Hey guys, and it seems I have garnered a few more fans of this story which I am delighted with! Just a little Author's Note. This story isn't perfect, and I'm obviously going to twist certain scenes that happen within the song of Ice and Fire series but I will try and keep it as canon to the plot as possible. This is a Sandor oriented romance fanfic and it will gradually turn that way but I have big ideas for this story. Namely the fact that I'm going to split it up. So one story of mine, for every book in the series. How does that sound? I would love your views, whether you like the Toby character, if I'm presenting Sandor and the other characters well. Tobias Hill was literally a spur of the moment character that I wrote in, and there are two directions that I am conflicted over concerning his future. So please tell me what I'm doing right, what I'm doing wrong. You have my word that this is a Sandor romance and it will get that way, but I want to make my characters more 3-D and personalised before jumping straight in. I don't want to rush it! But this is good news right? You get lots more chapters!

Well that wasn't very short!

So please settle in for the long haul. I will try my hardest to update regularly, and if you have any questions please direct them to my PM so that I can respond directly to you!

Keep safe!

Slightnerdy.

P.S. I apologise for the length of the chapters at the moment, I'm on a mad writing spree!

Wolves and Hounds.

Chapter 12.

As the King's entourage progressed further into the flat plains of the Trident and the rest of the lowlands, the climate began to change rapidly. Soldiers shed heavy pieces of armor, swapping grey steel for brown leather. Woolen cloaks for cotton. The King ditched his fur cloak, opting to riding in just his silken shirt which always bared large sweat patches whenever his majesty had finished riding for the day.

For the northerners it was harder to adapt to the sudden increase in heat, Tarynn wore the lightest cotton dresses she owned, the next step would have been stripping down naked and lying on a river bank. She couldn't understand how people lived in such a heat. Cersei Lannister thrived in it however, she never seemed to sweat, and there were no tell tale droplets of perspiration that usually signaled the body overheating. She was truly an ice queen if she could keep a constant temperature in such weather.

When the King had called for a camp to be set up Tarynn had been riding beside her father, the queen having summoned Arya and Sansa to join her in the wheelhouse earlier that day. It wasn't said, but it was known that the queen didn't like Tarynn's opinions, and Tarynn was fine with that. It was only noon when the King raised a fat fist towards the sky, a signal that tents should be put up and the wagons unloaded for the night. The trumpet blasts rang through the air as Ned Stark leaned across to his eldest daughter.

"The king wants to go on a hunt. You know what he's like. We'll talk later but for now accompany your sisters and see that they dress adequately for the feast that Robert wants to put on, especially Arya."

"Father?"

"Yes Tarynn?"

Tarynn looked over the landscape towards the river bank. She was planning on telling her father about Theon and his actions but she wasn't sure of what good that would do.

"Nothing, enjoy your hunt."

"Yes, enjoy rounding up your sisters," Her father grinned, and kissed her on the cheek, "Relish the winds, it's much hotter in King's Landing."

Tarynn laughed and watched as her father rode away, raising her hand in a farewell. There was an indignant cough to her left and she caught a glimpse of blonde. Looking in that direction she saw the back of Joffrey as he rode off no doubt towards his dear mother, the Hound followed him on top of his horse Stranger. She smiled shyly at Sandor and he responded with a curt nod. A emotionless mask covering up his true facial expressions.

She patted her steed's neck, before taking hold of the reins firmly in her hands, with a slight kick her horse started off at a trot. She was going to find Ser Jory, and then after that Sansa and Arya.

By the time that Tarynn reached the wheelhouse, solely for trying to find Sansa, a crowd which had gathered around it had started to disperse. Servants and knights alike swarmed around Tarynn as she pushed to the front. When she broke through the front line of people she saw what all the commotion was about.

Two men stood beside the queen, one was an older man, dressed in the white of the Kingsguard. The other was a tall, broad shouldered man, jet black hair fell to his shoulders and he was dressed in dark green enameled armor.

"Yes, like I said Robert has gone on a hunt, Lord Stark has accompanied him."

"And the Stark girl who just went off with Prince Joffrey, she is the middle child?"

