Chapter 3.

Sansa

Sansa picked at her food, but was not really eating. What did the hound mean with her showing her bruises to him? It was not like he was able to remove them? Sansa nervously stared at the hound a few times, unsure of her situation.

'What is it?' he then suddenly asked, his voice gruff. Sansa swallowed and quickly adverted her eyes.

'Nothing,' she replied, her eyes now glued to her plate. A sigh was heard.

'I already told you I don't want your lies girl. What is it?'

Sansa slowly met his burning gaze.

'I'm just not hungry is all,' she tried. She could instantly tell he was not buying it.

'Well in that case, follow me then.' He stood from his chair and walked from the table towards the hall. Sansa swallowed and slowly followed him. He took the stairs, his long legs way faster than Sansa's. He waited by the first door they passed, watching her intently. When she stood before him he opened the door and let her walk past him before he closed the door.

'Are you still in pain?' he asked her. He came right down to business, scaring Sansa with his staring eyes. She let her eyes linger on his burns for a seconds too long, angering him.

'I asked you a question girl. I expect an answer today,' he mocked her. She crossed her arms before her chest, holding herself.

'A little.' He let his eyes roam over her whole body, like he was unsure how bad her wounds and bruises were.

'I need to see the wounds that are still hurting you,' he then said. He sounded almost caring and gentle, like he took the fact she was only 16 in consideration.

'It's fine, that's really not necessary,' Sansa tried. The hound's stare intensified.

'I paid for you, remember?' he told her. It was like ice running down her veins. Sansa felt nauseas all over again. She felt her eyes water and closed her eyes when she thought his next move would be to slap her like Joffrey always did when she angered him. The blow never came.

'I will never lay a hand on you. Not for causing you pain. Open your eyes and look at me.' Sansa slowly complied, feeling tears fall. His face said it all. Disappointment, anger, pain.

'I will not force you. Not like this. I will sent Martha in, so she can observe your wounds.' With those words he left. Sansa stood perplexed. Was he angry with her now? What did he expect from a girl like her anyway. She had lost her trust in men 6 months ago when she was forced to live with the Lannister's.

After Martha had gently unclothed Sansa and had observed her wounds, the old lady sighed in relief.

'Nothing broking, only bruises and scratches. Will you let me disinfect them?' she asked kindly. Sansa, feeling rather awkward in her underwear, nodded. Martha smiled at her and gently cleaned her cuts. Right after she helped the girl dress again and then left her alone to meet the hound. Sansa felt ashamed and not sure what to do. She really did not felt like meeting the hound right after this and left to go to her room. She let herself fall on the bed and cried freely now that she was alone. Her tears were soft, but seemed to fall endlessly.

A knock on the door woke Sansa, and then remembered her she had fallen asleep. She quickly sat up straight looking at the door. Another knock made her cringe.

'Young lady, can I come in?' It was the voice of one of the men she had seen the other day. She rubbed her eyes and then answered with a small yes.

The man who walked in was slender, but muscular. He had a friendly face, handsome even.

'My name is Bronn, but you already saw me yesterday, did you not,' he said, his voice light with amusement. Sansa nodded.

'I was sent to see if you are feeling well. Are you?' he then went on, walking even further into her room.

'Yes, thank you,' Sansa said softly. Bronn walked towards her window, taking a peek outside.

'It is a beautiful day, don't you want to take a little stroll in the garden?' he asked her. Sansa was dumbfounded. Why would he want her to do that?

'I – I am not allowed in the garden- by myself that is,' she replied. Bronn watched her, his lips forming a grin in amusement.

'Why would you want to go by yourself? You can go with me, since Jorah left with Sandor.' That news made Sansa look up. He had left?

'What do you say? I bet you haven't been outside much lately?' Bronn asked her. Sansa swallowed and watched the man in her room. He seemed nice. Funny even.

'Okay.'

