Chapter Forty-One: Harvest Festival

The train ride home was almost dull compared to the events of the last few days. Maize pretty much spent the entire ride in her room. Goldie seemed to have actually picked up on Maize's morose mood and instead of trying to cheer her up was giving her space. Her only -welcomed- company was Seeder. Her mentor had laid with Maize on the bed and held her when the eventual tears came.

And they had come.

The only other person to interrupt her was towards the end of the ride. After all, Orion hadn't spent the last week or so dolling her up so that Maize would finish up the Tour dressed in 'rags.'

When the train finally pulled into 11, Maize knew that she wouldn't get to hold her family in her arms until after the party in the evening for Harvest Festival. It was mandatory for all of the Districts to celebrate the Harvest Festival at the end of the Victory Tour. It was all filmed, though the focus was obviously on the winning Districts festivities, however, the screens would occasionally jump to see how the others -that is the elite members of each District- were celebrating the end of the Tour. For the first time in decades, it would be a public affair for her District. The Capitol would be throwing the party and all of 11 would be invited to celebrate. No one would hungry tonight. The thought alone was almost enough to banish her heartache.

Maize waved at the cheering crowds waiting for them at the station. She winked at a camera before allowing Goldie to usher her inside a car. The ride over to the Mayor's home was quick.

The dinner party was just as long and as boring as they had been in the other Districts. The only saving grace was when her family was finally invited inside after dinner. Seeing her excited brothers and sisters, all of them adorably dressed up, probably by her stylist crew, flitting around the elite of 11 and asking inquisitive questions was hilarious. Her mama looked gorgeous in a long ball gown and modest jewelry, her baba had also cleaned up very nicely in a matching suit.

The only members of her family missing were her youngest twin brothers. Mama quietly assured her that Balm and Gilead were being watched by a trustworthy babysitter that hadn't wanted to come to the festivities.

Where her siblings gaze made Maize feel like she was soaring... Baba's felt like they were piercing into her skull. Dark brown orbs searching her endlessly for answers that Maize didn't want to give him. But she knew her baba. He would hold his tongue for now, while they were in public, but once they were in the privacy of their home he would confront her. He wouldn't be able to handle not knowing. But knowing could possibly even be worse.

-It could destroy him-

Still, Maize didn't think she would be able to hide this from him.

Or even her mama at this point.

Because it wasn't just a vague possibility anymore.

It was happening. Real.

Still, the festival finally started unwinding and people started making their way out of the Mayor's home and the square. Goldie, Orion, and the stylists gave their tear-filled goodbyes and promised to get in touch with her soon before heading toward the town car for the train. She walks home with her family and mentors. Her brothers and sisters were tired but still filled with the excitement from the festivities danced around her, giggling about the things they'd seen and eaten. Baba was carrying her youngest sister in his arms, she had conked out half an hour ago, Lilac's now unruly curls bounced against his cheek with every step. Mama had entwined her arm with Maize's while her freehand held onto Hibis so that he wouldn't wander away.

Chaff drunkenly made up the end of their entourage, while Seeder confidently led the way home... Maize felt safe for the first time in two weeks.

Three hours after finally laying down in her own bed, a nightmare woke her up.

Maize crawled out of her sheets, wrapped herself up in the fluffiest one and stumbled through the dark house until she made it to the back door. The door barely even creaked as she opened and shut it behind her before sitting on the porch to stare out into the meadow. The sky wasn't nearly as dark as it had been when she'd gone to bed. The sun was only starting to hazily peak out on the horizon.

A cold draft blew against the house, it went right through the blanket and through her bones making her body tremble with shivers. She tightened the blanket around her frame though she wasn't in any hurry to move. Her eyes stayed locked onto the horizon. The backdoor creaked open and close. Maize peaked up and was captured by her baba's eyes. Hunched over, he looked as if he were carrying the burden of the world on his shoulders. Baba quietly joined her on the floor before putting his arm around her shoulders to pull her into a hug.

The smell of the earth and the spicy undertone that was purely her baba tickled her nose. It was familiar and comforting. Maize nuzzled under his chin and breathed out shakily. His grip tightened comfortingly.

"What happened?" baba's strong voice whispered, "Did they ask-"

"I have to report to the Capitol in one month." Maize interrupted.

Baba shuddered. She could see his free hand tremble angrily before balling into a fist, "Did they tell you why."

Maize shut her eyes, "One of my biggest S-Sponsor's became completely enamored with me during the Games. She begged for an evening alone with me." she whispered, "Her name's Blip, I think she's going to buy me dinner first. Something about showing me off to the public."

From where her ear was pressed up against her baba's chest, she could hear his heartbeat pick up furiously. "And after dinner."

"You know what will happen after dinner."

"Jamani!" he cursed angrily under his breath, "H-How dare- ujinga. Is it too late to refuse? I'm not going to let-"

"I'm going baba." Maize started strongly, "I'm going. It is my decision."

"You are my child." Baba spoke strongly, "My first baby, my daughter. Mine-"

"He promised." she interrupted him once more, "President Snow promised that they would never draw one of their names during the reapings."

"What?" he whispered brokenly.

"Birch. Brier, Piper... Hibis, Lilac, Balm and Gilead... we will never lose them to the Games." Maize stated serenely, "They still have to show up on Reaping day, but baba, their names will never be called."

A sob broke out of her baba's throat making Maize tense as her father wrapped both of his arms around her and buried his face into her wild hair. "Ma sweet mtoto. There is always a chance that they would not be called-"

"Baba if I don't do this, you will all die. He would make sure of it." she said strongly.

"I- I am so sorry. I can- cannot protect you." he muttered tearfully, "I have failed you."

Maize shook her head as she pulled out his arms and cupped his tear-stained cheeks, "Baba, without you- without you I wouldn't even have had the strength to leave the arena. Without you all, I would be nothing."

"You shouldn't have been in that arena in the first place." baba murmured brokenly, "Our children shouldn't have to be in that arena in the first place."

"I know baba." she whispered before leaning in towards his ear, "Things won't always be this way. Change is coming. I'm only, I only have to hold on for a little while three- four years at the most baba." Maize promised as she moved away and locked eyes with him once more, "This way, we can all live to see it together."

"My beautiful, strange, brave, strong baby girl." he sighed wetly before pressing a kiss onto her forehead. Maize returned his embrace and closed her eyes.

In her baba's arms, nothing could hurt her.

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