Chapter 25

Sandor Clegane felt fucking lighter just as he passed the fucking gate, not a care in the world...

Few moments after he passed King's Gate, he led Stranger further North to King's Road. He guessed with Leana's condition, surely Lord Stark would took the safest and easiest road – the King's Road, straight to Winterfell. He estimated that they would be near Harrenhall or The Trident by the time he reached them.

It took him barely an hour from the moment the King released him from the Kingsguard until he reached the King's gate, all his possessions that he deemed important and coins for the trip were bundled on Stranger's rump. He uprooted his life which was meaningless without her.

He longed to see her face when she first saw him, Leana would jumped into his arms. He wanted her in his arms, in his life.

Sandor Clegane rode hard and as always Stranger had no problem with his speed. He hardly been ridden by him for quite some time, and seemed anxious for fast ride; the Stallion went full speed when he urged him. His beast never disappointed him.

"Come boy," He said to his horse, he knew he was five days behind them, but with Stranger, he will be able to catch up with them in less than a fortnight. He couldn't get it out of his head; what Ser Barristan said to him that the Queen's wrath will follow, he'll be damn if all after all these, he'd lost his wife.

=/n

At King's road

Leana was in better shape, one week past the journey she seemed better, she started eating and drinking. She told her uncle that she would like to ride with them and he said yes. They rode side by side as they talked.

They had to travel slower than Ned Stark would like to, but he was so damned relieved that Leana was better that he did whatever possible to made her comfortable and happy – even though his instinct was telling him otherwise. He thought at least she wasn't cowering and sleeping in the carriage anymore.

Her Uncle Ned told her had what happened after she left Winterfell; how her father joined the Night's Watch, barely a week after he reached home. Little Rickon was borne, he is four years old now, Robb was married and he had a one year old girl. Her Cousin Sansa was married to the Bolton four years ago, cousin Arya was still as wild as ever along with Jon Snow. He knew she was closest to Jon Snow, his bastard son.

He told her that they had four dire wolf pups borne before he left Winterfell, he hoped that she could helped take care of them, an attempt to make her less sad about losing White.

She told him how her Uncle Tyrion protected and took care of her, how the imp loved her. She spoke about Bronn and how her White was killed. How she kept practicing her archery. Her Uncle Ned didn't like the fact that she roamed around brothel house from the age of twelve; she said to him that Sandor wasn't happy about that either and he made her promised not to visit the brothels anymore. But mentioning his name made her sad, so they stopped talking about him.

"Uncle, I am carrying a Clegane," she said to him.

"We'll raise the child with love and honor, Leana. It doesn't matter whether he or she is a Clegane or Stark or Lannister,"

"The Lannisters hate me,"

"Not all of them,"

"Tyrion,"

"All these years, he kept us informed. He said we couldn't send you raven because it's not safe but he kept us informed all these years..." Ned Stark shared his secret with her.

"I didn't know," She was shocked.

"People are going to treat him differently, an outcast like me...it's a Clegane," she said with bitterness.

"We love you, Leana...and the babe. When your mother was at Winterfell, we loved her, she spent a lot of time with your Aunt Cat...she made your Aunt Cat promised that she'll take good care of you..."

He continued, "Clegane loves you Leana,"

"I don't want to talk about him, please Uncle Ned."

"Clegane made his choice, so that you and the babe live."

That night when they stopped to rest in the Inn, her uncle told her that many people loved and were waiting for her, wanting the best for her, although he decided not to tell her about Lord Beric. She had enough burdens in her mind.

Ned Stark recalled when Leana was six, Benjen was badly injured. The little thing did not leave his side, but she didn't cry either. His Maester Luwin declared that the little girl acted like she was sixty instead of six.

His son Robb told him that Leana said his father was injured and she had no mother to take care of him, so she had to stop playing for a while. A lump in his throat, Leana fully understood that that her father was alone, if not for her.

He walked to Benjen's apartments, he opened the door and true to what the Maester and Robb said to him...He saw the six year old crawled up to her father who was lying in bed and said to him and she'd never leave him, she'd never get married and have babies, she'd stay with him forever in Winterfell for happily ever after. He saw his brother cried and hugged his daughter, as he stepped back and leave the father and daughter alone.

Benjen Stark loved his daughter, he knew that very soon he had to abandon her at Casterly Rock and after six years...he was still mourning for his wife.

Behind closed door, he felt tears on his eyes; he heard his brother cried while his daughter coaxed him, the little girl told him not to cry as the stiches might come undone. He knew that his brother wasn't crying for his fucking wounds and stiches...

