Kingmaker

Thrones & Lies #1

Months passed since Ava had been captured by York. She had worked day and night since returning home; all with the hopes of becoming a better fighter, and a more effective leader for her men. Her body had been fored to adjust to her new training schedule, and to adjust to the intense pressure that was placed on her each day. Not a day or night went by where she didn't look pained or tired. But she had insisted that she was fine whenever anyone had questioned her.
It was a particularly warm day when questioned started to rise about various events surrounding the throne and its rightful 'owner' and its heirs. Men of Lancaster and York alike sat around the large oak table in the great hall once more. King Henry seated at the head of it, with Sir George at his left and Sir Richard at his right. Ava had opted to walk around the room rather than be seated; she wore her sword at her waist with a hand always resting upon the pommel. She gave no man less attention than the other. Her eyes scraping over each man as she judged, and measured his worth to her, and to her King.
"Lady Neville, will you please-" started one of the elders, only to be shushed by Ava. "No I will not take a seat amongst snakes. How many of you came here today to proclaim your King has the right to the throne of England?" she started, not letting her eyes falter from the man as she kept her gaze on him. Under her gaze, the elder began to sweat, shifting uncomfortably as he broke his own stare at Ava. A sneer came from Ava as she continued her walk along the side of the hall. Sir George had given her a sad smile. Being captive had changed her. She no longer slept without a sword, and any man who came near her without making himself known had been either slain, or shoved into the dirt and questioned by Ava's men.
It wasn't long before she eventually made her way to the King's side. "Your Majesty, these men are snakes. Vermin of York, and fathers of bastard men that attacked me. How much longer must I stay in their presence without cutting off heads" she muttered quietly in the King's ear. King Henry had to give it to Ava. She was holding herself back from cutting off the heads of York men on the grounds that she didn't want to shed blood in the great hall, and most certainey not infront of her King. Many had said that Ava seemed to be becoming more and more like the Hand of The King. She was never far from his side, and if decisions had to be made, she was always there. And if the King couldn't speak for himself. Ava did it for him. "Not much longer, Ava. Do you wish to leave?" he inquired, turning his head to her slightly; seeing her mull over the question in her mind. "No, Your Majesty" she replied, before moving from his side to once more gaze over the men around the table. Several faces of Lancaster, with several of York. Lancaster, she trusted. York, she would rather see burn. Even as she was blood of York, her loyalties lay with Lancaster.
After several moments of silence, the men spoke. "Your Majesty, King Edward of York..." started one of the York gentlemen, his eyes going to Ava as he spoke. "Has asked that you step down peacefully as King of England. He does not wish for us to venture further into conflict; as so many men from both sides have already lost their lives. Leaving behind families of wives and children" There was an umistakeable rattle of a sword as Ava gripped the pommel of hers tighter. The words of York getting under her skin. "Is there something you wish to say Lady Neville?" inquired King Henry, allowing Ava to speak. He knew she wouldn't be making any threats. But she wouldn't exactly hold her tongue either. "Yes, Your Majesty. Lord Petyr. You say these men left behind families of wives and children. Yet you know nothing of Lancastrian men. My men, should they die on the battlefield; their families are cared for by myself and my nurses. We ensure that these families are warm, fed, and have a roof over their heads. My men do not die with the thought that their families will not survive. So please, do not use the deaths of my men. And their families. As an excuse or some sort of reasoning to get your way. Because it will not happen if this is how you are playing your cards today"
Lord Petyr directed his eyes to Ava. This was the first time he had seen her for several years, and had been shocked to have seen her wandering the hall wearing armour of Lancaster and the King's crest on her sword and cape. "And what is a Lady doing in a meeting of men and high dignitaries? Shouldn't you be caring for your children? Or have you not yet bore children for your husband?" Ava held back a snap of spite and disgust at such questions. "I am Lady Ava Neville of Lancaster. A commander of an army, a strategist. And. The King's advisor. My husband and I have a son, Lord Petyr. And I can bare many more for my husband if he wishes for it" She kept a straight face as she spoke, trying not to show how much she despised the men she was amongst. The question of her bearing children for Sir Richard had struck a very sour nerve. No one asked that kind of question. No one but Sir Richard, Sir George and the nurses would ask. Ava's men would ask from time to time, but she smiled at the question when it came from friends. But from enemies. It was very much a sour topic. It was one that could be used against her. And used against her quite well.
