Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the HUNGER GAMES. A few things might resemble some parts of the book but it's only to make more sense to the fiction. I'm not making any sort of profit with this story. Thank you for reading.

Author's Note: For this chapter, I took inspiration on the soundtrack of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Howard Shore – The Adventure Begins and The World is Ahead.

Chapter 4 – Secret friendship

Madge was used to temporary friends in her life. Some were just colleagues. Others were dance partners on the city parties. Katniss at first seemed to be just a colleague. But when she heard Madge defends her in front of others, Madge decided that Katniss could be considered a friend.
When Rory appeared in the tree the week after the declaration, she thought he was trying to apologize. But he kept coming back every Friday. And the subjects of the conversations were so different and yet so intimate that Madge had come to see Rory as a friend. He liked to know the details of her rich and lonely life, and she liked to learn about his adventures in the Seam and about his good and funny family.
She became depressed when he stopped appearing. There was no way she could ask why to him too. It was clear that they were only met on Fridays and in the hidden corner of the school grounds because Rory had an image to maintain. She also had too since it would be abnormal for the mayor's daughter and the young Hawthorne walk together. The gossip of the school. Worse. The District. She could cause problems to him and his family.
Unfortunately, she felt miserable. There were what? 3 weeks they did not talk?

It was not until a Tuesday afternoon that she found a note in her locker at school.
It said: Meet me after school today in the same place. she got there, it was Rory who was at the top of the tree. "I'm sorry, my colleague saw me talking to "myself" the last time. I did not want to get you into some kind of trouble. He could try and check me next time" He says.
"Don't you want to talk somewhere else?", asks Madge. She was happy. Rory returned.
He seems scared but excited. He plays in his tone sarcastic "Just as friends, right? I don't think my mother would approve me dating older chicks."
"It wouldn't be otherwise." She laughs.
Madge writes some details on paper. She gives directions to a corner behind the mansion at the end of the street of the victors. The peacemakers used to do inspections its houses years ago to make sure that no one was living there in hiding. Nobody would be so suicidal.
Rory looks at the role frowning. "Are you sure? It doesn't need to be so complicated", he says.
"The time this bad for you?" Madge question. She had written 2 am.
Rory looks around to assure the privacy of their conversation. "That's not it. I think nobody would notice my absence at this time but I don't want to cause you any problems".
"You won't, I'm sure. You just need to be very careful. Use black robes and avoid the main streets of Town. I want to show you a place. A secret place", she guarantees. It seemed enough for him.

Madge had come sooner. It was 1:30 in the morning. She wanted to ensure that the fence was off and nobody was near guarding the streets. It was Wednesday dawn.
"Okay, are you sure that no one followed you?" she looked at Rory. He seemed very alert. It was the same adrenaline she felt months earlier. "You think someone is going to miss you any sooner?"
Rory looks at her "Okay, so this is definitely sounding weirder than it looks. Are you going to do something nasty with me?"
Madge laughed. She could joke that she was kidnapping him but they had to hurry. "Come on, you are safe with me," she says.
"But what about the fence?" Rory looks worried.
"Stay close. Try to listen carefully. If there is a hum it means the fence is electrified. Right now, it's silent. We can go". Madge raises the rim nearest the grass and moves to the side of the forest.

It does not take long until they reach a constant rhythm and steps. She took him to the lake and told him how much she liked to go up to the place. She knows that his brother does adventures like Katniss.
"But never at night," Rory assures.
"That is our advantage. I don't want to risk bumping into them. I think that in this place I will be able teach you some things. How to behave, to study, do gentleman stuffs and to control you temper. "Madge had planned this for weeks. She just didn't know how to teach him at their place at the tree.
"Why? I don't want your charity", says Rory. He sounded upset.
"Pay attention to what I'm going to tell Rory, you have everything: family, siblings, friends. I can take some comfort in my life but that isn't company or friendship or love". Madge looked into his eyes and spoke with all the warmth of her heart. "Look around you. Well, here, in this place we are equal. I want to be your friend. I want to help you".
Rory looked thoughtful at Madge. He seemed to notice for the first time the proximity of the two in that place. No one would be there to judge their friendship. "What do you get back? If this is not charity than it is a matter of trade", he was negotiating.
"How about this: I'll teach you to be a lovely gentlemen but in return you teach me how to fight"
"But I don't know how to fight" Rory laughs. He was small in comparison to Gale. But now he could notice that he was higher and larger than Madge. He was almost leaning on her. He was starting to notice other details of Madge. Her skin was white like the moon, her hair was pure gold, her eyes color seemed to be dark green and her lips were full and pink. Dangerous beauty, he thought. She was pointing at small cave near the waterfall.
"But I know. Only in theory, I mean. Look at these books, they teach everything". She was showing him her prohibited library. One of the books she took showed two men fighting with very thin swords. "But I don't have anyone to train with. I tried alone but it's not the same. I need guidance", she laments.
"I do not think I can agree with that", Rory sounds serious. It was clear to him that what those books were, they weren't allowed in the District. Madge not only had broken several laws by taking him there but she was also hiding illegal artifacts.

He liked that. She was rebellious and wanted him for company. "I think our agreement goes beyond simple exchanges. We have to seal it with an agreement of friendship. Your secrets are my secrets". He spits in his right hand and offers it.
"And your secrets, mine?" She looks carefully at his gesture. It didn't seem hygienic.
"Yes," he says. Madge spits on her hand and shakes his. "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful and secret friendship," he says gladly. Rory may have lost Prim as friend but fate in exchange had offered an admirable friendship with Madge.

They return the same way to the fence. Madge has already started teaching him the way back. It could be a matter of going straight back from to the lake but the forest was sinuous and with many stumbling block. The only way not to get lost was to memorize little things. A different plant, a tree with a broken branch, a stone of different color and among other things easy to remember.
"We need a sign. A warning that everything is okay. You cannot expect me here outside the fence all the time", she says.
Rory looks around as if seeking inspiration. It couldn't be any signal and had to be audible in the distance. "Okay, do the following. You imitate an owl and a crow", he concludes.
Madge stop to think. "How does an owl sounds?" She asks.
"The heavens! Really? The princess of the District 12 doesn't know the sound an owl makes?", he says incredulously. Rory closes the lips and makes the sounds near enough of a hoot of an owl.
Madge laughs. Of course she knew but she wasn't going to admit it after he scowled at her. The return to the fence was long but for the first time fun for Madge.

Author's Request: Please Review Chapter 4. How is it so far? There will be a lot of Rory and Madge moments but they won't be lovers. So don't fall in love with them! Not a couple! I swear. I read so many fics with Madge and Gale interacting and I guess this would be quite annoying to write about right away. I mean, Madge need other friends besides Katniss. Am I wrong? Review! Thank you for reading.