The Rebel Queen

12

I stand in the map room and listen as Gale, Haymitch, and Boggs arguing about different battle strategies. I run my fingers along the edge of the paper and sigh, tired of the arguing. It is getting heated and no one is asking me a thing. Not that I have much in put. I mean, not a thing has happened in weeks save for a few sightings of hovercrafts flying over and completely missing our snow covered tents. 

Peeta's plans for the food stores has been taken well and has done exactly as I hoped in helping up his reputation. The idea of smoking and salting the meats and storing what little plant life was left through hot jaring has nearly doubled the food we would have had now, a month into winter. 

He holds me so close at night I sometimes almost feel lost when they are not there. I love the feel of his body pressed to mine and the way he cradles mine into him. He has not pushed the issue of doing anything more intimate and while I am glad for it, my imagination sometimes runs a little rampant when he holds me especially close and I can feel something pressing against my backside or my leg.

I roll my eyes and rest my head on my fist as I sit there. Gale nudges my arm and I look up at him. He looks a little grumpy, but I just stand back up straight and straighten my skirt. 

"You wouldn't be so tired if you weren't up all night listening to that snowflake spout off nonsense about the food shortage," He kind of grumbles and I roll my eyes. 

"Well, you can't fault the fact that we have not yet wanted for food this winter," I say. 

"I do enjoy the smoked birds that have come from the smokehouse," He admits and I smirk.

"You just still don't like him because he's rooming with me," I say. "You are very petty that way." The others look at me and I tilt my head a little. "Oh have you decided to stop behaving like children?" 

"Lady, we were only discussing our next move," Boggs says and Haymitch kind of growls in his throat.

"In the dead of winter?" Haymitch says and I nod.

"Yes, I agree that launching a full scale attack in the winter would be foolish," I say looking at the old drunk. "You taught me that when you trained me. But I might also suggest we try to strengthen the borders we have and perhaps go on another supply raid." 

"And steal more from people who are not getting anything?" Boggs asks. "You know that the rails are frozen and your blonde friend has told us that they just don't come. That's how he came up with the processing that the mess tent is using."

"Yes, and thank the gods for him having such a plan," I say, walking around the men across from me. "We would all do well to listen to him, wouldn't we." I shake my head. "When I speak of a raid, I speak of different supplies than food. What I mean, is we go back to twelve and gather anything and everything that is usable in some way. There is a lot of rubble and wood as well as a ruined fence laying against the trees that could be used to help secure us a little more. Especially from hungary predators." 

"How?" Gale says. "That would take days to lug back and forth. Even with all the horses in camp, it would take forever."  I look at him and glance at the door of the tent.

"Peeta! I know you are eavesdropping out there!" I call. "Come in and tell them how this would work."  The door rustles and Peeta comes in and walks to my side. He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, making a blush rise to my cheeks.

"Why have you invited him here?" Gale asks and I look over at him. 

"He has served these people without thinking of himself for the entire time he has been here," I say. "He has every right to be in on this council. I trust him to direct us. He has lived under Capital rule until just recently. He knows and remembers better than us how they think." Peeta smiles and carefully lets my hand drop, but still clutches it beneath the table.