Grey walks to the castle in long strides. He would've sent someone else but he's the only one that knows the way to the prince's suite. And he's the only one he wants touching the gift the prince had left Ari.

He can't help or save Ari, he can't bring back the dead, but he can let her finish reading the diary the prince had left her.

Once he has the diary he quickly returns to the tent is is surprised to find the mess he'd left gone. "Well Major, that was nice of you. But I'm used to cleaning up my own messes." And not just the easy ones like this. He truly has a bloody background.

Jeshua just shrugs it off. "Ari went to sleep and I had nothing else to do, so I thought I'd help you out a little."

Grey smiles at the honest answer. "I like that about you Jeshua, you speak the truth no matter if it will help your situation or not. Don't ever lose that trait, this world needs honest people like you. Thank you, that is all." Both men salute and Jeshua leaves.

Ari is sleeping and so Grey hesitates but in the end decides that she would probably prefer to read the diary than sleep. After tomorrow it would be too late. And the dark shadows under her eyes would only go towards helping him to stay the top pick for executioner after the trial.

"Ari, Ari wake up." Grey says trying to wake her gently. He's happy to see that she smiles when she sees him.

"'Ello Grey." Ari replies suppressing the yawn that wants to come out.

Grey smiles back at her tenderly and unable to help himself pushes back the hair covering part of her face. He stops smiling when he sees the bruise his hand made.

He pulls back his hand but Ari grabs it and holds it. "Why'd you wake me?" She doesn't think it's because he wants sex.

"I thought you might want to finish reading this." He doesn't finish the rest of his thought, he doesn't have to, Ari understands it all just fine. He hands her the diary and the translator.

Ari takes them both and looks up at Grey questioningly. "Yes, it's the diary your cousin left you."

Ari can't help it and tears come to her eyes, "Thank you general."

Grey helps her to sit up once more. "I think you should read it over at my desk. There is a lamp there you can use. And Ari, I'd prefer it if you called me by name and not rank please."

Ari walks over to the desk and after looking at Grey for permission sits in his chair and makes herself comfortable. "No, I can't do that now General." Ari looks up at him and smiles to take the sting of her words out.

"Tomorrow will be court. If I should call you by name and not your title that will make them suspicious. More than suspicious. I'm going to avoid talking to you as much as possible between now and then General I have to. If I appear cowed in your presence that will all be for the better.

"But General Grey, I thank you for this gift," words failed her.

"I just wish I could do more," Grey understands what she said and even approves the reasoning but he hates it when she cowers from him. And the frustration of it all makes him angry again.

Ari feels his anger and tries hard to not let it affect her but it's difficult. "Please general stop."

When Grey sees how hard it is for Ari he makes extra effort to suppress his anger and is able to calm himself enough that Ari can relax once more.

At loose ends Grey tries to relax enough to sleep, but his mind refuses to calm and refuses to allow slumber. After several hours of this Grey gives up and decides to work on the paperwork once more.

He  looks over to Ari and finds her crying silently. Not wanting to intrude he goes up to her and she throws herself into his arms. Grey just manages to keep his balance as he automatically closes his arms around the sobbing young woman. He just holds her letting her cry and decide if she wants to share with him what is making her cry.

After some time Ari calms down enough to talk, "My cousin wrote-" she has to take a deep breath before continuing, "he wrote that he brought me out to his house so that I'd have a break from all those others trying to rape me and he could better protect me. But that wasn't the only reason, every time he would get me alone and offer me that drug. He said that was the only way we could be together.

"He said that I didn't always accept it and he was fine with that, but other times I would take it and we could be together. He lived for those times.

"He hated his mother almost as much as I did. Hated her for what she was doing to me and to the Aelven. He would have killed her but she didn't trust him and always kept her personal shield on when he was around.

"He was therefore as surprised as I was when that bitch offered me the chance to go underhill. He thought it was a trick but didn't know what the trick was. But she didn't allow him time to talk to me.

