SNOW
Chapter 5 - Free as a Bird (Third POV)
After several months of playing my part perfectle, Petyr decided to host a gathering at the mansion. It was to gain or solidify certain allies from The Vale and Riverrun, as well as in the North, behind the Bolton and Karstark's backs. His plan was to promise positions of power that had never been granted to their houses before. He hadn't revealed that I was alive, so I knew he planned to drop that after he'd used them. Petyr also believed that I was in the dark about his intensions to marry me, to keep himself in power.
Petyr Baelish had no idea how close his end truly was. I had already collected all the data I needed turn my plans into reality. I wouldn't wait for him to announce me as his trophy after he'd used and screwed them over. No. I was going to reveal myself to them on my terms. I'd formally accuse him of all his treachery, and shed light on all his shady actions. I would back up my claims with copies of the poof I'd obtained.
Those men wanted the power or protection Petyr was offering them. But I'd looked into the invited men as well. I knew which of them were honorable, and which ones were already in Petyr's pocket, looking to gain more. I also knew that Petyr had secretly manipulated the Boltons and other thugs to kidnap, steal from and even kill people connected to some of the men arriving tonight. He'd done it, letting the blame fall to the Boltons or Karstarks, ensuring that these men would be willing to hear Petyr out.
The majority of the invited guests were working men from, respected within their territories. And some of the Northern men invited had always been loyal to the Starks for generations. The type of man Petyr was, meant he wouldn't know honor or loyalty if they were wolves chewing on his carotid artery. Petyr used bribery, manipulation, intimidation, and blackmail over his hired men. Whereas, the Starks ruled with honor, justice and earned their men's loyalty. That is the fiber that some of the men were made from, and what they respected.
As cunning as I learned Petyr to was over the years, he missed a vital flaw in his plans to conquer the North. The majority within that group, would sooner follow me and lay down their lives for me as a Stark and a Tully, rather than him... especially after they learned everything I was going to reveal.
Petyr asked that I remain in my room while he wined and dined his guests, for my protection. He would regale them with his grandiose plans. He'd get them to agree on removing the treasonous Boltons and Karstarks from power. Petyr would promise to grant them power at his side, and he'd promise them small fortunes, the likes of those men could only dream of. And they, feeling betrayed by the Boltons and Karstarks, would be left thinking of Petyr as the better option. Of course, I wouldn't let it get to that.
After wishing Petyr well in his dealings that evening, I went to my room where he expected and trusted I'd remain. That was what he'd asked of me, and Alayne was nothing if not obedient to her father's requests. That fool - I smirked to myself.
In my room, I showered and washed the dye completely out of my hair. My heart leaped when I saw my natural red hair in the reflection while I dressed in my finest grey silk long dress. I styled my hair the way traditional Northern women would, rather than the way my mother used to. She used to part her bangs at the center and tie those strands in the back, letting the rest of her hair hang loose. Instead, I braided my bangs against the crown on my forehead, leaving my natual soft curls loose. Then, I adorned my look with a pale-blue silk Winter Rose near my ear, just like the ones at Winterfell.
Tonight, those men would be introduced to Sansa Stark, daughter of Eddard Stark. I would declare Petyr a traitor to my family, to them, and many others. If any doubts remained, I'd show them all the proof I had collected. Some might settle for letting Petyr rot in jail, but I had plans of my own for him. I'd fashioned a silver knitting needle into a blade, and I slid it inside the sleeve of my dress. Those men would see that this Stark could be an honest and just leader, and just as ruthless.
With one last look in the mirror, I made my way towards the dining hall where I knew Petyr was meeting with the men before dinner. One of the maids saw me exiting my room and her eyes widened. She looked torn, probably debating if she should tell someone about me or remain quiet.
"If you alarm Petyr or anyone else, you won't survive the night. Do you hear me? I am no longer Alayne, and I won't be trifled with. Do you understand?" I told her, standing about a breath away from her, and she nodded.
"Not good enough. Tell me you understand." I demanded in a low voice.
"Yes, ma'am. I swear it." She promised and I moved to walk away.
"Ma'am, you're Sansa Stark, aren't you?" She asked timidly before I got too far, so I turned to her.
"Yes, I am." I confirmed proudly.
