She was awoken the next morning by knocking. Mina had admittedly planned on sleeping the day away, depression setting in fast as nightmares kept rousing her uneasily out of slumber. She opened the door to Sansa. Sansa took in her appearance.
"Were you sleeping?" She asked incredulously. "It's nearly time for us to go to court." Sansa pushed past into her room and started rifling through Mina's wardrobe. "Get dressed and I'll braid your hair."
Mina looked affectionately at her sister. She had their mother's spirit when it came to difficult matters, whereas Mina tended to brood and worry much like their father.
"We do need to make a statement for Father's behalf," said Mina.
"I plan to appeal to Joffrey," said Sansa. "If he loved me, he'd give Father mercy."
Mina held back her uncertainty so that Sansa would not see in the mirror.
"If anyone would sway his heart, it'd be you," said Mina. "I don't trust myself to stay cool-headed…would you object to speaking for us?"
"Well, of course I'll be the one to speak. You nearly blew it last night for us," said Sansa in a scolding way. Mina raised her brow but bit back a retort. It was not the best time to squabble.
After morning tea where they were hovered over and rushed by a guard, Sansa and Mina entered court. Mina noticed a servant scrubbing the floor amidst the nobles standing on the main floor in front of Joffrey. She realized the water in the pail had turned red. Her stomach turned thinking some of it could be Carrick's. A numb feeling washed over her.
Both girls put on a brave face and quietly greeted people that glanced their way as they walked through the crowd.
After she and Sansa had knelt, Mina kept her gaze down, not wishing to meet eyes with Joffrey. Her shoulder was pressed firmly against Sansa's for support, feeling proud that Sansa spoke so clearly. She was a natural in court.
"Your sweet words have moved me. But your father has to confess," said Joffrey. "He has to confess and say that I'm the King or there'll be no mercy for him."
"He will," said Sansa.
"Lady Minisa," said Cersei after a pause.
"Your Grace?" Mina slowly lifted her head.
"I have a concern about your attachments with Renly Baratheon," said Cersei. A small smirk appeared on Joffrey's face as some in the Hall reacted with varying degrees of surprise and shock. Sansa subtly pressed against her shoulder harder.
"I have no attachments any longer, Your Grace," said Mina, keeping a calm demeanor. "It is a crime to conspire against the rightful heir. I rejected him before he left King's Landing."
"Good," said Cersei in a soft tone. "It was the right thing for you to do. Don't fret, dove. We will find you an honorable man to wed after Joffrey and Sansa's wedding." She smiled. "You both are excused if there are no more matters to discuss."
Mina and Sansa curtsied and slowly left to stand at the gallery before the court was dismissed.
The next day, Mina stood at Sansa's shoulder, their hands tightly clasped as they watched their father being dragged up to the platform that they stood on in front of the large crowd.
Time seemed to slow for just one moment as Ned looked over at Mina and Sansa. Sansa's and Mina's grips loosened slightly as they mustered the strength to smile at him. He gave them a long look of pride touched by sadness before he was jostled by someone throwing something in his face.
Mina looked into the crowd and froze at what she saw. Arya was kneeling beneath the big statue of Baelor. Mina's eyes darted between her and others on the platform next to Mina. No one except Ned seemed to take notice, and like Mina, he made no sudden move of recognition.
As Ned spoke, Mina slowly looked around. Littlefinger and Varys were paying rapt attention to his words. Joffrey and Cersei had vapid smiles on their faces for the crowd. The Hound stared stoicly ahead.
Joffrey spoke, and time slowed again after he uttered the words,
"Ser Illyn, bring me his head."
Sansa's hand slipped from her grasp, and she heard her sister pleading with Joffrey, with anyone. The noise of the crowd drowned out any other voices. Varys also came forward to plead with the Royals, but to no avail. Even Cersei looked shocked. There was no swaying Joffrey's decision.
Ned stumbled. The Hound righted him and stepped back.
Mina and Sansa attempted to move forward but were blocked.
The executioner's sword sang as it hit the chopping block.
