Kingmaker

Surrounded #2

Sir Henry Stafford growled under his breath as he gazed over Ava. "You should have came back to York when David did" As he spoke, he inched closer and closer to her. She stepped backwards, desperatly scrambling for her sword. Failing when a different sword was aimed to her throat when she came close to her own. She was well and truly trapped now. With only her fists and feet for defense. "Why would I return to corruption" said Ava, watching the men around her. "Our King Edward has returned after his years in exile in France. He will take the throne from King Henry. The  you will be cast to the dungeons. Come back to York, and you will be free of the consequences set to fall upon Lancaster" Sir Henry Stafford had stepped close to her to speak. His voice almost a whisper in her ear. But she cast aside his words. Sticking her tongue in her cheek before she snapped her gaze to him. "I'd rather die under Lancaster than York. And I have a husband in Lancaster. I won't betray him. My son. Or our King Henry for the sake of you, Stafford" hissed Ava, trying to throw a punch at Stafford. Failing as the soldiers behind her kicked the backs of her knees, sending her to the ground.
Stafford snorted, watching as two of his soldiers bound her arms behind her back as he once more moved closer. He gripped her chin, forcing her to look up to him. "Have you forgotten your family in York? Have you forgotten those that cared for you? Have you FORGOTTEN those that paid your wages?!" he snarled, his grip tightening on her jaw. Her eyes burned with hatred as she stared up at the man that was now her captor. "I never forgot. I chose to cast them all aside. My family. Your King Edward. And you and Howard. If I had wanted to come back to York. I would have by now. Lancaster and King Henry are the true men in this war. You lost the battle at Tewkesbury. You lost to my men. Your cowardice was shown. Stafford. Accept defeat. Accept that Lancaster beat you, your armies and your King"
Enraged, Stafford threw a hard punch to her chest. Hearing her gasp and cough as the air was forced out of her. He walked away for a second, before turning back to her and once more taking her jaw in his grip. "Take back those words or I will do much worse unto you" His words held such venom and anger. His words serious and unforgiving. "Never" snapped Ava, not taking her eyes from Staffords'. She held his stare, hers just as unforgiving. Challenging him. Though she was bound, and with men behind her with swords to cut her down. She didn't falter in her stand against the York knight. She had since became more resilient and 'stubborn'. No man could take her down with meer words. The only way she would fall was through injury. The battle at Tewkesbury had almost ended her. As had that night at the castle itself on which men attacked her in the darkness. Again, Stafford watched her eyes. He'd never seen that fire before. She was of York. He'd never seen her so defensive. She was York blood. He'd never even began to think she could be so against York.
"Our King Edward awaits you. As a traitor of York, the stocks or hanging seemed too quick a death. As did being burned at the stake. Expect to see the dungeons. Or maybe I'll deal with you myself" hissed the knight once more. Ava laughed. "No thanks. I don't really fancy catching anything from you York knights. If I remember correctly, you don't have a bath that often Stafford" She knew he didn't mean it in that way. But it was just too irresistable to not comment in such a manner. In response, the knight slapped her as hard as he could across the cheek. So hard infact that it busted her lip. She looked down in anger and annoyance; and in mere second, she staggered to her feet. Kicking Stafford in the groin before she tried to run. The soldiers in pursuit almost instantly whilst Stafford tried to recover. "Take her down!" snarled Sir John Howard. "By any means necessary!"
In response to that, the soldiers charged after her faster than before. One of them getting close enough to tackle her, slamming her into the cobblestone ground; forcing her face into the ground. He kept the pressure on her head, one of his knees digging into her back; whilst another soldier put pressure on the back of her knee. He wanted to break the leg that she'd kicked Stafford with. But damaging the knee cap seemed like it would work just fine. Even just dislocating it would work fine and render her helpless and unable to strike back.  "Well. At least now we know what you're probably like in bed if that's how you treat a man"
Ava spat blood at Stafford's feet. "You'll never know what I'm like" she hissed. "You're awfully vulnerable right now, Ava. I wouldn't be making smartass comments like that with men around you who wouldn't hesitate to spill your guts if I were you" said Howard as he stood to the side of the group. As Ava was finally dragged to her feet, Stafford once more stood before her. Moving a hand to her cheek, rubbing his thumb over a cut that stretched over her eye. Forcing it shut with the blood and faint swelling. "Don't worry, Ava. York will take good care of you"
With that, he motioned for two soldiers to take Ava's arms. Motioning once more for them to follow him and Howard as they mounted their horses to head back to York. Ava was more or less dragged, her left leg rendered useless after the soldier had applied enough pressure to forcefully dislocate the joint. It was then she finally felt defeated by York. She was happy to have said goodbye to her son that morning, and to have left a letter for her husband.
If she had been able to look behind her. She would've seen Sir Richard, Sir George and several soldiers on the horizon.

[Authors Note: I started getting sleepy half way through this. I really need more sleep lately.
Ava has been captured by York! Stafford is creepy, huh? Believe me when I say that he hates her. Maybe deep down he still has feelings and can't accept that she's with Sir Richard. But we'll see! Thank you to those reading for the support and comments. It means a lot <3]