Chapter 10.
Over the next few weeks, many things happen. Much to Sandor's angst, he finds out exactly how deadly Shalene can be as far as her knowledge and skill with different weapons and defense. She doesn't challenge him in his weapon of choice, the broadsword. As to his way of thinking, the sword probably weighs more than she does. He can use a bow but has no love for those who do, although, he does understand it's use in battle, he feels it's a coward's weapon. Real men fight face to face. He watches Shalene beat opponent after opponent. He grudgingly has to admit how accomplished she is when he watches her hit target after target from the back of her stallion, at a full run. When he asks her where she learned it, he is given one of her dazzling smiles and she tells him,"Dothraki Warriors, of course." He finally gets a chance to have a laugh at Bronn's expense when Bronn challenges Shalene to training with daggers. Sandor is apprehensive but doesn't interfere. Bronn is so much bigger than Shalene that Sandor thinks this will be over soon. Again, he is surprised as he sees her fight in ways he hasn't seen before. The grace, quickness, and fierceness he sees makes him have a new level of respect for her. She attacks Bronn with one, then two daggers, some of the moves she has reminds him of the Braavosi style, The Water Dancer. He admits to himself that her moves are as graceful as a dance. He is pulled out of his musing as Shalene runs at Bronn and as he braces for her attack, she agilely slides between his legs and with a quick movement of her foot, knocks Bronn to his chest and then she is on his back, with her hand full of his hair pulling his head back and her dagger at his throat, already a trickle of blood sliding down his neck. Bronn throws his hands up and yells," I yield, My Lady! I'm yours now!" Shalene laughs and jumps off of Bronn and he has the good humor to just raise up to his Knees and smile as everyone who was in the yard laughs! No one as hard as Sandor!
He is on duty, Court again. Gods, how he hates these days. Today he is at the foot of the stairs leading up to the Iron Throne. He knows that Sansa and Shalene are there, he just doesn't see them. All of the sudden, he sees Ser Meryn dragging Sansa to the front of the Court. Her eyes are wild, she is shaking so hard she can hardly stand. Sandor immediately is ready for blood. He barely registers everything Joffery is saying. He sees a crossbow out of the corner of his eye and his hand goes to his sword hilt. Joffery starts telling Sansa about her brother's latest battles, and how Sansa is going to have to pay. It all happens so fast, Joffery orders Ser Meryn to hit Sansa and he does. Sandor is in such a rage, he is about to draw his sword on Trant when Shalene runs to the front of the Court, and falls to her knees at the base of the stairs, as she kneels, her dress swirls out and she is so close to Sandor, it covers his boot. He is about to step back when he feels her squeeze his foot and when he glances down, he sees that her dress has covered her hand also, so he stays still and looks forward. Joffery jumps up and down the stairs, in a rage of his own. Shalene implores," Your Grace! Please forgive me! I have come to have such respect and reverence for you, it pains me to see your honor blemished by such as the Traitor Rob Stark. His transgressions must be punished and harshly. My fear is for you alone. I fear how others may perceive you and your mercy if a KNIGHT of your King's Guard is seen as a brutish child beater." These words are heard only by those in the immediate area. The rest of the Court is too far away to hear and also miss Shalene's next words." In your infinite wisdom, would it not be more fitting for a wolf bitch to be broken by a dog? The grandson of a prior Kennel master. Surely in your mercy, this is the treatment she deserves." And she gives him one of her sultry, smoldering smiles. In the process of her falling to the floor, the shoulder of her dress has fallen, giving Joffery a very open and clear view of her breast. Sandor glances down and is awarded with his own view. Joffery is clearly torn but then he seems to decide this is a good idea. He steps up to Shalene and reaches down to her, she takes his hand and she rises, her eyes never leaving his. Joffery then looks at the Court and dismisses them then glares at Sansa and says, " Dog, take Lady Sansa to her rooms and make sure you break her, but leave her face." Sansa screams as The Hound jerks her to her feet and drags her from the Throne Room. Joffery and Lady Shalene head towards the doors behind the Iron Throne with Ser Meryn trailing behind.
