Kingmaker

Llane #1

One of Ava's soldiers now walked to her, cradling Llane against him. "Ava" Ava instantly took her son from the soldier, nodding her silent thanks as tears rolled down her cheeks. Their son. One month old. Had already been killed by York. Neville held Ava close, locking his arms around her and their son. Ava began to blame herself for her childs death, saying she should never have put him down. Her throat still ached. As did her back and shoulder. She would be lucky to be able to walk now.
She pushed through the pain, getting to her feet with the help of Neville and Plantagenet. In silence, she and Neville headed back into the castle. Going straight to the safety of their room with their son. Ava kicked off her boots before climbing onto the bed with Llane still against her chest, refusing to put him down even as nurses pleaded with her. She wrapped a strip of fabric around his arm, before pulling the small blanket back over him. Neville moved to her, climbing onto the bed to comfort her. He shuffled close as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders; shifting so that her head rested against his shoulder. With his free hand, he gently lifted her chin to gaze at the red marks around her neck from the rope. Sighing as he rested his head against hers. "We will bury him, Ava. He will remain in the castle grounds" he murmured softly to her, keeping his arm around her shoulders as his free hand now rested across his stomach. "They killed our son. They must die" murmured Ava in return, snuggling against Neville's chest. "Your soldier has a good eye to hit Stafford from such a distance" he commented, trying to make her smile. Even just a little. "He trained hard" murmured Ava again, gently shifting Llane into Neville's free arm as she rested against him now.
Neville sighed softly, pushing his nose into her hair gently. "You need to stop blaming yourself for what happened today" he murmured softly, feeling her take a shivering breath. "They attacked you, and stopped you from being able to protect him. Your men fell protecting him. It's ok, Ava. Don't blame yourself" he murmured again, trying to make her understand that it wasn't her fault. She remained quiet, burying her face against his chest as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. 
Plantagenet entered in silence after knocking, carrying a silver tray of food for the pair. "King Henry sent some food for you both. He asked that I bring it" he said quietly, setting it on the table before moving to the pair. Sitting in a chair near to them. "I cannot tell you how sorry I am" he murmured quietly, reffering to Llane as he gazed to Neville, seeing that Ava was still quite distressed over the whole incident. "She hasn't talked since" sighed Neville softly, gazing down at Ava for a moment. Either she had fallen asleep, or she was just remaining quiet. He couldn't tell. "She blames herself" murmured Neville, looking to Plantagenet. "Says its her own fault Llane was killed. It's not though. And it never will be her fault. It never was her fault"
Plantagenet sighed, looking to Ava. "New mother. She lost her first child"
The knights talked long into the night, Ava had turned down the food and had given it to Plantagenet to save it going to waste. Neville had cast worried looks to her, as had Plantagenet. Both knights knew that deep down, Ava was screaming for York to be slain, and was delcaring war on them over and over.  But she remained silent, holding onto the flag of Lancaster that remained around her waist. The last time she had been this quiet was the first day she came to them all those months ago. Now it worried them. They, and her army knew her to be happy, lively and an encouraging and confident leader. Now she had silenced.
"York will pay dearly for this. For what they have done" murmured Neville, idly tapping his fingers on his mug. "They will pay for almost taking my family away from me. I swear it" Plantagenet nodded at his fellow knights words. He too would make York pay. Not just because he was now considered as family to Ava and Neville. But because York had killed a child as they had threatened the knights, the army, and the Crown. It was petty. And for that. He wanted York to be destroyed. But first. They had to ensure that Llane would be safe. And that Ava was able to fight. She was needed on the battlefield. Her men were needed and they wouldn't go without her.
Things were changing. Rapidly.

[Authors Note: 5 hours to plan. I feel sick. I have a migraine. And I just don't feel happy. I'm sorry. And. I'll try and update later. Or tomorrow. For now. I need some time. I really don't feel good]