Lily was in the shadows, watching everything. She often did this, for the simple fact that it made life seem more interesting, more...alive. The young girl watched, and calculated as someone who looked in between minor and commoner rise in front of her. She licked her lips, and darted forward, making the snatch, disappearing back into the shadows, a handful of coins in her hands. She quickly shoved it into one of the various pockets over her clothes. The young girl smiled with triumph, and continued watching. 

As the Princess addressed the crowd, Lily was watching for Marks.  [i]"-Princess Seninia is perfectly safe-"[/i] Lily looked up at that speech. No one was perfectly safe, if you knew how to sneak about. If you knew how to be invisible. If you knew how to be nothing. Maybe she should so them that. She would never dream of hurting the Princess, but what if in their ignorance something happened? She mused all this from the shadows, eyes flickering over the crowd. Finally deciding that she couldn't risk staying there any longer, she made her way out of the crowd, and back to the streets. 

She had made enough for food for herself, and other street rats. Often, she liked to give them food, knowing what it was to go hungry. As long as she had enough money for her mentor, it was alright. He knew she did it, but as long as she gave him most of her winnings for the day, all was well. 

[center][b]***[/b][/center]

Jackie watched as Leo virtually had a breakdown, and threatened the Princess. Was he mental? Threatening the Princess like that? She shook her head, as if embarrassed at her comrades behavior. She rolled her eyes, and waited for the scene to be over. As the Princess spoke once more, saying that violence was not the answer, she sighed, and merely shifted, ready to continue. She was tall, and willowy, and it seemed as if a good strong wind might knock her over. 

Yet she was strong, despite her thin frame. Her hair was short, and pulled up away from her face, in anticipating of the fight. She watched the other two, studying them. If the Princess was right, and Jackie didn't seem a reason for her not to be, then Jamie was the one clear opponent. Could she change that outcome?

[center][b]***[/b][/center]

Jamie simply stood throughout all the theatrics. While the Princess's speech revealed that he would be the winner, Jamie didn't consider that important. What was the point of coming, of being involved in this, to simply be declared the winner? 

He very nearly joined the guards in dispense of Leo, but stayed where he was. The young man considered Leo a total idiot, and knew the guards would take care of him. He saw that Jackie was watching him, and figured that was normal. 

As the Princess finished speaking, he said [b]"Violence may not be the answer, but the simple fact is, we are all warriors. And the point of fighting should be to pit our skills against each other, to become better fighters, better protectors, for without that, there would be no one suitable to guard you, Princess. You may not find these tournaments entertaining, My lady, but for me its a chance to be recognized and seen as a valuable asset to the guards, to those that just took that fool away"[/b] he made sure his voice was loud, and that he could be heard, bowing respectfully before he began talking.