An Ode to Her - Coriolanus Snow

Chapter 5

Gem of Panem
Mighty city
Through the ages you shine anew

Hearing the song sung by someone other than The Grandma'am was refreshing, but Coriolanus winced at knowing it was coming from Carolina. She sounded bored, annoyed even. Her voice had none of its usual huskiness or emotion. When she was done, there was an overwhelming applause, though Carolina just stood stone-faced. She did not like the song, Coriolanus could tell. Sejanus stood next to him, hands folded neatly in front of his abdomen. He leaned over and whispered something unintelligible in Coriolanus's ear.

"Hm?"

"She isn't leaving," Sejanus said more clearly now. Coriolanus realized he hadn't been paying attention very well, for he was too distracted with his thoughts. He looked up, and his girl certainly was not leaving. She stared into the sea of mourning faces. But she didn't look pitiful, she looked angry.

Carolina cleared her throat and spoke into the mic. "I'm not supposed to say anythin' more, but..." She looked around uneasily, but her face was stern and set. "I wanted to sing another song for y'all." The crowd murmurs in confusion. Another song? He met her gaze, and she smiled softly.

"It's an ode," she started. "A little somethin' I wrote for a very special someone. It's a goodbye, in a way. I feel as though it fits this very sad occasion today." She began to slowly strum the guitar in a melodic way.

Was this for him? For Coriolanus? He wanted to die.

You see the starved look in my eyes
How can you not turn homeward?
Fall back, though we still try
I'm scared you'll grow bored

The Capitol people, who were previously angered or confused, were listening intently. Who could she be singing about?

For I am stuck in a cage,
And you roam about free
But I stand on this stage,
And I beg for the key

Maybe it wasn't about anyone. Maybe he was over analyzing things.

So while I am living, and while I am kind
I ask you to hold me for one last time
Like the rain, or the fresh fallen snow,
I promise to love you wherever I go

Snow? No, now there was no doubt about it. She looked directly at him as she said the line. This song was about Coriolanus, and he reveled in it. And did she love him? Did she think about him as much as he thought about her?

When she was done singing, there was a moment where Coriolanus was sure she would be dragged off of the stage and thrown back into the zoo, but instead people clapped and cheered, even urging her to sing another. But President Ravinstill thanked her and she was sent away. They placed her into a car and she was driven back to the Capitol Zoo, where Coriolanus was hoping he would be very soon. The Games would be upon them in a few days, each passing minute a stressful reminder that he could lose her.

"She's quite the entertainer," Sejanus observed as they filed back to the Academy for another mentor meeting that Coriolanus could actually be apart of.

"Wouldn't expect much less," Coriolanus said proudly. "It's who she is."

"I'd say you got the pick of the litter, then." Sejanus takes a seat next to the blond, stuffing his hands into his uniform pockets casually. "You don't have to suffer knowing that you couldn't do anything to help her because she can't stand the sight of you."