"I always suspected there was something off about the how Mr. Baelish kept you here under the pretense of being his daughter. For what it's worth, I'm glad you're alive, Miss. Your mom was much kinder to us before left to marry your father." She told me, and I nodded.
"You're going to do something big tonight, aren't you? That's why you've changed your appearance... Are you going to hurt him?" She asked but I only stared into her eyes until she must have seen my intentions there.
"He deserves it, miss. I won't let the others interrupt. Best of luck to you." She told me before heading towards the kitchen, leaving me relieved by her words.
I walked to the end of the long hall way and got the corner. I could hear the men talking and laughing, awaiting their dinner. In a moment, I would take the first step towards getting my revenge, and avenging my family. I took a second to take a deep breath and collect my thoughts before revealing myself.
"Sansa?" A low but deep voice called in a hushed tone, making me turn my head to the side.
I felt my jaw hang open. Leaving the restroom to my right, was none other than Sandor Clegane. The only person to befriend me and try to help me for me, instead of my title or any ulterior motive. I thought him dead for so long, I'd even mourned his death after Petyr told me... of course. Petyr lied and I had been too naïve at the time to know better.
"Sandor, what are you doing here?" I asked in a similar hushed whisper.
"Me? How in seven hells are you alive?" He asked like a crazed man.
I knew the hallway was not the place for us to catch up, and I couldn't chance anyone surprising us before it was time. I dragged him back into the bathroom he exited. Before I could utter a single word, he began.
"I tried to get back to you that night, Sansa. I was shot so it took me longer to fight people off. Next thing I knew, grenades were used and I couldn't ... I wanted to Sansa, I really did, but there were explosions everywhere. Then the coroner confirmed the burned body in your room was yours, and I … for so long, I've hated myself for not getting you out." He sounded desperate for me to believe that he hadn't just abandoned me, as if I would doubt him.
"Please don't fret any more. There wasn't anything you could have done. I was drugged and taken by Petyr's men. I knew nothing of the grenades until after I woke up in this mansion. Petyr told me that he felt an obligation to help me, because he was marrying my aunt and we'd soon be family. I believed him then, like I did when he assured me you'd been killed." I lamented and Sandor just stared at me in disbelief.
"Dammit! I should have known. I might have found you sooner, if I hadn't believed you were dead. Sansa, please listen to me. I imagine you might feel obligated to Petyr, maybe even grateful to him. But, he's a bad man, Little Bird. You shouldn't … you can't trust him." He almost begged, and I found myself smiling at his old nickname for me before I chuckled.
"It's been a long time since I believed anything out of that man's mouth, and even longer since anyone called me that. I'm just not a little bird anymore, Sandor. I know everything he's done to my family, and everything he's planning for me. For the last couple of years, he's forced me to live under a different name as his bastard daughter while constantly dying my hair. I'm putting an end to that tonight; and end to him. This wolf has her claws at the ready." I smirked at him, leaving him speechless for several seconds.
"Lead the way, Little Bird." He said, looking at me new eyes.
I raised my brow at him. He seemed to realize the reason and chuckled. "Alright, lead the way Little Wolf." He amended with a snort, making me smile before going to face Petyr and his guests.
"Good evening, Gentlemen. It's my greatest honor to have some of you here, tonight. Some of you have travelled from The Vale and from The North. Welcome to the Riverlands." I smiled at the group.
They all turned in my direction after my greeting. I noticed the eyes of the men from around Riverrun widen, no doubt recognizing me as Catelyn's daughter. Several of the Northmen also seemed shocked, as did the men from The Vale.
"Alayne, what if the meaning of this?" Petyr tried to make his way towards me quickly, but Sandor blocked his path.
With a gleam in my eyes, I looked upon Petyr's face. He looked shocked by my presence, but he didn't look like he knew I was about to betray him. I smirked at him before addressing the group once again.
"I am sure you recognize who I am, but for those who may be unsure, I will tell you. I am Sansa Stark of Winterfell, daughter of Eddard and Catelyn Stark, nee Tully. Some of your houses swore loyalty my both the Families I am born from. The others owe loyalty to the Arryn Family, which my aunt Lysa married into." I spoke clearly, making sure they all knew I was very aware of the ties between my Families and theirs.
