Disclaimer: I own none of GRRM's series A Song of Ice and Fire. I do own the character of Lady Alyssa and any other OC's.
(A/N: This is my first fanfic, please review and enjoy it)
Sandor grunted as he carried the too heavy baskets of vegetables to the kitchens, which were given as a peace offering to Ramsay Bolton by a local farmer in return for his daughter's safe return to him. Ramsay had accepted the gift knowing fully that the girl had been raped by all of his men and was currently doing the rounds in the Dreadfort as a bed warmer. Sandor wondered why Ramsay had accepted the gift other than to give the farmer false hope then his daughter would come back to him. Well she would but in pieces, if Ramsay had anything to do with it.
Once in the kitchens, the cooks began shouting orders at Sandor.
'Go fetch the basket of grain from the yard'
'Go to the well and fetch us some water, ready for cleaning'
'Hurry up! Lady Alyssa will be here soon. You know she likes to do morning rounds to make sure everyone's okay'
Sandor started back to the yard to fetch the grain whilst wondered when he became no better than a lowly handmaid. He was in the Kings guard he deserved to be treated better than this. Was in the Kings Guard, he remembered, I deserted. I am lucky to still be alive; Ramsay has killed more men over much less.
Sandor walked back into the kitchens and placed the basket of grain into the corner where the cook had instructed. During his brief trip to the yard Lady Alyssa had entered the kitchens. Lady Alyssa had been dubbed the kindest women in the seven kingdoms by the people of Dreadfort. They are probably just happy to have someone who can control that crazy bastard Ramsay, Sandor thought. Lady Alyssa has a plain face, blood red hair and blue eyes; she almost looked like his little bird if it wasn't for the freckles on her face which would've looked out of place on anyone else.
'Good Morning all, how are you?' Lady Alyssa said but before anyone could answer Ramsay walked in. The cooks noticing his presence ignored the question and continued with their work. Sandor went to help one of the cooks hang the big kettle over the fire. With Ramsay present every movement that the cooks made become purposeful; as rumour has it that Ramsay once killed a cook for not kneading the dough for the morning bread quick enough.
'There you are, what are you doing?' Ramsay said to her, his voice filled with more hatred than normal.
'I'm simply checking up on the household, like your actually wife, Lady Arya should be doing. But she hasn't left her room this morning, so I am covering her duties' Lady Alyssa said calmly and smugly whilst helping herself to some of the left over bread from the day before that was left on the counter.
Ramsay stormed out screaming orders at his men to send Reek to bring him his wife. Lady Alyssa walked out of kitchen laughing, 'that men doesn't understand that if you're nice to people they will do what you say more often than not'.
After about ten minutes the cooks knew it was safe to go about their business normally again without the risk of Ramsay arriving and threatening them. Sandor excused himself and went to his room. In his room, there was a straw mattress, which was much too small for his huge frame and some soft linen's. Sandor laid on his mattress and thought of when he first arrived at the Dreadfort.
Sandor had arrived at the Dreadfort by mistake he was aiming for Winterfell but went too far east and ended up a Dreadort. He knew he had gone in the wrong direction when a young girl, no older than 14 name days, ran past him with a pack of feral dogs chasing her. As a group of men on horseback approached him he suddenly realised that he had fallen into Bolton territory and with Roose Bolton at war he would have to deal with his bastard. Whose reputation made men run and hide and women weep and pray to the Stranger for death.
The men on horseback forced Sandor to come to the Dreadfort, under the threat of flaying him. I have lived through Gregor's cruel attacks, I won't be beaten by this pathetic bastard. He was brought to Dreadfort's great hall, where Ramsay and his men were waiting for him.
The bastard looks pleased that I have been captured. I bet if he sent my head to the Lannisters he would make a pretty penny and be set for life.
Ramsay's men forced Sandor to kneel in the middle of the great hall. Ramsay stood before Sandor and started to announce Sandor's misfortune of being caught near the Dreadfort'I, Ramsay Bolton, Lord of Dreadfort sentence you Sandor Clegane to'. When Lady Alyssa burst through the doors with her female guard, Meera of House Reed and stood next to Ramsay. Ramsay looked up at her slightly unnerved and continued arrogantly, as if please with himself that he had an audience to see this moment 'sentence you Sandor Clegane to death'.
'I however do not, please stand up and follow me' Lady Alyssa said firmly and turned to Ramsay and whispered loudly 'you do not pass judgement's on anyone, and you are in no way entitled. This is for my husband to pass judgement on and only him. Until his return, this man is my prisoner and I mean to put him to work around Dreadfort. If you or any of your men even breathe near to him, Meera will cut your head off and send it to their mothers'. In a swift motion Lady Alyssa floated out of the door with Meera Reed and Sandor following meekly.