Kingmaker

Conflict of Interest #1

"It is cold tonight. Should we seek shelter for warmth, Ava? It is not wise for us to linger in the darkness" whispered David as the pair crept past small houses, pubs and stores. They had wandered into the city, the street lit by flickering gaslight. "You can seek shelter, David. If we venture any further into the public eye, they will see us, and report that they have seen us. I do not wish to go back to the House of York, David" snapped Ava unintentionally. "I, for one, Ava. Do not mind the House of York" retorted David, his eyes suddenly ablaze. "Then why do you follow? Why do you follow me to the House of Lancaster? Do you seek to spy upon them? To ally yourself with them for inside information? Take a step back, David. You know the House of Lancaster has more ruling than that of the House of York. Your actions and your intentions will not go unnoticed"
"And what of you, Ava. A lady of the Woodville family. One with high standing in the House of York. Are you dropping your name in order to follow the House of Lancaster?" started David, watching Ava now. Failing to keep his voice low as faces appeared in the windows of several houses. "Your failure to remain quiet is typical of the House of York. The Woodville's may have high standing, but the reputation they carry is most undesireable. I for one do not wish to carry such a name, nor do I wish to remain within the House of York. The House of Lancaster holds much more for me. The House of Lancaster can aid me in things that the House of York cannot. Do you not see what I am saying? Do you not understand why I have fled? Do you NOT believe what I say when I tell you that the House of York is corrupt?" snapped Ava, her fists clenched at her sides.
"Hush, foolish girl! Your voice is loud and calling the people to their windows" sneered David, stepping closer to Ava in an attempt to cover her mouth with his hand. "Do not call me foolish. And do not try to silence my words, Yorkie" she hissed in return, as she gripped David's wrist tightly. "Sir Henry Stafford will hear of this" muttered David as his eyes locked on those of Ava. "He can hear all he likes, David. My decision will not be swayed. But if you leave my side now. I will speak of what has been said here. I will make it known to the House of Lancaster that you planned to spy upon them. And I will make it known that I. From this point. Have dropped all my allegiances with the House of York, and that I have declared you. And all Yorkies, as enemies. You will not get in the House of Lancaster, David. You, nor any other House of York blood" she spoke with such fire and such true feeling that David was stunned to silence for a moment. But he wasn't done speaking.
"What, pray tell, makes you believe that you are going to be accepted?" he hissed, breaking her grip on his arm to get right in her face. "The House of York has only ever caused trouble for the House of Lancaster. I, each time, sided with the House of Lancaster. Much to my fathers' disagreement. Sir Henry Stafford. Oh. Sir Henry Stafford. That man knew from the start that my allegiance was going to falter. Oh how right he was. But he did not think it would happen so soon. David. Leave my side now. And you leave as an enemy. Take my name and smother it in dirt. Take my words and twist them all you like. But the House of Lancaster will hear the truth. And if this is the start of a conflict between our respective houses. Then so be it" muttered Ava as she backed up against the wall.
David stood inches from her, his eyes locked on hers. "You speak as though you are already a Lancastrian. But you are not. You are a WOODVILLE. A Woodville of the House of YORK. You cannot remove that which lies in your bloodlines" he growled, pinning her against the wall for a second.
"Maybe I cannot remove it from my bloodlines. But I can change it for those who come after me. I can change it for my future children. I can change it for the future of my childrens' children. It all changes after today, old friend. Now release me. Before I have you slain for unchivalrous behaviour towards a lady"
"That only applies to Knights, Ava. And you have no one to call upon to have me slain. So do not speak the words that you cannot abide by" sneered David, squeezing her arms for a second before turning and taking his leave into the darkness. He turned though; "One last thing, Lancastrian. The House of York will not take you back and will look upon you as a traitor. Our Knights will not be chivalrous towards you. And we will not go easy on you in battle"
"I do not need chivalry from your people, David. Nor have I ever needed it. Your Knights do not even know where we are, and they do not know where I am headed. Good luck to your Knights in finding me. They will need it"
With that, Ava and David went their separate ways. The faces in the windows had since backed away. Hearing the declaration between a 'Yorkie' and a 'Lancastrian to-be'. The upcoming days could spell conflict for many.

[Authors Note: Definitions- Yorkie: House of York member. Lancastrian: House of Lancaster member. Both Yorkie and Lancastrian are simpler ways of saying which house a person belongs to, yet they are not nice ways to say it. Which is why Ava and David used it in such vile tones]