A/N: I've never worked with so little feedback but that's okay really-just wondering if people like where this is going. Please enjoy the next installment!

Chapter Four: The Keep

Clegane Keep is a week ride to the west, undoubtedly out of the way for Gregor's campaign. He would have to move quickly to take the girl and marry her.
Gathering his thoughts he noted Cersei keeping an observant eye on him and he hated her for it. Once Gregor had left the court Sandor was able to calm himself and go back to being still yet her interest continued. Uncomfortably he ignored the whispers that followed guessing it was about his outburst.

She might be pregnant already.

Itching to get out of the room his body tensed inconsolably. His mind wandered to his next move while Joffrey sorted new claims. It felt like an eternity had passed.
"The King is tired, the court is dismissed." The announcement was made after a time. People spread like rats in a kitchen and Joffrey got up from the throne. Sandor walked with him down the hallway with Cersei taking paces behind him.

"Clegane, a word with you." Cersei stopped her step and Sandor turned to face her. Seven hells.
"My Lady." He bowed as the others continued to walk. They were alone.
"Who is this girl that the House of Clegane is so enamored with?" She probed.
"It is just a girl. No one of importance." Sandor downplayed.
Cersei stared at him, testing him. Sandor held his gaze not allowing her to intimidate him.
"I think we can agree that is not true. Your shouting match with your brother made that very clear."
Sandor sighed. "I...enjoy her presence."
"Have you taken her honor?"
"No."
Cersei walked a circle around him before settling near an open window. Leaning on the sill he turned to her skeptically.
"Clegane Keep is a stronghold that was given too freely to your family. I don't mean that as an offense, but it's central location and size make it a formable piece of land."
Sandor saw her golden hair sail from a strong gust of wind. "I want it for my own purposes. Lets us be plain with each other: you hold no love for Ser Gregor and the idea of his bastards inheriting such a valuable property is a sin. If you agree to help me obtain the Keep the woman can be yours, with my overhead I will make you wealthy and comfortable, and I can guarantee your brother will move on never crossing your path again.
"You would have him killed?" Sandor rasped.
"No, he is an honored knight and a dear ally to our family. It would be a disgusting act to slay him. But with him campaigning in the North I can convince my father to leave him new land. Or he'll die by war. You are second in line for the Keep so you must agree to this...to outright demand it would be...dishonorable."
Sandor knew what she said was truth. He hadn't visited the keep since he had left at twelve and it had never felt like it was his. He doubted that he would want it even if Gregor was killed and or had an heir. Too many haunting memories.
. "What do you propose?"
"Take the girl into your bed before the wedding, after Gregor signs his land over to me. Make it public, make it a scandal. She would have no honor and Gregor would abandon his bastard pregnancy not knowing if it were yours but leave the contract binding. The timing of the campaign would have launched preventing another marriage and he would have no grounds to take back the land he signed over to me. I would console him by giving him a bigger piece of land."
"He could take another wife just as quickly."
"The contract will name the girl specifically otherwise the Keep is mine. I would obtain the Keep by default before the marriage, he would not be able to give his inheritance to the servant girls babe, and you would have her."
"Why don't you just deny him the right to marry her now?"
"He would not have reason enough to sign over his lands to me with the pregnancy of his servant bride denied. It needs to look coincidental."
Thinking it over he realized it was brilliantly planned. Gregor was a lot if things, but he knew he wouldn't be patient enough to look at the contract's loophole. Gods save me if I were ever in Cersei's way.
"I would be risking my life by sleeping with his bride. He would come after me."
"With great risk comes great reward." Cersei purred.
"He could come after you for cheating him out of the Keep. After he's realized what he signed over."
"He would be his own undoing. Gregor would never cross my father, Tywin will agree to soothe his favorite knight with more wealth for the error. A mere trifle."
"Let me know when I should take her." He agreed. Seeing his brother disgraced out of his own inheritance was a fitting punishment for all of his atrocities. Even though he knew it ultimately benefitted Cersei, she had rightly guessed what was more important to him. Taking down Gregor would be sweeter than any victory he'd experienced and to have the girl as simultaneously gave him pleasure.
Cersei nodded at him satiated and walked away leaving him to his thoughts in the great hall.
I would have to rape her. He shifted uncomfortably. For her own protection. I could show her I value her and hope she falls in love with me. He clenched his fist. He was not a romantic. Seven hells…I need a plan. He would have to do a lot of lying.

