The hound strode briskly down the hall, his thoughts a storm in his mind, as usual. For the most part though, he was royally pissed. I'm absent for one day, and that little idiot goes on a bloody rampage, he thought as he arrived at the throne rooms doors. He ignored his royal announcement as he stomped up to his prissy prince's side, and bowed.
"Ah, my hound, so you've finally arrived." The child (for that was what he was, despite throne and crown) was fretting and squirming in his seat, and Sandor forced himself to keep silent and keep his eye roll internal.
"Hound, go fetch my betrothed and bring her to court. I will not abide her sulking every time she is punished for her shortcomings."
"Yes, sir." He turned and walked from the room quickly, heading down the now very familiar halls to the
Lady's chamber. He wondered for a moment what she could possibly have done wrong now. Her behaviour had been impeccable for quite a while as of yet, and this relapse puzzled him. But not for long, as he pushed the petty concerns from his mind. You're not here to question, just hurry up.
He soon arrived at her door, and knocked brusquely. No one answered, so with the slightest sigh, he opened the door and went in.
"His highness requests your presence in court today, my Lady." He addressed the small bundle curled up in the bed, but no answer came back to him. Striding forward, he yanked the blankets back, and was rewarded with a tiny shriek and a glimpse of long, smooth legs, before she pulled her nightshirt down. What a pity.
"I-I am not yet properly dressed!" she whimpered. Sandor noticed now the purple bruise hanging under one eye, and the split lip. He scowled. That stupid baby called the king wouldn't know how to handle a woman even if he was given the female textbook. Reaching forward on a whim, he brushed her injured cheek gently, causing her eyes to widen slightly.
"What was the reason? I had thought you were accustomed to singing his favorite tunes by now."
Her eyes fell, and she twisted the edge of her sleeve. "My king desired to let me roam the orchards behind the palace. I was picking some apples, a-a-and some children were there, picking too. They looked so small, and hungry, I thought...I thought the palace wouldn't miss a few. But, my king had appointed ser Meryn to...accompany me without my knowing. I was disciplined for my disobedience, but the children were...were... "
She looked like she was about to cry, and that was one thing he could definitely not handle.
"Calm down and clean up. The king wants to see his songbird at her brightest. I'll...wait outside."
He leaned slightly against the wall outside her door, listening to the faint rustles of clothing sliding against her skin. Such smooth skin too- No! She is king's property; don't fill your head with silly notions.
The door opened, and she came out radiant, perfect for her fiancé. Sandor scowled, and turned to lead her away, but her small voice caught at him.
"Hound."
He turned back, and for a moment she was once again small and tired and scared. He waited, but she said nothing.
"What?" he said exasperatedly, looking into her upturned eyes.
She hesitated, only slightly, and then reached up, tentatively brushing her fingers against his ruined face. "I guess...everybody gets punished for wanting things that belong to others, don't they?"
She passed him and began walking quietly down the hall, and he followed, completely dumbstruck.