A/N: So I have taken some events from the show and changed them to fit with my story and then added a few events of my own. Thank you to tommyginger for the inspiration for this chapter and to everyone else who follows and reviews! I do not own any characters.

It wasn't until they saw sunlight make its appearance over the horizon that the weary fugitives stopped a second time. Sandor could see how exhausted Sansa had become in the way she carried herself while riding, but she never once complained. Strong Little Bird. Not too many men could have survived what she went through last night. He saw her heavy eyelids threatening to close, so Sandor jumped off of Stranger to help her down from the saddle. Before he could take one step towards Sansa, Ned was already at her side and carefully taking her into his arms. Seven hells.

He carried her several yards away from where the horses stood and found a fallen tree that would serve as a decent resting spot. Careful, so as not to cause further injury, Ned set Sansa down on the ground and walked back to the horses to go through the saddlebags Varys had packed for them. Sandor was nearby tending to Stranger and smiled when he looked into his own bags and saw that his tourney winnings had not been left behind. At least I can buy us some decent food at the first flea infested Inn we come across.

Although Varys had been considerate and generous when packing their saddlebags, some things were sorely lacking. Hard bread, dried meat, and piss poor wine was the best that could be scrounged up, but would keep on such a long journey. He couldn't complain, though. Their situation could have been much worse.

Sandor glanced to his side and saw Ned was distracted with tying his horse to a tree, so he picked out the best of the food from his own bags and walked over to Sansa. She was staring down at her hands and did not move when Sandor sat down next to her. Several minutes passed and she still showed no intention of acknowledging his presence. She has to eat something or the poor girl will get sick. Sandor held out the food in front of her and that gesture earned him a small, sad smile. Sansa took the bread and began to nibble on it, but then suddenly stopped.

"Sandor, I feel so guilty. None of us would be on the run if it weren't for me. I am so sorry." Tears fell from her eyes and the sight broke his heart. She was about to say something else, but stopped herself from continuing. He could sense she was holding something back.

"Little Bird, whatever it is you can trust me. Tell me what's wrong"

Sansa looked almost ashamed and she bowed her head. In a quiet voice she muttered, "No, I cannot. Please let me be." She began to cry in earnest and her heart wrenching sobs reached Ned's ears. He looked towards his daughter and saw the Hound sitting next to her. I am going to kill that man if he has upset Sansa. Grabbing a warm cloak out of the bags, Ned walked over to the fallen tree and knelt down just as Sandor reached out to her.

"Sansa, what—," Sandor started, but was cut short when Sansa lifted her head and spotted her father kneeling in front of her. She lunged forward into Ned's arms and kept saying over and over, "Father please forgive me! I am so sorry. Forgive me. This is all my fault."

Ned looked taken back and wrapped his arms around his sobbing daughter. Looking up, he saw pain and confusion in the Hound's eyes. Sandor stood up and stormed off into the trees, taking his sword with him. When he was out of sight, Ned began to calm Sansa down and held her close. I could have lost this. Thank the Gods we were able to escape.

A half hour passed before Ned began to speak. "Sansa, nothing is your fault sweet girl. We should have never gone to Kings Landing in the first place. Your wise mother tried to tell me that we were walking into the lion's den, but I wouldn't listen."

Sansa lifted her head from his chest and looked at him, shocked that her father would ever make a mistake and admit to it.

"Truly?"

"Yes. I will never forgive myself for what happened to you while I was locked away. I only know what you told me as Varys would not give any information that did not have to do with his own plans. Sansa, I have to know," Ned paused and gulped down a breath of air, "what did they do to you?"

Sansa surprised Ned by sitting straight up and looking into his eyes. Her look was hard and the innocence in her eyes was gone, but it was the coldness in her voice that shocked him.

