Note to reader: If you're enjoying the story let me know in the comments. I won't have as much time to right for the next few days, but the next chapter will be here soon. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

In the coming days that eventually morphed into weeks, Sandor and the Little Bird had developed an easy routine together. Each morning they would rise with only a few shared words between them, then they'd walk together to the kitchens where they could keep wondering eyes off them to break their fast. Many mornings they would be joined by Cara and her husband, Hermes to share light chatter and the women would discuss gossip or other topics that interested women, and Sandor and Hermes would discuss the matters between the men on board or the happenings in the provisions below decks. Cara and Hermes had both been quite cautious of Sandor in their first few meetings, no doubt given his brashness with the woman in the kitchens the first time they met. Sandor played nice with the couple though, knowing Cara would be giving the Little Bird something to do throughout the day and keeping her company. Pretty soon they didn't seem to act any differently with him around. Hermes and Sandor seemed to get along well enough. The man was like Sandor in a way as he didn't speak many words but when he did speak it was to the point and direct. Sandor had to admit though, even if he didn't dislike the man or his wife, there were times when he'd catch a glimpse of the woman's face when she didn't think he noticed and there would be a look there he couldn't quite place. If Sandor didn't know any better he might mark the look as guilt or worry. He didn't know how to make of that either. Hermes wasn't too much different. He seemed to Sandor as the quiet observer type who didn't have much to say but had a wondering eye for everything around him. Perhaps they were just a strange pair, Sandor surmised but he would remain on his guard until he knew any different.

The Little Bird didn't seem to notice or even care to notice anything off-putting about the couple. She would freely chirp away to the woman each morning and even chirped at Hermes, who would normally reply with a smile and a nod in her direction. Though Hermes could look Sandor straight in the face, he did notice the man wouldn't look at the Little Bird directly most days, but Sandor assumed it was due to either the fear of Sandor's displeasure or that his wife may become jealous with him looking at another woman, even if it was innocent enough. Most mornings, Sandor would escort the Little Bird to Cara's and Hermes' cabin where the two women would spend their days together talking about gods knows what. He eventually permitted Hermes to escort the women back to the cabin on some mornings, thinking the man would protect his wife from any stray hands.

Sandor surprised himself at how much he enjoyed the sea. He enjoyed the sun beating down on his head and back, and he looked forward each day to the taxing labor of working as a hand on the ship. The captain eventually offered Sandor a wage each week for his work, which Sandor initially declined but he was shoved some coin in his pants pocket one day for his work and the captain gave him a look that didn't bode much argument on the matter. Though the wage wasn't much, it would only add to the provisions he and the Little Bird would need once they reached Braavos. While Sandor worked, he spent a lot of his time thinking on how they would continue their journey once they reached the Free Cities. He gathered as much information as he could from the men who were more than willing to share what they knew of the land and its people. From all accounts, the place seemed coarse and dry. The summers were blistering hot, and the people wore clothes that would breathe better to keep themselves cool. The men explained the clothing worn by the people of Braavos wouldn't seem proper for Westeros but was practical for the hot climate. He knew they told him this in account for the Little Bird to prepare the lady for a level of impropriety she wasn't used to. Sandor knew this new world would be foreign for him and the Little Bird but Sandor couldn't help but to feel liberated by the prospect. In all the twenty-eight years he'd been on this Earth, he had never felt this free. Between the days spent on the sea and the realization he wouldn't have to serve some bastard king any longer, Sandor started to have a weight lifted off his shoulders he hadn't realized he'd been carrying for a long time. His shoulders weren't as tense, he walked more leisurely now, and he didn't snap at anyone as often anymore. He wasn't sure where this journey would eventually take him but he'd just about made up his mind that once the Little Bird was safe back with her family again, he thought to remain here at sea or live the rest of his days in the Free Cities if they didn't disappoint.

