Chapter 21

Leana stayed in Tyrion's Quarter until she was startled by knocks on the door; Ser Barristan called for her, "Leana, you are summoned by the King,"

The Lord Commander looked at the girl with fondness and worry, not knowing what was to be of her. The King arrived – furious, with Lord Eddard Stark in tow. He knew the King would have a shock of his life when he saw her face.

Ser Barristan was greeted by an embrace from a pregnant lady. Leana knew that it was not proper, but she didn't care. She was so happy and she was thankful that he was good to her. She was dreading that it would be Gregor again behind the door.

"Thank you," She whispered.

"It was my pleasure, Leana."

"Your uncle is here with the King and he doesn't look like a man who will go home without what he came for." Lord Eddard Stark face was sour and grim and it got worse as they walked closer to the Throne hall, he looked agitated.

The King didn't even bother with resting in his quarter after the long trip. All he said to him when he arrived was,"summon everyone to the Throne room, NOW...and get Lady Stark, last."

"He is taking me home," she looked at the kind Lord Commander, "Will you please take care of Sandor – for me."

"I will, Leana." The Lord Commander said to her and wiped tears from her eyes, "Don't cry, it's not good for the babe,"

They both walked briskly to the Throne hall; she was stopped by the Lord Commander before she entered the hall, "Child, listen to me. They are all in there; those who love you and those who hate you. They are all in there...are you ready?"

"I am Ser, I am going home. Winter is coming." Ser Barristan nodded and opened the doors, walked in behind her.

Leana Clegane walked toward the Iron Throne with the Lord Commander behind her but she searched for his hand, she wanted him to walk beside her, the man gave her comfort. One by one she saw them, she saw them all...those who loved her and those who hated her. How she hated the Throne Hall.

The King, the Queen, Sandor her husband, the Mountain, Joffrey, Baelish, Lord Varys, her Uncle Tyrion, Bronn, the Kingsguards and then finally, her Uncle Ned; along with the Royals' bannerman.

The Hound Stood to the left side of the King while The Mountain stood to the right side of the Queen. She saw him with his full helmet on; he looked menacing, not like the man she knew. Her Uncle Ned stood near the King and when he saw her, he walked toward her and Leana ran to his embrace.

Lord Eddard Stark couldn't wait to see his beloved niece, he waited impatiently and looked for her when he heard the massive bronze doors opened. He saw her...he saw his Leana, his niece, she was like his own daughter. No longer a little girl who was donned in her night shift with tears on her face; gone were her chubby adorable face and black messy unruly hair who ran around with his own children in Winterfell, ten long years ago.

Ned Stark saw a beautiful young lady with long black hair which she inherited from his brother, Benjen – a dead replica of his dead sister Lyanna. Leana was slightly shorter and smaller than Lyanna, she was a true Stark with green eyes...then he saw it and his blood boiled; his niece...his niece was already with child. No...He thought what kind of life she suffered with the Hound as her husband?

"Uncle Ned," She sobbed as she took solace in his embrace.

"It's alright girl. I am taking you home," he tried his best to hide his shock as he saw that she was with child. It didn't matter, what matter is that she will be home – soon. Ned Stark saw a glimpse of fear of rejection from her green eyes.

"It doesn't matter, girl. We love you and we love your child. Your aunt Cat can't wait to see you...She will have my head if I don't bring you back," he kissed her head and hugged her tightly as he tried to make her smile. How he wished Benjen was there, even though he was somehow relieved that he wasn't as he would definitely draw his sword for their Lannister Queen.

Leana looked at her uncle, he looked much older and weary, but still with the same kind loving eyes; he still made her felt safe and loved. "I failed you girl, I am so sorry. Your father is sorry. You hear me? He is sorry." She saw tears in his eyes and she nodded.

"I just want to go home..." she pleaded in her cries, "Don't leave without me, Uncle Ned."

Few steps away from the Iron Throne, Leana remembered her decorum, "My King, My Queen," She greeted them.

Robert was seething mad with the woman standing next to him – until he saw Leana without her mask. "You...you...you look like her. Ned! Her face..." King Robert was in shock, Cercei was looking at her King.

"Benjen decided on the mask, to keep her safe. She does look like my sister, your Grace...I haven't seen her for more than ten years," The more Lord Stark spoke the angrier he become at the woman standing next to Robert. His niece was treated badly, abused mentally and physically, forced to marry the Hound and pregnant with his child. She wasn't treated kindly too at Casterly Rock.

"Come closer, Leana." King Robert called for her.

She let go of her uncle and walked up the small steps to her King, "My King,"

All Robert did was looked at her face, then he closed his eyes and said to her, "You looked like your aunt Lyanna," He rasped.

"I don't remember my aunt, your grace. I am sorry." Robert nodded and he looked at her belly with pity...The Hound's pup.

She saw the look of pity from the man, Instead of feeling embarrassed of carrying the Hound's pup, she smiled at him. She loved her pup, "Can I go home, your Grace?"

King Robert smiled at her. Lyanna's ghost will hunt him until the day he died if he turned his back on her.

"How dare you assume that you'll go home?" Cercei hissed venomously. Now that she realised her niece looked like Lyanna Stark, she hated her even more.

