Sorry for the enormously long wait. I have been exceptionally busy with work and personal life stuff and have barely had a moment to myself. This chapter is much longer as a sort of apology to my lack of updating.

Be well.

Slightlynerdy.

"You know the plan?"

She nodded, cradling Edmon against her chest as he suckled on her breast, "Go to the town, play the part of the poor, suffering mother, get clothes and food. Meet you at the north gate of the town."

Sandor touched her shoulder lightly, "Don't talk to anyone unless you have to, don't make eye contact, and try and talk in a southern accent. If people realise you're northern then they won't help you."

She looked down at the top of Edmon's head. He was drinking greedily and a pang went through Tarynn's own stomach. The pains of hunger were slowly settling in. They had eaten what little Sandor had managed to salvage and hunt down. This morning she had drank the last of the water they had and Sandor had swallowed his last drop of wine. They needed to resupply urgently and this was the only chance they would have for miles.

Tightening the fabric around her neck, she held Edmon's tiny body snug to her chest, she looked up at Sandor and silently they exchanged a kiss before she turned and walked in the direction that he had told her to go in. The signs of war were evident everywhere. The burnt fields, abandoned farms, and scattered weapons. Devastation was hanging over Westeros like a cloud. It would take years to rebuild after the wars were finished.

She could see the town of Stoney Sept. Surrounded by fields that used to hold corn that was now blackened to the ground. The gates were new. The remains of the old ones were piled up to the left of the entry into town. The streets were virtually empty aside from a few beggars as she entered the famine ridden town. She hugged Edmon to her breast tighter, her eyes darting around, drinking in her surroundings. There were corpses in a cage, arrows sticking out of them, their eyes white and blind staring out at her. She shuddered and looked away.

She continued walking and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a sign for a butchers moving backwards and forwards in the breeze. Flies buzzed around the entrance to the shop, and the cloying smell of blood and meat hit her nostrils as soon as she stepped into the cool interior. A short, paunchy man stood behind the counter with a cleaver. He was idly slashing at his counter top with it which made Tarynn even more jumpy.

"Excuse me sir."

The man looked up, his eyes roaming over her body when they settled on her chest, and where Edmon was hidden beneath the folds of her cloak. "What you got there. You better not be trying to rob me girl otherwise I'll slit your throat like a pig." He held up the meat cleaver menacingly and she slowly backed away.

"No, no sir. It's my child. My poor babe. His father you see was a soldier, for the good king, the righteous king."

"Which king?" The man glared at her with beady eyes.

She glanced around the shop, hoping to see anything that would give her a clue as to what king this butcher supported, her eyes focused on something. "Joffrey. Long may he reign."

She inclined her head, looking at the floor, "May his health be good, and his rule be prosperous. Your husband died in the war?"

"Yes sir, against the traitor Robb Stark, left me and my poor babe on our own with no way of defending ourselves against the evils of this world."

She glanced humbly down at the floor, her hands shaking as clutched Edmon, she didn't want to get caught out whilst lying.

The butcher slammed his cleaver into the wood before rubbing his hands together, "I am not without charity. Especially to poor young mothers with young babes. You can live and work for me. Until you get back on your feet."

Tarynn looked up, her protest jumping to her throat, "Oh no sir that won't be necessary. I'm travelling to live with family who live in… Lannisport. I just needed enough meat to quell my hunger for a few days before the next town."

The man leaned forward onto his forearms. Making a pyramid with his fingers, "How much money have you got?"

Sandor had told her not to give anything more than five coppers. She held her hand out, allowing the man to catch a glimpse of Edmon, "Just five coppers."

"That wouldn't even pay for a hoof girl…" His sucked his teeth before sighing. "I'm going soft in my old age. I'll help you girl. Leave the coppers on the table."

Tarynn walked out of the butchers shop with four chicken fillets, two pork cutlets, a steak and some rashers. She gripped the woven bag the butcher had put them in tightly and smiled at her success as she continued to move through the town.