Sandor had seen a change in the Little Bird's countenance as well. Though she would still jump at any unknown sounds behind the walls of their cabin and looked ready to flutter her wings at any given moment, most days she had this relaxed, serene look about her face that Sandor wasn't used to seeing on her. As the days turned into weeks, she didn't look at him with fear or apprehension but instead began to look at him plainly as if he was any other acquaintance of hers rather than the beastly Hound. Sandor wasn't sure if he was pleased by this change or if it caused him more dread that she was becoming more and more comfortable in his presence each day. He guessed the main reason for this is she gave him little reason to bark at her and he had less and less inclination to do so. He wouldn't even see the pity there behind her eyes as she looked upon his face as she had once in King's Landing, but instead looked at him fondly like he was a close friend. Sandor surmised he was a friend to her in some sense as she only had the one woman and her husband to talk to as the days past them by. Her behaviors and mannerisms had become quite relaxed and undisturbed in his presence. She even leisurely laid about the cabin with only her nightdress on, which at first, she was enormously embarrassed by, but after seeing him several times with his tunic off or his britches not fully laced up after returning from his bath, she was indifferent by their dress. Sandor knew in the back of his mind he shouldn't allow the Little Bird to become too familiar with him but then again, he had never been familiar with any woman, let alone a woman like Sansa Stark. He felt free in her presence as well now and he didn't want to feel otherwise.

They still only spoke about trivial matters and there still weren't many words passed between them each day even if they were confined together in their cabin at night. He would share with her stories of Braavos and the Free Cities he heard from the men, and she would listen intently as if to picture it in her mind. Tonight, was no different. When he returned to the cabin after completing his tasks for the day with the Little Bird close at his heels after picking her up from her visit with Cara, he resumed their routine by him washing the grime from the day from his face and hair, putting on a fresh tunic and leaving to get their supper. He still refused to allow her to join in the mess hall with the group of men knowing it wouldn't be the best idea. When he returned to the cabin, they ate their dinner while discussing the events of the day and other trivial matters then they fell into their usual comfortable silence. The Little Bird would normal knit or make alterations to the dresses Cara had given her or she would be reading one of the books she had gotten from the woman's husband's collection. Some nights she would even read aloud to him if she thought the story would be of any interest to him. He would normally just lay on his back with his hands behind his head looking at the ceiling or closing his eyes in contentment while allowing his mind to pass from one thought to the next.

He had his eyes closed now when he heard the Little Bird sigh quietly. He turned his attention to her then and saw she was looking at the wall in front of her with forgotten fabric in her lap. She seemed to be deep in thought about something and Sandor turned so he was on his side now facing her. She noticed his movement and turned to him giving him a small smile.

"What plagues the Bird's mind tonight?" He asked her.

She seemed to be deciding whether to share her thoughts with him, probably in fear of him mocking her or snapping at her for her girlish thoughts. He couldn't say if she would be right or wrong, but he hadn't mocked or snapped at her in over a week now. He was reclined to do so for some reason. Maybe because he believed he was a small part of the reason the light he had watched dwindle in her eyes day by day while she was in King's Landing slowly start to make it back into her eyes as the days started passing them by. He liked the relaxed and more carefree girl in front of him rather than the meek, frightened little bird she had been. She took a breath then and said to him, "I was just thinking back to when we all were getting prepared to leave Winterfell to make our journey to King's Landing. I had been so afraid of you and even though I knew the reasons then, I can't seem to understand those reasons now." He felt his pulse race a bit with that then she looked to him with another small smile. Don't go there, Little Bird. "It seems things have quite changed since then, don't you think?" He only stared at her, not showing any outward reaction to her question, as a reply. He could have sworn he saw a bit of disappointment in her eyes then, but she quickly recovered, "I was also thinking about how excited I had been to be going to King's Landing with my blonde-haired prince at my side. I had all these girlish thoughts about how happy I would be knowing I would be living in my own personal fairytale." She scuffed then and shook her head at herself. "I was such a fool. I was too wrapped up in my own made-up fantasies to see the evil that was lurking around every corner. Until he took my father's head, I still believed him to be a prince from those stories." She looked at Sandor now with a sad expression. "I see now how wrong I was and now I find myself having a spark of hope about this new place we're traveling to. I find myself at times imagining it in my mind being this mystical place with open deserts and strange creatures and shapes and colors I've never seen… I find myself looking forward to this new place like I had once before at King's Landing."

