Chapter XVIII
On the morning of the wedding, Tyrion got up early and after grooming himself to the best of his ability, assisted by one of the castle's servants, he left his room. He had to pay a visit before the ceremony.
Although it was an intimate wedding, you could tell that everyone was celebrating, even if they did not stop worrying about their daily tasks.
Tyrion noticed that they had cleared the snow, just off the path that would lead the bride to the Forest of the Gods. Even the tree, in front of which they would marry. As his footsteps led to his destination, he couldn't help but feel some envy. It was the first time that he attended a wedding where the two bride and groom really loved each other ...
Dodging servants and grooms, he reached the groom's room. He knocked on the door, and without waiting for an answer, entered.
A surprised, half-dressed Sandor turned annoyed.
- What the hell are you doing here, dwarf? - He shouted very upset when he saw it.
Tyrion ignored it. He just walked over to a small table in the center of the room and poured himself some water. It was early to start with the wine.
Sandor quickly put on a white shirt.
Tyrion watched him with amusement.
- Now that you are going to be the husband of a queen ... you should improve your manners a bit, don't you think? ... - he said smugly - ... and by the way, you don't have to cover yourself up for me ... It doesn't offend me in the least to see a man without clothes, and I certainly don't like you.
Sandor closed his eyes counting to ten. Tyrion was an important guest and he must not kill him before he married ... It would not be correct on such an important day, although, he did not lack reasons for it.
- I do not do it for that ... My body is not pleasant to see ...- he looked in the mirror -... Nothing is me is pleasant to see ...- he continued saying resignedly. He had trimmed his beard and tried, for once in his life, to comb his hair lightly so that the hideous scar on his face wouldn't show too much.
He turned away from the mirror and flopped onto the bed. He started putting on his boots.
- What do you want of me? .- he asked Tyrion without looking at him .- You have nowhere else to go to bother.
He cleared his throat before speaking.
- I wanted to tell you some things on behalf of King Bran and myself ... well, rather mine ...- he continued to observe him carefully -... but I think I should tell you something before ...
He put the glass with the water on the table and took the jug of wine ... no matter how hard he tried, he carried it to him. He poured two glasses and coming over gave her a Sandor. Sandor put down the boot he was holding and took it. He downed it in one gulp. He could tell from a league that he was nervous.
Tyrion sat back down in the chair where he had been sitting before, as far away as possible from an unexpected outburst of anger on Sandor's part.
- Comfort yourself thinking that you are the cleanest that you have been in all your life ...- he drank a drink slowly-. We are what we are Clegane and nothing can change that ... and despite the fact that I am much more handsome than you and that I had my chance. - Sandor looked at him with the face of few friends when he heard him say that. ... you hit the jackpot ...
Neither of them said anything for a few seconds. It was a sensitive subject for Sandor. Few people had hated as much as Tyrion the day they were told that he had married Sansa. He cleared his throat and asked:
- How could you hold on without touching her? you were not someone who would waste an opportunity like that ...- and he then clarified him-. She told me everything.
Tyrion fidgeted in his chair.
- She was a baby, Clegane, do you really think I could have hurt him?" .-He shook his head-. I never would have done anything to her that she didn't want to ... I can't even imagine forcing her.- He sighed. thinking of those horrible days-. Sansa was so afraid of what Joffrey might do to her and what I might do to her that if I had forced her she wouldn't have said anything, which is horrible, but I immediately told her that she didn't have to fear me ...
Sandor raised an eyebrow as he looked at him. He understood what Tyrion was saying ... he also had her at his mercy with a knife to her neck, while she sang a song to him ... The easiest thing would have been to make it his right there, but he realized that Sansa did not She was like the others ... She was special ... She was unique and I couldn't even imagine hurting her ...
- I know, you respect each other ...- he said as he finished putting on his boots, got up and took a long black leather coat from one of the chairs next to his bed -... but I want you to tell me the truth ... have you ever thought about asking her to marry you again?
