A.N Hello! Nearly a new year and it's time for a new chapter. I hope everyone's Christmas was a good one! I am interested to know how people are finding this fic if anyone would be kind enough to review please; I have an idea where I want to take this which is different to my original idea.

For an entire week, Merta Spiridon had been quiet; her interchanges with everyone were short, pleasant enough but only when necessary. Sandor watched her whenever he saw her and he knew that look deep in her eye, she was planning something. At times he wondered if she would keep to her word and would send for Aelis and have him performing like some kind of animal. This did not worry him exactly, though if he were ever to have the opportunity to be between Aelis' legs, he did not want Merta present.

On the fifth day of this interesting quiet, Merta called for her maid and having given her instructions, the whole house was puzzled at where the maid scurried off too. For two hours there was nothing, Sandor took in a wineskin, Faelus read his books and Merta merely sat by her window brushing her hair. Sandor at last heard the sound of horses approaching and rising from his position he walked out into the yard. He could barely believe his eyes and he guessed trouble was coming when dismounting before him were Casdon, Enza… and Aelis.

"Clegane!" Merta called regally from the window, "Fetch Faelus to the kitchen will you."

Ten minutes later, Enza and Casden sat at the same table as the married pair, Sandor and Aelis instructed to remain in the room by either side of the door. All those who were seated seemed confused and uneasy, except the face of Merta Spiridon. Her regal beauty never shone brighter and confidence poured from her body so that she seemed three times the size of every other personality in the room. Sandor glanced slightly to his left and saw Aelis looking worried, one arm clutching the top of the other and she chewed her lip. She had a pretty little mouth, he never could fail to notice. Two wineskins were brought in and Aelis volunteered to serve them to the four seated.

"Come on Merta." Faelus groaned, taking a goblet in hand and emptying it tensely, trying to sound like a man of authority, but inside Sandor chuckled at the failure of it. Merta's eyes however fixed on Enza and she gave her a long, deliberating look, thenzsz only when she was ready did her eyes move to Casden.

"My husband seems to enjoy fucking this whore of yours and seems to enjoy spending a large portion of his time at your establishment." Her voice was clear, calm and direct and she hardly seemed annoyed by anything she uttered.

"Yes." Was Casden's only response. "Yes."

"You can see how this could appear intolerable to me?"

"Yes… yes… but…"

Still Casden could only seem to master one word at a time.

"Really Merta, I am your husband and what I do, you will learn to tolerate." Faelus said, rising from his chair again attempting to claim some control in the conversation. Enza was the only one who remained as she had entered, only now her face had changed from confusion to calm. Her hands rested atop one another on the table and she merely waited, Sandor knew she was a good whore.

Merta meanwhile had turned her head with slow serenity and fixed her gaze on her husband, her bold eyes unflinching and she gradually shut down any resolve of his until he sank back into his chair so she could continue. Once satisfied that she had everyone's attention again, she looked from each of those seated. Aelis meanwhile had crept back to her standing position and now seemed to quake so much on her feet that Sandor felt the need to lean in and speak. It wasn't in his nature to be kind, yet he pitied the nervous virgin in her.

"There will be nothing against your will." He whispered hoarsely, yet from across the room, Merta seemed to catch his eye a moment and give him a knowing look. It was a mere second but it sent a pang of doubt through him. He was pleased when she turned back to Casden.

"I do not intend to stop these visits, only to amend them." She began. "I myself would hope in the near future for my husband to father a child with myself, it is the way of things after all. I do not want the risk of his interchanges polluting that chance. Thus I propose that Enza visit here three times a week, be washed and prepared in my house and conduct her satisfaction of my husband's prick for as long as is required."

For a moment there was a stunned, revenant silence and it was then that Merta turned fully to look at Aelis and she gently pointed in her direction.

"That one will come and see to these preparations for my maids are busy elsewhere. Clegane will come and escort them to and fro on the allotted days." Now her direct gaze turned to her husband. "At other points, you will fulfil your duty to your house and provide us with an heir."