He understood her meaning then that she was afraid she would be walking into another lion's den, only geographically different. He wasn't sure he could give her any assurance it would be any different than the hell they had lived in. Though, he wouldn't admit it to anyone, including her, he found himself also imagining this new world and the prospect of having a small reprieve from the cruelty he had known all his life. Perhaps he and the Little Bird weren't so different after all. He wasn't sure how to answer her but then he gave it a try, "I can't make any promises to you Braavos will be any different than what you've known in King's Landing, Little Bird. But I can promise you one difference, the evil little yellow-haired bastard won't be there. He and his wicked mother are rotting in the ground as we sit here. They won't ever get their clutches in you or anyone else again. It gives me some comfort to know I'll never had to walk this earth with the likes of them ever again. Though I'll be damned to hell, they've been burning in hell for over three weeks now. That should give you some comfort in the months and years to come."

She looked at him them with some fondness for him from his statements. "Yes, I suppose it does give me some comfort they are no more. I do worry about Tywin Lannister though. When they didn't find my body amongst all the others, I'm sure he sent his men all across the south hunting me down." He had to quirk his mouth a bit at her cleverness. She wasn't filled too much with her pretty stories anymore if she could see the reality in that. "It also gives me comfort, we're here on this vessel unbeknownst to him or anyone else. It's almost like we're hidden away in a little box where no one can find us."

He chuckled at her then, "Aye, Little Bird. I guess that we are. Other than the eunuch, I'm guessing no one could predict the Hound and the Little Bird have been at sea together all these weeks on a vessel almost halfway to the Free Cities by now."

She giggled then as well and seemed to relax again. He turned back on his back and looked up at the ceiling thinking about what they discussed.

"Sandor?" she chirped next to him. Each time she addressed him with his given name, he felt a tingle in his gut.

"Aye, Little Bird." He said quietly while still looking at the ceiling.

"I was wondering if the next day you are free of your daily tasks if you might take me to the upper deck." He cut his eyes at her then wondering what she was going on about now. She looked a bit nervous now when she stated to him, "Well it's just that… well I enjoy my time with Cara during the day, we discuss much together and it's good to have another woman to talk to, and I also enjoy my time alone with my own thoughts but I find I'm feeling weary of the same walls each day and before long I feel I might go mad trapped in my own thoughts, and I thought a view of the sea and the fresh air might do me some good." He slit his eyes at her a bit and didn't answer her while thinking on her request. As if it was an afterthought she stated to him, "And if you take me, I promise not to leave your side and I'll do exactly as you say."

She had a hopeful look as she gauged his reaction. He turned his head away to look back at the ceiling while he thought on her request some more. While he had the luxury of freely roaming the ship each day, breathing in fresh air, he presumed she must feel like she's being locked up in another cage again after all this time. He still was weary of the men but honestly none of them seemed much a threat to the Little Bird. They shared their stories of the women they've had while working their tasks, but Sandor hadn't heard any of the men proclaim to have taken a woman unwillingly. Besides, the whole lot of them was prudent of him. Though, he rarely lashed out at any of them, his nature wasn't one to be trifled with and it helped he was over a foot taller and half a breast wider than any of the others. Most of the men seemed to admire or at least respect him now after being around him all this time. He thought it would take a fool to go after him or what was his now. She's not yours, Dog.

With an exasperated sigh he relented and said softly to her, "Aye, Little Bird. I'll take you to the docks the next day I have some free time to do so."

She was beaming at him and said excitedly, "Thank you Sandor! I've been wanting to look upon the sea this past week and it will be so wonderful being out of these confined spaces." He rolled his eyes a bit at her glee, but he was glad she had something to look forward to. "Oh… uh, Sandor?"

He huffed heavily at that wanting to just go to sleep now, "What is it now, Little Bird?"

"Well, as you know Cara has become quite a close friend to me now and… well I was wondering if we might bring her along with us."

Sandor gave a loud, exasperated sigh at that but without much thought relented to her additional request. There wasn't much he could deny the Little Bird now he thought. He turned his back to her then and told her to get her ass to sleep. She only chuckled at his words as he closed his eyes to fall into a deep sleep.

