It's been a while I know, but here is another update for you! Enjoy.

Slightlynerdy.

Wolves and Hounds.

Chapter 22.

Renly swallowed down the milk of the poppy that the Grandmaester held to his lips, surrounding him was King Robert, Eddard Stark, Arya, Sansa, Loras Tyrell and Tarynn as well. She was sat beside him, her hand still encased in his grip. He groaned often in pain.

"The ribs will take a little while to heal, but they will heal and they will set themselves with hardly any intervention. Bed rest is the best course of action. The break was clean, surprisingly." Pycelle straightened and addressed Tarynn, "You're ability to diagnose broken bones and other ailments is impressive Lady Tarynn, if I may be bold enough to say." He dipped his head in goodbye and she returned the courtesy before allowing her eyes to fall back onto Renly's form.

"That Hound, Clegane, will answer for this."

"Now, now Ser Loras, its all done in good sport, if you think that my brother is the first to be injured in a joust then you are sorely mistaken."

As the time passed, people made their excuses to leave. The King was required to return to the tourney, as was Eddard, Arya and Sansa. Loras had to prepare for his joust which was up next. That left Tarynn to sit with Renly, listening to his laboured breathing and wiping his forehead with a cold, wet cloth. Eventually he fell into a drug induced sleep, she prised her hand away from his and stood, brushing off the mud that had dried on her dress.

There were guards stationed outside of Renly's tent and she nodded to them as she passed, "My Lady."

She wanted to find him, to ask him what he hoped to achieve by harming Renly. Her mind was filled with a mixture of rage and awe. Rage because he had done something that she had specifically asked him not to do and had almost killed a man, and awe because he was willing to be penalised for harming Lord Renly Baratheon, one of the younger brothers of the king just for a chance to be with her. She searched high and low but she couldn't find him, and perhaps that was a good thing, she wouldn't have known whether to yell at him or kiss him. She returned back to Renly, and sat by his side religiously for the rest of the day, watching his chest heave laboriously, his brow shining with sweat. He would cough often, and she would wipe the spittle from his lips. She cried, not for Renly's condition but rather for hers.

Is this what my life will boil down to? Wiping chins and holding hands? Will I not get any glimpse of adventure? Will I be subjected to this man's bed for the rest of my life…?

She turned away from Renly, lowering her head into her hands and sobbed. The tears ran down over her fingers, splattering onto the skirt of her dress. When she had finished she went to the basin that stood in the corner and washed her face, trying to erase the track marks that her tears had made.

"Lady Tarynn?"

She turned, reaching for a towel and dabbing her face quickly in order to address whoever it was standing outside of the tent.

"Yes? Please, do come in."

Loras Tyrell poked his head around the tent flap, his forest green eyes sweeping over Renly's still form. "I… How is he?"

She nodded her head, and gestured him into the room. "He is in great pain, but the milk of the poppy takes the edge off. He coughs as well, often, and this could cause further trauma to his ribs."

Loras sat in the stool that she had previously occupied and clasped Renly's hand, letting out a sigh. The whisper was barely audible. "What am I going to do with you?"

Tarynn threw the towel over the edge of the basin, her pale fingers gripping the china as she sighed, "I know Loras."

The man turned, "What? What do you…"

"You and Renly, I would be a fool if I could not see it."

Loras stood, "Lady Tarynn I don't know what you are talking about."

She released her hold on the bowl, she looked at him, her gaze strong and steady, "Don't try and lie to me Loras, I've seen the way you look at one another."

The fight seemed to ebb out of his eyes, his posture slumped slightly, "I won't get in your way Lady Tarynn, you are to be his wife and I won't come between you but…"

Tarynn stepped closer and reached for Loras' hands, she searched his eyes, "But you love him."

He ducked his head, "It is a crime to love another man."

Tarynn squeezed his hand gently, she felt genuine sorrow for Loras, her mind rattled with kind words to say but then an idea crossed her thoughts and a plan was hatched. She decided to take the opportunity.

"Your secret is safe with me Ser Loras, but I need your help. I want… I need to break this betrothal. Work on Renly, use whatever you need. Convince him against wedding me. But please, do not mar my name."

