They were the last to enter the room. "I beg your pardon, my king," Sansa curtseyed low to her brother. Behind her, Sandor bowed and after Robb nodded his reply, he then guided her to their seats. After taking their places at the head table, Sandor and Sansa listened quietly to Robb's proclamation that he would relinquish his position as king and pledge House Stark to Stannis Baratheon.

As he spoke, Sansa anxiously gazed about the room, the young woman studiously taking in the reactions of the northern lords. Many protested the King in the North's decision to yield to Stannis, instead preferring to continue supporting the Starks. Despite this, Robb stood firm, as did Ned and Catelyn.

Her eye fell to Jaime Lannister, who sat shackled to the floor at Robb's feet with Grey Wind watching over him closely. When he finished speaking, Robb openly relinquished his title of King in the North and yielded to his father's position as Warden of the North.

Shocked, the men glared at Sandor, her and Jaime Lannister by turns; only Maege Mormont stared at her levelly, and apparently pleased with what she saw, offered a small smile. Since the day she wed Sandor, Sansa had feared the northern lords' reactions to her marriage, for most of the bannermen surely would resent a former Lannister sworn shield having close association with their king and lord, family or not.

Many had lost sons, brothers, fathers and uncles to Lannister men as well, for the north had won Robb's battles at great cost and their feelings were plainly spoken in the glares of annoyance and envy laid upon her husband. Earlier she had begged him not to engage them and Sandor had grudgingly sworn that he would do as she wished.

True to his usual disposition, however, Sandor sat with his arms folded and eyes glimmering with derision as he looked about the room with the same disgusted expression he wore in the Red Keep. Sansa knew her husband was completely unimpressed with the northmen and their glaring eyes. He had trained with them the past few mornings, easily beating all but the Greatjon.

She watched as he closely surveyed each one of the Stark men sitting at the round table, challenging them with his glittering steel gray gaze. She recognized his demeanor at once, and Sansa feared it would take very little from her brother's bannermen to get the real fight they seemed eager to engage him.

Most of the men shifted uncomfortably under the unflinching scrutiny of the Hound, she was relieved to discover. Only Maege Mormont and the Greatjon stared at him openly, and Sandor responded by resting his hand on his shortsword and chuckling at them irreverently. For a moment it seemed they would come to blows, but true to his promise, Sandor remained still and silent at her side. Gently she leaned forward and slipped her hand around his massive bicep, her gesture earning a chuckle from Lady Mormont.

When Sandor settled his gaze on her, he patted his longsword and then placed his hand over hers, squeezing it reassuringly. "Sansa, listen to me now: while we're here, I want you to stay by my side, lass. Swear it."

Something in his tone unnerved her, but Sansa merely smiled at him in return. "Of course I will, love. What is it you suspect?"

He shrugged. "I want you close. Close enough to protect you." As he spoke, Sandor shifted in his seat, his gaze settling on Lord Bolton. Following his line of sight, Sansa nodded.

Fixing his eyes on her father, Roose Bolton stood to address him. "Does this mean you will join with Renly, Lord Stark? And what of Lord Frey? He arrived an hour hence to sign the marriage treaty."

"Renly is not the rightful king." Ned Stark rose to his feet. "The younger brother cannot inherit before the elder. Renly cannot claim the Iron throne before Stannis anymore than Bran can inherit the lordship of Winterfell before Robb. The right course is to move toward Dragonstone and pledge fealty." Glancing over toward Edmure, he added, "As for Lord Frey, Edmure and I will speak to him after this meeting adjourns."

"Lord Bolton, if it is any consolation to you for the efforts you have made on behalf of my kin, rest assured that this changes nothing. I mean to wed his daughter," Edmure offered. "If she will still have me." A hearty laugh rose in the room. "The whole of the Riverlands will support Lord Eddard's decision. As a bannerman of House Tully, Lord Frey will do what is expected of him."

"None of us cares about Lord Frey!" The Greatjon growled low. "And Stannis means nothing to me, or Renly neither! Why should they rule over me and mine from some flowery seat in the south? What do they know of the Wall? Of the Wolfswood? Even their gods are wrong!"

Sansa's eyes fell on her mother, who shifted nervously. Her uncle patted her hand. When her eyes fell to Jaime, she saw that he did not seem offended, but rather merely smirked to himself.

Throwing back her head, Maege Mormont laughed hardily, as did Dacey. Gesturing her mace toward Jaime, she stated, "This one has to do with the decision, no doubt, my lord."

Jaime shook his head. "You believe I would encourage you to join with Stannis or Renly over my own nephew, my lady? To what end?"

"Jaime Lannister has nothing to do with this." Ned pronounced firmly, his tone causing the rest of the men to settle down. "However, we both wish to see as little bloodshed as possible. We both have lost far too many in this war."

"Lannisters always pay their debts, and we've bloodied enough of your people that there will be a reckoning from your father, no doubt." The Greatjon snarled in Jaime's face. "I remember what he did at the end of Robert's Rebellion, boy, laying the young of Rhaegar Targaryen at his feet." Turning, he pointed at Sandor. "By the hand of this one's elder, no less."

The burned side of Sandor's face began to twitch but still he said nothing. "You will not speak in such a way to my husband," Sansa shakily rose to her feet. "I will not tolerate anyone treating Sandor Clegane with any less respect than you would treat me. Do I make myself clear?"

At Sansa's words, Dacey Mormont laid her sword at Sansa's feet. "I will see that your word is honored, Lady Sansa."

