I hope you all can forgive me for not updating at much. I am working on three stories and trying to help my sick mother and the house at the moment. It will be slow, but should you get anxious for the next chapter, you can message me and Ill tell you a "sneak peak". Enjoy. In this chapter, Tywin, Dany/Jorah/ and more!
…...
Falling apart
,...
"Gods, what have I done?"
Tywin stood alone in the dark, only a bit of moonlight making things easy to see. He slowly walked through the trees, making his way further away from his small camp site. Jaime was now gone, moved on with money in his pocket, and no doubt near a port or on his way to find the others. Tywin shook his head at the thought of marrying the Stark girl against her will and killing the Hound. A match he could never see was a wolf and a lion.
A wolf and a dog are much better suited for each other, he thought.
He saw something in Jaime, as his favorite son looked up at him with pain and pity in his eyes. He saw his own past and darkness washed over him like a blanket, claiming his soul once more. Tywin knew that he could not go on much longer. Perhaps he could finally understand how the Stark's felt as son, mother, and father were killed. The feeling in his gut of losing his only daughter was growing and now both of his sons were gone from his life as well.
Once he was well away from ear shot, Tywin leaned against the nearest tree as he pulled a smaller dagger from his boot. He stared at the gold on the hilt, how in the moonlight is shone like it was new. He was given that very dagger when he was a young man, a gift from his father on the day he married Joanna. He smiled at the thought of his young bride those years ago, how her golden hair was beautiful in the sunlight and how her red lips would kiss him every morning. How cruel it was of him to blame Tyrion for taking her away from him. With a deep breath he cleared the thoughts from his mind as he took the dagger from its aged, leather sheath.
He raised it up so he could look at the still clean and taken care of blade. "Still beautiful," he said. Tywin raised the blade to his throat and turned, looking over his shoulder to see if anyone had followed him. Satisfied that he was alone, he quickly turned his head back and in one swift slice, he slide the blade across his neck, causing a deep, blood spitting gash. Almost instantly, he fell to his knees and looked up at the pale moon, staring at it as it reminded him on Joanna's skin. He soon took his final breath and his body hit the ground, his hand still holding the small, but deadly dagger.
…...
"Wake up."
Sansa opened her eyes and saw Sandor sitting over her, looking around him. She frowned and in a drowsy voice mumbled, "What is it?" The sun was nearly about to rise, but as she sat up, she saw Tarrent and Jon were still asleep. Before she could ask again, Sansa and Sandor heard sticks cracking under foot and the crunch of leaves. Sansa gasped as Sandor quickly stood with sword in hand and she wrapped her arms around his leg, looking around as men came from the wood and circled them. Sandor looked behind him and to his left before Sansa whimpered, "Jon! Tarrent!" Both men woke up and looked at her before looking around to see all of the men.
One man walked forward, "Drop your sword, Ser. We mean you no harm." Sandor snorted, "Aye, you mean no harm. I'm not a Ser." Sansa looked over her shoulder and saw some of the people that we wearing cloaks removed their hoods. She let go of Sandor and slowly stood, "Sandor, look." He looked where she was staring and saw the women with long hair looking at them. Out of the group of ten that surrounded them, nearly half were women. The man that spoke before smiled,
"We are honest people that live in these woods. Our elder has sent us to find you and bring you to him. He knew you were resting here and wished to speak to Lady Sansa." Sansa looked at him and grabbed Sandor's arm, "How did you know my name?" He bowed his head,
"Everyone knows of you, my Lady. The elder has told us stories about a dog and a wolf traveling together to bring peace and happiness to the North." Sandor raised his sword, "We ain't going North. We're going to a port to leave for a free city. The North is falling apart." A woman walked forward and spoke, "You are wrong. We once lived in the city of Winterfell, our Lord was Eddard Stark, his father before him treated us just as well. Your siblings, the elder has word of them." Sansa looked at Sandor and whispered,
"We have to go. If he knows where my brothers are-"
"This could be a trap, little bird." Jon agreed, "They could take us hostage and kill us, Sansa." The woman spoke up, "If we were enemies, you would be dead already. Come, follow us to our village." Sansa watched as the people turned and walked north and back into the trees. Sansa quickly bent down and grabbed her sleeping roll before rolling it sloppily and running to Stranger to tie it on. Jon walked forward and grabbed her wrist, "How can we trust them? Perhaps its the child in your belly making you think nonsense, but I will not let you walk into a trap." Sansa looked at the three men that were waiting for her response and she simply smiled, "They are people from Winterfell, Jon. They have no reason to harm us." Jon watched in anger as she was helped onto Stranger's back by Sandor.
"You would let her do this?"