Loras blinked, confused. "I'm sorry, you don't want to be married to Renly, but I thought…"

"That I had feelings for him? No… You are mistaken; I love Renly as a friend, perhaps even a brother. But I could never be what you are to him. Please, say you'll help me?"

"If this is what you truly want, I will persuade Renly into marrying another. In fact..."

Tarynn's eyes widened, "Tell me."

"My father and Lord Renly had wanted to replace Queen Cersei with my sister, Margaerey."

"I've heard about Margaerey, she is said to be a sweet girl."

"She is, my Lady, but your father interceded, we had hoped that she looked like Lyanna Stark."

"That was a cruel ploy Loras."

"It was, but we are desperate in our want to be rid of Cersei as Queen. However it seems that there is only one woman in this realm that bares striking resemblance to the fabled Lyanna Stark." His gaze was poignant, he was pointing out her own likeness to her deceased aunt.

Tarynn's gaze didn't falter, "Many have commented on my resemblance to my aunt, but please, continue."

"After our plan to replace Cersei with Margaerey dissipated, my father, in a bid to bring the Houses Tyrell closer to Baratheon planned to wed my sister to Lord Renly… My father wanted as many connections as he could possibly concoct, which is why he was willing to accept you as a wife for Willas. However Renly often told me that he was inspired by your willpower, and that your father had come to him first with the offer of your hand in marriage. So he accepted, it was an honour he said to have been considered by the stoic Lord Stark as a possible candidate for his eldest daughter."

Tarynn let go of Loras' hands and reached up to fumble with her pendants as she thought, "So what you're saying is that you could convince Renly to marry Margaery as oppose to me…"

Loras grinned, rather seductively, "I can be very persuasive."

Tarynn smiled, "I bet, well then Ser Loras I leave this in your capable hands. If you do this for me, your secret will never surface, and you will be able to keep Renly closer to you. If I had married him, I had planned on replacing you as his squire with another. But if this works, you can have him until death parts you both."

She turned to leave but Loras called out to her, "Why didn't you just refuse him then? Why must you break the betrothal in such a cloak and dagger fashion? Is he not what you want?

She looked over her shoulder at him, "The heart does not choose who you can love, surely Ser Loras you can relate to that. Renly and I would have been happy enough, I am sure, but there would be no passion… No thrills. Besides, my father would have never forgiven me if I broke another marriage pact. I was supposed to wed Theon Greyjoy but I managed to wriggle my way out that one too. Ser Loras, I long for adventure and I will not find any tied down to Renly… He is all yours."

She left the tent without another word. The sun was setting, sending its fading orange rays across the sea of tents. She doubled back towards the stands, only to find it practically devoid of souls par the servants that were clearing up. She resigned herself to the fact that she would not be able to see Sandor again today and returned to the tower of the Hand.

When she opened her door to her rooms she was met by Sansa and Arya, both perched on the end of her bed.

"Oh Tarynn! How is Renly?"

"He's fine, he'll recuperate in time. What are you doing here?"

"Father left rather urgently, he said he had business to take care of and told us to wait for you." Arya walked over to her, and gave her a gentle hug, "Will you come watch one of my lessons Tarynn? Syrio tells me that you would be a welcomed spectator. Please, please, father is too busy and I don't want Sansa there."

Tarynn reached down and affectionately stroked Arya's hair, "Of course I will… Now I bet you're both hungry, come, let's go order some food."

Tarynn took her sisters hands and ventured to the dining room, there she found a young girl stoking the fire, she gave her orders for their supper to be readied and sent to them. She also made a specific mention of lemon cakes.

When the servants brought up a couple of trays and platters of food and drink, Tarynn thanked them and sent them away, Sansa laughed.

"You're reminding me of mother Tarynn. It's funny."

Tarynn smiled, "Someone has to look after you rascals, especially since our father is no where to be seen. Now go on, I ordered the lemon cakes for you."

Arya reached for a bread roll and Sansa delicately arranged some lemon cakes onto her plate, "Have you seen Septa Mordane lately? She looks like she's swallowed something rotten and it's still haunting her."

