Chapter 49

After the incident with Xander's burn, Sandor had a hawk eye on his boy. Guilt was eating him alive and he blamed himself for the incident – that night, after Xander dozed off from milk of the Poppy, he admitted to Leana that he was distracted and the boy wondered off.

Their son fretted for a whole week, he wanted to touch and scratch his burn and was really frustrated when stopped. Half of his arm was covered by a layer of skin which turned dark. Sandor would look at him with such guilt. His son's perfect small arm was not perfect anymore. It was now covered with twisted scar.

"Sandor, it's a burn, it's alright. Xander is safe...it's just a scar now." He heard Leana's voice which distracted him from Xander.

Leana managed to take the wooden horse back to Simon, it was broken into half. "I'm so sorry Simon," she apologized for Xander when she returned his toy during supper in the dining hall.

"It's alright mother," he replied sadly, scratching his head as he looked the broken toy in his hand; the boy still placed the broken toy gently on the table.

Then they all heard him, "Si mo...moo," all eyes on Xander who was calling for his brother.

"Hey, boy! It's ARI...IYA...not...'si mo'," Arya looked at Xander with disappointment that he called for Simon before her, she had been whispering her name to Xander for over a month. Desperately trying to make him call her name, even Gendry laughed at her but she could care less. She was disappointed that her fat little pumpkin called for Simon before her.

"Simon...did you hear that?!" Leana looked at Simon whose mouth was gaped open, looking at his brother in Arya's arms.

"Mother...he called my name." He said to Leana, still in shock.

"I know Simon. Xander loves you." She said to the boy who walked to Xander and planted a kiss on him.

"I have to tell father," he ran out from the hall looking for his father who he knew was with Bronn after their supper.

/n

The following day Simon showed her what their steward had done for his broken horse. Their steward managed to tie a string on the horse's stomach so that it was whole again.

She promised him that she'd buy him new toy when she was at the village, but she knew nothing in the village could match his Dotraki's horse. He said to her that he was a big boy and he didn't need a toy anymore – but she noticed he still played with his broken toy.

One morning Sandor looked at Simon asleep on the ground with his broken horse next to his pillow and growl, "I need to replace the fucking horse,"

Simon on his way to his training with Jon Snow when Gendry told him that his father wanted him at the stable; the boy had a shock of his life when his father said that he could pick one of the horses as named it as his. Her husband replaced his broken wooden toy with a real life horse.

For three nights, the ten year old slept in the stable with his horse which he named "Dothrak", he would have continued to sleep in the stable if his mother did not come for him and said that his brother wanted his company.

Leana thought it was a handsome name. Simon tried to lead his horse to the kitchen through the back door which made the cook scream and shooed them away. Bronn laughed and told the boy he'd take him whoring when he was of age before Leana told him off and said no son of hers are whoring!

Sandor thought him to ride Dothrak. There were times; they all ride to the biggest village together with Strangers and her filly which she named 'White'. Xander was mighty pleased and screamed 'no' when they had to get down from the horse. He looked at Stranger with awe, his chubby hand flaying around trying to grab Stranger's mane before his father pulled him away.

People in the village showered their sons with food and gifts to earn favour from their Lord father. Simon would look at his parents and refused politely. He whispered to Sandor that Maester Tarqin said that he was not supposed to accept them.

They looked at Winter and Soot with awe; they've heard about them but thought it was just gossip. Simon walked proudly with Winter by his side.

The villages around them grow prosperously; they were mostly farmers and hunters because of White Knife, who needed to feed more than one thousand soldiers every day. Traders came, butchers, seamstress, blacksmiths and bakers settled; they became prosperous villages.

Leana marvelled at the village, she noticed whore houses; Bronn smiled with approval "it's a pity there weren't any whore at the camp," he scratched his chin absentmindedly. Leana knew Sandor forbid whores at the camps; men were to travel to the village if they wanted the company of whores and taverns.

