Kingmaker

Lancastrian #2

It was around 1AM when Ava woke, rattled by the crash of thunder that shook the tent. It was a childish fear, really. But it often faded quickly. Silently, she curled up a little tighter; the pain in her back no longer bothering her. Allowing her to curl up tighter. The action didn't go unnoticed by Sir Richard and Sir George, the pair having woken an hour earlier when the rain had started to secure the tent. "It has been a while since we had a storm like this" commented Sir George softly as he moved to sit nearer to Sir Richard and Ava. She was still silent, her hands trembling against the fabrics that bundled around her. "It has. Several months, I believe. I suggested that we stay in the tent tonight, but it seems Mother Nature has other plans for us. This storm does not seem like it will cease any time soon"
The knight glanced to Ava, seeing her eyes closed tightly as her body trembled. She was visibly afraid. Or cold. Either were a possibility. "Should we move into the castle for the night? We can take the drawing room. It has a fireplace, and enough room for us all to sleep" suggested Sir George, watching Ava as another crash of thunder echoed around them, following by a flash of lightning. They didn't have to decide for themselves though as Jess the Jester poked his head through the entrance to the tent. "King Henry has offered you shelter in the castle. The drawing room is yours for the night"
"That settles it then" commented Sir George as he stood. Sir Richard nodded to Jess; "Thank you Jester. Give the King our thanks" he said with a nod, getting to his knees. With that, Jess gave a nod and backed out of the tent once more. Leaving the trio to gather their things. Whilst Sir George replaced his sword on his waist once more, Sir Richard gently nudged Ava's arm. "Ava. We are moving into the castle. The storm is not going to stop tonight" he murmured softly, glancing at the entrance to the tent that now shook and flapped in the wind and rain. Ava pulled herself to sit up once she had heard Neville's words. "I always feared these storms. I spent many nights out in storms with the knights of York. They said it would harden me to the elements. I saw many of our men struck down by lightning. They say it is a rare occurence. But it happened" she sighed as she stood, placing her sword at her waist once more. Drawing her Lancaster cape around her shoulders as Sir Richard did the same. "Those knights... Sometimes I wonder what goes on in their minds. Regardless, we will not make you stay out in storms. Though there is one thing we must do first before we head into the castle. We must take our horses down to the stables now. If it were not raining, they would be fine by the tents. But they need to be taken to the stables now"
Ava bit her lip slightly. "I will have to ride my stallion down there. He is so jumpy in this kind of weather" The two knights glanced at one another for a moment. "Are you sure? If he throws you..."
"Then he throws me. Come! They will be getting more and more frightened if we leave them out much longer" said Ava quickly, tugging on her boots before she jogged out of the tent. Running to her stallion. She quickly untied his lead from the wooden pole, throwing it over his neck with the reins; before she launched herself into the saddle. Instantly cringing with a slight chuckle at the puddle of rain that now soaked her backside. She would definitely need to change once they reached the castle.
Sir Richard and Sir George quickly followed behind her, their eyes flinting towards her as her stallion fussed and shifted around. He seemed more or less fine, and she seemed happy. The rain had soaked her within seconds, her hair stuck down by her shoulders with the force of the rain. Her cloak clinging to her. "Come, gentlemen. Let us ride!" she exclaimed more cheerfully than expected. Earning a chuckle from the knights. The pair rode their mounts to her sides. Sir Richard stealing a glance at her figure in the rain soaked clothing she wore. It went unnoticed by her and by Sir George. The trio now rode onwards towards the stables. Their horses kicking up mud and gravel as they cantered. The knights glanced at Ava as she rode. She had the perfect seat. And the perfect balance. She didn't seem to move at all in the saddle, and her body just seemed to move with the horse. When she dropped the rein from her right hand to ride one handed, the knights gave silent nods to one another. They knew she'd had some knight training with the House of York. But they didn't know she was trained to this extent. It was more than they had expected to say the least.
As they continued to ride to the stables, which were on the other side of the castle grounds, the two knights watched Ava. She seemed to be more comfortable in the saddle. Happier. Her back didn't seem to be giving her any trouble either. With an idea in mind, Sir Richard called out to her as she rode slightly ahead of them; "Ava! Take out your sword! Use it in your right hand! Allow us to see your balance!" She did so without question, removing her sword from it's sheath at her side. It took her a few seconds to balance and to sort herself out. But once she had the right grip and her balance was sorted, she looked as good as any knight. Sending smiles to the faces of Sir Richard and Sir George behind her. She shoved her sword back into its sheath now, not wanting to risk anything in the storm.
