Author's Note: Due to several people's comments, I have decided to continue with this story idea. Having given it a lot of thought, I have chosen a direction where the plot could head without making it a rehash of the old "SanSan hightail it out of KL and go to Riverrun/Winterfell/Vale together" thing. Not that there's anything wrong with those stories but I wanted to try something new. Took a lot of staring at a map and I'm still working up a tentative timeline so I may take a refuge in an AUness now and then, delaying some events for a little while. For this story's purpose, the first part took place after Joffrey had Sansa beaten for the Oxcross but before the bread riots.
Disclaimer: G.R.R. Martin is the mastermind behind the series. This is merely a fan venture, I stand to gain no profit from it.


The best lies are those closest to the truth, Sansa realized very soon.

"I hear you have recently taken up poetry writing," the Queen Regent was regarding Sansa with her beautiful green eyes, waiting for the slightest hint of uncertainty in the girl's behaviour.

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Why?"

Sansa tilted her head to the side thoughtfully.

"It is a way to pass time, Your Grace. There are not many things to occupy me and I find myself growing bored."

The Queen took a sip from her cup and then put it down, leaning forward to stare at Sansa. Sansa was startled to realize she was now as tall as the Queen and had no longer to look up at the golden-haired woman as she had before.

"Tell me, Sansa. What are your little poems about?"

"Flowers, Your Grace. And sunsets and nightingales. Silly little things, I'm afraid," Sansa confessed, looking down at her lap and at her fingers twisting nervously together.

"Silly little things you say. Well, you are still a child," the Queen smiled. "It shouldn't be long before you flower, though and become a woman."

Suppressing the stab of fear that had run through her at the thought, well aware what becoming a woman meant for her, Sansa nodded meekly.

"I know, Your Grace."

"The wedding would have to wait, of course, at least until the fighting is done. You are glad of that, aren't you?" the Queen had a mocking expression on her face, most likely expecting a stammered and insincere denial but Sansa surprised her.

"Yes, I'm glad of that, Your Grace," she agreed, looking the woman opposite her directly in the eye. The Queen frowned at this and picked up her cup again.

"Surprisingly honest of you, Sansa dear. Don't tell me you are growing a spine now of all times," the Queen laughed.

"No, Your Grace. It's just I'm not ready to be Joffrey's His Grace's," Sansa corrected herself, "wife. There are so many things I don't know yet, about being a Queen. His Grace says I'm stupid and he's right in a way. But I can learn what I need to know, given enough time."

The Queen hummed thoughtfully.

"You mean to tell me you actually want to marry my son and be a good wife and Queen to him?"

Sansa shook her head and smiled sadly.

"I am a highborn lady. My wants regarding marriage aren't important. I know my duty. It is a fate of all girls like me."

"You are right in that," the Queen agreed and for a moment, Sansa could see sympathy in her eyes. Sympathy and regret but it was gone almost as soon as it appeared and the Queen wore her inscrutable mask once more. Sansa lowered her head, more certain than ever that she didn't want any part of this the court life and betrothal to the King anymore. She just wanted to go home but for that, she needed to tread carefully. And she needed one thing above all.

"Your Grace? Would it be possible for me to be given an access to the library? I'd like to start studying as soon as possible."

"By all means, girl," the Queen waved her request off as unimportant. "Shut yourself off with all those dusty books if you wish."

"Thank you, Your Grace," Sansa stood up, smoothing her skirts down. "I shall take my leave, then, with your permission."

She dropped into a curtsey, her court manners impeccable as usual but the Queen was already ignoring her, pouring herself another cup of wine. Sansa allowed herself a smile as she walked out of the room and she greeted her escort for the day pleasantly.

"Good day, Ser Arys."

"My lady," Ser Arys Oakheart gave a small bow before offering her an arm. Sansa liked Ser Arys and his pleasant manners but she didn't trust him any more than she did most of his other Sworn Brothers of the Kingsguard. He was, after all, loyal to the King and giving a token protest at her behalf accounted for nothing in the end for the result was the same for her. But he liked gossip and Sansa could use him as a source of information. She was starting to realize that men liked to talk to pretty women and the shallower the women seemed, the more the men felt comfortable revealing to them.

"I wonder how long the war will go on," Sansa sighed and Ser Arys hastened to reassure her as she knew he would.

"Certainly not for long, my lady. Lord Tywin will have the Northerners on the run soon."

"But my traitor brother is ravaging the Westerlands, I hear," Sansa pointed out.

"But he has limited supply lines, my lady. If he has any sense, he will pull back to Riverlands soon."

"Oh," Sansa intoned. "I hope you are right. But what about Lord Stannis? The rumours say that he will attack King's Landing directly."

"The city was built to withstand a siege, my lady, have no fear. Lord Stannis will not take it."

"And when was the last time you were in a besieged city, Oakheart?" the rough, growling voice of the Hound came from behind them and Sansa felt as Ser Arys' arm jerked in surprise. She was startled herself, even though she had observed before that the Hound could move very quietly for a man of his size.

"You startled me, Ser," Ser Arys started saying but the Hound interrupted him rudely.