Ned nodded approvingly. "There will be no more such talk. This is not about House Clegane, this is about the rightful heir to the Iron throne."

"You bloody southerners can keep your iron chair, and your bloody red castle and your opinions to yourselves!" The Greatjon pointed at Jaime. "Why should we not rule ourselves again? I know other king than the King in the North!" He finished by slamming his fist on the huge table. "The north only yields to dragons!"

Turning to Ned, the huge man fell to one knee. "Whatever your decision, Lord Eddard, my sword is yours in victory and defeat from this day until my last day."

Robb followed suit as did Maege and Dacey Mormont, The Blackfish and Edmure, even Gendry, until every man bent the knee. At last Sandor also knelt.

"We make for Dragonstone tomorrow," Ned announced. "And join our army with Stannis. We will pledge ourselves to the rightful heir to the Iron throne, and when Daenerys Targaryen comes, we'll be ready. It is our only hope of survival." Turning to the Blackfish, he added, "We will have Edmure's wedding here at Riverrrun after; what say you?"

"Aye, just as you have said, so it will be done." The Blackfish announced.

When Edmure bowed his assent, the lords shouted in agreement. "To Dragonstone!"

"It is done, then." Ned signaled the servants to serve refreshments, thus bringing an end to the meeting. Somberly the men rose to their feet, the conversations quickly turning to who he might mean as their glasses and plates were filled.

A few men tried to approach Sandor but the man brushed past them, quickly moving beside Sansa and wrapping his massive arm around her waist and pulling her close as he did so. "Stay by my side, no matter what," he breathed hot into her ear.

Blushing, she smiled at him while brushing a lock of black hair from his eyes. Sandor's eyes softened as he returned her gaze, the man chuckling low as he did so.

"Treason is not unheard of in such circumstances, even among northerners," Robb stated over the din to his small council. "So keep your ears open among the men and soldiers alike."

"Changed allegiance for good, have you, Dog?" The Greatjon smirked at him after Ned dismissed them. "If there's treason afoot, my bet would be on the outsiders among us." Sansa started to speak, but her mother shook her head at her, and so she remained silent. "Your brother has killed enough of our own. What would he say to this?"

Dacey shot Sansa a questioning look, but she shook her head with a small smile and nodded toward Sandor. Relieved, the young woman went back to her meal. Her mother, however, rose and took position beside Lord Eddard.

"If Gregor were here, I wouldn't give a fuck what he said. I'd send him to the Seven hells myself. I'm my own dog now, and my allegiance is to my wife and her kin." Sandor rasped low. "I've proven it by returning Sansa and Arya to the Starks; when the time comes, I'll prove it again."

Maege slapped him hard on the back at that. "Good on you, then, Hound! A true northerner you are at heart, and make no mistake. As Lord Eddard has taken you as kin, the rest of us will too!" Afterward many of the other lords offered similar words of approval, though Sansa noticed Roose Bolton held back. Sandor, for his part, said very little, though his countenance and stormy expression spoke volumes to Sansa.

When the meeting ended, Roose Bolton hurried from the ready room. "I fear he knew what is coming, Father." Robb whispered under the guise of embracing his father. "Walder Frey is here."

"No doubt he had his suspicions from the moment he heard Sansa and Arya had been recovered from King's Landing." Ned spoke into his son's ear as he hardily returned the embrace. "I'm sure all of the men realized something might change. I believe they are most disappointed but it cannot be helped. It is for the best."

Sansa did not understand what they meant, and hoping her father and brother would confide in her, she got up and approached Robb. "I know this is difficult for you. I really think this will have the gods blessing, brother and that is what is most important-for you and for our family."

Jeyne placed her hand on her husband's forearm. "I think so too."

Forcing a smile, Robb glanced between them. "It is our only choice. We must return our family to the north, and quickly."

"We will Robb, as soon as we meet with Stannis. Rickon and Bran need us."

Catelyn nodded. "I will speak to Arya at once. Come Sansa, we must make haste to ready our things."

"Why is she not here?" Sansa asked as her mother linked arms with her. "You did not wish for her to sit in?"

"I did not want it, Sansa," Ned answered. "She's safer where she is, and besides, she's worried about Gendry. You and your mother and Jeyne will stay with us; we'll see you back to your rooms. Sandor, follow me and bring Jaime Lannister. Afterward, go with the women."

"Aye. I'll keep them safe." Sandor rasped.

"Ned, is this necessary?"

"Yes, wife. Come along now."

A sharp tingle wracked Sansa's body as her father spoke.

Sandor leaned in. "Come, Sansa."

Distractedly she took his arm. Leaning closer still, he whispered in her ear. "We have matters to discuss-alone."

"Yes, certainly husband," the young woman uncertainly answered. His attitude was just as it had been in the Throne room when Joffrey had her beaten, sending waves of nervousness to her stomach.

Behind her she could hear Jaime's chains rattling as Robb and Ned led him out of the room. Putting on her best face, she smiled genially at her father's bannermen as they made their way to the door. "I bid you all good evening."

"And to you and your lord husband, Lady Sansa."

As they stepped outside the leaved doors, Grey Wind snarled low, pushing his way in front of Sandor and Sansa. "Wait," Sansa held onto Sandor's arm while casting a furtive glance into the hallway.

"What is it, boy?" Robb called softly. "What do you see?"

Out of the shadows, a dozen men wearing the two blue towers united by a bridge on silver-grey sigil of House Frey, stepped out of the shadows with swords drawn.