Chapter 8, Survival

Aeskell son on Oddleif stood upon a bear hide that was whisky and old. Sansa was bathed before entering the tent by who the men called women... But most had beards just like men. She was confused by them because they had a womanly figure, but rough stern faces like the men. Sansa insisted on wearing the very same gown she was wearing before, she had secrets hidden within its sleeves. Sansa braided her hair behind her head with her long side bits twisted in. Aeskell said that she would become "his woman" because she had value, and he wanted her in his view.

Sansa did not cry, nor fight. Aeskell son on Oddleif approached, slowly taking off his furs.

"Would my fearless one like some tea?" Sansa asked

"Aeskell son on Oddleif does not drink tea!" Aeskell spat as if his entire honor was kicked down. Stupid. Stupid foolish girl, Sansa told herself.

"What I meant to say, my strong chief leader of..." Sansa had nearly forgotten the clans name, panicking she blurted "Grim men". Sansa was not sure if that was it, but Aeskell took no notice so it must have been right. "Would you like some strong wine?"

"Aye woman!" Aeskell picked up an empty mug from a table and slammed it down making Sansa jump. For a moment she thought he was mad with her, and that he would strike her down on the spot, until he began to laugh vigorously. Sansa smiled and slyly picked up the mug. Within her sleeves were the secrets. She remembered the words of the ghoulish man at the bazaar, destine for you. Sansa poured the death crystals into the mug cautiously, making sure every speck went in. She looked around the old moss covered wooden table, scanning what she saw. There was a dead bird, a loose feather, a small knife, an arrow with no point, some old papers and some furs. Sansa picked up the feather and mixed the wine.

"For you my strong Aeskell son on Oddleif" Sansa held the mug carefully in two hands.

Aeskell son on Oddleif turned towards Sansa approaching her, and she was relieved. Her plan was working. Until the moment Aeskell snatched the mug so quickly that it slipped through his fingers onto the floor. Sansa said nothing.

Aeskell picked up the mug on the ground and slammed it onto the table "Wine!" Aeskell demanded. Sansa had lost her patience. She would die in these mountains and never return home. Gods forgive me. Sansa quickly snatched up the knife and drove it through his stomach.

He was strong and so did not fall, but he was weakened. Sansa slipped behind him and held it to his throat. "Walk" Sansa demanded.

Aeskell son on Oddleif spat "Aeskell son of Oddleif does not walk on command of woman!" he said

"You would be so foolish to be killed by a woman, an innocent maiden? You would be crowned fool of the grim men, not chief of the grim men" Aeskell started to wriggle, and so Sansa gripped her left hand onto his beard and cut it off with the knife, making it easier to get to his neck. "Walk" Sansa told him.

This was survival. Only the gods know what has become of Sandor Clegane. Aeskell did say he would become a grim man, but those men seemed to be less tolerant of brooding Sandor. Aeskell son on Oddleif began to walk slighting down on his knees, because he was so tall Sansa could not reach his neck, and so if he tried to stand, she neck would be cut. "Remember you will be killed by an innocent maiden, the shame alone would have you killed" Sansa reminded him.

When they awkwardly walked out of the tent, there were men lined up out the front. Their attention was not to them, but to the fire. Sansa looked over to see Sandor Clegane, being forced into a fire by three men equal to his size.

"Stop this or I will kill Aeskell son on Oddleif, chief of the grim men!" Sansa shouted so loud, she barely recognized that it was her. Finally every turned, stopping their movement. Sansa looked at the faces of the savage men and women, who some were frowning, some were angry, and some seemed baffled and began to laugh.

"We fight for strength girl, we need him not" A woman that wore fur that only covered the bottom half of her said. She had black eyes and white skin, which what made her look frightening and strong, even as a woman. Sansa had thought that it was strange that their woman would not wear gowns and jewelry, or brush their hair and braid it. Even from the stories Sansa had not truly thought the women would look as horrifying as they appeared in front of her.

"Perhaps" Sansa said. She knew she wasn't very smart, but she could easily out-wit these oaths. "But to some of you he is your brother, your father, your son, your family and leader. And I will killed him now depriving him of his honor as I am a woman, a young maiden who has never fought a war and I will strike him down where he stands" Sansa said. Where he kneels more like it...

"If you kill him we kill you, and burnt man" A bald headed man said.

"Yes, but he would be dead. Bring me two horses and our belongings and I will spare him, and with honor he will live" Sansa would not tell them of the wound in his stomach, and Aeskell would be too stupid to remember his stomach until the knife was far from his throat.

Sansa waited patiently as someone gathered their belongings and two horses. The Hound could not stop smiling, but Sansa remained serious. Not smiling, nor frowning. They gave Sandor the carry-sacks and he jumped on a horse. Sansa had not thought through on what she would do when she had the horse at her feet. If she let Aeskell son on Oddleif go, they would surely attack. Sandor Clegane was steady on his horse, packed well. Sansa gave Sandor a sharp look, and then shoved Aeskell with all of her strength to the direction near the fire. Aeskell's fur boots caught fire while Sansa quickly mounted on her horse.

They rode fast; the fire in the distance was still close.
Shwoooooooop. An arrow hit Sansa from the side, piercing her in the middle of her right leg. Sansa Stark cried out, Sandor turning wary, but she kept riding. She could feel the pain coil in her leg. It felt like someone was twisting her bones whilst filling the cracks with tiny stones. She could feel the blood drip down her leg.

"Girl!" The Hound called over from his horse

"Keep riding, do not stop!" She said. He did not know of the arrow, and best she did not tell him until the horses could ride no more.

I will make it out of these mountains alive, I will make it home. Sansa looked down to the arrow that pierced through sticking out of the other side of her leg. I hope.

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