His bother Benjen, never took another wife, he had a lot of marriage offer, he was a good looking man, still young, with Stark as his last name. He finally understood why Benjen wanted Leana to be promised to Lord Beric, so if he passed, his daughter would be taken care off.

He told Leana that even Ser Barristan sent raven to Winterfell to save her from the Queen, imagined what would happen to him if the Queen found out and King Robert wasn't at King's Landing. He could lose his head.

"Ser Barristan was very kind to me, Uncle Ned." She said to him, as she remembered begging the man in tears when he dragged her to the Throne hall to marry Sandor; she cried shamelessly like a little girl and said to the Lord Commander that she didn't want to be married and all she wanted was to go home.

She shook her head and smile for her silliness, when Sandor helped her up in front of the septum, her face was drenched in tears and she remembered wailing to him that she didn't wish to be married and would like to go home. Sandor said nothing - he just looked at her while he wiped her tears.

If only she knew then how good Sandor would be to her, how loved and protected she was...she would have run down the aisle herself to marry the big brute. Her husband never touched her in anger, the worse he did to her was shouting. Without realizing, her hand reached for her Hound necklace, "Sandor," she called for him. Can you hear me?

=/n

Before she realized, they had been travelling for almost two weeks. She noticed that her uncle was still tense. He man hardly slept; she could see it from his eyes.

"Uncle Ned, what are you worrying about? What is wrong?" she asked as she edged closer and placed her head on his shoulder. She could felt his short beard on her forehead, she remembered when she was a child he used to rubbed his beard on her cheeks to tease her.

"We are not safe yet, girl. It is only half way to Winterfell, still a long way to go." He circled his arm on her shoulder.

Leana looked up and smiled at him, "King Robert gave us his blessing. Uncle, do you think suddenly the Lannisters will attack and kill us all?"

Ned Stark laughed, "No love." It's true, Robert gave them his blessing and he specifically said anyone who stopped them will be branded traitors; head on spike!

"Take it easy uncle. Please...You haven't slept much, you look tired. Aunt Cat would be most upset if you got sick,"

"You are right. I am an old man, just a little nervous that I am not home," He appeased Leana. He did not wish to scare her, the Queen would not stop just because the King said so, for she was a Lannister with the gold coins that ravel the King.

"Uncle, do you think father will come and see me?"

"Yes, I am sure, child. We'll send raven to the night watch as soon as you arrive in Winterfell." He promised her. "Your father is the first Ranger, Leana. He's in good standing with the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch."

Lord Eddard Stark watched his beloved niece chat with Jory and his men, she was still the same, a happy funny girl who was adored by everyone. The girl was a survivor.

She almost gave him a heart attack yesterday morning; they just finish breaking their fast. She dragged him away from his stead; all she said was, "Uncle Ned, I want to show you something,"

That 'something' was a large golden jewelled chest she brought with her from King's Landing, he shouted in shock when she showed her what was in it! He saw thousands of silver stags coins and dragon gold coins, along with some precious stones.

"Leana..." he was speechless.

"The chest is from my Uncle Tyrion when I turned sixteen. And when I was married, The Queen bitch gave me jewelleries and stones which I've sold in King's Landing. I hate her, I don't want to keep her stones, but I thought we could use some coins...those stones fetched quite a lot of coins..." she continued to chirp.

He looked at his niece, "Don't curse Leana, your father will still tanned your arse." And she grinned cheekily at him. How he missed her dearly.

Ned Stark wondered how her life turned out if she was never brought by her father to Casterly Rock. What would happen to her if she stayed in Winterfell along with his children?

Knowing his friend, Lord Beric would visit Winterfell to court his niece and by sixteen or seventeen she would have been happily married to the young Lord; no doubt enlightening his life with sons and daughters; she'd be the Lady of Blackhaven. He knew that Beric would love and honour her.

He remembered the day Benjen come to his work chamber, Leana was recovering from a fever, she was barely four. The girl was tough, she didn't fret for one bit. It was his wife who fretted for her.

Benjen sat in front of him and said. "Brother, I need to find someone good and strong and gentle for my daughter, who would love her and take care of her."

He remembered laughing and told his brother, that his daughter was only four but he stopped laughing when he heard him.

"My wife is dead, if I am dead, Leana will be an orphan." And Benjen walked out, before he had to chance to tell him that Cat and he loved Leana like their own daughter.

