Hello everyone and I am so very sorry that this update is so late. I was taken on a surprise holiday which meant no internet connection so I haven't been able to post a new chapter. I hope everyone's summer is going well and that you enjoy Chapter Three!

Slightlynerdy.

Wolves and Hounds.

Chapter Three.

Your letter came as a surprise, a pleasant and long awaited surprise. A child! A son or daughter. You have improved my standing with the Tyrells with this news. Betrothal plans will be drawn up, I will have their support because of this and I hope that having the strength of Highgarden behind me will help me to turn the tide. I have a chance at winning this war now. All because of you and our child. I'm going to be a father… I will do everything in my power to ensure that you are out of King's Landing as soon as possible. I want to be there at the birth of our child, I want to help you through your pregnancy, I do not want you to have to go through this on your own.

I will make the arrangements.

I love you.

Renly.

Tarynn screwed the letter up into a ball and threw it across the room. It bounced off a wall before settling down on the floor. Leaning against her desk she raised a hand to her forehead, raking her fingers through her hair. Renly had ignored everything she had said in her last letter to him, everything except from the fact that she was pregnant but even so he had disregarded what she had said in relation to their… her… child's betrothal. Slamming her hand down on her desk, she felt that the situation was impossible, if she was with Renly perhaps it would have been easier to sway him. Or at least help him reach an alternative plan. Letters and words can only go so far.

She went to her windows, brushing the gossamer curtains aside she leant against the window sill, gazing at the azure sea. Already a future was being planned out for her child and he or she wasn't even born yet. She had wanted to give her son or daughter the freedom that she had craved for, the ability to make their own decisions and do what they see fit, but Renly has been able to crush that almost immediately.

The past month had gone quickly. Her pregnancy was now much more obvious as she was coming up to 6 months gone. A part of her still resented becoming a mother. Bringing a child into the world, go through the pains of bearing and birthing a child into this world had never been something that she had aspired to. A fragment of her wished that she had been more vigilant in taking her medicines but another was glad, ecstatically happy, that she was going to experience everything that her mother used to tell her about. That she was going to be able to look at her own child nestled in her arms, watch he or she grow up, guide them along the right path… Still she had never wanted this. Any of it. She never wanted marriage, or romance, or children. She had been content with her books, learning everything that the world had to offer.

Her eyes fell on the city, on the makeshift houses, the harbour, the people in the streets calling out their wares. It had been a long time since she had left the Red Keep. Within an instant she had made up her mind. Screw what people thought, she was going to do something that she wanted to do. Going to the door she opened it, as per usual her two guards stood outside, they straightened to attention when they saw her.

"Find one of my maidservants, Tilana or Bronte, it does not matter. Tell them that I wish to have an outing to the city. I cannot ride so arrange a carriage, or a box of some sort."

One of her guards nodded and she withdrew back into her quarters. Gathering up her satchel she stuffed the Valyrian book and her parchment and quill into it. Leaving that on her bed she turned to her wardrobe. Opening it she carefully lowered herself onto the floor and pulled out a wooden box, intricately carved with flowers and leaves, a baying wolf was inscribed on the lid. She rummaged through wardrobe until she felt the loose piece of wood lifting it she grasped hold of the key slotted inside. She turned the lock on the box with said key revealing several bags of gold.

When her father had been killed all of the gold that he had bought with him had been bequeathed to both her and Sansa. The crown had attempted to seize most of it but Tarynn had put up a fight. Citing the fact that her father's killing had been unjustified, that they had wrongly led her father to believe that he was going to live, and that if they attempted to take even a copper piece of her father's wealth then they would have to explain that to Robb causing more tension and more cause for war between the north and the south.

Luckily Littlefinger had sided with her, telling the queen that trying to claim Lord Stark's earthly possessions would not be worth the hassle. And so Tarynn was able to take control of her father's accounts with the Iron Banks. Said correspondences were in this box under lock and key and she was not surprised when she had went through them to find that everything was meticulous and in well order. Eddard Stark had no debts under his name and Tarynn was hoping to keep it that way. She took a small pouch of gold before locking everything back up and hiding the key away again. Standing, she went to her satchel and slipped the pouch into it.

