Hello...thekidisnotyourson aka MegSnow here. This is just a little friendly warning. This chapter contains a small touch of intimacy between two men. If that sort of thing makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to scroll down to the bottom of this page. I've included short summary for this chapter. Thank you...and I hope that you all had a fantastic holiday! I feel that I should add that I am most likely going to stick with Lairion. I have always felt odd about writing anything with Ms. Stark.

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Early the next morning Eli woke to the sound of a horn blowing in the distance. He turned to his left, and pressed his lips gently on a pale, bare shoulder. "Lee, it is time to rise. They have finished building the pyre." Eli was rewarded with a low growl for an answer.

"I have not the stomach for it." Lee said, sitting up in the small bed as Eli moved his white hair from his face. "Come, I need you with me." Eli pleaded, "I cannot face the cremation of my birth-giver alone."

Hearing the plea of his friend and lover moved him. He placed his bare feet on the floor, and stretched out his arms. "I am sorry." he began, "for being so selfish. I simply grow tired of having to burn those who I consider family." Lairion then rose from the bed and began to dress himself in the proper Wildling funeral fashion. Eli did the same, his eyes never leaving the perfectly sculpted frame of Lairion. Together, they exited the tent unashamed of the bond they shared. Their bond was no secret to those of the clan-infact, it was a thing many envied.

Their horses were soon brought to them, and they rode side by side through the light snowfall towards the large wooden pyre. Always together, they bore the body of the woman that had given Eli life up the structure, and placed her gently atop it.

"She was as fine a mother as I could have asked for." Eli said, "I drove her half mad most of my life."

He held a lit torch in his trembling hand and as he and Lee descended the pyre, he did his duty, and set it aflame. Standing some distance from the pyre, Lairion placed his arm about Eli's shoulder and brought him closer to himself. "She was a good, strong woman." Lee commented, as he watched her body being consumed by the flames. "I have to leave." Eli whispered, as he walked from the assembled crowd, towards the seclusion of his tent. Lee followed soon after, and found Eli sitting on the edge of his bed, his face in his hands. "Must I lose everyone I care about?" Eli said, raising his tear-stained face. Lairion knelt before him, and took his hands in his. "No more tears, Eli." he said in his most soothing of voices.

"She would not want you to weep so."

Eli wiped his eyes with the hem of his cloak and did his best to smile. "I'll be alright." he said, wiping his nose. "it is hard. I have nothing...no wife, no children." Lee looked deeply into his brown eyes and smiled, "You have me, old man." he laughed. Eli laughed quietly, and motioned for Lairion to sit beside him. "I will have you only until the day you finally decide to take a wife." Lee's dark eyebrows knitted together as he frowned, "No." he said, "we shall always be as close as we are. No woman will change that." Eli laughed again-he had always enjoyed the pretty words of this strange being. "Enough, we need to get some food in us. There's bread and honey in that trunk there."

Lairion's blue eyes shone at the mention of honey, and within seconds had produced the loaf of bread and small jar. "We don't have to leave here for a few days. There's some woods close by, and the scouts told me of some caves...I had hoped to go exploring during our hunt tomorrow." Eli shook his head in amusement, "As you wish, Ser."

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"One last mile, you useless creature." the large man huffed, as he tugged on the reins of his large black horse. "there's a farm over there. Might be some food there for ya."

Upon hearing the word 'food' the horse began to move quicker, and with more purpose than before. The large creature was one of possibly three things that could make this most taciturn of men even think of smiling. For two weeks he had been on the road tracking the movements of one red-haired girl he once knew. "Wolf girl doesn't know what she has gotten herself into. The trouble she's in." he grunted to himself as he continued to lead his horse towards the farm. As man and steed neared the small farm house the scent of food roasting motivated them to move faster. "Smell that boy?" he said patting the horses neck, "that's chicken roasting."

In no more than ten large strides the hooded man reached the door of the farmhouse. He knocked on it three times loudly, and soon saw the worried face of a girl peering through a window. "I'm not going to murder you." he said, as he scratched the neck of his horse. The door creaked open, and a man he knew to be the father stepped outside.