A flock of startled pigeons took flight.
Screams were heard in the crowd.
Sansa fainted, hitting the ground before anyone could catch her.
Mina hit her knees beside her, letting out an anguished sob. Her eyes had glimpsed the motionless body of her father before a big set of boots stepped in front of her. Her gaze ran up to see the Hound peering down at her. He knelt, his hands reaching for Sansa.
Mina slapped him hard across the face, her anger sudden and relentless. He wordlessly shoved her away before picking up Sansa bridal style and gently supporting her head. Mina got to her feet as well, her anger still misdirected at him. She smacked her hands against his armor, struggling to keep up with his wide strides as he led them back towards the Keep.
"I'm not going to do shit to her. Unless you want me to drag her to your rooms by her hair. Don't hit me again."
He snarled the last part fiercely. Mina paused halfway through hitting him and hurried after him.
He moved quickly for a large man. Servants averted their eyes as they passed, and Mina found the wing where their rooms were located abandoned. She opened the door to Sansa's chamber and the Hound stepped through. He laid her gently upon the bed, even taking care to set her head upon the pillows. Mina stared at him from the doorway, her thoughts running wild and tears threatening to fall.
He straightened and looked at her. "Your father should not have been killed."
"Oh, really," spat Mina. "Do you not think that I know that? My father was an honorable man."
"To a fault." The Hound slowly stepped closer, his gaze alternating between her and the door. An angry tear escaped her.
"Don't get any closer."
"You're blocking the door, wolfling," said the Hound calmly. When she still didn't move, he took a step closer, his frame towering over her. It was then that she could handle it no longer and broke. A sob escaped her as she threw a fist against his armor, beating upon it with the heel of her palm. Over and over, dull clanking as she landed hit after hit. The strength behind her hits faded as her sobs steadily took over.
The Hound wordlessly caught her hands on her last swing. Mina gave an angered cry and struggled.
"You're just bruising yourself, wolfling." He fixed her with a somber expression.
"Let me go!"
The Hound swiftly turned them around so that he was on the side of the door before letting her go. He braced himself as if expecting her to strike again, but she merely stood there, shoulders moving with her sobs.
"I was not the one to kill your father, so stop acting like it," he hissed.
"But you're one of them," whispered Mina, glaring.
"I'm but a mere dog to them," he spat, glaring back. "Something to lay blame upon when dirty deeds come about."
"...Like the butcher's boy," said Mina with clarity. They exchanged a long look.
"Take care of your sister," he rumbled.
"Arya…will you keep an eye out for her?" Mina asked in a small voice.
He paused before nodding briefly. Mina sighed and slumped as she sat on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. He left her, quietly shutting the door after himself.
Mina was there when Sansa awoke, and the sisters embraced and sobbed for a long while. Sansa stood and went to her trunk, taking out the doll that Ned had given her upon their arrival in the city.
In the morning, a guard knocked on the door to collect them for court. They stood quietly in the gallery, silently watching more of Joffrey's cruelty revealed as he had a man's tongue cut out.
"You look quite nice," said Joffrey to Sansa as he stopped on his way out of the court.
"Thank you, my Lord," she replied.
"Your Grace. I'm King now," said Joffrey. " Walk with me. Both of you. I've got something to show you." He walked on ahead and the Hound stepped up to them.
"You should do as you're bid," he said. The sisters exchanged glances and started to follow after Joffrey.
As they walked along, Joffrey talked about when it came time to have children with Sansa, making Mina's jaw clench in anger. Finally, Joffrey stopped in front of a high walkway leading to the edge of the wall lined with heads on spikes.
"Please, no!" Pleaded Sansa, trying to look away. Ser Meryn grasped her shoulders, keeping her there. Mina took a step forward, but her shoulders were seized, and a gruff "Don't interfere" hissed into her ear.
"This one right here is your father. Look at it, both of you, and see what happens to traitors!" Joffrey proudly pointed out the spot. Mina's eyes strayed to the spot despite herself, and she let out a strangled wail, involuntarily sinking back against the Hound's chest. Joffrey laughed coldly at her reaction.
