The Rebel Queen

8

My body slowly starts to wake, reflexively trying to move only for comfort. I feel my companion's arm still laid over me, his fingers gripped in mine. His breath is warm and steady against my bare shoulder. I sigh and cuddle closer to his warm chest and sigh, knowing that this cannot last forever, but not wanting to be the one to stop it. 

My legs curl back as try to settle in again and Peeta groans in his sleep, moving a little and his hand grips tighter in mine. His face moves from my shoulder and his lips graze my ear.

"How on earth are your damn feet blocks of ice under a bearskin, next to a fire, sharing a bed?" He groans and I sigh. "I've barely gotten any rest with you kicking me all night." I glance at him and place my hand over his face.

"Like you are one to talk," I say, pushing his face away and sitting up, "That damn stubble patch of a beard you have was scratching and tickling my back all night." I throw the blanket back at him and get up. 

"Oh please," He says, chuckling and sitting up himself. "You hardly stirred after we laid down." I walk around the last embers of the night's fire and to my trunk. "What are you doing. It's still dark out."

"Not for long," I say, glancing at the opening of the tent above us, the deep indigo sky already starting to turn a periwinkle from the eastword rising sun. "Get dressed and some food in your belly. I'll take you to the sparring clearing at first true light." Peeta rolls over and grabs a shirt and trousers. He starts getting dressed in fresh clothing and I grab a tunic and leggings. 

"Would you like me to grab you anything?" He asks, lacing his shoes behind me. I glance at him and shrug. 

"You may bring me an apple or pear," I say. "Nothing too heavy. It would only slow me down. I suggest you follow the same rules."  Peeta chuckles gets up.

"Two apples it shall be then, Lady," He says. "I'll leave you to change in privacy." I glance at him and he ducks out of the tent. I watch the deer skin fall and duck behind my changing blind. I slide the straps of my white cotton nightgown off my shoulders, leaving me in just a thong. I look down at the blood streaked garment and pick it up running my fingers across Peeta's blood, exhaling a ragged breath. Knowing I drew this blood against someone who took an axe to his chest for me, even if it was in a dream, it does not set well on my conscience, even if Peeta sees no blame on my part. 

Shaking my head, I toss it to the side, pulling on my leggings My tunic follows and I pull my hair out, letting it fall down my back. I hear the rustle of the tent and I glance back seeing Peeta ducking his way back in. I look back at my hung up gear as I tie my top around my body, securing my breasts down. I grab my leather waist guard and bwrap it around my middle, starting to lace it up.

"Are you just going to leer at me over there or bring me the breakfast you brought?" I ask and he slowly walks over and sets an apple in my outstretched hand. I knot the top of my belt and turn around, facing him. "Do you know what you would like to practice with first?" 

"I do not," He says. "I have studied hand to hand combat, but truthfully, never even held the weapons before you handed them to me." I set down my apple and grab my brush, pulling my hair over my shoulder. I roughly remove knots and start braiding it. 

"We will practice with staffs and shields then, so I might access your instincts in basic maneuvering," I tie a strip of leather around the end of my braid and toss it over my shoulder. I step into flat slippers and grab my apple. I pick up my shield, showing Jörmungandr circling the outer ring and gesture at the round wooden shield he had left with his own weapons. "Grab your shield. We will march to the sand pit now." 

I walk past Peeta and duck out of the tent. I take a bite of my apple and look around, the camp, listening to the still silence for the most part. I walk across the cool ground, looking into the trees as I pass. I stop at a tree with staffs laid against it I grip two in my hands and toss them back at Peeta.