Never Leave Me Alone

Chapter 1

Katniss

"Mother, do I have to?" I say as one of my maids braids my long hair.

"You want what is best for your kingdom, don't you?" She asks.

"Of course I do," I say.

"Then as you know, the marriage of you and the Duke of Merchan, the King of Panem's eldest son, is very important to keeping us a float."

"But Prince Peeta is so awkward," I say. "Last time I saw him, he put a live frog in my soup."

"And if I recall, that is because you put a squirrel tail in his duvet while he was out riding," my mother chides.

"Hey, that was funny," I say. "A live frog leaping down my bodice however, was not."

"Katniss, you had nothing for it to crawl down. You were barely twelve," she chides. "You both have grown up now. Sixteen and mature. Both of you are so beautiful."

"People don't change so easily mother," I say. "We don't like one another. You and his family have decided that we were destined for one another. We dispise one another."

"You both are skilled equestrians and hunters," My mother puts in and I roll my eyes in the mirror.

"Yes, I suppose that every prince desires a woman who can snare foxes and race horses," I say sarcastically. "They want a dainty lass who will sew together shirts and lay in their beds waiting to bare sons. That isn't me mother!" I get up and lay my hand on the pieces of adornments I wish to wear for my journey. "How will I know if he'd even like me? We didn't get along at all as kids despite you and his majesty's efforts."

"Katniss, you are beautiful," she says. "What more could a prince want in his bride?" Before I can respond, a servant comes to me with a letter, the Royal Seal of the kingdom to the north on it, my name written in a man's careful script. I carefully open it and sit upon the window sill to read.

My Future Bride,

I have heard a lot about you due to correspondence between his majesty and your mother. Though I remember that we did not find much to be jolly about in one another upon our former meetings, I do anticipate hearing your talents in music and archery. I am well aware that the two of us are in agreement on one thing.

This betrothal is against both of our wishes. But as it is both our duties, we will fulfill this marriage as our parents aranged long ago to secure our kingdoms into a friendship with one another. I pray too, that we would also find at least friendship in our own lives together, here in Panem. This land is very different than the one you know, and I hope to do my best to make you feel at home and cared for. Though if I remember correctly, the heir to Seam's thone is perfectly capable of caring for herself in her own right.

I await your arrival with patience and virtue, and hopefully a love for Your Highness.

Safest Journey and Best Wishes to You,

Peeta Mellak, Duke of Merchan, Prince of Panem

I am about to toss the letter when I see a small inscription at the bottom.

As an after thought, Your Highness might also take pleasure in knowing that I have turned your generous gift of our last meeting into a lovely riding cap for you upon your arrival. Hope it gives us a little joy, huh Katie? A laugh upon our meeting?

I roll my eyes and set down the letter. A personal jab like that? He knows I hate being called Katie, especially when he does it. It was a personalized jab at me. I huff and stand up.

"A letter from His Highness?" My mother ask and I nod.

"Yes, he is oh so enthusiastic for his bride to arrive to the island from her little mountain home," I say. "He thinks he is funny."

"He's only trying to make you smile," she says. "You don't need to be so tart."

"He called me Katie!" I say. "I know that he's blonde, but he knew what he was doing. It was a direct taunt!"

"Katniss Everdeen, it has been 5 years!" She says. "If he wants to call you Katie, you will happily come to that name." I look down.

"Mother, he knows how much it bothers me," I say. "You think he would respect my wishes." She sighs and instructs the servants to start loading my trunks.

"Katniss, your father would want you to be happy," she says. "Don't dwell on the past. Just go and do your duty. Meet your betrothed as an adult and learn to love him as we all do. You will need to do that for you to ever feel happy."

"I will," I say dipping my head to her. "I know that is is my duty and privilege to marry the Duke. I know that I may not like. I may never like it. But my father decreed that I would do this. In his name, I follow those orders." I bow to her. "Your Majesty."

"Your Highness," she bows back. She kisses my cheek and smiles. "I wish you all the best."

"Thank you," I say. "This place will always be my home." I turn and wipe a tear from my eye as I straighten my pale orange demask. I follow my ladies from the room and out of the palace. The birds sing in the trees as I am helped up, into my carrige and I smile softly to myself as I clutch my father's ring in my pocket. I am following his wishes. If he believed Peeta was what was best for me, I must go proudly.

"Your Highness," one of my escorts says. "We have arrived at the dock."

"We will be there by sunset, correct?" I ask.

"Yes, M'lady," he says. "You can see the forests from here in fact." I look out across the water to see the lush green of Panem, a beautiful land I must admit, full of wildlife and farm land alike.

"Shall we then," I say walking across the stone ground. I start up the ramp, my ladies following me as we board. I take a seat on board. I look out at the water, sighing.

All right your Highness. Your princess is on her way. Tgis had better be worth it.