Lily walked down to the dining room, where an assortment of foods was laid out, and found herself the first there. She grabbed a plate and filled it up with a range of different foods. She sat back at the table, plate loaded with a bugle shaped pastry that flaked apart deliciously, filling her mouth with a warm buttery goodness, a variety of different fruits, juicy, still sizzling sausages, bacon, poached eggs and more along with a bowl of creamy porridge, with a swirl of something golden and sticky in the middle and a sprinkle of cinnamon atop it. As she started to dig into her breakfast, Rhyad entered and filled a plate for herself of mainly fruit and sat down opposite her.
Swallowing a mouthful of eggs Lily asked, "Where's Severus?"
Rhyad smiled at her as she delicately tucked into her food. "Seeing as the two of you wish to be advised separately, I've left him asleep for the time being. I thought we could discuss your strategy first over breakfast and then you can relax before we head down to the training room."
Lily bristled slightly. She needed as much sleep as Severus didn't she? Why was it she was the first to be awoken? But at least she had Rhyad's attention and...for lack of a better word, advice.
"So," Rhyad continued, "The first question is what would you say your strengths are?"
Lily thought for a moment, assessing everything that might be useful in the arena. "I know plants" she said after a moment of chewing thoughtfully, "I know edible plants but also I know how to make poisons" she grimaced slightly, "Both me and Severus do" Rhyad nodded eagerly and she continued, "I think I may be ok at knife throwing, and I may be small but I'm quick." she smiled, "I'm a fast climber and I'm strong for my size" she paused unsure of what else to bring up, "I don't really know what else will be helpful."
Rhyad just nodded, seeming to weigh up some options in her mind, "Would you prefer to be part of an alliance or to go it alone?" she asked
"Alone" Lily said quickly. In an alliance there would always be that nagging at the back of her mind that those people could kill her whilst she slept. No, she was safer alone.
"Ok" Rhyad said after a few minutes of quiet had passed. "Here's what I think. The edible plants thing may be helpful in terms of food in the arena but you don't know what sort of environment you'll be thrown into, so I'd suggest learning some basic snares if you can. The poisons thing can be very useful, all you have to do is come up with a sharpened object with the poison on, get it to enter the other tributes bloodstream and you stand a chance. In terms of your knife throwing, practice it, but don't let people think you're too good once you get the hang of things. We don't want people targeting you straight away. The climbing and swiftness will also be helpful." she paused, "I think for you, you need to spend your time learning some new skills, learn to throw a spear or wield a bow and arrow, something to that affect. It could help you dramatically." she smiled at Lily now over her now empty platter of fruit, "See if you can make a couple of friends, it may come in handy, but watch the others and try and figure out their own strengths and weaknesses." She stood up, "Got it?"
Lily nodded through a mouthful of porridge that slid down her throat smoothly. "Practice new things, watch people, maybe make friends"
"Yes, but avoid showing people how good you might really be"
Lily sighed, "Got it" she said.
"Fantastic!" Rhyad said, "I shall go and wake up Severus and perhaps by the time he's awake you'll be finished with breakfast and be somewhere away from here whilst we discuss his own strategy?" she raised an eyebrow and Lily nodded in agreement. She might as well cooperate. But she didn't like Rhyad's implied notion that she was eating too much. It wasn't her who was going into the arena and may have to live off bark and leaves for days or even weeks!
Lily worked her way through the food slowly but steadily and when she was finished she picked up a bowl of rolls and a bowl of some sort of hot soup. Theses in hand she retreated to her room and sat surrounded by blankets, dipping the rolls into the hot liquid. She tried to process what Rhyad had said to her and formulate a plan for when she got to the training room. But frankly it was the other tributes and being face to face with them that worried her the most.
This was the first time they'd be on a level playing field, where they could eye up the competition and decide who the targets they needed to strike off first were. She certainly wasn't looking forward to being stuck in a room with James Potter distracting her. She hated the fact that he distracted her so. It was a weakness that he or anyone else could exploit, yes, but it was hurting her as well and she couldn't put her finger on why exactly. As she sat eating slowly she thought and decided that maybe it was because he reminded her of everything she had lost, of all the things they might've had.
She remembered her tentatively kissing his cheek that last night. She'd been in love with him she realised, in the way a nine year old girl could love the only boy she really knew. Perhaps that was why she was finding this so difficult. She scoffed out loud without meaning to. Of course it couldn't be because she might have to kill him in a few days on top of all of that! It wasn't that she might have feelings for him still. Was it? How could she? She didn't know him anymore? It was madness.
