The great hall was quiet except for the sounds of the clinking of silverware, and Alayne and her party listened as the Elder Brother told them of the sacking of the Saltpans by outlaws, of the few who had survived and come to the Quiet Isle seeking refuge. Alayne listened in horror as the Elder Brother told of the fates that befell those who lived there, and she told a silent prayer to the Seven for peace for their souls.

"Have they caught the men responsible?" Mya asked the Elder Brother. He simply shook his head and seemed about to speak when Ser Harrold interrupted,

"I heard it was all led by that Lannister dog, the ugly one with the burned face."

Alayne felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach,

"The Hound would never do such a thing" she heard herself protest quietly, as every member of her party turned to stare at her quizzically.

"What does Lady Stone know of a Lannister dog and what he is or isn't capable of?" Ser Harrold laughed, disregarding his betrothed's opinions, but it was the Elder Brother who came to the Hound's defense instead of Alayne.

"Lady Alayne is right," the Elder Brother explained, "it was not the Hound."

"And how can you be certain?" Ser Harrold, never being one to pass up an argument, "I heard there was many a tale from those who remember that distinct helm of his-the disgusting dog one-from those who lived to tell about it."

"I am certain," the Elder Brother stated with a certain peace, "the Hound is long dead, his helm and shield were taken from his grave by the outlaws who sacked the Saltpans."

Alayne felt her fork fall from her hand and clatter loudly to the ground.

Dead? The Hound was dead? She had so many questions, but she knew she had to silence them-it would not be appropriate for a baseborn girl from the Free Cities to have so many questions about a dead Lannister swordsman.

Luckily, it seemed no one else in her party noticed her clumsiness, save the Elder Brother who regarded her strangely. He studied her face too intently it seemed, and she felt herself go white, feeling that he had somehow discovered her secret. She had to escape his gaze, so she turned to Lord Petyr, "Pray forgive me, Father, but all this talk of the devastation of the Saltpans has left me feeling a bit ill. Please bid me to retire for the evening?" Her father seemed to understand her discomfort.

"I will escort you back to your room," he insisted, but the Elder Brother intervened,

"No. Lord Baelish you have scarcely had a chance to eat, and I would be sorry host if I did not permit you to finish your meal. Allow me to escort the lady back to her quarters." Petyr made a move to interject, but the Elder Brother had already risen and held his arm out to Alayne. She took it and followed him silently, nodding a goodnight to her companions with a thin smile, and then left the great hall into the damp air of the isle.

She and the Elder Brother walked in silence for awhile before he broke the silence, "I am sorry if my talk of the Hound upset you." he told her.

"Do not be sorry, Ser, I just have a lady's soft stomach for such tales and a sad heart for those who were lost," she replied, hoping her answer would deter any suspicion, but the Elder Brother did not seem to be interested in questioning anymore.

"I buried the Hound myself, in a quiet place by the river. I marked his grave with his dog helm and shield, and though I fear those have long been taken, the stone markers I placed there still remain."

They continued on in silence before Alayne couldn't help herself, she had to know...

"How did he die?" she whispered, hoping the Elder Brother would not catch the sadness that was threatening to break out of her and give her away.

"I found him along the Trident, greatly wounded and feverish from infection. We brought him back here and he was quite delirious. Eventually the Hound passed on and we buried him by the river."

Alayne felt her legs begin to turn to jelly and she suddenly forgot where and who she was as tears began to fall down her cheeks. The Elder Brother paused, then turned to face her, "You knew the man?" he said, and Sansa nodded,

"He was...a friend" she heard Sansa choke, but she didn't understand what she was saying, the Hound a friend? She hadn't ever considered him as such, and she had never thought that his death would weigh so heavily on her now that she had resigned herself from feeling anything anymore.

"I never thought I would hear someone call Sandor Clegane friend," the Elder Brother said softly, "much less a beautiful maiden with auburn hair." Alayne felt the air go out of her a bit before protesting,

"I have brown hair, my lord, like my father's." She realized it was a silly thing to argue about with the Elder Brother who merely replied,

"That you do, milady. I must be mistaken by the evening light."

They walked the rest of the way in silence, though Alayne feared the Elder Brother could hear the sound of her heart beating as she was suddenly so nervous she thought it would break out of her chest. When they reached her door, she wanted to dash inside and draw the latch behind her and remain there until they left the Isle. She prayed that would be soon and she would be far away from the curious looks he was giving her.

"Tomorrow I will send a silent brother to escort you to the grave of the Hound. I know it would mean a lot to him to have a friend say a prayer on his behalf." Alayne meant to protest when she realized that what the Elder Brother had said was not a request, so she merely nodded and said a quiet farewell before retiring to her room with her many thoughts.