She didn't thought it would make her feel good, but it did. She enjoyed her walk in the sun and even listened to Bronn's advice to just lay in the grass and let her face warm in the sun. It felt pretty good. Bronn whistled a song she had not heard before, it seemed right just like this.

'I think your friend will be here today. That is good news, right?' Bronn tried to keep her talking and active.

'Yes, I hope she will,' Sansa answered, thinking about her friend that was still in that horrible house. It remembered Sansa of why she was here. Would Bronn answer her is she asked about Sandor's motives? or maybe he didn't even know. 'Why did you rescue me yesterday?' Sansa asked. She watched Bronn for a second, just until he sat down beside her.

'I work for Sandor Sansa, he ordered me to.' It was clear he would not tell her more about that subject, but it did not keep him from talking at all. He asked her about her hobbies and school. Sansa did not like the idea that everything she told Bronn could be mentioned to Sandor, but Bronn was persistent.

'Uhm I used to sing, I even took classes.' Bronn nodded in approval.

'What kind of songs?' Sansa swallowed.

'A lot of different songs really.' He nodded, understanding her picking her words.

'And school, you are 16 am I right?' he asked her. Sansa nodded.

'Almost 17, I finished high school last year. For now I don't attend anything.' Bronn quickly backfired.

'But you would want too?' Sansa shrugged her shoulders. It did not matter, she was not free to do anything anymore.

'You should look into it, find something you like.' The conversation ended then, when Jorah and Sandor came into the garden.

'Well hello there, any luck already?' Bronn asked. Sansa sat up and watched the two men approach. Jorah shook his head, but the hound did not even flinch.

'Bronn, tonight you will go with Jorah. The plan has not worked like I needed it too. Midnight it is.' The hounds words were harsh, short. His eyes lingered on Sansa for a moment, before he turned and walked inside.

Sandor

He was in the house before he even knew it. His blood bowled thinking about the Lannister boy. Joffrey had made a deal with the hound about the girls, but seemed to enjoy keeping Sandor on edge. It was why he had ordered Jorah and Bronn to just get Sansa from the mansion. But it meant it was harder now to get the order girl out. Still he was dead serious about rescuing both girls from the clutches of the Lannister monster.

'Some tea, sir?' Martha asked when he walked into the kitchen. He nodded and walked into the living room, taking a seat on the couch.

His mind lingered off to this morning when the little bird didn't want him to see her. He had been angry when he thought her just being difficult. Only then he remembered what she had been going through the last 6 months. He sighed. He would have to have patience. A lot of it. The girl would have panic written all over her face when she was alone with him in a room. She needed some time to get used to him.

'Here you go,'' Martha said, placing the tea in front of him on the table. He nodded.

'Did she eat anything? Or tell you anything at all?' he asked her. Martha slowly shook her head.

'I think she fell asleep. She and Bronn have been outside for about half an hour now.' Sandor nodded. His little bird, so damaged, so broken. What would her father have said when he had known this?

Martha left him with his thoughts paining him. He had told the girl he bought her because of a promise. It had been no lie, but more complicated than just a promise. He had known Eddard Stark, but they had never been good friends. They had shared some days on jobs in between. It was from those jobs Sandor knew about Sansa. She had always caught his eye and he did not like the idea of Eddard to engage his daughter with the eldest Lannister boy. He hated the Lannister's. With a passion. Right after the accident the papers had been signed and Sansa and Jeane had to move in with the family, much to Sandor's distaste. He had always known there was something wrong with the boy and he was proven right, hearing from Bronn and Jorah how the girls were treated.

He moved a little backwards, taking his tea in hand. He knew he was no match for the little bird either. He would not admit he felt a lot of things when she walked in the room. But he would never hurt her. The promise he had told her about, was one of his own. He promised himself she would be able to reach the age of 18, unbruised and unbeaten. He would even let her study, get herself together. He wanted to do something right in his life. She was his chance. A very pretty chance.

Oke short chapter, but needed. What do you think? So Sandor does have feelings for Sansa… to be continued!