CHAPTER 9. TARA
House Clegane is a vassal house that holds fealty to House Lannister of Casterly Rock. Their lands are southeast of Casterly Rock and consist of a small patch of land and a modest house. They are landed knights rather than a full noble house, but have strong ties to the Lannisters. The founder of House Clegane is the grandfather of Gregor and Sandor, who served as the kennel master at Casterly Rock. While accompanying Lord Tytos Lannister on an excursion, they are attacked by a lioness. He rescues his master, losing three dogs and a leg in the process, and is awarded lands and title for his actions.
The Bloodline of House Clegane dates back to the days of Lann the Clever. It is said of the children of house Clegane that they are unnatural, freaks of nature possessing inhuman strength, unnatural stature, and unmatched bloodlust. Legends say that an ancestor of theirs was raped by a giant and every so often the old blood rears its head.
At present the family is ruled by Jordan Clegane of Clegane's Keep. He married Ester Serrett of Silverhill. Their first son Gregor weighed 15lbs at birth. By the time he was 3 Gregor was four feet tall. A second son was born to the second generation lord that third year of Gregor's life. Weighing at 14lbs they named him Sandor. Of the two brothers Jordan loved Gregor the most and spent the most time with. Both boys were very gifted with weapons at an early age.
Of the two Clegane children Gregor is the meanest. One day he catches his brother playing with a toy knight. Gregor takes Clegane and holds his head in the fire place. It took weeks for the boy to heal from the burns to his face and the Maester was able to save his eye. Ester wanted Gregor punished severely but his father covered up the incident.
A year later Lady Ester, died trying to give birth to a daughter. The baby died as well and Jordan was left alone to raise his sons. Two years afterward while touring his lands a young beautiful maiden catches Lord Jordan Clegane's eyes. He marries her and a year later they have a daughter they name Tara Clegane. Of course Gregor hates his new stepmother and never misses an opportunity to disrespect her. Sandor is more accepting of his new stepmother and Tara his baby sister.
When she was born Tara weighed 13lbs. A year after she is born Robert rebels against the crown. By the time she is 3 Tara is four feet two inches tall. The apple of her father's eye mainly because Tara liked riding horses like a man. Shooting arrows and learning the sword. She would even go hunting with her father and older brothers. On her second hunting trip Tara killed a deer and gutted it herself. She is five and stood at five feet six inches already.
Every morning Tara would practice her calisthenics, the bow, the sword, hand to hand combat, the spear, knife throwing, and the quarter staff. By the time she was nine years old Tara started growing breasts which got the attention of the boys living at the Keep. Of course none of them were worthy of her attention as she was taller or just as tall and she could best them in anything they dared to challenge her to for a kiss, a look at her breasts, or to feel them. When she wasn't practicing weapons with Sword-master Eagen Tara was studying languages, battle strategies, or the major and minor houses of Westeros.
Her mother Adeline often voiced her objections to Tara's upbringing. She argues that Tara should spend more time learning to be a lady than a fighter. At the age of twelve her elder brother Gregor returned home after squiring for Lord Swyft of Cornfeild. Tara had a pet snake so Gregor stole the snake and cut it up for fish bate. Angry Tara stole Gregor's sword and went to the stables where she cut the legs off Gregor's favorite horse. She painted a snake in blood on the stable walls. When Gregor returns home he was infuriated.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Her father screams.
She points at Gregor, "You let that animal get away with everything…Disrespecting my mother! Burning Sandor's face!"
That is when Jordan walks up to her and slaps her face, "I am the lord of this house! And I decide what is right!"
"Little bitch!" Gregor said.
That night Jordan is getting undressed for bed, "My lord!" Adeline said in the most humble voice she could manage. In one argument Adeline voiced her opinion to Jordan and he in anger told her…("You need to remember your place…Being married to me does not erase the fact that you were a bar made…") Jordan apologized, but from that moment on Adeline always said My Lord when she had something serious to say.
He sighs, "I see you haven't forgiven me yet…"
"Oh I have forgiven you…But I have not forgotten your words to me." She places her hand on his broad shoulder. "Please send Tara away."
He looks at her, "Why?"
"I am afraid of what Gregor will do to my little girl…"
Jordan huffs, "Little!"
"You know what I mean…Gregor is your favorite child…You love Sandor…and you love Tara, but she is second in your heart…And if Gregor hurts my daughter over a horse I swear I will kill him! And you will kill me! And it all will be brushed under the rug like when Gregor hurt Sandor…"
He kisses her on the lips, "Sleep my love…" Jordan lies with his back to his wife. Adeline is right, but where can he send Tara. She needed to go to a place where she could learn to be a lady, but keep her edge as a warrior.
Soon a second war breaks out so Jordan places Tara under the care of her brother Sandor and he sends the two of them by ship to Braavos. Eagen goes with them and when they arrive Sandor buys a house for the three of them with the gold Jordan gave them. To earn more gold Sandor gets work as sell sword with the Lost Legion. Meanwhile Tara keeps up with her skills under Eagen. Another three years pass and word is received from Westeros in regards to the war. The letter is sent by Jaime Lannister the new Warden of the West.
Tara cries as her home has been burned to the ground by Prince Oberyn and both her parents died in the fire. She takes a dagger, "I swear on the old and new gods…I will kill Prince Oberyn …" She says running a blade across the palm of her hand. When Tara reaches the age of thirteen she defeats Eagen in a practice duel. Then she hires a Braavosi sword-master to teach her. She also learns to use the bow and learns to joust from Eagen while studying under the sword-master.
Both Tara are Eagen are in the market when they spot are approached by a young man with violet eyes and red hair. "Pardon good sir and lady…Might you be from Westeros…"
"What of it?" Eagen asks.
"I am from Westeros as well, just looking for some news…" The young man pulls three gold coins from his money belt.
"Robert Baratheon rebelled against the Targaryens…"
"And then…"
"Then House Basteel and Prince Doran rose up against Robert and defeated him at Harrenhal…Corren Basteel is now King of Westeros…"
"Thank you for the information…" He hands them the three coins and walks away.
Tara looks at Eagen, "Did you see his eyes?"
"Yes…I heard rumors that there are Targaryens in exile…I wonder…"
"What?"
"Well he is too young to be Prince Viserys…That leaves Prince Aegon the Sixth…" When Tara and Eagen return home a messenger is waiting for them with the money Sandor sends and a letter. She reads the letter out loud.
To My little Amazon Tara Clegane
I hope this letter finds you well…I heard about father and mother…We shall avenge them…We are off to the disputed lands as another conflict has arisen…Don't know how long I will be gone…Be safe and listen to Eagen…
Your Brother
Sandor
"The disputed lands…There is always fighting between Lys and Myr…" Eagen says.
Tara trains under the Braavosi sword master until she reaches her fifteenth year. Then she leaves Eagen and Braavos to test her skills in the fighting pits of Meereen.
