"Yes, I guess. I thought..." Alexis says unsure if Jeshua wanted to be with her. Grey can guess what Alexis thought.

"Jeshua can meet you there. I'm sure he'll be looking for you," Grey says hiding his smile.

Alexis looks down and blushes. Grey smiles as Ari comes over to them. Ari lightly smacks Grey on the arm. Grey just looks at her and smiles. "Be nice," she whispers even as she gets in the chair.

A wicked look enters his eyes. Alexis finishes helping Ari and Grey bends over and whispers a few things into Ari's ear. This time it's Ari's turn to blush.

But then Grey sobers up. "Alexis, could you wait outside for a moment? There are some things that I need to talk to Ari about." Alexis takes the chance to escape from Grey. She just wishes that she could leave altogether but she thinks she understands Grey asking her to join them.

"Ari, there are things you need to know. I'm not a nice man. I have the reputation for cruelty for a reason. Today you will witness somethings that you might wish never to see." Grey says a little uncomfortably.

Ari smiles a little sadly. "At least you're honest with me Grey." She sighs, "I figured that anyone that makes the Aelven run scared isn't a nice man. And besides I've told you I did my research on you. I know the stories about you Grey. I have no doubt that you can be cruel. But I've never been treated so kind so no matter what I see here today, unless that cruelty is unleashed on me, and even if it is, it won't be anything new."

Ari looks down and away. "There is very little that could be done to me that hasn't been done general. I just don't wish to have it done to me anymore. I'd rather not be witness to it happening to others either if that is okay with you. I realize that with your reputation that it might happen."

"I'll excuse you and Alexis should I order anything like that this day, I promise. And I won't let them be used on you again. But there is something, the tribunal will be coming tonight. Once they are here I won't be able to leave you as free as I have. I will have to handcuff you to the damn chair." Grey doesn't like that.

Ari looks at him and smiles. "Don't be upset general. I should have been in cuffs this whole time. A day or so with them on won't kill me. And I really should be in the dungeon with the other prisoners."

"Over my dead body." Grey says and leans in for a kiss. He'd only meant a light one but instead finds himself going deeper. It is with reluctance he pulls back. "But I shouldn't be doing that either. The tribunal will think that I'm raping you by keeping you in here. I'm sure that many in the camp already think so as well. I've heard the murmurs as I'm sure that you have."

"I don't care general. I've been the subject of rumors for as long as I can remember. I've been called whore, slut, bitch more times than most people can easily count. Usually just after they've raped me. Nothing anyone here can say will hurt me. Because they don't mean anything to me." Except Grey she realizes. His words would hurt her. Grey leans his head against hers, brushes her hair behind her ears and then stands.

He looks for the report on his desk and reads it quickly. The more he reads the angrier he gets. Jeshua didn't tell him the half of it. Now he is good and truly angry.

Ari looks at him in fear and that look although it makes him angrier also gets him to hide it more. He wheels the chair out of the tent and allows Alexis to take over pushing it. Grey walks to the side and starts calling out instructions.

Taren and Anna join them before they reach the designated area for the trial. By some quirk of fate Grey managed to choose the precise location the Aelven held their trials and punishments. Ari finds it a little difficult to breath and does everything she can to hide the panic she's feeling.

But Alexis had been watching her closely and was not surprised at the reaction Ari was going through. She leans over and gives her some instructions. Ari bends down and tries taking slow deep breathes. As she does so the black starts to recede and she can breath again. But she is very glad that she is sitting down.

Grey whispers something in Taren's ear and Taren goes off back towards the camp. Grey ushers the ladies to a reserved section. Ari smiles bitterly, the section for the royal family. Although she was usually the one being tried. It was nice for a change to not be the one on trial. But this area still sickens her and she fully regrets eating what she did for breakfast.

Jeshua goes over to Grey as he takes his position. Grey motions to the females and gives them instructions. Jeshua smiles and eagerly goes over to where Grey told him to sit.

A short time later most of the soldiers not on duty have arrived. Grey will leave it to their company leaders to mark down any late comers or missing. Just as he is about to start Taren comes back carrying a locker.

Ari had seen this locker in Grey's tent and she's curious about why he'd want it now.

