The Rebel Queen

22

The ride home from 12 is chatty for my taste, ideas about what can be done with what was left. Even Gale seems in high spirits, joking with Johanna about what had happened on their part of the excursion. Boggs and Finnick talk about the untarnished wood pile they had found along with ideas for the metal scrap piles left from the ruined hovercrafts.

Peeta and I are silent as we lead them away. I ride behind him, my arms around his middle and holding tight to him as I think of everything that happened on our own experience of the war torn home we once knew. I can feel his heart beating as my hand rests against his chest and I rest my head against his back, exhausted by the swell of emotions that came as I looked upon that crumbled stone house.

"You okay?" I ask and he glances back at me.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He asks and I stare at him a while. I brush his hair from his neck and sigh.

"It isn't that I won't marry you someday," I say. Peeta looks behind us to make sure no one is overhearing us. He sighs, shaking his head.

"It isn't as though I was proposing, Katniss," He says. 

"But there is a ring," I say and he shrugs. "Meant for me when the time comes. There has been for years."

"Don't look too far into it," Peeta says, looking forward again. "Yes, it was made for you, but when I made it," He sighs, "I had no idea you would ever actually hold it in your hand."

"You loved me a long time, huh?" I whisper. "Loved me alot to sneak away to my house to paint and draw, to bury an engagement ring in a fireplace in the hopes I might see it in the after life." He is silent and I just grip my arms around his middle.

"As long as I have known you," He admits and I sigh, laying my head against his back. 

"You know, if I had any idea of what love was supposed to feel like," I whisper and he shakes his head. 

"You have had a lot of heartache and tragedy in your life," Peeta says softly. "A lot of pain from loving and losing people close to you. I will never judge you for not being able to say it while I have been certain so long." I feel a tear run down my cheek and he reaches back, tilting my chin up. "I only wish I can make you happy."

"It makes me happy to have you close to me," I say and he smiles, brushing my hair from my face.

"Then I too, am happy Moonlight," Peeta replies and rest my tired head on his shoulder. Our journey back is slow, but thankfully nearly over. The horse rocks into the camp and I can hear the light rumblings of people as they stirr in the morning light that has started seeping through the trees. I look around and notice Tigris standing outside our tent.

"I was hoping to be able to finally get some rest," I sigh and Peeta shakes his head. 

"Afraid that doesn't appear to be the case, Lady," He says and I sit up. Duke stops in front of Darius and Peeta hands him the reins, sliding off the horse and then turning to help me down. I swing my leg over and slide into his arms as my feet hit the ground. I turn to my council and nod.

"Go get some rest and meet tomorrow to begin resource planning," I say. They nod in response and begin dismounting their horses as I rest my hand on Peeta's arm to walk towards our tent.

"What do you suppose she wants?" Peeta asks and I sigh.

"Hopefully no more of this blood and wolf's den nonsense," I say. "I think it has already caused us enough dread tonight" 

"Lord," She says, bowing, "Lady. A pleasant trip I hope?" I just stare at her and glance at Peeta.

"Not exactly," I admit. "But not exactly as bad as it could have been."