Celeste was shocked when Sandor handed her his dagger after they'd stopped to water the horses. When she eyed him suspiciously, he rolled his eyes and grabbed her hand to force her to unsheathe the blade.

"I'm going to teach you how to kill a man," he told her. "I'm not always around to fucking protect you, especially from those Brotherhood bastards."

"Indeed, you were drunk and snoring when they approached me," she quipped. Sandor snarled in annoyance before continuing, "Men are just killed. Women are raped, and then killed. Use that to your advantage."

Celeste blinked, "So I'm supposed to do what exactly?"

"Let him get close," he told her. "Act like the fucking dainty little lady you are and cower in fear. When he gets close, you put the knife in him."

"Assuming there's only one man attacking me," she pointed out. "As I recall, I was just as defenseless as Sansa during the riots you saved us from."

"Pick and choose your fucking battles, woman," he shrugged and took her hand holding the knife. He leaned down to place the edge at his throat, "Aim for the neck; bloody as fuck, but there's no surviving it."

He then placed the blade at his chest, "Men wear armor, but if they don't, aim for the heart."

Celeste blushed and looked away in embarrassment when he took her hand and pressed the tip of the blade in his…nether region.

"Know what this is?" he asked, simply to tease her. Celeste cleared her throat in discomfort, still avoiding his glance. Sandor continued, "Unless you want to see a cock that will fuck you bloody, I suggest you aim for it and twist the blade while you're at it. It probably won't fucking kill him, but it will get him off you."

"Anything else?" she asked with a scoff. Sandor shrugged, "Men shit themselves when they die."

"Lovely," Celeste snapped. When she secured the knife on her waist, she watched Sandor unsaddling the horses, "What are you doing?"

"Setting camp; what the fuck does it look like I'm doing?"

"Already? The sun's still high in the sky," she looked up at the fluffy clouds floating around the bright sun. Sandor glared at her, "Shut up, woman. There's a river right there; go take those fucking baths you can't seem to live without."

When they turned in for the night, Celeste was wide awake. Seeing the crackling fire dancing in the darkness, she was reminded of Sandor's fight with Beric Dondarrion. How he looked utterly terrified the moment Beric's sword burst into flames and when he stepped into the hearth and his shield caught fire.

"What is it?"

Celeste looked over her shoulder at Sandor, who was on his back. His eyes were closed as he added, "You're not asleep."

"Neither are you,"

"That's not what I fucking asked you,"

Celeste considered her reply carefully, "I was thinking."

"What? About cocks?"

"Where'd you get that disgusting idea?" she rolled her eyes. She felt him roll his shoulders against her back, "You're a virgin; virgins are curious about cocks, aren't they?"

"Not in the slightest," she sighed and thought best not to ask him anything too personal. Celeste simply closed her eyes and fell asleep.

"I'll give you one try, girl,"

Celeste heard Sandor's voice in her sleep, and thought it strange: he calls her woman, not girl.

"Kill me, and you're free, but if I live, I'll break both your hands,"

Celeste's eyes fluttered open and gasped upon seeing Arya Stark standing over her and Sandor holding a massive rock over her head. Celeste pushed herself up on her elbows as Sandor continued to taunt the Stark girl, "Go on: hit me. Hit me hard."

Arya's eyes shifted between Sandor's and Celeste's. Deciding a measly rock was not going to kill the Hound, she dropped it onto the grass and retreated to the sheet laid out on the other side of the fire, sat down, and crossed her arms over her chest like a punished child. Celeste was at a loss, "Sandor, where did—"

"I brought her here," Sandor replied, sitting up with a grunt. Arya chimed in angrily, "No! He dragged me here! He kidnapped me!"

"Sandor!" Celeste scolded as she watched him stand, rolling his shoulders and neck to release it of kinks. Sandor replied, "She was running from those fire god fucks, and a Stark girl will fetch a rich price."

"Were the bags of gold I took not enough?" she huffed.

"It's never enough," he shook his head before pointing at Arya, "Watch her. Don't let her run, you hear me, woman?"

"And where are you going?" Arya blurted out.

"To have a shit," he disappeared into the bushes.

Celeste met Arya's eyes. She tried to ease the girl, "He won't hurt you, if that's what you're afraid of."

"I'm not afraid of him," she seethed. "It's just…nothing."

Celeste thought the worst, "Did the Brotherhood men hurt you?"

"No," she shook her head. "They sold Gendry to the red woman."

"The red woman?"

"Melisandre," Arya clarified. "She's a red priestess for the Lord of Light. They sold him like he was some animal."

"They're thieves and outlaws," Celeste told her. "They probably would've sold you for the right price too."

"Like you're doing now?" Arya spat. Celeste frowned, "I won't allow Sandor to hand you over to anyone that might hurt you."

Arya brooded as she hugged her knees against her chest. Celeste began to clean up the campsite, folding up their bedding and preparing the horses' saddles for the day. She handed Arya a piece of bread, "You should eat."

The girl begrudgingly took the bread just as Sandor returned. When they saddled the horses, Sandor grabbed Arya to place her on his horse, but she jerked out of his grasp.

"You smell awful!" she cried. "I want to ride with Celeste!"

"So you can escape? You think I'm fucking stupid?" he scoffed, grabbing her arm again. When she thrashed against his grip, Celeste intervened, "Sandor, let her ride with me. She won't run, I promise."

Sandor let out a low growl, glancing between Celeste and Arya before shoving the girl towards his wife. "Don't try anything, girl. Children who run don't get far and don't have all their fingers."

They rode through the vast countryside in silence. Celeste knew Arya was annoyed as she brooded silently: whether it was because Sandor captured her or because of the Brotherhood's exchange with the red woman, she did not know. When she finally did speak to her, Celeste realized what she was worried about, "How long until we get to King's Landing?"

"King's Landing?" Celeste asked. Hearing the shock in her voice, Arya turned her head to look at her with wide eyes, "Aren't you selling me to Joffrey and the queen?"

"Heavens no, we're running from them," she said. "Sandor deserted the battle during Stannis' siege. For all we know, he took the throne and there is no queen or Joffrey."

"You haven't heard any news?" she asked. "Do you think Sansa is still alive?"

"If Stannis did take the throne, he wouldn't have hurt Sansa," Celeste said, and she hoped it was true if he did indeed succeed in sacking the city. She changed the subject quickly, "The news around these parts is the wedding of your uncle Edmure Tully to one of Walder Frey's daughters. They say Robb Stark and his army will be there."

"Really?" her voice squeaked with excitement. "Is that where we're going?"

"Aye, now shut up and we might make it there in time for the wedding," Sandor chimed in, obviously annoyed by their conversation. Celeste was glad to see the bright smile across Arya's face.