Grey just motions for Taren to set it down at his side. Ari feels left out because most of the soldiers take a look at the locker and start murmuring and a few looking not a little sick.

Taren slides in next to Anna. Grey stands up and the trial begins. "Bring in the prisoner."

The guards return to the dungeon. Ari had hoped that that particular door would be missed, but she should have known better. A few minutes later and Sheila is brought out. She's wearing the blanket like a Sari.

Now the volume of the murmuring soldiers increase. Most hadn't heard why there was a trial just that their presence was required.

Grey smiles even as he thunders for quiet. Immediately they all stop talking. No one wants to have Grey's anger fall on them. "Sheila Torango, you are accused of attempted murder. How do you plead?"

"This is ridiculous. How can you be neutral?" Sheila sputters.

"You are the one that tried to kill me Sheila. How do you plead?" Grey asks one more time.

"Not guilty." Sheila says defiantly. She knows that she's lost this case before it even started. She had hoped that someone else would be judge. She's talked herself out of many a tight spaces with her charms, both men and women.

"Well, that's nice. It's been noted. But since I happen to be the one you tried to kill I find you guilty. Any words before I sentence you?" Grey says.

"This is a joke of a court," Sheila declares. "I'll get the sentence overturned when the new occupants take over."

"Oh, I doubt that since the new occupant is Lady Anna." Indeed Anna had whispered to him just a short time ago that the paperwork was done, signed and filed. Grey smiles as Sheila gets a sick look on her face.

"But the world for some reason frowns on killing murderers and those that attempt to murder. Unless they are Aelven, then they seem to slaver for their blood. So I won't order you to death. Pity."

Sheila looks hopeful. She'll be able to talk her jailers into almost anything.

"Instead I order you to keep to your profession. I will allow you to keep your room here in the dungeon, the cot assigned to you and the blanket you now wear. You will be given water daily as much as you would like. But," here Grey gets a truly vicious look, "anything above and beyond that you will have to earn through your charms and profession. Food, clothing, soap, and shampoo, any hygiene materials you will have to earn. You will be allowed to set the price for your services, but remember you set it too high and you won't have any customers. They will be allowed to give you bonuses, but that will be between you and them. No weapons whatsoever will ever be allowed in your room.

"You will be allowed one hour a day, rain, shine or snow for excersize."

Grey looks her over and smiles. "This case will be reevaluated when and only when you are no longer able to perform your chosen profession in a manner that will sustain life.

"I must thank you Sheila. There was this pretty little tennis bracelet made of white and blue diamonds that I was going to get you for a farewell gift. This is much cheaper for me," Grey says smiling brightly. He'd known that Sheila wanted that bracelet. She'd hinted at it before.

Sheila shoots him looks full of daggers as she is led back to the dungeon.

Grey stands up and silence once more reigns. "Any one wishing to avail themselves of Miss Torangoes services may do so after duties for the day are complete. You will pay her according to her set price. Anyone found to use her services without paying will be taken to court for rape. Is that understood?"

Someone in the group yells out, "Hypocrite!"

Grey looks over and finds the guilty person. "I have never taken a female against her will in my life. If you have something to say, you think otherwise than bring it before Lady Anna. She can judge me and if she finds me guilty she can have me jailed or otherwise punished. She deals harsh judgments against rapist and wouldn't hold back judgement on me."

The foolhardy soldier stands up, "I say that you are raping the girl taken prisoner, the Aelven girl you keep in your tent."

Ari is white and hates the way this has turned. She personally thinks that Sheila got better than she deserves and isn't happy that this has turned the course that it has.

Anna sighs and takes her place where Grey had been standing. She motions for the foolhardy soldier to come forward.

"I would hear your words now," Anna says calmly.

"I say that General Grey has been keeping the prisoner in his tent so that he could have easy access to her body. That he has in fact been raping her since we've found her and he took her out of the hospital."

"Is that a fact? Huh, well soldier, I must say you are either very brave or very foolish." Anna says to the man standing before her.

"Well Grey, you've heard the charges laid against you, what do you say?" Anna says. She's not sure that Grey isn't guilty.

"Not guilty. Ask the prisoner that he alleges I've raped." Grey says confidently. He doesn't think Ari will turn on him and had said repeatedly that she doesn't consider what they've done as rape.