Tarynn laughed and Sansa replied, "It might be because I don't need her anymore, the queen has been giving me lessons on etiquette instead."

Arya's face darkened and Tarynn reached out to sooth her baby sister. She knew where Arya's thoughts had gone, to Nymeria, Tome and poor Lady.

As the evening progressed Tarynn took charge of ensuring that her sisters went to bed at the correct times, and that the supper had been cleared away. By the time she had returned to her own rooms she was exhausted, and wanted nothing more then to cover herself in her bed covers and sleep... But she knew that she should go to the Godswood and pray for Renly's swift recovery, even though she was plotting against him.

She donned her cloak; the brown one that she had received from the small family that she had met in the alleyways of King's Landing and skulked down the stairs. Her heart beating fast whenever she thought she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Finally she reached the yard and moved swiftly towards the gate that led to the Godswood. It creaked when she pushed it open.

The ghostly pale heart tree seemed to glow when she approached it, she reached out, her fingers running over the smooth bark, her finger tips being stained by the red sap that leaked from its innards. She fell to her knees, her skirts splayed out around her, she fiddled with the grass as she made her prayers. Praying for everyone; her father and mother, her sisters and brothers. Renly, Loras, Even her bastard brother Jon who was now on the wall and starting his journey in becoming a brother of the black. Lastly she uttered a quick prayer for Sandor, asking her Gods for forgiveness for his actions.

A twig snapped and she stood quickly before facing the darkness that was threatening to creep in, she should have brought a candle.

"Who goes there," There was no answer, "Show yourself."

Her intruder did, he moved from the shadows and into the dim light of the moon, tall and dark. Silent. She breathed out a sigh of relief, but the anger still bubbled up inside her, threatening to overspill. She narrowed her eyes, and he returned her gaze without faltering.

"Tarynn, please allow me to explain."

"You almost killed him, a could of inches to the left and you would have punctured his lung. What on earth were you thinking?! You could have killed the King's favourite brother and then where would you be? Lining up for Ilyn Payne's chopping block no doubt. You are a fool, a great big idiot."

He looked down at the ground, he was angry at her, she could feel it coming off of him in waves but he didn't move to strike her or berate her. It was like he was trying to control his temper. Suddenly she very guilty, she moved towards him, reaching for his hand and holding it loosely. He looked up, his grey eyes burning into her soul, his burns an angry red. Flushed from the heat of the day and his rage. Gently she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

He took hold of her hand, pressing it up and against his chest. He was wearing a crude linen shirt and thick spun brown trousers, she shivered involuntarily when she felt him nuzzle her face and gently kiss the spot behind her ear. His voice was gruff and close.

"Will you forgive me? Irrational thought and anger made me want to take your little fucker of a betrothed out. "

She pulled away from him, her gaze lingered on his features, on his scraggly black hair, his nose. He wasn't handsome, far from, and she didn't entirely understand why she felt for him the way that she did. She walked away from him, crossing her arms and gazing at the bone white sentinel tree. Her voice was quiet when she responded.

"He won't be my betrothed for much longer… Plans have been made for Renly to find another. Ser Loras and I are working on making little Margaerey Tyrell to become his lawful wedded wife. I feel that she would be a much better fit then I to run Renly's household. Plus, Loras gets to remain at Renly's side. It's a win-win situation."

She turned to look over her shoulder, a seductive grin plastered onto her features. Sandor shook his head in disbelief, his unique grin stretching his scar.

"You, my love, are a genius."

She laughed, "It was a plan that came to me in the spur of the moment. Loras didn't want to loose his precious Renly, so the obvious tact would be to make Renly family… That poor sod, I can't help but feel that Renly tainted him. How young do you think they started?"

"To be honest wolf, I'd rather not think about what those two do under the sheets."

Tarynn laughed again before turning around fully to face him, "And what about you, what do you do under the sheets?" She threw him a flirtatious glance which caused the Hound to cough and splutter before looking down at the ground.

