A/N: This is my first GOT Fanfic I welcome all types of reviews
In the past few days Sandor Clegane had had seen and done things he didn't believe were possible. He'd ventured beyond the wall, seen undead bears, and fought undead armies. Seen not one but three fully grown dragons, saw one murdered, and fled to safety atop another. He'd seen John Snow return from facing down an entire undead army and now standing in the dragon pit he'd seen his brother back from the dead or still dead but standing. The meeting itself would have been preposterous enough seeing all the players together in one place without each being covered in their enemy's blood. It almost made him believe in something other than himself and that was more frightening than all that came before.
He was an ugly hard man, a tough fucker to kill, and a dog. An existence as useful as it was insignificant. That's how he knew to live and make sense of the world; how to leave the intrigues of better men to their own devices. Now it seemed the world required more. The king in the north had, in gratitude for his courage, given him the title of Lord Protector of the North though Sandor had railed against it. Now he had little fuckers calling him My Lord and Lord Clegane, and bowing in his presence. It felt raw and hollow every time. Like a joke that hadn't reached its punchline. However, the king in the north had been in earnest and now included him at his small council.
While he didn't understand his king's interest in him. He had found respect for the northern lords. They were hard like he was and respected strength above all else. They weren't the perfumed cunts of lords he'd encountered in the south. He would have been comfortable to stay a loyal hound to the king and fight his wars but John Snow had to go and make him a Lord.
'Fucking waste' he thought bitterly taking a swig of Red Dornish Sour from his calfskin jug. He was due in his lord's tent to attend his council and he dreaded it. He felt so out of place among real lords, but he was a loyal dog. He would go wherever his master directed him.
Entering the tent he was met with a round table of gloomy faces. Lady Brienne and that Lannister knight being the most sour. They glared at him. He smirked delighting in their discomfort at his presence. He respected the lady, she was strong, but he liked disturbing the Lannister. Especially since he could not torture his bastard son Joffery.
"What, is there something on my face?" He rasped letting his hand slide over his burned cheek and giving them a craven smirk. They glared back each taking a moment to casually lay their hands on the hilts of their swords but said nothing. Davos gave him a smirk and Bronn snickered enjoying the joke. It was hard to say what he thought the joke was but he'd found it amusing none the less.
"We don't have time for that Clegane" John said softly coming behind him and ushering him to take a seat. Which he did settling in with a cool indifference.
"I have had a raven from Winterfell" he addressed the table. "My brother Bran has seen the wall. It will soon be destroyed and he has seen the dead marching past and into the north"
That got everyone's attention. Sandor eyed the table noticing how each member had gone stiff. This was bad. He thought of Winterfell wondering how far it must be from the wall and if it would hold against the army of the dead. He suddenly felt a strong desire to go north needing to defend Winterfell briefly allowing himself to think of it's Lady, but shaking the thought as soon as it came.
"Now, Queen Daenerys will march our armies north to castle black to try and stop the threat from reaching Winterfell. Lady Brienne, Sir Jamie I need you to take the Lannister army to DragonStone to escort our weapons to Winterfell."
"You expect to lose castle black?" Jamie interrupted looking hesitantly at John.
"It will not last but it will buy us time to prepare Winterfell and cut off the flow of the undead into the north. We know we can not win this battle on numbers. If we can halt the armies for a short time we can put our real plan into place to take out the Night King" John continued solemnly.
"Aye" Sandor continued "If that night cunt dies the dead die. But how do you suggest we get close enough to kill the fucker?" John went quiet looking to sir davos to continue. He took his cue standing and positioning the pieces on the table map.
"It will be difficult, by fighting the dead at castle black we can strategically lead their army to attack at the western side of Winterfell. They will be surrounded on three sides by the Lannister army, queen Daenerys, and the northmen. We believe that we will only get close enough if you, Tormund, and King John use the crypts under Winterfell to lead a force under enemy lines to attack the camp from behind boxing them in here." He explained pointing to the god's wood.
"If we've done our parts the Night King and his lords will be stationed here to watch the fighting progress as the best vantage point for the field at play" he finished surveying the room noticing how each lord seemed to be turning over the plan carefully.
