The Hound saddled and bridled all three horses and packed everything on them, keeping himself and the animals between the girls and Brienne and her squire. That done, Sansa and Arya took out enough food for the five of them and set it out, withdrawing behind Sandor before inviting Brienne and Podrick to sit. The woman and her squire traded glances as Sandor stood between them and the girls, who sat closer to their horses than their guests. Sansa seemed fairly at ease, but Arya ate with one hand on her sword and the Hound seemed ready to pounce at the smallest threatening movement.
"Yes, well, this is a lovely day, isn't it?" asked Podrick. Four sets of eyes turned to him and he subsided, concentrating on his food.
"You wanted to talk," Sandor said. "Talk."
"Perhaps it looks bad, carrying a sword that was a gift from Jaime Lannister," Brienne started, not making the mistake of overlooking the Hound this time. She realized she had to convince the man as well as the girls that she was to be trusted and she divided her attention between him and the sisters. Casting her mind over all that had happened, she told of how Catelyn had ordered her to take Jaime to King's Landing to save his life, out of fear that his execution would cause the Lannisters to kill Sansa in retaliation. She talked about their travels, touching briefly on the attempted rape that Jaime had stopped, and his mutilation, noticing for the first time a softening in Sandor's face. He remained silent, and Brienne continued with their arrival in King's Landing and her relief at finding Sansa there. "At least you were safe, my lady."
"I wasn't," said Sansa coldly. "I was forced to marry Tyrion Lannister. And I was so afraid of Joffrey…" Her eyes filled with tears and the Hound's hand tightened on his sword.
"I am sorry, my lady," said Brienne softly. "After the wedding, after you fled, Jaime Lannister asked me to find you and take you home."
"Why?" asked Sandor. "Why should Jaime Lannister care what happened?"
"He's a changed man." Brienne tried to think of what to say to explain what Jaime was like now, but all the words that came to her sounded hollow and she shook her head helplessly. "There's nothing I can say will make you understand, but I swear on my honor, he gave me this sword to protect these girls."
"And what will you do now?" asked Sansa. "Now that you see we have a protector and we don't need you?"
Brienne chose her next words very carefully. "My lady, if you will permit me, I would ask permission to travel with you." She met Sandor's eyes. "Your reputation as a warrior extends over the Seven Kingdoms, but you are only one man. If something were to happen to you, these girls would be left all alone."
Sandor frowned, thinking of his recent illness. He knew he could easily have died, and the thought of his own mortality coupled with the responsibility he carried for Sansa and Arya's safety weighed heavily on him. If this woman could be trusted, he could share that responsibility. And if he were to fall, the sisters would still have someone to watch over them.
"You will give us time to talk," he said finally.
"Of course," Brienne replied. She watched as Sansa and Arya got to their feet and walked behind the horses with Sandor, and she didn't miss the way the girls looked at him, their expressions of absolute trust, even affection. Was that affection returned? She couldn't tell-the Hound's scarred face was impossible to read, but whatever he felt, his actions were fiercely protective.
The blond woman sighed. She supposed that she of all people in Westeros should know that a man's reputation is not all there is to him, after getting so close to Jaime Lannister and learning what kind of man he really was. Whatever the Hound's fearsome reputation, there was obviously more to him than common report spoke of.
Sandor came out from behind the horses followed by Sansa and Arya. "You can travel with us." Brienne got to her feet, smiling, and he said harshly, "If I ever have reason to doubt you, I'll kill you and your friend here. I won't even think about it." The sisters regarded Brienne gravely, obviously in complete agreement with the Hound's threat, and she bowed her head.
"I accept your terms." She turned to Podrick. "Get the saddlebags."
The Hound's eyes narrowed. "Where are your horses?"
Brienne raised her eyebrows at Podrick and he turned red. "I didn't hobble them properly and they ran off."
Sandor looked outraged. "No horses? We'd have to travel at foot pace, and if we're attacked…"
"Stop complaining," said Arya. "You've got plenty of money-you can buy a couple of horses." She and Sansa mounted their horses and Sandor swung up into his own saddle.
"Aye, I can buy horses for our new friends. Is there anything else I should get?"
"I need a new pair of boots. These are too tight."
"Give them to me and I'll cut the toes off for you."
Sansa smiled at Brienne. "You'll get used to that."
The blond woman smiled back. "I suppose I will."