"Sansa." Petyr tried to speak, but I didn't let him.
"I am not your bastard daughter, Mr. Baelish, and I won't be silenced or interrupted." I said and Sandor wrapped a hand around Petyr's throat.
"This man has lured you all here under false pretenses. It is my intention open your eyes and let you know just what kind of a man Petyr Baelish is. You should know just what he's been capable of doing." I told them.
Several of the men from The Vale took a step forward, tempted to help Petyr. But several men from the North and Riverrun also moved, ready to stop them. They were allowing me to continue and I smiled my gratitude at them. Knowing that I had everyone's attention, I went on.
"Bolton and Lannister men attacked my home years ago, killing my family. They attempted to kill me, but I narrowly escaped with my life. That was thanks to help of Sandor. Unfortunately, we were discovered by The Lannisters before we could truly escape. They secretly hid me away as their prisoner and Joffrey;s play thing. When Joffrey took power, no one dare make a move to stop him from beating me for years." Some sported looks of horror as I spoke.
"Two years ago, there was an attack at the Lannister mansion. Before Sandor could help me escape once more, I was drugged and taken by Petyr's men. AT first, I felt gratitude but eventually, I started to see who he really is. Since being taken to The Vale, and later brought to Riverrun, I've been forced to dye my hair, change my name to Alayne, his bastard daughter." Some of the men gasped while others remained quiet, but seemingly shocked.
"Living with Petyr for as long as I have, allowed me to think a lot. I realized that for him to have saved me from the Lannisters meant he'd known I was there. If he'd lied about that, I set out to learn what else he'd lied about. Turns out, it was a great many things, and so much more than I could have imagined one man to be capable of doing in a single lifetime. None of which included his disturbing obsession with my mother." I sneered in Petyr's direction and he only looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.
"Living as Petyr's bastard for so long, also allowed me to learn from the master manipulator himself. Too well, in fact, that I let him believe he was using me, while I gathered all the evidence I needed." I told them and saw that they were eager to hear what I had to say.
"The attack on my family was ordered by Tywin Lannister, and carried out by Ramsay Bolton, along with a group of men from both houses. I've since discovered that Petyr Baelish was also involved in the plan. Actually, he practically planned the whole strategy with several contingency plans to ensure that no Stark would rise against him. He did it all with the singular thought of keeping my mother for himself." I announced.
"Lies! The girl is lying to you all." Petyr tried to yell, despite Sandor's hand around his throat.
I looked to Sandor with a smile. He returned it before slamming his gun over Petyr's head, effectively knocking him out. "Thank you." I said to him and he nodded.
"I said I would not be interrupted. Despite Petyr's claims, I assure you that I am not lying to any of you. I have all the proof you could ask for, and intend to show you all. But I insist on telling you first." I declared.
"The lady has the floor." A Northern man said, and I smiled at him and the rest that nodded.
"Not only was Petyr the mastermind behind the attack against my family, he is also responsible for money laundering of sideways deals, stolen drugs and merchandise from several Families. That's how he helped bank-roll the Boltons into establishing power so easily over the Northern territory. Sure, the Karstarks and the Umbers offered their support the Boltons, but they alone wouldn't suffice." I rationalized for them and saw my words hitting their marks, so I dug my verbal knife a little deeper.
"Just as I found all that, I alsolearned that there are at least to men here with ties to the Boltons. Although, I'm at a disadvantage of not knowing them by face alone." I said feigning ignorance, tossing the bait.
"Now, you wait just a minute missy. You can't just go tossing accusations like that." One man said and my eyes flashed to him with hidden glee.
"So, you're either Mr. Ryswell or Mr. Glenmoore, presume." I deduced, having tricked one into speaking while baiting the other.
"What the hell do you think you know about me?" The other man exclaimed, making me smile.
"Ah, that's the other one. Tell me boys, which one of you helped Petyr with the trafficking of kidnapped women from each territory?" I asked like I was one their gossip friends.
Mr. Ryswell and Mr. Glenmoore both denied the kidnapping and trafficking accusation vehemently, as other men questioned what I was talking about.