"The last part was written hurriedly as he packed for underhill. The last thing he states is he hopes that he'll truly get to see me again and if not-he loves me." And with that she starts crying again.

"He didn't know what his mother had planned, didn't know about the missiles any of it," Ari cries out.

Grey isn't so sure that he didn't have some idea at least of what the queen planned but kept his skepticism to himself. Ari doesn't need to hear it. She's had so little love in her life and her life will be ending in just hours that this lie is one that would cause more harm by coming to light.

Grey  sighs, he doesn't like to see Ari so distressed but he's not very good at calming hysterical people down either. After some time of him just holding her Ari does calm down and Grey gives her a tissue.

Ari tries to smile but is unable to as she takes the tissue. She doesn't even wince as she goes over the bruised part of her face.

"Does it hurt very much Ari?" Grey asks as he gently caresses the cheek sporting his hand print.

Ari looks at him in surprise, "What that? Grey I learned a long time ago how to make the physical punishments look far worse than they actually are. Most of the bruising is from magic, I wouldn't even have bothered doing that if it hadn't occurred in front of those bastards. You in fact barely even hurt me. Although if it had landed like you intended at the time it would have hurt badly."

"Don't go," Ari says catching his hand as he moves away from her. "I don't want to be alone tonight."

Grey smiles bitterly, "Ari-"

"Please General Grey," Ari can't help the tears that come to her eyes. "This-" Ari becomes frustrated when she can't put into words how she feels. "Never mind. You're right we should both get some," and Ari suddenly finds her lips pressed to Grey's.

Sometime later Grey says, "I shouldn't have done that Ari." He smiles bitterly again. So soon after the revelations about her cousin there's no doubt she was comparing the two of them, and it's likely that he will suffer in the comparison. There is a difference between making love and sex and she's right about him not loving her.

"Perhaps not general, but thank you for it anyway." Ari says pulling him down for another kiss. "I have just one last request general, tomorrow before the trial, would you take me to the bathing pools one last time?"

Grey looks down at her and smiles, "I think that could easily be arranged. Is that all you wish?"

Now it's Ari's turn to smile bitterly, "It's all that can be given to me general."

"Tell me Ari, what do you want that can't be given to you?" Grey asks watching her, not letting her look away from him.

Ari sighs, "Let it lie general. My life is one long list of the impossible."

Grey plays with her hair and just waits silently watching her, waiting for her answer. Finally Ari sighs again, "It would have been better for this to never have been said Grey," but he watches and waits until she gives in. "I want to be loved and love in return. Cherished and cared for and protected by someone that I can cherish, care for and protect." She wipes the tears that leak from her eyes away, "See, this isn't something that can be given especially not in the time remaining to me."

Grey isn't so sure. He realizes as he holds the woman next to him. He loves her. The thought hits him like a lightning bolt, but he'd never be able to convince her of that not in the few hours remaining to them. Grey silently curses those bastards that will force him to kill her. And he curses the Aelven queen that poisoned her as well. Ari didn't deserve to die.

Grey smiles bitterly, well the queen bitch is dead and soon the judges will either be dead or screaming angrily when they find out what Ari did. His smile dies as he pulls Ari closer to him she doesn't even move, her time is soon now. No matter what happens Ari will die soon and he'll not let her suffer. If those bastards knew just how painful the poison was they'd just let that kill her. But all those that know what it does don't want Ari to suffer.

"Ari, Ari, it's time to wake up," Grey says nuzzling Ari's neck. "We need to get breakfast before the court convenes and you still want to bathe right?"

Ari turns around in his arms and smiles at him, "I do want the bath, but can't we miss breakfast today? It's not like it matters anymore and I'm really not hungry." Then she kisses him to show him what she'd prefer doing instead.

Grey lifts himself up onto his arms and looks at her, "Are you sure?"

Ari smiles back at him sadly, she caresses his face, "I want this to be happy day for me Grey. Perhaps you don't love me, but it feels like it when you touch me. I'm going to need that, the pain is already starting to come back..." Grey doesn't need any more incentive to give her some pleasure.

