Trapped in the Consequence of Time

The Capitol - Peeta's POV

I grabbed Katniss as she started to thrash about. It was the fifth time tonight and we had only gone to bed three hours ago.

"Katniss, it's okay. It's not real. Wake up Katniss. Wake up." I whispered and her eyes flew open as she grabbed my shirt and pressed her face into it. "Want to talk?" I asked gently rubbing her back as her body raked with sobs.

"I saw the kids." She sobbed, "they were with us and we were at this castle and it was pouring down with rain and Harry was there talking to this man and... And..." I held her closer as she started to cry even harder. "They were talking about somebody and how they were dead and then there was a noise and Willow started screaming and Harry turned around and looked absolutely terrified and the when I turned I saw this guy and he was drenched in blood and holding this head and then he looked up at us and had these empty eyes that had lost all hope and were dead eyes like Rue and Prim and then he reached up as if to grab somebody and Willow took this step towards him and he grabbed her and then I woke up."

"Shh." I whispered to her. "It's not real."

"I know but it makes me think of what could be happening to her now, and if she's okay."

"She's a fighter. So is Rye they'll be back before you know it." I held her until she drifted off to sleep again and then brushed her hair out of her eyes. "They'd better be back." I mumbled as I kissed her forehead and lay down next to her. "I hope you haven't lied to me." I closed my eyes and was swallowed by darkness.

"Who are you?" The voice was familiar and very demanding.

"Peace." said another voice "I know times are difficult but I mean no harm young wizard. I am Merlin and you are?" There was silence for a minute and I struggled to open my eyes. I was in a rocky cave at the top of a hill, from the caves entrance I could see the glittering sea reflecting back the silver moon and a few houses nestled in the fields between the hill and the sea and a small beach where boats were pulled up high and flicking fires lit up the silhouettes of human shapes running around to reach the boats that had just come in. I turned around to see that the cave went back far and the floor was covered in moss and grass making a very comfortable carpet, another flickering fire was set in the middle of the cave casting long shadows against the walls and a man in a long cloak and a woollen tunic with wool shoes was standing just behind it with his arms wide out and a wand in his right hand and staff in his left.

"Merlin. The Merlin?" Ron didn't sound so sure of himself anymore I looked to my right to see him standing up and pointing his wand uncertainty at Merlin.

"Can I have your autograph?" Said a voice behind me and I turned around to a black haired boy with brown eyes and a mischievous grin looking pleadingly at Merlin while tapping his wand against his leg.

"James!" Snapped Willow next to him hitting him in the arm and scowling.

"What!?" James said looking at her imploringly.

"You don't go around asking for people autographs you should know that."

"How many people are going to have Merlin's autograph though?"

"Please stop flirting." Ron intervened before Willow could say something else.

"But Uncle Ron." James moaned.

"What is an autograph?" Merlin asked and we all looked at him. "And you still haven't told me who you are."

"Uhmm I'm Ron, this is my nephew James and Willow-" Ron started nervously glancing at James as he said nephew. I could see why he looked about the same age as when I saw him last, eighteen, while James looked about the same age as Willow who still looked fifteen possibly a little older. It must look weird to Merlin having a bunch of teens with a middle aged man a thought occurred to me and I glanced down at myself. I was eighteen again.