Kingmaker

Lord Petyr #1

"I didn't think you would be the ones to put me behind bars again. Even if it was fake and with the intention of silencing Lord Petyr. You left me in those dungeons all evening. Leaving me alone with my own thoughts again. You wonder why I always train my men. Why they stand in silence with their faces covered by their helms. Its their training. Training. Keeps my mind away from the thoughts that plague me each night. It keeps my men calm. They need it just as much as I do. But you put me aside to appeal to a York man? Lord Petyr of all the men" sighed Ava as she stood with her stallion in the stables. Sir Richard and Sir George behind her.
"Ava. You need to understand that we sent you to the dungeons because it was the best thing to do to keep you safe. If Lord Petyr had seen you leave for your room, he would've left here with words that we let you live after his lies were told. With him seeing you arrested and taken to the dungeons. He left thinking you will be put to death now. This, though it may not seem like it. Will give us the upper hand in the weeks to come. If York attacks us whilst they think we are 4000 men down. They will be overwhelmed and outnumbered when your army stands with us with you leading them" said Sir George as he watched her. He knew they should've explained this sooner.
"Let's just forget this ever happened. The King's coronation is tomorrow, and I have to find out what I'm supposed to be doing. Or am I going to be kept in the dungeons tomorrow to keep this falsehood going?" She didn't wait for a reply as she walked from the knights, leaving the stables to head back to the great hall to speak with the King on her own terms. It wasn't until she entered the long hallway before the great hall that she was stopped in her tracks. The man she thought had left was still within the castle walls; his back to her with two of his soldiers at his sides. She couldn't hear them talking, but they had most certainely heard her enter as the soldiers now turned to her. "Thought this one was in the dungeons" comented one of the soldiers behind his helm. The other merely nodded to confirm what had been said. Lord Petyr turned to Ava now. Inclining his head to her. "You're not used to dungeons, I see. I hear you much prefered being bound at the wrists and punished by individual men"
Ava snorted. "I prefered it because I wanted to see the faces of the dogs that held me. Besides. Wouldn't you want to see your prisoner and have access to them? It's much easier if they're just bound to a fence by their wrists" Her voice held sarcasm that wouldn't go unnoticed. And it didn't. Lord Petyr narrowed his eyes ever so slightly at her, stepping forwards so that he stood a few feet from her. She had moved a hand to the pommel of her sword, sparking a reaction of the soldiers to draw their swords at her. "You talk quite big Lady Ava. Even when you are without armour and have nothing but a blade for defence. These fine gentlemen could easily overpower you and have you dragged back to York. Though I think we would be doing Lancaster a favour if we took you"
Ava now drew her own sword in defence, her eyes never leaving the soldiers. "What did you gain from lying infront of my King and the men of Lancaster" Lord Petyr merely snorted at her words. "Some of those men hate you now. Maybe even your husband is amongst the ones that hate you. And Sir George. And King Henry. You of all people should know that being hated by knights is never a good thing. Though I imagine Sir Richard isn't much to fear. The man could barely speak and looked like a terrified puppy when he returned to us. It is a shame that man left York. He could've been great had he stayed with us" These words were all provocative. And they were working as intended.
Ava stepped forwards. Shortening the distance between herself and Lord Petyr as the swords of the soldiers were directed to her. "Keep my husbands name out of your mouth. He is far braver than any of your soldiers will ever be. Your words of Lancaster are as false as your manhood. If you had the balls, you would've killed me by now for speaking to you in this manner"
Lord Petyr leaned in to her, speaking in her ear. "I don't kill my enemies. I bleed them for information. Or I choke them for it" Right as he finished speaking, he wrapped a hand around Ava's throat. Sir George had entered the hallway as Lord Petyr began to strangle Ava. Rushing forwards, only to be met by the two soldiers. Sword clashed. Yells and grunts of pain and exertion bounced off of the walls as Lord Petyr continued to choke Ava. Her hands struggling against his at her throat as he turned her to watch Sir George and the soldiers. She saw Sir George cut down one man. The other landing a strong hit on the knights shoulder. Slicing into the flesh with ease, and earning a yell of pain, before another cut was delivered to Sir George's leg. Sending him to the ground.
Ava scratched at the ground, trying to grab her sword. The second she managed to grab it, she launched it at the soldier. Distracting him from Sir George, giving her friend the second of a chance to kill the soldier. Lord Petyr dropped Ava in disgust, watching as she scarpered along the ground to Sir George's side. She pressed her hands to his shoulder, knowing how much blood could be lost from wounds to the area.  "You should've let them kill me. Or take me back to York. Whatever these dogs wanted" she murmured, feeling tears in her eyes as she tried to regain her breath. "Sir Richard would never forgive me for that" murmured Sir George as he felt the sharpness of the pain in his shoulder and leg. "So this is what the shoulder wound felt like for you"
He had been about to speak further when his eyes widened. Lord Petyr stood above Ava, a sword in his grip. In a single breath, Sir George yelled out;
"Ava!"

[Authors Note: Cliffhanger! Kind of....
Will Sir Richard or any of their soldiers arrive in time to save Ava and Sir George? Keep reading!]