The Fire Inside

Amoret

The wing was filled with people. Mor stayed hidden in the back.

Caroline was sitting at the table, talking with a man and woman who came to meet her before everyone left in a few hours. Every kid had someone to meet before leaving today. Camille and Finnick were sitting with their daughter in her cot as she curled up into herself. She never liked crowds.

"Hey, Amoret," Ivelle came over and sat with her. "Oh, my God, there's so many people here," she whispered.

"I know," she curled further into herself. "I want to go back to just us and the nurses." She looked at her parents. "And you two."

Finnick smiled and kissed Kova's forehead. "I love you."

She turned away with a red face.

The last of Mor's and Ivelle's things were taken out the morning before, and soon Mor would change from her pajamas to the clothes her father brought her from the palace. They included a light pink sweater, a black pair of jean pants, white boots that match her coat, and a pair of pink gloves. "Ivelle, is Caroline leaving soon?"

"I think so," she murmured. "When everyone else does, I guess. I'm supposed to stay until everyone else leaves and at the end of the day, I'm going home with Nurse Izzy. But the wing's going to be so empty while everyone's gone."

"I know. I'm sorry, I've." Mor leaned back into her parent's embrace.

"Hey, Ivelle," Camille caught her attention and the girl nodded her head. "What is it you'll be doing until the end of the day?"

"I think just staying in the wing and biding time, ma'am."

Camille nodded. "Well, Kova could use a friend, adjusting to the palace and all. And all the other kids need to leave soon. Would you like to come, for the day, then Nurse Elise could take you back to the hospital so Nurse Izzy could take you home?"

"I...Would that be okay?" She looked in between the king and queen before looking down in respect.

"Of course, honey," Camille patted her back, hugging onto her daughter. "And you can look me in the face if you're comfortable, okay? You don't need to bow your head."

Ivelle smiled, still looking at her hands. Glancing up through her eyelashes, she said, "Mor, are you alright with that?"

"Yes," she said with a grin. "Then you can suffer with me."

Finnick gasped, hugging her tightly and leaning back abruptly, kissing Kova's face. "Suffer?"

"I don't mean it like that, sir," she giggled. "Just nervous is all, and I don't know what to expect."

"Well, let's see." Finnick sat back up straight, looking at both teenage girls. "There's going to be a crowd to the car, but everyone's going to be walking out at once so don't feel any pressure. Ivelle, that's going to be completely new to you, and Kove you've only done it once, but you don't need to interact with the press. Then when we actually get to the palace, the gates will make sure that no pushy crowds can get to you two, I promise. We'll stop at the main doors, and go in the front, then we'll go show you your room, Kova. You'll meet some people, and you can spend the rest of the day exploring. Then at the end of the day, Ivelle, Elise is going to go home and she'll drop you off with Nurse Izzy, and Kova we'll have dinner with your whole family. Does that sound okay?"

Mor nodded. Ivelle giggled. "That's a busy day, sir."

He smiled at her, hugging his wife and daughter. "Always is, at the palace."

Caroline finished talking to her foster parents and came over to her best friends. "We're leaving soon," she started crying. "I don't wanna go."

Mor got up and hugged her. "I don't want you to leave."