"Ari, there is something I've been meaning to ask you." Grey says as Ari is bathing next to him in her father's bathing pool.

"What is it Grey?" Ari is allowing herself this one last luxury and is floating peacefully on the water.

"When you came out of the spring the first time your scars had all disappeared. The trees had used magic to remove them from your body. Yet now they are back, I've seen them and even felt them. Why is that?" Grey asks idly watching the woman he loves.

Ari smiles a sly smile and stands up. Grey quickly gets out and offers her a hand to help her out as well. Once she is they both take towels and dry off. "Well Grey having the scars is far more effective deterrent than most things in keeping unwanted attention. And as for wanted attention, well it seems that it doesn't work as a deterrent. Basically they are there because I want them there for now. When I die my skin will once more return to the smoothness the trees returned it too."

Ari drops the towel with a squeal as Grey grabs her. "This is the last time I'll be able to do this Ari." Grey caresses her face before bringing her in closer to give her a deep kiss. He pours all his love and all the emotions he feels into it. When he's done Ari is crying and caresses his face back. "I know you won't believe me Ari, but I need to say this before we go, I love you. And what I do this day I'm only doing for you, no one else. As far as I'm concerned everyone else in this world and the world itself can go to hell. But I won't let you suffer from any more pain, I can't do that. I'm just sorry it took me so long to understand." He just holds her close as he finishes speaking.

It is with reluctance that he lets go. "We must hurry now, the court will be convening shortly." Grey hides his true feelings. He just wants to hit something anything preferably a judges face or the queen bitch. But the latter is dead and the former is out of reach at least for now.

"All rise as the world court now convenes." The bailiffs voice is heard over the hubbub of those allowed to enter the room set aside for the court. Ari is once more handcuffed to the chair and is unable to rise. Not that she cares, the looks of derision and hatred the judges throw her as they walk in would have thrown her if she had thought them truly impartial.

Since she is unable to stand due to the handcuffs she is the only one sitting and she returns the look of disdain she receives. She knows and everyone else knows this is a joke court, she doesn't even have a lawyer. She guesses that since Lady Anna's country isn't part of the Geneva Conventions that they feel they don't need to play by those rules either. Ari doesn't care she just wants this over with. She's feeling the block weaken and is holding away the pain through sheer determination.

As her jailer/protector Grey is next to her and he sits when the judges motion for them all to take their seats. Grey hides his hatred of the judges before him. He too has noted the lack of lawyer for Ari. He feels the knife at his side, and knows that he'll have to use it soon. The grim look on his face darkens and the judges note and are happy about it.

"Ariale, no known last name you are brought before the world court charged with crimes against humanity. How do you plead?"

"Not guilty. I haven't even been let out of the court unless the prince escorted me. I've never been further away then the prince's house in which you all are staying. I have done nothing to anyone, in fact I've been a victim of the Aelven myself with documented proof." Ari says from her seated position. The judges look at her angrily, they didn't want the video's even mentioned since the court is being broadcast world wide.

Ari doesn't care, the sooner this joke of a court is over the sooner she dies with less pain. "But since I've been denied even a lawyer, we all know that that proof will never be seen. Nor will the scars that cover my body as..." She is interrupted.

"That is enough." The judge yells over her words angrier than even before that so much they wanted hidden is being made to see the light.

Ari smiles at least people will know what a joke this court had been.

"Ariale, no last name you are representing the Aelven race for the crimes and atrocities they performed. Things will go easier for you if you tell the court where the Aelven are to be found." The head judge says thinking to gain something.

"The queen bitch and her people are dead. My cousin performed the honors himself, as well as killing the queen mother and my so called father before he himself was killed. All others of the Aelven race are dead as well." Ari says softly barely able to control her voice and keep the tears at bay. The loss of her cousin still hurts her.

"So you say but neither their bodies nor the bodies of any Aelven have been found. Nor do we yet have the name of your cousin or father." The judge says he's practically drooling he wants that information.