Turning a corner which led to the centre of the small settlement she stopped in her tracks and hid in the shadows, her hand gently cradling Edmon's head. A group of men, all in mismatched armour were standing in a semi-circle around a bald-headed stocky man who wore a axe at his belt, their voices were loud and so she heard all that they said.

"Release him. We stand for justice and shall see that he is tried and punished correctly."

"That dog should rot in a cage. Not given a trial."

Tarynn stretched, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever poor fool was trapped in a cage, and being sentenced to death. She was too far away and so her endeavors were hopeless. She took a deep breath and started to walk towards the men.

Her voice was thin when she raised it to address the men, "Excuse me gentlemen but could someone point me in the direction of the general store…"

The men all turned to face her slowly, each one scrutinising her face making her feel like a witness on the stand, she turned to look at each of them and in doing so saw who was trapped in the cage. Her heart leapt to her throat as her eyes latched onto Sandor's. They were seething with red hot fury, a bloody gash stretched across his forehead and he had been stripped off all armour and possessions. She had only been gone for less than half an hour. How had he gotten caught?

A ripple of murmurs passed through the armed men. "What you got there."

The leader pointed at the bag in her hand. "I… Supplies for my journey west."

The man moved towards her, grabbing the bag of meat, and causing Tarynn to jolt forward. The movement woke Edmon who let out a wail. Other men began to converge on her when someone pushed through.

"Wait. I recognise this girl." He dropped to his knee, "Lady Tarynn Stark."

Around her the men all dropped to their knees, their heads bowed in respect, the man who had called her out on her identity looked up at her and she recognised him.

"Harwin? Harwin is that truly you?!" She laughed breathlessly as she went to the man who had once served her father, who she had grown up with and who had travelled south with her. He looked up.

"We thought you were dead." She offered him her hand and he got to his feet.

Tarynn moved her cloak over her shoulder, showing the men her son and heir to the Baratheon lands. "I have reason to live."

She learned in time that Harwin and several others had been sent by her father to settle the problems created by marauding raiders under the leadership of Lord Beric Dondarrion. She had recognised the name and putting two and two together realised that he had partaken in the ill-fated tourney dedicated to her father that felt like it had happened many moons ago.

"We had heard word of your marriage to Lord Renly Baratheon… And also of his demise. You are coping well?"

"I must stay strong for our child Harwin. That is what Renly would have wanted. Not me mourning for all eternity." Her eyes went to Sandor who was still hunched in a cage, "What are you planning on doing to the Hound?"

"We had orders from our leader to bring him to Hollow Hill for justice. Only trouble is this mad fool refuses to hand him over. Keeping him as a prize he says."

"Tell the man that I shall give him two gold stags as reward for capturing this criminal and that Houses Baratheon and Stark are grateful." She handed over the money. "I wish to speak to Lord Dondarrion."

Harwin nodded, taking the gold in his gloved hand. "We will be heading to the Hollow Hill after we have secured Clegane." Tarynn nodded and turned her attention to Edmon whose face was red from crying, his blue eyes wide, Harwin went to join the men surrounding the cage but backtracked and placed his hand on her shoulder, "One more thing Lady Baratheon." She looked up expectantly, "We have Arya."

Her heart raced as she half ran to the horse the brotherhood had given to her. Sandor was being strapped into Stranger, his hands bound with rope as a sack was placed over his head, Maiden was fastened to Harwin's own charger but she nickered softly at Tarynn as she strode past.

"Could you?"

The boy who was holding Tarynn's brown gelding still had an expression of shock on his face when Tarynn held out Edmon to him. The young man took the baby wearily, holding Edmon at an awkward angle as Tarynn mounted her new horse, "Thank you." She took Edmon from the boy's waiting hands who then proceeded to scuttle off towards where the rest of the Brotherhood without Banners were convening.

With a slight kick her gelding set off at a gentle pace towards the men. "I am anxious to see my sister. If we could gentlemen I would like to depart for your headquarters now. Harwin nodded and shouted the order to move to his fellows. Anticipation and excitement was barely contained within Tarynn as the thought of seeing her baby sister filled every fibre of her being.

