~Tyrion~

Where are they? Gods, where are they? I panicked as I paced the floor of the keep. My mind a whirl with all the horrible things that kept flashing through my head. Rape, torture, murder. I've never been much for praying, but at that moment, I prayed to the Gods harder than I ever had before. Vowing that if they died, Joffery would pay. The sound of the door slamming open, then closing quickly drew my attention as Sir Clegane marched through, Sansa rushing before him and into the arms of waiting nurses who busied themselves with wiping blood from her face.

"No stop." She protested. "You must see to Elena." It was then that the hulking knight gently set a unconscious figure on the ground.

"No." I gasped as I rushed to her side. Her dress was in tatters, blood and dirt coating her skin and matting her hair. Her lip was freshly split, blood pouring from her nose and a cut on her head, her hand sliced while bruises began to blossom along her back, arms, and legs.

"Thank you Sir Clegane." I whispered as the hulking hound looked down on her, a gleam in his eyes as he shook his head.

"I didn't do it for you." He muttered before he walked away, leaving me to look over the broken girl before me.

"What happened?" I asked Sansa as a guard came and gently lifted Elena, following twittering nurses to her chambers. Tears poured from the red haired Stark girl's eyes as she wrung her hands.

"There were men, and they... They were going to... She saved me." Sansa sobbed as we stopped outside the door, waiting until we were free to enter. I took Sansa's hands, rubbing small circles on her palms to help relax her.

"It's alright now. You're both back here and alive." I spoke, portraying more calm than I felt as she looked at me with red rimmed eyes. "She wouldn't want to see you crying. I'll send one of the maids to draw you a bath and tend to your cut. Try not to worry. Prayer is what she needs now, understand?" Sansa took a great shaking breath before she nodded, drying her tears with her dirty dress sleeve before walking away.

"We've stripped the rest of her dress away and washed away the mud and blood. She has many bruises and shallow cuts. There is deep bruising along her back and ribs, and a deep cut on her hand and cheek. As far as we can tell, she wasn't raped. The Maester will have to tend to the rest my lord." A maid spoke quickly after what seemed like hours.

"Thank you. Lady Sansa will need tending to now." I spoke before she nodded quickly and left. After there were no more prying eyes, I entered Elena's chambers, shutting the door behind me as I tried to calm my rapid breathing. She's going to be okay. I told myself as I scooted a chair by her bedside, using it as a stool to climb beside her. Her breathing was shallow and her face was pinched with pain even in her sleep.

"You're going to be alright." I spoke aloud, though whether I was talking to her or trying to convince myself, I wasn't certain. My heart ached as I pictured those men hurting her, knowing that I was not there to stop it, knowing I did not keep my promise.

"How can you ever love a weak half man like me?" I asked her quietly as I reached for the rag and bowl of water on the bedside table, using it to carefully clean the blood still oozing from cuts on her face. She gave a whimper of pain when I touched her once again swollen cheek, fist shooting out and almost catching me in the jaw.

"No." She wheezed as I caught her hand, holding it to my chest as her eyes fluttered open.

"Tyrion?" She spoke softly, her eyes coming into focus before they began to fill with tears.

"I'm here now. I'm so sorry I was not there then." I shushed as I pushed hair from her face, being careful of her wounds.

"Sansa?" She asked, trying to sit up before collapsing again with a hiss of pain. A small smile tugged at my lips as I looked at my warrior princess.

"She is fine. You were there to protect her." I reassured. She nodded in acceptance, closing her eyes once more, a deep sigh leaking past her lips.

"I can leave if you want. The Grand Maester will be here soon." I spoke as I made to climb from the bed, stopping when she grabbed ahold of the back of my shirt.

"Please stay." She whispered, eyes pleading as she scoot over with a wince of pain to make room for me. "Come lay beside me. Keep me safe while I rest." My heart soared once more as I did as she asked, settling beside her as she lay her head in my lap, being careful of the bruised cheek.

"Tell me a story. One to take me far away from here." She spoke with a tired sigh as she closed her eyes again, unhurt hand gripping my shirt tightly. I wasn't accustomed to telling stories, having not heard many told to me while growing up, but I didn't have to heart to tell her so.

"Once there was an ugly dwarf who fell in love with a princess, though all the world told him not too."