Chapter XV
"- First: Sir Sandor Clegane will be the Queen's husband, never King in the North. He will have all his needs met, but he will have no right to anything, like himself. If the marriage breaks down, he will have to leave Winterfell alone with his current possessions .
- Second: Never, under any circumstances, Sir Sandor Clegane may be part of the Council of the North.
-Third: in the event of the death of the Queen in the North, Lady Sansa Stark, she will never be able to occupy the throne. The future King will be appointed by the lords of the North.
- Fourth: the heirs born from the union of Lady Sansa Stark, Queen in the North, and Sir Sandor Clegane, will be heirs of the North as long as they are chosen by the council of the lords of the north.
-Fifth: (comes from four), in case any of his sons, Sir Sandor Clegane, are appointed King in the North, he will not be able to exert any influence on the government of the kingdom, at the risk of being expelled from Winterfell. "
The three members of the Council who had brought him the paper were waiting for him to sign, with the face of few friends. Sandor knew without a doubt that they were among those who had written "those capitulations".
He read the paper carefully two more times, enjoying the annoyed glances of the emissaries.
Not that he was hesitant to sign. He cared very little what those bastards asked of him. The important thing was to be with Sansa. First because she was his life ... and second because a miracle had just happened and although he still couldn't assimilate it, he was never going to leave her alone in that trance ... but ... even so, he couldn't help wondering. How the hell was he going to be a father? He? Father? ... he closed his eyes and rubbed his brow ... at the growls of protest from those who waited.
He picked up the pen and slowly approached the paper. He couldn't even imagine raising a child, although Sansa kept mentioning Arya ...
"- no matter how hard you try, you adopted her. You cared for her and took care of her, in your own way ...- she had said to him, when he brought out his genius to not accept the situation-. This pregnancy has been a miracle ... both for your situation and for mine .. "
That was true.
He, a warrior, who did not have an inch of body without a wound ... and she a woman who had been, mistreated and sullied ...
At the thought of this he dropped the pen, hearing them hold their breath again. Sandor still hurt just thinking about it. He could kill Ramsey a thousand times, and still he wouldn't be satisfied.
He sighed, picking up the pen again. It had been a miracle, without a doubt ... he would have to accept it, once and for all, and consider the belated paternity, but above all, that Sansa did not suffer more than normal ... She was the important thing .
He read the paper again, looking out of the corner of his eye as his companions closed their desperate eyes, and then he signed as calmly as he could.
-That's it ... Everything is correct ... I am nobody for the North ...- he told them while he handed them the letter.
One of them took it and checked the signature. Then he stared at him and smiled.
- I think you have understood everything perfectly..
Without waiting for anything else, they got up and left the Winterfell hall, while Sandor watched them, wanting to do to them the same as to a certain son of a butcher ...
He turned and stared at the flames in the fireplace that warmed the spacious room. They were going to be difficult days.
Sansa walked with her hand, through the courtyard, stepping on the frost that had fallen that morning. The inhabitants greeted them as she passed by, congratulating her.
The people of the castle had taken much better than the nobles, her wedding announcement to Sandor. They had a completely different vision of him, to that of the nobles. Sandor was one of them, and he had taken care of Winterfell and its inhabitants as his own. They could not forget how he had entered the collapsed tower risking his own life, to remove the men who had been locked up.
Sansa smiled at a woman who had given her best wishes, and she turned to Sir Gerald. He put the hood back on.
For a change, the sky that morning was settling to rain instead of snow ... Did winter give them a little respite? ... She trusted that in the kitchens, they would notice and take out the large jars to collect the falling water.
- Have the crows already arrived ?. she asked hopefully.
Sir Gerald nodded.
- We sent them over a month ago ... just when Sir Tyrion left. He personally arranged for them to come out.