"This is the dumbest most suicidal shit I've ever heard" Bronn chided as Jamie glared at him. "But I believe in it. This is going to be fun." He finished putting his dagger into it's sheath and rising to pat Davos on the back.
"And what happen's If Winterfell falls?" Jamie interjected still not fully believing the validity of this plan.
"If we fail, and there is a fair chance we might" John answered looking Jamie in the eye. "It will be up to your sister and the knights of the vale to hold the line south. We know that Cersei has enough wildfire to light up half of Westeros and we will make use of it to create a line the dead can not cross."
"You're planning to set the whole of the Riverlands on fire?" Asked Lady Brienne in disbelief.
"If we fail, it will be a mercy" John said and looked down at the map.
"Then we better not fail" said Jamie as he rose from the table. "We will see it done" He took a bow and left the table Bronn following after with a chuckle.
"I only have one concern my lord. Lady Sansa and Lady Arya are in Winterfell. I have sworn to protect them and I feel I must be by their side" Brienne looked to John for assurance. While she would not have minded to stay with Jamie's forces she felt it was her duty to stay close to her lady's side in times of danger. She tried to ignore the elaborate eye roll coming from Sandor and focused on John.
"I understand your duty, but the best way to protect my sisters will be to ensure that the Lannister army makes it to Winterfell" he left no room for negotiation but she continued anyway.
"We can not just leave them to prepare the northern forces alone" she answered and he seemed to contemplate this a moment.
"I will go" Sandor grunted with annoyance.
"You?" Brienne said with disgust. "You are not Lady Sansa's sworn shield I hardly think you have the right to protect her."
"I am the Lord Protector of the North" he rasped glaring at her and for once enjoying the use of his title to put her down a few pegs. While he respected her fierceness in battle, her romantic fantasy of a sworn knight's duty annoyed him to no end.
"Thank you Lord Clegane, you and Sir Davos will ride north today to help my sisters prepare. I will join you there as soon as we have set our troops in place at Castle Black" the king had spoken and he shut down any further attempts at complaint with a stern glare. Then after receiving a bow he left the tent in search of the dragon queen.
Brienne glared and came to stand eye to eye with Sandor.
"If you harm one hair on My Lady's head " she started.
"You'll what, Kill me? You've already tried that and as you can see it didn't take" he clapped back at her with a glare before grabbing his flagon and leaving her in the tent to throw her tantrum like a child. Sir Davos merely shrugged and followed after him.
"Lord Clegane" Davos called after him attempting to fall into step but finding it hard to keep pace.
"I'm not Lord" he said absently but did slow down just enough for the old man to walk easily next to him.
"It's too late to reject the title now My Lord" he continued with a hint of laughter in his voice. "Have you ever been to the north?"
"Once" he replied shortly not wishing to engage in meaningless pleasantries. They'd have enough of that on the road he was sure.
"I know of no happier place in this world" Davos sighed and Sandor rolled his eyes.
"It'll be happy enough when the dead come to raise it to the ground" Sandor barked having had enough of romantic notions for the day.
"Aye even then if the Lady of Winterfell is there. I believe you've met her" He said giving Sandor a strange look.
"Aye" he looked at Davos out of the corner of his eye with suspicion.
"I'm sure she'll be glad to see you again, we must take pleasure in the little things before the end comes" he stated plainly.
Sandor did not like this topic of conversation. It made him feel uneasy, even though it had been years since they'd seen each other he still felt protective of their small interactions. He didn't want to share them with anyone. They were precious, she was precious, and he didn't want anyone to know. He stopped in his tracks to level a glare at Davos who merely looked innocently back at him.
"Stop chirping like a perfumed cunt and ready your Horse or I'll rip out your tongue and feed it to the wolves" he rasped in his most menacing tone adding a bit of a smirk at the end to show just how depraved he was. Davos only smiled back at him and gave a little bow.
"My lord" and walked past him towards the stables with a smile clearly unaffected.
Sandor's smirk faded. He didn't like the feeling Davos had given him. Like he knew. He shook his head. Now was not the time to let his excitement at being reunited with the little bird and yes even the little wolf get the better of him. He knew that they'd be more like to murder him once he set foot in Winterfell than greet him with any kind of affection. It would be as he deserved for all the times he'd failed them.
He shook his head willing his head to silence and headed toward the stables. The sooner they were on the road the better.