'I wonder if she even remembers' me said young man, sighing. Spring sun reflected in his military helm. His companion, young girl, laughed and put reassuring hand on his shoulder.

'Dude, if she doesn't remember you I'll be shocked. You both were obsessed about each other' she said, making soldier color slightly.

They were driving to one of the smaller cities in western part of the country in order to see beloved of a young soldier, whom he met half a year before. He met her during inspecting theft of food in this territory. While crossing more attended parts of the road, they were earning curious stares of farmers and merchants and sometimes a vigorous wave of hand if somebody recognized visitors, who would answer in the same manner with charming smiles. No wonder they attracted attention, since the young pair of travelers surely looked peculiar enough to cause interest.

Man wouldn't be anything out of ordinary if it wasn't for his crimson coat, meaning a high officer. Earning it required skills, knowledge and experience in fight so, needless to say, it was always given to aged soldiers. But even more extraordinary was the young woman to the right of soldier she was a jester. Normally a jester wouldn't be so much of curiosity, but her young age, long blond hair plaited into braid, falling on her shoulder and ending near ribcage, as well as the coal-black horse meant that this jester was nobody else but the famous Crimson General's daughter, Marie Andree. Some time before, news of his only daughter becoming a jester was a huge sensation.

Two youngsters drove into destined city half an hour later while laughing merrily. They were about to head to Caroline's house, when aforementioned girl quickly run in their direction. Soldier jumped off his horse and froze, noticing tears, streaming from the girl's eyes. He paled strongly. Caroline run past him and leaned on Marie's horse and outing her hand on girl's thigh. Marie breathed with difficulty.

'It's a... it's...' started Caroline, gasping for air loudly and sobbing 'your dad...' Jester straightened her back and looked without the word at the other woman with pale face. All of her muscles were tense, as if she was ready to jump.

'He was sentenced to death for treason!'

Blond girl stared in shock for a moment and then quickly knocked friend's hand of her thigh and rode off without further ado. Caroline hugged her beloved while still crying.

'General, you've been accused of treason. For your fault, you are sentenced to death by decapitation. Execution was set on this Sunday, at noon, on the Victory Square. Is there anything you wish to say?'

Crimson General looked at king with honor, saying no word. King Tibault I grinned.

'I always admired your pride, you fool. It made you look like someone more than a mere son of a farmer you were. Guards, take him' he ordered with a dismissive wave of a hand.

It was Sunday, 11 o'clock when Marie Andree drove into city. Whispers and yells rang around her when she was making her way towards King's castle. Tradeswomen were saying their prayers quietly, men took off their hats as a sign of respect. Both Marie and her father were working for the poorest since they knew their hardships. Usually, girl would walk around, speaking with people about anything they wished, but today was not the time for this. Some of the guards paid their respects to both Marie and her father and one of them, who was stationed at the main gate told her quickly about today's execution, wishing her good luck with a tear rolling down his cheek.

Marie jumped off her horse, leaving him to stay near the castle's entrance (he would not run away) and ran inside the huge hall. She noticed king Tibault on his throne. He straightened himself once he saw her.

'What is the meaning of this, your majesty?' guards near her unsheathed their swords, but the king showed them to leave the room. They look confused, but complied. Only King, Marie and four of his personal guards were left in the room. King supported his elbow against the throne and then lowered his head, supporting it on his hand. He looked bored.

'Ah, sweet Marie, I also wonder what does the betrayal your father committed means' he said, watching jester's face with care. She didn't respond. Unnoticeably to the king, jester's muscles tensed.

'My lord, that's not what I was asking about. Why is my father accused of treason?'

'Because he committed it!' yelled king cheerfully, getting up of his throne. He wasn't yet dressed festively, so now he was wearing brown trousers and white shirt, both sewn from expensive fabrics. He walked towards Marie, who was looking straight into his eyes. Behind him, guards were getting more and more tense.

'Bullshit' she exclaimed and king gaped at her incredulously. One of the guards yelled:

'Hey, watch that mouth in front of the king!' and jumped towards the girl with his sword, but was stopped by a sharp 'Don't!' coming from the king. He took girl's chin into his hand and brushed his lips against hers.

'Eh, it's such a waste' he said, staring into her eyes. By the look of her eyes he knew she already understood what he meant and was ready to defend herself 'if you only wouldn't seek revenge for your father in the future, I would have taken you in as my concubine or maybe even wife... why do you have to be so bellicose?'

One thing she didn't suspect was a dagger in his hands. He was about to sunk in deeply in her stomach when she felt the move of king's arm and started to dodge, making it sink in right over the left hip. She yelped and quickly jumped back, unsheathing a small dagger she had hidden as well. She raised it in front of her, making all four of guards gulp quickly before rushing in her direction, since she was well known for amazing skills with weapons.

Before they came up to her, she whistled loudly, making them lose composure for a brief moment, enough to attack one of them and sinking dagger's blade in his shoulder. He yelled loudly with pain and dropped the sword Marie caught in midair. But before any of the man managed to counterattack, loud noise came from outside of the hall and a huge, black horse jumped in, running up to his mistress. Jester and her horse galloped out of the hall, running towards the Victory Square, accompanied by loud cries of the bell on the church's tower.

King looked on the beaten guards with mildly amused smile and his hands crossed on chest. Captain of the guards asked with a very frightened voice:
'My lord, shall we go after her?'

'No need for that. She's already late. And weakened' answered king with completely amused grin.

Marie's horse was called Pure Evil, but she would often call him Eve. She liked to say nobody knew where the name came from, but in reality it was given to the horse because of his temper. He's kicked and bit countless people before Marie saw him. She was just one of those people who were great with animals and so Eve was bought from happy farmer.

Once she started working and training him, she found out Eve was one of the fastest horses around. With training he became the fastest.

But even he couldn't make it to Victory Square in time.

Marie rode on the square in time to see the sword go down with a hollow thump, which resonated once the blade fell on the wood as if the neck and bones of General weren't there. All of this made Marie feel as if not only her dad was killed with the sword. It felt as if she was stabbed with it in the chest.

She turned her horse around with tears, covering her mouth with right hand and made him gallop before any of the guards could catch them. She would never forgive herself for leaving him there.

And yet, in spite of her failing him, he smiled at her second before the sickening thump...

Disclaimer: I do not own Ares. I can only wish...

So, my first story. Please feel free to point out any mistakes I made, I'm still learning English.

Hope you'll enjoy.