When they reached Hollow Hill. Tarynn didn't wait for any further instructions. Holding Edmon tightly against her chest she looked at Harwin. Conveying silently her need to see Arya. He nodded, handing his reins to another, before gesturing for her to follow him. She gave one lingering look at Sandor who was being forced from Stranger, one of the men gave him a blow to the head, and the Hound fell to the floor. She wanted to go to him, tell the men to stop, but the thought of being able to hold Arya in her arms again was just too much to bear. She dropped her gaze and turned, following Harwin into the cave.

The way was dimly lit with torches. The path wound deeper into the earth as roots hanged from the ceiling, often trailing all the way down to the floor, it seemed the ideal location for a band of vigilantes to hide. The largest open area held a fire pit, weapons had been left propped up against barrels and crates, a number of men were milling around; drinking, chatting, sharpening their weapons.

Harwin's voice resonated loudly around the cavern, "Lord Beric, Thoros, Lady Tarynn Baratheon."

He bowed his head before stepping back, allowing her to move forward, a middle aged man with brown hair stepped forward. Tarynn recognised him almost instantly as one of the competitors in her father's tourney. "The Lord of Light surely must be on our side when he gives us two daughters of the Stark house and a baby of the Baratheon." Edmon was in a bundle in her arms, his eyes peering at the world around him, trying to drink everything in.

"You have my sister. I wish to see that she is safe and unharmed. If you can do this you will be greatly rewarded by the Stark house."

The man barked an order, "Bring the girl."

Arya was dragged into the main cave. Her clothes were those a boy would wear, ragged and dirty, a thin belt tied around her waist with a sword at her side. She had been blindfolded. Tarynn handed Edmon to Harwin, thanking him as he took her baby without hesitation, before rushing to her sister. She collapsed on her knees, grabbing at the cloth that they had tied around Arya's face, ripping it off so she could see her baby sister's full features again. Tears were in Tarynn's eyes as Arya blinked big grey eyes, unaccustomed to the gloom, trying to take in the features of the person who knelt before her.

"Tarynn?" Her voice was thin and full of uncertainty as her fingers gripped her older sister's shoulders, "Is that really you?"

Tarynn nodded, and laughed slightly with joy as she pulled her sister into a hug, "Yes Arya, it's me, and I promise I am never going to let you out of my sight again."

"I watched father die." The younger girl began sobbing as her arms wound around her sister. Hugging her with all her might.

"We all did my darling. It was nothing short of a crime. Father did not deserve that. None of us deserved anything that happened. The Lannisters, they are the ones we must blame for our hardships, never think that you deserved this." She moved back slightly, wiping away Arya's tears with the sleeve of her dress, "There is someone I want you to meet." She looked behind to Harwin, who still had Edmon nestled in his arms, he crouched beside her and gave the most important person in her life back.

Arya gazed at Edmon intently, before looking up at Tarynn, confusion in her eyes, "Is this your baby Tarynn? I didn't know you were pregnant."

"I found out after father had been killed, after you had gone missing, this is your baby nephew Arya. Edmon."

Her sister reached out slowly, her fingers gently brushing over Edmon's downy hair, "Can I hold him?"

"Of course." Tarynn offered Edmon to Arya, who took him in her arms firmly.

"He looks like you."

Tarynn smiled, her voice soft, "He looks like his father."

"I apologise for cutting this reunion short."

Tarynn stood, straightening her back, trying her hardest to look and act like Lady Baratheon even though she knew that that part of her was dead and buried, "I demand you to release my sister into my custody. We are travelling…" She paused for a brief second, Winterfell would be the safest destination for them to attempt to get to but it was a long trip, "We are heading to Riverrun. To join my brother's protection and forces. She is of my blood, you cannot detain her from family."

Thoros of Myr gave her a long hard look, "The land between here and Riverrun is war torn. It would be a death sentence to send you both on your own. I will have a company of men escort you safely."