"Oh, I'm sorry. The Kidnapping and Trafficking was orchestrated by Petyr and carried out by a Mr. Hunter." I said like I was innocently remembering, instead of boldly calling him out.
Suddenly, the man I assumed was Mr. Hunter decided to try to run. He was stopped by several men who had friends or relatives that had been kidnapped. There was a scuffle and before I knew it, one of them shot Hunter down. I noticed Ryswell and Glenmoore looked like they also wanted to run for it, but Sandor held a gun in each hand, pointed at both their heads.
"As or the rest of you who remained loyal to the Stark, Tully, and Arryn Families, please know that I appreciate it more than words can express. Family Duty Honor are my mother's Family words from right here in Riverrun. She instilled that motto in me from a very early age. We Remember are words from The Vale, just as are High As Honor are Arryn words." I recounted.
"Arryn is not only the Family that my aunt first married into, but everyone knew my father had very close ties with Jon Arryn before they died. So much so, that as well and as sure as Winter is Coming are Stark words, my father always taught us the High value of Honor, and that The North Remembers." I told them, bridging our connection and getting their undivided attention.
"I intend to avenge my Family. I accept the Duty of exacting justice on the wrong-doers. It will be my Honor to restore the Stark, Tully and Arryn Families, as well of the North, Riverlands and The Vale. I want to reestablish things to the way they were." I said looking into all of their eyes.
"Back before Petyr's ambition poisoned the Families against one another, there was peace and prosperity. I was younger then, but I remember. We Remember." I stated vehemently.
"As I said before, I have the proof of his actions, on these drives. I made copies for all of you, if my words aren't enough" I said, tossing a small ouch one the table, letting the drives slide out.
"I would like your commitment to my cause, as it is my birthright. But I will also ask to earn your loyalty, as my Families have done for generations. I have not spoken any lies here, nor will I. I won't strong-arm or intimidate you, nor will I blackmail any of you." I told them and saw a couple of the Northern and Riverlands men nodding with pride.
"Help me avenge the Stark name, and the those destroyed by likes of corrupt Bolton and Lannister Families that lack any humanity. Help me remove the Karstarks, and the Umbers from power, so that we can restore our great houses once more. Would you grant me that?" I asked them.
They looked to one another silently. Some nodded to each other, while others grabbed the flash drives. Ryswell and Glenmoore sat looking at the drives with disdain, rightfully so because there was a lot of information on there about them.
"Miss Stark, I am Ron Flint. These are my men. My family has always been loyal to the Starks, and we intend to carry on that tradition. The North Remembers, Sansa Stark." Ron's words provoked a warmth to spread through my body.
"My gun is yours, as is my loyalty." Ron and his men said, laying their guns at my feet.
"I thank you. My loyalty is to your Families, as well. I won't let you down." I replied genuinely.
"Sansa Stark, I am Desmond Grell. I have served as the weapons broker for the Tully family for years. These are my children, Danor and Sami. We will stand by you." At his words, the two stepped beside him, and I realized they were as young as me.
I also realized that Sami was a young woman. She had her hair pulled tightly behind her head, and was dressed how I imagined Arya would if she ... I shook thoughts away and I settled for nodding at them with a smile.
The three of them lay their guns at my feet and echoed Ron's earlier vow.
"It's my honor to meet you all." I told them after telling them that they also had my loyalty.
"Miss Stark, I am Jon Darry and these are my brothers Jonah and Raymun. Our family has always been loyal to the Tullys. Family Duty Honor has always been our way." He told me with a warm smile, before laying their guns at my feet and repeating their vow of loyalty.
"Ma'am, I am Tom Locke and this is my brother Dusten. I am ashamed to say that our father joined the Boltons long ago. He was there the night they raised arms against your family. We are ready to swear our loyalty to you, as a Stark. But we understand if you do not want us at your side." Tom told me, and my eyes widened at his admission, then Dustin spoke.
"We left our home a year before the attack took place, because we did nothing but fight our father when he aligned himself with Roose Bolton. Tom and I only returned to our mother and sisters, after our father was killed the night your home was attacked." Dustin told me, leaving me to feel a tad uneasy at the topic.
I thought over what they told me. It was bold of them to come right out and admit that their father was not only a Bolton man, but that he'd been there that night. I needed their small armies, but I wasn't sure about these two.
