Kingmaker

Nightmares #2

"I can't shake the thought of what York are thinking and planning right now" sighed Sir Richard, pushing a slice of hog around the plate with his fork. "Then don't think on it, Richard. York will plan what they always plan, and we'll deal with it as it comes" replied Sir George, his eyes drifting to Ava as she sat at the table with them. She was as silent as ever, scribbling once more on paperwork. Even after all that had happened, and with last nights nightmare. She just seemed to have pushed it all aside again without speaking about it to anyone. Sir George knew that it bothered Sir Richard when Ava didn't speak. But right now, speaking wouldn't be in her best interests. Not whilst she was working. From time to time, she would clench a fist against the table; and the knights would look to her. But she would still remain as silent as ever.
"It springs to mind though. King Henry will call upon the knights of York to attend his coronation. It's just how he is. He won't deny them the chance to come here and joust. Even after all that has happened. He says it's because he is a fair and gracious King. But I'm starting to question whether he understands the risks with having those men here" started Sir Richard, keeping his gaze on Sir George as the pair talked. To his right, Ava continued to write. Flicking through the pages of her notebooks, copying information onto other pieces of paper. Nightmares would come and go. It was just like when she first came to Lancaster. She had had nightmares for the first week. But things had been different back then. She could let it affect her. But now she couldn't. If she let it affect her here. It could spread to affecting Sir Richard, her son, and her army. So she pushed it all aside to focus on her work.
Sir George nodded to acknowledge Sir Richard's words. "There will be soldiers everywhere. If those knights even try anything outside of what they will be here to do. I'm sure they will be struck down before they even have the chance. Has it been decided yet what we will be doing other than jousting?" he asked, flinting his eyes to Ava aswell, also questioning her duty on coronation day. "We will be jousting, as normal. The King will need protecting, and we will need to seek out squires. Along with all of that, we need to ensure that Garret is safe. Maybe King Henry and Elizabeth can watch him during the event. Or some of the soldiers or nurses. Should a 2 year old be exposed to such violence as jousting?" responded Sir Richard, glancing to Ava with a soft sigh; seeing how much she was writing. He wanted to ask what she was writing. But he dared not disturb her when she looked so intensly at the information. "He doesn't need to see violence. Especially not violence that involves his own father. And, I hate to say this. But maybe his own mother. What are the chances of her stepping in if you are unhorsed and attacked whilst you have yielded on the ground?"
Ava hadn't seemed to hear that as she remained in silence, working away on her notes. Sir Richard could only sigh, looking to Ava; but his words still going to Sir George. "Intervention can result in our fights being void, and us losing points. Though I don't know if the King will be more lenient with us. But then he will be seen as unfair" Sir Richard sighed again as he looked back to Sir George. "We will just have to see how things play out on the day. If I yield to York, and they continue to attack. I know she will become angry" He silenced for a moment. "I would too though if it were her on the ground.  When an opponent yields. You back off. There's no way around that. It's all in the rules of chivalry. I know York have flouted those rules in the past. But maybe they'll be different this time. Though I doubt it" The knight once more drew his gaze to his wife. She had laid down her quill to wipe her eyes and smooth her hair back away from them. She had decided to wear her hair in a plait today so that it remained out of her way when she was working, and it had worked quite well until a few stray strands had fallen before her eyes. She had heard every word, but had still chosen not to intervene and give her own point of view or opinion. Maybe she was in over her head with her role here. But she wasn't going to give it up just because things seemed bleak from her point of view. There was no darkness without light, and no light without darkness. There had to be dark moments in life to remind us of the light that would follow.
Sir George drew his gaze to Ava, then to the work laid out before her. Several pages and a notebook. It was only now that she had been able to fully document each death at Tewkesbury. Of course she'd already told the families and given them coin and such to help them in the years to come. But she hadn't been able to document it all for herself. And it was now that she was seeing how many men she had truly lost. Each of their names gaining a small black cross next to it and a 'T' to show where the men died. She saw the names of several men she had been close to. Feeling her heart ache for them. Some would say they were just soldiers. Some would even call them cannon fodder. But to Ava, they were more than just suits of armour and a weapon. They were friends. Family. Men with families back home.
In a sigh, Ava leaned back against her seat, crossing her legs on the chair as she steadied her gaze on the table before her. On the pile of paper and the notebook. Just thinking what to say on what she'd heard. There wasn't really anything for her to say. She had no retaliation and no comments. Sir Richard and Sir George had expected her to say something, but had been shocked when she didn't speak, and only returned to her work after taking what was less than a minutes break. Maybe it was just to steady her eyes on something that wasn't just black ink against faded paper. They didn't know. Or maybe it was just to take a moment to think.
Sir Richard had caught a glimpse of what she was writing when she had leaned back from the table. A sad smile came to his lips briefly as he watched her. "Honourable deaths, Ava. They didn't die in vain" he commented softly, watching as she lifted her head to look to him. "York also had honourable deaths. Every death is honourable"

"Some are just on the wrong side of the war"

[Authors Note: Ava has this attitude of not letting things affect her for too long. Is this a good attitiude, or a bad one?
And I also really like her little 'quote' at the end, there. It's like her thing to say now. It's her quote.
Again, I'd like to thank you for the support. It means a lot to have people reading, commenting, and liking my work. I never thought I'd get feedback and have people actively reading this as I update it. It means a lot. I don't really show this stuff to anyone in my family.  So you guys are my only readers. And I cannot thank you enough. It means a lot. It really does. You have no idea how happy it makes me to see feedback and positive feedback at that. So, thank you. Thank you <3]