It wasn't like she hadn't done it before.

It was a pointless game of Archer's Blood that her brother had taught her. But none-the-less she wished she had listened when he had told her how to use a bow.

"Dear me, just shoot already!" Jackson had set up the three wooden statues of the men in a Rebel Archer's uniform, their bows raised and pointing at the young princess as her hands shook. She was holding the bow and pulling the string back to the crook of her lips, and she released it … finally.

The arrow missed the first man, and her brother called out to her.

"You've been shot in the knee! Get down!" Jackson yelled, and the girl did exactly that. She kneeled, knocked a second arrow and released it.

It missed.

"On your stomach!" Another shout hurled itself out of Jackson's mouth, and he frowned at his young sister as she fumbled to get a good position on her stomach … with a bow and arrow. "If you don't want to do this, let me—"

The young princess rolled her eyes. "I can do this," she mumbled, just in advance to the third arrow releasing and tumbling in floppy cartwheels across the lawn until it stopped just before the last wooden archer's feet.

"No," Jackson stood from the rock, pushing his russet brown hair out of his emerald green eyes with slender fingers. "You can't." His voice was calm, and the young princess appreciated that he wasn't being mean like Austen, the second born to Jackson, usually was. But Jackson had pushed away the proper prestige wording he usually used when he was inside the castle walls. Now the forest gave the two siblings freedom from their mother's searching eyes. Queen America must have been looking for them just about now, but they didn't mind. Their father was the one who always let them play outside, and he would find a way to distract their worrisome mother.

"Jackson, you mustn't tell me what I can or cannot do. Mother said it is bad for my young heart to be told I cannot do things." Her voice wasn't steady, but she was trying desperately to keep her tears in. the young princess was such a fragile girl.

"Estelle," Jackson took the bow and arrow from her, setting it aside and kneeling so he was at the 9-year-old's height. "I won't tell you that you can't, but I want you to tell me whether or not you think that what you just did shows that you can." His voice was sweet, and Estelle knew that any girl would be lucky to have him love her. She had seen him when he was looking at the pictures and papers of the various girls that wanted to steal his heart away.

"Alright, I'm not as good as you, but I'd like you to continue teaching me so I can be as good as you are one day." Estelle nodded, smiling brightly at Jackson. She had the same red hair as her mother, and the same blue eyes. Her skin was pale and her thin frame would have been beautiful if it wasn't covered up in King Maxon's childhood armour. "Maybe I'll be the one to teach your new wife!" she exclaimed giddily, jumping up and down, feeling stiffly in the tough outdated leather armour. Jackson stood and picked her up in a hug, wrapping his arms around her to hold her tightly as he tossed her over his shoulder. She squealed happily as she sat on his shoulder, her tiny arms wrapped around his forehead as they began to walk back towards the castle.

"Hey, dimwit." A voice came from behind them and Jackson spun around, holding onto Estelle so she wouldn't fall. Although the one thing that did fall were the spirits of both Jackson and Estelle. "Maybe you should make sure not to squeal, because that really gives away your position. If you were out in the woods, the rebels would have found you."

"Stop it, Austen, she's only nine." Jackson glared at his sixteen-year-old brother, helping Estelle down onto the ground; her eyes filled with the look that would make you want to cry. She was probably the most adorable child there has ever been, but when she was sad, you couldn't do anything to cheer her up. "And that's exactly what you would have done six years ago when dad picked you up on his shoulders."

Just then, Queen America came rushing out from the castle, making her way over to her three children. She was still the most beautiful lady in all of Illea, although her eyes were beginning to form small wrinkles. "What is going on out here?" America exclaimed as she came to a stop beside Estelle, pulling her close to her and picking her up. She set the small girl on her hip, holding her close.

"Jack was just helping a nine-year-old learn to use a weapon to kill wooden figures." Austen grinned and crossed his arms, smirking at his older brother, his dark eyes making Jackson feel uncomfortable. "What a role-model," he snickered.

America turned to Jackson. "Jackson Castor Schreave, shouldn't you be reviewing the lists of girls? I'm quite sure you haven't looked through—"

"I've chosen the thirty five, mother." Jackson interrupted his mother with an attempt to make her close her mouth for once. She was chatty, and Jackson still loved her, but sometimes she skipped to conclusions.

"Oh…" She sighed, turning and walking back towards the castle, glancing back at Jackson as he stood there, Austen following his mother. "Then we shall send the letters this evening, and you must ready yourself because Gavril will be called for a Report tonight."

And that was the beginning of the Selection. From there on in, Jackson Schreave would have to play an even bigger round of Archer's Blood.

Every time he attempted to tell a girl that they would be leaving, he had two possibilities.

He would succeed in breaking their heart evenly so it didn't hurt, or he would shatter it, and the weight of that shattered heart would be on his own shoulders.

This is going to be my very first SYOC…so I hope you like it!

This is the form you must fill out to submit a character, if any questions need answers, just PM me. Also, I will accept forms through the reviews, but I would rather through PM. I will begin once I have all 35 girls.

PLEASE ADD DETAIL

You may submit up to three characters.

Name:

Nickname(s):

Age:

Caste:

Occupation:

Province (They are going to be in my profile):

Detailed description of their personality:

Detailed description of their appearance:

Their backstory/past:

Family:

Weaknesses (At least 2):

Strengths (At most 4):

Likes:

Dislikes:

How do they treat the other 34 girls?:

How do they treat their maids?:

Their thoughts on Austen:

Their thoughts on Estelle:

Their thoughts on Jackson:

Their thoughts on America:

Their thoughts on Maxon:

Their thoughts on the rebels:

Skills:

What would they like to improve about themselves? (At least 1):

A Fatal Flaw:

Sum them up in one sentence:

Sum them up in one word:

Other: