Sandor stared at her in stunned silence. The last two days had been such a whirlwind of emotions that he was still trying to convince himself this was real. That he had actually done it, that he saved her. Well, in truth he'd done nothing, it was all Bronn. He could live a thousand lifetimes and never be able to repay that debt, but it didn't matter because she was here, safe and whole.
'"Sand?" She said curiously cocking her head to the side and smiling.
"Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't a marriage traditionally supposed to be proposed by the man?" He finally said.
"Fuck that." She said cheerfully, "Since when have we done anything traditionally? And besides, I've already asked so it's done. Are you going to marry me or not?"
"I don't want you to marry me to try to prove something to some fucking bitches that don't matter." He said running a hand down her shoulder, "I want to marry you when we know it's right."
"You think I'd ask just to make a statement?" She said, "the fact that it will send a nice big fuck you to the Sand Snakes is definitely a perk, but I want to marry you Sandor Clegane because you are my best friend. Because I just spent one week away from you and it became crystal clear within hours that I am so god damned in love with you that I can't think straight if you aren't beside me, and tonight I had to face the very real possibility that I might never see you again. You are the most fucking amazing person I have ever known and the idea of being your wife, of knowing that I am yours forever makes me more fucking excited and honored than I have the words to express. So how about it?
"Of course I'll fucking marry you." He said and he pulled her down on top of him to kiss her.
He knew he could never get tired of this. The feel of her impossibly soft skin, the way her hair fell around her face. The way she would bite his lip as she kissed him making him instantly ready every time. His hand found it's way to her hip as he guided her down on top of him and relished the soft sigh the escaped her lips.
"I love you." He whispered, his lips against her breast bone. He sat up pulling her against him and she wrapped her legs around his waist. She dug her fingers into his hair pulling hard and he growled with pleasure.
"So you want to go get a septon, or should I?" She breathed against his ear.
Sandor stopped and leaned back to look at her.
"What you mean you want to get married now?" He asked incredulously.
"Well...not this very minute..." she said coyly rolling her hips forward, and making him bite his lip at the sensation, "I think we can finish our current activity, and pick more proper attire, but then yes. I want to get married. I don't want to wake up to one more morning that I'm not your wife."
--
Sandor was walking back up the street towards the inn with a little balding man in plain grey robes following behind them. Tess had directed him to a house three doors down from the inn where she knew a septon resided. She had explained that he was usually drunk and mostly did blessings for new children and performed burial rights, but he was legitimate and could easily perform a marriage. When he walked back into the inn he saw that Sam was in the process of pushing the last of the tables to the side and making space in the center of the room. Tess had asked the three of them Sam, Gilly, and Elle to stand as their witnesses. Nothing says official wedding like having it witnessed by the Grand Maester, Sandor thought to himself.
"They'll be down in a moment." Sam told him, "They got a look in that box you brought and Elle flat out refused to let Tess get married without wearing one of the dresses, and then of course Gilly wanted to do her hair...you know how these things go. Is there anything else you can think of that you need?"
Sam was always a very thoughtful person, it was probably what made him such a good maester. It was his nature to want to serve and care for others.
"There's just one thing." Sandor said, "but it's in Tess's room. I guess it's our room now actually, and I'm sure she doesn't want me in there while she's getting ready."
"No worries there." Sam said, "they moved her to Elle's room in case you wanted to change as well." He explained.
Sandor looked down at the rumpled jacket he'd been wearing since they left Dorne two full days earlier. Now that Sam mentioned it, changing seemed like it might be a good idea. He went up the stairs and heard the women laughing and talking softly. He stepped into the room that he shared with Tess and opened the small trunk he'd placed in the corner that held all his belongings. He pulled out a plain pair of britches and the black leather over coat he'd worn at Casterly Rock. He knew Tess liked that one. He quickly changed his clothing and then dug into the bottom of the trunk to find the item he'd originally come upstairs for. As he walked back out Elle was coming out of the doorway of her room.
"Looking very stately Lord Commander." She said smiling, "we're ready when you are."
He nodded to her and walked back down the stairs. The septon had centered himself in front of the fireplace so Sandor went to stand beside, Sam took a spot on one of the stools by the bar and they waited. After another minute or so Gilly poked her head around the kitchen door into the room smiling.
"Are we ready?" She asked, and Sandor nodded.
Gilly's head disappeared and then Tess stepped out into the room. Sandor felt as though his heart had actually stopped beating. It's strange, he thought, when you realize you are experiencing one of the moments that you will remember for the rest of your life. Tess was wearing the dark blue velvet dress he'd bought her and it fit her perfectly. Her hair was half up, pulled back from her face with intricately entwined braids, but cascading down her back like a waterfall. She wasn't just beautiful, or even perfect, the words hadn't been created that could describe her. Fuck Cersei, fuck Daenerys, even Sansa...Tess was the most exquisite woman that had ever existed, she was a queen, she was his queen. She walked over to him, her face alight with happiness.
"Damn you look good." She said, slipping her hand in his. The septon gave a small start and looked at her in surprise, but neither of them paid him any attention. He cleared his throat and began the ceremony.
"Who comes today, in the sight of the seven to be joined?" He asked.
"Sandor of the House Clegane." He said.
"Tessalynda of the House Merryweather." She never took her eyes from his as she spoke.
"Sandor of House Clegane." Said the septon, "you may now cloak your bride, and bring her under your protection."
Sandor reached to the table behind him and picked up his family cloak, when he'd rescued it from Clegane Keep he could have never imagined using it in a moment like this. Tess turned so he could place it around her shoulders.
"No one will ever fucking touch you again, I swear it." He whispered against her ear, and she smiled.
"We stand here in the sight of gods and men." The septon continued, "to witness the union of man and wife: one flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever."
There was a burning spreading through Sandor's chest at his words. As he looked into the face of the only person who had ever truly known him, the only person who ever loved him exactly as he was. He didn't need the words to make it real. Their hearts and souls had always been one, it had just taken him a lifetime to find her, the half of him that had been missing.
The septon reached out and wrapped their entwined hands with a piece of white cloth tying it tightly with a knot.
"Let it be known that Tessalynda of the House Merryweather and Sandor of the House Clegane are one heart, one flesh, one soul. Cursed be he who would seek to tear them asunder. In the sight of the Seven, I nearby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity. Look upon each other, and say the words."
Sandor looked down into the face of his bride, her eyes were filled with happy tears. They spoke together.
"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger. I am hers and she is mine from this day until the end of my days."
"...I am his and he is mine from this day until the end of my days." Tess echoed. He placed his hand on her cheek.
"With this kiss, I pledge my love." He said softly, and he leaned down to kiss his wife for the first time to the cheers of their friends.
--
Sandor lay quietly in their bed the next morning simply watching his wife sleeping peacefully on her stomach beside him. His wife, no matter how many times he said it or thought it he couldn't make it seem real. He'd seen the Lords and Ladies of court for years on end, he'd seen the King and Queen and their farce of a marriage. There had been a few that stood out as seeming generally happy, but for the most part marriage had always seemed like a prison that men were forever trying to break free of and women were trapped in, growing more bitter as the years passed. He had no idea how he'd ended up this lucky. No man who had known him back in his day would believe that Sandor Clegane could be here, in a respected position in the city with men under his command who admired and trusted him, and now...He reached over and brushed aside a strand of hair covered Tess's face. He had a fucking beautiful wife that adored him. He'd known since the first time he'd held her in his arms that Tess was his completely and she would never leave him, but knowing she was his now officially not only in his eyes but in the eyes of the world, filled him with pride and hope. They were each others family now, and they would build a future together. She stirred slightly and looked up at him sleepily.
"Good morning my lady wife." He said running a hand down her spine. She sighed softly, smiled, and closed her eyes again.
"Say it again." She said happily. He leaned over and brushed the hair from her neck.
"My beautiful, fierce, exquisite, lady wife." He punctuated each word with a slow kiss, working his way down her back, letting his tongue gently brush along her skin. He loved the taste of her.
"It seems I'm going to need to be more well rested if I'm to keep up with the appetites of my husband." Tess teased.
Sandor moved so he was over top of her and brought her arm wrapping her hand behind his neck. She pulled his face down, and he buried his head in her hair biting her softly on the nape of her neck. She arched her back pressing herself against him. He grabbed her hips pulling her in closer. He had no idea how he'd ever thought there could anything better than this. Being with Tess, feeling the way her body reacted to his, the way they fit perfectly was beyond anything he'd ever experienced.
"Well at least there will be no question of how thoroughly my Lord husband bedded me on our wedding night." She murmured, and he chuckled in appreciation.