It was only three days later when he knew he could take a day's break from his tasks to take the Little Bird and her friend out to the upper deck. When he gave the news to her in the cabin before they went to break their fast, she squealed and start jumping up and down a few inches off the floor. He had glared at her and told she needed to calm her ass down, but she had completed ignored him and began bustling around the room for no intended purpose Sandor could see. Once they reached the kitchens, the Little Bird told Cara the news and she beamed as well and they started chattering away with each other and giggling. Sandor internally groaned for what the day would bring with these two. When both the women stated they needed to go back to their rooms to make themselves ready he looked at them stupidly and asked what the need in that was as they were already dressed. Both women just chuckled at him, and he rolled his eyes and escorted them back to Cara's room. Not one of them were scared of him anymore.

It seemed to take longer than necessary before they had emerged and proclaimed they were "ready now". Sandor didn't even want to guess what went through women's heads as neither one looked a bit different when they emerged than when they had entered. When they reached the open air, Sandor walked behind the two women as he followed their painstakingly relaxed pace. Both women were giggling and "Ohhing" and "Ahhing" at everything they saw. The Little Bird asked him many questions on the things she pointed out on deck and what he'd seen out in the sea during his time there and he just gave her short, clipped answers in return. She didn't seem to be phased by his manner though, she was too overjoyed looking at the scenery and enjoying the fresh air to be bothered by much of anything. He noticed several of the men would stop as the three of them slowly passed them by staring and grinning at the women. They would poke the man to next to him with his elbow and they'd start commenting to amongst themselves, but Sandor would be too far to hear what was being said. He didn't like their interest one fucking bit. When they'd catch his glaring gaze on them, they would turn away and resume their tasks as if they nothing was new on deck today.

They were only halfway around the deck now and he was just about to suggest they better get a move on so they could get back to the rooms when suddenly the captain appeared at their sides and asked them with impeccable manners if they'd enjoy a tour of the ship with him. The women were delighted with the opportunity and Sandor internally groaned yet again. This was going to be a long day. He was right, of course. The women had endless questions for the captain, and he was more than happy to entertain every detail. Perhaps he was enjoying a break from the normal routine as much as the women were, Sandor thought. It didn't seem to occur or bother either woman that this wasn't some grand ship that carried royalty across the sea but instead a basic merchant ship barely big enough to accommodate fifty crew and passengers at its maximum. They listened intently as the captain explained every detail from the origin of the ship and where it was built all the way from the basics one needed to know to steer such a vessel across the sea. Sandor had to admit some of the details did intrigue him to a certain extent learning the wind, weight, temperature and various other factors were taken into account each day as they made their journey.

By the time they were done with their tour of the ship and had made their way back on the upper deck, the sun was already beginning to make its descent behind the horizon. By then Hermes was waiting for them, coming to fetch his wife. He looked lovingly at her expression as she had enjoyed her day. Before they departed, the captain insisted that the group join him at his table in the mess hall. Upon hearing that Sandor's growled and even Hermes' hesitated, but the captain assured them that the men could be quite boisterous, but they would behave themselves with the women present. Sandor doubted that very much but then assumed the captain would make sure of it by addressing the lot before the women were in attendance. Sandor and Hermes exchanged a look at that and at Hermes' nod to Sandor, they conceded. The women seemed quite thrilled again at the opportunity.

Each pair returned back to their rooms to give the women time to rest before they made their way for dinner. The Bird walked as light as a feather back to the room and seemed to glide on her feet after being free from her confinement for a day. He almost grinned right along with her seeing her smiling face and with her continuing to chirp away at his ear, but he was feeling uncertain about exposing the Little Bird, and even her friend he had grown to like some, to the group of men. He knew some of his uncertainty was mostly irrational and even, if he could admit, somewhat possessive. He'd done a well enough job at keeping her fairly hidden away from any lustful eyes and not one man had made a comment about the Little Bird in his presence since his response to Quin's inquiry weeks ago. As the Little Bird, laid down for a little bit resting before dinner, Sandor forced himself to drive down his fear. Fear. He knew how that emotion was a weakness in any man.

