The Rebel Queen

25

I sit with my bow in my hand, running my fingers along the grains of the wood. A meal of roast rabbit sets over the fire and I glance across it to look at Kolby, tilting my head a little. I glance at Peeta and sigh, setting down the weapon.

"How did you survive?" I ask and Kolby chuckles looking at his brother.

"She's quite direct," He says and I flick a finger against the bowstring.

"I find it is best to be," I say. "Unlike this one, I do not take joy in hearing my own voice like a bird." 

"May I raise you a question, Lady?" He says, dipping his head to the side a little, almost mockingly. "How did you? Because between a 23 year old man and a half starved 11 year old girl, my bets would be on me." I look at Peeta and smirk, glancing back at the fire. 

"Your brother helped me, gave me rations," I say. "I ran through the forest carrying that and a dream that I would be free. After training long and hard, the camp seer visioned victory on the back of a valkyrie. So I was named Queen." I grab up a piece of dried apple and blink at him, bitting it softly. "Now you." Kolby chuckles and picks up his own piece of fruit.

"I was out slopping the pigs when the fire began to rain down. The bakery was one of the first buildings to go," He glances at his brother and sighs. "Mother, Father, and Leif were still inside. I ran for the cellar. By the time the ground had stopped shaking, I found my way to the woods, but trampled ground just lead in every direction. So I prayed to the dead gods." I blink at him when this happens and glance at Peeta.

"Who?" He asks and Kolby looks at us. 

"Just about everyone, honestly," He says, "Not that it seemed to me anyone gave a shite enough to answer."

"They rarely do in my experience," I say. "But someone did, or else you would not have added this to your tale. So who was it that guided you through the snow storms, who fed you when you hungered, and sheltered you from the cold?" He looks at me and smirks nodding.

"Freya," He says and I look over at him. 

"The great beauty showed pity on you and guided you through the winter?" I say and he looks at me.

"She gave me the sight," He says and I start to laugh.

"Kolby, you ask an awful lot of questions for a seer," I say. "Not to mention, the only seers I've heard worth a damn have been eternal maidens and I'm pretty sure we know that you are not that." Peeta looks at his brother, tilting his head a little.

"I don't think he's lying, Katniss," He says. "You and I both know that the gods are not always what they seem." Kolby looks between us and lights a cigarette he must have bummed off one of the soldiers.

"You also know I'm not lying when I say this," He says. "You dreamed a dream of floating dandelions, glowing in the meadow. It is where you feel peace. It is what fell over you the night you fell between the willow trees. The silver eyed one protected you from the cold, did she not?" I look at Peeta and shift a little. 

"Is that true?" He asks and I reach for my necklace, holding the bird on my palm.

"I never told anyone that," I say softly. "I dreamed of that place often as a child, but I could never," I glance at Peeta, "I haven't dreamed of that meadow since then, had so few a peaceful dream like that." I let the pendent fall and look over at Kolby. "You would do well not to push that far again."

"Of course," He says, "Just proving a point. Believe me now, Lady?" Peeta sighs and gets up.

"Dinner should be ready," He says, grabbing up the rabbit. I glance at Peeta and glance at the ribbon of red leather binding my hair.