"Miss Stark, we were born Northmen. As such, our loyalty is to the Stark Family. Let us show you that we are different from our father." Tom said, and I wanted to cave in to his request.
"Yes, please allow us the Honor of not only avenging your family, but restring the Honor of our Family name. We believe in you, miss Stark. Let us prove you can believe in us as well." Dustin added, convincing me.
"Very well, Gentlemen. I will accept, but know this. I will not take kindly to any betrayals, and Sandor has an even shorter allowance for it." I warned them as Sandor grunted his agreement.
"My gun is your, as is my loyalty." The both declared in unison after laying their weapons at my feet, then mouthed thanks to me.
Several from the Vale followed. Everything was going well, until one of the Vale men spoke up angrily.
"Glenmoore, you planned the heist near the Eyrie. I lost my wife and my unborn son because of you." The Vale man said after loading one of my drives into his tablet, and he lifting his gun towards Glenmoore's head.
Glenmoore looked at him with remorse, but it was too late. The man fired his gun, and I forced myself not to jump at the sound. After several seconds of staring at the body, the man approached me. Sandor was quick to block him, but the man tossed his gun at my feet.
"I'm Lyonel Corbray, ma'am. Had it not been for your valuable information, I would have never learned the truth. Thanks to you, I have avenged my Family. Now, it is my Duty to help you do the same. I humbly ask that you grant me the Honor of pledging my loyalty to your cause." Corbray spoke with such devotion, that I nudged Sandor to move, allowing Lyonel to swear his loyalty to me as the others had done.
"My gun is yours, as is my loyalty." He vowed and I replied that he had mine, as well.
The four Northmen that had arrived with Glenmoore and Ryswell appeared solemn in their approach. They swore they didn't have any knowledge of their Boss's actions. They explained that they only ever followed the others because they believed the Starks had been obliterated. They said they had to follow certain orders, or risk themselves and their families being killed.
They asked to swear loyalty to me as a Stark, assuring me that the North Remembers. They were lucky I had already seen the documents proving their innocence before they ever spoke up, else I may not have believed them. But after listening to them, I could understand that they felt powerless to do anything but follow those in power, especially knowing the Boltons didn't need real excuses to hurt people.
"Our guns are your guns, as is our loyalty." They told me and I replied in kind.
"But just as I warned the others. I won't tolerate any form of betrayal, and neither will Sandor." I warned them, and they nodded before stepping back.
I looked at the group before me, and noticed two men in Riverrun colors having a heated but whispered argument near the back. I couldn't hear what they we saying to each other, but one of them pulled his gun from his holster and aimed it at the other's head.
"Miss Stark, this peace of shit just tried to convince me to slip out the back with him, so we could tell Walder Frey that you're alive. As you know, the Freys are loyal only to themselves and the Lannisters." The man with the gun elaborated for the rest of us.
"And what is your name?" I asked the gunman.
"I'm Elias Keath, Ma'am. You can just call me Eli. My father was Desmond Keath and was your uncle Edmure's best friend. Later on, I became an apprentice to your uncle. I wanted to be the first to swear my loyalty, but this one decided to share his plan with me. I played him for information until I learned where his true loyalty lies." Eli explained without taking his eyes from his target.
"Thank you, Eli. You've done me agreat service." I told him, then looked at the scum beside him.
"And you are?" I addressed the Frey's inside man.
"I'm Valt Lolliston." He responded, not even giving me the respect of looking me in the eye.
"You wear the colors of Riverrun, aso your loyalty should lie with the Tully Family. Tell me why it doesn't." I demanded, and he finally looked at me.
"My father and uncle followed the Tullys when they went to fight Eddard Stark's battle in search for his sister decades ago. I was only a boy when they died for the Tullys and the Starks. Neither family did a thing for me or mine afterwards. Working for the Freys got me the money I needed for the medication my sick mother needed before she died." He said and as far as reasons went, his seemed valid even if it didn't sit well with me.
"So, you would turn me to the Lannisters, via the Freys, because you despise the Families I was born from? You'd do that to me, even after learning all that I suffered at their hands? Your hatred seems justified, Valt. And I understand why you started working for the Freys." I told him genuinely, but I needed to know more.
