Chapter Text
The day after my last reaping passes quietly, normally the kids on the district that turn 18 and pass their last reaping have a big party, it means the start of adulthood, where you can finally stop worrying about getting into an arena and start building your own life and family. I have none of that because Prim still has 4 more to go and I can't find it in myself to celebrate until she's out of that glass bowl too.
I celebrate in my own quiet way, I don't wake up at the crack of dawn for starters. But when I do I am a little out of place, I have spent the last 6 years waiting for the next reaping so... what now? What does a girl from the Seam do when she's not waiting to die? I can't go to the mines, I would have three panic attacks just trying to get in, there are cleaning jobs in town but I couldn't do that to save my life, I barely keep myself clean. Some of the girls on the Seam can marry rich if they're pretty and smooth, which I'm not so that's not even an option for me. All I know how to do is shoot arrows with the bow, but that doesn't keep three people dressed, fed and roofed for long enough. There's no plan, not really.
Prim goes to Class because we have three more days until the 76th Hunger Games start, and my mom stays at home just doing her thing like always, in her own world. So I go on a hunt so we can have food for the next days. Before the sun goes down I'm back home. We eat dinner while Prim talks about her day, so when the knock comes I looked surprised at my mom. At first I think it could be Gale, the miners have just finished their turns, I don't necessarily want to see him because lately he's been acting weird, like he's waiting for something. But when I open the door I find Otho Mellark.
I have seen him a bunch of times, he usually trades me for the squirrels, and Peeta, his youngest son is a copy of him. His eyes are the sam eplae blue, but they're not as soft as his son's, same thick blonde hair even if his is now more gray than anything. He does have the same friendly mannerism, unlike his witch of a wife.
"Good evening Katniss" he says "I hope I'm not disturbing"
"Not at all, we were just finishing dinner" I say
"I won't take long" he offers with a small smile. I nod softly, I don't know what he could want from me, but he has always been nice to me and my family so I don't see the harm in letting him speak. My mother looks at me and I get the feeling she knows what this is, however she does not say a single word. Otho steps inside and glances around the room, this might feel very small to him compared to his bakery and the house where he and his family lived above it.
"I apologize for coming by unannounced and at this hour but this really couldn't wait" he adds standing next to my mother instead of sitting down "I'm here because I made I promise to your dad, one I intend to keep"
The mention of my dad catches my attention, I didn't know what they had to do with each other, but my dad, and everyone in the Seam really takes promises very seriously, so coming from someone from town it did surprise me a little bit. I nod so he can continue speaking.
"Your father saved my oldest son when he was just a boy. He pulled him out of the White Creek when the ice gave in. He was really brave, no one else stepped in to get him" Otho explained, I have heard the story before, but my dad was a selfless man so it wasn't really anything new that he saved a little boy from the ice "I never forgot that, Burdock Everdeen was a good man, better than most. I told him if he needed something he could come to me and he still never asked me for anything back" He pauses, looking at me and then at my sister "Until one winter, he fell very ill"
I remember that winter, it was the last one before the mine explosion. He was very very Ill, we didn't know if he would make it. I was very sad.
"He came to me when he got better, and told me he needed to protect the three of you in case he was gone by the time you came of age and could get out of the reaping" he added "So we made an arrangement"
"What kind of arrangement?" I ask
"He proposed a match" he continues "If you and Peeta made it through the reaping years the two of you would wed once you turned 18. In return I'd make sure your family was looked after. He made it very clear that you would have to agree to it tho. He didn't want to take your choice away"
I sit back slowly.
"What do you get out of this?" I ask, because for now it only seemed like they were getting the good part of it.
"Peeta marries a nice woman, someone that won't make him suffer. And since he will be the first to marry he will get the Bakery the second both of you sign the papers and make the toast" Otho explains "I want Peeta to have the Bakery he's the one that deserves it the most"
"What about your wife?" I ask before I can stop myself "What does she think about her son marrying a girl from the Seam?" Everyone knew that witch hated anyone that she felt it was below her, her middle son Rye had fallen in love with the flower shop girl, and she had gotten so mad the woman didn't approach Rye ever again, and that made him impossible to settle with. He had gone out with half of the district.
"She doesn't get a say this time. And to be honest with you Katniss, she's made enough of his and our life miserable already" he says flatly. I think of Peeta, always quiet and kind, always with a smile on his face for everyone against his mean and cruel mother, if you could even call her that.
"How long has he known?" I ask
"Not much, since his last birthday, he agreed as long as you did"
"He agreed to marry someone he barely talks to?" I ask blinking
"Oh Katniss" Otho says with a soft laugh "That boy has been watching over you longer than you realize"
I feel my face flush, heat rising from my chest to my cheeks. I don’t like being watched. I hate being talked about but the way Otho talks about it seems like Peeta does really care. I'm very confused.
"You have time to think about it, no rush" Otho promised "You and Peeta can even talk it over if you like. Your father loved all of you and he did what he could with what the world gave him. He knew Peeta would be someone who'd take care of you and your family not out of duty but out of love"
Otho straightens his coat and tips his head one last time.
"Good night Katniss"