The Rebel Queen

7

I'm stuck in a nightmare again, surrounded by bloody fighting. The screams of warriors and horses alike ring in my ears. I hold steady to the blade in my hands, feeling blood from the other's slashing falling on my bare arms. I strike out at a dark, faceless enemy, decapitating him  and turning, thrust my weapon through another. I feel someone at my back and I turn, looking into the blue eyes of my friend.

"What are you doing here?" I ask and he blinks at me silently. "You don't belong here." Peeta looks over my shoulder and suddenly swings his hammer above my head. I wince, waiting for the strike, but I don't feel it. Only hear the loud crack of the enemy's skull is impacted and the blood splatters across my cheek. I look back as the shadowy enemy crumples to the ground at my heels. I take a step back, feeling his chest against my shoulders. 

I tremble and grip hard on my sword. My eyes dart around, looking at the battle around me. My heart feels like it is beating out of my chest. The shadows around me draw weapons and I feel Peeta's arm fall acrows me, the war hammer still gripped tight in his fist. I feel his heart beating in time with mine, against my back. He too, is afraid. But his courage makes me grip my weapon harder and I tip my head up to look at him.

"Release me," I say. Peeta, or at least this silent, dream's interpretation, only grips tighter to me. "At least let me cover your back as you have covered mine." His grip loosens a little and I duck beneath his arm and press my back against his, weapon drawn. Enemies begin attacking and I feel myself continuously hitting my mark and drawing more and more enemies in this endless nightmare. 

My body start to tire and weaken, but still the horde of shadows doesn't stop. The ground beneath my bare feet grows slick and unstable beneath me. I slip and fall. An axe swings, coming down to me and I close my eyes, waiting for the pain of the strike. I insead hear the sound of cutting flesh and blood rains down upon me. I look up and see the shadow's blade sunk into Peeta's chest. 

"No!" I wail. My scream echos through the battle, everything around us dissipating, the shadow creatures no more and their weapons clattering to the blood soaked ground. Peeta groans and collapses at my side, his blue eyes wide and sightless. I feel rain starting to fall around us, hot and sticky, more blood falling as I kneel at my dead partner's side. Screaming in agony, my pale golden dress soaked in blood, I crawl over him, tears streaming down my face. I cry and scream at the sky, my hands clasped in his bloody shirt.

"Katniss," I hear a soft, gentle voice says from the darkness. 

His voice. 

I look down and notice that his body is gone and the blood is receding into the earth. The weapons have disappeared and my clothes are no longer bloody. I put my hands beneath me and slowly stand up, my long, pale green gown fluttering in the breeze. I look around, but see no one, not even an enemy."

"Where are you?" I call out, only hearing my own voice echoing back. 

"Katniss," I hear him call after some time. "Wake up. It is only a dream." I look around, still seeing no one. 

"I can't!" I cry. "There is nothing here, no way out. I've tried a hundred times. I can never wake on my own accord." I feel arms around me suddenly and tears run down my cheeks. I close my eyes, waiting for the beast to destroy me.

I open my eyes to see his brilliant blue eyes staring down at me. I gasp, breathing heavily, my body trembling. There is a bleeding cut across his arm and I can see my dagger tossed off to the side.Peeta looks calmly at me as he kneels over me, his hands holding onto my arms firmly. I feel tears running down my cheeks and Peeta just smiles at me. 

"Are you okay?" He asks softly and I feel my body shudder a little as I let out a choking sob. My hands reach up and grab onto his arms. "Hey, it's okay. It was just a dream." I sit up and grip onto him, pulling him against me. Peeta is clearly taken aback a little, but he slowly hugs me back. His arms are firm and strong, arming my shivering, terrified body."It's okay. I'm here. Nothing will hurt you. I'm here."