Author's note : Hello! Sorry for the delay. I didn't have a lot of time to write lately. I usually like to have the next chapter already written before posting the previous one, but I decided not to have you wait too long. I'm gonna have more time in the next days to post next week (I'll do my best, I promise). For those of you who'd like an update on my health, I've been through what they call a '' Breath Test '' to see if there isn't some kind of bacteria in my stomach. If so, I'm supposed to get news in two or three weeks. I'll let you know as soon as I do.

Thank you for the kind reviews, and for the favorites/follows :) It warms my heart.

English is not my first language.


Chapter 6

Scarred

Of course she wouldn't be here, stupid!

Breathing heavily, Alaya cursed herself silently while glancing inside Sansa room. The young lady was still with Joffrey. Alaya needed to find a way to stop him from killing Sansa, or whatever plans he had for her. With her brother alive – well, half-brother – Sansa would now have a reason to fight. But how could Alaya, a lonely whore, stop a King without losing her life? And what could possibly make him change his mind?

The Hound! I need to find him.

Yes, the Hound would surely come up with something. He would never let his little bird down. He cared for her too much. How the Hound felt about Sansa Stark was no secret to the whole world. Only a blind fool like Joffrey wouldn't see it. Or a naïve proper lady like Sansa.

As she sprinted down the hallway, Alaya thought of how she wished to have a man devoted to her like Sandor Clegane was to the Stark girl. Despite his scars, his lack of patience, his mocking and sarcastic remarks, and his sudden bursts of anger, Alaya wouldn't mind sharing more than the Hound's bed. With those strong arms of his and his sharp mind, he would make a good husband. Unfortunately, he only had eyes for his little bird, who wanted nothing more than to fly away from this horrible place and would probably forget him once she would be back in her freezing north – or wherever her home would be.

Turning a corner, Alaya stopped abruptly. She could hear voices speaking, but couldn't distinguish what they were saying. The rumbling of one of the voices told her it was the Hound and someone else. A woman.

'' 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. I know you do. Everyone does… ''

A cry interrupted her, and Alaya felt both relieved and saddened by the sound.

I'm not too late! Poor child...

'' Even his wife… ''

Alaya peeked in the hallway. The Hound was standing beside the door to Joffrey's room, Cersei standing a few inches in front of him. Her stare seemed lost and her voice was a little hollow. Alaya recognized the sadness and longing of a mother, and felt something akin to empathy towards the queen. Regardless of all the evil things she did, Cersei was still a loving and caring mother, and had always done her best to be.

'' … my baby boy, my firstborn, my precious miracle… ''

At the other end of the corridor, Alaya could hear the clanking of chains. It seemed like Pycelle had found them too.

'' Your Grace! ''

Alaya watched the exchange closely. She saw Cersei take the parchment and read it. By the look on her face, the news of Jon Snow not being dead seemed of high importance. Cersei's face paled and her lips moved, but no sound came out.

Then, Sansa screamed; a scream Alaya had only ever heard on the battlefield when she was a camp follower. A scream even the most battle hardened soldier would get nightmares from. A split second later, all hell broke loose.

'' YOU FUCKING BASTARD! ''

Alaya watched helplessly as The Hound threw himself into Joffrey's room like a bull. A few grunts were heard inside the room, then silence followed, only broken by Cersei's hysterical shrieks.

'' STOP HIM! GUARDS! GUARDS! STOP HIM! HE'S GOING TO KILL MY SON, YOUR KING! ''

Maester Pycelle was stomping the ground, not seeming to know what to do.

'' Oh, Gods! Oh, Gods! ''

Alaya heard quick footsteps behind her, but she was too dumbstruck to even attempt to hide. A strong gloved hand took hold of her arm and turned her around swiftly, while the other clamped down on her mouth. As she was about to try to escape, Alaya recognized the man due to his high resemblance with the Hound, though he looked way more handsome than the latter.

Osmund Kettleback.