Sandor was talking to one of the villagers when he realised that he had not seen Leana for quite sometimes, he hated not having her within his eye sight. He saw Soot at his heel, he noticed few men backed up a couple of steps when they saw the black beast stirred.

He looked around and one of the senior guards who had been with him since he was the Lord of the White Knife. He knew that he was looking for his wife, "My Lord...My lady is at the brothel." The man said uncomfortably.

He was to stay with his Lady who happened to saw a brothel and just walk right in without hesitation. Leaving few guards with his Lady, he ran to his Lord who he knew would be pissed off beyond the seven hells.

Sandor sighed in exasperation before he laughed, the guard was surprised. He heard his fierce scarred face Lord murmured under his breath, "She fucking promised me never to set foot in brothels again."

"Is Bronn with her?" he asked the confused guard.

"Yes my Lord,"

"Just as King's Landing," Sandor murmured as he stalked to them, "Where the fuck is this brothel?"

He found his five months pregnant wife at the door steps of the small brothel, she was talking to who he assumed was the owner of the establishment; the man looked scared and nervous, worse when he saw him approached his wife who was standing by his door.

Simon was loitering around the veranda with his hands on his back; he looked curiously at the brothel but dare not set foot in it.

"Leana!"

She heard him calling her name and she quickly explained, "I am just...making sure...they are...well treated...that's all, my lord." She addressed him as my lord in public - he hated it.

"And I told him to report to you if there were...any problem with...our men." She chirped as she gently urged him away from the whore house, obviously she knew she broke her promise.

"You promised me...at fucking King's Landing!" he growled at her ear, he did not wish to shout at her in public but he was really angry.

"I am sorry, Sandor." She looked at him pitifully; she knew she broke her promised. Promise she made when they were in bed, just after they made love at King's Landing.

He didn't have the heart to scold her. "Come," he took her away from the establishment, gently.

"Mother, shouldn't we wait for uncle Bronn?" Simon stretched his neck looking for his beloved Bronn who disappeared inside the house; he wasn't allowed in by his mother who entered the place with Winter and Bronn.

"Your beloved Uncle Bronn won't be joining us back to the keep, boy." Sandor replied to Simon.

They continued their walk in the village, people still looked at his melted face with fear but they did not look away; they mostly look at him and his family, he protectively placed his palm at the small of Leana's back. Everyone with eyes could see how much their Lord loved his wife.

Simon's and Xander's eyes enlarged as they saw flocks of ravens, goats and rabbits at the market. They stayed with their mother and the guards, walking around the small market while their father stayed behind with the villagers. Their mother bought beautiful cloth and trinkets for them.

Alas, their father said it was time to go, before its dark.

They reached home after dark and Simon ran for Arya, still with a piece of honeycomb in his hand - no doubt to tell her all about the village and what a wonderful day he had.

That night in his solar.

"Leana, wolf girl refused to come with us to the village not because she was sick, she was as healthy as a fucking wolf. She wanted to spend time with Gendry, while we are away...Should..."

"Sandor...it's alright. She knew what she is doing. It's alright. Let them be."

"LET THEM BE?! Have you lost your mind Leana? She is almost sixteen...and,"

Leana listened to her husband...He kept on going, he even mentioned of just bringing the both of them back to Winterfell and marry them off. He said he'd placed an old crow with Arya as a chaperone, or he'd even hire a fucking Septa for the wolf girl. Her husband was ranting!

They were at his working chamber, she was sure the whole floor could heard his shout. She doubted that their steward dared enter.

"You think me funny, Leana?" She realised that he was looking at her and caught her smiling at him. "Lord Stark would string me alive if something was to happen to her maiden daughter!"

She didn't trust herself to talk as she might burst out laughing. She never heard him utter the words, 'maiden daughter' before. She just shook her head and managed to say 'no'. She appeased him and told him that she'd have a talk with Arya.

