Kingmaker

Comeback #2

Ava silently watched the rain crash against the window panes now. Finding herself sighing at the sound, and the sight of it. Even though she had just been outside in the rain, she still sighed. Sir Richard and Sir George talked quietly behind her. They acknowledged that she was there, of course. But didn't force her to talk with them. Though they still had questions about what happened when she was with York. They knew she'd been approached by soldiers, and by the Yorkist knights. They knew she'd been questioned about Lancaster. But what they didn't know. Was what had really happened when Sir Henry Stafford had approached her.  He'd hit her. They knew that much. But there was more to it. There had to be. She came back to Lancaster fearing the man.
"Ava. A moment, if I may" called King Henry from the doorway, watching as she turned to his voice; nodding to acknowledge that she had heard his request. She stood in silence, making her way over to the King; before following him to the great hall once more. No matter how many people he was talking to, he would always take them to the great hall. As they walked, he spoke softly. "I speak to you at the request of Sir Richard, Ava. He said you wouldn't speak with him about what happened at York. Between yourself and Sir Henry Stafford, I mean" Ava sighed at what she was hearing, trying to find the words in her mind and piece them together before speaking.
"Sir Henry Stafford is an opportunist. I can call him whatever I like, but name calling does nothing to a man. I was his prisoner. And that was my fault. It was my failure that allowed me to fall into his hands. My wrists were bound. I could not defend myself from him, nor any man that approached me. They could've done anything to me. Anything at all. They didn't cross that line. They left me with my respect in that sense. What they took away wasn't physical. It was mental. They did what I thought no man could do to me. They cut me down, and they made me vulnerable. They made me realise that I am not invisible. I'm not immortal. And I'm not protected by my bloodlines. Out there. I'm just like any soldier. I wield a blade. And I wield it against them. I'm an enemy. And nothing more. I am not invisible, King Henry. I'm not invisible like I thought I was. I was stupid enough to think I couldn't be touched out there. I thought I was impervious; unable to be affected by anyone and anything. And I was wrong. York. Proved me wrong. Very wrong. That is what Sir Henry Stafford did to me. He made me realise. That I can be cut down just like any other soldier. When they had me tied up with swords to my throat every time I made one wrong comment or sarcastic eye roll. They made me realise that in this world. You either speak honestly, or pay the price for insolence. I paid the price for insolence. But not before they made it clear that it was a mistake to have refused them the information they asked for. I'm no hero, King Henry. And I'm not made of stone. What they did. No other man had been able to do that. But in that moment. They did. The true power of the sword. The true power of words. Sir Henry Stafford watched as his men bound my wrists. He watched every movement they made. And he watched every movement I made in response. I knew he wanted to do it himself. He wanted to be the one to cut me down. And he did. Physically. They kicked and punched me. I refused to speak over and over because I remember the swear I made to you on that day when I first arrived. In the face of the enemy. I had no intention of showing fear. But I did. And they fucking saw it" The last few words were muttered in annoyance at herself. They had since taken seats in the great hall. The King's personal guard stood nearby; their heads low as they listened in silence.
"I couldn't help but become fearful. There were 5. Maybe 6 of them. I can't remember. All armed with swords. I was unarmed, and bound. Who wouldn't show fear? I tried for as long as I could. But after being kicked and punched repeatedly... I couldn't be tough after that. I couldn't try and fake it either. They saw right through me anyway. Sir Henry Stafford spoke to me. He hit me. He growled and he snapped. But that's what he's always done, and will always do"
"King Henry. Allow me to make this 100% clear to you, and your guards aswell. And I mean this in the most respectful way possible so that you may pass this on to Sir Richard and Sir George" started Ava as the King motioned his guards closer to listen to what she had to say.
"Sir Henry Stafford and Sir John Howard did nothing to me in the manner that you are thinking. They made me realise that I am not invisible. I am not excluded from any physical harm that they bring upon Lancaster. And I am not made of stone. I can be crushed, and I can be taken down. I'm not immortal, and I can be made to bleed. I do have a breaking point, and I can be pushed to it. My status is nothing to them. It's just words. My weapons are just metal that can be broken. And my armour cannot protect me from everything. My horse cannot carry me forever. Those knights. Made me realise that I, in their eyes. Made a very significant mistake. In their exact words:
'You made a mistake in leaving York. And that mistake will echo in your bloodlines'"

[Authors Note: I have tonsillitis, and it hurts a hell of a lot. So I'm writing to try and take my mind off of it. And failing because it hurts so much sometimes.
Anyway! Ava has finally spoken of what happened at York between herself and the knights. What do you think of what she's said? Realising these things can be good or bad]