Kingmaker

Captive #2

~The snowstorm held them back for some time. Leaving Ava in the hands of the York forces for almost 2 days. It may not have seemed like long. But for a prisoner. 2 days felt like a lifetime.

In silence, the Lancastrian forces watched as a soldier moved from one of the tents. Moving to the figure at the fence, lifting their head. Seeming to have a verbal exchange with the figure before delivering a swift punch to their head. Moving back into their tent in very visible anger. Sir Richard had wanted to run to them at that moment, but had been held back by Sir George. "They would've killed her if they saw us. Come. The darkness will provide cover. At least now we know she is alive, Richard" Sir Richard merely nodded, jumping from his horse to approach on foot. As he came closer, he could already see the blood on the ground. And he could now see that it was indeed Ava that was bound to the fence. He watched how she visibly flinched and cowered as she heard footsteps. Though when she tried to speak, blood spluttered from her mouth instead of words. The snow bundled around her and over her legs was heavy and splattered with blood. York had taken to beating her when she didn't answer questions. Each soldier would ask her a question. She refused to answer each time. Earning a punch or a kick for her insolence. In her silence, she held the information of Lancaster. But endangered herself at the same time.

Just as Sir Richard was about to approach, another soldier emerged from the tents. Walking to Ava. This time, Sir Richard could hear the exchange as he crouched low in the snow near to some bushes. Remaining out of sight. "We won't ask again. How many men are in your army" growled the soldier, holding a barbed flag in his hand. "I won't tell you of Lancaster" mumbled Ava, looking up at the soldier. Only now did the soldier show what the flag was for. He swung it at her face, the barbs ripping into the flesh, before the flag was tied around her head. Used as a gag. This was punishment. True punishment and torture before she had even reached the dungeons. She gave muffled screams against the gag, thrashing her legs as tears streamed down her cheeks. In the thrashing, she had managed to force her knee back into place. Making her give even more muffled screams of pain against the gag.
Sir Richard felt his heart shattering. He just couldn't risk running to her whilst the soldier was there. He'd call for backup before Sir Richard had even had the chance to strike. The soldier eventually left her though, giving Sir Richard the chance to run to his wife. Without a single second to spare, he cut the bindings from the fence, allowing Ava to fall into his arms. There was no time to waste. And he had to leave the bindings on her wrists and her mouth. Getting her away from the York camp was his priority. Any longer with them and she would surely die.
"Stay awake. Please" he murmured, trying to carry her against his chest. Terrified, she clung onto him. Too cold and weak to pull the gag from her mouth. She shivered violently in the arms of her husband. When they eventually reached Sir George and their soldiers. Silence greeted them. Sir Richard instantly pulled a cloak around her shoulders, before cutting the gag from her mouth. Throwing it into the snow as Ava gave a cry of pain. They'd never seen her cry in pain like this. They'd never seen her so bloodied. Not even at the battle of Tewkesbury had they seen so much blood on her. The gag had left small cuts in her cheeks. Longer ones from where the soldier had struck her with it. The snowfall had cleaned several of the earlier wounds. Leaving them with faint blood trails from them. The most recent wounds bleeding endlessly.
The moment the gag was off of her. Ava held onto Sir Richard, her hands trembling as the knight hugged her close. Pushing his nose gently to the unwounded side of her neck. Just hugging her. They were crouched in the snow, but he didn't care. She was back in his arms. It had been almost 2 dasy since she had been in the hands of York. They had definitely made it known to her that she was most certainely on the wrong side of the war. They had made it known that even as she was wanted alive. She was also wanted to torture. And they had taken every chance they had gotten to hurt her. Every single thing had given them reason to hurt her.
Ava forced her eyes open to see the face of her husband again. "I... Couldn't speak... Of Lancaster" she stammered, her words broken and quiet. "They... Surroun-ded.. Me" she stammered again. Trying hard to speak. "I... Couldn't... Fight back..." Sir Richard gently stroked her hair, holding her close. "You're resilient. But we need to get you home" he said gently, lifting her to her feet. Watching her stumble with numb legs. She hadn't stood for 2 days. And had been dragged before then by the soldiers. Her legs were useless right now.
Carefully, Sir Richard pulled himself into the saddle of his mount, pulling Ava up infront of him so that he could hold her in his arms. She still shivered violently. But they couldn't stop now for a  campfire. The faster they got home the better. Even with the snow, they had to ride home. Any longer in the cold and they would all fall victim to it.
As they rode, Ava relaxed against Sir Richard's chest as he held the reins on either side of her. He had purposely sat her so that she faced him. Offering his own warmth to her. Just desperate to keep her warm. He could hear her stomach growling. Feel her body shivering. And smell the dull iron-like scent of blood on her skin. It sickened him that York would do this.
But they would pay. 
He would make sure of it.

[Authors Note: She's safe. Or is she?]