"Sansa go inside now!" Jon has drawn his Valyrian steel sword and was now holding it out at the sight of the Hound. Though Sansa made no move to obey.
"Jon, you don't understand!" She had moved closer to her brother, trying to calm him.
"It was not a request!" His words harsh as he barked back at her. "Ser Davos, see my sister inside while I handle this."
Davos Seaworth had been standing quietly to the side, he had become one of Jon's most trusted advisors since the Battle of the Bastards. He stepped forward, offering his arm to Sansa. "Come my lady, let the men settle things while we go inside where it is warm."
Sansa glared at her brother then nodded to Ser Davos, taking his offered arm. She then cast one last glance at Sandor before being led back inside to the great hall.
Jon then once again turned his attention to The Hound, sword still out and held firmly. "What are the Brotherhood doing with a Lannister dog?"
Before Sandor could respond, Dondarrion had his hand up to quiet him. "Clegane has made his amends, the God of Fire has cleansed him of his past deeds your grace." He glanced at Sandor a moment then to Jon, "he has joined the Brotherhood and has proven his worth."
"I ain't no Lannister dog!" Sandor snarled a bit, "left them fuckers a long time ago."
Jon made no move to look at The Hound, instead speaking to Dondarrion, "and you trust him, truly trust him?"
"Aye." Dondarrion looked to Sandor with a nod, "The Hound is no more, the man before you is Sandor Clegane, no more, no less."
Cautiously, Jon placed his sword away, eyeing Sandor a moment. "My father trusted you Beric, which means I can too." He then finally spoke directly to Sandor, "but I will be wary of you, Clegane." He then looked back to Dondarrion, "we will have rooms set up for you and your men. How long do you believe you will be in Winterfell?"
Sandor no longer listened to the men talk, now that he was no longer the center of attention. Instead he let his eyes wander to where his little bird had walked off. He knew this bastard boy would not let him be alone with Sansa, but he would find a way to speak to her, alone.
…..
Sansa sat with Jon at the head table in the great hall which was now full of men from the Brotherhood. She let her eyes wander the room until they settled onto Sandor. He sat in the far corner away from the group, eating and drinking in silence. She watched him a moment before his eyes finally met hers. A flush quickly covering her cheeks as she looked away, sipping her wine as she looked to Jon who spoke to her.
"I do not want him going near you Sansa." He leaned closer to her so that no one would hear him, "he was a Lannister dog for how many years?" He then shook his head, "the Brotherhood may trust him, but after all that you endured because of the Lannister's makes me wary of anyone that once served them."
Sansa frowned a bit, placing a reassuring hand on top of Jon's. "He was kind to me in Kings Landing, he even tried to protect me in his own way." She dared a glance to Sandor for a brief moment before looking back to Jon, "all the other knights gladly obeyed Joffrey when he ordered them to beat me, but Sandor did not, he refused." She remembered one day in particular, when she heard his rough voice demanding it to be enough. Though it did not stop Ser Meryn from beating her more and ripping her dress for the entire court to see. But it was his cloak that covered her from those prying eyes. His cloak she kept hidden away in her chambers to this day. "Give him a chance Jon."
He knew deep down that Sansa would win this battle of words, she was smarter in that matter. Jon has his sword, Sansa her brain. He took a long drink of his ale before letting out a long sigh. "I let him in, that's his chance. But he will still be watched until I know for sure he can be trusted." He leaned over to Sansa, kissing the side of her head. "You're all I have left Sansa, I'm not risking losing you." He then stood, "good night, sister."
She nodded to him with a smile, "good night, brother." She loved that they had agreed to get rid of the half when referring to one another. Jon was a Stark, there was no half-brother in her mind anymore. She knew that he had pretty much given up hope in finding any of their other siblings alive, though she prayed that somehow, Bran, though crippled, was still alive. And of course Arya, the most resourceful little girl she knew, she had to be alive. She couldn't give up hope, for her sake, and Jon's.
…..
The castle had gone silent except for a few soldiers who had been patrolling. Somehow, Sandor was able to sneak through the halls of Winterfell undetected. Though a large man, he learned to be silent when necessary. He had watched when his little bird excused herself for the night, quietly following her to her chambers. And now that her maids had turned in for the night, he knew he had the best chance to speak to her privately.
With one last glance down each hall he quickly made for her chambers, thanking whatever gods were on his side that her door was not barred shut. He was careful not to make noise when he entered, shutting the door carefully behind him before barring it shut himself. He didn't want to risk any of her maids catching him in there. As he stepped forward he could feel his own breath catch in his throat, his little bird, his Sansa was there. She slept peacefully in her bed, her fiery red hair sprawled out over her pillows, the light from the moon making her milky white skin appear more angelic. Soft breaths escaped her full pink lips, lips he wanted to feel more than anything. It would take all of his power not to scoop her up right there and steal a kiss. But he couldn't do that to her, no, he would never do that to her. She was no common whore in a brothel. She was a lady, a true lady to the core. Even through the nightmares she lived, she kept her innocence and purity. He wouldn't dare take that from her.
"Little bird…" He whispered lightly as he approached her bed. Now that he was there, he felt a new fear filling him. What if she screamed? What if she sent him away?
Her eyes shot open when he called to her again, this time a bit louder. 'Too late to turn back now you damned fool.'
A gasp did escape her lips, but she did not scream. She sat up quickly, gathering her blankets to cover herself as much as she could as she looked at him wide eyed. Her Tully blue eyes almost glowing in the moonlight. Sandor had to thank the gods again for a perfectly clear night, the moon was being generous with the light it was reflecting on this vision before him.
"I won't hurt you little bird…"
The words a reminder of the promise he once spoke to her, a promise he vowed in Kings Landing. He wanted her to know they remained true now as they were then.
"I know…" Her words hardly a whisper as she looked to him, curiosity now filling those perfect blue eyes of hers. "Why are you here?"
"For you… Sansa." He moved closer to her bed, kneeling down beside it so he could look straight at her, "for you."
…..
((( Ooh… I feel the intensity, do you guys? )))
~Huggles~
