Strangers hooves sounded like thunder upon the snowy ground with the mix of red leaves as they raced through the forrests filled with the blood topped trees. It had been a week since she had accepted to leave Kings Landing with him, a week that had started with tremoulous shyness and unfounded anger on his part. It had begun to rain the night they had left, the only mount for them both was his horse sent from the Stranger himself, thus his name for his demon-like demeanor. They had little time to rest, nowhere to do so and had to hide away from any villages, mostly away from the Kingsroad. By the third night the Bird had been shivering between his arms, coughing and asking him,no pleading, for a place to rest. A dry enough place had been found beside a rock face and the shelter of thick leaved trees. He had watched her life nearly slip away had he not found a herb his maester had taught him would cure any chill induced fevers.
One more night was spent in their improptu shelter, her fevered whispers whimpering between pleas of no more of the beatings, asking for Arya, or begging her father back to life. In his arms he took her, cradled her to his chest as he tried to soothe her, swearing he would protect her no matter the cost. "I'd rather fight the Stranger himself before he tears me from you Bird" he whispered, thinking that through her fevered haze she would not hear him but she had. As dawn awoke them with clean air, a spread of muddy ground for them to travel on, he looked down to find her river blue eyes thanking him silently. "I-I am alright now" she croaked as he could only caress her cheek, press his lips to her crown to feel the fever gone. "I'll not push you so hard for the rest of the journey but we must get to Riverrun before the week is over" he rasped as he set her on her feet. Even with the smudges of mud on her face, and her now short hair, she looked like a bloody nymph, making him feel weak to the marrow of his bones and being grateful for it through and through. No better master could I have chosen but a foolish child.
As they rode she had spoken very suddenly after a long morning of thought, "I want to learn to do what you do, build a fire and forage". He had looked down at her with a raised brow ,"Why would the little lady want to get her hands dirty?", he said in a mocking tone. " I only want to be useful, I don't want to be a stupid little girl anymore" she said with a fierce expression as she looked at his face directly, her saphire blues staring into him defiantly. "You look at me now, do you?" was his gruff response as he only clicked Stranger forward. That same night he had taught her how to build a fire. She had flinched several times as she hit her thumb and forefinger with the stone, harumphed when no spark was created and almost gave up until he could stand no more of her little sounds, showing her how to start it correctly. A slight smile overcame her features as she created a spark, "Give me that bird before I freeze my balls off", he said snatching away the stones, stoking the small weak flame with a few pieces of dry wood he had been lucky enough to find. Sansa only frowned at the ease with which he managed the fire, his nervousness palpable as he had built it, taking care to keep his face away, prefering to blow at the tiny spark from a slight distance. A bed roll was set and she had promptly set herself to lay upon it, only shivering slightly until his cloak was draped over her, the smell of blood and fire still upon it. "Sandor?" she asked amidst the fire crackling and night noise. A 'hmm" was pronounced, awaiting whatever she was to say. "Would you really rather prefer fighting the Stranger than me not being here?" she asked after a while.
Her answer was a few soft snores.
By the end of the week they had made it to a warm inn, his gold from the tourney allowing them a bath and a change of clothing, warm food and spiced wine. Apparently many were travelling away from the effects the Blackwater Battle had caused, so the inn was full and no matter how many more coins he offered, the inn keeper would refuse to move any of the other patrons as they were also paying for their stay with enough coin. Sansa said nothing as he had announced that in the end he could not buy another room. Her answer was a slight nod and a brisk walk directly to the bed. A groan was heard from him upon seeing no other place to rest his head. Retrieving the bedroll from their baggage he set it beside the large bed, nursing a flagon of wine while she lay on her side looking into the flames. "I'll get you to yer soft feather beds soon Bird, and you can sleep easy, I have no interest in fucking yer highborn cunt" he spit as he noticed her reluctance to sleep. "My lord please don't- " "I'm no lord girl, stop your chirping and shut those eyes". Silence stretched tensely between them, but sleep soon claimed her.
She was in Kings Landing again, in front of Joffrey. His crossbow was ponting at her, and pain seemed to pass through her body. Looking down, her eyes caught her blood drenched gown, quarrels pierced through her arms and thighs as she kneeled before him. "No please, please don't I beg of you no more" she pleaded weakly as his wormy lips smiled at her pain. "Hound, Sandor please please tell him to stop!" she yelled as the quarrel was released, traveling towards her very eyes. Strong hands gripped her shoulders, her voice crying out as she opened her eyes, tears blurring her vision until Sandor came to focus, his gentle gray eyes looking deeply into hers, "Sansa, it was a dream" he rasped as his hands tightened around her arms.
Realizing she was safe, her arms shot out to his neck as her sobs wracked her body, a deep ache settling in her chest with fear. One hand caressed the back of her head, his fingers caressing the short locks. Another hand soothed her back while whispering that she was safe. "I'm safe with you" she said after her sobs had ended, whispering her confession into his good ear. Backing away from his neck, he closed the distance, setting his forehead level with hers. Her tully eyes looked at him, all of him with tenderness he didn't remember seeing in anyone but his dead sister from long ago. "You are little bird" he whispered back as he kissed her tears away and landed one last kiss on her forehead. "I'll make Robb and mother see that when we arrive" she answered as her hands settled softly on his forearms.