Tyrion sighed and got up from his chair.
-I thought about it ... for a second ... She is an exceptional woman, but the Queen in the North could never marry the Hand of the King of the South, even if this is her brother. Besides it is clear, seeing you, that I could never give her what she wants ...
Sandor licked his lips. His mouth was dry ... he poured himself wine again and drank it again in one gulp. He served Tyrion another, making it clear that he didn't want to talk about it anymore.
- And now, what was that you had to tell me from King Bran and yourself? Tyrion visibly relaxed and began pacing the room.
- Well ... I have thought that since you are going to be close to the Queen, even if you cannot be part of the Northern Council, you could be our eyes and ears here ...
Sandor raised his head and frowned in surprise.
- What is he saying!? Are you asking me to spy on Sansa, for you?
Tyrion pulled away slightly.
- Not exactly ... you have to understand, that in a few years, when no one remembers the white walkers or Cersey, the movements in the Houses will begin. Many nobles will begin to cause problems ... You know, that there is nothing like the absence of enemies, so that the unwary and the foolish, begin to create problems where there should not be them. You understand what I mean, right? ... - he asked her, trusting that it was so.
Sandor thought about it for a moment and finally nodded. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.
- Keep talking...
- I want ... we want ... you to tell us how things are going ... Nor do we ask you to be indiscreet, only that you keep us aware of everything that you think may be dangerous for Sansa and for the North ... You know as well as I what human beings can reach ... and we are not the enemy. The South is not the enemy of the North right now.
Sandor stood up, just as one of the servants knocked on his door and indicated that he should go into the forest. The ceremony was about to begin… and he must arrive later than his bride.
- I'm going right now! .-he yelled without opening and still looking at the dwarf.- I understand what you want to say ... and I promise you that I will think about it, it is all I can tell you now ... .- he addressed the door.
Tyrion followed behind him, encouraged by his reply.
- I have also thought that your future son or daughter should spend time in the South.
Sandor quickly turned to him. His expression made it very clear that the conversation was over.
-Well, we don't have to talk now ... besides, they're waiting for you to get married ...- he said nothing more. He passed Sandor and headed for the forest, as fast as his short legs could.
The arcient was the heart of Winterfell. That forest of the gods was a constant from the earliest times and it was there when the first Starks decided to build the castle ... Brandon Stark the builder, built the castle around the grove and prayed in the forest of gods, which was heated by hot springs.
The ancient tree, with a face carved into it with long, melancholic features, was to be the officiant, along with the master of the fortress, of the union of a queen and a warrior. They didn't need anyone else.
As Sansa walked there, across the courtyard, she forged in her mind one of the last times she had seen her father. He was sitting under the leafy branches of him sharpening Ice, his sword, and she allowed herself to recall it for a few seconds, before coming back to reality.
In front of her a Sandor, obviously nervous, presented himself as he was, without any artifice, with simple and useful clothes as he liked to wear, while she presented herself to him, stepping on the snow hard, while he clung to the arm of his brother Jon, in front of Ghost who was closing the procession.
She wore her hair in a long red braid that reached below her waist. A simple blue ribbon ran across her forehead, linking with the braid. She had chosen a simple white woolen dress, low-cut, despite the cold prevailing, with a low belt, made of blue-dyed skin, which wore the wolves of House Stark ... and covering her shoulders, a white cape .. .
Brienne, Tyrion, Tormund, Sir Gerald, Arya and the Castilians of Winterfell followed her until they surrounded the couple, the great tree and the pool of sewage, where it was going to have the union.
Sandor saw her arrive, he knew it was the most wonderful thing he had ever seen ... but all that fell into the background, when he saw what Sansa was wearing on her shoulders.
The Master was about to start the ceremony, but Sandor interrupted him:
-The cape .. .- he said, unable to prevent those words from coming out of his mouth.
Sansa walked over to him, saying goodbye to Jon, who stood next to Arya, a few steps behind her.