"Middle daughter," Cersei smiled and Tarynn instantly grew wary of her, "Lord Stark has fathered many children, his youngest is just three."

They had still not noticed her standing on the edge of their visions.

"And the eldest?" It was the man in the green armor and the stag helmet under his arm that asked this question. "I mean just out of curiosity, the eldest was born just before the war ended yes?" The man grinned, perfect white teeth flashing.

"The eldest Stark is…"

"Eighteen," Tarynn stepped forward, interrupting Cersei Lannister's answer. "And I would be glad to answer anymore questions that you have on my family gentlemen."

The man in the white knelt for a split second before standing again. "Lady Tarynn, I am Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard."

She could feel Cersei seething with anger but when Tarynn glimpsed up at her, her face was a mask of stone.

"Well met Ser Barristan, I have heard many tales of your ventures in battles."

The man in green stepped forward, and Tarynn almost forgot proper courtesy. She held out her hand and the man with the stag helm took it lifting it to his lips.

"My Lady, I am Lord Renly Baratheon, brother to King Robert and the rightful Lord of Storm's End."

So this is the famous Renly. He's not all that much, he's almost a tad feminine despite his heritage and armor.

Before Tarynn could respond Cersei's voice floated through the air. It was obvious that she was struggling to contain tones of contempt, "We were talking about you just the other day Renly."

Renly flashed an easy smile, his eyes lingering on Tarynn before they shifted back to Cersei, "Well I am one to talk about. What other plots does my brother have in store for me?"

"Marriage."

The way Cersei said it, so blunt and indifferent caused Tarynn to open her mouth slightly in shock, she looked between the queen and her brother in law noting how Renly's carefree smile seemed to slip off his face the instant Cersei uttered the word.

"Marriage? Why Robert really does know how to throw people. If you would excuse me."

Renly left, sweeping past Tarynn as he headed towards a group of horses that were held in place by a…

The man's face was pockmarked, with deep set eyes and a menacing countenance. A shiver ran up Tarynn's spine and a feeling of dread filled every fibre of her feeling. She did not like this man, and she was definite in her opinion.

She drew her eyes from the shadowy man and turned back to the queen, "Do you think it was your place to tell Renly of plans that don't concern you?"

The queen looked as if she had been slapped, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed, "How dare you…"

"No how dare you. I am not the one who's going to be yelled at in front of a few powerful Lords once King Robert returns. You had no right, and the plans haven't even been set in stone."

"Do not talk to me in that tone child."

"I am not a child, your Grace, so please don't talk to me as if I was one. You know what you've done."

Tarynn turned on her heel, a sort of thrill running through her as she left the queen standing beside her precious wheelhouse, a look of utter surprise on her face. Ser Selmy did not say anything, neither had he intervened. Perhaps Tarynn was going to have more influence over proceedings then she had first thought of. No doubt the queen would tell Robert, and Robert relay information to Tarynn's father but Tarynn was well within her right to be annoyed. The talk of marriage didn't just concern Renly, it also concerned Tarynn as well.

Tarynn lay in the shade of a tent, the sun was just setting. Spreading pink tendrils across a dimming sky, orange hues danced across the green walls of her tent, casting a strange light over the objects within it. It was scarcely decorated, there was no point, tomorrow servants would come and pack it all away and they would continue the journey to King's Landing. The capital of Westeros was less then a week's ride away, and with every step they took towards the magnificent seat of western power, Tarynn grew more excited. Tome was stretched out beside her; he was quite large now, almost coming to her waist. He was much larger than Lady and Nymeria and so Tarynn had surmised that male direwolves must be bigger than their female counterparts. His head was resting on his paws but his bright blue eyes were wide open as Tarynn read to him from the book she was reading.

"And that was when Bodahnn, the wilding betrayed his sisters, giving them up to the men who roamed the south as an offering, hoping that they would not hunt him down and slice his belly into chunks of bloody flesh before feeding it to the crows… This book is very graphic, isn't it Tome."

The wolf whined in return, lifting his head and settling it down on Tarynn's stomach. She laughed and scratched behind her companion's ears.

