This is a songfic for "My Love Has Gone Across the Sea" from The Wingfeather Saga. By the way, the novel Annie reads is The Lord of the Rings.
Disclaimer: Suzanne Collins owns The Hunger Games and Andrew Peterson owns The Wingfeather Saga.
My love has gone across the sea
To find a country far and fair.
He sailed into the gilded west
And now my heart will never rest
"Annie, I have something to tell you, and it's not going to be easy. Finnick's gone. I'm sorry."
"He's dead?" Annie felt as if a current had sucked her out to sea, where the waves tossed her about. Finnick was gone. It wasn't like his Hunger Games where there was a slim chance he might come back to her. He was dead.
Until my love returns to me
Or I set out to find him there
Annie walked down to the ocean every day. She missed the days when she would sit on the seashore with Finnick. He would talk about his work on the fishing boat and she would work on a length of fishnet or practice her macramé. More often than not, Finnick would bring a flower to put in her hair.
Now it was just her. She looked out at the horizon, the wind blowing her hair. Panem was no longer the tyrannical nation it had once been. President Paylor was working to restore the country to its former state before the Dark Days, when it had been known as America. A committee of historians had found documents from the distant past. Among them were novels about anything from mysteries to historical fiction to fantasy worlds. Annie decided to give one of the fantasy novels a try. It was quite long, and it took multiple attempts for her to finish it, but it was worth it. Annie especially liked the ending where the mythical earth was restored to its beautiful, peaceful state when the rightful king took the throne. Rebuilding was necessary, of course, and it took time, but eventually the world was transformed. It was a lot like what happened in Panem.
What also intrigued her was the main character sailing across the sea at the end of his life to a country where he would live forever in happiness. Annie wondered if that was where Finnick had gone, and if she could follow him in a boat across the ocean. But not now, she thought, placing a hand on her stomach. There will be another Odair on the way soon.
"Come home, come home," I sing to thee,
"Come home, come home and rest thy head."
I'll watch for you the winter long
And sing for you a summer song.
Annie went to the seashore every day to watch the ocean. She scanned the horizon, as if waiting for a ship to bring Finnick home to her. As her belly grew with each passing month, she talked to her unborn child about his father. She sang traditional songs of District 4 to her baby. When little Finn was born, she did something she hadn't done before: she talked to Finnick. She knew he probably couldn't hear her, but she thought there might be a chance he was watching his little family. "I wish you could be here to meet your son in person. I cherish every moment I have with him. He reminds me so much of you. Caring for him keeps me grounded."
And if you can't return to me
Then I will sail to you instead.
Watching Finn grow up was therapeutic for Annie. Seeing him play reminded Annie of what the rebellion was fought for. The children of the next generation would never have to see war.
The years seemed to fly by. Time was funny, Annie thought. Each single moment can seem like an eternity, but after years pass, you find yourself wondering how it took you by surprise. Finn had a girlfriend now. Theia had a friendly personality, and Annie already looked upon her as a daughter. They got engaged when Finn was twenty.
After Finn married Theia, Annie knew her son was as happy as earthly life would make him. As for Annie, there was a hole in her heart that had never truly healed. She knew the only way to remedy it was to be reunited with Finnick. And since he couldn't come back to her, she would go to him. She would sail into the west like in her book. Finn had a whole life ahead of him; he could follow his parents later. Annie knew it was her time.
Through towering waves and shriek of gale
I'll aim my vessel ever west
And steer it by the cord that bound
My heart to yours until you're found
Annie untied the family's old fishing dory and pushed it out into the gentle waves. She climbed in, knowing only that she was heading west to the Undying Lands. She was going to see Finnick again! A light entered her brilliant green eyes as she thought about what lay ahead of her.
Within an hour, a storm blew in. Annie fought to keep control of her small vessel, but it was not designed to hold up in the monstrous waves she was facing. The dory was swamped, but still Annie clung to the sides and kicked with her feet. Even though her life was in danger, she still wanted to reach the western shore and see Finnick again.
Another wave, taller than any yet, crashed down on her and separated her from her flotation device. Annie let the salty water take her. "I'm coming, Finnick," she said with her last breath.
And should you find my body pale
And wrecked upon the loamy shale,
Rejoice, my love, and call me blessed;
In death, my love, I loved you best.
Finn and Theia frantically asked their neighbors if they had seen Annie. One old man who went by the nickname Codger told them that he had seen Annie take a dory down to the beach. Finn and Theia searched the shore for any sign of Annie or the boat. All they found were some beaten-up wooden boards. "Could they be from the dory?" Theia asked with trepidation.
"It's impossible to tell," Finn said, putting his arm around his wife.
"I knew your mother had been a little mentally unstable for years, but I always thought she was doing a lot better ever since she had you," Theia said.
"I did too," sighed Finn. "I guess she still struggled, but felt like she had to hide it from us."
"And now she's disappeared," Theia moaned. "We'll never find out what happened to her."
A strong ocean breeze blew past them, pulling at their clothes and ruffling their hair. "I have a feeling she's with my father now," Finn murmured.
News of Annie's uncertain fate spread throughout District 4. Most people dismissed it as a tragic end to a poor mad girl, but those who had known Annie never stopped hoping. They knew that one day she would either turn up safe and sound at Finn and Theia's house, or else she had indeed sailed to the far western shore and was at long last reunited with her beloved Finnick. There were days when the sea turned the color of Annie's eyes. The people took that as a sign that Annie was happy, wherever she was.
Rejoice, my love, and call me blessed;
In death, my love, I loved you best.