A/N: I deeply apologize for how long this took me to post, I was the maid of honor for my best friends wedding- which meant nooooo time for writing! Please enjoy the next installment.
Chapter Five: The Contract
It was the next morning he would see Gregor in court. The Hound took his usual post careful not to loose his temper this time. He prepared himself knowing that Gregor may want to taunt him. I will laugh last.
"Ser Gregor Clegane, you may approach the throne."
Gregor was artfully dressed in the house sigil, his head towering over the people commanding attention. Joffrey looked bored as ever, and Sandor guessed Cersei would take over the meeting. Looking very quickly to his right Cersei was standing, her face smiling like a cat that had just caught its prey.
Gregor bowed.
"Everything has been drawn up. Are you sure that you wish to marry and breed this young woman?"
"I am." Gregor shifted holding his helm underneath his armpit. Sandor felt his gaze but chose not to acknowledge him lest he give anything away.
Cersei handed a piece of parchment to a squire with a quill. "Sign this and you will be allowed to take this woman and your babies under your roof. The children you have together will inherit your land."
The squire looked afraid to approach the Mountain but forced himself to get closer to him. Annoyed, Gregor snatched the document out of the boy's hand with an enormous reach. The boy turned around as Gregor signed the document using the boys back as a surface.
The fool. Didn't even read it. He doesn't suspect a thing.
Cersei's features were as ridged as stone. Sandor saw how good of a liar she was, he wondered if she was capable of betraying him too.
"I ride for the North in three days. Joining us the day after tomorrow would be desirable." Gregor rasped.
"I will see that it is arranged." Cersei cooed. "Congratulations and blessings upon your house, Clegane."
The Hound allowed himself to look at the Mountain. He wanted to remember this moment before his world caved in. Gregor starred straight back at his little brother showing equally no emotion.
"Thank you, my Lady."
"As a wedding present I'll gift the girl a fine silk dress. We can't have her marry you in rags." Cersei tethered upon a thin line of disgust but that was to be expected. Gregor nodded still looking at Sandor.
It unnerved him. He is studying me. He knows she means something to me.
"You're very generous." He answered Cersei mechanically. "I will take care of her. She will never leave Clegane Keep."
Like a prisoner.
"Hound, do you have something you would like to say to your newly engaged brother?" Cersei clasped her hand. Damn her. She thinks this is a game.
"Congratulations, brother. Let us hope she will not loose her life before birthing your children...like the other ones."
He expected Gregor to lash out but he did not. In Clegane fashion he calmly allowed a cruel, slow smile to go across his features.
"Don't waste your prayers, Sandor. She will have at least one child before she dies."
The Hound snarled. He hoped Cersei was entertained.
"I'll begin arranging the festivities." She cheerfully broke the tension. Gregor got up from the floor and nodded. "Your Grace. My Lady."
"You are dismissed, Ser Gregor." Joffrey waved not paying attention.
Sandor took to the hallways making a round that evening. He liked this part of his duty best, it allowed him to clear his mind and make better choices.
He wondered if Gregor was keeping a close eye on his woman although he quickly suspected not. She still had duties to perform around the castle...she wasn't Lady Clegane yet.
She would be fitted for her wedding gown soon. He wondered if the seamstresses would care about seeing her body bruised and beaten by her new Lord, if they would feel sorry for her.
No. She's alone. Like me.
Two days he had to complete the scandal... to publicly humiliate her. He hoped she was lucky, because if she had gotten pregnant from either of them she would not be able to marry. Waiting for Cersei's orders put him on edge. He had to see the girl again; he needed to win her heart very quickly.
He still had the necklace to give her. It wasn't too late, he could visit her in the servants quarters.
Going down the stairs he felt the smooth stone in his hand. With new purpose he marched towards the entrance of the helps sleeping room.
"Tighter. I want her form to show." Making a dead stop Sandor quieted himself.
"M'lord." An older woman replied. Sandor quietly slipped in a dark doorway concealing himself in the blackness. "Does this please you?"
He heard Gregor grunt in response.
"She makes a beautiful bride m'lord." The seamstress complimented.
Sandor cursed under his breath. He didn't want to wait in the hallway for long. What choice do I have?
"You will be escorted to the Keep after our wedding night together. There you will stay until I come back from the campaign."
"Yes, m'lord." She obediently responded.
"Send word if you bleed. I will take my leave to impregnate you if Lord Tywin allows."
No one said anything for a while. Sandor put his head up to the cool stone and closed his eyes.
"What is my brother to you?" He could hear Gregor probe the young girl.
"I don't know what you mean, m'lord." She answered slowly fear making its way in the response. He strained to hear them. Please don't hit her.
"My brother was very opposed to this. He seemed to know you were the girl I wanted. Has he been with you?" He demanded.
"N-no, he hasn't-"
"Don't LIE to me-" rage and hatred radiated with every word.
"I swear beloved, I was only his armor maiden."
"Did he touch you-" he reiterated to be perfectly clear. Sandor in spite of himself smiled knowing that his brother felt threatened.
"He did not touch me. I remain yours." He could hear her try to mask her hurt but it wasn't a good enough effort.
"If you go near him- if I hear any trace of him with you, I'll rip your guts out through your throat."