"Ariele. General Grey has been accused of the rape of your person. He has pleaded not guilty. Without worry about reprisal, you do know what rape is, do you not?" Anna asks.

"I was raped by the various members of the Aelven community for ten years so yes, I am well aware of what rape is." Ari says calmly and evenly.

"Has General Grey ever in any way shape or form raped you?" Anna had wanted to say ever touched you, but she has a feeling that he had.

Ari starts laughing. "No. He hasn't done anything that is even remotely linked to rape. He has looked after my welfare far better than the Aelven ever did.

"He told me that there were many in camp that might think that he's been raping me. He has never threatened me in any way, I have been telling him that he should have stuck me in the dungeon but he thought it might be too difficult after all my experiences there and refused.

"I don't see how taking care of someone's well being body and mind can count as rape. So no, he's never hurt me or threatened me or have done anything that is rape. I just wish the previous occupants of this place had been as kind as General Grey has been. Especially since when the tribunal is done with my trial they'll call upon Grey to be my executioner," Ari finishes.

"You are covering for him. You are afraid of him," the man argues.

Again Ari laughs. "I, afraid of him?" She turns around and takes off her top. She shows them all her scars. "This was done to me by those others. If I didn't have the brains to be afraid of them why the hell should I be afraid of General Grey?" Ari pulls down her shirt. She hadn't been afraid of the Aelven, just the pain they inflicted. The angrier they got the more pain they inflicted. "That is just a sampling of what they did. My body is covered with scars just like this. They liked to get inventive with their methods of torturing. The only limits the queen gave was no death causing damage. The only time anyone was ever punished for what they did was when some got a little too carried away and stuck a knife up my vagina. I nearly died and that still hadn't stopped the rapes.

"No, General Grey has been kind to me. Yes, I am his prisoner, but no he hasn't raped me. Not once," Ari says with finality.

"But you did scream one night while in his tent." Anna wants to clarify that situation.

"Yes, that was the night I woke up and Sheila had a knife over him and was about to kill him. My scream woke him up and he was able to subdue her. The resulting violence brought on a PTSD episode. For some time after that general Grey stayed as far away from me as he could while still attempting to get me out of my hiding place."

The soldier jumps on that. "I thought you said that you weren't afraid of General Grey?"

Ari looks at the poor stupid man. "I'm not afraid of him. It's anger and violence that cause the episodes to happen. I ride in the wheelchair because at times they come out of nowhere and smack me hard. Like just last night I was standing and an episode hit. I fainted. He tried to get to me but was on the other side of the room. I hit my head on a piece of furniture. Other times he's been close enough to catch me. But never has he done anything to me that I didn't like. Except give me food. He gives me too much and expects me to eat it all." That elicits some laughter. They had witnessed how much he piles on her tray.

"But it was witnessed that he carried you in to breakfast this morning." The man is now becoming desperate. Grey is standing at parade rest just waiting for this to end.

"That's because we had gone up to the castle last night for me to get some more clothes. It was there that I had the episode that gave me this lovely bump. He sent for medical help and we ended up staying at the castle. This morning the wheelchair wasn't where it had been left. The general didn't want me walking especially since I mentioned that I was dizzy.

"He got me settled in and overfilled my tray and got one for himself. When Lt. Alexis, the nurse that helped me last night came in, General Grey requested that she get one for me before the trial. She did and as you can see I am now in it."

"Why did you and the general spend the night in the castle?" The man asks.

Ari turns to Lady Anna, "Am I on trial now or did my answers not answer the question of whether or not general Grey has raped me."

Anna is more than a little sickened by the scars she had seen. "No, I think you are well aware of what rape is and that you say he has never raped you. You are free to return to your section."

Alexis goes out to help her with maneuvering.

"It is the findings of this court that the accusations against General Grey are baseless and hearsay only. The one accused of being General Grey's victim has in fact been a victim but not of General Grey. General Grey is hereby exonerated."

Grey bows to Lady Anna and completely ignores the man that accused him. Then he retakes his place on the judgement stand.

The man squirrels himself away in the crowd of soldiers. He is just glad that Grey hadn't done anything to him there and then. He just wonders what Grey is going to do to him later.