He had barely had any sleep as he maintained a vigil over her, holding her hand while he did. That was the last night she had any nightmares, and the last night he had made any snide or spiteful remark to her. Some dogs are bark and no bite, and she's made one of me he mused as her sweet face remained peaceful. Who was he lying to? He would always remaing a tame beast, only snarling at her when she wanted to pet him. Her courtieses had come as a shock when all the other highborn women including Cersei had treated him for what he was, a Dog. He had hated that, her chirping becoming almost an insult to what he was and had never been, a gentlemen, or lordling or whatever she believed him to be. He was no knight, yet she refused to speak to him any other way. To others and even to him she had seemed nothing but a stupid girl with dreams and songs in her head and yet that was what made her strong. Her belief that there was more light than dark in the world. A surprising thought considering she was born in a land full of cold and lifelessness and yet she was a summer child.
He would have to give her up soon, but meanwhile he would look upon her fire kissed locks, fair skin and cherry lips.
As they traveled even further, everything had gone much easier. She told him odd stories from her childhood and he recanted the less darker ones from his. That night had been the last peaceful one they would have. They had sat around the fire she had built, her feathers ruffled with pride at the small flickering thing. The cold had a strange way of luring them together so they had set their backs to a fallen tree, shoulder to shoulder unhis cloak, bearing the cold wind as it blew softly around them. "It smells of Winterfell" she remarked as the sweet smell of pine and wet dirt filled her nostrils. He looked at her placid profile, her lips holding a slight smile, her features softened by the light of the fire. "You'll be there soon, with yer brothers, the warm springs and whatever the fuck there is in that place", his voice grinding out the singing of a cricket here and there. Her soft hand reached for his and wrapped itself around his calloused paw. "All thanks to you", she sighed and filled her lungs with more cool air, preparing herself for the next words she was about to say. "I heard you speak when I was ill. You said you would fight the Stranger, before he took me from you" she said quickly as she blushed and looked into the fire. "Why did you say that?"
He sighed, placing his fingers below her chin and turning her eyes towards him. "Mayhap it don't matter much Bird, but this old battle worn Dog wants to see you safe because that's what you deserve, not that sick fuck of a King, nor being beaten bloody for simply wanting to be free, yer a bird and birds need the sky to flutter here and there. You'll be with some handsome lord and have pups of yer own, run a house and whatnot" he trailed off as he looked at her eyes filled with tears. "I want you there for all that Sandor" her hand tightening as she said that. "No bird, I won't watch you with another man, standing outside your door while he fucks you, nor when you bear his pups" he remarked angrily as he tore his paw from her little claw. His burned side was to her, a scowl making it twist awfully as his ruined mouth twitched angrily. "You foolish old Hound" she whispered as she set herself on her knees in front of him. His eyes narrowed slightly as she smiled shyly, her eyes freely roaming both sides of his face. He was strong, gentle when he wanted to be but above all he wanted her safe not because of a claim, or lands or whatever the other men wanted for her but because that what he thought she deserved, to live well. To live safely. To live how she wanted to. "Alright then I shall live my days an old maid and sing to pass the time to please the ferocious Hound" she japed for the first time since Jeyne. "Not if I have a say in it" he remarked as he cradled her face between his large paws. He knew how it would be if he did stay. She would marry and spread her mikly thighs for the lord she married and for him, whenever she could spair the time. She would give birth to pups both hound and wolve. But she would never be his truly. "Maybe Robb can make you a lord"
He chuckled at her silly notions, "Aye bird, songs and fairy tales spewing from that pretty beak" he said as he pressed his ruined mouth to her tenderly. Her hands touched his wrists gently as she pressed her lips into his. His tongue ventured tentavily against her seam, a soft gasp on her part and his tongue was softly caressing hers. She smiled shyly as their tongues caressed rythmically. He stopped before he compromised her honor and separated himself only enough to see her eyes shut, a dreamy expression glowing upon her. "My little bird", he said and smirked as she opened her eyes. He opened his legs, welcoming her into his arms and the warmth of the cloak. As she settled against his chest, her back to his front, he whispered into her ear "If you become mine, you will be mine alone, spread your legs, bear my pups and sing only for me".
A shiver ran through her, from her neck to the place betwixt her thighs. "Then perhaps I will" she answered as she leaned further into him closing her eyes, feeling safer in his embrace than behind the sturdiest of castle walls. The stars shone above them through the trees, the moon ominous, a warning of what was to come, a crow crying out in dismay of the things they would see. They had promised to eachother what lovers always promise, but these words were heard and declared upon a sacred tree that had not been noticed by either of them. It was heard by old Gods and new. It was written in the cold breeze, stamped upon the parchment of the night sky and sealed with kiss.
Little did they know, their love would be put to the hardest trial. Death.