Yes, maybe he was reasonably attractive now, she thought, her mind drifting back to that outfit he'd been put in the night before, the muscles in his arms and back at once strong, yet lean. She shook her head. That was just another reason why nothing would work out. He was from a career district; he'd probably been trained for this for several years. He'd have no problem with killing her on sight. That just meant she had to stop him seeing her, or kill him first. She gulped and pushed away the leftover food, her appetite suddenly gone.
She sat for a while, trying to mentally prepare herself for what was coming next until at about a quarter to ten Rhyad came knocking at her door, asking if she was ready. Glancing in the mirror and pulling at the fitted clothes and smoothing her hair she exhaled sharply. "I'm coming" she called
Rhyad walked with them to the door of the training centre. And patted them on their shoulders, "Good luck and remember your strategies!" she said with a smile, turning and walking away.
Lily turned to look at Severus, his face hardened, so that it seemed as if she was looking at a chiselled block of granite.
"So, you ready for this?"
He nodded and strode forward without her, pushing open the doors sharply. Lily followed quickly behind him and glanced quickly round the room. The majority of the tributes were already there and had glanced over at their entrance. It was clear that Severus had made an impact with his harsh entrance. In comparison, scuttling behind him, Lily imagined she looked scared and weak so she slowed her pace, straightened her back and lifted her chin before walking to where the other tributes were gathered, waiting for the others to arrive.
Lily glanced around at them all and noticed many of them sizing up the competition already. The crazy haired girl from District Two seemed to be watching her with an amused glint in her eye. Lily was certain she was planning ways to kill her already and she forced herself to hold the stare until a laugh broke her concentration. James was talking with his district partner as well as the boy from District two and they seemed to be joking amiably together. They stood close to a slight boy from District 9 who had scars across his arms and face. He seemed to be smiling a little at the exchange but, the arms wrapped around his chest suggested he didn't feel like he belonged where he did. Lily also noticed a small rather mousey looking boy, she thought he was from District 6, who seemed to be listening into the conversation and hanging on every word the bigger built boys were saying. The girl from District four looked up and saw her watching them. She smiled at Lily. Shocked at the confidence the group was showing Lily returned the smile a little before remembering she might have to kill this girl. The thought wiped the smile clear off her face. As Lily turned her head, she was sure she saw a hint of sadness cross the girls face. But that wasn't possible. She shook herself mentally and turned her attention to the instructor calling them to attention.
"Welcome Tributes to the Training Centre" she said, projecting her voice, as if the room didn't cause it to echo and bounce off the walls anyway. "There are a couple of rules for the next few days. There will be no fighting, challenging or in any way harming another tribute, there will be plenty of time for that in the arena." she glanced over to the tributes from one and two who were already huddled together grinning maniacally. "There are instructors on hand if you wish to practice hand to hand combat. Other than that you are free to visit different stations as per your mentor or escorts instructions. I would recommend not forgetting the basics. The majority of you will not die at the hands of your fellow tributes if you do not prepare. Starvation and dehydration are common killers in the arena, so make sure you're prepared." She gestured to the room overlooking the training room, "The gamemakers will be watching your progress from up there so be sure to work your hardest. Remember they will be the ones scoring you." She clapped her hands. "You're free to go"
At this the career tributes from one and two strode swiftly and confidently towards the largest weapons in the room and began swinging them with ease in an attempt to intimidate the field Lily felt. She ignored them though, and turned to Severus to ask where he was going to go, but he had already left, heading in the direction of those same tributes. Lily stood in shock for a moment until she felt several pairs of eyes on her. The laughing group from earlier were looking at her. Not wanting to make herself stand out too much she strode purposely towards the knot tying instructor, determined to follow Rhyad's instructions and learn some basic snares. The instructor lit up as she approached but Lily still felt eyes on her and, without thinking, looked over her shoulder to where James stood alone, watching her.
Ignoring him decidedly, Lily turned back to the instructor, a smile on her face. "I've heard you might be able to help me in learning a few snares so I might be able to catch dinner!" A friendly manner never hurt anyone she felt, and perhaps if she was nice the instructor might spend extra time with her, teaching her the skills properly that she would need in the arena. Her head turned a little behind her again and watched James join the group that had already formed as they made their way to the edible plant section of the room. Well, at least Lily had an advantage in that area.