- Yes ... it's your cape ...
-Sansa .. .- her name was the only thing he could say with her strong and torn voice.
She forced him to look at the Maester ... and at the face of the tree.
The ceremony was brief and when the Maester clasped the hands of the future spouses with the long silk strip ... they said in unison:
- "Father, blacksmith, warrior. I am hers and she is mine. From this day until the end of my days
-Mother, maiden, witch, stranger. I am his and he is mine. From this day until the end of my days. "
A clearing of sunlight opened between the clouds and covered them ... it was only an instant, but those present felt that the gods of the forest gave them their blessing.
They left their guests after a few toasts and many good wishes, with the promise of being in the parade ground in the morning, to say goodbye to them. Jon and Tormund would make their way back to the North, while Brienne, her son, and Tyrion went back to the South. Arya planned to stay a few more days in Winterfell.
When they opened the door to her room, they saw that everything was filled with candles.
Sansa sighed, as she entered Sandor's hand.
He turned to look at her and stroked his beard as she said.
- For the record, it was Arya's idea ...
Sansa smiled in amusement.
- I never had the impression that my sister had a romantic side ...
Sandor pursed his lips and shook his head ...
-I don't think she has it ... I rather think that she does it so that I panicked to see myself surrounded by so much fire, and run away ... it's her last chance to get rid of me ...
- Don't talk nonsense ... she loves you ... without her, we wouldn't be here ... you know it well.- she approached him and caressed his shoulder, while Sandor turned to her and took her by the waist- ... You're not going to run away, are you? - Sansa asks, looking into his eyes -... Never ...
He leaned down from her and kissed her lightly.
- No ... never ...- he took a deep breath.- I think this is the craziest thing I've ever done ... but I don't even want to think about what my life would be without having you with me ...- his expression serious and sad and touched Sansa's heart. She knew very well what she was referring to ...- I will be with you ... whatever happens ... unless one day you decide to change me for a younger and more handsome boy ...- he told her and a wry smile lit up his face again.
Sansa, amused, hugged him tightly in turn.
-If that were to happen ...- she said while she intertwined her fingers with the laces of her shirt collar -... I don't think "that boy" would get out of here alive ...
Sandor shook his head.
- Neither do I...
He kissed her again and slowly her lips moved down her long white neck.
-In case I haven't told you before, you're incredible ...- his fingers began to play with the buttons on the back of the dress ...- It's our wedding night ... Oh, the gods I never thought of get to say that! ...- he exclaimed, astonished.
Sansa cupped her face in her hands. She gulped. She knew that what she was going to say was difficult.
- I have had two wedding nights before this ... and as of today, I want my mind and my heart to only remember this ... My only wedding night ...
Sandor fixed his eyes on her deep blue eyes and without saying anything he kissed her, feeling that it was going to be that way. A night that neither of them would ever forget and that would allow them to start a new life ...
They undressed quickly, laughing and whispering. Sandor took her in her arms and they both lay down on the bed. They covered themselves with a huge bearskin blanket, continuing to kiss, while his hands ran over their bodies.
They already knew where to stop ... where to go deep, where to caress and where to pinch. Where their lips were longed for ... and where their tongues were desired.
Sansa rolled onto her stomach and let Sandor go down her back as his lips and tongue ran over her. Her hand caught Sansa's most sensitive area and made her shudder ...
She closed her eyes feeling like she had never felt, free of prejudices and worries ... When Sandor penetrated her with force, she was prepared and received him solicitously, eagerly ... and she moved along with him, while lifting her back and he He kissed her on the neck ... When the orgasm reached him ... he held on a little longer, until Sansa with a deep sigh began to shudder around him ...
They both fell into bed, exhausted, satisfied and happy ... because their life was complete ... They kissed, hugged ... Sansa rested her head on his chest, feeling Sandor's heart racing, smiling, and while Sandor , stroking her long hair gently, she fell asleep.
To be continue