Thank you to everyone reading! This hasn't been edited yet, I will come back and clean it up, please excuse any grammar and spelling errors.
"It will be such a bore when I marry Lady Sansa." the Prince grumbled to his sworn shield. "Everyone goes on and on about how I must treat her right lest we end up at war with the North. How am I to get any pleasure out of that simpering little fool?" the Prince's handsome face scrunched up in a scowl.
"You need only get her with child." Sandor answered in a bored voice that hid the fury in his heart and mind well. "Plant your seed and then go seek your own enjoyment until it is time to plant again. Every Lord, Prince and King has been doing it since the beginning of time." He pushed the thought of Joffery fucking his woman out of his mind, right now it was about protecting his Little Bird.
"I don't know how I'm even going to manage that." the Prince protested, "Her stupid smiling face and idiotic comments, it makes a sword go limp." he let out a snort of disgust.
"The small folk love her." Sandor answered.
"What do I care about small folk." Joffrey hissed.
"Nothing," Sandor pretended to stifle a yawn. "But keep her pretty and sweet and they will love her and be loyal. Let her do the work of keeping petty complaints away from you. You will be busy enough running the kingdom."
"They should love me." the Prince pouted like a child.
"They will love her and fear you." Sandor answered. "Fear is more powerful that love, believe that." he wasn't sure if that was a lie or not, since Gregor had burned his face, his entire life had been about inspiring fear, but ever since Sansa, well, perhaps love was just as powerful a motivator, perhaps more so, he had certainly become more cunning because of it. He would soon find out.
"Fear me." Joffrey murmured thoughtfully, "Why is it that you are the only person who says anything of use, Hound?"
Sandor shrugged, "I see no need to coddle you."
"They do coddle me." Joffery's eyes narrowed. "They think I don't see them, see what they are, but I see everything."
Sandor had to hold back a laugh, the fool Prince didn't see anything past his own wants and desires. Sandor counted himself lucky that he had spent all these years by the brats side, he knew just what the little shit wanted and he would use that to his advantage.
"Oakheart is here to relive me." Sandor spotted the knight coming toward them. "Dornish Red is calling my name." He bowed to the Prince and turned to leave when Oakheart called out to him.
"Hound!" Sandor stopped. "The King and Lord Stark wish to see you. They are in Lord Stark's Solar awaiting you." the man stood beside the Prince.
"Me? Why?" Sandor kept his face neutral, did they know? He hadn't been with Sansa for a week, not since her family had arrived. He was careful, he was learning their patterns.
"It might have to do with Trant." the Prince answered before Oakheart could. "Lord Stark asked about what happened to him, I let him know your handy work, best he let his men know not to get overly friendly with my betrothed. I don't care if they have known her since she was a child."
"hmm," Sandor grunted, he headed towards Lord Starks rooms, his heart beating wildly in his chest.
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Lord Stark and the King seemed in somewhat good spirits, when he was admitted into the Warden of the North's dayroom, Lady Stark was sitting next to her husband, and Sandor could see the woman that Sansa would become, though in his humble opinion, Sansa's beauty surpassed that of her mother's, it didn't take him much time to come to this conclusion, as Lady Sansa Stark was seated next to her mother, allowing for a quick comparison before he turned his attention to the King and his cold Queen, seated adjacent to the Starks.
Sandor bowed first to the King and Queen and then to the Starks. "You wish to see me." he rasped.
"Hound!" The King grinned, "We have heard some interesting stories about you of late."
Queen Cersie turned her face away and rolled her eyes.
"Aye," Sandor replied.
"Yes," Lord Stark answered, "I hear you defended my daughters honor." the man studied him with grey eyes that were eerily like his own.
Sandor let his gaze flick towards Sansa, who was holding her mother's hand and smiling softly.
"The Prince's betrothed should be respected." he answered.
"And have you ever defended my honor, Dog?" Cersei's voice was smooth like honey but dripped with poison.
"No man has dared insult you in my presence." he answered as if bored with the conversation.
"Ha!" the King let out a bark of a laugh. "I told you Ned, your girl is well looked after here."
"Yes," said Lady Stark, "but what do they say and do when your Man here isn't present? How could one of your own King's guard speak like that of his future Queen."
King Robert shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Joffery took care of the man." Cersie snapped. "He has done his duty by your daughter."
"I don't doubt it." Lady Stark answered, much more calmly. "But he cannot know all that his knights say and do. I think my daughter needs protection." she stated firmly.
"Perhaps her wolf should be allowed to follow her." Sandor put in, knowing how that would please his Little Bird, it would keep most people away, and the wolf was quite fond of him as most canines were.
"Impossible!" Cersie answered. "I will not allow a wild animal around my children."
"Oh, but Lady is quite well behaved and trained." his Little Bird pleaded.
"So you say! but I will not risk it!" the Queen answered.
"Well then," the King interrupted. "If she cannot have her wolf we should give her a dog." he grinned pleased with his decision and wit.
"What do you mean Robert?" Lord Stark asked.
"Clegane," the King stood and walked toward the tall warrior, "he has defended your daughter's honor once, he has been the sworn shielded to my son, and his mother before him, I say we give him a new position as Lady Sansa's shield."
"And what of our son!" the Queen hissed angrily.
"He shall have two guards to replace the Hound, in fact, I expect you to pick them out, Hound." he turned and gave his wife an ugly glare. "I will not have the Starks worrying after their daughter's safety."
The Queen gave the King a look that could kill.
"Robert," Ned stood, "Is this a wise choice? I could have one of my men stay with her."
Sandor felt his heart clench in his chest, he didn't dare look at Sansa.
"Nonsense, Ned." the King dismissed his friends concerns with a wave of his hand. "They all already fear the Hound, and with good reason, this is the easiest choice."