"What do you want?" he asked, staring up at the large man.

"Food, drink, and a place to rest. I'll sleep with my horse." he answered. "I've got coin." He threw a small sack of gold coins at the farmer, and leaned against the horse. His head began to itch something awful, and he slipped hand beneath his hood and began to scratch at his head. The hood fell from his face- "Wife...hide the girls. Run." The farmer said, "You're the Lion's dog...what business does filth like you have here?" the frightened man asked. "I already told you. Food, drink, and shelter. And news, if there has been any." The Hound brought his scarred and twisted face to the farmers, "I am tired, too tired to even think of killing you and your family. But if you do not give me what I want, I'll use what energy I have left and cut the necks of your pretty girls as you watch." The farmer back away, still holding the small bag of coins. "Fine! The barn! Take the horse and yourself to the barn! I'll have food brought to you."

Sandor Clegane nodded once. "Smart man." he said, "has anyone else been by here?" The farmer nodded, "Yy-yyes." he stammered, "a young Lady." Sandor's eyes widened, "Was her hair red? Her eyes blue?" he asked, taking the man by the collar of his shirt.

"Aye, she was! Let me go!"

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Lairion had been walking the wood alone for hours, tracking a strange set of footprints in the snow. He kept his ear to the wind, hoping to catch a whisper of what exactly it was that he had been tracking for so long. He came upon a small gathering of brush, and at last heard what he had been looking for. A soft whimper, and a low growl. He pushed the greenery aside, and saw nestled among the carcass of a small rodent, a red-haired wolf. "You are a little beauty." he said, reaching for the animal. The creature snapped at his hand, but Lairion did not flinch. "Ah, and blue eyes. You are a strange thing. Why are you all alone?" He took off his fur-lined cloak and wrapped the small animal within. He held the frightened creature close to his chest, and ran back towards where his clan had set up their camp for the night. His feet carried him to the tent of Eli, who as he heard the soft crunch of snow outside of his tent knew that Lairion approached. "What have you there, young man?" he asked, pointing at the small bundle. Lairion unraveled his cloak, and set the creature down on the bed. "A little orphaned wolf." he said, "she would have died out there, had I not taken her." Lairion held out his hand to the small wolf, allowing it to sniff and lick his hand. "she's beautiful. Have we any milk, and a spare bit of cloth? She needs to be fed." Eli nodded and smiled at him, "We do." he answered, "you do know that this creature is far from home...I wonder what her coming shall mean to the clan." Lairion shrugged, and watched Eli as he cut a strip of cloth, and went from the tent to fetch some heated milk. For hours Lee sat up with the wolf, stroking her head, and rubbing her milk filled belly. "you need a name, young one." he cooed. "Helcë. I think I shall call you, for your eyes are like ice."

"Lee, enough with the wolf. Let her alone and get some rest. We're headed to the caves in the morning." Eli said from his bed. Lairion reluctantly placed the small wolf on a bed of fur and get into bed beside Eli. Morning came quickly, and all had slept safely, and well. The wolf pup was first to rise, and saw to it that both Lairion and Eli woke in time to leave for the days hunt.

"Lee, you cannot take her with us."

Eli sighed, watching Lairion as he gathered the pup into his arms. Lairion glared at his companion, "I want her with me. I will not keep her prisoner." Eli did not question Lairion as he followed he and the wolf out into the wild Wood. "I can see the caves now, Lairion." Eli said, "and the track here..." he knelt to the snow covered forest floor..."rabbit."

The wolf heard the name of her favorite meal, and wriggled free of Lairion's arms, and sped off into the wood. Both Lairion and Eli sped off after her, towards the woodland caves.

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Summary: Lairion and Eli are quite close. They have turned to each other for warmth, and love. They truly have no one else.
Together they cremate the body of Eli's mother. They go off for a hunt. Alone, Lairion finds a red haired wolf pup.
Sandor is on his way, as well. I wonder what the heck he's up to. Hope you enjoyed it! You're up, Stardust63!