It took them some time to finally emerge from their room to face the day. Sandor was happy to see that in only a day the cuts that cunt Dorea had left on Tess were already starting to scab over. Sam had said they would most likely leave very minimal scars if any, and he was glad of it, for Tess's sake. No scar could have ever lessened her beauty in his eyes.
"Ah well if it isn't the Lord and Lady Clegane." Said Elle happily as they came into the kitchen.
"Oooooo I love the sound of that!" Tess replied in the same happy tone, "I can already tell this wife business is going to suit me quite well."
Tess walked over and picked up piece of toast off a tray by the oven and started eating it.
"The events of yesterday. Well...not all the events of yesterday, but the ones with the Sand Snakes. Have spread around the city. Your Gold Cloaks have sent word. They said to tell you that they are very glad to hear that Lady Tess is safe, and they insist you take the day with her. They assure me that they have the city well in hand." Elle explained.
"I don't need to be told twice." Sandor said, wrapping his arms around Tess.
They spent the better part of the afternoon simply relaxing and enjoying each others company. Sandor reset the main room from their previous evening Tess helped Elle with preparing the evening meal. They even got in a bit of sparring on the back balcony. Sandor had originally been against it but Tess had reminded him that Sam had told her the night before that she would be fine to resume regular activity the following day, and he couldn't resist an opportunity to watch her fight. She was so god damn sexy when she did, and he knew there was a part of her that needed to feel powerful and in control after what had happened. Sandor could see it...how this could be his life. Spending days in the city doing his work and coming back here to his wife each night, and someday maybe even his children. Around sunset they went inside so Tess could get ready to open the gates for the evening. It was a hectic and chaotic night from the start. With the story of Tess's near brush with death spreading through the city it seemed there was no end to the number of patrons who wanted to hug her and tell her how happy they were that she was alright. She is well loved, this wife of mine. Sandor thought to himself with pride. As was often the case it took her over an hour to have enough of a break to sit down at the table with them. She shot him a nervous look as she did. They'd decided to tell their friends that evening, but he knew she was nervous they would be angry they'd not been included.
"I know you've heard it a million times already tonight." Tyrion said, "but I would like to raise a toast. To Tessalynda Merryweather, my dearest friend and companion and without whom this world would be a much darker place. To Tess."
"To Tess!" He Brienne, Bronn, and Podrick echoed.
"Thank you." Tess said, "but there is one part of that toast that I have to take issue with." Sandor squeezed her hand encouragingly.
"I have to let you know...that my name isn't Tessalynda Merryweather anymore."
Brienne set her mug down hard, looking from Tess to him and back, a knowing smile creeping onto her face.
"As of last night. I'm the Lady Tessalynda of House Clegane." She said. The other three sat there in stunned silence while Brienne grinned from ear to ear.
"No you fucking didn't..." said Bronn shaking his head and smiling.
"Oh yes we fucking did..." Tess responded, "and we're sorry you weren't there. It was very spur of the moment. We just grabbed the drunk septon from down the street and got it done. Please don't take it as a slight on any of you. You know we adore you."
"Of course we do." Tyrion assured her, "but this is a huge moment in your lives! It should be celebrated. Let us throw you a wedding feast!"
"We're already married." Sandor pointed out.
"Alright then a marriage feast. Let us celebrate the fact that two people we love have tied their lives together. It's an enormous achievement. Especially for you Clegane, and you best not deny it." Tyrion said.
"Oh I'm not denying it." Sandor agreed casually. Tess turned to look at him with her playful smile.
"I don't know...it might be fun to have a feast. Get to buy you some fine groom's gifts. Make you dance with me." She teased.
"If you think you're going to get me to dance at a wedding feast, even ours, you will have an enormous achievement." He said to her.
"We'll have to wait for Gendry and Davos to get back in a few weeks. If we have it without them they'll never forgive us.' Brienne pointed out.
"That gives us plenty of time to plan a proper party." Said Tyrion.
"Well I say we start the party now." Said Podrick, and without warning he jumped up on the table and shouted into the overly crowded inn, "Oi you lot!" The majority of the heads turned, "Just thought you all might want to know this inn is under new ownership! It is now owned by the Lady Tess of House Clegane!"
It took a minute for the meaning of his words to register but then the entire establishment erupted into cheers, and Sandor and Tess spent the rest of the evening receiving hugs and handshakes.