"Ah Tome, I don't know what I would do without you."

Tarynn snapped the book shut and put it down beside her; she sighed, and looked out through the tent flap. Opposite hers was Sansa's, a bright yellow one which the setting sun was currently caressing with its light. Besides Sansa's was Arya's, and to the left of Tarynn's tent was her father's. A guard of two men were patrolling the area, they switched shifts during the night whilst the tents' inhabitants slept on, blissfully unaware of any troubles that may have arisen in the black of night.

She sat up, and Tome moved off, slinking away towards the open tent flap before returning to Tarynn.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" He whined in return, pawing at Tarynn's skirts, "Only for a short while mind, the horn for supper will sound fairly soon."

She stood, sorting out her crumpled skirts. She picked up a light cloak from where she had dumped it earlier on the end of the bed, before accompanying Tome out of the tent that was her temporary home. She pulled the tent flap down, and took a right, following the line of tents towards the small woods that surrounded this part of the river. Several guards nodded at her as they walked past, but no one spoke a word. Birds chirped in the trees and Tarynn felt an inner peace as she walked along, stroking Tome's head in an absent minded manner. When she reached the forest edge she turned back towards the temporary encampment, her eyes darting over the soldiers that stood guard as servants pulled up more tents. A string of children, the sons and daughters of the servants who had no one else to look after them back in King's Landing ran among the men, laughter floating around them. She caught sight of one of the soldiers overlooking the raising of the tents, his golden hair drifted in the wind; his green eyes glinted in the disappearing sunlight. He raised a hand, a smile stretching over his face, white teeth showing. Her breath caught in her throat, and she looked down before looking back up. Toby was still staring at her, it had been a fair few days since they had first spoken and they hadn't said another word to one another since. Impulsion caused her to gesture with her hand, a signal that he should accompany her and Tome on their walk. If anyone came across them the excuse was simple, Tarynn had felt unsafe alone in the woods due to all she had been through and so had asked the nearest soldier to accompany her, the nearest being Toby.

He rested his hand on another soldier's shoulder, saying something before pointing at Tarynn who was standing just beneath the canopy of trees. The other guard nodded, before barking another order at one of the soldiers. Toby strode away, walking towards Tarynn and away from the rest of his fellows.

"I'm glad you asked me to accompany you Lady Tarynn, watching servants put up tents is quite a boring task. Don't ask me why we have to watch them, but the queen insisted. Perhaps my dear cousin doesn't trust the small folk who wait on her hand and foot. Don't tell her I referred to her as cousin, she'll have my head and I very much like it where it is."

Tarynn was overwhelmed, he was in quite the talkative mood today, and again she made the comparison between Toby's more cheerful and happy go lucky personality and Sandor's more sombre and dismal one. But a daily dose of Toby's optimism couldn't go amiss.

"Don't worry, it's safe with me."

"Ah, now that is a weight off my shoulders. Now tell me Lady Tarynn, how has your day been?"

Should I answer him truthfully? Tell him about the giddiness I feel whenever I think of the prospect of King's Landing? Of immersing myself in the King's court? Of learning the ins and outs of the city? Of visiting the Maesters' hallowed halls? Cavorting with the finest intellectual minds? No, he will laugh.

"Like any other day, riding and stopping, sight seeing et cetera…"

"And the weather? Your northern blood must be heating up like something frantic in such a heat."

"A little much, but I'm sure that once I get used to it I will be fine."

"You should visit Lannisport… Maybe I'll be lucky enough to take you one day."

There was a silence as his words hung in the world, the likelihood if that happening was extremely slim.

"So tell me Toby," He walked ahead of her slightly, holding up a branch for her so that she didn't get caught in the leaves. She smiled in thanks before passing through, her arm brushing his chest, "Did you grow up in Lannisport?"

"No, I lived with the rest of my family in Casterly Rock. I don't know what it's like with bastards where you are from, but in the south we're not looked upon favourably. I'm lucky that my father died when he did, and that he was favoured by his brothers."