She told him that he better prayed that they had no daughter as she'd be in caged in a dungeon by her crazed father; Sandor cursed and she heard him murmured that he'd fucking killed any men who dared touch his daughter.

She stood up from her chair and walked slowly to Sandor who was looking outside the window, his massive frame blocked the view from the window. Her hands snaked to circle his waist from behind. She could felt his hard muscles under her hands.

Sandor turned around to locked her in his embrace, he looked down at her smiling face, she could always calm his storm.

"I was a maiden in my wedding night," he heard her whispered to him.

"I remember," he growled in her mouth as he kissed her lazily. "You were scared like a skittish mare and shy...like a maiden," he thrust his tongue in her mouth and heard her moan.

"You are comparing me...to a horse?" she said between the delicious kisses and heard him laugh. Before she yelped in surprised as he lifted her off the ground and carried her to his table. She heard parchments and others crashing down the ground as Sandor cleared the table surface with one swipe of his hand.

"Sandor!" Leana was shocked. She was planning to appease him, they were in his working chamber.

"Fucking Gendry will clean them up," He said to her as he continued kissing her. His hand snaked in under her dress, stroking her thighs.

He seated her on the table before he swept the table clean; still remembering how he bedded her for the first time, their first fuck that took his breath and sanity alive, the first time he entered her sweetness, before...

"My Lord, My Lady..." They heard knocks on the door, Leana saw Sandor's frustrated angry face as he looked at the closed door. He heard his Leana giggled before she kissed him. "Come now, Sandor. It's supper and our babe is hungry." She pointed at her swollen belly.

Within seconds Sandor's pissed off face disappeared. He kissed Leana's swollen belly, before he heard a cough behind the door, "Supper is served, my lord."

Leana was sure if was not for the babe in her belly and she was telling him that the babe was hungry, her husband would have stormed out and told their steward to fuck off as he was about to fuck his wife.

"We'll be right there, Lucas." Leana answered their steward who must be pissing in his pants.

He helped her up from the table and she saw his erection, "I'll make it up to you...I promise." She whispered to him before they straightened their clothes and made their way to have their supper.

Supper at White Knife was never a quite time. Sandor Clegane was used to the events as soon after they arrived in White Knife. It was bloody awkward for him in the beginning; it was the third night after they arrived in White Knife. He was busy with the stable master when Arya kept looking at him and asking him whether he wanted supper or not.

He replied saying that he'd have his supper after he was done with the horses. Then he realised she was still looking at him.

"What is it wolf girl?!" he asked her impatiently.

"Hound, you are the Lord of White Knife! They are not going to start supper without you!" Arya told him.

For a few seconds he looked at the Stark' wolf, he swore and walked toward the main tower for the dining hall. He remembered Lord Stark was always present before everyone else started their supper.

When he arrived at the hall, everyone was waiting for him.

"Sandor, I was about to ask Simon to look for you," Leana smiled at him, she knew he completely forgot about their proprieties.

In King's Landing, The Hound ate in his own corner - alone; until they were married and she'd accompany him in his corner. But now he was the Lord of the holdfast. They all waited for him for supper.

That night he wanted to break Jon Snow's neck as the man was laughing at his awkwardness...since then, he was always present at supper time whenever he was present at the keep.

He was feeding Xander his soup when he saw his steward passed a scroll to Jon Snow. Minutes later, Jon Snow approached him as Leana took Xander from him. She heard it.

"It's Dondarrion."

Jon Snow heard Leana's sighed of exasperation; he knew his cousin always dreaded anything that came from Dondarrion as Sandor's mood would be foul.

Jon knew exactly what was in Leana's mind, "No..not this one. Your husband would be happy with this news." He said to Leana who was peeking, she placed her head on Sandor's arm, reading the scroll.

She gasped, "Oh...It's a wedding, Sandor!" she snatched the scroll from her husband who looked calm and he continued feeding his son.

