Chapter 63: Challenged
"What is going on?!" demands Snow. "Last night I saw my granddaughter paraded in front of the whole of Panem in a traitor's flag! Does someone want to explain that to me?!"
"President Snow, we have been holding out against the pressure of the Capitol, trying to ensure your hiding place is not revealed. The prisoners are maintaining their silence, but unfortunately that means your granddaughter has now become a piece in the Games of the new government of Panem".
Coriolanus Snow had moved his fair share of pieces in the game of government over the last few decades, but this was unprecedented and he has been completely taken by surprise.
"She is only a child! An innocent child. She can't be held accountable!" Fully cognizant of the irony of his position, he still can't accept that this could happen to him.
"No more innocent than the children we reaped for the Hunger Games" says his minder, recognizing the truth himself not afraid to confront it. This new initiative by the Government of Panem was going to cause support to wane for the Resistance and Coriolanus Snow needed to confront his hypocrisy head on. If he had no challenge in response to these Games, then resistance was futile.
What an insolent remark, Snow thinks. Of course she is more innocent. She didn't come from rebel stock, people who had once before tried to bring down the Capitol. Ebony was a faithful child who supported her grandfather's position. Of course, she had been caught up in the love story of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, but most of the Capitol had been hoodwinked by them. Ebony was impressionable and followed the lead of others who had no idea how dangerous Katniss Everdeen could be. He had tried to protect his granddaughter from the treachery of the ordinary people. Now she was right in the middle of them, a Tribute in their "Capitol" Games.
"I want you to get my most trusted advisers. We need to put a stop to these Games. I will not allow my granddaughter to suffer the humiliation they have planned for her, and for me. They know I am still alive and are trying to force the Rebels to reveal my whereabouts. If that happens, they win...and we can't let Katniss Everdeen win again" says Snow.
Peeta and Katniss head to the first training session with his Tributes. With Katniss' mother to help mind the children, Katniss wants to accompany Peeta as much as possible. She knows she can help with the terrain Peeta has chosen and he wants her by his side.
The training sessions are taking place in separate areas and have been set up with stations to match the terrain the Tributes will face. This time, the only Gamemaker to ascertain the skills and potential of the Tributes will be Plutarch. It will help him determine both the nature of the Game and what the Tributes level of success might be in the arena. They won't be scored, as there will be no bets placed during these Games. The reason for this is twofold. The Games are not for sport, but are to act as a means to an end. Also, they could be brought to a stop at any time and any bets placed on the survival of the remaining Tributes would be null and void. Plutarch will move from station to station over the course of the next few days to study them and make his decisions.
Peeta and Katniss walk into the training room. Lorcan and Ottilia immediately stand up when Katniss enters the room. Lorcan takes on the demeanour of someone who is in the presence of greatness, and Ottilia just looks scared. Ramsay and Verity continue to lounge in their seats. Peeta walks across to where Ramsay is seated and kicks the chair out from under him. Startled, Ramsay gets to his feet. Peeta stands nose to nose with him and tells him
"You always get up when a lady enters the room. Didn't your mother teach you that?!"
Verity gets the message and stands up, too.
Katniss is surprised at Peeta's actions and wonders what has motivated him to do that. It's not like him.
"You all know who this is. This is the person who has paid the highest price to gain Panem it's freedom. This is the person you will respect for the next two weeks while you train for the arena. This is also the person who may just save your life" Peeta says. He knows. Katniss saved his life more than once.
Katniss speaks.
"My name is Katniss Everdeen Mellark. I come from District 12. I am here to help my husband, Peeta, train you for the ordeal ahead. I know none of you are here by choice. Peeta was not given a choice when he entered the arena the first time either. I made the choice to enter the arena to save my sister. Either way, no one can predict what happens in the arena so you need to listen to our advice".
The Tributes remain silent and Peeta goes on.
"Katniss will help you with skills that involve climbing and hunting. There will be no weapons in the arena, but snares can be set and she is an expert in that area. She will also advise you on how to start a fire, for warmth and cooking, plus teach you about plants that can be safely eaten".
"Watch out for the poison berries" says Verity.
Peeta ignores her.
"I will assist you in the area of camouflage, shelter and will help to build up your strength and agility. Once you get into the arena you will pitted against each other and will need to know how to hide and escape if necessary".
The reality of the arena is now becoming more real to the Tributes. Peeta and Katniss decide that she will take the girls initially and he will take the boys. They head to different areas of the room to help them prepare. Ramsay refuses to speak to Peeta, but Lorcan has a question for him.
"How did you manage to win her over?" he asks. Lorcan is more interested in Peeta and Katniss' relationship than he is with the Games right now. He hopes to meet a girl one day and fall in love...despite the fact the odds are no longer in his favour.
Peeta looks at this tender aged boy and wonders himself. When was the moment that he finally won Katniss over? When did she finally realize that he meant as much to her as she meant to him? He takes a moment before he responds.
"A thousand tiny cuts to her heart and mine…that's what brought us together" says Peeta. "If it wasn't for Snow, his Games and his vengeance, Katniss and I might not be together today. It was sacrifice and suffering, not the games we played, that are the answer to that question" says Peeta.