Sansa padded down the corridors as fast but as quietly as she could, if anyone were to see her out of her room at this hour without Joffrey's permission they would surely run to their King and Joffrey would surely punish her again. The punishments were getting crueler and crueler of late and more frequet also, the slightest of things would set him upon her.

As she finally rounded the corner that brought her to the corridor her bedchamber was situated on, she knew she had almost made it. Her heart pounded in her chest and thundered in her own ears but she was so close, just a few steps further. Suddenly Sansa felt herself lurch under what seemed to be her own weight. Her feet lifted from the floor of their own accord and she swung around through the air so that she eventually landed on her feet with her back pressed firmly against the cold stone wall. As the dizzying haze left her, a face slowly came into view. The Hound.

"Why are you out of your bedchamber Little Bird?" He asked authoritivlely, his eyes dark and his grip on her shoulders awfuly hard.

"I... I... Please dont tell the King! I only meant to go to the cooks, I couldnt sleep and after trying everything else I though some warm goats milk would help! Im so sorry, please, please dont tell the King!" Sansa rambled in fear.

"Why would I tell the King?" He asked.

Sansa simply looked at him blankly. She wanted to tell him that he belonged to Joffrey just as much as she did and that that ownership demanded a choiceless loyalty. She wanted to tell him that he was a part of House Lannister and all those who were loyal to the Lannisters provided information to them as easily as others exchanged greatings. She wanted to say all these things but she couldn't, she just looked at him. The lady in her not wanting to offend, even the Hound. She wondered if he even had the capacity to take offence but held her tongue all the same.

"You should hurry back to your room girl. The Queen's guards will be along shortly to check on you. Next time you take a fancy for milk, just imagine the goats instead. It'll be a damn sight safer." He warned. For a fleeting moment Sansa was sure she felt him stroke her hair in a soft, familiar sort of way. He stood back abruptly and stormed off.

Sansa was ready for sleep after her goats milk. The warmth of it had soothed the ache in her belly and she felt like a contented babe. So why then, when she lay her head on her pillow and gazed at the red and gold ceiling did she not drift off into a slumber? The Hound. The toweringly tall, unaturally strong, fearsome looking Hound was running through her mind, keeping her awake. All the benefits the milk had provided were lost after her encounter with Sandor Clegane. The oddest of feelings began to wash over Sansa as she lay thinking. Of course his face was scarred and frightening, the things he could do and had done were terrible and shocking but still Sansa was sure that while his eyes were dark and piercing she had seen some degree of kindness in them. His eyes seemed to glisten just the tinyest amount when he held her eyes with his and in simply handing her a warning and letting her go without so much as a word to Joffrey was reason enough for Sansa to wonder if there may be more to the Hound than the angry, deformed beast he portrayed.

As Sansa headed down to break her fast the following morning she was filled with unease. There was something different about her surroundings. Every morning Sansa would pass at least four guards in the corridors, doing their rounds, checking rooms and looking stern but not this day. The halls were empty, silent, eerie. She slowed her pace unconciously. She approached every nook with caution, months of abuse at the King's hands had made her paranoid she thought to herself.

"My Lady" Sansa heard that sickening voice behind her. She turned to see Joffrey poised with his crossbow.

"Your Grace... What...?" Sansa stumbled over her words, Joffrey had no patience for it.

"We have this whole part of the castle to ourselves this fine morning, I've ordered everyone to stay away while I spend time with my wife. Do you see how good I am to you?" Joffrey sneered.

"Yes your Grace." Was all Sansa could choke out.

She was terrified. He had that look in his eye, she knew he meant to harm her. He had brandished weapons at her before but his crossbow was reserved for his cruelest of days. He walked towards her, taking aim. Sansa closed her eyes, whatever was about to happen to her she did not want to see it.

"What are you doing here? You had your orders dog!" Sansa heard Joffrey spit his words. She opened her eyes and turned around. Sandor was right behind her, he took hold of her shoulder gently and pulled her back so that he was stood in front of her, blocking her from Joffrey's sight.

"Leave her be." Sandor ordered the King bravely.

"Do you have a death wish you filthy mutt?" Joffrey bit back.

Clegane launched himself at Joffrey, Joffrey faultered and let off an arrow from the crossbow. The arrow wedged itself between the gaps in Sandor's armor, he simply snapped the wood leaving the arrow intact and continued his assault.

"Get back! Get back!" Joffrey screamed.

Sandor reached for him and grabbed the scruff of his collar, pulling Joffrey in close to his face then swapped that hand for the other and wrapped it tight around the King's neck.

"This girl has suffered enough. She has earned her leave of you and you will grant it to her, do you understand?" He asked. Joffrey tried to nod and let out an almost inaudable sound.

Sandor threw Joffrey to the ground and took Sansa by the hand, guiding her off down the many staircases and out into the courtyard.

"We are leaving now little bird, we won't come back I promise you that." He told her as he took her by the waist and hoisted her up onto a beautiful horse. He then jumped up and on behind her, holding her close as he set the horse in motion. They flew from the gates and rode for days into the wilderness. Each of them free. At last.