Tarynn bit her lip, Arya stood slightly behind her still holding Edmon in her arms, she didn't know what was going to happen to Sandor at the hands of these men but she had to protect her sister and son, "I accept your gracious offer. We will be ready to depart whenever you deem fit."

The grave man nodded, "First we have a matter of justice to attend to… Bring him in."

The Red Priest gestured for her and Arya to sit on some crates that had been covered in a fish net, and ordered a man to bring them some refreshments, they were given some hard cheese and some bread as well as a pitcher of cool water to quench their thirsts.

A boy with broad shoulders and strong arms joined them, he glanced at her shyly before whispering in Arya's ear. Arya looked up at her, "This is Gendry, my friend, Gendry this is my sister: Lady Baratheon."

Tarynn smiled gently at the boy, "Please, call me Tarynn."

There were sounds of a struggle echoing through the crowd, Sandor was hauled into the open area, a sack over his head and Tarynn almost stood up. She stopped herself however, she had to ensure the safety of Arya and Edmon, and she would jeopardise that if she went to Sandor or demanded that the men release him. She watched wearily as he was pushed into the middle and the sack was pulled from his head. He scanned the faces of those around them before his burning eyes settled on her, relief flashed through them but it quickly turned to hate.

"You look like a bunch of swineherds." Sandor laughed huskily.

"Some of us were swineherds, and some were tanners, and masons. That was before." A man with a bow squared up the Hound.

"You're still swineherds and tanners and masons. You think carrying a crooked spear makes you a soldier?"

"No… Fighting in a war makes you a soldier," A man with a rag bound around his head stepped forward into the light of the fire.

There was surprise in Sandor's voice, "Beric Dondarrion? You've seen better days."

"And I won't see them again…"

Sandor started looking around the room again, "Stark deserters, Baratheon deserters, you lot aren't fighting in a war you're running from it."

"And I heard you were King Joffrey's guard dog, but here you are a thousand miles from home, which of us is running?"

"Untie these ropes and we'll find out. What are you doing? Leading a mob of peasants…"

"Ned Stark ordered me to execute your brother," Tarynn's heart clenched slightly and Arya glanced at her, "In King Robert's name."

"Ned Stark is dead." Sandor stared straight ahead, as Tarynn felt tears rushing to her eyes. "King Robert is dead, my brother's alive," He spat on the ground, "You're fighting for ghosts."

Dondarrion smirked, "That's what we are. Ghosts. Waiting for you in the dark, you can't see us, but we see you. No matter whose cloak you wear, Lannister, Stark, Baratheon. You prey on the weak, the Brotherhood without Banners will hunt you down."

"You found god? Is that it?"

"Hah, I've been reborn in the light of the one true god. As have we all, as would any man who's seen the things we've seen."

The boy Gendry moved away from them and Tarynn stood, Arya following suit.

"If you mean to murder me then bloody well get on with it?"

The red priest stepped forward, "You'll die soon enough, dog, but it won't be murder only justice."

"And a kinder fate then you deserve, lions you call yourselves, but at the Mummers Ford girls as young as seven were raped. And babes, still on their mothers' breast were cut in two while their mothers watched." The bowman moved closer.

"I wasn't at the Mummers Ford. Dump your dead children at somebody else's door."

Thoros intervened, "House Clegane is built upon dead children. I saw them lay Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaenys before the Iron Throne."

"Do you take me for my brother? Is being born Clegane a crime?" He turned to her as she clutched their son in her arms, she looked down at Edmon, his face was so peaceful and serene and yet he was born a Clegane.

"Murder is a crime!"

"I never touched the Targaryen babes, I never saw them, never smelled them, never heard them bawling. If you want to cut my throat then get on with it…!" The shout echoed around the room, waking up Edmon who let out a loud wail, gently Tarynn rocked him.

"Hush, hush." She looked up as Sandor looked back at her, his eyes pained. She untied the top part of her dress, freeing a breast, before beginning to feed their son.

"…But don't call me murderer and pretend that you're not."