Sansa nodded. She could hardly attend the conversation, having to be grateful for the affectionate displays of everyone who passed, although she recognized that this filled her with pride ... The people of the North ... the real people, those who lived from their work , day by day, the one who took care of their family and their land was the one who approved of her decision the most ... They loved Sandor and knew that he would be good for the North.
- Can you locate Arya?
Her Hand sighed.
- If anyone can do it, it is him ... They have business in common and your sister is obliged to report their movements ...
Sansa nodded.
- Well ... let's hope you can come ... Anyway, Sandor and I understand the situation of my brothers and we gladly accept the "idea". - When saying it it was clear that it was an obligation-. … Of the Council that it was a private ceremony… Family and friends. Nothing more ...- with a sigh she continued walking-. Jon is exiled, but I suppose Bran will not mind him coming ... although after everything that has happened, I don't know if he will want to go back.
-Let's trust, my lady ... he is a Stark from head to toe and he knows that he is the right thing to do.
She nodded again.
- Yes ...- she bit her lower lip- ... I would give anything to know what Tyrion wrote to her. He did not let me see her ... He has always liked to play at being the one who knows the most about everything ... Not as much as Littlefinger, but he is on his way to it.
Sansa looked up at the dark sky that covered Winterfell.
- Is everything ready?
Sir Gerald nodded. He took a piece of paper from one of the pockets of his cloak and started going through it.
- Yes, all. The Master knows ... you still have no moletias from pregnancy, which is good ...- Sansa nodded to the latter. The midwife had commented that normally if she had not vomited it was a sign that a boy was coming. Anyway, she was too early to think about it.- .. and we have prepared rooms for possible guests ... Gendry Baratheon has written saying that he will come and Tyrion and Brienne of Tarth too ...- he indicated.
Sansa stood up.
- Brienne? - she asked surprised - ... she just gave birth.
- Yes, but from the looks of it, Brienne wants me to know what cold is at a very young age.- She smiled at Sansa sweetly, seeing her concern-. Nothing will happen ... children are born here too.
Sansa closed her eyes, and shook her head from side to side.
- I'm an idiot ... You're right ... It must be motherhood, I think it's making me a little weak.
- May ...- he said confidently -... Don't worry ... She won't endanger her son ...
Sansa nodded.
-I know .- The rain was turning into snow. Her siblings were as important to her as Sandor, and she wanted them to be at her wedding ... but she could understand their situations, far removed from her reality. Do you know where Sir Sandor is? .. They were going to give him the capitulations for him to sign ...- she looked around her-.
I would like to talk to him.
Sir Gerald nodded.
- I think they had arranged to meet in the great Hall, perhaps they are still there.
Sansa walked slowly into the main room of the castle and found Sandor, alone, sitting in a scissor chair, next to the fireplace. He was just watching the fire.
Sansa walked over and sat next to him. He didn't turn around.
- Have you signed? - She asked him, also looking at the flames.
Sandor nodded.
- Yes, I have given pleasure to those bastards ...
- We didn't care ...
Sandor still didn't look at her, but she took his hand. She was freezing. He stroked her to warm her.
- You shouldn't have to go through this. You are worth more than all of them together ... They have no right to question you ... even for me ...- now he turned and looked into her eyes -... Sansa, I've never loved anyone how I love you ... - He swallowed with difficulty. His throat was dry -... and I assure you that I do not want anything from you or Winterfell, and although it is true, that child.- He looked for a moment at Sansa's flat stomach for now- ... he has me ... crazy. .. I don't want you to think that I agree to this because of it. I am terrified of being a father ... but I know that it could only be with you ...- he continued caressing her hand. .. I just want you to feel safe by my side ...
Sansa brought her free hand to her mouth. There was no sarcasm in Sandor's voice, no cynicism ... nothing ... It was a sincere declaration of love and loyalty.
She got up from her chair, and sat on her lap.
-Who would say that underneath all that bad warrior temper, there was a heart? .- she asked excitedly.
