The Traitor's Kingdom
Prologue
The night was dark, silent. Not even a breeze whispered through the leaves of trees sitting on the High Garden property. There was no moon illuminating the ground below. No one would have seen movement outside the Keep. It was exactly what the Lord of High Garden would have wanted.
Willas Tyrell, dressed in his darkest clothes, led the group outside of the Keep with only a small torch to light his way toward the wagons he had at the edge of the Keep walls. Following behind was Sandor Clegane, the Hound and ex-knight of Kings Landing. His wife, Sansa Clegane née Stark was next, with her handmaiden Kyme Flowers. Behind them were a few household guards and swordsmen to assist bringing the so-called "traitors" home to Winterfell.
The darkness of the night was exactly what they needed, if they had any hopes of avoiding Lannister spies. After what had happened a little over a week ago, when a Lannister spy tried to take Sansa's life and injured Kyme in the process, everyone was more on edge. The extra night cover placated the Hound's nerves and eased Sansa's concerns.
Sandor Clegane began directing men towards the two of three appropriate enclosed wagons. This left the final wagon closest to the Keep free for his wife and her new house members; Kyme Flowers, Maester Bryen, and, a new Warden of the North, Lorent Tyrell. Lorent would ride a horse beside their wagon, Maester Bryen would lead the wagon, and Kyme and Sansa would ride inside the enclosed carriage, out of sight and safe. At least in her husband's mind.
Sansa Clegane handed off her last small satchel to Lorent to put in the carriage. While the new Warden did a final check over of the wagon and Maester Bryen went to load up the last of his supplies, Sansa turned to Willas Tyrell and Kyme Flowers. The Lord of High Garden was giving Kyme a final goodbye. He kept up appearances until the young girl hugged the Lord fast. For brief moment, a flash of sadness flickered on Willas' face. The look pulled at Sansa's heart, but she knew it would do no good to try to speak with Willas again on his decision. They had had the argument several times over the last few days and Willas would not budge. The High Garden Lord was too stubborn for his own good at times.
She waited patiently while Kyme thanked the Lord profusely for giving her a home. And, when the young brown-haired girl turned to Sansa for direction, Sansa told her, "Go get settled in the wagon. We will be off shortly." The handmaiden nodded eagerly and hurried off.
Sansa noticed how Willas watched her walk over to the cabin and, when he met her eye, gave him a knowing look. "Eventually she can know, my lady. But it is for the best that she is far away."
"You know she would be safer here-"
He cut her off. "No more. It is decided and, in a few moments, you all shall be off and on your way home."
The redhead bit her tongue and hugged him tightly. It was very unladylike and not the way to say goodbye to a Lord, but she felt it was right in this moment. He had given her and her family more than a simple Lord would ever give. He was a friend now. "Thank you for everything," she whispered, "The North is forever in your debt."
"Think nothing of it, my lady," he said, squeezing her lightly. They released each other and stepped back. "Write me on any updates, of Robb's health and once you've returned to Winterfell. Use our code in case anything is intercepted-"
"And be safe," she finished, smiling lightly.
"If Robb is… in poor health or unable to return to Winterfell, please return to High Garden. We will be able to discuss more once you've returned and come up with a new plan."
"I understand," she said, a heavy weight forming in her throat. It was unthinkable of what the Clegane family would do if Robb was… He is alive, she told herself. He will be returning home too.
"Safe journeys, my lady," he said, bowing.
"And good luck with the Lannisters, my lord," she responded, curtseying.
At that moment, Sansa felt a hand on her shoulder and tipped her head up. Her husband hovered behind her, twisted scars and all looking at her and Willas. "Ready, Little Bird?" he rasped, glancing down at her. "Lorent and the Maester are ready to finish loading the wagon."
"Yes," she said, smiling up at him. He squeezed her shoulder, nudging her lightly towards the carriage. "You'll hear from us shortly, Willas."
"I look forward to it," he responded, smiling politely to Sandor and never breaking eye contact.
Knowing the High Garden Lord was used to Sandor's rough temperament and rowdy words, she didn't worry of what Sandor would say. It was time to go.
Lorent directed Sansa to the front of the wagon, to a small opening covered in a heavy curtain. Maester Bryen was there to help her up with her unsteady balance. As she got ready to enter, the Maester informed her, "Lady Sansa, inside the carriage all four walls are covered up with chests full of supplies and your family's and Kyme's personal belongings. Lorent has reassured me everything is secured down, so nothing will fall or harm you. This way, if by some chance we are stopped, they are unlikely to inquire to search the wagon. We want to keep you and Kyme both out of sight altogether, as a safety precaution. Lord Sandor requested you be kept in there from sunrise to sunset to avoid any possibility of the Lannister spies. To start, our party will have to keep to the King's Road for some time, until we are closer to the Riverlands. Lord Sandor has informed me that this is part of the agreement to allow your assistance in finding Lord Robb and to go home to Winterfell. Your husband has asked me to inquire if you will accept on his terms?"
It was all Sansa could do not to get irritated 'To allow your assistance'. Very choice words, Sandor, she scowled to herself. More politely, she asked the Maester, "Do I have a choice?"
"Not a bloody chance," Sandor said, stepping around the wagon. His expression was blank, almost asking her to argue. "Not if you want to go."
"Only until we are in the Riverland forests?" she said, testing the waters.
Despite the twitch of Sandor's mouth and his slight scowl, he reluctantly agreed, "Only once we are in the forest."
"Then, I will accept," she sighed.
The ex-knight stepped up to the redhead and reached out to tuck a loose strand of her long hair behind her ear. Sansa leaned into his touch, closing her eyes. "I promised to keep you safe," he said quietly.
"And I will let you, no arguments," she responded just as quiet. Sansa lifted her head, reached out and brushed her fingertips over his scars, feeling the twisted and puckered skin twitch under her touch. "We will be home and to Winterfell to start our family, together. Promise me, you'll be just as safe as I."
"… Aye, Little Bird, I will be," he agreed. And, she kissed him, a brief brush of her lips on his and then a kiss on his cheek.
"I will see you this evening then," she said, a tense smile on her face. Then turning to step inside the carriage, she stepped into the darkened entrance of the wagons.
Inside, barely lit with a flickering taper, Sansa observed their small space, barely large enough for both girls to stretch out in. Kyme looked at her, settled out on a sleeping mat with one of Willas' lush cushion and her knees drawn up to her chest. The redhead huffed and sat down on an exact copy of Kyme's sleeping mat. She asked the young girl, "Are you sure you still want to be on this adventure?" To herself she added, I wondered just how long it will take to be out of this wagon for good?
~A/N~
Well here's the first chapter of many. Hope you all enjoyed! The next chapter is already almost complete and I should hopefully have finished this week. Chilly cold weather helps to bring a writer's creativity out it seems! Please stick around, it's going to be lots of twists and turns with this story!
R&R
XmX