Author's note : Hi there! First of all, thank you for the reviews/favorites/follows. Second, I'm sorry if it takes time to post a new chapter. I currently have weird and very painful stomach aches, which could be caused by a bacteria living in it. I have a test scheduled in march to see what's going on, and how it can be treated. I was so sick lately that I was forced to leave my job to take more time to relax. I have a generalized anxiety disorder, and it could cause all of that too. So basically, I don't know what's going on, just that I randomly have huge abdominal and stomach pains everyday and night.

I hope it won't affect my writing, and that you will still appreciate the following chapter!

Have a good read :)

English is not my first language.


Chapter 4

A Lion still has claws (so does a Hound)

A scream could be heard behind the wooden door. Sandor gripped the pommel of his sword harder – if he could break it with only his bare hand, the poor thing would already be a pile of dust on the floor. The metallic taste of blood invaded his mouth as he bit down too hard on his tongue. He closed his eyes and inhaled sharply. He had to stay calm and keep his head clear if he wanted to come up with a plan to save his Little Bird.

The sweet kiss she had given him a few minutes earlier… Hells, he wanted more of that! Wanted more of her. He couldn't just stay there and do nothing. But he couldn't barge in there and risk having them both killed by acting stupidly either. He needed to act before the king would give the final blow, though. Sandor knew the boy would take his time, yet Joffrey was sometimes unpredictable, and so Sandor couldn't guarantee that he would have time to do anything.

He thought back of that night, when the Blackwater was burning in green flames. He had so many regrets about that night. He regretted his cowardice for leaving the battlefield, his weakness that drove him to almost drown himself in sour wine, his anger when the sweetest girl he'd ever known had refused once again to look him in the face…

However, what he regretted the most was not his desire of fucking that same girl, willing or not, nor having threatened her with the tip of his sword. No, what he regretted the most was not having the balls to steal her away against her will, so that now she would be away from this place, and with a little luck, safe and untouched.

Another scream.

'' Joffrey is still playing with our little dove. ''

Years of practice in maintaining a neutral mask were what stopped Sandor from jumping at the sound of Cersei's voice. The queen was standing a few paces from him in her red and yellow gown, her hands folded in front of her and her golden eyebrows frowned. Her cold green stare was on him, scrutinizing him as if she wanted to know his darkest secrets.

'' I must say I am quite surprised to find you here, Clegane. Ser Osmund told me you were looking after the King. I genuinely thought you would be with that whore. Please, don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, '' she scoffed when he frowned. '' I saw you with her the other day, and I know she visited your room again the next, and the next one after that. ''

Oh, that! It was true, Alaya had shared his bed for the past nights. It had started a few moons after her arrival. After a particularly trying day, she had sneaked into his rooms with a bottle of strongwine, just what Sandor needed to forget the shitty day they had gone through. Joffrey had been in a horrible mood all day, barking orders here and there, sending Sandor and Kettleback away by turn, then requesting their presence, and then sending them away again.

Despite Alaya's best tricks to gain his attention, his main target had been once again the little bird. That day, no one stood up to stop Sansa's public humiliation. Everyone at court was quiet while the girl was stripped naked before them and beaten by Ser Meryn Trant. Even Alaya had been slapped for attempting to take Joffrey's eyes away from the crying redhead.

Later, as soon as Sansa had been asleep, Alaya had joined Sandor. They had shared the wine in silence, both trying in vain to release their mutual tension, until one shared look made them realise what they truly needed at that moment. They had jumped on each other and had engaged themselves in the most brutal yet satisfying fuck they'd ever had. After that, a deal between them had been sealed without them having to voice it.

Sandor had no love for the woman, but she took care of Sansa when he couldn't and watched after her. Alaya had honest intentions and Sandor respected that. The brunette now shared his bed almost every night, but for the ones where Sansa's nightmares were overwhelming the poor girl. Like the good dog he was, Sandor would always wake up a few times during the night to check on his little bird. Thus, they could both take care of the girl and still satisfy themselves when they needed it.

'' She must be very good if you let her share your room more than once. 'Thought of trying her myself, can you believe that? '' Cersei laughed.

The movement seemed to make her lose her balance slightly, but she regained it fast enough. Looking closely into her eyes, Sandor could see that they were shining strangely. The queen was drunk. Again. With Jaime gone to Casterly Rock since their father's death, it happened more often.