The next thing that happened shocked Tarynn, Arya stepped forward slightly, determination flashing in her eyes, "You murdered Mycah… The butcher's boy, my friend, he was twelve years old, he was unarmed and you rode him down. You slung him over your horse like he was some deer."

Tarynn recoiled at Arya's words. She remembered Mycah who made the unfortunate mistake of befriending Arya, Sandor had killed him, she could recall the disgust she had felt at seeing the boy's lifeless body hanging over Sandor's horse and of her father.

"You killed him."

"He ran."

Beric Dondarrion began walking slowly over to where she and Arya stood as Sandor stared down Arya before glancing at her, "Aye, he was a bleeder."

"You don't deny killing this boy?"

"I was Joffrey's sworn shield, the boy attacked the prince."

"That's a lie! I hit Joffrey…" Arya's voice began to fill with emotion. Tarynn gripped her sister's arm reassuringly, before touching her lightly on the face, her eyes glued to Sandor. "Mycah just ran away."

"Then I should have killed you," A knife went through Tarynn's heart as the man she loved threatened her sister, "It's not my place to question princes'."

Dondarrion gave Arya a long, hard look before turning to face the Hound, "You stand accused of murder, but no one here knows the truth of the charge, so it is not for us to judge you. Only the Lord of Light may do that now. I sentence you to trial by combat."

Tarynn's heart leapt to her throat as she held onto Edmon even tighter.

Sandor turned to look around the room, "So, who will it be? Shall we find out if your fire god really loves you, priest?" Thoros of Myr just stood still with a bemused expression on his face. "Or you archer, or are you worse with a sword in your hand. Or is the little girl the bravest one here." His eyes caught Tarynn's as he acknowledged Arya.

Dondarrion too looked back at Arya, "Aye, she might be… But it's me you'll fight."

Thoros stepped forward, towards the burning fire pit, "Lord, cast your light upon us," The room echoed as the men surrounding her chanted after him as Sandor was freed from his binds, "Show us the truth, strike this man down if he is guilty, give strength to his sword if he is true. Lord of Light give us wisdom for the night is dark, and full of terror," The room echoed with the voices of the Brotherhood.

Sandor was armed with a simple longsword, he flexed and tested its grip, before looking up at her with mournful eyes. She held back the flood of tears that threatened to wash over her cheeks, she had to be strong, for the sake of their baby son. Dondarrion was also armed as he knelt before Thoros. He swiped the blade against the Lighting Lord's hand allowing blood to drip to rise and bubble out of the gash. He cut himself once more and the steel of the blade was set aflame.

She gasped and then looked at Sandor's reaction.

He's terrified. The very reason why he fled King's Landing was because of the flames and now he is faced with his greatest fear.

The Hound was handed a shield and then the fighting commenced.

The terror was visible in Sandor's eyes as steel clashed against steel. As both he and Beric Dondarrion danced the dance of death her breath became shallow with fear and worry. This could be the last time she would ever see Sandor alive. She could witness the death of her beloved this very day. Arya stood up, eager to see the Hound defeated, Tarynn's heart hurt to know that her own flesh and blood would never be able to accept Sandor.

For a while Sandor was on the offensive, until Beric used his fear of fire to his advantage and forced him to defend. He held his shield up, protecting his face as he was backed into the corner, fear etched onto his face as he stared down the fire. Somehow he broke free and Dondarrion's sword swung down dangerously close to her and Edmon who let out a piercing wail at the sound of scraping metal so close to him she held him even closer to her heart.

Sandor looked at her, and then at the bundle against her chest, something snapped inside him. He faced Beric with a new found frenzy, his slashes become more focused as he resumed his fight with Dondarrion.

The battle was equal, neither held the upper ground, and she could tell that Sandor was becoming increasingly enraged the longer that the duel went on. Arya almost got in the way but was pulled back by Thoros who pushed her towards Tarynn. For the rest of the fight she did not release her grip on her sister's arm.