"Tarynn… Your guards tell me that you wish to go into the city today."

She didn't turn to look at her closest friend she just continued with closing her bag, "That's correct Tilly. I am fed up of being cooped up inside this Keep. I want to go out, mingle with the people, and see their wares. No longer do I wish to hide in the shadows… Of course I will need a retinue. How many guards do you think I should take?"

She looked up at Tilana, the Myrish maid had her arms folded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Twenty at least… Tarynn I do not think this is a good idea… Not in your condition."

"Tilana I am pregnant. Not useless. As long as I am careful I am sure I have nothing to fear from the people of King's Landing."

Tilana took her arm, "They cheered for your father's execution. They praised the king. They clapped and danced as the Stark name was marred…"

"Yes. But now they cheer for Joffrey and the last time I looked I had the same surname as him… I am his aunt. The people no longer look on me as a Stark but rather as Renly's generous wife…"

"I just feel…"

Tarynn snapped, "Save your breath Tilana for it is falling on deaf ears. I will not be dictated to on what I can and cannot do. If I wish to journey into the city then I will do so off of my own back. Yes, I am pregnant, but that does not mean my life has ended or that I should put my wants aside. I refuse to allow that to happen."

Tilly's eyes grew wide, ducking her head she responded meekly, "Yes my lady."

Tarynn sighed, "Tilly I'm…" She bit her lip and looked away, "Where is my sister? I will take her with me, she needs a new dress anyway this will be the perfect opportunity to get it fitted."

"With the King my Lady… I will see to it that everything you need is organised and that a box will be sorted out."

"Thank you."

Tilana closed the door softly on her way out and Tarynn took a deep breath, she shouldn't have snapped at Tilly but at the same time she couldn't bring herself to apologise for it, she was frustrated with people telling her what she can and cannot do, first Sandor, then Renly and now Tilana. She exhaled and tapped her satchel lightly before leaving it where it was and heading for the door. Now she needed to face the monster that was the King of the Seven Kingdoms.

The sun streamed down onto her face as she walked with purpose towards the courtyard which overlooked the sea. This was Joffrey's favourite haunt. Often he was found sitting with various advisors, her sister, his own brother and sister or mother watching some form of ghastly entertainment which often ended with broken limbs and gruesome injuries. She hated the boy, she was not afraid to admit it, and if she anyone was to ask her for her opinion of the King she would not hesitate to say it. However no-one asked her anything. She was still deemed part of the 'traitorous' Stark family by the nobles who frequented the court despite the fact that she no longer bared their name. Although she wouldn't have it any other way as she didn't want Sansa to have to go through it alone.

When she emerged into the sandstone courtyard she was greeted by the sight of Sandor sparring with another man clad in steel grey armour. Joffrey yelled violent words at the duelling men encouraging the hacking off of arms and the decapitation of heads. She ignored the fact that the father of her child didn't think twice about bashing some guard's head into a bloody pulp and made her presence known to Joffrey.

She curtseyed before him acutely aware that several members of his court, including her own sister, was watching her. "Your grace."

Joffrey straightened up, his golden crown however remained at an angle, his green eyes betrayed nothing but contempt, "Ah, Aunt Tarynn, this certainly is a surprise. Have you come to cheer my dog to victory?" He motioned to where Sandor was bashing the hilt of his sword against his opponents helmed head, sweat poured from him but he was too enraptured in his bloodlust to see Tarynn staring wide eyed at him. Instinctively Tarynn's hands went to her baby bump. "I have trained him well… If anyone goes against me they go against the Hound too…" He laughed when Sandor swung his sword down at the man's arm, slicing it off, blood spurted from the hole where the arm used to join the shoulder. "That's what your brother has to look forward to."

The man began screaming, begging for mercy, but Sandor gave none. "Fuck mercy, embrace death, coward." With a single thrust the man's screaming stopped abruptly. Sandor pulled his sword from the man's chest before heading towards where Joffrey was sitting. It was only then did he notice Tarynn standing there, her expression shocked, her hands resting protectively on her stomach. He glanced at her briefly before dropping to his knees in front of Joffrey.

