Author's Note:
This is my very first GoT-related story. I do hope it's tolerable! I would like to first thank Stardust63 for getting this mess into my head. If it wasn't for her and her amazing work and friendship, I would never have had the courage to write this! Be sure to check out her brilliant work on this site, you won't regret it. Of course, all credit goes to the incredible GRRM. I thank him for creating the brilliant character that is the Hound.
This Fragile Bird
She arrived in late afternoon, just as the heaviest rain began to fall. The rain was falling so heavily, that the youngest Clegane could hardly se the approaching wagon. All he could see through the rain was he light blonde hair. Soon after the death of their father, the elder brother knew that the time had come for him to select a wife. As Sandor watched her walk slowly towards him, he hoped that this one would fare better than the last.
He watched her with critical grey eyes and thought, 'She mightbe beautiful now, but my brother will be sure to see to that face.'
"You're her, are you?" he asked.
The young woman nodded.
"Get inside. Your betrothed would be displeased if you were to die from a cold."
The frightened young woman followed the uncommonly tall man into a tiny, damp hall. "Got any bags, do you?"
The young woman shook her head.
Losing patience with the soaked and silent young woman before him he shouted, "Do you have a tongue!?"
"Yes." she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sandor rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his broad chest, "You're cold and hungry. There is something dry for you to put on up there, and something to eat. Third door on the right." he said, nodding towards the staircase.
"Thank you."
"Wasn't my idea. " he said. "Follow me."
The young woman nervously followed Sandor up the stairs. As they stood before her door, she caught a glimpse of Sandor's fire ravaged face. Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld his horribly scarred flesh. She felt no horror, only pity. "Compliments of your husband to be." Sandor said as he opened the door to her bedchamber. The young woman stood trembling before the door. The prospect of marrying a man she knew only by his brutish reputation was nearly enough to cause her to empty her stomach upon the wooden floor. "Go in." Sandor said.
As her large light blue eyes met the large fire burning within she ceased her trembling and smiled. Her smile gave her an uncommon type of beauty, but as Sandor stared at her through his hair he could not help but think, 'Enjoy your smiles now girl, my brother will see to to that you never smile again.'
The young woman walked into her bedchamber and sat herself on the rug that lay before the fire. "You should rest some before dinner." Sandor said as he leaned against the door frame.
"Thank you for your kindness, ser." she said.
Sandor could sense her fear despite her pretty words, "Do you have a name?"
"Megena." she answered.
"Sandor." he said, "Dry off and get some rest."
Sandor then shut the door and walked heavy footed down the stairs, feeling nothing but pity for the fragile woman in the room above.
Megena dressed herself in a homespun dress of green and got into the large bed. Exhaustion soon overcame her and she soon found herself in a deep sleep. Hours passed, and dinner was going to be set on the dining room table soon.
"Go and fetch the girl." the cook said.
"She'll come down on her own." he said, "she's sleeping."
"Then wake her, or she'll go hungry." the cook said as she pointed a large wooden spoon at him.
Sandor sighed loudly and slid back the chair and rose. He tried to walk as quietly as a man his size could up the stairs towards the room of 'the girl'. As he entered the room he saw her tiny form curled up into herself. The scene before him caused him to pause and stare for a few moments. 'Fragile little bird.' he thought to himself. He walked quietly to the right side of the bed, and placed his large hand on her shoulder. He shook her as gently as he could manage. Megena gasped and scurried up the bed, "Don't hurt me!"
Sandor backed himself into the wall, "I won't hurt you. Dinner is on the table. Come down when you're ready."
As her fear left her, Megena said a quiet, "Thank you."
"I didn't do anything." he grunted, leaving the room.
Megena sat alone in her room for a few moments, trying her best to wear a face of bravery. Soon she would be the Lady of this house, and she knew that she must wear this mask often. She brushed her hair twice before she descended the staircase. As she entered the small dining room, she dropped into a low curtsy.
"Don't do that." Sandor said, gesturing to the chair across the table from him. "Sit down."
Megena sat down in her seat, her eyes resting on the table before her. "Do you drink wine?"
Megena shook her head, "No." she answered.
"Fine. Duilya, bring her water." Sandor said.
As Duilya set a cup of water before Megena looked up at her and smiled, "Thank you."
Once again, seeing her smile caused the younger Clegane to soften for an instant and feel pity towards her. "So, what is your story?" he asked.
"Story?"
"We all have one. How have you come to this?" he asked.
Megena hung her head and said quietly, "My mother has passed on. My father has no use for me, and can no longer afford the taxes on our land. So, he sold the land and his daughter to your brother."
Sandor frowned and took a sip of wine, "Where is your father?" he asked.
"I do not know. He spoke of finding a whorehouse as I left." she replied.
"Will he attend your wedding?"
"No. He made it very clear that we shall never see each other again."
They each fell silent as dinner was being placed before them. Megena had managed to hide her hunger, but she could no longer. Though she had not eaten in days, she picked at her food as a true Lady should.
"Would you just fucking eat?!" Sandor shouted.
"I am." Megena said quietly.
"Like a Lady. You're not one yet. You're hungry, just EAT!" he shouted, slamming his large fist on the table.
Megena took her trembling hands, and raised her bowl of stew to her lips. Sandor felt his ruined mouth twist upwards into a smile as he watched a steady stream of stew drip down her chin. "When was the last time you ate?" he asked.
Megena set down the bowl and said, "Three or four days. I do not remember." she answered, wiping her chin.
"I'm sorry." he said.
"I am no stranger to hunger." Megena said, raising her light blue eyes, to meet his grey.
Though Megena was no care of his, Sandor silently vowed that she would never feel hunger again. "What do you do?" he asked.
"I do not understand." she said.
"In your spare time."
"I would sew or go out on horseback to the nearest village." she answered.
"You had better get your fill of horse riding before Gregor returns. He'll likely want you to stay indoors."
Megena nodded her head once and closed her eyes. "I understand."
"I'll bring a horse 'round tomorrow morning for you. You should ride while you're still able." Sandor said as he rose from his seat.
Megena rose also and allowed her tiny feet to carry her to the large man standing before the door. Without thinking, she placed her tiny arms around his middle, "Thank you. To show me such kindness...I had not expected it."
Sandor stood as still as a statue as he said, "It's nothing."
Megena backed away from him slowly, afraid that she had caused him to become angry. "I'm...I didn't mean...goodnight." she stammered before she ran back upstairs to her bedchamber.
As he heard the door slam shut Sandor smiled, for it had been some time since he had been hugged by another person. Sandor returned to his own bedchamber and as he removed his mud caked boots he could not help but think of the fragile thing across the hall. He thought that she did not deserve the fate that was coming for her. No one deserved Gregor. "Poor fragile bird." he said, pouring himself a glass of wine. He drank heavily that night, and cursed the Gods for their cruelty.
A/N:
Well. That is that. My first adventure in the GoT world...thing. Something like this has long been on my mind. I hope it was tolerable, and I promise that as I get used to being in Westeros and not Middle-Earth, I shall get better. Thanks for reading, -M