When she was ready, they made their way to Cara and Hermes' room so the group could enter the hall together. As they got closer, Sandor didn't hear the usually deafening noise as custom at this time in the evening and when they entered the hall the men looked to be acting on their best behavior, talking in quiet tones. I guess the captain did have a little lecture with the bunch.

As they entered, the captain immediately approached them, "Ah, Lady Sansa and Miss Cara, there you are. Come, sit just over here with me and some of my closest sailors." They followed him to the direction of his table and Sandor kept an eye on the men as he passed by. The Little Bird gave a polite nod and smile to the men as she passed by them and most gave polite smiles back. Once they were out of her line of sight, they would exchange knowing looks with the other men at the table and give each other raised brows as they commented on the women. Fucking fantastic.

Each woman was invited to sit at either side of the captain, the Little Bird to his right and Cara to his left. Sandor and Hermes sat next to their charges. They were at the back of the hall facing the group of men and other than some quick glances, most of the men didn't pay the group any mind. The night ended up being uneventful. The women exchanged pleasantries with the captain and the sailors who they learned always accompanied the captain for each voyage he was tasked. At first, Sandor could see each woman was a bit nervous being in the presence of strangers and a large group of men but between the sailor's conversation and interest in their stay on the vessel, by the end of the night the women were laughing along with the men at the tales of their times at sea. Sandor relaxed a bit as well but didn't join in on the laughter and he didn't drink a drop of any wine or ale though there was plenty in abundance.

During the night as he kept scanning the room, he caught one man looking towards their table for a several moments too long. The man named Mal, who had been a bit more reserved than the others, was looking right at the Little Bird intently. Though the men around him were talking and laughing together and not paying any mind to the captain's table, Mal had his forearms folded under him on the table and watching every move or expression she made. After what felt like several minutes, Sandor was about to get up to ask him what the fuck he was looking at when Mal looked at Sandor and saw he noticed his eyes on the Little Bird. Mal kept his eyes locked with Sandor's for a half a breath too long then turned his attention back to his companions. Sandor got a tense feeling deep in his gut from the man's gaze. He knew what that gaze meant. The men were a rough lot and they'd already been without a woman's warmth for over three weeks now. He again reminded himself of the malevolence inside every man and it sometimes took the most vicious of men to keep them at bay.

When the captain suggested they join him again the next night as they began to prepare to leave the hall, Sandor almost barked an immediate no. He looked down to the Little Bird at his side then and she was already looking at him essentially begging him without words with her eyes to permit it. He turned away from her to look back to where Mal sat but found his seat was already empty. Though his mind was sending off alarm bells to him, when he looked back at her he gave her a brief nod. He knew now that she had a taste of freedom today, if he kept her locked up again she would feel even more like a caged bird than before, and damn him and damn her for allowing himself for giving a shit.

The meals with the captain became a normal occurrence for the entourage each night for the next week, which thankfully continued to be uneventful. Sandor even permitted a weekly visit to the upper deck until they reached land only if he remained at her side. The Little Bird had become even more relaxed and carefree as the week passed them by. He assumed the gatherings in the meager hall must give her a sense of normalcy and civility since being on the vessel. After a night or two of the women joining the men, some men would canter over to hear some of the women's tales or light chatter. They'd join in the laughter at the table and most of the men would look upon the Little Bird with respectful fondness. Sandor would brood next to her and would give sharp looks as the men would gather around the table fixated on the girl. No one seemed to pay him any mind though. Even the Little Bird didn't seem to notice, or maybe didn't care, about his displeasure having men circling her. In fact, she seemed to enjoy the attention and at one time batted her eyes a bit at one young lad who blushed a bit at her. Sandor was seething. He knew this had been a bad idea from the start. Day by day she was reminding him of more and more of the harlots at King's Landing who basked in the attention of men. Women who would bat their eyelashes and shyly chuckle at the men's stupid comments, but then deny them their bed. Women like that were dangerous in King's Landing but a woman like that was even more dangerous on a vessel like this.

