Sansa squinted in the bright sunlight as Sametyr drug her out of the house, his hand clutching her arm tightly. She pulled against his grasp, struggling to free herself but he was too strong. Using her free hand, Sansa raked her nails across his arm, digging in deep. Sametyr stopped, anger darkening his eyes even more.
In one swift motion, he lifted his left hand and slapped her. Her head snapped to the side, her hair flying out like flames licking at the sky. The memories of Joffery's kingsguard striking her filling her mind as she pushed her hair back.
Sansa lifted her head, gazing coolly at him with icy eyes. A dribble of blood ran down her lip, staining the porcelain skin beneath it. She made no move to wipe it away, instead she watched Sametyr's jaw muscles flexed angrily as he stared at her. With a curse, the man yanked her forward, intent on proceeding in his hunt.
"Let the girl go and just maybe I won't kill you where you stand." The sound of the Hound's voice stopped Sametyr in his tracks. He slowly turned to face the Hound, a frigid grin appearing on his face.
"I was looking for you, dog." He sneered, his hold on Sansa tightening. "Not a very good husband, leaving your pretty little wife all alone out here."
The Hound's eye quickly flicked to the blood on Sansa's chin and back to the man's dark face. He saw the fury in Sametyr's eye and knew the man was trying to bait him. He resisted glancing at Sansa again, instead waiting silently for the man to continue his taunts.
"You're lucky I came along, neighbor, or your sweet wife could have had a terrible accident." Sametyr pulled Sansa closer to him, wrapping his arm around her waist as she struggled.
"She is your wife, isn't she?" His eyes narrowing as he spoke. "Or is she just your plaything?"
"Enough." The Hound spat through gritted teeth. "Or I will kill you where you stand, whether or not you let her go."
Sansa had stopped struggling, her eyes focusing on the Hound's armor. "Let me go." She whispered, her voice calm despite the panic she felt. "Let me go or he will kill you."
Sametyr leered at her, twining her hair around his fingers. "I don't believe you." He breathed into her ear, his face splitting into a cat-like grin.
A crunching sound filled her ears, her head being yanked to the side as Sametyr fell backwards, his fingers still entwined in her hair. She cried out as she felt the hair being tore from her scalp, certain that she was bleeding profusely.
The Hound stood above the injured man, his sword drawn. Sametyr cowered before him, curling up as he clutched at his bloodied nose.
"I told you to let go of the girl." The Hound snarled. "And I warned you what I would do."
He raised his sword but Sansa reached out, gently touching his shoulder. "You're not a killer." She mumured, not daring to look at his face. She felt his arm lowering and she pulled her hand away, hugging herself as she watched him step back.
"Get off my land and don't ever show your face here again." He spoke from between clenched teeth, watching iwth stormy eyes as Sametyr crawling. Once the man was a safe enough distance away, he turned to Sansa.
"Are you alright?" He asked, gently lifting her chin to examine her swollen lips.
"I'm fine." She said, smiling up at him as she wiped the blood from her chin. "I've had worse beatings."
His face hardened as he withdrew his hand, stepping away as she turned towards the house.
"And what if that swine decides to come back?" His harsh voice rang out behind her. Pausing at the threshold, Sansa paused. Taking a breath, she gripped the door frame to steady herself, careful to not let him see her shaking hand.
"Then you kill him." She stated coolly before entering the house.
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Sansa bent over her sewing, hands still slightly shaking from the morning ordeal. She set aside the pants she was sewing, flexing her stiff fingers before rising from her chair. She wandered outside into the bright sun, shading her eyes as she wandered among the fields, running her hands across the flowers and grass.
She caught sight of the Hound fixing up the stable, the horse whinnying as he worked. A shudder went through her as she thought of what would have happened if he hadn't been close by. Slowly she made her way towards the stable. The horse stuck his nose out, nickering as she approached. She grinned at him, rubbing his nose softly.
The Hound didn't look up, busying himself with repairing the side of the stable where the wood was beginning to rot away. The horse nudged her hand, watching her with his large chocolate eyes as she patted his soft mane.
"Surprised you haven't given him a name yet." She glanced over at the Hound as he smirked at her. "On account of you not wanting to eat him."
"Oh, but I have given him a name." She replied, her face impassive as he looked at her in surprise. "I named him 'Ser'." She turned to walk out, a smile forming on her lips as she listened to him cursing.
Returning to the house, she sat down before her sewing, determined to finish it before the day was out. Taking it up, she began to stitch, her hair a fiery curtain from the sunlight as her needle darted in and out of the fabric. Finishing up the final stitch on the left leg pants, she flipped them over, grinning as she imagined the finished product. With a renewed energy, she quickly stared on the right leg, quietly humming as she worked.
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Sansa folded the clothes, setting aside her needle as she stretched her sore muscles, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. A sound at the door caused her to turn, her smile growing bigger as the Hound walked in, sweat drenching his shirt. She stood, picking up the bundle of clothes.
"Find a place out back to wash yourself." She said as she handed him the clothes. "I'll start dinner and we can eat out under the stars, just like before."
"Why?" The Hound asked, staring down at the clothes with wary eyes.
"What do you mean 'why'?" She asked, her brows puckering as she watched him gently touch the fabric.
"Why did you make these for me?" He asked, an astonished edge to his voice.
"Because you needed a new set of clothes. You've been wearing the same ones for months now." She replied. "Do you not like them?"
"I've never had anything so fine." He muttered as he examined the stitching. "I can't take them, I'll just ruin all your pretty stitches when I'm working outside." He offered them back to her but she shook her head, her heart softening.
"Please take them. It doesn't matter if you ruin them, that is what they're for." She wet her dry lips before continuing. "Now, if you don't mind, I really should get dinner started." She ducked her head, slipping past his hulking form out the door, desperately trying to keep her face hidden.
Sansa heard him walking out towards the stable and she lifted her hand to her mouth as the enormity of his revelation hit her. No one has ever truly been kind to him. She had realized before that he'd led a hard life but to have no one ever show even a shred of kindness...that was unforgivable.
Moving her hand to her chest, Sansa slowly breathed, calming herself and clearing her mind of any pity she might be feeling in that moment. The setting sun stretched across the fields, setting them ablaze with it's light. He will never know unkindness from me, not anymore.