"It's true that I am no stranger to the wiles of women…"

"Oh very cryptic." She smiled softly, moving closer towards him and gentle caressing his scarred cheek, her voice dropping to barely a whisper. "It makes no difference to me who you have bedded in the past." He looked up at her, and kissed the tip of her nose, a surprisingly gentle move.

His voice was husky, "And I know that you are a stranger to… Intimate situations."

She smiled shyly, "Let's just say that I haven't had the opportunity to experience it yet…" She found herself leaning into him, his lips mashing against hers and drawing the breath out of her lungs. When they stopped for air, she placed her hands against his chest, "And I won't. Not yet."

Sandor gripped her arms, "Then I will wait. It makes no difference to me as long as I can hold you and protect you."

No one mentioned the ordeal from earlier, the spiteful words that were tossed at one another, but somehow the anger that they both felt only fueled the passion that they held for one another. Their meeting ended with passionate kissing beneath the boughs of the white sentinel which stood, ever watchful over the troubled couple.

The door creaked open and Tarynn sharply looked up closing the book that she was reading by the light of an candle. The shadow of someone entered her room before traversing to the foot of her bed, her breath hitched and she scrambled to get out of bed, her mouth open ready to scream.

The intruder spoke first, holding up a hand, "I am not here to harm you Lady Tarynn."

The voice sent a chill up her spine, she pulled the covers off her bed, hoping to regain some modesty.

"Ser Tobias… How dare you come into my rooms without permission?"

"I apologise for that slight but I had to come and see you, I want you to reconsider."

"There is nothing to reconsider; I want you to leave my rooms."

"If only you would…"

She turned to look at him, mustering all the hatred she could into one glare. "Leave. Now."

He turned, his hand on his sword hilt, but he still spoke as he crossed to the door, "I'm jousting your pet tomorrow, I would aim for his heart… If he had one."

He closed the door and Tarynn sighed, ice began to creep around her heart as Toby's parting words settled in.

What is it with everyone trying to kill each over in this city?

She blew out the candle and placed the Valyrian book onto her bedside table before sliding into the covers and shutting her eyes, soon sleep over took her.

The world blurred around her as her eyes opened, trees swayed in the breeze as she emerged in a clearing. Within it was a white orb, glowing and pulsating. Surrounding it were figures. Each one shrouded in black, their attentions fixed on the strange orb.

She stumbled towards one, pain was shooting through her leg, she looked down. Her legs were bare and a knife protruded from her left one, blood running down in rivulets. She tried to grip the hilt but her hand passed through it.

"Tarynn… Tarynn… Tarynn… Tarynn." The whisper resonated through her skull and she collapsed on the ground.

"Look at what they've done to us Tarynn, look at what they did. Guide us to the light Tarynn, reveal what they have hid."

The shrouded figures began to converge on her, their hoods melting into their faces before dripping off of them in thick black liquid. Staring at her were the faces of her loved ones. Her father's eyes were sunken and black, his hair matted, a gory line stretched across his neck, his head severed from his shoulders. Beside him was her mother, her face grey and mottled her hair white and brittle. She too had an open wound stretching across her neck. Three more stood with her father and mother. One had the body of a human, but the head of a wolf. The other two were badly burned, so burned that she could not discern who they were. She shuffled back her heart beating loud as they stretched out their arms towards her. Out of nowhere a figure on horseback burst into the clearing, slashing at the ghouls, he stopped in front of her, stretching out his hand to her. She took it and began to scream…

She woke up, cold sweat beading on her forehead as she pushed away the covers and toppled out of her bed and onto the floor. She was a mess, shaking, her teeth chattering. The room was black, she couldn't see anything. The dream still swirled around her mind, tugging at the corners of her conscience. Slowly she stood, and she heard the door swing open.

There was a crash and a gasp, "Lady Tarynn are you all right?" Hands guided her back to her bed and she sat down on the edge of it. "Stay here, I'm going to fetch the Maester." The voice left her shaking and shivering, her eyesight was gone and she was dazed. After a few moments, footsteps could be heard coming down the corridor along with muffled talking.

