The Rebel Queen

15

I turn my sword in my hand, watching as the two travelers feast on the rations we gifted them. I glance at them every once in a while, uneasy with the way that they just showed up in the forest this morning. These, "gladiators" as they call themselves, are unfamiliar to me. Peeta says that they began taking the able bodied, well muscled children from their homes and train them to kill one another for the entertainment of the Capital nobles. The freshly treated, formally festering wounds on the two no doubt confirm that and make me too sick to eat dinner tonight.

Johanna grew up in district seven, learning to swing an axe as soon as she could hold one upright to work in the lumber yards. Finnick, growing up in the southern fishing district of 4, has been able to throw and fight with a trident for nearly as long, selected for the arenas and other unmentionable exploitation at only 14. Both have been through hell and back and to be alive yet definitely proves that they are worthy warriors and good to have on my side logically.

But if I'm being honest with myself, I don't think they are telling me everything.

"So, how long have you been here Peeta?" Johanna asks and he shrugs, sketching out his cart blueprints to be given to Thresh.

"Two, almost three months," He says and she chuckles.

"I meant as a warrior, not in her highness' bed," She says and I glare at her.

"I have lived here, in this camp, for nearly three months, Johanna," he says and I glance between them. "I was friends with the Lady when we were children and she offered me shelter here, since being from the merchant class I was not very well received at first."

"Does she shag you?" She asks and I glare at her, stabbing my sword into the floor.

"She does not and even if she did, it is no business of yours," I snap and Finnick kind of chuckles. Johanna just sort of shrugs looking at the both of us.

"How does it feel, knowing this whole camp wants to sleep with you?" she asks and I kind of scoff, rolling my eyes.

"I don't think they all want to sleep with me," I say and she just laughs.

"Oh, sweetie, I wasn't talking to you," She says, winking at Peeta. Peeta kind of chuckles and I look over at him. "I mean, he could demand more than the rate the Capital charged for Finnick here and get it in a heartbeat."

"She flatters on of us and ticks off the other," Peeta says looking at Finnick. "She really doesn't know how to make an ally in the Queen."

"She is an honest one," Is all Finnick says and I shake my head, pulling my sword up from the ground and sheathing it. "Though I will say, your Lady is quite beautiful." I shake my head and pull my blanket around myself.

"I have no interest in you as a bedmate," I say and he smirks nodding towards Peeta.

"Because of the King, eh?" He says and I just blink at him.

"I am not the King," Peeta says. "My lady is unmarried and I am not bound to her." 

"Yeah, but you aren't a general and I'm guessing by how red the Queen's cheeks are turning and the two of you sitting on the only bed in here together," Finnick just sort of shrugs and I sigh. "I mean, from what I observed in the woods, it is pretty clear that she is grooming you to take on that role." Peeta glances at me and I sigh.

"It really doesn't matter," I say. "He is the one I rely on the most. He likely will take the role." I set my sheathed weapon to the  side. "So off the topic of you two making eyes at both of us, what can you offer me?"

"We can show you tomorrow if you like," Finnick says. "Let your royal eyes access our skills and determine where we fit into your army." Johanna laughs and shakes her head.