"He doesn't swear oaths, how will we know he is committed to our daughter's safety." Lady Stark spoke up.
"I will protect her." Sandor spoke up, "if that is what my King assigns me to do, my loyalty is unquestionable." he nearly growled.
"I question it sir." Lady Stark answered cooly. "I will not have a man that cannot even swear an oath to protect my daughter."
"Now, now." the King tried to calm the woman's fears. "He's done very will so far, oaths or not."
"I will do it." Sandor's rough voice brought everyones attention to him.
"What?" the Queen looked at him incredulously.
"I'll not be knighted," he looked towards Lord Stark, "the North seems to care little for that, anyway, but I will swear an oath to protect her and her offspring. The Prince," he bowed to the Queen, "Will have his two Knights but I shall continue to do my duty by him regardless of the fact. Lady Sansa and Prince Joffery will be together quite often I'm guessing, after their marriage."
"You will swear an oath, to the Seven AND the Old Gods." Ned questioned.
"Aye, if it will get me to the tavern with a skin of Dornish Sour any faster."
"Taverns? Will you be clear headed enough to care for my girl." Lord Stark's voice was sharp.
"What I do on my own time is my business." Sandor growled. "I have always performed my duties well, believe that, there isn't a buggering bloody bastard around that will tell you otherwise."
Lady Stark gasped a little and put her hand on Sansa's knee even though his little bird hadn't even reacted to his little outburst. Her eyes were set on him and he could sense a bit of anger there, most likely over the tavern comment than his coarse language.
"You all forget one thing." Cersie's cold voice cut in. "The Hound is bound to his liege Lord," she smiled smugly, "Lord Lannister, my father."
"I forget nothing, woman." Robert growled menacingly, "You father," he spat out the last word, "is my subject. I am the King and the Hound answers to me first and your father second, he holds no lands, he is a second son, he can and will swear an oath to Lady Sansa."
The Queen's eyes flashed with anger before letting her face fall into an indifferent mask. Sandor could not believe his luck, he had been ordered to spend nearly everyday in the company of his Little Bird and given the authority to protect her as if she was his wife. All his planning and watching had been for naught and he couldn't be more glad. They had delivered her into his arms.
The King turned to him then, "Your trip to the tavern will have to wait Hound, we will have the oaths performed as soon as we can gather a septon.
Sandor bowed to the King, letting his lip curl in a slight scowl to keep up pretenses.
"I would like to go down to the Godswood now." Lord Stark stated, "Will you be our honored witness Robert."
"Of Course Ned." the King let out another bark of a laugh and slapped his friend on the shoulder. "Let us go then, you can have your afternoon off another day Hound."
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As he said his oath, he looked into the eyes of his Lady, surrounded by her family and the King his little bird flushed prettily when he bent the knee and offered up his sword. He wished it was his cloak he was draping around her shoulders but this would do.
"I accept Sandor Clegane," she said in her beautiful melodious voice. "May I call you Clegane, I do not like the name Hound."
Sandor snorted and looked toward the King before appearing to force out, "As my Lady wishes." secretly he was pleased, his Little Bird would try and address him with more respect, it was her way.
"Well he's yours to command, call him what you like." the King waved his hand, nodding at the servant that came to inform him that the Septon had been found and was ready to preside over Sandor's second set of oaths.
"Let's get this done then," King Robert groans, " I need to eat, and Hound you need to pick your replacements."
"Blackheart and Pillio." Sandor rasped. Both were knights, good at fighting, good enough to not raise suspicion but not good enough to best him, even together, and while they weren't bumbling idiots, they certainly weren't cunning.
"That was certainly quick." the King narrowed his eyes at him.
"Only men not already in the King's guard worth a damn. Fought with them before, wouldn't mind them at my back." that was true, they fought well, didn't think, just followed orders, not exceptionally cruel.
"Hmm," the King thought a bit and nodded, "I'll let them know then, if they meet with the Prince's approval."
"And what of the Queen's approval." Cersei's cold voice broke into their conversation. "I think I should be the one to pick my son's Shield."
Sandor bowed, Cersei wasn't known to make the best choices, her picks were bound to be worse than the ones he choose.
"Pick then." the King grumbled. "Let's get this over with."
Sandor followed his King to were the Starks stood waiting, if Cersei was upset, he could imagine how the Prince would take the news, perhaps if he offered to keep the whores coming efficiently and quietly, if the Prince felt he was still a willing partner in his depravity, it may smooth things over.
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"You are my Dog!" the Prince spit out angrily.
Sandor tried not to roll his eyes at the brat, Joffery had found him as he made his way back to his rooms, he had to hand it to the Old Gods of the North, their ceremonies were simple and to the point, not like the ceremonies of the Seven where the Septon droned on and on praying to each and every bloody damn face of the Seven, he was exhausted and wanted to take a nap before he tried sneaking into his Little Birds rooms.
"The King demanded it, but I will not shrink from my duties to you." he answered, "I know the tunnels and I know where to go, Lady Sansa need never know." that was a lie, he was getting much better at lying as much as he hated it.
The Prince huffed, "My father had no right to give you to her. You are my Shield."
Sandor had nothing more to say so he stayed silent.
"Bring me two whores tonight." Joffery hissed before turning on his heel and waving to Oakheart to follow him. The Knight fell into line behind the Prince, shooting Sandor a curious glance as he went. He hadn't heard their interaction and to be honest, Sandor didn't think the Knight wanted to know.
He let out a sigh, it seemed the Prince had come to an understanding, it was a tentative arrangement but if Sandor kept his appetite satiated it could work. He rubbed his hand over his scars and thought of his Little Birds lips around his cock. She was worth the all blasted trouble.