"So your father…"

"You really are quite intrigued by my ancestry aren't you, well there's no point in keeping it from you any longer. You'd find out about it at some point any way. My father is Gerion Lannister, or rather was. He was a boy himself when I was born, I remember him though, he was always full of life and never rose to his brothers' challenges." Toby sighed and walked on ahead slightly, Tome and Tarynn followed him as he carved a path through the forest. "After he left to recover some ancient artefact, my uncle Kevan took me in. I grew up alongside his own sons. I count myself lucky to be honest…"

"Toby?"

"Yes, my Lady?"

"Please," She took his hand in hers, holding it tightly, "Call me Tarynn."

Toby didn't grin, or smile, or really acknowledge what she had said. A few moments passed, silence again covering them, before he lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a small kiss on the back of her hand. "Thank you."

"I have a bastard brother Toby, his name is Jon… I never treated him kindly…"

Is it guilt making me kind to Toby? Am I trying to make up for the wrongs I committed against Jon?

"I find that it's hard for those whose parentage is legitimate to understand those who parentage isn't. Your brother most likely understands that, the next time you see him…"

"He's taking the black. I don't think I'll ever seem him again."

"Don't say ever, you will one day."

He let go of her hand, and she went past him. Tome however stayed behind, abandoning his mistress in favour of Toby, who he nuzzled with his snout, sniffing him.

"Seems your wolf has taken a liking to me."

"Yes, which is strange; he's not the friendliest of creatures." She knelt, "Are you Tome?"

The dark brown direwolf cocked his head, his inquisitive blue eyes fixed on her for a few seconds before he bounded towards her, his tongue lolling like that of a dog. She laughed, and rubbed his head with the palm of her hand before standing. Her eyes settled on Toby's face. His green eyes were fixed on hers. She looked away, breaking the moment, turning away and delving deeper into the forest.

"Do you have any siblings Toby?"

"One, a younger sister who was born ten years after my own birth, her name is Joy."

"Is she still at Casterly Rock?"

"Yes she is, little madam though, always begging me to bring stuff back for her from King's Landing whenever I visit her."

"So do you not know your mother?"

"I've heard rumours over who it could be, but nothing substantial, the idiots who were part of my uncle's guard used to tease me over it."

"I can't imagine not knowing my mother."

"You get used to it, I'm lucky I had my father for as long as I did, Joy hardly remembers him or her mother." A horn sounded somewhere in the distant, the sign that the King was hungry and ready for dinner. "I'm lucky today."

Toby's grin was huge; he reached up brushing as strand of blonde hair out of his eyes.

She laughed, "Why?"

"I have been invited to eat with you; my cousin Jaime has requested my presence at the table."

"Are you close to the Kingslay – I mean Jaime?"

"He's my favourite cousin, and I am his. So yes I suppose, he taught me how to swing a sword."

"Does the Queen…"

"Cersei? She doesn't like anyone, but it's not really her decision, Jaime asked the King and the King granted his permission."

"Well then, we must be heading back, I need to change out of my riding gear, and into something more suitable for dinner."

Toby flashed a suggestive grin at her, "Why? You look beautiful as you are."

Tarynn blushed, looking down at the ground, "Thank you."

"You're most welcome, now please; allow me to return you to your tent."

As they neared the tent, Tome ran on ahead, pawing open the tent flap before disappearing inside, leaving Tarynn and Toby alone.

"I'll see you at dinner then."

"Yes you will."

Toby leant forward and Tarynn froze, her words came tumbling out of her mouth, "Toby, please I…"

"Hush", He kissed her on the cheek, "I'm not going to take advantage of you."

He smiled, and she smiled in return, but there was one problem.

He's a bastard, and a Lannister one at that. Plus… What about Sandor?

He turned away, walking off towards where the soldiers' tents were situated. She turned too, grasping the tent flap and pulling it aside. Tome laid sprawled on the pile of cushions that made up her bed.

"Oh Tome." She collapsed beside her beloved companion, "What am I to do? How do I attract the wrong men? What is it with me? I don't even like the idea of romance and love! What am I doing?" Tome whined, looking at her with sympathetic eyes. "They both must realise what cannot be, I am destined to marry someone with a house and connections. I am a mere pawn in the grand scheme of things! I won't be surprised that by this time next year I would have been bedded and already be swollen with child, what am I to do?"