"They hit me on Joffrey's orders. Sometimes he liked to watch and other times those knights would seek me out just to push me around for a good laugh. The day Joffrey learned how many men Robb had called in, he sent Ser Meryn and Ser Boros to fetch me from my rooms. It was nighttime and most of the court had already gone to bed, but he summoned them just the same." Her eyes stared off into nothing as if they were seeing the events of the past replay in front of her. Sansa paused for a moment and Ned said nothing, not wanting to push her. "He had me stripped and beaten in front of all those people. They would hit me with mailed hands or the edge of a sword. You can still see those marks on my legs."

Sansa lifted the edge of her skirt up just enough so Ned could see the red lines on her calf above her boot. He stared in disbelief and horror at what he saw. How could those monsters have done this to an innocent girl? He didn't have a chance to say anything as Sansa continued.

"When Joffrey heard that Robb was actually going to marching on Kings Landing, he had me whipped for helping my traitor brother. 'But don't scar my lady's skin too badly' he had told Ser Meryn. 'I still want her to be pretty'. He tore the back of my dress and whipped me until I passed out. Those marks are still raw."

Sansa pulled on the edge of her dress so the top of her back could be seen. Ned was hesitant to look, but needed to see what had been done to his daughter. He leaned forward and pushed Sansa's long hair to the side, gasping when he finally saw it. Ser Meryn didn't just whip her, he could have easily taken her life. There were criss crossed marks all over her back. Some were shallow and others cut deeper into the skin, but they were all bleeding slightly due to the fabric of the dress rubbing against them. They never had a chance to heal properly. Sansa pulled away and looked at Ned once more.

"They constantly threatened to rape me and I had to keep up with my courtesies. Eating with them and talking with them as if nothing was wrong. It was torture."

Ned pulled Sansa into his arms once more, mindful not to put any pressure on her back.

"You don't have to worry about them any more Sansa. I will protect you now and forever. You are safe with me and soon we will be back at Winterfell, far away from the Lannisters and Kings Landing."

Sansa smiled and buried her head into Ned's shoulder. He felt sick at what those honorable men had made his daughter suffer through. One day we will have our revenge. They stayed that way until Ned heard a twig snap. He looked up and saw the Hound walking towards them.

"Time to move Stark. Best be on our way before they figure out where we are."

Ned stood up and helped Sansa to her feet, noticing that she was unsteady and barely able to hold herself up.

"Sansa, I think it is best you ride with me for the time being. You can get some rest as we won't be stopping for a long time."

She didn't say anything as Ned helped her into the saddle and pulled himself up behind her. Sandor grumbled something to himself as he seated himself on Stranger. He looked towards Sansa and couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. My Little Bird should be riding with me. Ned's voice broke his thoughts.

"Clegane, I want to travel closer to the king's road. I believe we have covered our tracks well enough for now."

Sandor laughed. "And why would we do that? Afraid of getting lost in the woods with the Hound?!"

Ned was becoming irritated, but kept his calm. "No. A friend of mine helped Arya escape and if I am correct, we should run into them during our journey North. I will see all my family back at Winterfell if it is the last thing I do."

Littlefinger sat in his solar, looking over some papers when a knock disrupted his thoughts. He motioned towards his servant to let the man in. Without looking up from his work, Littlefinger asked, "I hope you have brought me some good news my friend."

A raspy voice answered. "Oh indeed milord! You will be pleased to see this. Found it in one of those rooms you told me about under the castle." The tiny man tossed a small bundle onto the table, causing some of the papers to fall to the floor. Annoyed, Littlefinger sighed and looked at the parcel wrapped in rough fabric. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the man and threw a pouch towards him.

"10 gold dragons as promised. Now, I ask that you keep quiet about this."

"You can trust me milord," the man said while greedily looking through the bag. He was too busy counting the coins to notice that another man was in the room. This other man stepped forward and drew a sharp knife across his throat, slicing him from ear to ear. Littlefinger looked on as the tiny man's life was extinguished.

"Clean this up and keep the gold for yourself. I will be contacting you again."

As the tiny man was dragged from the room, Littlefinger carefully opened the rough spun fabric and smiled when he saw its contents. He fingered the torn slippers and thought to himself, so she is alive after all.