Grey motions to Taren who sighs and goes over to the locker. Anna gets a sick look on her face and turns away.

Even Alexis gets a little sick looking. She takes a deep breath. "I hate these things, he always gets that thing out."

Ari is curious now. She sees Taren carefully unroll what looks like a life sized man costume. Then he takes out a stand that he sets up. Once he's done with that he takes out an air pump. Not an electrical one that would blow the thing up quickly but a bicycle pump that will take several minutes to blow up. He pauses long enough the quickly insert a metal framework inside the thing he's blowing up.

Grey sends for the four surviving attackers and motions for Jeshua to take his spot down below. Jeshua takes a deep breath and curses under his breath at idiots and fools that had to go ahead and die.

Ari feels bad for him. She can tell that he's in pain and wishes that there was something she could do for him. There is something wrong with his arm even though it is casted. She just doesn't know what.
"There's something wrong with his arm. I know it's broken but what else is wrong with it?" Ari whispers to Alexis.

Alexis looks at Ari floored. "How'd you know. Never mind don't tell me. Dr. Jaylen says it needs to be pinned together and Jeshua wouldn't let her. He says that the cast will do just fine. But I saw the xrays, he won't be able to use his arm again properly if he doesn't go into surgery and get those pins."

Ari isn't so sure. Part of the pain Jeshua is feeling are his bones realigning and knitting together. She thinks. She's not sure how she knows this and wants to get to the vault. She's pretty sure that Jeshua needs to go there as well.

Taren is finished blowing up the full sized doll and is affixing it to the wooden stand. That's when Ari realizes that it isn't a blow up doll at all, which had seemed really odd to her to bring to a courtmatial. It is instead the flayed skin of some man that had been inserted with a balloon to inflate. The balloon had been given the man's origanal spec's so it looks as if a creepy man is looking over the crowd. It makes Ari a little sick.

"What is that?" Ari asks a sick looking Alexis.

"That is the skin flayed off of a soldier General Grey found sleeping while on guard duty. Since we were in a conflict with the Aelven at the time he put everyone in danger. General Grey had him flayed alive, then staked him to a bed of ants and drizzled honey on him. His screams lasted for hours.

"He then had the skin tanned so it wouldn't rot and made it into that. He brings it out when he's feeling particularly nasty, to remind us all I guess."

The four men come out of the dungeon and go to their places near Jeshua. When they see the man doll they blanch.

Grey stands up and silence falls. The man doll makes them all a little sick and they don't want that anger the general feels turned on them.

Grey searches out and finds the man that accused him of raping Ari. He's actually glad for the chance to clear that up before the tribunal gets here tonight. But that doesn't stop him from smiling nastily right at the man that dared to accuse him. But just for a moment.

"These men are brought before me for courtmartial due to an altercation last night. Lt. Jeshua during that altercation killed a man. Two others were hurt enough to need medical attention and the other two were stopped before medical attention was needed. Private Daines, passed away, Private James, Corporal Jessop, Corporal Leanders and Sargeant Pines are accused of jumping and attacking two officers. The attack which resulted in the death of Private Daines. Private James has a concussion. And Corporal Jessop was stabbed in the chest near the shoulder due to this altercation. How do you plead?"

Private James can't stop looking at the man doll. Corporal Jessop rubs his chest where he took the knife and stares at the man doll.

But Corporal Leanders and Sargeant Pines stare straight ahead.

All in unison they reply not guilty.

Grey sighs. He'd really hoped it wouldn't be necessary to continue this farce. "Lt. Jeshua Daniels. You killed a man last night when you were attacked is this correct?"

"Yes, sir!" Jeshua replies he'd hoped to keep Alexis out of this but it looks like the fools are going to make Grey do the whole thing.

"Tell this court what happened," Grey had read the report.

"I was walking Lt. Alexis back to her tent last night when the five men you mentioned jumped us. They hit me with a two by four which broke my arm. I kicked one back, Private James I believe. Then I stabbed Private Daines and Corporal Jessop took advantage of my attention being elsewhere and tried to jump me. Since I was in the process of taking my knife out of Private Daines it ended up slicing him. He went down, I was too busy protecting myself and Lt. Alexis to check on him.