"Were you not from York, Ava?" started Lord Petyr again. Only to be shushed by Sir George. "You will address her as Lady Ava, Lord Petyr. She has more power in this room than you could ever imagine. Each soldier you see at the pillars. They are under her command. And they are as well trained as they come. Can you even see the movement of their chestplates as they breathe? These men live, breathe and fight for her. Step out of line. They will be at your side in mere seconds. You do not question about York, either"
Lord Petyr once more shifted uncomfortably, bowing his head for a moment as an apology to Ava and Sir George before another man spoke. "The King of York has requested for his knights to joust at your coronation, Your Majesty. He has proposed that, should his knights win the joust. You and your armies, will abdicate the throne in his favour. And take yourselves into exile. And of course, should your knights fall. The widowed, Lady Ava Neville... She will be taken upon by the knights of York as her hand was given to Sir Henry Stafford prior to her defecting to Lancaster" Ava felt herself growing angry, she silently walked to the end of the hall; standing near the throne. Sir Richard had watched her, feeling the anger radiating from her in the air. He had been about to speak, when Ava marched back down to the table. Flattening her hands against the wood opposite the man that had spoken. "It doesn't work that way Stannis. No joust tournament can determine the rightful King of England. And if you think those bastard knights are capable. Then I pity you for your stupidity. Our King Henry is the rightful King of England. No joust tournament can judge his ruling. And no joust tournament can take the throne from him. Not whilst I am still at his side. I gave an oath over 2 years ago. Till my last breath. I will protect my King. And I have no intention of stopping breathing any time soon"
Stannis chuckled. "You think you can speak like that because you have a blade at your side? No wonder York want you in the dungeons. You're like a yappy dog that doesn't know when to shut up" Sir Richard shot up from his seat, drawing his own sword and directing it at the throat of Stannis. "Don't call my wife a dog, Stannis" Ava held her tongue for a moment, walking to Sir Richard's side and resting her hands on his shoulders comfortingly. "Gentlemen, take Stannis out and make sure he leaves our gates. His time here is done" she stated calmy. Her voice unnervingly calm. Normally, she would snap and attack. But not today.
Her soldiers moved behind Stannis. Taking his arms before leading him out of the great hall in absolute silence. Under the darkness of their helmets, they sneered. They were as protective as ever over Ava, and had become protective over Sir Richard as well. Stannis had made the mistake of calling Ava a dog, which in turn. Had successfuly pissed off Sir Richard, and several heavily armed, and highly trained soldiers. "Lancaster has you gentlemen by the balls. You do their bidding. And for what?" started Stannis, not seeming to realise that he wasn't in a very good position to be speaking in such a manner. "Lady Ava and Sir Richard treat us well. They do not have us 'by the balls'. And  we do not take lightly to you speaking to them in such a manner.  We were not ordered to kill you. But we can, and will if you make this harder than it has to be" muttered one of the soldiers, keeping his eyes forwards as he marched behind Stannis.
Back in the great hall, things had gotten a little more heated. "We do not need more than one King. There is one throne. Therefore, one King. And the King, is King Henry. We do not need any more men bearing the title. One is enough. Two men ruling under the same title would just be chaotic and would cause more trouble than necessary. If you came here expecting us to just give up the throne then you are all sorely mistaken and quite stupid for believing that we would give up so easily" started Ava again after being interrupted several times by Lord Petyr. "You're stepping outside of your boundaries, Lady Ava. Boundaries that clearly haven't been set by Lancaster" commented Lord Petyr again. "You call us snakes, Ava. Yet you are one yourself. A York snake amongst Lancaster men. Are you ever going to tell them your true intentions here?" A smirk was hidden behind the words of the lie. But eyes still went to Ava now.
"What are you talking about? My true intentions are for the good of Lancaster. I would never turn my back on the red rose! On my husband and my friends! Never would I do such a thing!" snarled Ava, walking round to where Lord Petyr sat. The man stood to meet her. "Are you sure, Lady Ava? You sure have changed your attitude towards Lancaster. But what are your true intentions?" Ava looked pleadingly to Sir Richard, Sir George and King Henry. The three men seemed to have a silent conversation with simply their eyes. Before King Henry stood from his seat, watching Ava silently for a moment. Trying to speak to her as he had with the knights. They had to do something to silence Lord Petyr. And it seemed this was going to be the only way.
"Sir George. Sir Richard" started King Henry, motioning for the knights to stand. With a motion of his hand to Ava. He spoke two words that Ava had feared.

"Arrest her"

[Authors Note: Game of Thrones names used because I couldn't think of other names. What do you think of Ava being the hand of the King? And what of Lord Petyr getting Ava arrested with lies?! Do you think Ava knows the intentions of the King and the Lancaster knights as they arrest her? Or did she not see the King's eyes for the plan? Keep reading!]