Note to reader: This chapter took me longer than intended to finish as I wasn't sure I wanted the events to happen exactly the way they did but I'm happy with the result. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Chapter 4
As they ran down the alleyway and back into the fray, Sandor was weighing all the options he had to escape. It wouldn't be prudent to run straight for the stables and escape through the gates without any supplies or provisions. He had to at least get his coin he had hidden away in his room in the Keep in order to survive this journey. Sandor had won a sizeable sum during the tournament and even though he'd wasted a fair sum on whores and wine, he still had enough to make a journey across the sea and back if there was a need. He couldn't call himself rich from the reward, but it would be enough to provide for the girl for some time to come.
Sandor turned to the girl then who had a death grip on his left paw as he paused outside the exit of the alleyway. Now he stopped to think why he was doing this. If he deserted the city now with a captured Little Bird in tow, even with Joffrey dead, Tywin Lannister would have his men hunt them down all through Westeros. Once Tywin caught wind of this travesty with the result being his only daughter and nephew the King murdered, he would reign down on all those involved. Since the crowd was so large, no one would be able to identify who the ones were who slaughtered Tywin's spawn. It wouldn't matter to Tywin though, Sandor knew. He would burn this city to the ground seeking justice and vengeance in a merciless tirade. With that thought, Sandor shook his head to get his thoughts back to his task knowing now was the time to escape before the city was damned.
Looking back at the bird who was utterly petrified as she looked at the people yards away enjoying their triumph, Sandor pulled her away from the scene to lead them down a path he'd taken many times before when he needed to enter the Keep undetected late at night heavy with drink. The path that would lead them was between various buildings surrounding the Keep so they would go undetected if they didn't run into anyone. Sandor was hurriedly pulling the girl along as they weaved between buildings that would eventually lead the to a back passageway to the Keep that was closer to the soldiers' quarters. As they approached the entrance, he was irritated to find two guards standing a short distance away with their swords drawn, presumably guarding the Keep from invasion. As he and the Little Bird got closer to the duo, one turned in their direction.
"Halt, who goes there? No one is being allowed in." As Sandor got closer, a look of recognition went across the man's face and then he looked at the Little Bird. The man gave an upturned grin at that and there was some delight in his eyes as he turned to his companion. "Abbot, look what the Hound caught for us. The Lady Sansa herself!"
The man named Abbot strolled over then with the same upturned grin as his partner, "And here I thought we were going to miss out on all the fun for the day." Both men began laughing then.
Sandor was seething inside but one wouldn't know it as he never changed his expression. "I'm taking Lady Sansa back to the Keep in the safety of her bedchamber so both of you cunts can get out of my fucking way before I have to do something uncomely in the presence of a lady."
The one who had spoken up first seemed to look uneasy at that, but the one named Abbot took an arrogant stride closer. "Hound, why you should know the Keep soon won't be safe for her now that her beloved betrothed is dead, and the city in chaos. We got word the commoners' numbers have grown since they stormed the King. Soon those damn commoners will be looking to enter the Keep taking who and what they want. Why don't you just give her to us? You know a good fuck is good before a battle. Once we've had our fun, we'll give her back to you so you can have some fun with her in her bedchamber. Why you must have killed thirty men just to win this prize!"
Sandor knew he'd been right; the mob would grow as the King's Guard and the King was killed. Only a few would be able to stop them for wreaking havoc on the city now that they had a self-proclaimed taste of victory over the rich. He knew the Little Bird wouldn't be safe any longer and even if she had been able to survive the first few hours, once Tywin came, she'd be sold off like cattle for slaughter to any man Tywin could form an alliance with. He turned to look at her then and oddly his heart clenched seeing the terror on her face as she looked from one man to the other. Sandor knew the depravity in all men. He knew it in himself, but he knew the beast within couldn't hurt her. Not her. But that didn't mean he couldn't let the beast loose to do her bidding.
Looking back at the men he now loathed, he rasped with his snarling voice while setting a wicked grin on his face, "Aye, she is a pretty prize, don't you think?" The men both laughed, and the Little Bird seemed horrified by his declaration. "And aye, I did kill thirty men for my prize," Sandor began unsheathing his sword as he said, "and now I'll make it thirty-two." The men were too confused at his statement and stunned at the sight of his sword as he cut them down to put up much of a fight. One man didn't even get his hand on the pommel of his sword before he had slashed his abdomen open spilling his guts on the ground. The man named Abbot had drawn his sword by then, but Sandor sliced off his arm before he could raise it proper in defense. As the man fell to the ground screaming bloody murder, Sandor leaned over him enjoying the sight of his maimed body and the look of terror on his face. Quiet enough for the Little Bird not to hear, he said to the man, "No one takes my prize." At that Sandor stabbed him in the neck and as the man clutched his wound, his cries were silenced by the blood coming out of his throat. Such a pretty picture.
