Kingmaker

Lack of Sleep #2

Not sleeping at night really messed with the mind. It. Caused hallucinations. It changed someone's perception of danger, and safety. It made you slow, illogical, and just downright uncooperative and almost a danger to yourself and those around you.
Ava silently lay awake, snuggled down in the blankets as she shivered. Sir Richard remained asleep at her side, his arm still draped across her. She debated whether it was worth waking him to say she couldn't sleep. But decided against it. The knight didn't need waking up just for the sake of her not being able to fall asleep. Though in the morning, he would ask her why she didn't wake him. With a sigh, she rested her head back against the square of pillow below Sir Richard's head; the knight silently tightening his arm around her as he remained asleep. She eventually closed her eyes, trying to force her mind and body to rest. She needed it before the lack of sleep got her maimed or killed. When she did eventually fall asleep, Sir Richard gave a soft smile. His sleep had been light, and he had noticed the change in her breathing as she had finally drifted off. He remained close to her, keeping her asleep. Nights like this, where she slept in his arms. He treasured them. It reminded him that she was his wife, and that she was his. It reminded him they were married under Lancaster, and that nothing could tear that away from them. Smiling, he relaxed back to sleep himself, with Ava sleeping in his arms.
Meanwhile, outside of the castle. Several of Ava's men remained awake. Talking of what had happened over the past few days. "The attack from those soldiers... Do you think Ava will fully recover?" murmured the younger of the group, a man of around 26 years. "She won't let this stop her. If that's what you're asking. Injuries can't keep her down. She said she'd fight till her last breath for Lancaster. That means she'll fight through injuries too" replied the elder, the general that was close to Ava. "What of Sir Richard?" questioned the younger again, looking to the elder. "What of him? He will stay by Ava's side. As a fellow Lancastrian, a knight, and as a husband. The man won't allow York to harm her if he can help it. And she won't let them harm Sir Richard either if she can help it. My concern is this. York can affect the pair on a more emotional level. With York killing their son, they know how to get to them both mentally and emotionally. That's where we come in, gentlemen. As their soldiers, we have to protect them AND King Henry. Ava sees us as family though. Friends. To her, we're not just soldiers. We're more than that. You heard how she talked to the Prince yesterday. She could've been killed for speaking like that. But she did so to defend us. But she will recover. She just needs time. Sleep, and some good meals. Mostly sleep. She hasn't slept well recently. Sir Richard said she sleeps for less than 4 hours a night. It's not good, really. 6 to 8 hours is deemed a good nights sleep. I know she always seems lively and wide awake. But she's a good actor. She can fake it. But it's getting harder for her to do so. And it's clear that it is" The elder sighed now, looking to the men around him. "She fights tired. But she pushes past the tiredness. There's a bigger picture, and a more pressing matter than sleep. I've known Ava for many years. Before I came to Lancaster, I used to be a general under York. I watched Ava go from strength to strength. I watched her fall. And get back up ten times stronger. She went days without sleep. Training. At one point, she was a squire for Sir Henry Stafford. The knight paid her well for her services to him. But I could see it wasn't what she wanted. In her eyes. I saw a knight. I saw a swordsman. A soldier. She wasn't like the other girls in the House of York. Some even said she should've been born a boy for all her interests. But in the end. She was a strong warrior. I took her in for some time. Maybe 3 or 4 years of her life were spent with me and my soldiers. I'd never seen a girl so dedicated to her training. When I defected from York shortly before Ava's 16th birthday, she was refused the chance to come with me. Sir Henry Stafford held her back under the circumstance of her being his squire. But as you know, she eventually broke away from York. And it was good that she did. I'm proud of her for all she has accomplished here. Gentlemen, you're not under the command of some clueless teenager. She knows where she stands. She knows what it's like to be under someones command. And she knows how to treat soldiers. You wonder why she sees you as friends. As family? My soldiers were like family to her. On the battlefield, you want family. You want to know the men fighting beside you. It makes loss much harder. But it makes fighting easier. It makes dealing with loss easier. There's a saying that you'll hear her say from time to time. 'Treat your men as though they were your own sons, and they will follow you into the deepest valley' Though many of you are older than she is. She'll still treat you as such. She's much like a daughter to me. Her family. They're not worthy to bear the title. I recommend sleeping now, gentlemen. Remember. Ava, Sir Richard and Sir George will fight for you. They will replace the armour and weapons that were taken. And they will make sure that each and every one of you are fed, clothed, warm and safe whilst you sleep. She will heal perfectly fine. Believe it, and she will. Goodnight, gentlemen" the elder smiled, bidding the men goodnight before heading off into his tent.
He may have rambled on. But the men needed to hear it at some point. They had to hear how he was linked to Ava. And they had to hear that she would be ok. It was a form of comfort.

[Authors Note: So the general knows Ava from York! Had to have him linked to her somehow]