Thanks to all the followers and reviewers. Feel free to tell me what you think or if you have any suggestions. I took some time to update because I'm rewriting my story thus adding way more stuff.
Enjoy,
Cath.
Eleanor didn't fear death. She didn't fear blood or diseases either. That allowed her to work as one of Grand Maester Pycelle's assistants. Eleanor loved it, because it kept her busy without having to be some highborn girl's handmaiden. She didn't fear pain either…Ned Stark, on the other hand, was in pain. Eleanor could feel it. If they didn't act quickly the man could at the Hand of King made her remember how she became to have interest in medicine and helping others…Sandor's burning. By the gods he was only a child back then…she wasn't very old either. Eleanor closed her eyes for a moment.
What had captured Eleanor's attention were the screams. The screams of someone she knew. She raced out of her room, following the screams. Soon, many servants were following her and entered the hall with her. The sight was horrible: Gregor holding young Sandor over the fire. They all ran to them.
"Gregor stop this!" she yelled
He did not stop.
"Gregor Stop! Stop! He's just a boy," she said again trying to tear them apart. In the end it took Eleanor and a few servants to make Gregor let go of poor Sandor. Then Gregor stormed out. Only Sandor's cries called Eleanor's attention back to him.
"Shhhh. " she said, kneeling next to him, holding his face on her knees. Sandor tried to bring his hand his face.
"No, no don't touch." She said, "You there, get help." Said Eleanor to one servant.
"There isn't anyone"
"What?"said Eleanor
"Well, in the past, Septa Jezebel..."
Right, Eleanor thought. Septa Jezebel had died a few months ago. And Clegane's Keep couldn't afford a maester from the Citadel.
"She had a book about medicine Miss…"
"You find me that book."
"But Miss…"
" I don't care! My brother is in pain and I will not let him suffer. So you find me that book." She said "And you, when my father get's back I want to be alerted immediately."
The servants bowed and went about their tasks. The other servants brought in some water and clean cloth. Eleanor tried her best to ease her baby brother's pain but every time she brought a cloth to Sandor's face, some skin would fall off and Sandor would scream.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry. " she said
That day, Eleanor did her best to help her brother and with the help of her old septa's book and some herbs, the skin on Sandor's face healed. Of course, it had a left many scars and part of Sandor's hair would never grow again, but the pain had stopped.
And that night, Eleanor didn't bring back to book to old Septa Jezebel's room; she kept it and read it thoroughly. Never again would she be left powerless in the face of someone else's pain…and least of her all her brother.
Since that day, their family life changed. Not only did her father did not succeed in making Gregor pay in some way, but because Eleanor realised her eldest brother was a monster…A very violent monster. Poor Sandor had only taken an old toy from him and paid a terrible price for it. As the three of them grew up, Sandor got strong as well and soon, he could defend himself against Gregor. Eleanor hated it when they fought each other. Eleanor was, in some way, lucky. Gregor didn't use his strength against her…but it didn't mean she wasn't scared or that she wasn't careful around him. Some said it was because she looked like their mother.
Eleanor came back to her senses when she heard the maester's voice.
"Eleanor child, fetch me milk of the Poppy"
Eleanor obeyed and brought back the medicine. Nobody deserved to be in pain like this…not even traitors. Rumours where running within the Red Keep's halls; Ned Stark had attacked Jaime Lannister in broad day light in the middle of Flea Bottom. Eleanor had a hard time believing it. But Jaime was now nowhere to be found…was he hurt? Ned Stark was. No doubt Jaime had defended himself. By the gods Eleanor did not know what to think. He was the greatest swordsman Eleanor had ever seen. And both of them were seasoned warriors.
Life at the Red Keep changed in a matter of days. First, King Robert's death and then, Ned Stark treason, then Prince Joffrey's coronation, Ned Stark's execution…
One evening, Eleanor heard lound talking just outside her room. Eleanor lived in the Red Keep, near Grand Maester Pycelle's chambers and the medecine laboratories. Noticing that the talking was not stopping she went outside to see what was going on.
"What is the meaning of this?" she said, only to find herself face to face with the ugliest and scariest man ever. He was very tall, wore clothing made out of furs and a strange hat. "This is the Grand Maester." Said Eleanor
"What you want to join him?" asked the man, taking step in towards her. Eleanor backed against her door.
"Don't you touch me!" she said "My brother is in the Kingsguard. You'll regret this."
"Timmet don't care!" he said, his hand closing around Eleanor's throat.
"TIMMET! NOT HER!"
Eleanor recognized him immediately. It was Tyrion Lannister.
"You let her go. She has nothing to do with this." He said. "My apologies Miss Clegane." He said.
"What are you doing?" she asked
"Matters of the state. Nothing of your concern. Cut off his manhood and feed it to the goats!" he said to his man
"You can't do that!" said Eleanor moving to help her master. But another man, with reddish hair blocked her path.
"I wouldn't concern yourself with that love" he said, sliding his thumb across her cheek. Eleanor backed away quickly. She heard distant conversations and then they left.
"I'm afraid you'll be busy with the Grand Maester away." Said Tyrion, before following his man. Eleanor wanted to answer back but then she saw that Tyrion Lannister was wearing the Hand of the King badge.
Better to hold your tongue ,she thought.
"Whatever duty my Lord will have for me I will do." She curtsied and she went back into her room.
Things were changing indeed.
One day, things got worst when the Royal Party was attacked in the city. Eleanor was summoned to Sansa's Stark room.
Eleanor arrived as quickly as possible. She knocked and a foreign girl answered the door.
"I was summoned to tend to Lady Sansa." she said calmly.
Sansa Stark didn't know her name, but she recognized her.
"I work with the grand maester, my name is Eleanor."
"It's all right Shae." Said Sansa.
The maid let Eleanor pass. She walked to where Sansa was sitting, looked at the wound for a few seconds before opening her medicine bag and retrieving a small bottle.
"It's not deep." Said Shae, the maid.
"That's good." Said Eleanor . She applied a clear substance from the bottle unto a piece of cloth and proceded to clean the small wound.
"My brother said you were attacked by men in the streets. Did these men force themselves on you?" asked Eleanor. It was a question to be asked, even though the girl was clearly scared.
Sansa answered with a faint no…
"That's good news." Said Eleanor, continuing to clean the wound.
"Did you say?" began Sansa "Forgive me, but I thought you said your brother?"
"Yes Milady." Said Eleanor "My brother Sandor Clegane."
"Sansa Stark had an astonished look on her face.
"I did not know he...they had a sister." She said
"Well, now you do." Said Eleanor whilst standing. "An you shall be fine. It's a small cut, I'll heal within a few days."
" If you ever need anything else, you simply have to send for me."
"I will. Thank you…Mi"
"Eleanor. Just Eleanor."
Eleanor, whispered Sansa
As Eleanor left Lady Sansa's chamber, she came across the hand of the King and his squire.
"Ah Miss Eleanor I'm very glad to see you." Said Tyrion Lannister. "I hope Lady Sansa is all right?"
"Absolutely Milord. More fright than anything else."
"I'm glad to hear it though I must admit it was our fault it happened in the first place. Thank the Gods Clegane went back for her."
"Yes." Said Eleanor, yes indeed she thought
She made to leave but the acting Hand of the King spoke again,
"There are some things I will need to discuss with the Grand master and yourself I believe…but best reserved for another time."
"Very well Milord. We will be waiting Milord."