Sandor wiped his blade on the man's britches as he was still choking on his own blood then turned back to the girl. She had the same expression before on her face when he had killed the other men in the alley except this time there was no sense of relief in her expression from his kills. He was a bit puzzled why she looked so perplexed but then remembered she's a delicate little bird. When he took a step towards her then she instinctively took a step back and put her hands in front of her as if to defend herself. That stopped him in his tracks and boiled Sandor's blood. Suddenly he advanced on her and as she turned to run away from him, it just infuriated him even more. He caught one of her arms and hauled her closer to him, so her face was only a few inches from his. She raised a hand as if to strike him but seemed to think better of it.
"Better get used to seeing death, Little Bird. This won't be the last time you'll see rats butchered by a dog. Killing is the sweetest thing in this world."
That statement seemed to make her angry. She did strike him then. With her free hand she hit him in his arm holding her. She's lost her damn mind. She screamed at him then, "You didn't have the kill them." What?
"Oh reeeeally, I didn't have to kill them? And what do you think they would have done if I hadn't, hmm? Do you think you could have used your chirping to prevent them from taking your precious maidenhead?" Stupid girl, didn't she know he'd just saved her from a brutal assault. This is the fucking thanks I get; a slap in the arm like a dog being punished for taking his bone.
She now had tears streaming down her face and was hitting him again as she replied, "You didn't have to kill them. You could have talked to them and convinced them attacking me wouldn't be in their favor with Lord Tywin."
"Stupid, Bird. Talking to them wouldn't have done any good." He grabbed her roughly by both arms now and shook her hard as she was getting prepared to give him another blow. The girl does have some wolf left in her; I have to respect her at least for having the courage to strike a man like me. "You think Tywin Lannister would have stopped them? Hmm? You think he will protect you? No, as soon as that bastard gets his claws in you, he'd sale you to the highest bidder the first chance he got. Your brother would do the same, mark my damn words. There is no safe place in this world, girl. You should have known that better than anyone else by now." She seemed to not be hearing him as she sagged her head to the side a bit out of exasperation. They didn't have time now for this outburst, but he had to get her feathers smoothed out now. By the gods, he was always harsh and rough with her, but she had to listen to him now if he was going to keep her alive. "Look at me." Still, she was looking far off somewhere lost in her own thoughts. With another hard shake that snapped her head back about an inch, he snarled menacingly at her, "Look at me." Slowly, she moved her eyes to his face. She looked at him then like she would in court when she thought he couldn't see. "Those men would have raped you had I not been here. They would have grabbed you, dragged you behind some bush or alcove, thrown up your skirts and raped you with no mercy to your virtue. And they would have laughed while they did it. Just like those men in the fucking alley. No words that came out of my mouth would have stopped them. Only sharp steel and strong arms can save us from this world. There's no use believing any different, so you best get your head out of the clouds if you want to survive." She was still looking at him straight in the face, which admittedly made him somewhat tense, but he seemed to be getting through to her. "The Lannisters are killers. Your father was a killer. Your brother is a killer. Your sons will be killers someday. The world is built by killers, so you better get used to looking at them."
After a moment, she seemed to come to some realization as she looked directly in his harsh eyes now. She then slowly looked at the two dead men at Sandor's back and closed her eyes quickly then to compose herself. When she looked back at him, she gave only a curt nod without a word. Maybe he would finally get her to see. To see that what he was doing was going to save her life. If she'd let go of her childish, naïve ideas then maybe he'd be able to get her through this. He let her go and then realized how roughly he must have been holding her. He was always rough and brusque in everything that he did but he chose to put out of his mind the start of a bruise on her arm under her thin dress. No need getting distracted now.
Finally, they were able to enter the Keep. Sandor could hear people scurrying about throughout the halls upstairs but as they made a dash to the soldiers' quarters, he didn't see anyone. Just as he was leading her to the next turn where his room was, one soldier was exiting his room at the same time. Sandor came face to face with the man and they stared at each other with a hint of a challenge there from each man. As the man looked behind him at the Little Bird, Sandor noticed the man had a knapsack filled to the brim with provisions in his hands. He's fleeing. The man seemed to understand Sandor's purpose as well and gave him a jerked nod then turned to run down the halls. Sandor had half a mind to chase after him to prevent him from being able to tell anyone he saw the Hound with the Lady Sansa but then decided they didn't have any more time to spare. As he entered his room, he finally let go of her wrist which he had been holding like a vise since entering the Keep. Sandor made quick work of what he needed to take. His coin, extra clothes, a bedroll, and then something very special to him he'd kept for years that he couldn't leave behind. It was a portrait of his little sister who had been taken from the world too soon. It was the only possession he kept from his life before becoming the Hound. He put the thought of her out of his mind as he turned back to the girl.
