Sir Snow is silent, which is never a good sign. Mother frowns at me. I sit as regally in my chair as I can, preparing myself for the battle to come. I'm certain this conversation won't end well.

The door closes behind Rue as she stands beside it. She does not meet my gaze. She must be feeling embarrassed for me, and I really wish she wouldn't.

"Darling, how could you do this to me?" Mother asks in a breathy voice. "You know how nervous it makes me when you're off on your own. Imagine how I must feel to know you were off with a prince! You're so delicate -"

"I'm not delicate," I say shortly. She looks wounded, but I don't feel sorry. The room is silent for several moments. Mother worries at her necklace, glancing from me to Snow while he glares at me. I stare back, daring him to speak first.

"If there was any doubt in my mind," Snow begins in a low voice, "any sliver of uncertainty that you were not capable of taking on the responsibilities of a queen they have been quashed today. You've always behaved so inappropriately but this draws the line." He begins to pace back and forth, his hands folded behind his back, his white eyebrows creased. "You've proven that you are too young to be Queen. You abuse your privileges, as well as mine and your mother's kindness."

"Oh, yes," I agree, doing little to mask the sarcasm in my voice. "Where would I be without your kindness?"

He whirls on me, his face red, his strange eyes alight. "How dare you speak in that tone!" he roars. "You give your mother such grief and myself such anxiety and yet you mock us?" He looms over me like a giant, pointing his finger menacingly. "You are a disgrace to our efforts to protect and educate you! You are not fit to be Queen."

My face remains like stone. "And whose fault is that?" I glance over at my mother, who continues to fiddle with her necklace. Her silence and meekness fuel my fire. "I certainly have learned from you," I say, my voice beginning to waver. "I have learned what it looks like to be the prime example of an incompetent politician. You, Sir Snow, have shown me that." I rise to my feet to leave the room, my heart pounding in my chest, my cheeks hot with anger. But just as I'm brushing past Sir Snow, he does something he's never done before - he grabs my arms and whirls me around, forcing me back down into my seat. From the corner of my eyes I see Mother rush to my aid, but Snow holds up his hand, cornering me.

My mother obeys him, and does not interfere.

"This is what you are going to do," Snow growls. "First, you will terminate all contact with any other nobility, starting with the Merchant prince. Second, you will appoint me as your private secretary from today. Finally, you will agree to be co-regent to the Duchess until your twenty-fifth birthday." The redness in his face sets off the whiteness in his hair, making him look even more strange and menacing than usual. He stares at me with unblinking eyes. "I will accept nothing less than these conditions."

I clench my hands, my fingernails pressing into my palm as my blood boils. I fight to keep my voice steady, to keep the sting of tears away. It takes little courage to stare Snow down as I reply.

"I will do no such thing," I say, speaking slowly and firmly to make myself absolutely clear. "I am not a piece in your game, Sir Snow. You don't control me or this country and you never will. I am the future Queen with no complications or exceptions. Now get out of my way!" I rise to my feet, brushing past him with no concern of bumping into his shoulder. Snow snatches my arm again, his vice-like grip pulling on me, and this time I do something I've never done either - I grip his wrist and wrench myself away from him, my face burning, my breath quick. Never have I felt so angry in my whole life. I practically tremble as I march to the door, where Rue looks on sadly. Just as I'm about to leave, I whirl around to my mother, who I had all but forgotten was there.

"And don't you dare think," I say, and my voice quavers as I look at her, her hands over her chest, tears in her eyes, "That I will ever forget how you stood by and watched him treat me so cruelly. I will never forget this moment." I don't give her time to speak or move. I'm out of the room in seconds, Rue on my heels, tears on my cheeks.

"That bloody Snow!" Cinna mutters fiercely after I lament to him about Sir Snow's threats. He clenches his sheets in his frail fists, his dull skin flushing with the faintest color. "The nerve of him."

"Steady now, Uncle," I say calmly, tapping his hands. "I didn't mean to get you all worked up." Uncle Cinna's health has wavered since I last saw him. He has a nurse at his bedside at all hours now. He coughs harshly and speaks in a weak voice. He's lived a long, honorable life, and he knows his time is approaching. This fills my heart with unease. I will miss him so much when he passes - he is one of my only friends. The tension between myself, Mother and Sir Snow only grows as Cinna's condition becomes worse and worse.

