CHAPTER 2

They had traveled all day and well into the night, never stopping to rest or to even eat. She awakened later, her head bobbing slightly that caused her to start, lifting her head and blinking her eyes as she saw the sun was just starting to set. Turning around slightly, did she gaze back at the Hound, tilting her head back till her eyes locked with his. "Where are we?" Her voice soft from sleep and from dryness. Clearing her throat, she tried again. "Have we been traveling all day? Why haven't we stopped? Surely it is safe to now." She looked around her and recognized nothing, not even the trees looked as familiar to her as the ones back in Winterfell had, or the stately limbs of the trees that housed the surrounding lands of Kings Landing. She sighed softly, knowing that if she was grumpy from the ride and lack of food and sleep, surely his temper was worse, best not to provoke him…just yet.

Sandor heard her voice and looked down, locking his eyes on hers with a slight frown, before turning back to the road. "We're a fair piece out of the way of the Inn, wee girl. Can't fucking stop yet, leagues to go to get to those docks you harp on about so much." She scowled up at him, turning back and gazing out over Strangers broad neck and sighed.
"We need to stop soon, somewhere safe. Look…" She points to a group of clouds in the horizon. "Bad storm coming, don't want to be caught in it. Though it might do some good to wash the stench that you carry." She bit at him with her sharp words and even sharper tongue. She was frustrated with herself. This entire ride, though she dozed, she though over and over of her words to him earlier. Why did she invite him to come with her? Really? Why did she watch him when he thought she wasn't looking? If anything, she was looking for weakness, or that is at least what she told herself; but she would flat out deny it if anyone told her that she was slowly starting to open up to him. That was forbidden! She had no time for such emotions, no plans for it and certainly NOT with the Hound! Snorting in derision, and her legs cramping, she slide off Strangers back and started to walk towards a small strand of trees, sheltering, she found a small cave. She smirked at hearing Sandors curse as he slowed his steed down and dismounted, quickly coming after her.
"Bloody Hells Girl! Haven't I enough trouble without you wandering off!" His voice tinted with anger, as she turned round to face him as he stood towering over her. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

"There is a storm coming, and we need to rest! Like it or not, you know I am right. There is a small river that passes by here and a cave, to keep us warm and dry. Go make yourself useful and get us some firewood or something!" Her words lashed at him like from a whip, her anger rising to meet his own as her eyes sparked in anger. She knew what she was doing, she wasn't a child! He stood there, eyes locked with hers, as if testing her before he scowled and swore loudly and stomped off to go do her bidding, muttering under his breath as he went. "Bloody Buggering Hells! Smart little Brat…no reward is worth this!" It wasn't long till he had found enough good wood and she had made a small fire and they were relaxing inside as the sky finally opened up. She even had the audacity to look smug about it too, which rankled him even further! She went to their saddle bags and after digging around in them a moment, came back with two wine skins full of wine and ale, dropping them down at his feet where he sat and took up a spot beside him. "Might as well, traveling makes one thirsty, or so I hear." She smirks slightly and opens one, taking a deep swig before passing it to him. "Bettcha I can beat you, what say you?" She openly teased him and it gave him pause. Would he ever understand this fierce she wolf? "Ha! crazy wolf girl... we'll see who's still standing." He finally replied, cracking a small smile. She paused as she handed him the wine skin and watched him drink; not realizing she was staring till he handed it back to her. "Indeed we will." She lifts the wine skin to him and takes another long swallow. Back and forth, they banter, each trying to seek to outdo the other, neither willing to give way. She begins to feel a bit light headed after only a few drinks but she would pass out first before she admitted it to the Hound. She giggled at him, softly, when it appeared he was drunk as well, and she found herself staring at him again. He really isn't all that bad looking. She found herself thinking, as she allowed her eyes trail his form slowly, trying not to be obvious about it. A little crude in humor, but then so am I. He really isn't so bad, Joffery was worse…and his brother…the Mountain…I much prefer the Hounds company to the Mountains. She pulled herself up short when she caught where her train of thought was going and reached again for the wine skin, not even having to pry it out of Sandors hands now as she gloated over him.

"Silly Hound! Looks like I WIN!" Takkes the last sip out of the wine skin and drops it to the ground, a smug look on her face. Sandor sat up slowly and walked over to her, his eyes playful and yet something in them made her breath hitch. "Crazy wee girl..." He said as he picked her up by the scruff and glares at her. "Ye think you won this one, do ye?" He stumbles a bit, holding onto the wall to brace them both. "Hey! She swats at him playfully as he lifts her up in the air. "I'm not really a wolf! I don't have a scruff! and Yes, I did! you conceded!" She laughs, for the first time in a long while and smirks at him. "Bah!" He plunks her down on a nearby rock ledge and leers at her. "L'il smartass! Ye think you got the better of the Hound do ye?"

She crossed her arms across her chest and glares back at him, her eyes boring into his as she smirks. "sure did..." She replied, all but gloating, yet her voice is slightly soft.

He grabs her roughly by the back of the head and glares at her. "I did NOT concede, wee girl.." He barked out fiercely, locking his eyes on hers.

