It had been days since the pair had departed from Kings Landing and Averill Hill thought she might just die. Though the pair managed to get a hold of Sandors horse, Stranger, Averill was not used to traveling like this at all. The fact that she was dressed in a gown and silk shoes did not help on bit. After several days of traveling her blue gown was torn to bit and caked in mud and her shoes were completely ruined, and whenever she walked it felt as though she was walking through the forest barefoot.
Sandor was fairing much better than Averill, than again he was much more accustomed to travelling this way. The thought even crossed his mind that she might've been better off staying at Kings Landing. She wasn't made to travel like this. She was a lady, and this was no way for a lady to be treated. The Hound felt Averill press her weight back on him as they rode further on Stranger. She had fallen asleep; he was relieved that at least she was able to sleep. He couldn't help but think about what Tyrion had asked him before the battle of Blackwater. He wondered if this really was the right thing to do, after all how long would they really be able to outrun the law. There was no doubt in Sandors mind that eventually someone would catch up and when that day came he only hoped he would be able to continue to keep Averill out of his brothers grasp.
It was Tyrion who had asked him to take Averill away from Kings Landing with him although Sandor would have done it even if Tyrion hadn't asked him too. Of course the travelling was hard on Averill, but it was certainly better then having to marry Gregor.
"How are you feeling?" Sandor asked, though the two had been travelling for nearly 4 days they hadn't really spoken much. "We should be able to set up some sort of camp tonight. I think we're far enough away from Kings Landing to do that now…."
"Where are we going?" She asked a little more curtly than she should have. Yes, she was happy to get away from Kings Landing, but she had to say this was not how she envisioned her escape. Only now was she realizing how foolish her original notions of this trip were. Of course they wouldn't be able to stop at inns or find somewhere to buy her a change of cloths. Honestly the worst part was the lack of a decent meal or a decent nights sleep. Averill felt foolish, she actually thought this trip would be easy; romantic even unfortunately it was far from that. She knew Sandor was doing his best to keep her comfortable, but there is only so much one man could do.
Sandor honestly didn't know where they were going to go, they couldn't be safe on this side of the narrow sea. Maybe the would make their way to Pentos , maybe Bravos. He just needed to get them out of Westeros that much was sure.
"Honestly I'm not so sure. I didn't think that far ahead." Averills heart sank into her stomach, so right now they were basically wandering around aimlessly. She had nothing else to say to him for while, she was starving tired her feet were blistered and bleeding as were her thighs from walking and riding to much.
"Can we go get some food…" Averill begged after some time, Sandor knew she was hungry he was hungry too. It was just still too risky to show their faces at an inn. Especially his face, even if someone had never seen him if they heard a description of him it would be all too easy to identify him.
"Ok, lets stop I'll try and find us something." Again, Averill felt a small pit grow in her stomach. Sandor led Stranger off the road and towards a small creek secluded and covered in underbrush.
I never should have came with him. A small voice nagged as Sandor helped her down of Stranger. Averill winced as she was placed down on her feet. Sandor felt a small pang in his chest. He hated this, he felt like he was doing nothing, but failing her. If there was one thing Sandor wanted it was to never see Averill sad or in pain. Now it seemed that was all she was.
"Stay here I'll find something to make a fire with and try and find some food." Averill didn't say anything, as se slowly waddled towards a comfortable looking tree. She leaned her back against it and slowly slid down, gently landing on her raw butt. She winced and glanced as Sandor disappeared into the wood.
He wouldn't find anything substantial, he never really did. Averill pulled her knees up towards her chest and rested her face on top of them. After a few moments of silence a small sob escaped her lips. This wasn't how this was supposed to be. She wasn't supposed to be resentful; she didn't want to blame him. She knew it wasn't his fault, this was what she wanted, she asked for this.
It wasn't supposed to be like this, we were supposed to be spending romantic nights making love under the stars. Drinking ourselves stupid and talking about what we were going to do with our futures now that we actually left. I feel like I'm more trapped then ever, I'm scared that they're still going to find us, I'm scared what they're going to do to him if they find us. I'm starving, and filthy and swollen and bruised. This isn't how I wanted it to be.
Averill left out another sob, a bit louder than the last one as she gripped her legs tighter to her chest.
Maybe I should have just sucked it up and done my duty to my family. I should have just married the Mountain and let it be. I shouldn't have been so selfish. Cersei was right I've always been selfish I never think about anyone but myself.
Sandor returned to the camp and saw Averill against the tree, her was puffy and wet he eyes were red from tears. Sandor dropped the fire wood on the ground and tried to start a fire. He had set a few trap a long the river hoping it would catch them a rabbit or fox. Both of them needed some real food. After the fire caught Sandor moved towards Averill. He wasn't really good at being comforting; he honestly had not idea how he was supposed to go about it.
"So I take it you didn't find anything for us." She said sharply. Sandor was a little taken back by her tone.
"Well I set some traps, with any luck we'll have something to eat in an hour or so when I go and check them. Averill smirked a little and shook her head slightly "What the fuck are you smirking about?" Sandor asked, he was beginning to get a little irritated.
"I was just thinking that this might have been a mistake." Averill locked her sapphire eyes with his gray ones. Sandor felt himself fill with rage.
Why the fuck would she say that? What was wrong with her, sure this was hard, but it was what needed to be done.