Ari looks at them all with an innocence that Grey knows is feigned but for the life of him can't tell it's fake. "My father was General Marshall Porton, cousin, the bloody Prince of the Aelven." With her words the court erupts and even the judges are shocked at the information and look with absolute hatred at Ari and Grey for keeping this information from them.

But Ari isn't done yet, "Since I am the niece of the queen and all other Aelven are dead I have already given this land to Lady Anna. She and her people are the ones that have been hurt the worse by the deprivations of the Aelven. I have been informed that the land transfer has been completed already.

"There is nothing you can do about it." Ari and indeed everyone can see the hatred the judges have now. Thwarted ambition and something else is made bare for the whole world to see.

"The disposition of the Aelven lands was not yours to make." The judge tries to regain something from the fiasco of the trial.

Now Ari smiles, a smile that reminds Grey very much of her cousins smile. "No, judge there you are very wrong. The queen left, abandoned the lands. If I am as you say Aelven then the lands were mine to give as I see fit. If it isn't my right then you are saying that I'm not Aelven and therefore I am free to go since this is a court against the Aelven. So which is it?"

Grey has to hand it to her either the judges have to recognize her as human or recognize her right to dispose of the lands as is her right.

"You are Aelven, yet have no right..." the judge begins only to be interrupted by Anna's lawyer.

"Sorry to interrupt your honor, but in point of law what the young lady states is true. Either you recognize her as human or you recognize her right to the disposition of her land." The lawyer doesn't like this farce of a court case and is more than willing to call the judges on it even though he himself has lost many friends and family to the Aelven.

The judge nearly chokes on his rage, as do the other judges although some are better able to hide their feelings.

"Very well this court acknowledges the right of the accused to dispose of the Aelven lands as she sees fit. The lands therefore will be given to the Lady Anna and is so noted." The judge's face is turning an interesting shade of purple and Ari is fascinated by it.

With no further ado the chief judge has a list of the charges read against her. Ari is so weak now that she doesn't pay much attention. Soon it will be over. "The defendant is found guilty for each count that was read." It was a joke most of those counts were committed before she was even born there was no way she could have been guilty. Ari laughs.

Her laughter rings throughout the room and brings everyone's attention to her. "You find this funny Ariale?" The chief judge asks falsely solicitous.

"I find it hilarious that I'm found guilty for crimes that happened decades before I was or even my kidnapped mother was born." Ariale says with as much hidden sarcasm as she can muster.

"Oh, and do you know who your mother was whore?" The judge asks.

"Mmm, my father wouldn't ever tell me, but I recently found out. Lady Anna's aunt Annabelle. So even if you had denied me the right to decide the land disposition, Lady Anna as my cousin would have inherited it anyway." Ari looks at the judge and wonders if maybe she screwed up. If the judges know that Anna is her cousin then they should know that Grey is as well and then they might not let him...

"Ariale the bastard daughter of the General Marshall of the Aelven court are hereby condemned to death. The sentence will be meted out immediately after this court is dismissed. General Grey, you are hereby appointed to be the executioner of said prisoner. This court is hereby dismissed." The chief judge says and many of the occupants leave not wanting to witness the death of someone they know to be innocent. Many are sickened by the falsity of the court and need air to keep from losing their breakfasts.

"It's time now Grey. I'm sorry for doing this to you." Grey is unable to say what he wants to back to Ari since the judges still remain.

"General Grey it is time to perform the execution unless you feel unable to do the task?" The judge mocks. It is well known how much Grey hates the Aelven, how much the Aelven feared him because of that. In the judge's mind this is a reward for his hatred

"Forgive me Ari," Grey pleads as he takes out his knife, he keeps the tears he feels from falling.

"There is nothing to forgive. Please, the pain from the poison is becoming stronger soon I'll be feeling the full effects." Ari pleads and allows her tears to run free.

Ari sees him pull out his knife and whispers, "I love you Grey," as the knife enters her chest.