"Would you truly judge me for my Family's faults? Is there nothing I can say or do to earn your loyalty?" I asked him.
"I would, and you can't." He replied with finality.
I didn't flinch when Eli pulled his trigger, nor did I look away as the blood and brain matter oozed from Mr. Lolliston's head onto the floor. I could understand his circumstances justifying hos his hatred of my families, but I wouldn't hold innocent people responsible to the actions of others.
"Thank you, Eli." I said, looking up at the man that executed Lolliston on my behalf.
"No thanks necessary. Even if I hadn't yet sworn my allegiance and loyalty to you, you've had it since you walked out here. My gun is yours, as is my loyalty." He told me after placing his gun at my feet.
"As is mine to you and your family, Eli." I replied, wholeheartedly.
"Well, isn't this a pretty picture to wake up to?" I heard Petyr's voice declare, and spun to see him standing up from where Sandor had knocked him out.
"Judging by the armory at her feet, am I correct in assuming you've all plead your guns to her? Darling Sansa, I can see that I was mistaken in hiding you the way I did. Had I known how quickly men would follow you, I'd have used you much earlier. Silly me, I thought I'd truly won you over. It seems I was just a teacher, and you my student." He taunted, but his words couldn't hurt me.
"So many valuable lessons I learned from you, Petyr. Too bad you were so busy scheming, that you never learned the most important thing." I taunted back, approaching him. "Just as you never saw the truth about me, because you were far deluded in your fantasies of dominance over me."
"Do tell." He smirked, but I could tell he truly feared the outcome of this night... as well he should.
"Loyalty, Petyr. Loyalty can't be really be bought, for it must be earned. True loyalty, Petyr, is far superior to intimidation, lies or manipulation." I told him.
"You stand accused of treason against the North, The Vale, and the Riverlands, as well as countless Families. You're accused of conspiring with traitor families, theft, coercion, and murder. You poisoned Jon Arryn, giving his widow the Power over the Vale. Then, you married her to later killer in order to maintain power over at The Eyrie in The Vale for yourself. You're accused of running a kidnap and trafficking scheme. You show no remorse for the countless women you drugged and turned into prostitutes for your selfish gain. You also lured these men with hopes of becoming allies, withholding that you planned to marry me – against my will – to gain power over the North as well." I listed everything I had uncovered about him, feeling validated as I listed his many offences for everyone to hear.
"Have I left anything out?" I questioned with a smirk of my own.
"Actually, yes." A voice said from behind me and I turned to see it was Mr. Ryswell, so I faced him and nodded for him to continue. "Petyr paid me to visit my previous military base overseas. He asked me to tamper with one of the choppers. Once there, I learned that was the transport your bastard brother would be on, but I did it anyway." Ryswell told me, chilling me to my core.
"You little shit!" Petyr spat and tried to lunge for me or Ryswell, I wasn't sure.
But, I was quicker than even I knew, pulling my sharpened knitting needle from my sleeve and stabbing him through the neck. His eyes bulged and he stared at me in horror, once he realized what I'd done.
"I wanted to take my time watching you die painfully, but I find that I'm equally pleased to finally be rid of you once and for all." I told him as his body sank to the floor before he died.
No one dared to speak a word as I continued to watch him until I was sure he was dead. Then, I silently I turned to pick up one of the many guns that had been set at my feet before. Without a single word, I aimed it at Ryswell's head and pulled the trigger. For Jon – my mind echoed.
"Now that we've cleaned house, let's take a load off." I announced, turning to the rest that remained.
I noted the incredible pride in Sandor's eyes, as well as the rest of my allies. I lifted my had, gesturing to the table beside us, for them to all have a seat. A short time later, we were all speaking and some were chuckling over stories of better days. That was when I caught the eye of the maid when she popped her head around the corner. She looked towards the dead bodies, then back to me. I smiled and asked her have our dinners served.
Some of my allies cheered and any lingering dark thoughts over what had gone down in that room, evaporated. They were promised a dinner and new alliances. I was more than happy to oblige. After dinner and after dinner drinks were over, and everyone was sure about the plans we made, the guests finally left. All except Sandor, whom I'd invited to stay in Riverrun for as long as he liked.
