Everthorne (KatnissxGale)

The Hanging Tree

"Are you, are you coming to the tree?
Where they strung up a man they say murdered three?
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it seem
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."

A voice, lilting and sweet, floating on the breeze in the midsummer night darkness. Everything is quiet in the wake of that voice; it would seem rude to disturb the melody, to break the silence. To be forced to think about the actual meaning of the haunting lyrics. It is a luxury, to just listen.

The girl sits on the steps of the small hut by the lake, the long ivory dress she wears fluttering around her ankles. Her dark, almost black hair hangs loose and free past her shoulders. Pale grey eyes study the slightly rippling water in front of her, and she stands. In the trees, a bird stirs, and fixes a liquid-black gaze on her. She notices, but her voice does not waver as she continues.

"Are you, are you coming to the tree?
Where the dead man called out for his love to flee?
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it seem
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."

She walks as she sings, tracing ghostly white hands along fallen trees, rolling leaves between her fingers, watching as they fall to the ground and land on a carpet of bracken. As she looks up at the bird in the tree, she spots a pair of eyes exactly like her own, observing her from the shadows out of the corner of her eye. She makes no move to go to him; a second later his warm, capable hands are running through her hair, placing small white flowers behind her ears. The hands she knows so well. They slide down to meet her own, and she leans back against him, closing her eyes. She is safe in his arms. She always will be.

"Are you, are you coming to the tree?
Where I told you to run, so we'd both be free?
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it seem
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."

His heartbeat accompanies the bittersweet words; a feeling of great calm settles over her as they stand, muted, looking out over the lake. The moon appears from behind the clouds, highlighting them, making them look ethereal and beautiful. His chiselled features, her stunning eyes; they are an image of perfection as she sings the last verse.

"Are you, are you coming to the tree?
Wear a necklace of rope side by side with me
Strange things did happen here
No stranger would it seem
If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree."

An eerie repetition of the harmony rises from the trees surrounding, and the mockingjay and her love share a kiss under the velvet sky.
Free.

Disclaimer:
The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins, as does 'The Hanging Tree.' Same with Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne. No copyright intended, credit goes to S.C. for them :) hope you enjoyed!