"You promised to be merciful," sobbed Sansa, still averting her gaze.
"I was. I gave him a clean death. Look at him." Joffrey stared Sansa down, his blue gaze devoid of any humanity.
"Please let us go home. I won't commit any treason, I swear."
"Mother says I'm still to marry you, so you'll both stay here and obey. Now, look at him!"
Tears fell down Mina's cheeks as she watched Sansa raise her head.
"How long do I have to look?" Sansa asked shakily. Mina wished she could go to her, but the Hound held her tight. She started to feel as if he were the only thing keeping her upright.
"As long as it pleases me. Do you want to see the rest?"
"If it pleases Your Grace."
"That's your Septa, there." He then turned and met gazes with Mina. He had a lecherous grin on his face as he pointed to another spot on the wall. "Mina, that one right there would be your lover if I'm not mistaken…."
Mina saw it, her body shaking uncontrollably with sobs as her eyes took in all the blood, unable to look long at Carrick, wanting to remember him as he was when he was alive. When he was hers. She tore her gaze away when Joffrey started to speak again.
"Once I raise my armies and kill your traitor brother, I'll bring you his head as well."
"Or maybe he'll give us yours," said Sansa boldly. Joffrey jolted as if he would strike her but thought better of it.
"Mother tells me a king should never strike his Lady...Ser Meryn."
Ser Meryn instantly stepped up and struck Sansa across each cheek. Mina let out a cry, struggling uselessly against the Hound. Sansa met eyes with her for a split second, and she saw a coldness in her sister's gaze she had never seen before as Sansa turned back to face Joffrey.
The Hound suddenly let her go, a hand steadying her wobbly frame before he went to Sansa's side, procuring a cloth to dab at the cut on her lip. Mina watched the scene, realizing the Hound had stopped Sansa from doing something rash. She had seen the way Sansa had started to approach Joffrey.
"I'll look for you both in court," said Joffrey as he left with Ser Meryn.
"Save yourself some pain, girl. Do what he wants," said the Hound. Sansa held up the handkerchief. "You'll be needing that again."
"She won't. I won't let him touch her," said Mina. The Hound went back to stand before her, Sansa slowly following behind.
"You can try, but he won't hesitate to spike your pretty head up on that wall, too. So obey if you know what's good for you. You both need to be alive if your brother ever comes for you." Mina flinched a bit as he brought a hand up, but he merely brushed her tears away on both sides with his thumb. She was stunned into silence with this gesture, watching him with puffy eyes as he gazed down at her with a somber expression. He brushed past her without a word, leaving her feeling confused. Sansa came up to her afterward, and they hugged, a fresh round of tears springing forth.
"I just want to go home," whispered Sansa.
"Me, too, love," said Mina. She walked them back to her room, where they both stayed for the rest of the day and night.
The next few days were a blur. Sansa barely acknowledged her except when it came time to go to court or for meals. She seemed to spend a lot of her time in the gardens.
Mina found herself often pacing the castle, particularly the path between the gardens and their chambers. She soon stopped after Meryn Trant stopped her in a vacant corner to try and grope at her bosom. She decided it would be better to stick beside her sister even if they barely spoke anymore. She convinced herself it was what Ned would have wanted.
Mina took more afternoon naps as she was hardly able to sleep at night. Her most recent dream was in the eyes of Grey Wind as he watched Robb hack at a tree trunk with his sword, tears of anger streaming down his face. In the distance, she saw her mother approaching, sobbing.
She hadn't been able to continue the dream after that, and she woke up on the garden bench she had dozed on, sobbing as her mother had been.
Joffrey's Name Day had arrived, and he arranged a small tourney. He had Sansa sit beside him and Mina sit behind his siblings.
The proceedings were dull to Mina until the Hound made an appearance, wearing his hound's head helm. She sat forward in her chair, watching the fight. He was magnificent in showing his strength. He knocked his opponent off of a wall, gaining a victory.
