Chapter 34 : The Crown
President Snow's hands were cold.
Not metaphorically—physically cold, like he'd been handling ice before the ceremony. His fingers brushed my forehead as he settled the victor's crown into place, and I had to fight the instinct to recoil.
"Congratulations," he murmured, pitched low enough that only I could hear over the crowd's roar. "Enjoy your victory. While you can."
The smile never left my face. The cameras were watching—always watching—and this was a performance as calculated as any in the arena. Pleasant victor. Grateful survivor. Nothing political, nothing dangerous.
Snow's eyes told a different story.
He moved to Katniss, then Rue, placing their crowns with the same practiced grace. Three golden circles for three unprecedented victors. The Capitol audience screamed their approval, convinced they were watching history.
They were. Just not the kind they thought.
Caesar Flickerman was a master of redirection.
"Three victors!" He beamed at the cameras, at the audience, at all of Panem hanging on his every word. "Never in seventy-four years of Hunger Games has such a thing occurred! Tell me—tell us—how did this remarkable alliance form?"
Katniss took the lead, exactly as we'd planned. "We found each other in the arena. Nolan saved my life during the bloodbath. Rue—" Her voice caught, emotion that was mostly real. "Rue was being hunted, and Nolan took a spear for her. After that, how could we not stay together?"
"A spear!" Caesar's eyes widened with theatrical horror. "We all saw that moment. Nolan, you literally threw yourself between Rue and death."
"She was twelve." The words came out harder than I intended. "She was twelve years old, and they were going to kill her for entertainment. I couldn't—" I stopped, softened my tone. "I couldn't let that happen."
The audience cooed. Sponsors dabbed at their eyes. The narrative was landing perfectly: three tributes bound by love, unable to hurt each other despite the Games' demands.
Better than the truth. Safer than rebellion.
"And the berries," Caesar said carefully, the question everyone wanted answered. "That final moment. All three of you, prepared to—"
"We just couldn't hurt each other." Katniss's hand found mine, squeezed tight. "After everything we'd been through together, after watching out for each other day after day... killing someone you love isn't survival. It's worse than dying."
Love. The word hung in the air, ripe with interpretation. Romantic love? Familial love? The audience could decide for themselves. Either way, it was the kind of story the Capitol adored.
Caesar nodded sagely. "Love conquered even the Hunger Games. What a remarkable thing."
Remarkable. That was one word for it.
Rue was the interview's emotional climax.
Caesar handled her with obvious care, questions soft and leading. She talked about her family in District 11, about the orchards where she'd learned to climb, about the moment Nolan had saved her from Marvel's spear.
"He didn't even hesitate," she said, voice small and clear. "The spear was going to hit me, and he just—jumped. I thought he was dead. I thought I'd watched him die for me."
"But he survived."
"He always survives." Rue looked at me, something knowing in her ancient eyes. "He's good at that."
The audience wept. Sponsors wept. Somewhere in the control room, Gamemakers were probably congratulating themselves on the best finale in decades.
None of them understood what had really happened.
Three tributes who'd recognized each other as people instead of obstacles. Who'd built trust through shared meals and quiet conversations and the simple act of watching each other's backs. Who'd chosen solidarity over survival and discovered that solidarity was survival.
The Capitol would tell a love story. We'd lived something harder to name.
Backstage was chaos disguised as celebration.
Effie found us before anyone else could, tears streaming down her perfectly made-up face. "Three victors! District 12 has never—in all the years I've been escorting—" She pulled all three of us into an embrace that smelled like expensive perfume and genuine emotion. "I'm so proud of you. So incredibly proud."
"We did it together," Katniss managed.
"You certainly did." Effie stepped back, composing herself with visible effort. "Now. There's a reception to attend, and you need to circulate. The sponsors want to meet you personally. President Snow will—"
"We met." I kept my voice neutral. "During the crowning."
Effie's expression flickered—she knew more than she pretended, always had—but she recovered quickly. "Well. Just remember to smile. And accept compliments gracefully. And for heaven's sake, try to enjoy yourselves. You've earned this."
Had we? The weight of twenty-one dead tributes pressed against my thoughts. We'd survived by refusing to add to that count, but the count still existed. Still mattered.
Rue tugged at my sleeve. "Nolan? Are you okay?"
"Fine." I manufactured a smile for her. "Just processing."
"You get used to it," Haymitch observed, appearing from somewhere with a drink in hand. "The processing, I mean. The guilt never quite goes away. But you learn to carry it."
"That's encouraging."
"I'm not paid to be encouraging. I'm paid to keep you alive." He studied me with those sharp, bloodshot eyes. "Snow's going to want a private word at some point. When he does, agree to whatever he says, smile prettily, and tell him nothing. Understand?"
"And if he asks about the healing?"
"Lie." Haymitch's voice was flat. "Badly, if you have to. But lie. The longer he's uncertain, the longer you last."
The reception called. Politics and performance awaited. I straightened my victor's crown and followed Effie into the glittering crowd.
Behind me, I felt Snow's gaze like a blade against my spine.
Author's Note / Promotion:
Your Reviews and Power Stones are the best way to show support. They help me know what you're enjoying and bring in new readers!
You don't have to. Get instant access to more content by supporting me on Patreon. I have three options so you can pick how far ahead you want to be:
🪙 Silver Tier ($6): Read 10 chapters ahead of the public site.
👑 Gold Tier ($9): Get 15-20 chapters ahead of the public site.
💎 Platinum Tier ($15): The ultimate experience. Get new chapters the second I finish them . No waiting for weekly drops, just pure, instant access.
Your support helps me write more .
👉 Find it all at patreon.com/fanficwriter1