"Well done Dog. Perhaps you'll get a bone at dinner." The boy king laughed, as did the rest of his court, even Sansa forced a laugh. Tarynn however remained silent and Joffrey noticed this, "What is it Aunt? Do you not find my jokes funny?" His green eyes narrowed.

She smiled politely, "I am sorry my King. My mind was elsewhere."

"Well your mind should be concentrating on me whenever you are in my presence. Is that clear?"

"Of course your grace, please accept my apology." Making the boy angry would make him less inclined to give her what she wanted and that was her sister.

Joffrey waved his hand dismissively, "Whatever. I know what women get like when they are with child. Useless and inattentive." She glanced away, biting her lip as she struggled to keep from retorting. When she returned her gaze to Joffrey she spoke in a calm and clear voice.

"Actually, my gracious king, I came here to request the company of my sister. You see I need her advice on a number of things and she has a dress fitting to attend to."

Joffrey glanced sharply at Sansa, "You never told me that you had plans today."

Sansa's eyes widened with fear, she looked to Tarynn for reassurance, her voice shaky as she attempted to lie to the King. "I… I completely forgot my king… But now my sister has reminded me I remember that I was needed at a dress fitting today."

Joffrey narrowed his eyes, "Where is your brain? Is It filled with straw? You should use it more often… Actually don't use it. Women shouldn't be smart," He looked at Tarynn when he said he last remark.

"I assure you that it was my fault your Grace, I told Sansa about it a number of weeks ago but neglected to remind her, but no ill has happened."

"Ill has happened, I was planning on taking my Lady for a walk around the castle grounds, now I can't do that because she has a petty dress fitting."

Sansa's voice was small, "You want me to be beautiful, don't you? A new dress would cheer me up a lot."

"Fine. Anything to stop you from being a moping, whiny bitch."

Sansa visibly flinched and Tarynn struggled to keep her temper under control. She masked it by smiling sweetly at the king, "Thank you your Grace. It is very generous of you to look over my forgetfulness and grant my sister leave of your presence. I am very grateful."

"Whatever… Go." He waved his hand, dismissing them both.

Sansa got up quickly, her blue eyes shining with excitement and happiness at the fact that she could escape Joffrey and his violent and cruel tendencies for a little while. She skipped down the steps towards Tarynn and clutching Tarynn's arm, practically dragged her away from the monster that she was currently betrothed to.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. "Sansa's voice was barely louder than a whisper, "He had been planning on showing me father's head again and boasting about how he is going to do that to Robb. It is his favourite thing to torment me with."

Tarynn squeezed Sansa's forearm assuredly, looking up she saw Tyrion heading in their direction and a sudden idea sprang to the forefront of her mind. "Well he shan't be doing that any longer."

"Good morning. Lady Baratheon, "The dwarf inclined his head in acknowledgement of Tarynn, "Lady Sansa. A fine day is it not? I had forgotten how much I missed the warmth of the east." He smiled widely.

"I am of an opposite mind to you Lord Tyrion, I miss the cool air of the north." Tarynn felt Sansa shrink into her side, "But please, allow me to step past the small talk about the weather, I have a request. Well, in fact, we both have a request."

Tyrion's mismatched eyes skipped between the two sisters, "I will hear what you have to say."

Even if you hadn't granted me your permission to speak I would still have spoken.

"I want my father's, and those who dies valiantly beside him, head taken off of the walls on the keep. I also wish to prepare my father's bones so that he can return home and be laid to rest within the family crypt."

She had expected resistance, for Tyrion to fob her off because he didn't want to anger the king, but she received quite the contrary. "Your proposal is sound. I will have men take the heads down and prepared for burial." A glimmer of empathy flashed through the dwarf's eyes, "I know how difficult it must be for you to see your father's head disgraced like that," He glanced at Sansa, "For both of you. And I wish to apologise on my nephew's behalf." He reached for Tarynn's hand, his thumb lightly tracing over her knuckles, most people would have shrank from his touch but Tarynn stood strong, she did not judge Tyrion over his physical defects. She knew that he was stronger than many of the full bodied men she had come across, "I wish for no more pain on either of you."

