Kingmaker

Llane #2

It was early in the morning when Ava finally managed to let go of her son. Tears streaming down her cheeks as her soldiers carried the little boy to his final resting place. He would be buried between the two soldiers that had fallen beside him. Neville held her close, his arms locked around her as their son was laid to rest. The armies of the family stood around them. Stony faced and looking more determined than ever to eliminate the House of York.
Ava and Neville walked to the front of their sons grave. Ava stepping forwards slightly to speak. "I shouldn't even be doing this so soon. Llane. My son. Our son. Barely past a month old. Was taken from me. From US! By the House of York. They strangled me with ropes as they killed my son. Those. Bastards... Killed. My son... My boy..." She broke down in tears once more, Neville pulling her to his chest. "Men. This shouldn't have happened today. 2 soldiers fell, one baby fell with them. Let our soldiers protect my son, Llane. And let them guide us through the coming months. Gentlemen. Join us, if you will. In a moments silence"
Ava still couldn't bear to lift her head from Neville's chest. His arms locked around her as he now bowed his head to hers. Plantagenet stood close to them as if protecting the grieving parents. He even had his hand on the hilt of his sword. The soldiers around them had crouched on one knee, their swords pointed in the dirt as they held their helmets. In silence, their son was buried. A flag of Lancaster bundled around him. Plantagenet paid his respects, motioning to the soldiers raise their swords to the sky before they each departed to their own respective duties. Leaving the three knights and the King alone.
Ava silently withdrew from Neville, walking from the small group and heading back into the castle. Before she had entered, she gave two orders to three of her men. "Have flowers brought to Llane. Blue and red ones. Then bring me the strongest drink we have" she murmured before walking inside and heading straight to hers and Neville's room. Those were the first two orders she had given outside of combat. So her men were happy to do as they had been asked. One set the flowers for her son, two took the strongest drink they had to her. A jug of wine, and one of beer. Both were for her, so she could either have both, or one of them. The soldiers would remain outside the room until Neville returned.
As the drinks were brought to her, Ava nodded her thank to her men. The pair giving their condolences before leaving to stand outside the room. In the hours she was alone, Ava had drank the jug of beer, her mind growing foggy and a nauseating feeling setting in her stomach. The loss of her son had hit hard.. Hoping it would ease the pain in her heart, she drank a few mouthfulls of the wine. This was also the first time she had ever drank alcohol. And she hadn't gone easy either. She lay on her side in the bed now, her stomach churning. She tried to remember what had happened. Finding that the memory was foggy. With a small hiccup, she stared off into the distance. Kicking the empty jug that had once held the beer off of the bed. Catching the attention of her soldiers outside the room. The two of them stepped aside though as Neville came upon them, stepping into the room with a sigh. He couldn't blame her at all for the drinking. Instead, he sat down in the chair near the bed, facing Ava as he finished off the wine and called for more for himself. He got what he wanted, and within minutes had finished a second jug.
No one would 'bully' the pair for such behaviour. Nor would they dare to. The day would go on as normal without them. They would stay in their room and grieve together. And now, sober up together. Ava had since stopped the flow of tears, thinking, in her foggy mind that maybe it was better this way. Her son couldn't be hurt by York now.

As the day went on, Ava and Neville refused to leave their room. Ava feeling nauseous, and Neville refusing to leave her side. He was used to the excessive drinking. Ava, was not. Her skin flushed pink when she vomited. Her eyes puffy and swollen from the tears and nausea. She had vomited once, and her mood seemed to pick up. Then she would complain of a headache, finding comfort and ease in the pain when Neville allowed her to rest in his arms. He gently rubbed her arm as he held her, gazing over the painting of him, Ava and Llane that had been done just a two weeks after his birth. His little blue eyes detailed delicately. He gazed in silence over the painting, seeing Ava smiling as she held their son. Seeing their son smiling. Seeing himself smiling. A reminder of happier times. It all came back to his want for revenge. The House of Lancaster were adding to their reasons to be at war with York.
1) Intent to overthrow King Henry.
2) The Battle on The Moors.
3) The constant string of spies sent to Lancaster.
4) The threats against the Crown.
5) The attacks on innocent people, towns and villages.
6) The murder of Llane Richard Neville.
All gave reason for war.  And each had thousands of men backing each reason. The main three would be brought before the King. And whether or not they were worth a war would be debated by King Henry, the knights, the generals and the armies of Lancaster.
It was clear though which reason would now be backed the most.

[Authors Note: I gained a second wind, of sorts. But this will be the last update tonight. More tomorrow]