Sandor smiled. He took her gently by the nape of her neck and he kissed her passionately. Sansa allowed herself to be done. It was wonderful to feel the warmth of his lips. His strong arms ... his hands ...
She parted slightly from him.
- As requested, they will take everything related to the Queen of the North, table, files and everything else to my old rooms.
Sandor smiled slightly.
- The woman separated from the Queen ...
Sansa nodded and settled a little further on top of him, gently kissing the corner of his lips.
- And then ... What do you think if we take a tour of my parents' old room, and future ours? ... I think they have already finished installing the new bed ... and the tapestries, and some blankets.
- Are you sure? .- he asked, closing his eyes, while she kissed him again.
Sansa got up.
- Without a doubt.
She held out her hand... and he took it, following her, to the end of the world, if necessary.
That same night Sansa, was about to go to bed, when there was an insistent knock on her door. Sir Gerald was there, accompanied by Sandor.
- A group of people is at the gate of the fortress ... they want to enter.
Sansa put on her thick wool robe with the Stark wolf embroidered on it.
- Who are they? . -she asked, somewhat worried that she had gone looking for her, taking into account that the door was well guarded, and no travelers had been detected causing problems.
Sandor shook his head from side to side.
- I think we should go...
He took Sansa gently by the arm and hastily led her to the raised balustrade beside the door.
One of the guards who watched her came up to them from the battlements.
- My lady, they are two men on horseback. They wear clothes from beyond the Wall.
Sansa felt her heart skip...She felt the guard's slight fear.
- Open the doors ... there is nothing to fear ...
The guard bowed to her and she went to fulfill her mission ...
Sansa gasping for breath ... and hope filling her soul, running down the stairs, followed by Sir Gerald and Sandor.
The doors began to open when they reached the patio ... and just at that moment, a huge white shadow slipped through the gap they were leaving.
The huge shadow lunged towards Sansa and she greeted him with open arms.
- Ghost! Ghost! .- She stroked his direwolf head, burying her face into his furry neck
The two horsemen entered afterwards.
Both of them are covered in thick layers of wool and protected by fur hoods.
Sandor took one of the horses from the reins while he kept looking at the occupant of him. He leapt nimbly from his mount and addressed the huge warrior. He took off his hood.
- When I read the raven, I couldn't believe it ... you and Sansa! ... Sansa! .- Jon's face reflected the immense surprise he still felt. He held out his hand -... Congratulations ... you will have something that she has seen ...- he approached her and said in her ear, without letting go of her hand-. I'm not the one to discuss it, but we have a pending conversation.
Sandor just nodded. He knew that anything he said would only spoil it. That man had seen the cruellest side of him. It was normal for him to have some doubts about him, no matter how sure he was of the decisions of his sister. Still, Tormud Giant Slayer grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.
- Damn you bastard! How quiet you were! The damn Dog can love someone! There is still hope for me ! ..- he yelled as he made a gesture of hugging him. Sandor immediately pulled away. There were things he wasn't going to go through.
- Jon! .- Sansa's scream was heard throughout the courtyard, a second before she merged into a hug with her brother- .. You have come! I can not believe it! Tyrion said you would ... but you're so far away .. and I know you won't ...
Jon smiled and didn't let her finish speaking.
- I can't miss my sister's wedding ... Who is going to take you down the aisle?
- Tyrion volunteered ..
- Do not make me laugh...
She went back to hugging her brother. When she let go of his arms, she took him by the hand.
- Come on, we'll be better inside. I'll order something to eat for you.
-... And drinking ... right, Clegane? .- Tormund added, smiling from ear to ear and slapping Sandor's back ... who looked at him as if he were going to skin him right then and there.
Sansa and Jon laughed heartily.
- Yes ... food and drink ... You have many things to tell us ... - Sansa told him, while the four of them went to the living room and saw how Sir Gerald approached them again, to introduce himself and attend to the newly arrived.
Jon looked at her and then at Sandor.
- And you too, little sister, you too ...
To be continue.