Damn him. He had to move fast. He could not risk being seen.
"You are finished for now, I will come back tomorrow to give the final fitting." The older seamstress quickly spoke. She did not want to feel his wrath either, Sandor guessed.
"You are not to leave this room until we are married. As my possession you don't need to be walking about."
"Yes m'lord." She replied to him totally dejected.
"I will come to you in the morning. Prepare yourself."
Gregor's footsteps could be felt as the armor around him clanked in the other room.
"Ser Gregor?" He could hear her call for him softly.
"What is it." His tone was rushed and agitated.
"I will love and obey you."
Opening his eyes Sandor exhaled louder than he wanted. She thinks there is no hope for her. That she will spend her life with him. Yet he felt deeply troubled. What if she meant it? What if she wanted to love him? No. Frowning he could hear Gregor kissing her. He imaged he was holding her around the waist bending over to meet her mouth. He felt disgusted at his own imagination not wanting to entertain his thoughts further.
"Sleep now bride." Gregor urged her. The clinging of armor filled his ears as Gregor turned closer to the doorway. Keeping still the seamstress and the knight walked past him oblivious.
She was alone. He wanted to move but he couldn't, he kept looking into the darkness. This is getting dangerous, for her especially. With great risk comes great reward. What was her reward? A life of servitude? The possibility of a bastard with no father, no honor?...She wouldn't die. Like the other poor bitches. He wasn't too sure. Gregor was cruel and subject to black rages. Perhaps his extreme possession would keep her safe. Maybe he wanted to give her a good life.
"Impossible." He pushed all doubt out of his mind. Gregor was nothing like him. They shared blood, but he wasn't capable of love. "I am." He admitted.
Carefully he slithered out of the doorway and walked into the room.
She was laying down on the bed, her back to him. The room was small and dark save for one oil lamp in the corner. He could see her rhythmic breathing as her side fell.
He didn't want to know if she was capable of loving Gregor. He just didn't.
"Excited for your wedding day, little flower?" Bitterly he announced himself. She turned over, her wild hair loose falling over her face.
"You can't be here!" She pushed the covers over her breasts. "He'll hurt me..."
"Are you so afraid of your beloved? You sounded more love-sick than concerned a moment ago."
"That's not fair-"
"No it's not fair. Just like it wasn't fair for the other two women he married before you. Do you think his love will grow like the child he'll put in your belly? Do you think he will keep you around when he's done with you?" He moved closer to intimidate her, to scare her. "He took those girls just like he took you- fresh faced and wide eyed, hopeful that their noble warrior husband would find them pleasing. Not one tear was shed when Gregor buried them both. The beatings will get more intense, little flower. Then one day you won't get up and you'll feel your life slipping out between your lips."
"I can't-I can't stop him." She swallowed tearfully.
"No. You can't." He put his hand on her cheek and wiped away the wetness. Tomorrow I will take you.
"Thank you for being so kind to me."
"...I'm not a kind man."
"You never lied to me. You tried to tell me...I just wasn't clever enough."
"You are too pretty a thing to leave alone." His breathing labored. Desire instantly flooded its way into his body as he put a hand to her side.
She put her hand on his and pushed him away.
"Ser Gregor will really hurt me." She sank back further into the bed.
"Don't worry girl. He will never know." He leaned into her taking her neck pushing her gently on the pillow. I told you to stay away from me.
"You will protect me?" She asked pathetically halting her mouth before it brushed his own.
"This time I will." He promised. He pushed the girls hair back and licked her mouth gently. Taking her hip he pushed it against his groin.
"Please-I don't think this is wise-" she begged trying to sound braver.
He ignored her pleas and grabbed her breast squeezing it into his palm. "If you want me to stop I will, but tell me you don't like it first." He pinned her to the bed with two arms to her side.
"I just..." She trailed off.
Good enough for me.
He hurriedly lifted up her skirt and felt up her thigh searching for her vagina. He switched hands and pulled his own laces off the crotch of his pants. She tastes wonderful. She groaned as he put two fingers inside her. Feeling her wetness go over his hand he pulled his erect phallus over the leather pants freeing himself for sex.
"Please! Please let me go!" She interrupted and he saw that she winced as though in pain.
Gods save me. He slowly pulled his hand away from her legs to find his own cock to put away. Still throbbing in his hand he groaned completely frustrated.
"I'm promised to him…I have to try to honor him." She explained looking distressed. She pulled her dress to cover herself as he slowly leaned back studying her. He saw her shiver and knew he was giving her an expression of deep disgust. "You…have to understand…"
"I understand perfectly." Loathing dripped from his words furious from her rejection. The Hound got off the bed and straightened himself adjusting his clothing. Looking down at her he saw she got on the defensive just in case he felt like hitting her. He did, but he wouldn't. "Congratulations on your marriage, Madam Clegane."
He turned away, feeling his stomach turn sour once again. He felt the familiar sensation of hatred creep up his spine and flood his heart. You will be alone and helpless soon, foolish girl. And before you are, you will be humiliated and raped. And I will be there to do it. He frowned walking briskly through the hallway searching for Cersei.
A/N: Alright I know this took me a while but fear not, I am actively writing next chapter. No delay like this one. Stay in touch!