"M'lord? Is there something you need?" The dark haired servant studied the Hound before putting a basin of water down in the kitchen.

"Has Ser Gregor let the girl go?" He asked simply.

"I don't know- do I look like I work for her?" She put her nose up in disgust offended.

"You could work for me." He flipped a gold coin towards the servant. She looked around her then picked it up slowly dropping it into her shirt. Now I know your language.

"Ser Gregor is training right now. He didn't have her spend the night with him last night; she came back to the servant's quarters. She looked pretty upset but I figured that it had something to do with Gregor."

"Did she say anything about leaving this place?" The Hound pushed another gold coin on the table.

"No. She didn't say anything."

"I want you to convince her to be in the room across from the library at dawn tonight."

She didn't say anything and starred at him blankly.

For fucks sake. Sandor pulled out two more gold coins and flung them on the ground impatiently. She smiled and picked them up.

"I will tell her a secret admirer is waiting for her." She grinned. "She always was romantic."

"Fine. Whatever you need to do." The Hound growled. He was sure she would be disappointed.

"Can't be helped." Sandor grimaced in a small mirror looking at himself. The sun slowly descending gave him a sense of dread that he couldn't shake. It's for her benefit. He kept saying all day. Cleaning himself up took more effort than he wanted. He opted to switch his armor to the king's guard uniform. It was less dented and smelly, and the swooshes in the armor made him look fancier.

"Seven hells, like dressing up a pig." Disappointed he brushed his hair to the side in its usual style. If he was one of those damn pretty boys like Ser Loras he wondered if she would be in love with him.

Raping her would be hard. He badly wanted to believe that he could get her to sleep with him on her own free will before Cersei's go-ahead but he was a realist. I'll be gentler than Gregor, at least.

He took one last look and convinced himself this was the best he could do. Making his way to the room across the library he could smell the parchment and ink. His heart began to beat faster wondering if he could pull this off.

He peered around the door and saw she was early. Gregor liked things rough and he could see she was fairly beaten up. Shit.

Strolling through the doorway he stopped a yard in front of her so she could drink up his presence. She wore her light chiffon dress that was low in the front and fell to the floor. Turning around she saw him and held very still. She was not expecting him.

She struggled to say something but thought better of it. Backing up into the rolling desk he could see her panic.

"I'm not going to hurt you, girl." He said in the most soothing voice he could muster. He put up a comforting hand to show that he wouldn't go near her unless she wanted him to.

"Pl-please don't take me back to him-"

"I came to see if I could help you-not give you back to that monster." He remarked coldly. "I have no love for him or what he does."

He saw her visibly relax. Come on, sweetheart. He slowly walked towards her and she exhaled loudly.

"Look-what he did…to my face." She turned her head to show him a better look at her black eye. He cleared the space between them and towered over her small frame. Sitting on the desk she looked up at him.

"I've seen worse, little flower." He took it as an invite to touch her brow with his hand. Holding her chin he observed the other side. "Are you taking care of that cut?"

"Yes." She breathed.

"Where else do you hurt?" He put down his hands and stepped back. Not too much, not too quickly. She hesitated and he could see she needed more convincing.

"I'm a warrior, girl. I know how to take care of nasty bruises and cuts and I've seen my fair share of women parts." He nodded at her slowly.

"My side." She said touching underneath her left breast. He remembered seeing it from the washing court.

"Let me see it." He said authoritatively. She looked down at her body and carefully pulled off the top of her dress. Instead of wearing a corset she was wrapped in a bandage. Slowly he reached out to her and she came closer to him. He found the beginning of the bandage and passed it behind her back unraveling it until skin showed. Her breasts were full and untouched but underneath the one was the massive bruise he had seen before. He grimaced.