She buried her face in Tome's soft fur, her sobs escaping her.

"My Lady?"

Tarynn looked up, "Oh Bronte, I… Please, is that my dress?"

In Bronte's hands was a dress the colour of deep wine. "Yes, a gift, from Queen Cersei, since your last one ripped during the wilding attack."

"Oh that was very kind of her, please, come in and help me."

Bronte set to work, the slender girl filled the wash basin with fresh water that had been left outside the tent and as Tarynn washed her face, Bronte searched through chests for clean undergarments and jewellery. After a little while Tarynn was fully dressed and ready to go to dinner.

"Is my father sending anyone to escort me Bronte, do you know?"

"I don't think so…"

"Tarynn?"

It was her father's voice, sounding outside the tent flap. "Father, please come in."

Her father lifted the tent door, stooping slightly in order to admit himself into the tent, "I decided to come escort my daughters personally to dinner but for the life of me I can't find Arya anywhere. Have you seen her?"

The tent flap opened again, Sansa pushed inside, "Father please let me explain."

"Sansa? What…" Ned Stark grasped his middle daughter's arms, "Are you alright."

"Its Arya father, she ran off into the woods with her wolf. I don't know where, Joffrey and I were just…"

Eddard gently pushed Sansa towards Tarynn, exchanging a look with his eldest daughter, "Tarynn look after Sansa, I am going to find Arya, she can't have gone far."

"Father please allow me…"

"No, Tarynn stay here and keep Sansa with you, I must find Robert and gather my guard, Arya must still be within the woods and the sun has almost finished setting. You girl, run to Ser Jory, tell him to assemble my men and to start the search at once."

Bronte scrambled off, her blond hair flying behind her.

"The queen will see to it that you will have something to eat." Her father brushed aside the tent, disappearing from their view, Tarynn turned to Sansa.

"Sansa what happened?"

"I don't know it all happened so quickly…"

"We have time, tell me."

"Joffrey and I we were walking alongside one of the banks of the Trident, he had wine…"

"Wine?"

"He told me that I was his queen and that I could drink whatever I wanted."

"Sansa…"

"And we heard fighting; it was Arya and the butcher's boy. The rest happened so quickly but Nymeria… Nymeria bit Joffrey and then Arya ran off."

"Is that everything?

"Yes, I… I think so."

"Father's going to ask you what happened, so you have to tell him everything you just told me, when they bring Arya back… Is Joffrey hurt badly?"

"No, but he started to cry…"

Tarynn repressed the urge to grin, if Nymeria was here in the tent she would have praised her for trying to maim the brat of a prince.

"The Hound wasn't with you?"

"No, the queen sent him away."

"Where? Do you know Sansa?"

"I don't… Why are you so interested in the Hound Tarynn?"

"Because Sansa, if the Hound had been there this wouldn't have happened so in the long run it was Queen Cersei's fault for not making sure that his royal son was protected properly."

"Oh no it's not the queen's fault she's wonderful! It was Arya's." Tarynn repressed the urge to tell Sansa otherwise about the queen. "What will they do to Nymeria Tarynn?"

Tarynn looked over at Tome, who was sat near the tent flap, his ears pricked up, "I don't know Sansa, but I don't think the outcome will be good."

Over the course of the next few hours, a servant came to the sisters with food and drink and they sat together eating within the confines of Tarynn's tent. They also worked on the embroidery they had started in Winterfell, chatting aimlessly over numerous topics; a favourite was what they were going to do once they reached King's Landing.

Sansa's head was filled with tourneys and balls, whilst Tarynn expressed a desire to visit the different parts of the famous city and meet with the Maesters and other great thinkers. It wasn't until the moon had raised high in the sky that someone sent for them.

"My Ladies, please, your father has returned."

"And Arya?"

"She has been found and is alive."

"Who was she found by?"

"The king's soldiers, my Lady."