It was Benjen who asked him if he could ask for Beric Donarrion to take Leana as a wife when she was of age. He knew the man well, an heir to Blackhaven. Beric visited Winterfell quite often under his father's command. He said yes to Benjen, Leana was only five.

Fate decided otherwise...

He was still looking inside the chest, "These are not..."

She knew what he wanted to say, "No, these are not Sandor's, Uncle Ned. He never cared for what I have, I left our coins in King's Landing...and I want you to keep these for me in Winterfell."

His niece was bloody rich, she had as much coins as Winterfell but she seemed to have no idea about it; she could have hired a private army to protect these coins but no, she wanted him to keep them for her. If his niece was as rich as him – an outcast in the Lannister's clan - he feared how rich the Lannisters were and the power that came along with their coins.

/n

The following night they stopped at an inn along the Kingsroad; it was not a big inn but it would do. They set up tent around the inn. Leana didn't realise how much she missed a real bed and a good bath until she had one.

As she stripped naked for her bath, she saw her stomach, it's showed now, it's slightly bigger, she almost couldn't see her feet anymore, she smiled – if only Sandor was there. Last night she felt her babe moved for the first time.

She heard a knock at the door, "Leana,"

"Come in, uncle."

Her Uncle Ned entered her room, he was dressed in his simple tunic but still with a long sword on his leather belt "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes uncle, thank you. We will sleep well tonight."

Ned Stark saw the Hound black steel helmet right next to her pillow, he walked closer and took the helmet in his hand, a beast of a helmet, as he studied the steel.

"Sandor gave it to me...he wants me to have it." He heard her explained.

The Hound loved his niece and she loved him as much, they were paying for the hatred the Lannisters and Starks had for each other. There was nothing he could do about it right now and his concern was her safety.

"Go to sleep Leana. We will ride hard tomorrow morning. I want us across the border by tomorrow nightfall. You will stay in the carriage, alright?"

"Yes, I will uncle."

"Good night, love."

"Good night, uncle."

Candles were burning, she was in bed with clean sheet, it was heavenly – the only thing missing was Sandor, how she wished he was there, she was used to have him next to her, in his arms – feeling safe and warm, he'd never let anything happened to her and the babe. Before Sandor she had her White, she never slept alone before.

She touched the Dog helmet next to her pillow, as if she was touching his face, "Good night Sandor," she whispered to herself. She was worried about him, she wondered how he fares? Did the Queen punish him?

She shook her head. No...no, it won't happened. King Robert is at King's landing...he won't allow it!

Her chamber was fairly bright from the candles she requested, she heard people chattering under her window. Her uncle was only a couple of rooms away. She heard Jory talking to his men, splitting them in shift to guard through the night – she felt her babe moved a couple of time, how she wished her Sandor had the opportunity to felt his child moved.

She could only imagine how happy he would when he felt their babe move. She could only imagine – his large palm covering her belly as he felt the babe kicked, Sandor would smile. Not many people knew, but her Sandor had a sweet smile, she saw it often; he would have such pride and happiness in his eyes...how she missed him.

She smirked sadly, telling herself to stop imagining things; she would never see him again...

Soon after she was lulled into sleep; I'll be home soon, safe. My life will change for the better. My child would have a better life than his father. Every day I would tell him what kind of a man his father was, how good, how strong and yet how gentle he was. My child would have a Clegane as a name, to honour his father.

=/n

Leana was awaken by a loud bang of doors, window and flickers of the candles around her, it was a windy night. She hugged her pillow and snuggled closer, her other hand touched Sandor's helmet – it was very cold to the touch. Her chamber was bright from dozens of candles she had burning.

She raised her blanket to her chin, she was wearing her short white muslin which was perfect for King's Landing and it wasn't warm enough there; her eyes closing and was about to fell asleep again when she heard a screeching scream, someone was screaming in pain.

She sat right up, trying to shake her sleepiness, then she heard her uncle called for her from his chamber and she heard footsteps before her Uncle Ned barged into her room. He might be panicking and was there to check on her.

Only, it wasn't her uncle, it was her brother in law, Gregor Clegane...stood menacingly, filling up the door frame. Looking down at her with a cruel smile on his face. "Leana Clegane...We meet again, my sweet."

TBC

HOLY CRAPOLLA!

HOLY SHIT!

REVIEWS ARE LOVED! Thanks for the review posted: The Unfamiliar, atiketook, Guest, melkS, Lightan117, wartcap and CaroH99!