The smiles of the knights quickly faded as a loud crash of thunder sent a spike of fear through Ava's mount. The stallion rearing up as lightning flashed across the sky. The loud neighing and panicked breathing of the stallion left Ava with nothing to do, but grip onto the reins. She desperately tried to calm her horse as he reared over and over. Neville's and Plantagenet's horses were more used to the storms and only shook their heads up and down at the sounds and sights. Fearing for Ava's safety on the seemingly untrained stallion, Neville trotted his own mount to her side. Gripping the reins of the horse. "He seems afraid of this storm. But that was one loud crash of thunder. So it is understandable. Walk him to the stables if you feel he will be calmer with you walking by his side. Myself and Plantagenet will ride ahead, and I will walk back to meet you once my horse is settled"
Ava nodded, wanting him to sort his own horse first before dealing with her and her horse. "Go on. Your horse needs the shelter and warmth too. Go ahead, and I will be as quick as I can with him" She jumped from the saddle as the two knights rode ahead. Landing straight in a puddle that soaked her legs even more.
With a gentle smile, she moved to see her stallion, resting a hand gently on his nose to try and sooth him. "Come. We will take a slow walk. But not too slow" she chuckled softly, pulling slightly on the reins to encourage the stallion to walk. His head bobbed beside her as he did so, he was never a step behind her; always staying right by her side. As they walked, another loud crash of thunder shook around them. Again, startling the stallion as he jumped slightly. All Ava could do was walk on, keeping him next to her as the rain fell harder than ever. The cold droplets feeling sharp against her skin. She shivered, but walked on. She walked on for the sake of her horse at her side.
It took 15 minutes for Neville to return to her. He'd ran back to meet her once he had felt the rain getting heavier. She looked a sorry sight, really. She was so sodden with the rain, and her horse matched her. The stallion plodding at her side. She was even at the point now where her cloak was so heavy with rain that she'd resorted to resting it across her horses' saddle to ease the weight on her shoulders.
"Come. Let us get to the stables, then we can get some dry clothes on" smiled Neville softly, taking the reins of the stallion and walking the last distance to the stables. Ava dwindled a little behind, but as soon as she entered the stables. She gave a sigh of relief. Pulling her cloak from the saddle and ringing it out. Chuckling softly at the amount of water that ran from it. Once her horse was settled, she looked to the knights. The pair waiting for her at the entrance to the stables. They were just as sodden as she was. As she walked to them, her horse turned and nudged her back, catching her off guard as she stumbled forwards. Only to be caught by Neville as he darted forwards. A valiant effort to save her, but in ended in them both sprawling into a puddle; once more soaked as Neville landed on Ava. Whilst she blushed furiously, Plantagenet laughed at the sight. It was quite funny after all. Luckily Ava and Neville saw the funny side too, and chuckled over their situation. The knight got to his feet, pulling Ava up after him with a chuckle. "My apologies for crushing you" he chuckled softly. "My apologies for dragging you down with me" chuckled Ava, watching Neville.
The pair could only chuckle and smile over the incident. Neville catching Plantagenet making kissy faces behind Ava. The knight only chuckled. They had to have immature moments like this. After all that had happened, they needed some light hearted fun.
Neville now smiled to Ava as he wiped the water from her eyes with his thumb. "Come. Let us go inside" His action earned a smile and another blush from Ava. Only this time, her eyes met his for longer. In the blueness of her eyes, he could see so much. So, so much. Maybe they were closer now. And maybe she was earning confidence. One thing for sure. She had earned Neville's heart. Stolen it away with her own.
Absent mindedly, Neville cupped her cheek with his gloved hand. Caressing with his thumb ever so gently. Her eyes still on his as she raised her hand to rest on his, she bit her lip slightly as Plantagenet once more made kissy faces behind her back to Neville. The knight chuckled softly as he watched the exchange between Ava and Neville. They had had their eyes on one another for some time now. This moment was probably one of many that Ava had dreamed of.
Slowly, Neville leaned in to Ava; gently touching his lips to hers. He felt her return it gently. And only then did he let it linger for a few seconds longer; before breaking away to smile at her. The hand upon her cheek remained for a moment longer.
"Lovebirds. It is cold, we should go inside before the storm traps us in the stables" called Plantagenet with a soft chuckle. Neville too responded with a soft chuckle, with Ava remaining silent before him. She was happy as ever. Her heart doing backflips in her chest. Her mind racing. Sir Richard Neville had kissed her. And she had kissed back.
She hadn't kissed back to spite the House of York. She had done so out of personal interest. It wasn't all about the House of York. She had her life ahead of her. And she hoped and prayed that Sir Richard would be in it.
And he definitely would.

[Authors Note: Super long part! But I just had to make it happen with Ava and Sir Richard Neville. I just had to. Besides. It's sweet, and they're perfect]