Joffrey acted like a spoiled brat, and his snide comments toward Sansa were irritating to Mina. He was currently chiding her for following peasant's superstitions when the Hound chimed in from Mina's other side, backing up Sansa's statement. Mina jumped slightly, not realizing he had joined them. Their eyes met before Mina let her gaze run over him and then his helmet.
"Nights getting lonely, wolfling?" he rumbled low so that the young Prince and Princess wouldn't hear. She felt her cheeks get red.
"Miss getting pebbles tossed at you?" she retorted softly. He gave a soft huff that sounded like it could have been a chuckle.
"Beloved nephew!" Tyrion Lannister made a sudden appearance, accompanied by a rather strange-looking entourage. "We looked for you on the battlefield. You were nowhere to be found."
The next few moments were spent watching the banter between Joffrey and Tyrion, and then Tyrion departed towards the Keep just as quickly as he had appeared.
"Your father's replacement, apparently. I'd bar your chamber doors, wolfling."
"Thank you for your concern, but I do it anyway, Hound."
"They could always get in through the window, anyway."
The next duel had started, but Mina was distracted.
"Who? You?" She barked a laugh. "I'd actually like to see you try with all of your armor on."
"I'm so pleased that Lady Mina has taken a liking to my Dog. Perhaps he can take the place of her old one," said Joffrey loudly. The Hound looked away, his mouth a thin line. Mina could only sit there, red-faced, as Myrcella and Tommen laughed lightly at the jest. Sansa looked horrified for a split second until she regained control of her expression. The sisters were silent for the rest of the tourney.
–
Mina was once again seeing through the eyes of Grey Wind. He growled softly as he darted swiftly down a hill, Stark soldiers running along side him as they ambushed a gathering of Lannister soldiers. The fearful face of a young boy, not too much younger than Robb, cowered beneath him. And he went in for the kill, closing his powerful jaws around the boy's throat.
-
Mina sat up with a gasp, her blankets and pillows damp with sweat. She could taste a subtle iron tint of blood in the back of her throat.
Air. She needed air.
She scrambled out of bed and hurried to her balcony, breathing heavily as she felt her heart pounding in her chest. The sun was slowly rising and she could glimpse fishing boats out on the horizon.
She jumped at the sudden loud rapping at her door. She answered it and a guard stood there.
"Get dressed. You and your sister are being summoned before the King."
Sansa and Mina approached the throne room several minutes later.
"Lady Sansa. Lady Minisa. Approach me and kneel," said Joffrey, his mannerism solemn.
The sisters approached and did as they were told. Mina briefly met eyes with the Hound before looking down as she knelt. She heard a rustling and looked up to see Joffrey aiming a crossbow at them.
"You're here to answer for your brother's latest treasons."
"Your Grace, whatever my traitor brother has done, my sister and I had no part," said Sansa. "You know that. I beg you, please–"
"Ser Lancel, tell her of this outrage."
"Using some vile sorcery, your brother fell on Stafford Lannister with an army of wolves. Thousands of good men were butchered. After the slaughter, the Northmen feasted on the flesh of the slain."
A chorus of outrage rose up among the nobles gathered. Mina felt sick to her stomach. Was that what happened in her dream?
"Killing you would send your brother a message," said Joffrey.
Mina put a protective arm around Sansa, who had started to cry.
"Especially you, Minisa. You're his twin. I wonder if he would feel it in his chest if I just…" Joffrey aimed the crossbow at Mina's chest, and Sansa wept loudly, shaking her head desperately, silently begging.
Joffrey sneered and straightened, handing the crossbow to the nearest guard.
"However, my mother insists on keeping you both alive. Meryn, shall we find another way to send Robb Stark a message?" Meryn stepped up and exchanged a sneer with Joffrey. "Leave their faces. I want Sansa pretty, and we can still whore Mina to the highest bidder."
Meryn approached swiftly and ripped the sisters away from each other. He kneed Mina in the stomach and left her winded on the floor as he punched Sansa in the stomach, making her double over.
