"I can't condemn you for just being in the Lannister's service"

Angry murmurs filled the court for the hound wasn't exactly a likeable character, even if his image was based only on his reputation, antisocial behaviour or just by association with his brother.

Sandor paid no attention to them, his face a mask of emotionless

"However" the queen added "There is still the matter of the innocent boy Killed in winterfell for a whim of Joffrey Baratheon…it's true that all you did was carry the orders of the king and for that the punishment will not be as severe as it should"

Deep inside the queen knew they were committing an injustice to him, as he acted like any other soldier would in the service of their king, but she also aware that the hound could not be set free without a punishment, innocent or not. The people had gathered in the trial expecting justice and "Justice" had to be served for the welfare of the kingdom. This needed to be done to put an end to an ugly page in the history of Westeros.

There was also the matter of confession, and the hound had not admitted of killing the boy

"So far you refuse to defend yourself; I can only assume that you are guilty of that crime"

Arya expected to see some reaction for his part, but there was nothing. He kept staring ahead with an empty look

"The punishment will be 30 lashes, which will be carried now" People cheered in joy and the queen couldn't help but feel disgusted at them and also at herself"

She added

"If you want to confess and admit your crime, this is the moment. Your admission will reduce the number of lashes to 5"

She really hoped he would, it would help take away some the bad taste she felt for all this. She was even beginning to doubt that this man actually killed the boy.

When the hound refused to talk, the queen sighed frustrated. "So be it"

A general gasp was heard as two guards came and stripped him off his shirt; his body was a living testimony of pain, as it was covered with scars. Some were the result of combat but others were clearly caused by torture; it was obvious that this was not the first time he had suffered flagellation and others types of abuse.

Arya wondered how many of those wounds were actually inflicted by his own brother, as many of them seemed to be very old.

The guards hesitated for a moment, but then bound him to a pillar, exposing his back.

Most people cheered when the punishment began; they expected the hound was going to cry in pain and beg for the punishment to end or to confess his crimes, but he had other things in mind. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth as he received lash after lash.

The cheering faded slowly as the man gave no sign of surrendering or crying out for mercy. Not once did his lips utter a cry of pain.

Others who had been submitted to a similar punishment had finally broken down and confessed at the eleventh twelfth lash but Sandor refused to give in. Soon many people had to turn away as his back turned into a bloody mess.

When the 30th lash was delivered, the guards cut him loose and he fell to the floor.

Sandor laid on the floor, feeling nothing but the pain in his back, but then was surprised as he felt as if someone was caressing the back of his head.

For a moment confusion filled his eyes as he gazed up but saw no one there.

"I must be imagining things"

The queen told her guards to help him up and take him to the infirmary, but was surprised when Sandor pushed the guard's hand and stood up on his own with great difficulty.

He walked slowly towards the throne and bowed his head

"May I go, your grace?"