Tarynn took her younger sister's hand and followed the guard as he led them through the twisting maze of tents. They were different shades of fabric, but you could tell that which were the servants and which were the richer peoples' who travelled along with the Royal entourage. Torches atop long sticks had been stuck deep into the ground, casting a deep amber glow over everything and making the shadows dance and wave against the material of the tents. Near the fork in the Trident there was a small castle with a large hall belonging to the Darrys, as Tarynn and Sansa approached it their father emerged from the shadows with several Winterfell soldiers following him.

"Sansa, Tarynn." He took hold of Tarynn's hand, his firm grasp made Tarynn feel safe and protected as he led his daughters into the Darry's audience chamber in which King Robert first of his name sat in the High chair; his queen beside him and his son beside his queen. Men lined the hall's walls as Ned Stark entered with his eldest daughters.

"Arya." Ned Stark called loudly.

Ned let go of Tarynn's hand, rushing towards his youngest daughter. "Arya." He enveloped her in a hug. "I thought I'd lost you."

The girl sobbed, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

"I know, are you hurt?"

"No. Hungry some, I ate some berries but there was nothing else."

"We'll feed you soon enough."

Tarynn stood just in front of Sansa, still holding onto her sister's hand. When Ned Stark had finished embracing Arya, he let the muddied girl go, directing her to stand next to Tarynn. Tarynn too gave her sister a hug, "Forgive me Arya."

"It's okay, I'm sorry too."

Sansa made no move to embrace Arya, instead she stood rigid beside Tarynn, her slim fingers grasping Tarynn's sleeve.

"What is the meaning if this?" Ned Stark's voice filled the room, "Why was I not told that my daughter had been found? Why was she not brought to me at once?"

"How dare you speak to your king in that manner!" Cersei Lannister's voice was cold. "Seems your eldest has taken that trait from you."

"Quiet, woman." The king straightened in his seat. "I am sorry Ned. I never meant to frighten the girl. It seemed best to bring her here

Tarynn moved forward a step, and the queen looked at her threateningly, before turning her gaze to someone beside her. She nodded her head in Tarynn's direction and Toby stepped out heading towards where Tarynn stood. His fingers grasped her wrist, keeping her still.

"Is that really necessary?" Ned Stark's voice floated above the other voices in the hall.

"Just a precaution, we are discussing things that should be kept between adults."

"Be quiet woman, Tarynn is hardly a child now that she has reached her eighteenth year." The king's eyes glided up and down her body and she shuddered, pressing herself into Toby's side. Toby's grip loosened, and he looked down at her, moving his hand down to grasp her hand lightly instead. Tarynn's gaze switched from the king, to Toby before settling down on the queen whose own gaze was in the pointed direction of Toby holding Tarynn's hand. Tarynn removed her hand from Toby's own, but it was too late, the damage was done. The queen's lips curved into a deviant smile as she continued to stare down at Tarynn and Toby from her perch.

There is nothing between me and Toby! Please don't cause unnecessary trouble.

But an intrinsic part of Tarynnknew that the queen will implant rumours, small seeds of doubt, into those who were on friendly terms with Tarynn.

The Stark girl has been having a romantic relationship with a bastard.

And Tarynn would be helpless against such a rumour.

The silent exchange between Stark and Lannister was disrupted by King Robert's booming voice. "I am king and I will make the decisions. Sansa, you were with my son when he was supposedly attacked by Arya and that wolf of hers was you not?"

Sansa's voice was timid and shaky when she replied, "I was, your G-grace."

"Good. Perhaps you can shed some light on the situation."

"Well, I, Nymeria did…"

Sansa froze, and Tarynn broke away from Toby to comfort her, "Just say what you told me San, you're not going to get told off for it."

"Nymeria did bite Joffrey."

"No she didn't! You're lying! You're lying!" Arya flew at Sansa, punching and kicking at her elder sister.

Tarynn tried to separate them but it took Eddard Stark to stop Arya from trying to beat Sansa to a pulp.

"That beast hurt your heir, it should be executed." Queen Cersei glared from where she stood on the dais, Joffrey whimpering beside her.

"No! No, no no!" Arya began to cry.