"Our Ladies are overdressed, Ser Meryn. See to it."
Sansa sobbed as Meryn took hold of the back of her dress and ripped it.
"Leave her alone!" Mina attempted to rush at Meryn only to be backhanded to the floor.
Her head was pounding, but she opened her eyes anyway. She was back in her chambers and Pycelle was putting a stopper back on to the bottle of milk of the poppy.
"What happened?"
"You tried and failed to fight a grown man and member of the kingsguard, silly girl," said Pycelle.
"Where's Sansa?"
"I'm here," said Sansa quietly, sitting on a chair in the corner of the room.
"I'll leave you two be. Have your maids change your bandages." Pycelle shuffled out of the room, shutting the door.
"Lord Tyrion stopped it shortly after you were knocked out," said Sansa. "The Hound covered me with his cloak and then he carried you while Tyrion's sellsword carried me."
"Sansa, I'm so sorry," said Mina. "I should have protected you better."
"Mina, you did all that you could." Sansa stood and laid the white cloak she had been holding across Mina's bed. "I'm going to go pray. I'll see to it that a maid checks on you." Sansa briefly bent to place a soft kiss on Mina's cheek, her eyes darting to Mina's head wound as she did.
"I'll be here," supplied Mina. She waited until Sansa left to examine the cloak she had left behind more closely. It was dirty, no doubt, but as she spread it out, the fabric released a scent that very much reminded her of kissing Carrick. Yet, it also reminded her of the Hound as he towered close over her, his intense gaze upon her…
A throat clearing at her doorway made her jump. She looked towards a dark-haired woman who was carrying a tray.
"I interrupted your thoughts," she said. Her voice was accented.
"It's alright," said Mina, feeling her cheeks heat up.
"I brought you some food. I'm Shae. I'm a new maid here."
"Thank you, Shae." She slowly started to nibble on a piece of bread from the tray. Shae swiped a grape, grinning slyly as she chewed.
"Did a suitor give you that cloak?" asked Shae.
"No. The Hound had placed it on my sister to help keep her modesty."
"I'm sorry you and your sister had to endure that."
"Me too."
"Have you known the Hound long?"
"Why do you ask?"
"He was very concerned for you and your sister. He and Tyrion were arguing. Tyrion thinks he is just trying to get a piece of your pie."
Mina nearly choked in laughter.
"He'll get a piece of knife if he tries. And he knows it," said Mina. Shae smiled.
"I like you. Never change, my lady."
"Likewise, Shae. Stay and chat?"
Shae perched on the edge of the bed and the women talked. Shae got Mina to open up about Carrick and all she had done with him. She advised Mina to always keep her first love close to her heart, but that eventually she'd need to be able to let another love in. Mina thought about the conversation long after Shae had changed her bandages and left her to sleep.
Mina stood on her balcony that night, enjoying the night breeze. She heard soft footfalls approaching from below and cautiously looked over her railing.
"Hound?"
"Wolfling. How's your head?"
"It feels like a melon."
"It was unwise to try to fight a man like that."
"I took you on once."
"That doesn't count. My cock was at knifepoint."
Mina let out a small chortle despite herself.
"Anyway, there's still a dull pain and I can't sleep."
"I've got the thing." She squinted down at him as he tossed what looked like a sack onto her balcony. She picked it up and saw that it was a wineskin. "It should help dull any pain."
Mina uncapped it and sniffed the contents. Sweet wine. She took a sip and hummed in satisfaction. The Hound shifted slightly on his feet.
"I'll throw this and your cloak back down momentarily," she said.
"Take your time on the wine. Keep the cloak."
Mina slowly smiled.
"Sleep with it and imagine it's me, won't you?"
Her smile quickly disappeared.
"You'll soon find it throttled and hanging from the balcony," she spat, her cheeks pink. The Hound gave a short chuckle as he continued on his path and Mina turned on her heel, taking a swig of wine as she returned to bed. Despite herself, the cloak accompanied her.