Cinna takes a sip of water and settles back into his pillow. "I do believe I had the proper reaction," he says. I don't disagree. After the disastrous conversation with Sir Snow and my mother, I had cried for longer than I would like to admit. Rue was a comfort, and Madge as well.

The most heartbreaking part is my mother's reaction - or rather, lack thereof - which I lament to Cinna as well. She's never been a good mother, never truly loved me the way she should. But I have never distrusted her.

I do now.

"She brings me such anxiety," I say quietly. "She's always treating me like a little toy. Snow does his part, too. I'm always watched. There's always someone checking on me. I had to beg Mother to let me come here today. As you can imagine it was quite difficult."

Cinna nods grimly. He and my mother have not been on good terms for a long, long time. "But you're here. And that's what matters. Someday soon your mother won't be as prominent in your life." He says it like a promise. I know he's right.

"I met Prince Peeta," I say spontaneously.

Cinna smiles. "Oh? And how did it go?"

"Well, he seemed perfectly nice at first, but then I started to believe that he had teamed up with you to thwart me into marriage."

He laughs heartily, putting his hand over his chest as it fades into a harsh cough. I reach for the glass of water on his table but he waves it away.

"Oh, Katniss," he sighs. "I never knew you could jump to such conclusions."

I smile sheepishly. "He seemed too kind. And far too interested in me."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe he was genuine?"

"After our little misunderstanding worked itself out, yes, it did." I blush a little, then bite my lip and will it to stop. "The letters he writes me are wonderful."

"In what ways?"

"Well, his writing is beautiful. He makes everything sound interesting, even the most mundane thing. He's just as engaging in person."

Cinna smiles softly. "Splendid. I knew I liked him. Despite what you may believe, I think he suits you."

"Uncle!" I exclaim with a light laugh. "I thought you weren't going to pressure me to marry him."

"I'm not," he replies easily. "But don't disregard him. After all, who are you going to spend time with after I'm gone?"

He means it jokingly, but his comment makes my heart ache. Cinna's face softens at my expression. He kisses my hands.

"Don't you worry, Katniss," he says. "I've put my full faith in you. You'll make an excellent Queen."

He says it simply and decidedly, and the conversation is over. I close my eyes, squeeze his hands, and try my hardest to memorize the way those words sound in his voice. I may need them in the future.

Very early one morning, days later, my mother shakes my shoulder, rousing me from sleep. I try to shoo her away, but she is persistent.

"Come along," she says urgently. I open my eyes and see that she is fully dressed, even though it can't be after dawn. I don't even change out of my nightclothes. We descend the stairs together and enter the parlor, where two men are waiting.

My stomach drops. I feel tension in the air as Mother releases my hand and then leaves me. The room is quiet and dim. I touch the cool fabric of the nightgown to collect myself.

The two men say nothing when they bow before me, each on one knee. I fold my fingers together and wait for the news.

"King Cinna passed in the early hours of the morning," one of them says. "We've come as quickly as we can to announce the reign of a new monarch." He takes my hand and kisses it. Then he says, "Long live the Queen."

The words echo in my mind, even after I've bid the messengers fare well and leave the parlor. Rue, Madge and my mother are waiting for me. I maintain a cool composure despite my rapidly beating heart.

"I'm going back to bed," I say. "I expect the Council will be here very early. Madge, will you be sure that they have everything they need when I am ready to receive them?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," she replies, smiling softly as the new title rolls off her tongue with ease. She bows deeply. Rue bows in turn. Even my mother follows suit.

I blink a few times and take a deep breath. "Very well." I turn to the stairs.

"Katniss, dear," my mother says, coming towards me. "I will help you -"

"No, thank you, Mother," I say briskly. She frowns at me, but I ignore her. "And Madge," I say coolly. "Will you be sure to have my bed moved into a room of my own by tomorrow morning?"

She nods her head. My mother looks wounded. She tries to speak, but my eyes cut to her before she can say anything.

"As soon as possible, Madge."

The parlor is silent as I ascend the stairs alone for the first time in my life.

Endless apologies for being MIA. Inspiration comes and goes. Peeta will be featured much more in the coming chapters, so don't worry :)