The queen was frustrated with the trial. Normally the cases she had presided in person had been easy as the amount of evidence was abundant as well as the eyewitnesse and victims of the people judged.
She was just but also merciful as she wanted to easy the animosities after the war, as all sides had committed terrible atrocities.
"Westeros needed a new beginning and rebuilding" was always in her mind.
It had been almost 2 years since the last war trial and Sandor Cleagne wasn't really one of the big players in those events, but he became a symbol as he was the only one of the lannister's men who hadn't been caught and brought to trial.
At first she had taught the trial was going to be easy, but as days passed she began to realize that there was hardly any evidence that the hound really committed war crimes.
All the "witnesses" brought to the court only accused him of things they heard in rumours that had been proven to be wrong. So far, the only thing that he could be accused for was that he was a Joffrey bodyguard and that boy he killed in Winterfell, although he did it obeying direct orders from King Robert
She also found it odd that he almost never spoke, except on a few occasions. It was as if he didn't care.
Arya appeared on court in the moment when the hound was brought. His face showed no emotion at all
The lord in charge to lead the accusations approached him.
"Do you still refuse to talk?"
Sandor didn't even bother to look at him
The lord tried to obtain a declaration but it was useless, He only got a response when he stood directly in front of the chained hound and said
"Why don't you defend yourself? Don't you know we have the power to condemn you or let you go?"
Sandor, who had his head lowered, raised it and laughed bitterly
"Let me go? We both know this is a farce and the verdict was taken before the trial even began"
Another lord rose from his chair and exclaimed in anger
"How dare you? This court has been just in all the trials"
Sandor looked directly at the queen and said
"You all think I'm guilty, so just sentence me to death and be done with it"
After that he spoke no more.
They tried to make him talk but it was useless. He was taken away as he refused to cooperate, Arya wanted to follow him but decided to stay and listen.
It continued as usual as all the people brought could not bring a single evidence against him
"Does anybody here have anything concrete to say?"
The queen had finally lost her patience
"May I have a word, your majesty?"
Everyone turned to see an elderly Monk that walked slowly. The queen told the guards to let him pass, and after he kneeled in front of the throne, he addressed the audience.
"I knew the man you call the hound six years ago when he came to our monastery. He was a bitter tormented soul, a sinner who mocked both gods and men. He served but found no pride in service. He fought but took no joy in victory. He drank, to drown his pain in a sea of wine. He did not love, nor was he loved himself. It was hate that drove him. Where other men dream of love, or wealth or glory, this man Sandor Clegane dreamed of slaying his own brother, a sin so terrible it makes me shudder just to speak of it. Yet it was the bread that nourished him, the fuel that kept his fires burning. Ignoble as it was, the hope of seeing his brother's blood upon his blade was all this sad and angry creature lived for...and even that was taken from him when Prince Oberyn of Dorne stabbed Ser Gregor with a poisoned spear"
He stared at the queen and added.
"The only crimes he can rightly be accused of is hate, hate for his own brother And being at the service of the Lannister's as any other soldier"
Arya couldn't help but wonder what drove him to hate his brother so much.
She found him sleeping when she appeared at the dungeons. Again he seemed to be having nightmares.
She stared down at him with a curious look, determined to look into his memories.
When her hand touched his forehead, all she felt was anger, fear and hate coming from him. She watched the constant beating and abuse he suffered when he was a small boy, and was horrified when his brother shoved his face into a brazier just because Sandor took one of his toys. Her older sister, who was the only person that showed kindness to him, was killed by Gregor as she tried to defend Sandor
As his memories progressed she saw that Sansa told her the truth; he protected her valiantly in many occasions, and was the only person who showed kindness to her when she was prisoner of the Lannisters
After she watched all his memories, she sat on his bed and watched him sleep for a few minutes, thinking how sad it was that all that drove him was the hate for his brother. He was left without any purpose in life now that the mountain was dead
The monks had tried to help him, but he left the monastery for he didn't want to put them at risk. He had many enemies and was a wanted man.
The guards came and woke him up abruptly.
"Wake up, dog" one of them said "The queen is about to pronounce sentence"
"Finally" he said, sarcasm evident on his voice