She did not know how to respond to his answer, instead she stood there mutely for a fraction of time. Finally her mouth caught up with her brain, "Thank you Lord Tyrion, I will be sure to mention to my brother and my husband your show of good faith, it is greatly appreciated."

Tyrion seemed to try and make himself look bigger than he actually was. "I am not doing this for your brother or for Renly. I am doing it for you." His mismatched eyes seemed like they were trying to bore into her very mind.

She inclined her head, "Thank you." And grabbing Sansa's hand hurried out of the walkway and away from the Hand of the King's strange eyes

When they were out of earshot of Tyrion and his guards Sansa softly thanked Tarynn for asking for their father's head to be taken down from off the Keep's wall, "It was very brave of you."

"I am not afraid of the people of this city. I am not afraid of Joffrey, of Cersei and I am most definitely not afraid of Tyrion."

"I am…" Sansa sighed, "I don't think I'll ever stop being scared of people… Or anything really."

"You will one day. But until that day... No one is going to harm you while you have me." She smiled at her little sister, about to speak more words of reassurance when she was interrupted.

"Lady Baratheon… Lady Baratheon!" Tarynn whirled round on the spot only to see Bronte running towards her with her skirts hitched up, in her hand was a piece of paper. "I have a note for you."

The young maid thrust the parchment into Tarynn's outstretched hand, delicately, Tarynn unfolded it and read its contents with her brow furrowed.

I AM WAITING.

She studied the handwriting. It did look like Sandor's but somewhat neater than usual. "Take my sister to her quarters, get her ready for visiting the city, she needs a dress more suitable for walking around in then that monstrosity."

Sansa began to protest, "I think it's one of the nicer dresses that…"

Tarynn glanced briefly at the bright gold and red dress with silver embellishments, ruffles and lace, "Sometimes simplicity is prettier that flamboyancy. Trust me San. I do not want you to be used as Cersei's doll as well as being Joffrey's plaything."

Sansa's shoulders sagged, "I miss the dresses that mother used to make."

She touched Sansa's auburn hair lightly before kissing her gently on the forehead, "I do too. Now go. Find something lightweight and easy to move in."

"This way my Lady. I shall help you find something suitable to wear." Bronte guided Sansa in the direction of her quarters, leaving Tarynn to make her way to the Godswood. Surely that was where Sandor was waiting, it was where the majority of their clandestine meetings took place these days.

Tarynn walked briskly, not wanting to lose a moment to idleness, every so often she would softly touch her rapidly expanding bump as if to make sure that it was still there and she had not just dreamt up her entire pregnancy. The trees creaked gently in the soft wind. The air became noticeably stuffier the further she went towards the centre of the Godswood. It was going to be a hot day indeed.

As she emerged from the emerald green leaves, her breath caught up in her throat in surprise, somehow she managed to splutter out a few words. "What are you…"

Littlefinger span round quickly to face her, a grin plastered over his face, his eyes glinting in the diffused sunlight. "Expecting someone else? At least now you have confirmed my suspicions."

She began backing away into the foliage, her voice shaky, "I assure you I have no idea what you are talking about, I merely came here to ask the Gods for safe passage through the city."

Petyr tutted before stroking his beard, "I thought we had both surpassed lying to one another… Don't panic Lady Baratheon, your secret is safe with me, as is the knowledge of your child's true parentage." His gaze dropped to her pregnancy bump and she covered it quickly with her hands, as if she was shielding her unborn child from his view.

"Your skills of detection are not that impressive. The whole city knows of the father of my child. He is the Lord of Storm End." She laughed, hoping to diffuse the situation, "I am glad that you are catching up to that fact Littlefinger."

His eyes narrowed, glinting, "You can lie to the world if you like Lady Baratheon, but I assure you, I have mastered the art of lying and so you cannot lie to me." He scratched the back of his gloved hand, "But that is not why I have asked you here... I came here to offer you a way out. An escape if you will."

She gingerly took a step forward, intrigued, her blue eyes sceptical, "Why should I believe a single word that comes out of your mouth? You have proven nothing of your claimed reliability."

