The Hound sat down on the floor facing the door while Sansa curled up on the bed. It still felt strange to no longer be in constant motion. She still felt like she was bobbing up and down on the ship when she was perfectly still. Not that there had been much time for that today...
They had walked pretty much all day, only stopping to negotiate for a horse before reaching the eastern gate of Pentos. The Hound had gotten them a room at the nearest tavern, leaving Sansa alone in the room while he seen to other matters. When he came back, he brought supper for them to eat in their room, away from prying eyes.
Rolling onto her back, she studied the ceiling in the dimming light, trying to relax. Suddenly, an image of Robb's body filled her mind. Squeezing her eyes shut, she praying for it to go away, that the nightmares wouldn't come tonight. The hollow ache filled her again and she rolled back onto her side, curling up tightly.
Tears slipped down her face, wetting the pillow. A quiet sob escaped her lips and she shoved her face deeper into the pillow, giving way to the grief that welled up inside her. Her body shook as she sobbed, until she finally fell asleep.
The Hound moved slowly to the bed, gently brushing aside her hair as she slept. He wiped away a tear from her cheek, pulling the blanket up over her before settling back into his post for the night.
The sweet singing of birds woke Sansa, the warm light filtering through the high window. She blinked slowly, the nightmares dissipating in the morning light.
"Hungry, little bird?" The Hound spoke softly, watching her from across the room. Slowly she nodded, pulling the blanket closer around her. He grinned slightly before leaving the room.
Once the door closed, Sansa slipped out from the bed, dressing as quickly as possible. She smoothed back her hair, washing her face in the basin that stood in the corner. After a moment, the door opened and the Hound reappeared. He set down a plate and two mugs, before tossing aside a package he carried under his arm. He settled into a chair.
"Eat up, girl. We've got to get moving." He drank deeply, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
"Where are we going? It looks like desert beyond the city gates." She picked at a piece of bread, uneasiness once again filling her.
"There's places further inland that aren't so dry. Or so I've been told." He bit off a chunk of bread, chewing slowly. He swallowed and then drained his mug, standing up. "We best be going."
Sansa dusted the crumbs from her fingertips, rising quickly. The Hound grabbed the package he'd brought in with him and handed it to her.
"That dress isn't fit for riding in anymore. You'd best change, girl." She looked at him in amazement before slowly opening the brown paper as he stepped outside. Wrapped inside was not only a new frock but a new shift as well. Quickly she slipped out of her old clothes, relishing the smoothness of the new shift as she pulled it over her skin. She hurriedly slipped into the blue dress before opening the door.
The Hound stood outside, smiling down approvingly at her. Sansa felt her cheeks flush but she held her head steady as she stepped out the door. His gaze flickered to the cloak she clutched in her hands and the smile disappeared. He led her outside to where the horse was waiting, saddled.
He mounted, helping her up into the saddle. They rode through the gate, keeping a steady pace as they followed a well-worn path. The only time they stopped to water the horse, riding until dusk fell and they found a place to camp.
Already the desert was giving way to tall grass. The Hound cleared a small space, tying the horse close by. He used the grass to make a bed for Sansa. She lay the cloak down before sitting, looking up at the star filled sky.
The Hound sat down across from her, holding out the water skin to her. She took it and drank slowly, watching his face closely.
"When we get where wherever it is we're going, what are we going to do there?" She asked, handing back the skin.
"Cheese is the biggest export here." He drank, wiping his mouth before continuing. "Maybe we'll get you a few cows, a small farm...something that will keep us out of the public eye."
"You're staying, then?" She lowered her eyes, afraid of what she'd see in his.
"You ask too many question." His voice was sharp in the silence. He took another drink before leaning back. "Go to sleep now, girl, we have to get an early start."
Sansa lay back, her heart full of emotion. She knew that the nightmares would come just like they had every night since the Twins. It would be a long time before the horror stopped. So instead of trying to sleep, she examined the stars, looking for any that might look familiar.
Arya would have known which constellations to look for. The thought tore at her heart as she wondered what had happened to her sister. She closed her eyes, picturing her little sister, so brave and full of spirit. She remembered that last day, Arya practicing with her dancing master and she had been with her septa when the soldiers had come. That had been the last day she'd seen her...
Another memory flashed - Arya sitting at the table in their house in King's Landing. She was stabbing the table with a knife, saying she was practicing for killing Joffery. Stab! Stab! Stab! The table morphed into a body - her mother's body! She was being stabbed repeatedly by men who had called themselves their friends.
Rob lay a few feet away, barely breathing as a man lifted his sword high over his head. Sansa screamed, fighting against an unseen force. She tried to run to him, to stop the man from killing him but she couldn't move. The man held Robb's head up, blood splattering all over the ground as they drag his lifeless body outside. She knew what thy were planning to do now and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She screamed again, sobbing as she fought to get free.
Suddnly, the Hound's scarred face loomed above her. Sweat trickled down her back as she struggled in his grip, clawing at him. She struck out a him, barely missing his face with her wild swing. He forced his arms around her, holding her tightly against his chest. Sansa sobbed, burying her head into his shoulder as the nightmares slipped away in the darkness.
"Hush now, little bird, you're alright now." He murmured into her ear, smoothing back her hair as her body shook violently. "It was just a nightmare."