'' She has bewitched all the men and a few women in court with her huge tits and her tanned skin, '' Cersei said sourly. '' She almost got me too, but I guess she is just not my type, '' she shrugged and giggled like a little girl.

'' She's not your type, but Kettleback is? '' The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them. Sandor had never been prone on insolence, yet tonight, as Sansa kept moaning in pain in the room behind his back, his patience was running short.

Never losing her smile, although it didn't reach her eyes anymore, Cersei stepped closer until Sandor could smell the strongwine on her breath. Her green eyes were cold emeralds flashing daggers at him.

'' Careful, Clegane. I didn't do anything about that little love affair, or whatever the fuck it is, but if you start threatening me, I won't be so clever anymore, '' she hissed, her smirk twisting into an ugly grimace. '' Joffrey might be king, yet his kingsguard was hired by my father before his murder from my little gargoyle of a brother. If I want you and your little whore killed on the spot, I just need to snap my fingers and both your heads are already rolling on the ground with your lifeless body squirming one. Last. Time. Understand? ''

Trying his very best to keep a disinterested face, Sandor managed to rasp between his gritted teeth: '' Aye, Your Grace. ''

'' That's better, Clegane, much better, '' she cooed as if she was teaching a child to say mama. It irked Sandor, still he refused to stir. '' See, I would hate to have you killed, '' she went on. '' With Jaime gone, I need someone to look after Joffrey, and that's exactly what you and Ser Osmund are doing despite hating him. And don't try to tell me otherwise, '' she lifted her finger and pointed it at his face in an annoying way. '' I know you do. Everyone does… ''

A cry interrupted her.

'' Even his wife. I would hate him too, but I can't. I am his mother. I bore him for many moons, spent hours sweating, bleeding, and suffering to get him out, nights to watch him sleep afterwards, '' as Cersei spoke, her stare lost itself on a point on Sandor's chest, and her eyes watered slightly. '' His first smile was for me. His first words were mama. I witnessed his first steps. I used to kiss his chubby cheeks, caress his golden hair, and sing to him every chances I got. Yet, despite my best efforts, Robert turned him into a monster. A monster that I am forced to love and protect at all costs. ''

Sandor's head was beginning to ache from how tensed he was. He didn't know what he wanted to do anymore; run his sword through Joffrey or snap Cersei's little neck? Why not both at the same time? Looking at Cersei without hearing what nonsense she was saying anymore, Sandor thought of how easy it would be to just kill her on the spot. They were alone, no one would know. Joffrey would be even easier to kill, and he would be gone with Sansa before someone found their bodies.

They had made a huge mistake in thinking that he was still their loyal dog. That mistake could be Sandor's advantage. They had lowered their guard and had forgotten that a hound too had claws and sharp teeth. Even a dog gets tired of being kicked.

Adrenaline filled his blood and Sandor took a tiny step forward. Too deep was she in her memories that Cersei didn't notice his movement. She kept talking while a single tear ran down her cheek. Sandor didn't find it in himself to show her compassion. He felt none for her.

'' … he was my baby boy, my firstborn, my precious miracle who looked so much like his father… ''

Sandor was about to bring his hands around her neck, when…

'' Your Grace! ''

Maester Pycelle appeared in the corridor, huffing and puffing as he obviously struggled to calm his heavy breathing. He'd been running, it seemed. And he also seemed to have a piece of parchment in his hand, with a broken seal that Sandor didn't recognize in the dark corridor. Something important.

Sandor took a step back as the maester approached.

'' We've received surprising news from the Night's Watch. ''

'' It couldn't wait until tomorrow? '' Cersei snapped, looking as if she'd just sobered up. Her eyes were still a bit red.

'' I'm afraid it couldn't, Your Grace, '' the maester said while glancing suspiciously between Cersei and Sandor. '' Here. ''

The old maester handed Cersei the paper. Sandor couldn't see what was written on it, but Cersei's suddenly pale face told him something was wrong. She whispered something, but Sandor didn't hear her.

A familiar smell had reached his nostrils, rendering him deaf to anything around him except for the beating of his heart. It was the smell of burned flesh. Sansa's scream was the loudest and most painful sound Sandor had ever heard.

He went berserk.

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