"Corp. Jessop came at me and I tried to stab him in such a way as to incapacitate without killing him. Then the MPs came and I was able to stop. After getting our statements I and Lt. Alexis were free to receive medical care, which I did so."

"So you in no way instigated this fight?" Grey is very intent on this point.

"General sir, before last night I had no idea who these people were. I didn't have direct contact with them until they started swinging. Even then words weren't even exchanged. I had seen them around the camp before but have never talked with them." Jeshua is completely truthful and a tone of some confusion underlies his words. He's generally liked and can't understand why he and the Lt. were attacked.

"They state that you started the fight, and it was they who were defending." Grey says reading from the report statements.

Jeshua is shocked but not overly surprised. He figured it would turn into a he said/he said situation.

"However," Grey is happy to report, "The injuries sustained and Lt. Alexis's statement bear out your claims of self defense and the others that of being the attackers. I have no doubt that should I bother interrogating them that I would find out the reason for the attack in the first place, but I have other things to do and that would only hold things up and really would have no bearings on my findings.

"Lt. Jeshua, I find you not guilty of murder, or even of manslaughter. It was self defense and it shows that you did try to avoid fatal injury but that you were pushed into it due to the situation. You had been in line for a promotion to captain, but seeing as how you valiantly and ably defended your fellow officer against great odds I'm going to advance you to Major.

Grey looks with less pleasure at the four remaining men before him. "One has escaped my justice. His body is being sent home with a dishonorable discharge attached to his name. You four however, remain. You attacked two of my officers causing great harm, potentially ending his active career and you deny starting the fight and try to lay the blame on him.

"You four are dishonorably discharged. That is not however the end of your punishment. Through that door that you came through is a little room the Aelven seemed to enjoy using. You will be taken there and will await your punishment. You will be tortured for as long as I deem necessary for the life of a comrade and the maiming of another.

"Those of the rank of captain and above will attend while the punishment is meted out."

Before people could stand and start shuffling away Grey had one more announcement. "People, may I have your attention please?" They had forgotten that there was something else to be announced today.

People sat and waited respectfully. "You all have heard by now of the vault the Aelven fled through to avoid repercussions. That vault is a special vault and I have received permission, to have you all go through. Warning, entering this vault will change your life. It has profoundly affected me and all those that have so entered there. Some will experience more of a change than others. Some will have very little change in their lives. So the invite is extended. Side arms and all weapons other than knives will not be tolerated. Also if you have any electronics don't take them in if you wish to ever use them again. Talk to your captains when the punishment is over if you wish to go."

Grey walks over to where Alexis and Ari waited with Anna and Taren. "Taren go put Corporal Semons away please." Taren immediately leaves the stand. "Ari, I don't want you in there. Anna would you and Alexis take Ari somewhere else please?"

"Take me to the vault," Ari demands. She desperately needs to get to the forest.

"I'll meet them there. I'll need to get the clothing that was given me first," Anna says nodding.

"Oh, I would like to go too if that is alright?" Alexis says. Life changing event, she could use something along those lines.

"Fine. Jeshua." Grey calls out and Jeshua comes trotting over.

"Escort Lt. Alexis and Ari to the vault. Do you need to get the clothing as well?" Grey asks. Somehow he doesn't think so. Jeshua took to the skimpy outfit like a fish to water.

"Nope. Sorry general but I'm not wearing regulation underclothing,"Jeshua says with a grin.

"Didn't think you were Major. I should have made you a Lt. Col. and loaded you up with duties so you don't have time to get into trouble."

Jeshua looks pained. "I didn't go looking for trouble general."

"I know Jeshua or you wouldn't have been promoted. You'd be getting far more punishment than those four."

Grey turns to a very white faced Ari. "I wouldn't have ordered this except they refuse to take responsibility for their actions. I'm sorry Ari, I know this disgusts you."

"I understand Grey. Like I said this morning, I know what kind of man you are. It takes a lot to terrify the Aelven. Do what you need to do. I'll be in the forest until you come for me." Ari isn't sure that she wants him to take her out. Perhaps she can talk him into using his knife on her there, but she doubts it. It will take the order of the Tribunal to get him to use his knife on her.

Grey desperately wants to kiss her right now, but so soon after the allegations of raping her it wouldn't be good.