Sandor gets Sansa to her rooms and pulls her in, slams the door and bolts it. Sansa is still crying uncontrollably, her eyes wide in fear, watching every move Sandor makes. He is in such a rage that he kicks the writing desk over, smashing it against the wall, he slams his fists down so hard on the table where Sansa takes her meals that he shatters it. Sansa is screaming and hiding in the corner, drawn into a ball. Sandor can't seem to quiet the rage in him, he paces, stomping and cursing, kicking the broken bits of furniture. He punches the door once, twice, again, again and again until his knuckles are bloody and raw. With each punch, Sansa screams!. Sandor finally eases down to her bed and hangs his head, turning his face away from Sansa. His forearms are resting on his massive thighs, hands dangling between his knees. Blood dripping on the floor. He doesn't say a word. As his breathing calms down, Sansa finds some inner well of strength and approaches him, she sits on the bed beside him and gently touches his arm. Sandor turns to look at her, her face is red, eyes swollen and so vividly blue. He reaches up and with his thumb, rubs a tear from her cheek. He quietly say,"You know I won't hit you, don't you? You have to listen to me, you have to do what I tell you. I can't keep this from you, what I tell you, you must believe and trust in. You know I don't lie, right, Little Bird?" Sansa nods and looks at him in open and innocent trust. " You already know that you are in danger. I do what I can to keep you safe but I am not the only one who is trying to help you. I don't know the entire story, I only know who you can trust without doubt, because they have proven themselves to me. I trust them. You cannot be any different around these people than you normally are or we will all have our heads up on that bloody wall of the Keep. Do you understand me?" Sansa is trembling and whether she is looking for security or comfort, he doesn't know but she climbs into his lap and wraps her arms around his chest, trying to get as close to him as possible. Sandor has moved his hands to allow her on his lap and glances at the blood on them. He rubs one hand across her dress and tells her to leave the blood there. He then uses the sheet on the bed to wipe his hands, leaving blood trailed all over them. He wraps his huge arms around her and leans back against the wall, Sansa's resting her head on his chest. He tells her," Little Bird, I don't know if your brother will ever free you. There are so many things going on. I need you to stay strong, you have some very good and deadly friends. You know I won't hurt you. You must ONLY trust Shae, Lady Shalene, Tyrion and Bronn. No one else. If you ever need help, only come to us. Do you understand? Look me in the eyes and tell me, Sansa." She sits up and looks at him for the longest time. She then says," I trust you, Sandor. I believe you. If you trust them then I know I can also." She starts to cry again and asks," What is going to happen to me?" He pulls her head back down to his chest and runs his hand over and over her hair, he doesn't know what else to do to try to soothe and calm her. He quietly says," I don't know, Little Bird. Just rest, you're safe now." He holds her until she falls asleep and then shifts around to lay her on the bed. He watches her sleep for a while, thinking about how beautiful she is, how helpless at times. He strokes her hair again and stands up to find Shae but before he leaves, he leans down and softly kisses her on her neck. He stands up and thinks that as long as he's wanted to do that, it's odd that when he's done it, he feels no arousal. He feels a fierce need to protect her from harm and help her find her happiness. As he turns away he feels a part of himself he's not familiar with. He knows it's there, he just hasn't had a chance to use it much. He realizes that it's honor he feels. She is a good, kind young Lady. She hasn't been cruel or mean. She's going to be a great Lady one day and he will give his life to protect her. As he opens the door, Shae is there, she comes into the room, sees the destroyed furniture, splintered boards of the door, blood on the floor and smeared all over the bed and on Sansa's dress. She takes in the injuries on Sandor's hands and tries to get him to let her tend to them but he refuses. He looks at Sansa again then at Shae and tells her that he told her who she is to trust. That she knows these are the only kind faces that she has in the world and she understands. He tells Shae to not leave her until Bronn or Shalene comes and Shae smiles that knowing smile.