"Ready to go?" Before waiting on her reply, he breezed by her and grabbed her by the wrist again to make his way to the stables.
"Wait! I need to go to my room first so I can get my things."
He turned to her then, "We won't have time for that and besides, anyone from the court that is left will be looking for you and that's the first place they'll go. We can't risk anyone else seeing you." She had a rejected look on her face, and she was biting her bottom lip in worry. As an afterthought he told her, "I had to come back here to get my coin to make this journey. I have plenty to buy you more dresses… Gods knows you need them." She blushed fiercely then as he referred to the too small dresses she still wore from Winterfell. He turned then and dragged her along.
As they exited the soldiers' quarters, he knew they were bound to run into someone who would recognize the Little Bird. He stopped then and reached in his sack for one of his cloaks. It would be way too big on her, but it would conceal who she was for anyone giving her a quick glance. "Here, put this on." She made quick work of the garment, then he rasped, "Pull the hood up. Have to cover that hair." Once she had done what he said, he made his way and soon there were people all around scurrying this way and that in a frenzy.
Just as they were to the side of the Keep leading to the stables, a man appeared directly before Sandor with a lowered head and a raised hood. Even with the chaos around him as people passed them by and the man's raised hood, he knew who stood before him. The Spider. The man raised his head then with a serene expression on his face even with all the busying bodies. Lord Varys looked Sandor straight in the face now. The eunuch was one of the only people who could do that with any length of time, and it make Sandor's hairs stand up in the back of his neck. He knew the Spider seeing them now was dangerous for the Little Bird. The eunuch would try taking her from him and delivering her back into the Lannister's hands. Sandor instinctively put his palm on the pommel of his sword at that thought.
The eunuch seemed to notice by the arch of one of his brows but otherwise gave no hint he was intimidated. "Hound, it seems you survived the attack to the King yet the King himself is presumed dead by all accounts." The eunuch then looked passed Sandor to the Little Bird who still had her hood raised and was looking at her feet. "How fortunate you have survived to save such a valued dove from the clutches of those who wish to do her harm." Sandor didn't give any outward reaction to his words.
"Get out of my way before I have to make you move, Spider." Sandor pulled his sword from his scaffold just a few inches so the man would get his meaning.
There was only a brief look to Sandor's sword hand to give any indication he had acknowledged the threat. "Now, now Hound. No use getting rabid when I'm to be her salvation." Sandor was confused by that statement but before he could reply the eunuch gave a serious look and then looked to his left and right. He took a step closer to Sandor whispering to him, "If you do wish to spirit her away to keep her from Lannister clutches, then you must trust and follow me now. There is a vessel that has been arranged taking men and women to the Free Cities. I can assure you safe passage across the sea and there, you and she will remain hidden." The Free Cities? Was the man out of his damn mind? Sandor couldn't take the Little Bird there… could he? He knew nothing of the Free Cities other than they wore strange outfits and had a looser morale. Nowhere would be safe for either of them but as he contemplated the possibility, he also knew less people would know of the burned dog and the fiery haired lady of Winterfell.
"And why should we trust you, hmm? What do you have to gain by helping us? Answer me this. How do I know this isn't some trap devised by the Lannisters to take my head?" He couldn't just trust the eunuch. The Spider always had another game to play.
The eunuch grinned at Sandor then and replied, "You don't have much choice but to trust me now though, do you? What would I gain for helping you other than knowing that the Lady Sansa is in a place far from here away from the Lannisters and in a place she wouldn't be easily recognized? I've been watching you closely these past months and I know you have a softer consideration for the lady so I've no doubt of your loyalty to her. Lady Sansa has suffered enough in this misfortunate place, wouldn't you agree? This would be her chance to escape until the war is over and with a man such as the Hound by her side, no harm would befall her."
Sandor knew he spoke some truth, but he knew it was dangerous to trust him at his word. If Sandor took her to the Free Cities, he's sure the Spider's spies would be always watching them. Varys would be able to ensure she's unharmed and he'd know where she was always. He wondered then if somehow the eunuch knew what would transpire today. Sandor looked at him then. With his unworldly cold gaze looking back at Sandor, he thought then that the Spider knew exactly what would take place today.
Sandor then turned to the Little Bird who was still looking down at her feet and was ringing her hands from nervousness and anxiety. He'd seen her do it time and time again when being summoned to court by Joffrey. As if knowing his eyes were on her, she turned her face up to look at him. In her eyes was fear and uncertainty, as she looked at him. She looked around her now at the people scurrying about seeming to not know what to do. Sandor touched her arm then and pulled her a few feet away from the eunuch so he couldn't overhear. "Little Bird, it's up to you. I don't know that I can trust the eunuch, but he does speak the truth. In the Free Cities, few will recognize me and fewer still would recognize you. I can't promise the same on the road. We would be on a long sea voyage to get to the Free Cities, and we'd be in a strange place neither of us have been before. Little Bird, you also wouldn't be able to see your family again for quite a long time as I don't know when we'd return, but this would be the safest place, away from the game of thrones for a while."
