queen?"

Annie saw a smiling dark skinned young girl and a smirking red head come forward at his call.

"Could you please make sure my guest is comfortable?" Finnick asked.

Rue smiled and nodded while Ruby looked her up and down and then raised an eyebrow at Finnick.

Annie however turned to Finnick with a bit of trepidation on her face. She had never been here before, and she only knew him and Peeta.

"It will be alright, I will come after I've seen the Queen." Finnick kissed her hand and then watched as Rue and Ruby escorted her upstairs.

So what did you think of their meeting?