Esther was crying with laughter at the story Bronn had finished telling and Tyrion upended the empty jug and looked sad.
"Pod, more ginger and rum!" and he took a huge mouthful from his cup. Bronn swallowed his own.
"This is good stuff, I'd have spent more time in the North if I'd have found this." he said, trying to focus on Esther.
"Then, on behalf of all Northern women, I am glad you've only just discovered it." and Tyrion nearly fell off his chair laughing.
"Do you know Pod, I don't think I can stand up." slurred Tyrion and slumped in his seat. Bronn drained his cup and rolled his head.
"I don't think I've ever fucked a witch." he said trying to focus on Esther.
"And you won't." she said and watched as he passed out, she turned to Pod, "their hangover will be the worst they have ever experienced, don't give them anything but water no matter how much they beg until at least tomorrow afternoon, they'll only throw it back up."
"No my Lady." Pod answered.
"Mistress." corrected Esther and stood up to leave.
"Will you be alright Mistress?" asked Pod and she nodded, "but Mistress, you drank more than Lord Tyrion and Bronn, why aren't you like them?" and he gestured to the snoring and drooling duo.
"A Northern constitution." she said and turned him to face her, "now Pod, where is my niece?"
"I…I can't tell you Mistress." he said looking into her huge eyes, he didn't notice the lengthening shadows or feel the icy tips slide into his mind.
"Oh my boy, of course you can tell me…"
She walked down the flickering corridor. Although she was not drunk she was sure, the rum and ginger had dulled her senses so she did not hear the guards coming the other way until they were nearly in front of her. She stopped and looked desperately for somewhere to hide but it was too late. She felt a strong arm grab her waist and a huge hand clamp over her mouth and she was pulled into a dark room she hadn't even noticed. She twisted ferociously in the iron grip but couldn't break it. The guards went by and she was finally let go. She turned to see The Hound staring down at her.
"What are you doing here girl?" he growled.
"Mistress." she said automatically and felt a wave of nausea, she shouldn't have drunk so much ginger and rum and being picked up and swung around had not helped.
"Gods woman, what have you been drinking?" said The Hound as the waves of alcohol rolled over him.
"Ginger and rum." Esther replied, grabbing onto him for support as the room began to spin.
"Firemead?" he looked at her incredulously, "how much did you have?" and caught her under the arms as her legs went.
"About a jug…maybe more."
"You should be dead." he said flatly, "Only one thing can help you now." and picked her up.
"No! I don't want that." she said.
"It's the only thing, girl." and he began to walk towards the gates.
"Mistress." Esther said miserably.
Even though it was late there were still people going about their business. They watched as The Hound stalked though the palace with a woman over his shoulder…not one of them tried to stop him.
By the time they reached the shore, Esther could barely stand. The Hound had threatened her with death if she puked down his back and she'd managed to hold it down but it had been a close run thing. He dropped her onto the sand and went to the edge of the sea with a cup.
"Here, drink this" he ordered, holding out the cup of seawater.
"I won't drink it. I won't!" she slurred mulishly. He looked at her and before she could react, he'd grabbed her face and opened her mouth, pouring the seawater down her throat. She spat at him and clawed at his hands but he managed to get her to swallow it.
"You fucking great bastard! How dare you do…oh shit" and he moved out of the way as she threw up the contents of her stomach onto the sand. She continued to heave and retch until there was nothing left.
"Oh fuck." she said and wiped her mouth.
"Here." said The Hound and held out the cup again. "it's just water." he added as she refused.
Esther gratefully swallowed and then began to retch again as the seawater hit her stomach for a second time. The Hound smiled and watched as she fell to her knees on the sand and brought more seawater back up.
"You shitty bastard." she gasped as the heaving gradually subsided.
"Needed to make sure it was all out." he said looking out at the greying horizon. Esther fell back and leaned against some driftwood, closing her eyes.
"How did you know salt water was the only thing to counter too much Firemead? And how did you know it was called Firemead, only Moontide Sisters and the people from the Isle call it that?"
"I was at Widow's Watch once, drank it there." he answered and sat on the driftwood a little way from her.
"I love Widow's Watch. I stayed there for about half a year a long time ago, the people are hard as nails but honest…and generous." she said with her eyes still closed.
"You should have stayed." The Hound said harshly and Esther sat up and looked at him narrowly.
"It's you again. You, the King's mad dog. The one mothers tell stories about to make their children behave. The killer of men, women and children…the monster. The man who is soaked in blood…helping to sober me up with a far away remedy. Why?" He looked at her.
"Fucked if I know and fucked if I care." he answered, "Sun's coming up soon, don't you have a fine dress to put on and fine men to drink with?"
"No I don't." she answered and continued to stare at him.
"Why haven't you taken me in front of the court? You were there during the riot, you saw what I did to those men…why haven't you arrested me or something? Why did you help me save Sansa?"
The Hound couldn't answer her, he didn't know. He'd watched as that little shit Joffrey had tortured Sansa, he'd felt… something for her. He thought it could have been lust and tried to drown it in wine but it wasn't. He remembered his dreams for the first time in years; he dreamt of his little sister. He couldn't see her face but he could hear her voice and then her screams. Perhaps it was this memory that had urged him to keep Sansa safe. Perhaps he was getting soft. But when he had seen Esther save that kitchen brat from the fire it had woken something in him and all he could do was follow her and do whatever she needed him to do.
"Get your Little Bird and leave the city before the war starts, no magic will be able to help you once Stannis' soldiers start raping." he growled.
"Little Bird? Is that what you call Sansa?" she asked, relentlessly staring at him with those dark eyes.
He stood up and roughly yanked her to her feet, "If you ask me one more question, I'll cut your tongue out."
"No you won't." she said calmly and walked up to the sea wall, brushing the sand from her clothes. He could do nothing but follow.