Sandor thought for no moment that this was about gaining an heir, for in truth, Merta Spiridon did not seem like the motherly type at all. No indeed, this was a game, this was control.

"If this were to be done…" Casden began. "What payment would be expecting?"

"Whatever my husband and yourself have agreed before, plus a little extra for goodwill."

"Why would you want this to occur in your own house?" Faelus laughed now, both nervous and amused at his wife's suggestions.

"Because, my dear... it is respectable and fair."

Now Merta turned her eyes back to Enza, the pair looked at each other with a seemingly deep understanding of one another at last, yet it was with a measure of suspicion too.

"Do you agree?" Merta hissed.

"I will agree, so long as Aelis is to come along."

"I would want for nothing more." Merta smirked. "A suitable attendant for you. Now do we all have a bargain?"

Faelus rubbed his face with his hands in exasperated amusement, he truly was beholden to his wife. The agreement was made and the final financial points confirmed, but Merta then in a moment of impulse then added.

"Oh, and I want this young thing to wash and attend to my hair whilst these carnal exchanges are undergone." Again she gestured to Aelis and once more her gaze flicked to Sandor. "For a mere serving girl, her hair has a sheen unmistaken, I should like to have mine as such."

"I am sure Aelis will be happy to." Casden remarked, his tone now like the cat that had gotten the cream. The tone that made his sister tremble and Sandor want to smash his head onto the stone floor.

The party broke up and went their separate ways, Aelis parting with her companions in an anxious silence. Faelus followed his wife to their chamber and after some time, the interchange became charged and carnal, their mingled groans echoing down the corridor to where Sandor stood. A little while later, Sandor was called to Merta's bedroom, her hair a great storm of raven waves and she too had a tone thick with self satisfaction.

"Sit down Clegane."

Sandor walked to the window and perched on the sill as far as his large frame would allow. Merta sat looking beautiful, seated on her bed in an almost angelic fashion, yet her eyes were full of mischief.

"What do you think of my plan to gain an heir?"

"I think…" He began gruffly for he was not in the mood. "You'll likely gain a bastard too."

She laughed, a trill of seductive cheer that lit up her face in a way that made him want to slap her and fuck her simultaneously.

"It is better for matters to be conducted here, who knows what harm could incur to Lord Spiridon on those roads or under that roof."

"I don't believe that's your reason." Sandor replied bluntly, the trill came again.

"No." She mused and chewed her lip a second then shrugged off whatever thought she was considering. Standing up she picked up her brush and began to tame the waves of hair, though she kept his gaze through the reflection.

"You're a good servant Clegane. You interest me greatly… I rather think what I've done today is for your benefit as much as mine."

"There's no need."

"Oh but there is, I get so little amusement and I can see the prospect of a blossoming in your midst… That is if you'd care to pluck it."

In that moment, a feeling of hate rose within him. How could she seem so lovely, have such a rich, intoxicating voice, yet her meaning be as crass as that which he would hear in the whorehouse? It didn't shock him, it didn't surprise him yet spilling from her lips it was as distasteful as bad wine.

"You look so angry Clegane!" She sneered, turning to face him fully. "Do you think I am playing games with you?"

His expression gave her his answer, for his words would see him turned from the house.

"I am playing games with my husband, if I were playing games with you, you know what I would have asked."

"You may well do one day."

"That is true, I might." She walked nearer to him, her hand reached out to brush the hair away from the scarred side of his face. He pulled his face back a little, slowly but as though her touch burned him as the fire had done once. "I might do a lot until I have worked you out."

Sandor rose so quickly that she stumbled back a little, he wanted to grab her and do what only the Gods knew but instead he walked some paces away from her. He refused to die for anything he did to her. The laughter from behind him made in inhale sharply with annoyance, but his body raged with defiance about showing how she irked him. Turning to look at her he merely said.

"Are we done?"

"Yes Clegane." She was put out, he could tell. "Go."

An hour later he was at the premises of Casden Baracon and he watched Aelis like a hawk. All the while he felt angry and restless, with every movement she made throughout the night, the offence seemed to form against her rather than Merta. At last when she went to take some air he followed her and like a predator leaping upon prey he grabbed her arm and yanked her out of sight.