"Well I'm sorry that I couldn't have fucking carriage carry us across the country side and stop in all the inns. I'm fucking trying!' He bellowed at her, Averill felt the tears return to her eyes.
"I-I just don't want them to get you. I'm slowing you down and if they catch us they're going to kill you and I couldn't live with myself if I caused anything bad to happen to you. I should've just married_"
"Shut the fuck up!" Sandor screamed, he grabbed her face with his hands and pulled her towards him placing a passionate kiss on her lips. When he pulled away he kept his hand on her face, stroking it softly as he spoke
"I promised I would never let him have you and I fucking meant it. He doesn't deserve you, I said I wouldn't let him ruin you and I meant it. I wont let anything fucking happen to you. I've never….. I've never cared about anyone as much as I care about you. I don't care what happens to me. All that matter is keeping you safe."
Averill began to bawl as she leaned closer towards Sandor and pressed her head against his chest. He hugged her and stroked her knotted hair as she sobbed. She looked back up towards his face; if she didn't know any better she would have to say he was crying too.
So what if this little adventure wasn't what she quite expected, she was with him and at the end of the day that was the whole point of this. She chose him and he chose her and nothing else mattered but that. Averill placed her hand over his scars, he pressed his face deeper into her touch and kissed her hand softly.
"Thank you Sandor." She sobbed before pressing her lips to his. The small blond slid herself on top of his lap, ignoring the throbbing pain from her thighs and buttocks. Sandor kissed her back, all of his longing for her coming to the surface. He wanted to fuck her, right there on the cold dirt floor. He'd never wanted to fuck someone so bad in his life. It was strange he wanted it to be more than sex, the feeling shocked him a little. He stopped kissing her and looked into her eyes. She looked back at him quizzically, wondering if she had done something wrong. Sandor quickly stood up leaving Averill even more stunned.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to check the traps." Averill sat there in silence as he practically ran off. The longing in her loins didn't cease after he left in fact it just got worse.
Why would he just leave me like that? Did I do something wrong I thought he wanted me as bad as I wanted him.
She heard a twig snap, and quickly rose to her feet searching for Sandor. Averill couldn't find him, and before she could shout for him she felt a knife pressed to her neck and immediately froze. A pit sank to her stomach as she quickly weighed her options. She could always try and escape, with any luck this was just some unskilled bandit. As she began to drew away the stranger pressed the knife closer to her neck, slicing it slightly.
"Don't even think about it." He growled in her ear, Averills heart rate increased significantly His blade was sharp that was for sure, that probably meant he was not just some unskilled sells word. He was probably from the castle. "Rodrick!" The man shouted, moments later Averill hear another pair of footsteps head towards her. "What do you think? She's wearing fine enough cloths that's for sure."
The other man came into view and Averills heart sunk even deeper into her stomach. Thoguh Averill didn't know him by name she knew he was a member of the city watch. Her blue eye locked with his brown ones for a moment before he smirked and pulled her away from her captor.
"This is Averill Lannister that's for sure. Her father wont be happy that you cut her like that."
"We can always say that the Dog did it, speaking of which where is he?" Averill looked up at Rodrick and shrugged, tears began to come to her eyes.
"He left me not to long after we left Kings Landing."
"She's fucking lying." The other Gold Cloak said, Rodrick shrugged and placed a firm hand on Averills shoulder.
"Even if she is, it doesn't matter. They have a bounty on that ulgy bastards head someone will find him soon enough. After all the reward posted for this bitch is much, much higher. Come on." He began to drag her away, she considered screaming for the Hound. He could kill these guys with no problem, right? Even if he could maybe this was for the better, she wasn't fit for this type of life and Sandor would be better off with out her.
"I will not fight you Ser, there is no need to be rough. Depending on how you treat me will depend on what I tll my father. Treat me well and I will sing nothing but praises about you two fine gentlemen treat me wrong and I will tell him you beat me and forced yourselves on me and instead of being rewarded he will have your heads cut off and displayed for all to see in kings landing, take your pick." Rodrick gripped her tigher
"Watch you're tongue, after all you're just a bastard." The word "bastard" never really angered her, but for some reason this time it struck a cord.
"I am not just a bastard. I am the bastard of Tywin Lannister the richest man in the seven kingdoms, you will watch how you treat me or I will have your heads."
Rodrick released her and laughed, Averill followed the men to their horses, they helped onto Rodricks. As they began to ride back to Kings Landing Averill felt sick to her stomach. What would Sandor think, what would he do?
"I'll treat you gently, my lady." Rodrick whispered as they rode on towards Kings Landing. "After all your wedding is to be in a few nights and we all know how gently Ser Gregor Clegane treats his wives." Rodrick laughed even more and Averill suddenly and selfishly wish she had screamed for Sandor when she had the chance. Though the prospect of seeing her father scared her, the idea of her betrothed absolutely mortified her. As they rode forward it began to set it, that her life would soon be over. All the romantic fantasies of her and Sandor running away and starting a life together were over. She had ruined that fantasy by going with these men back to the capitol and as soon as she go back to the capitol she would marry that monster the mountain and then he could do with her as he wished. Averill Hill had never felt more foolish in all her life, her life was now ruined and it was all her fault. Cersei always said she was stupid and selfish she never really believed her until this m moment
Oh Gods, I will have to see the sick look of satisfaction on that sick bitches face as well. What the fuck was I thinking?
On they rode closer towards the Kings Road and closer towards the petite blonds ultimate doom.