"Ye did SO!" She growled softly under her breath when he grabbed her, glaring at him. "ye can't even stand upright and ye say ye win. Ha! the mighty hound, bested by a small wolf!" She noticed how close you had come to her but says nothing, trying to keep the mood light and control her confusing emotions that suddenly rise at being so close to you as she growls back at you playfully. He tightens his fingers in her hair, ignoring her wince. "You think yer a hard woman, girl? Show me!" He growled as he pulled her closer.
"Aye, that I be! I bested ye, didn't I?!" Her eyes flash with inner fire as she tries to hide it. a soft growl escapes her lips unbidden as she stares hard at him. Something softens a bit in him and he pushes a stray hair from her cheek, looking at her closely, feeling a tightness in his chest as he gazes at her. When did the wee wolf girl turn into such a beautiful woman? Why couldn't he suddenly breath when he was this close to her? It had been a very long time for him, to have anyone look upon him without fear, as this wolf girl did, but he was sworn to protect her, not fall for her! Was this what it felt like? "Aye that ye did..." He growls again breathing hot breath on her neck as he closed the gap between them and nuzzled her gently. The feel of her in his arms, the smell of her…earth and rain and lilacs…He was losing himself fast. She sees something change in his eyes and goes stock still. even slightly tipsy she knows what that look means and she feels both warm and cold at the same time. she has to close her eyes to keep herself under control at his gentle touch and stop the shivers that wish to race up and down her spine before she can even open them and glance at him again...not realizing that I am holding her breath! "See..." whispers playfully as I try to breath past the rapid pace of her heart, hoping he doesn't hear it. 'You admitted it." She chuckles softly and looks up at him, falling into his grey eyes. "you did too..." She knows not what she is admitting to, that he bested her? Gods, why did she have to think of him as beautiful NOW! She was all aflutter and couldn't think straight, and him being this close and this gentle wasn't helping! He stares intently into her piercing green eyes for a long while, trying to figure out just what she means, then losing himself, he leans in and gently brushes his lips over hers, growling softly the biting at her lower lip as he holds her close to him. A question, needs an answer. She goes stiff at the kiss and doesn't respond for a few moments till she all but melts and kisses him back, until her brain kicks back on and she realizes what they are doing! she wants to, very much, but we are both slightly inebriated, and that is never right. Shaking her head a little and looking down, does she pull away, feeling both regret and shame that she must not do this, no matter how attracted to him, she is. A small part is so confused. She hates him! She should, after all the awful things he has done, and yet, with that gentle kiss he has thrown her off! She desires him now, and it's all his fault! " Sandor..." She whispers his name softly as she looks back up at him, her emotions showing for the first time since he met her, words she can not yet say lie hidden there as well as desires. She is many things, but this...no, it isn't right..no matter how much she wishes it to be. Whispered words while inebriated have no meaning… He stops and pulls back, still gazing intently in herr eyes, as if searching. "You said my name..." He sighs and suddenly looks away ashamed of himself but unable to shove his emotions aside. "Sorry wee girl..."
She looks up at him and sees the shame in his eyes and feels 100 times worse and she don't know why. "It isn't your fault Sandor...I...I wanted to. Nothing to be sorry for..." Her reply barely whispered as he holds her close in his arms and gently rubs her back, both of them not knowing what to do, but neither wanting to let the other go. Why does this hurt so much? I should hate him! Why did I enjoy his kiss, his tender touches! She rants at herself. He feels her tension and relaxes his grip on her, letting her move away. "You're a good girl, Arya Stark... I shouldn't have." He mutters and loses his sense of words as he looks at her and gives her a sheepish grin. "I'm an old dog... forgive me."

She graces him with a soft smile, though it lacks the light it used to have and does not reach her eyes completely. "Nothing to forgive Sandor." She replies softly.

"No wolf girl... I see it in your eyes, and I feel your regret. I want you but I can't take you if it will hurt you." He strokes her cheek gently and smiles softly. "I cannae hurt you... I won't. I'm supposed to protect you and I feel that I've failed."

"Regret?" She looks up at him, confused. "I don't regret that...I don't regret that I kissed you back. I regret that we can't." She blinks hard, not sure what it is that is stopping her, it is obvious that she wants him as much as he wants her, and yet, for now, something stays her, won't let her. "You haven't failed Sandor.." She sighed softly and looked right at him, reaching out to caress his face, trailing her fingers down the burned side as well. "I don't see ruin when I look at you Sandor. Honest, I don't." smiling softly as she lays her hand lightly upon his chest, where she feel your heart beat under your armor. "Beauty...and strength...and courage and wisdom...that is what I see."

He looks at her for a long moment then suddenly moves in and kisses her long and hard, winding his tongue around hers, then breaking the kiss as suddenly as it began. "One day, little wolf..." He moves away and picks up the half empty wine skin and drains it, keeping his eyes averted as he knows what he just did was so wrong but had to do it anyways, so she'd always remember how much he wanted her this night, before settling down in his blankets, sighing softly as he looked up at the ceiling.

She was taken by surprise as he moved in and kisses her again. this time, there is no resistance for that short moment as she cups his face gently with her hands and responds to his kiss. Then, as fast as it began, it was over and she was left breathless as he moved away. Her heart still raced, pounded in her ears, She was tingly all over as she constantly flickered her eyes to him, to the floor and back again. She slowly walked over to her spot, across from him and curled up in her blankets, but sleep eluded her. She won't forget this, not ever. for one brief moment, he wanted her, saw her. she felt it flicker between them like a flame and to that she held onto. For one moment, we understood each other.