The fight grew more heated as once again Beric gained the upper hand. The men around her began to should guilty when Sandor's shield went up in flames and tears pricked her eyes. She was almost certain that he was going to die. Sandor hacked at the flaming wood but to no avail, the fire leaped and licked against his arm, but he had no choice but to keep on fighting.

Arya's shrill voice rang out beside her, "Kill him!"

Anger gripped Sandor as he fought back, each strike growing with power, until with a mighty blow he cleaved Dondarrion's sword in two his sword sliding through Beric.

The Lightning Lord slumped to the ground whilst Thoros, at first frozen in shock, rushed towards him.

"Lord cast your light upon this magnificent servant, bring him back to life from death, his flame has been extinguished restore it."

Sandor was rolling around in agony trying to put the flames out, she stood, taking a couple of steps towards him and letting go of her sister's arm.

Arya screamed in anger, pulling a knife from the belt of a man who had been standing behind them, and began to run towards Sandor. "Arya, don't"

Tarynn ran too Edmon tightly in her grasp, falling to her knees beside Sandor, putting herself between him and Arya. The boy Gendry grabbed her sister, "No! Let go of me! Let me go!"

Gingerly Tarynn touched Sandor's face, she knew that this act of tenderness would not go unnoticed, he looked up and smirked sadly, "Looks like your god prefers me instead of your butcher's boy."

His gaze was directed at Arya who was struggling in Gendry's grip, "Burn in hell!" Tarynn winced but turned her attentions to Sandor. Placing Edmon on top of his chest plate. With his undamaged hand he moved his son into the crook of his arm.

"He will," Everyone in the room stopped shuffling, stopped speaking, Sandor looked up in a daze but Tarynn did not stop trying to pull off the blackened gauntlet he was wearing. "But not today." She felt a hand placed on her shoulder and she looked up, looked up into the face of a dead man, her face when white as she gripped Sandor's arm tightly. "Take Arya and calm her down." Then he barked a louder order, "All of you out!" The men marched out of the room, their faces solemn.

She watched as her sister was carried out of the room, kicking and struggling, before turning to face Beric Dondarrion again. "I watched you die… I… How is that even possible?" So many questions ran through her mind.

She stood slowly, Sandor grunted in pain and a thin wail pierced through the room, Edmon was awake.

Dondarrion looked at the bawling child, "That is not the son of Renly Baratheon…" he looked straight in her eyes, "Is it."

He didn't state it like a question, and what was the point in continuing the lie if the truth had already been discovered, she glanced at Sandor who stared up at her cradling their son as best he could. Her eyes did not leave his as she admitted the true birth right of her son. "No, he isn't, his father is Sandor Clegane of House Clegane. My son should rightly be known as Edmon Hoster Clegane."

She turned back to Dondarrion who had a thoughtful expression on his face, she had thought she would see disgust or hatred, but no. The Lightning Lord simply nodded and gestured for Thoros to come forward. "The parentage of your child is no concern of ours Lady Baratheon. We do not judge those on where they have come from only on what they have done. Your secret is safe."

Tarynn exhaled the breath she had been holding, "I… Thank you."

Beric held up a hand, "I knew your father Lady Baratheon, he was a good man, a decent man and I know that those qualities have passed on to you and through you to your son despite who his father may be… However we cannot let you leave. We will escort you and your sister to Riverrun. To your brother. Lie to him if you wish, we will not dispute your claims…"

"We swear it on the flames of R'hollor."

"However... The Hound cannot stay with us, he may have won his trial by combat but he is still a king's man, even if he has fled King's Landing. We cannot trust him."

Tarynn looked at Sandor as he held their son, "I trust him Ser Dondarrion, I would not of had a child by him if I did not think he a man of worth, please allow him to travel with us."

Beric bent down and scooped up Edmon into his arms. Her son stopped crying and stared up at the undead man. The Lightning Lord paused for a moment before handing him over to her. "I cannot, will not, allow it." She began to protest but he held up a gloved hand.

"He is a danger to us all Tarynn. Especially to you."