One night, after they had left the hall and returned to their rooms, Sandor decided to confront the Little Bird on her behavior. Once the door was closed behind him he threw her daggers with his eyes and growled at her, "What's gotten into you, Little Bird?"

She looked puzzled by his question as she was unlacing the front of her dress, "What do you mean?"

"I mean, why are you acting like one of those teasing harlots from court?"

She seemed taken aback by his observation and retorted forcefully, "I'm not a harlot, Sandor, and I'm sure not a tease." She turned her gaze from him then and started to forcefully pull the laces from her dress and let it pool to the floor at her feet.

"Oh really? Batting your eyelashes at every man that looks your way and giggling at each compliment you receive or every statement they make isn't a tease? You're practically giving them an open invitation, Little Bird." He had taken a few steps toward her now and she had turned to him with her arms at her side and craned her neck a little to look up into his eyes defiantly.

"I am NOT giving them an open invitation, Sandor, and I don't appreciate your suggestion. I'm only being friendly and hospitable with them. The men seem nice, and they make me laugh. I don't see any harm in that." She stood there now with her arms crossed over her chest, which only pushed up her breast at the collar of her under dress. Sandor had to resist looking too long at her round teats. Quietly she chirped, "It's not my fault if you're jealous." That snapped something ferocious inside him.

"Jealous?" He barked at her. "You think I'm jealous for you. I'm not jealous, girl. You're just a damn child to me." She looked wounded by that, but he didn't care enough through his anger at her reaction. "Of course, you wouldn't see any harm in your behavior with the men; you're not a man. But I am a man and I'm telling you that the more you bat those long lashes of yours and flash that beautiful smile of yours, you'll eventually receive a proposition you won't be ready for." Sandor didn't realize until after his statement that he'd just called her beautiful for the first time, but she did. She parted her lips slightly at the comment and there was a slight blush on her cheeks as she stared into his grey eyes. He didn't need her looking at him like that so he snarled at her, "Or maybe now that you have a little bit more freedom and aren't being watched by members of the court or your sweet little family, that's what you're hoping for. Maybe one of the handsome, younger lads will ask you to kick up your skirts for them and you'll be more than eager to oblige."

She snaked her hand out as soon as the comment left his mouth and before he could stop her, she clapped him hard across his right cheek. He's sure the sound could be heard in the next room from the impact her hand made against his skin. At least the girl was mindful enough to slap him on his good cheek so she was certain he could feel it. For several moments, he didn't move or react at all. The Little Bird looked horrified by her assault and stepped away from him as far as she could until she sank down to sit on the bed. When he slowly turned his gaze back at her, he knew he must have been a fearsome sight because the fear reflected back at him through her orbs was one he hadn't seen before, even when he would snarl at her in the halls at King's Landing when she really was truly afraid of him.

For a moment, all he felt was searing rage then slowly as he continued to stare at her, this woman who'd been the only woman he'd allowed himself to feel at ease with and the only one who seemed to ever feel at ease with him, all he felt was hurt and rejection. Sandor was used to feeling anger, even utter rage. He was accustomed to women averting their eyes and being disgusted by his maimed face, but the Little Bird had been the only woman who didn't look at him with any revulsion or fear. Sandor hadn't allowed himself to get close enough to anyone to feel rejected. He knew he shouldn't have suggested she would give herself freely by a man as lowly as a hired hand on a ship, but he was a boorish, ignorant dog. He'd only been trying to warn her that her behavior was dangerous and she needed to be more guarded. But he had no fucking filter and when he got angry, he was even worse. He felt the pain of her slap, not on his face, but in his gut. It was like a boiling, festering ulcer from within he wasn't sure how to get rid of. He knew he hurt her by his disregard of her honor, but she wouldn't ever understand how she had hurt him just now. He was surprised at himself at how her rejection was affecting him. Something in his eyes or the expression on his face must have hinted at the feelings he was having within because the Little Bird's expression turned from utter fear to worry and then regret. By the time she spoke she had tears in her eyes.

"Sandor… I… I'm sorry…I"

Before he did anything to cause more unrepairable harm or did anything to make even more of a fool of himself, he abruptly turned and stalked out of room leaving the Little Bird alone.