"Shut up, woman!" Robert warned her; his voice bitter and venomous. All the nobles and knights were shocked with how angry the King was. They could almost feel the wrath emanating from the man.

"I want the marriage annulled, your grace," Lord Stark looked at the Hound who stood behind his King.

"She is with child...are you blind Lord Stark?" Cercei looked at Lord Stark with hatred.

The court heard a sharp noise; and they saw the Queen stepped backward. King Robert stood and slapped his Queen – on her cheek.

Sandor Clegane felt a breeze of cool air to his fiery heart, he let go a breath of pleasure. He saw Leana and Lord Stark were taken back by the King's reaction. He smirked in satisfaction, it was long due.

"YOU! You marry Lady Stark without my permission! You marry my niece! Lord Eddard Stark's niece without my blessing! HOW DARE YOU!" Robert spat his wrath in his court. It was silence as a grave, no one dared talk.

"She is my niece!" Cercei fought back, her cheek was stinging red.

"YOU HATE HER! You abused her! You marry her out of spite! TO MY HOUND OF THE HOUSE CLEGANE. Do you take me for stupid?! Woman!" He roared. He knew Clegane was the Lannisters' vassal but The Hound was his Kingsguard.

"You sided with the Stark?" she asked him dangerously.

Lord Eddard Stark said in anger to the Queen "You placed her in dungeons! You abused her! You married my niece to the Clegane! The House death of Clegane, a vassal to the Lannisters!"

"How dare you?! You never wanted Leana. She was dumped at my door step! Your brother married my sister without my father's blessing! She was to marry a High Garden!" Cercei pointed at Leana, "She killed my sister! And my father was never the same!"

"She was beaten! She was a child! Not even a Greyjoy in my house is treated that way! You married my niece to a killer! She is your own blood. She is a Stark of Winterfell! She is a Lannister too! How could you?!" Ned Stark shouted back at his Queen.

"I could have your head for..."

"ENOUGH! ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!" Robert shouted and cursed loudly.

Sandor Clegane wished he could hold his wife, she looked lost and scared, covering her belly in a bid to protect their child amongst the fights and bickers. He saw his Lord Commander stepped closer to Leana in an attempt to make her feel safer, the man's loyalty was to their Baratheon King, not the Lannister Queen.

Moments after.

Stating the obvious, as he knew what his damn wife planned, "Ned, I can't have the marriage annulled. Leana is with child," King Robert decided, he saw Leana back in her uncle's arms.

"Leana, do you still want to return to Winterfell?"

"Yes, your grace."

"Clegane can't go with you...He is Kingsguard." Robert looked into her eyes after he glared at his Queen who broke the Kingsguard's oath. He still couldn't believe what she had done to them both.

"Yes, your grace. He made his choice," She looked at Sandor, who was unmoved by the incidents in front of him. He refused to look at her. His face cold with no expression covered with his opened helmet.

"Hound, are you letting your wife and unborn child walked away? You might never see them again. Your child will grow up without knowing his father. Your child might be given a Stark as a name..." King Robert wanted to be fair, this man needed to know the consequences.

"Your grace, she belonged in Winterfell," Sandor answered his Baratheon King saw his look on him.

A commotion grew amongst the audiences, they couldn't believe their ears. He let her go? What kind of a father he is. The monster has no feeling. Good for her for getting away from him.

Ser Barristan looked at the man's cold gaze, he knew he loved the girl. For first time in his life the Hound learnt the meaning of sacrifice. The Lord Commander was sure that he man would rather have his face burn again than to let Leana go, but...this time he had no choice.

The Queen looked like she could spew blood and fire, looking at the Hound who stood still, emotionless behind the King. "You would let the Starks raised your child?!" She hissed to Sandor. "Take your wife?! You will NEVER see them again!"

King Robert looked at The Hound with sympathy – but this has to be done, he'd deal with him later, "Quiet woman!" He warned her.

"Ned, go before I change my mind," Robert said to his friend, "Leave before sundown, take Leana with you, she is free to leave."

"Thank you, your grace," Leana closed her eyes as her uncle thanked the King. She looked at her husband face – nothing...she was heartbroken.

As she walked out the Throne, she smiled sadly at Lord Varys who smiled and bow as she made her way, the eunuch was kind to her, despite what people said about him.

"Anyone trying to stop them will be branded as traitors and I will have their heads on spikes," King Robert's voice boomed as looked at his Queen.

Sandor Clegane could breathe better, his wife and unborn child were safe. He saw Lord Stark hugged his wife and took her with him, exiting the Throne hall; he saw her looking back at him. First time in his life, he knew the meaning of losing someone that meant everything to him.

He will never see her face or hear her laugh again, never touch her again; he'd never hear the first cry of his unborn child. I am a husband...I am father, he reminded himself like a desperate prayer...over and over and over again as he stood and watch her leave.

You should have never been dumped at Casterly Rock...you should have never been dragged like a prisoner to marry me and bear my child...I am a dirty dog. I love you, Leana.

How many men, women and children had he killed without remorse? It is the price he had to pay for his sins. They are his atonement.

TBC

Sorry guys, things will go ugly, please don't hate me

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PinkiPanda, Guest, Frenzy in delirium, The Unfamiliar and Lightan117