She seemed to be overwhelmed with all this knowledge and didn't seem to know how to respond to him. She glanced at the eunuch then looked back at Sandor, "But you would be there? To protect me and save me from any harm."
Her blue eyes were looking at him with trepidation but also a hint of hope and trust there, Sandor's heart seemed to clench as he replied, "Aye."
She nodded to him then turned to the eunuch, "Lord Varys, I cannot express my gratitude enough for your generosity to my shield and myself." Did she say her shield? By the Gods, I guess he was that to her now. Sandor internally groaned at that realization. "The H… Clegane and I will accept your assistance with great thanks. The Starks will not forget your kindness this day."
The eunuch smiled then at her. "Very well, my lady. Now, we must make haste. Follow me."
Just as he was turning to leave Sandor stopped him, "I'll not leave without my horse."
A sadness crossed the man's face as he said, "I'm sorry, Clegane but I regretfully tell you that the mob set the stables ablaze. Only a few horses were saved and since your destrier is so cross with any man but you…" Sandor didn't need to hear more. Stranger. The warhorse had been with him since he was a teen, killing men and saving his hide time and time again. The plan he initially had with the bird to carry her back to her brother or the Wall was doomed from the beginning. Just your luck, Dog.
The Little Bird touched his arm then as if to give him some comfort, but he pulled away from her abruptly, "Let's go."
With that the trio, went down a passageway away from the crowd around them and after some time entered what Sandor could only assume were secret passageways. At one point, Sandor was turned around from all the different turns and wasn't sure what part of the Keep they were in until they reached a dead end. Sandor's alarms went off in his head and instinctively pushed the Little Bird behind him, but then Varys scanned his fingers around the wall and suddenly it burst open to the outside. A hidden door. Sandor looked at the scene before him as he stepped out into the fresh air and to his right was the vessel a level above them. There was a walkway from where they were leading up to the deck where the ship lay.
"I must part from you now." The eunuch was still partially within the passageway as he spoke. "Go there and ask for the captain and give him this." He reached then in his sleeve to produce a medallion with a golden chain to wear around a neck. Sandor took it from the eunuch then looked at the medallion which had a dragon engraved on its face. "He will know to give you passage with this token. Once you get to the Free Cities, you will be on your own. Stay discreet and listen for the end of this war… should it ever come. Good luck to you both."
Before Sandor or the Little Bird could give a retort, he vanished back into the passageway and closed the door. He looked to the girl then who seem to be uneasy with this turn of events. He placed his paw on her slim shoulder and said as gently as he could, "Let's get going. Keep your hood up."
It didn't take a lot of time to find the captain after some inquiry. The man before him was about half a foot shorter than him with a hard expression and a shaggy beard. He seemed to look at Sandor wearily and with expressed caution then Sandor handed him the medallion and said to him, "We seek passage to the Free Cities."
The captain took the medallion and after looking at it for some time, he looked at Sandor then the Little Bird then back at Sandor again, and stated simply, "Right, follow me then."
They followed him up the ramp onto the ship and the Little Bird stayed glued to his side as the crew eyed the new woman with notice. Sandor gave a hard growl to one man who was openly staring at her. The man jumped a bit and went back to his task. He scanned the faces around him and calculated there were at least forty men onboard, and he didn't see any women as they passed by the different faces. Fucking wonderful. Once they were on board the captain told them they would set sail in a few minutes then he would show them to their quarters once they pulled away from the dock. The captain left them then to get back to attending the men.
Sandor looked to the Little Bird now who appeared apprehensive being amongst all the men on the ship and was biting her bottom lip again and ringing her hands together. He touched her shoulder again and she looked up at him then with a lost look in her eyes. "As long as you're here with me, Little Bird, you'll be safe." She gave a half-hearted nod at that then walked up to the railing as the men were preparing to cast off. Sandor stood behind her slightly and to her right enough to see her profile as the ship began departing. He watched her as the wind picked up her skirts a bit giving her a mystical look. The hood remained fixed over her hair, but wisp of the red locks whipped across her face as she looked beyond with lighter eyes. As the ship started to move farther away from Kings Landing, her unease began to dissipate. Once the city was stretched out in the distance before her, she turned her face to him and gave him a smile he hadn't seen mark her features in a long time. It brightened her eyes and made her look more woman than girl.
It was in that moment, looking at her face, he realized he was as one dead.