"I am even more fascinated by you, every time I look at you." Sandor whispered beside me as I walked him to the guest room, making me turn to him.
"Thank you for your help tonight, Sandor." I told him, but he shook his head.
"You didn't need it. The night would have gone exactly the same, even I wasn't here." He said before he smiled. "But I'm so glad I was able to witness it."
"You never did tell me how you ended up here." I reminded him.
"I was traveling with a group near the Vale. I came across a notice sent from the Riverlands, asking for allies with battle experience. I came to see about the pay and inquire what it would entail. I never dreamed I'd find you here, Sansa." He shook his head in wonder, and I couldn't take it anymore.
"Why did you help me so long ago? Why do you continue to do so, Sandor? I need to know." I asked him bluntly, and his response was to chuckle.
"For the longest time, I thought you were just some clueless, albeit beautiful girl. You always said and behaved how you thought you ought to. But you allowed Joff to treat you so … Well, I got it in my head that I could treat you better. For a time, that fueled some of my actions. It wasn't until you were taken by the Lannisters and I spent more time with you, that I began to understand you and my own feelings better. I realized I'd been wrong about you." He told me, taking a breath.
"I started to take note of the real you. I learned to decipher you real feelings under the smiles you faked. I realized you were far smarter than any of them gave you credit for. And you were stronger too. You took everything they threw at you, and never let them break you. I admired you, Sansa. You reminded me of a sister I had as a kid, before she was killed.
"Oh, Sandor. I'm so sorry." I gasped with sympathy.
"She was four years older than me, but we were very close. Madi was very smart, and so strong. She was braver than any man I ever met, by far. One day, she picked me up from school when I was thirteen. We were taken by some thugs that had problems with our older brother. Now he was a real monster, if there ever was one. They beat her, and tried to get her to cave on something I never found out about. When they went to get to me, she drew their attention back to herself and away from me. She yelled at me to run and get help." He told me, shaking slightly.
"I did what she told me to do, I always did. By the time I got back with the police, she was dead and the guys were gone. That night, Gregor found me and punished me for letting our sister die." He told me, pointing to his face. "I killed him years ago, and the world is a better place without him." He confirmed, and I nodded in agreement.
"What I thought was a stupid crush on a much younger girl, became real admiration and affection. I love you, Little Bird. Not as a man, but as a brother perhaps. I couldn't save my sister, but I want to do for you what I failed to do for her." Sandor added with a gentle and hopeful smile.
My hand flew to cover my mouth. I fought the tears that wanted to fall, but I couldn't. I hugged him as tight as I could, letting my tears slide down my cheek. I was mortified by his story, but believed to know that his feelings for me wouldn't end with me having to break his heart one day. I told him so, and he laughed.
"Don't get me wrong, Little Bird. You're beautiful and I care a great deal for you, but it wouldn't feel right for me. It would be too weird, especially knowing that there's another that holds your heart." He told me, a little too knowingly, which unnerved me.
"What?" I asked, truly feeling horrified that Sandor might know about … no.
"Well, I imaging there is. I figured it's a forbidden love, or something equally cheesy, It's the only explanation I could ever come up with for why you agreed to date Joffrey, despite having a far-off look, like you wished you were with someone else. Did I read you wrong all that time?" He questioned, looking confused and slightly annoyed to have misinterpreted me.
I smiled at him, not able to admit the truth to him or myself... but not wanting to lie either. I reached up to place a kiss on his cheek, then told him I was headed to bed.
"I'll figure it out once day, Little Bird." He called out just before I got to my door.
"Good night, Sandor." Smiled back then entered my room, then rested my back against it to catch my breath.
It had been one hell of a night. I was finally free and I would have my vengeance. Sandor was in my life again, so I knew I was safer that I thought I'd be. I was so relieved to know he wasn't harboring romantic feelings for me... And yet, my heart hadn't pounded this hard all night, until he mentioned knowing that I he'd someone in my heart. It's a wonder Sandor hadn't figured out who I loved. The first people I've ever killed were the two men responsible for taking Jon from this world, and from me.
A/N: That turned out much longer than I'd planned, but I felt it all had to be said and done. I hope you enjoyed this side of Sansa... and Sandor. I'm usually a San/San girl, but this isn't that.