Crying out in shock as her body was whirled around, he put one of his large paws over her mouth. Her entire body went rigid and yet the shudder of terror was unmistakable. It always gave him self loathing how any gesture from him caused others to react though he would never acknowledge it in words or expression. His thoughts tormented him enough in that way.

"Now listen you stupid girl…" He said angrily, his breath hot against her face for now his emotions were fuelled by wine. "That woman in that house wants nothing more than to use you as an amusement… take my advice, stop holding onto this…"

He took the hand from her mouth and hovered it over where so many men no doubt lusted to be, including himself, though he did not touch her.

"It is no prize, nor a precious jewel. Get someone to know that cunt of yours before it's your undoing. Ask Enza, there's more honesty about what she does than what Lady Spiridon is about."

Aelis' eyes were wide and glistening, though she did not cry. Her chest heaved up and down in the way it had when he had grabbed her after she had thrown the water bucket in a passion. The moonlight fell upon them both and what a scene they made he thought, she a tempting tavern girl and he, a grotesque beast of a man. As the silver glimmered in her eyes, he hoped she would relent right then and allow him the pleasure. Yet why was he so angry if that's all he wanted? In truth, all that was base and lustful about him wanted it, raged and burned for it. Yet the small, undernourished noble side wanted to avoid her having to succumb to that very thing for the amusement of a cruel woman. The look on Aelis' face, an expression of understanding yet fearful made his anger vanish in a moment and a tinge of guilt dripped into his depths of his self-loathing.

"I wish you would not grab me like that." She said at last. "Can you not give advice without being so…"

Her sentence dropped off and she rubbed the part of her arm which he had grabbed, he backed away from her a little. All of a sudden he wanted to vanish from her sight and be happy never to have to see a look like that thrown his way again.

"Just give it up girl, before it's taken for the sport of someone else." Sandor groaned, wiping the hair from his face and he started to move away. He moved sluggishly towards his horse and untied the reigns from a hook nearby. Strangely, he gave one or two affectionate pats to its neck and groaned at his mere existence. He was barely a self pitying man these days and he tried to keep reflection and feelings at a distance, it was easier to operate on basic needs and functions.

"You say her game involves me?" A voice said from behind him, calmer, softer. It was Aelis. As Sandor turned she came towards him, looking about to check they were not being watched.

"That's what I said." He replied, surprised by her sudden reappearance.

"Yourself too?"

He nodded again, expecting her to sicken at the thought.

"I don't want to be in such a position…." She was about to continue but he cut her off bitterly as her words were like a spark to tinder.

"I daresay you'll manage if you're paid enough…"

The slap came hard across his face and as though she expected it, he caught the wrist of the culprit hand and pulled her towards him painfully hard. Yet this time, her eyes were defiant, not frightened, he hadn't expected that.

"Listen!" She barked and at the tone he released her wrist, she dropped down a little for as he had held it high she had been stretched onto her tiptoes. "You are right."

"What the fuck are you wittering about?" He grimaced and made a move to mount his horse, suddenly tired of this whole affair.

"She spoke to you of this… so clearly you are what she has in mind… if we… if it was already done… we have played the game for her…"

Now these words did stop him dead in his tracks, he considered that the wine had caused him to misunderstand. As he turned to look at her, his face displaying all that was whirring around his mind in that moment, she swallowed hard and babbled.

"You said it was nothing so precious…"

"So you'll throw it away on my say so?" He laughed.

"You said nothing against my will…. This way it's my will."

"And you'd choose me?"

"Perhaps when you have had a little less wine…"

This made him laugh, though she spoke in complete earnest.

"You may want a little yourself…" He said sarcastically and she looked irked by this but she said nothing, she merely held his gaze. His own eyes looked at her feet then moved up her body, the idea not seeming bad at all to his baser self.

"Well?" She barked impatiently. "You speak of it like it is as common as rain."

Sandor inhaled deeply and then mounting the horse he looked down at her.

"I'll come for you tomorrow." He agreed, riding away before either of them had a chance to think the better of it.