"Your Grace what do you intend to do?" Ned Stark looked back at his daughters. Ser Jory had lifted a struggling Arya up.

"You punish yours I'll punish mine… Everyone dismissed." The king stood, but the queen was adamant.

"That beast almost killed your son."

The king sighed, and sat back down. "I'm sorry Ned, but the beasts, they're too dangerous."

Plural… Beasts? No! Not Tome.

Tarynn moved towards where the king sat, "You can't Lady and Tome didn't do that to Joffrey. They wouldn't harm anyone! You can't!"

"Where is the beast that mauled your son?" Cersei's voice was cold.

"We couldn't find it your Highness."

"Then the other two most be killed."

"No!" Sansa was openly sobbing now, and Tarynn was filled with shock and anger. She crouched down beside Sansa, pulling the girl into an embrace.

"I'm sorry Ned."

"Is this your order your Grace?" Her father spoke through gritted teeth.

"Payne, find the wolves and…"

"Kill them yourself Robert."

The King said nothing to Ned, instead he looked away before standing and sweeping out of the hall, his queen and his son close behind.

Ilyn Payne stepped down from the dais, "No, they are from the north, they deserve a northern death… Ser Jory, take the girls back to the tents."

Tarynn stepped towards her father, "Father you can't!"

"It's the king's orders Tarynn."

"Then please, allow me to be with Tome as he… dies." Tears rolled down her cheeks freely as she pleaded with her father.

Her father looked at her, sorrow in his eyes. "Bring Tome here, to me."

Toby went to move towards her, but she brushed him off. She was inconsolable. Tome hadn't mauled Tome, he was innocent, he didn't deserve to die for a crime he hadn't committed. Tarynn swept out of the hall, half running and half stumbling towards the door as tears trickled down her face. She pushed it open and was almost ran down by a horse had someone not pulled her back sharply by someone she didn't even care to name.

The Hound rode past, a dead body hanging over the back of his steed. Her father appeared behind her, "You killed him."

The Hound looked at her father and then at Tarynn, his eyes were dead and unremorseful, "He ran."

He rode past without a second look back and Tarynn's heart felt like it had been ripped out of her chest. She had made a terrible mistake in thinking that she could trust the Hound. He had murdered Mycah, poor Mycah who had made the mistake of becoming friends with Arya. How could he kill a child? Tarynn felt her whole world crumble; her closest companion was to be put down and the man that had she started to trust had just murdered in cold blood. But then again he was a Hound, what else was she expecting.

She ran to her tent, he sight blurred by tears. It wasn't until she reached her makeshift home that she realised she had been followed. Toby pulled her into his arms and she sobbed, her forehead resting against his chest.

"I can't… I don't want him to die."

She felt fingers running through her hair.

"I have a plan, Tarynn are you listening to me?"

She looked up, blinking away the tears and looking up into Toby's face, his emerald green eyes looked down at her, filled with compassion and sympathy. So very different to the cold steel grey of the Hound's.

"I – I'm listening."

"We get rid of Tome, we scare him off. That way he doesn't have to die."

"Will that work? My father will know."

"Not if you don't tell him. Make something up, you're clever, you'll think of some plausible excuse."

"And… You'll help me?"

"Of course, I'd do anything for…"

She kissed him on the cheek, just like she had done with the Hound except this time she wasn't kissing a scar. Toby's cheek was smooth, "You're risking a lot for me."

"I know. But as long as you can shake the wolf no one will know about it."

Tarynn stepped back from Toby's embrace, and smiled through her tears. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Toby stepped forward, closing the gap in-between them, his lips brushing her cheek. "Please, I don't need thank yous." He pressed himself closer to Tarynn and his lips ghosted over her own. He was testing her, to see if she would pull away. She didn't.

He's saving Tome for me; one kiss isn't going to hurt. The Hound… Turns out you can't tame something that was made to be wild.

His lips pressed against hers and Tarynn experienced her first kiss that wasn't forced upon her unwanted, she opened her mouth slightly in the heat of passion and Toby responded, his hand resting on the back of her head as she looped her arms around his neck.

And for the first time, Tarynn began to believe in the possibility of the concept of love.