Kingmaker

King Edward #2

"Gentlemen, when Ava joins us. Please. Do not speak the names of Sir Henry Stafford and Sir John Howard. They will not be the names she wishes to hear" started King Henry of Lancaster. He looked to the door though as Ava entered; "You can speak their names. They taste like dirt, but they are a threat and we need to speak of them" She walked with an arm across her stomach, a hint of pain in her breath. "Those men are nothing but cowards. Their attack was nothing but brutal and, as unexpected as it was. Maybe I deserved it" she sighed as she sat beside her husband and the King at the end of the table. "Maybe I deserved it for my actions against York. My actions against them and their King Edward. In what world will we not be to blame, though? These men have slaughtered our soldiers. They slaughtered my son. And now they want to slaughter our King Henry and take our soldiers. They want to take families too, but what family do I have? By blood? None. Sir Richard is my family, my husband and the man I wish to protect with all my heart. The House of York have made more threats in the past 3 weeks than they ever have before. Should we have seen this coming? Maybe. So much has happened, and we've let ourselves become too laid back with them. They're taking advantage now, and we need to step up before we're shoved down any further. Do they have the upper hand now? In a way, yes; they do. Their King Edward will have brought troops from France with him. They'll be strong. Our numbers are large, yes. And we have men ready to fight. But do we really have a big enough army? When I was with York all those months ago. We trained men every day for combat. Some saw battle mere days after they had started training. But they learnt quickly. They were some of the most resilient men I'd ever seen. Yet, when faced with Lancastrian soldiers. Some hesitated. I saw in their eyes that they too questioned the stance of York and the true goal of those in control. They questioned. They were punished. I took to answering their questions... Many asked when I planned to leave for Lancaster. I told them. They wanted to come with me. But a loyalist overheard. The men were killed for planning to convict treason against York. We're not fighting men that want to fight. We're fighting men that have been forced to fight for York. You'll find the odd man that wants to fight for them. But the rest? They fear for their families if they don't fight. Willow Lane? The families of York soldiers. Many of the sons from the street now fight in York colours. Some are barely past the age of 18. Some of those boys I spent time with, teaching them to ride horses. Teaching them to read and write. Brave boys, but none were suited for war. Their fathers fought, and some died. We're fighting families. Look in the eyes of these men we are up against. Look into their eyes and you will see a man wanting to return home to his family. A man dragged into a war that wasn't his to fight. A man dragged from his family. York aren't something we should fear. But something we should stop before they take anymore men and boys from their families and their loved ones. Imagine what it would feel like to have your son or your father taken to fight in a war that will take his life..." The men around her had sat in silence as she'd spoken. It was the most they'd heard her speak in one sitting. And honestly, they appreciated that she was still willing to speak after what had happened. They listened on as she continued.
"We will fight York though. We'll give it all we have. And we'll make sure that our King Henry remains on the throne. We'll make sure that it is Stafford and Howard that end up in the dungeons.  We'll give the armies of York a chance to return home. And if they wish, they can join us. These men who fight under no reasoning of their own deserve a second chance. Some of them don't even know that they will be up against Lancaster. York will scare their men into fighting. Some generals will be nice to their men. Others will rule with an iron fist over them. You may not have noticed. But I give each of my men a choice. If he wants to fight along side me. He can. If he doesn't feel well. I won't force a sick man to fight. If he doesn't believe he can perform on the battlefield. I'll talk to him. If his mind hasn't been changed. I won't force him to fight. You can't force a man to fight through instilling fear. When you instill fear. You instill uncertainty. And when you instill uncertainty. You instill nerves. A nervous man cannot fight. His mind is foggy and he cannot make smart decisions. My men are like family to me. I will treat each of them as brothers. And when we take on York. I will fight alongside them. Broken ribs or not. I will not leave my men to fight without me on that battlefield"
Sir Richard gripped her hand as she finished speaking. The passion in her voice was inspiring. What she had said had stunned everyone to silence. They hadn't thought of it the way she had. And they most certainely didn't know that some of the York soldiers were there under no will of their own. It made them think. As King Henry drew his gaze to Ava, he smiled kindly. "Ava, thank you for your words. Such passion was felt. And thank you for the information that was held within your words. Your army are lucky to have you. As is Sir Richard. Lancaster too"
Ava merely smiled, nodding slightly as Sir Richard squeezed her hand ever so slightly. She didn't seem to be in too much pain right now. But he knew she was, and could see it in her eyes. Even if she didn't speak it. He could see it. He'd learnt to read her emotions in her face over the past few months. He'd seen happiness, sadness, fear and pain. Right now, her eyes held pain and sadness. With a hint of determination.
The question remained yet to be answered whether she could ride with broken ribs. But they'd find out soon enough.

[Authors Note: What a speech from Ava! Now I must ask. Whose side are you on?
York or Lancaster?]
[P.S:- I'm Lancaster!]