Petyr smiled, his voice thick, "Yes but my hands have been tied." He moved closer to her, "You look like your mother more and more each day," He gazed deeply into her eyes, "You have her eyes."

She tore her gaze away from his penetrating one, "Make this quick Baelish. I have no time for your games."

He grinned slyly before turning and walking away from her, "I have a plan, a way to make both you and your sister free of Joffrey's grasp, we can all see that he will become an unstable and tyrannical King… I am going to start making waves to stop that from happening."

"What are you saying Littlefinger?"

"All I am saying," His eyes seemed to glow with mirth in the light, "Is that you should rest assured that your problems, problem, is slowly going to be dealt with."

He was being purposely cryptic and she didn't have time to implore him with questions in order to find out what he was planning on doing. "Is that all?"

His facial expression changed to something akin to hurt, "I thought you would be glad or reassured that all you problems shall be wiped away."

She smiled sweetly, "I will not be reassured, nor glad, until I see some results. I know well enough that I should not trust anyone within this wretched city. Least of all you." She turned on her heel, and as quickly as she could, left the Godswood and Littlefinger behind.

"Tilana said that we will be riding in the box with an entourage."

Tarynn bundled her sister down the stairs towards the main courtyard where their mode of transport was waiting.

"That's correct. I can't exactly ride in my condition. Can I?" When they emerged into the bright sunlight about twenty faces turned to look at them. She went to Tilly, "Everything has been prepared I assume?"

Tilana nodded, "Twenty guards, Gold Cloaks, will accompany you into the city. I will also be joining you just in case there are any complications or you run into trouble." Her gaze dropped to Tarynn's growing stomach, "Are you ready to depart?"

"Yes. I believe so." Her eyes swept across the courtyard, when she caught the sight of something, someone, lurking in the shadows. "Actually... Help my sister into the box and wait for me. I have just one small thing I need to do before we leave."

"As you wish." Tilana motioned for Sansa to get into the left hand side of the box as Tarynn walked towards the shadowy figure. She nodded at the guards who were settling into formation as she passed but they were all to engrossed and busy with listening to their Captain who was giving out orders so she went by largely undetected.

When she reached him she didn't say a word, his grey eyes studied her face, his scraggly hair was in a desperate need of a wash and most of it was matted to his forehead because of sweat. He looked, to put it bluntly, a mess. "I'm about to leave for the city and the markets… What is it?"

"I hadn't expected you to see… You shouldn't have been there this morning."

She glanced briefly over her shoulder, cautious of someone with prying eyes spotting them, "You mean when you executed that man even though he had begged for mercy?"

"I'm a killer Tarynn. There is no point in me denying it. I kill people, men, women… Children for a living. It is what I do, it is what I am good at but despite that, I did not want the mother of my child, the woman that I love, witnessing what I have been trained to do."

"So you want me to tell you, to send you a secret message whenever I am planning on leaving my rooms so that you can make sure that you are not brutally killing a man in front of me." She felt her temper spark, "Why is it that everyone is trying to tell me what to do. I am pregnant not fucking dying or incapable of making rational decisions. You are not my husband. You cannot dictate to me in any way, shape, or form." She exhaled, her hands going to her stomach. "Fuck."

Sandor's hands were on her shoulders at once, "What is it? What's wrong? Is the baby…?"

She looked up, tears welling up in her eyes, "The baby is fine." She took his hand and gently placed it on her stomach, Sandor smiled his strange half smile, "He or she is just telling us that they don't like it when we argue." She could feel their baby's frantic kicks beneath her fingertips.

"A little fighter. Takes after their father."

"It's the first time I have felt anything..." She winced as their baby gave a final kick before settling back down, "Well we know now that he or she has your strength."

He grinned lopsidedly before kissing her gently on the forehead, "Be careful whilst your in the city. I don't want to have to rescue you again."

She laughed and kissed his cheek, "You know you just love rescuing me."

She turned away, glancing back over her shoulder at him, a wicked light in her eyes before moving to the guards and her box. Sandor sighed, his eyes not leaving her figure.

"I always will."