A Song for Tum || a Hunger Games original story || Tom Blyth
0. Description/characters/ playlist
1: Not Afraid Of Anything In This World
2: Nothing You Could Throw At Me
8: A Song That I Could Sing
9: A Lesson In Tenderness
11: The Poet And His Poem
12: The Colours That You Bring
13: The Kiss, or; You’re A Light In Me Now
taglist: @lokiostasis - thank you for providing the name for the Cardew boy 🤍
The Cardew estate had always been a place of austere grandeur, where wealth and status permeated every corner. The servants, though invisible to the family and guests, knew each other well. They moved through the halls like shadows, unseen but ever-present, and shared their quiet moments of solidarity in the corners of rooms, where whispered words carried more weight than any spoken in the formal dining halls.
For weeks, there had been murmurs in the house. Whispers about the return of Liorel Cardew, the Cardews' only son, who had been away for training as a Peacekeeper. The servants had all heard the rumors of his cruelty, of his arrogance, and of the way he treated everyone beneath him. His return was both an event and a threat, for it meant that the delicate balance of the Cardew household would shift. He would now assume a position of power, the very kind that cast shadows over the lives of those who served him.
Liorel was tall and broad-shouldered, a product of the Capitol's military training. His uniform always looked immaculate, his posture rigid, and his expression cold, as though he were perpetually disgusted by everything around him. His pale eyes—ice blue, almost translucent—had an unsettling quality. He could make anyone feel like they were the lowest of the low with just a glance.
The first day he arrived back home was nothing short of an event. The servants felt his presence before they even saw him. His energy charged the house, and everyone, even the master and mistress, seemed to move a little faster, more nervously, in the wake of his return. It was as though the house itself held its breath, waiting for his judgment.
Tum and Silvia, who had worked hard to maintain a sense of peace in the household, were particularly on edge. Their growing bond had been something they'd kept hidden from the others, something precious that they guarded carefully. But now, with Liorel's return, it felt like that fragile peace was about to shatter.
It happened one evening during dinner. The meal, as usual, was simple: roasted vegetables, a side of bread, and some stew. It wasn't anything grand, but it was satisfying. Silvia had worked hard to prepare it, as she always did, knowing that the quality of the meal was often scrutinized by the Cardews.
Liorel, sitting at the head of the table, had been silent for most of the meal, his cold eyes scanning everyone in the room. But when he looked down at his plate, a sneer curled on his lips.
"What is this?" he growled, his voice cutting through the otherwise quiet dinner. "What is this slop?" He pushed the plate aside, his gaze never leaving Silvia. "This is the kind of thing you serve us, isn't it?" He spat, his eyes narrowing. "This is the kind of thing a servant makes when she's too lazy to cook properly. Or are you to serve... something else, you little slut?"
Silvia, standing nearby with her hands folded in front of her, winced at his words, her face flushing red. She had been working tirelessly, but it was never enough for Liorel. He was the kind of person who could never be pleased, no matter how hard you tried.
Tum, who had been quietly standing in the corner, watching the exchange, felt the heat rise in his chest. He knew the drill—serve, be silent, and stay out of the way. But there was something about the way Liorel spoke to Silvia that cut him deep. He couldn't stand it. He wouldn't stand it.
Without thinking, Tum stepped forward, positioning himself between Liorel and Silvia. His body was tense, his fists clenched at his sides. His gaze locked onto Liorel's, and for a moment, there was a dangerous silence.
"He won't speak to you like that," Tum wrote quickly on a scrap of paper, his fingers trembling slightly. He handed it to Silvia, who quickly read it and looked up at him, her expression softening. But before she could reply, Liorel let out a bark of laughter, mocking them both. He took the note from Silvia's hands and sneered.
"Oh, what's this?" Liorel's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Defending your girlfriend, are you, scum?" His eyes glinted with malice as he stepped closer, looking down at Tum with contempt. "You know you're not supposed to shag, don't you? We won't accept any bastards here." He leaned in, his breath hot and foul. "Or would you like to have one more thing cut off to make sure that doesn't happen, hmm?"
Tum stiffened, the words stinging more than any physical blow could. But his resolve only hardened. He wasn't going to back down. Not now. Not when Silvia was involved.
But Liorel wasn't done. Without warning, his hand shot out, slapping Tum across the face. The sound was loud in the tense silence of the room, followed by Silvia's muffled gasp. Tum's head snapped to the side, his lip split open and bloody, but he didn't falter. He didn't move.
Liorel's eyes widened with surprise. "What? You're not going to cry out? Not going to beg for mercy?"
The room was still. Tum, his face stinging, slowly turned back to face Liorel. His fists clenched tighter, his muscles taut with the urge to fight. For a moment, there was nothing but silence between them. Then, Tum moved.
In one swift motion, Tum lunged, grabbing Liorel by the arm and twisting it behind his back. The force of his grip stunned Liorel, and the young man let out a shout of frustration, trying to push Tum away. The two struggled, a mix of power and rage crashing against each other. Despite Liorel's military training, Tum's instincts were faster, more precise. He knew how to move in a way that gave him the upper hand.
For a few moments, it looked like Tum had the advantage. But then, with a feral growl, Liorel wrenched free and shoved Tum to the ground. He stood over him, seething, his face contorted in fury.
"You think you're strong?" Liorel spat. "You're nothing but a servant! You can't even speak, you can't defend yourself, and you think you can throw your hands at me?"
Before Tum could rise, Liorel lashed out, kicking him in the side. Tum grunted, pain flaring through his body. But still, he refused to back down.
Just then, the other servants, hearing the commotion, rushed into the room. Mrs. Cardew appeared at the doorway, her face pale with shock. Mr. Cardew, his voice booming with authority, stepped forward, quickly assessing the scene.
"Enough!" Mr. Cardew bellowed. "What's going on here?"
"Father!" Liorel growled, pointing at Tum, his face twisted with rage. "This thing tried to defend her. He's protecting his girlfriend."
Mrs. Cardew's eyes widened at the implications of her son's words, but she didn't speak. She could see where this was going.
Mr. Cardew looked down at Tum and Silvia, his expression one of disgust. "You two," he said coldly, "get out. To the cellar. Now."
The cellar was damp and cold, the air thick with mildew. Tum and Silvia were thrown into the small, dark room without a word. The door slammed shut, leaving them in darkness. The only light came from a small window near the ceiling, the moonlight casting a faint glow.
Tum sat against the stone wall, his body aching from the confrontation. Silvia sat beside him and proceeded to massage his shoulders, her face pale and worried.
"I'm sorry," Silvia whispered, reaching out to touch Tum's hand. Her fingers brushed over his, soft and warm, a silent comfort.
„Don't be. It wasn't your fault." Tum nodded, his eyes meeting hers. He wanted to tell her it was okay, but the words wouldn't come. He only had his presence, his silent defiance.
When Silvia pulled out a small scrap of paper, she quickly scribbled a note herself. "He's terrible, isn't he? I don't know what to think about him."
Tum smiled faintly and wrote back. "He's just a coward, hiding behind his power."
Silvia chuckled softly, but the tension in the air remained heavy. She leaned her head against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment. Tum did the same, their silent companionship offering a small comfort in the bleakness of their punishment.
The silence stretched on, and though they couldn't change the reality of their situation, there was a quiet understanding between them. They didn't need words to know that they were not alone in this.
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