'' If someone asks why you were here, '' he said low close to her ear. '' I was taking you to my room, understand? Cersei hates spies when they're not hers. Now, come. Lady Sansa's going to need your assistance, if she's still alive, that is. ''

Understanding what he was doing, all the while dreading if she would see Sansa's corpse once in the room, Alaya nodded, then proceeded to follow him. When she took her first glance around the King's chambers, Alaya couldn't help but cry out.

'' Clegane, don't! ''

The Hound was holding Joffrey by his collar against a wall. The King's nose was bleeding heavily while he sobbed and moaned in pain. His feet were far from the ground, his face now level with Sandor's. Cersei was trying in vain to pull on the man's arm, screaming and slapping him by turn.

'' Let him go at once! Let him go, Clegane, I command you! OBEY YOUR QUEEN, DAMN YOU. LET GO OFF MY SON! SOMEONE HELP! ''

'' Stand back, your Grace, '' Kettleback said, his voice strangely calm despite the situation.

Even more strangely, Cersei obeyed and took a few steps back, her eyes full of tears and fear watching the man closely. Kettleback, who was of the same size and shape of the Hound, came to stand behind him and started pulling on his arms, all the while talking to his good ear so low, no one could hear what he was saying. Still, his words seemed to have a strong impact since the Hound's form started to shake, and he slowly let go off Joffrey. As soon as the boy fell on the ground, his mother and the maester were at his side.

A whimper on her left made Alaya turn her head. Her hands came up to her mouth to muffle her cry.

By the Seven, Sansa!

The girl was laying lifelessly on the ground, her bruised limbs unmoving. From the way she was curled on herself, Alaya could see a mix of blood and bodily fluids coming out of her cunt and her arsehole. Her back had multiple bleeding cuts that only a whip could have caused.

Alaya had seen all different kinds of injuries during her days as a camp follower, and after a time she'd even become accustomed to them. Still, the state of Sansa Stark's left shoulder along with the side of her neck made bile rise in the servant's throat.

Where before there had only been smooth pale skin, her shoulder now looked like a mess of melted skin, blood and blisters. Pieces of burned skin were still attached to the wound and hung loosely over it. Alaya was petrified by the gruesome picture.

Yet, while the young lady seemed peacefully asleep, Joffrey was whining loud enough for all the kingdoms to hear.

'' OUCH! Don'd douch id, you old rag! '' screamed Joffrey, his words barely understandable with his broken nose. '' Id hurds! ''

'' Hush! Let the maester do his job. I know it hurts, my love, but don't worry you will soon feel better. Maester Pycelle can fix this. Am I right, maester? ''

'' Yes, of course, your grace! I will do all I can to... ''

'' Someone should take Lady Sansa back to her room, '' Kettleback intervened politely.

Cersei threw a disinterested glance towards the girl.

'' Well, then, get her out of here! Clegane... ''

'' NOD YOU, DOG! I WAND YOUR HEAD OD A SBIKE!

'' Your Grace, '' started Kettleback. '' Let me keep an eye on both traitors. I will send Ser Meryn to guard you. ''

''Good, good, '' hurriedly agreed Cersei before Joffrey answered. '' Take the whore with you, '' she added. '' That one has nothing to do in the King's chamber. ''

'' She was with me, your Grace, '' tried to explain Ser Osmund. '' I was walking with her when we heard... ''

Cersei raised her brow and flashed him a murderous glance.

'' I don't care whether she was with you or the Stranger himself, '' hissed Cersei, her tone belying her words. '' Obey at once! All of you! ''

As if he'd just woken up from a trance, the Hound finally – and to Alaya's relief – moved from where he'd been left standing in a corner of the room. In three long strides, he was at Sansa's side and already crouching to lift her up carefully in his arms. Alaya followed him closely as he left the room, Kettleback on their heels. In the hallway, they could still hear Joffrey.

'' I SAID: DON'D DOUCH BY DOSE! ''

Alaya strangely and inappropriately felt like laughing.

.


I hope you liked it! If you did, you know how to let me know ;) I always love to read your reactions and know what you think about the story. Have a good weekend :)