"You'll live. It will be purple for a while then turn yellow, then fully heal itself." He put one hand very carefully on her middle underneath her breasts. He saw this had immediately hardened her nipples and caused her to get goosebumps. "Anywhere else?" He pretended not to notice. A warm rush traveled down his stomach between his legs as he felt his member throb.

"My leg." She said pulling up the sheer skirt she laid back on the desk. His hand got off her middle and traveled up her thigh until he reached another bandage. Reading her expression he could see she was totally naive to what he was doing. Rubbing her inner thigh with his thumb he didn't undo the bandage.

"I'm sorry about what he did to you." He assured her. It was sincere, and it made him feel like shit about what he was going to do. It was too easy, getting her to trust him. She was desperate and it was probably the only comforting words she's heard since Gregor had taken her.

"Thank you m'lord." She whispered.

In a quick moment Sandor put his hand on her clavicle gently and pushed his fingers down her front. He felt up her breast and traveled down her middle. She tensed up getting upset.

"I'm just touching you." He explained. He needed to see what her boundaries were towards him. He put his other hand on her side and stroked her all the way down to her thigh. Kissing her would be too much. But he wanted it badly. His cock felt like it could cut steel and it was pulsing so hard he thought he'd explode in his pants, damn him. He tried to control his thoughts but her half naked form was nearly too much to bear.

She's in front of you. You'll be much sweeter to her than Gregor. She kissed you once, she might like having sex with you.

He pushed them away knowing that to take her here and now would fuck up the plan. Her mouth opened questionably as her eyebrows furrowed trying to understand what he was doing exactly. Sandor groaned internally.

Fuck it.

His mouth connected with hers and he pushed his tongue past her lips. He did it gently as to not to startle her and didn't force her to stay into it. He put his hand on her heart and felt it pulsating quickly against his palm. He wouldn't take her today.

I'll give her a taste.

He disconnected the kiss and tried to quickly remember the love poems he had heard. "You're so pretty." Was all he could pathetically think of.

As confused as she looked she found her voice. "Thank you."

He felt like he had obtained a victory. She didn't turn away in disgust. Maybe I can do a little more. "I wont hurt you, little flower. I can protect you." He put his hands on her waist not to show he was grabbing her sexually or forcibly.

I could turn her over and pummel my member in her until I leak brains. He clenched his teeth trying to grab a hold of himself. Think romantic. He sullenly suppressed his urges.

"You can?" She questioned him hopefully. She put her hands on his chest armor giving him that pleading look of desperation.

Gods save me I'm going to rape her now.

"I have to leave." He urgently took her hands into his. "Before anyone finds us together." He lied.

"You're a good person, M'lord. I'd be grateful for any help you give me." Her panic had turned into a sort of adoration.

"Tell no one of our meeting." He left her near the desk taking quick steps. He ran up the stairs and found a servant girl making a bed near the hall.

"YOU!" He boomed at her. She turned around.

"Y-yes my lord?" She dropped the sheet.

"Will you have sex with me for money?" He demanded.

"Oh-" She smiled as she sized him up.

He closed the door and pushed her to the bed lifting her skirts. Turning her over she began to giggle.

"Don't say a damn word or I'll break your face." His hardened cock found her pussy and he drove it into her the aching between his legs finally being released. He imagined that she was the servant girl begging with him to take her with her big pleading eyes. He imagined she found him sexy and wanted nothing more than to allow him to cum inside her. His felt himself climaxing when he remembered touching her breasts and thighs and knowing he would be able to feel them again. Knowing that he was going to have sex with her soon.

He threw his head back and groaned feeling himself release the tension. His seed shot out and sweat poured down his temple making his head pound. Suddenly tired, he wiped himself up and put his cock away.

"Wow!" The girl turned over. He threw a couple coins on the bedspread.

"Tell anyone that we had relations I'll deny it. Then I'll kill you." He warned opening the door.

"Not a word to a soul!" The servant called after him cheerfully.

A/N: Scandal! Scandal next chapter! The Hound has won her trust but does he have her love? How pissed off and screwed up will Gregor be when he gets tricked? Will he go after anyone? Will Sandor do the right thing? TUNE IN!