"Lord Beric is getting married," she said to him cheerfully.

"Oh I am so happy for him, Sandor." He saw his wife smiling.

She continued reading the scroll, "It's in a month! I've never been to Blackhaven before...This is wonderful." Leana continued her chirping; she started thinking what she could give to the bride, what to pack...before Sandor completely ruined her plan.

"You are not going."

"What?! Why? Lord Beric is my..." she realised she was about to say the wrong things; saw Arya looked at her incredulously – with a warning look.

"I am invited!" She pointed at the scroll, "I'm your wife! You have to take me! I promised Lord Beric that I would come to his wedding and..."

She was cut off by his angry remark, "When Leana? When did you promise him? Before or after he assaulted you?"

The whole table went quiet, looking at their Lord and Lady. Leana did not say anything, Sandor looked mighty pissed off. Everyone at the table were looking at them, the only one was unaware the situation was their Xander who managed to grab the spoon from his father.

"You are not to travel in your condition," she heard him said with a tone that she knew it was final. Leana realized there was no way in hell she was to attend the wedding at Blackhaven even though it was merely three days trip...she travelled for a whole month from King's Landing to Winterfell and she was fine.

Leana was too happy to be upset that she couldn't attend the wedding. She was still very pleased that Lord Beric finally took a wife. She was so happy, not even Sandor's grumpiness affected her. She wanted to send her best regards and her love to the man but she doubted Sandor would pass them. So she asked Jon Snow to send Beric her love and congratulations.

Jon Snow looked at her and sighed exasperatedly, "You...want me...to send your love and best wishes to Dondarrion?!" he was with Ygritte.

"Yes, I am happy for him."

"Good, just feel happy for it but don't..."

"Jon Snow...you know I did him wrong and...I feel bad."

"You did not do Beric wrong, Leana! You didn't know! You were five! You were force to marry...You did not do him wrong! He did you and Clegane wrong when he assaulted you in your own home!" That's when Leana realised Jon Snow was still angry with Beric and would not pass her regards to him. As she watched her bloody cousin walked away from her with Ygritte who looked mighty confused as she wasn't aware of what was going on.

The night before Sandor and Jon were to leave for Blackhaven, Leana approached her husband in his working quarter near the main hall, she hid her hands on her back.

"What is it, wife?" Sandor looked at her and Gendry quickly excused himself from the solar.

She placed a small jewelled mirror on the table; Sandor looked at the thing and looked at her and said nothing.

"It's a gift, for the bride." She explained to him but he said nothing for the longest time until Leana left him and went to her chamber. That night she did not snuggled up to him when he joined her in bed. He knew she was disappointed in him.

It was almost dawn when she woke up in panic, breathing heavily and she heard him, 'I'm here' as he grabbed her in his arms... as always, she was still scared of the dark. She was mad at him about Dondarrion, but still she ended up in his arms.

/n

They were standing at the gate, saying their goodbyes, Sandor, Jon and Gendry along with fifty of their men were ready to leave for Winterfell. Leana took Xander from him and she heard him, "I'll pass the gift to the bride, Leana." Before he kissed her fully on her mouth, it was a long delicious kiss which was disturbed by Xander who slapped his father playfully, he just wanted his attention, which made Sandor laughed.

She whispered to him, "I love you, come home safe to me."

"I'll see you soon son," he said to Xander who wanted to be on the horse with him and cried when his father left without him.

"Simon, you are the man of the house now. Take care of your brother and mother for me." He said to Simon before he urged Stranger towards the gate. He saw Ygritte tried to distract Xander who was dead set on coming with him on Stranger. He could still hear his scream after he passed the gate. It was a short journey to Winterfell for his monthly visit and then Blackhaven for the wedding. He felt safe that he had Bronn who stayed behind.

TBC

The Lord of Blackhaven is about to make a comeback or is he not?

Thank you Firedw and the Unfamiliar for posting your reviews. Much appreciated.