The door burst open again and there was the sound of someone tutting, "So this is what happens to her when she decides to forget to take her sleeping medicine. Yes, very curious." Someone forced her to look up by gripping her chin, "Oh my." Someone backed away from her, "Her eyes… They're… White. Pure white no irises or anything. She's blind."

There was another gasp, "I need to get Lord Stark."

Tarynn stood, her body moving of its own accord, her arms hanging loosely. Her head snapped up.

"What's the meaning of this, Maester Pycelle?"

"My Lord, your daughter, she seems to be…"

"Tarynn?"

The voice that emitted from Tarynn Stark's mouth was not her own, it was guttural and deep.

"People scheme against you. Plot to take away everything you hold dear. They'll take them, slit their throats, burn them, bury them under fallen towers and broken crowns. The wolves will fall, the city will burn, the truth will remain concealed. Life is fleeting, the end abrupt, for this world… It's… Corrupt."

Tarynn fell to the floor, a crumpled heap, strong arms enveloped her, lifting her off of the floor and onto the bed.

"You've seen this before?"

"Yes, only once. She had one of these… fits… a fair few weeks before a favourite servant died. She went blind and recited some cryptic message, when she wakes up, she never remembers a thing."

"I see. I've heard something about this, but I am no expert on the states of dreams or possessions. I can send a letter to one of my contemporaries if you like."

"Thank you Maester Pycelle. Please, could I have some milk of the poppy? She is still convulsing slightly."

"Of course."

When Tarynn woke up, her mind was numb and her limbs felt heavy; the after effects of milk of the poppy but she couldn't remember taking them. In fact she couldn't remember much beside a dream that continued to haunt her even with morning's rays trickling in through the windows. She sat up stretched and moved to the basin to splash her face with cold water, it revitalised her, opening her eyes wider and removing some of the sleepiness that still lingered.

She didn't know what the time was so she decided to just don a sleep robe and go to the kitchens, she was unusually hungry. She went down there bare footed, the kitchen tiles were cool beneath her feet. There was pile of freshly baked lemon cakes. She took one off the top and bit into it, savouring the warm, buttery texture.

There was a bang, and a couple of loud voices.

"I'm sorry ser we don't have any wine left."

"Fuck that, this is Robert's Keep now, there's always wine. He's as much a pisshead as I am. Now, let me into the wine cellar boy."

Tarynn crept to the door. There was the sound of the clinking of keys and impatient tapping of feet. She inched open the door and sure enough Sandor was looming over a young lad who was fiddling with a ring of keys. The wooden door that they were standing in front of swung inwards and Sandor pushed the boy out of the way.

"Don't worry, I won't drink it all. Now go on, scram."

The boy gave Sandor the stink eye before heading towards the door that Tarynn was standing behind, she pressed herself into a corner and waited. The boy passed, mumbling under his breath. When he was out of sight she moved to the door that led down to the wine cellar, Sandor had closed it behind him so she opened it and slipped inside.

The stone steps were like ice against her bare feet as she travelled deeper into the depths of the castle. When she reached the end of the stairs, a lone torch flickered in a bracket, casting light against rows and rows of barrels. A couple of bottles were scattered around as well. He stood in the corner, squinting at the labels, uncorking a couple and taking a swig of their contents before putting it down again. She cleared her throat.

"Look can't you see I'm very busy…" He turned to her, "Wolf what are you doing down here?"

She made a vague gesture with her arms, she felt light headed and peculiar, "I was hungry, I came to the kitchens and I heard your voice. I decided to come…" She staggered forward, "To come…" She fell but before she hit the ground Sandor was gathering her up in his arms.

"What? What's wrong with you? Tarynn? Tarynn can you hear me?"

She opened her eyes again, smiling weakly, "I'm fine, just weary that's all." She reached up, cupping his face. "Something happened last night, but for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. Only this strange dream…"

Sandor bent down, kissing her gently on the forehead.

She breathed out, "I'm worried Sandor, I keep on having these strange dreams."

She looked over the cellar, at the shadows creeping and pulsating, Sandor's voice was close to her ear.

"I know someone who may be able to help."

Tarynn remained clutched in Sandor's arms, the remnants of the curious dream still swirling along the peripheries of her mind.