He had grabbed Sandor's arm, but was shrugged off, "She has me to protect her. If she wants to go, I'll be right at her side." Once mounted and ready, Sandor snapped his horses reins and they galloped into the woods to where the men and women awaited them. Jon grumbled as her mounted his own horse and Tarrent questioned, "Jon, are you angry with Sansa?"
Jon did not hesitate, "I am angry because these people are going to take advantage of her state and mind. Sandor cannot protect her mind and feelings with a sword."
…...
Sansa's eyes lit up when they finally came upon a small village with huts made of strong wood and leaves. When she looked up into the trees, her eyes went wide at smaller huts built high and around the strong trunks, with bridges connecting them. Sandor mumbled, "What the fuck have we walked into?" Her hand rested on his and she replied, "I have never seen a more beautiful village, Sandor." The sound of children laughing came to her ears and she spun her head to the right to see a small boy and girl chasing each other while holding baskets. When Sandor stopped the horse, the man leading them looked up at Sansa, "It is not much, my Lady, but this village is our home and whatever we have is yours as well. Would you like some water and food before you meet with the elder?" Sandor was already dismounting and helping her down when she replied,
"No, thank you. I do hope you can find me a dress? The one I am wearing is much too thin-"
"Of course, my Lady."
She was finally led to one of the larger huts in the village as Jon and Sandor walked behind her. Tarrent stayed near the horses, nervously looking around at the people walking by. They were led into the hut and Sansa saw an older man sitting in a hand carved chair, looking into a small fire pit as if the flames mesmerized him. The man that led them there looked up at her, "He will speak to you now. The Hound may stay, but he must go." He had pointed to Jon and Sansa nodded to her brother, "Go, Jon." Jon left with a frown on his face as Sansa looked back to the elder in the chair.
"Come to me, child."
Sandor's hand gently pushed her back forward and she walked towards he fire pit, "Ser, I wish to ask-"
"They told you why you were asked to come. I saw you in the woods, I could sense you." Sansa looked back at Sandor and frowned before trying to speak again, "What do you know of my brothers and sister? Are Arya and the others safe?" The old man in front of her chuckled, "You ask too many questions, my Lady. Sit down and I shall share with you what I know." Sansa quickly took a seat in front of him and looked in his eyes to see he was blind.
She was taken by surprise, "How-How can you know where they are? You are blind-"
"Blind? Yes, I am blind. Yet, just because my eyes cannot see does not mean I cannot. Now, give me your hands." Sansa was unsure if she should touch him at that moment, but Sandor's grunt in the corner brought her back from her thoughts and she quickly placed her hands in his own. The elder held her arms open wide and high as he looked at the swell of her belly,
"With child and so young." Sansa frowned, "I am ten and seven. Old enough to give sons to-" She stopped speaking and once again the elder chuckled, "Give sons to whom? Your husband? Your imp of a husband has never laid a hand on you." Sansa blushed and tried to take her hands away, but the elder's hands were strong, "You carry a gift from the Gods, Lady Stark. The man that stands behind you now laid the seed and he has given you a child that will be strong like his father." Sansa's lip twitched as she tried to hold back a smile. Sandor looked down at the elder and questioned,
"How do you know I am the father?"
The elder looked up at him in return, "Do you doubt her? No other man has soiled her and she still seems pure, even with your babe in her belly." He turned his attention back to Sansa, "I can feel this child radiate from you, my dear." Sansa smiled and watched as he slowly lowered her hands, "You want to know of your siblings? Well, your brothers are alive and well. A giant protects the cripple and a woman takes care of the younger."
"A woman?"
"Aye, a Wildling woman, but fear not, he is well protected by her."
They spoke for several more moments as Sansa received the guidance she needed. After a while, she stood and grasped Sandor's arm, "Thank you, Ser. Your words have made me the happiest I have been in a while." But before she could leave, he grasped her wrist and held it tight, "The child you carry, he-he will be a King someday, but you must reclaim what is yours and fight for it. He will rule in the North." Sansa looked down at him in shock, "How do you know?"
"Sansa?"
Sansa looked up at the hut doorway and saw Jon waiting for them, but before she left, she looked back down to see the elder was asleep and his hand left her wrist. Sandor took her arm and leaned down to whisper, "Never forget what you were told tonight, little bird. Our son will be a King someday and I will help you fight for that right. Do you understand?" Sansa looked at him as he walked her from the hut and and she smiled, "Yes, Sandor. I understand. Do you promise to always be there for us?"
"Always, little bird."
…...
Not the ending I originally planned, but this will have to be it for now. Please understand, so much is going on here, I am exhausted lately. I will hopefully update the other stories as well. Please review! :D