"Some guard you are, you and your Sers," he snorted. "The Imp's been looking for you. Some important business he said."

"Ah, but Lady Sansa..." Ser Arys glanced at her and she smiled sweetly up at him.

"Don't worry, Ser. I'm sure your Sworn Brother will escort me in your stead. The Hand of the King has a need of you, that takes precedence over the likes of me."

"As my lady wishes," Ser Arys bowed to her and strode off, his white cloak billowing behind him. Sansa watched him go and then turned to the Hound.

"Shall we go, my lord?"

"I don't know which is worse their Sers or your lords," the Hound rasped and Sansa shrugged elegantly before starting walking.

"What else should I call you then?"

"What everyone calls me, little bird."

"I couldn't," Sansa shook her head. "It wouldn't be polite."

"I don't mind," he pointed out but Sansa was determined.

"I do. So you will have to deal with it," she stated and glanced up at him to gauge his reaction. The burnt side of his mouth twitched before it settled into its usual impassivity.

"It seems so, little bird," he glanced at their surroundings. "Where are you going, anyway?"

"To the library. I need to study."

"Do you now?"

Sansa took a deep breath. If there was anyone in the city she felt she could trust, it was him. He had been unfailingly honest with her and he appeared to feel compassion for her. He might be willing to help her because she knew she wouldn't be able to pull off her plan on her own, even if the plan was still only a little more than just a vague idea in the back of her mind.

"You said once a dog would never lie to you. Is that true?"

He glanced down at her, hearing this non-sequitur but Sansa kept her gaze on her feet, not daring to raise them to see his expression. Not yet.

"It's true," he confirmed and Sansa felt like her heart would flutter out of her chest from her daring.

"The bird is ready to turn into a wolf and run away but she needs help," she spoke, knowing he would understand. "Will the dog help her?"

There was a long silence before the Hound let out a ragged breath of his own.

"Yes, he will."

"Thank you," she whispered, her lips spreading into a wide smile. They walked in silence after that, both of them immersed in thoughts of what they had just agreed on until they reached the library. It was empty save for a scribe who was copying some manuscript down and at Sansa's quietly spoken inquiry directed them towards the back of the room.

"Maps, little bird?" the Hound asked when Sansa started pulling out the big rolls and spreading them on a nearby table. "Very obvious."

"A Queen should be familiar with her lands," Sansa retorted as she looked at the parchment in front of her. The mass of lines and colours held no meaning for her and she suddenly realized that her education as a lady left out reading of the maps. Her distress must have shown on her face because the Hound glanced first at her and then at the map and let out a grating, unpleasant bark of laughter.

"Can't read the map, little bird?"

"No," she admitted before looking pleadingly at him. "Could you explain it to me?"

He didn't look very happy about her request but he came to stand next to her and started pointing at the map.

"This is the map of Westerlands. Casterly Rock is here," he pointed to a symbol of a seven-pointed star with a tiny writing next to it. "This brown line is the River Road. This is the Gold Road. Blue lines are rivers Blackwater Rush, Red Fork and so on. Grey areas are mountains, green ones are woods. These small symbols show keeps and castles and towns. Do you understand?"

Sansa was trying to absorb it all, looking intently down. She pointed to one place after reading the legend next to it.

"This is Oxcross, isn't it?"

"Yes, little bird. That is Oxcross."

Sansa shifted uncomfortably. It took a better part of a week for the pain to go away after Joffrey had her beaten for Robb's victory in that place. And here it was, reduced to a small speck on the map which she could easily cover with one of her fingertips.

"Where is Riverrun?" she asked and the Hound rolled up that map and spread out another.

"Riverrun is here, where Tumblestone and Red Fork come together."

"And King's Landing?"

"Here."

"It's so far," Sansa whispered. But she couldn't feel discouraged. Her journey was going to be longer still. "I'll need to copy that and mark down the inns and towns."

"So they can find out about your little plan?" the Hound snorted. "I thought you were smarter than that."

"I want them to find the map, half-burnt in the hearth of my room," Sansa smiled because she was sure she was going to impress him with this part of her plan. "When I disappear, they will immediately assume I'm trying to get to my family as soon as I can. And when they find the burnt map which clearly marks the road I was intending to take, they will focus their search there."

"A diversion," the Hound said in understanding. When he looked at her, Sansa could have sworn there was an admiration in his gaze. "Now that is smart of you, little bird. And where will you fly off while everyone is looking for you between here and Riverrun?"

"Essos," Sansa spoke the name reverently. "I won't escape by land because that's what everyone will expect of me. I will board a ship to Pentos or Braavos or Myr or some other of the Free Cities. And I will make my way home by sea, to White Harbor, perhaps. Lord Manderly is a devoted bannerman of Starks. He will help me get back to Winterfell. I will be safe there."

"How will you secure a ship, though? One word in wrong ear and you'll be found out."

Sansa rolled up the map and put it away before looking up at him.

"That's why I will need your help. I won't secure a ship beforehand. When the time is right, we will snuck out of the Red Keep, go down to the harbour, find the next ship leaving for Essos and board it right before it sets sail. There won't be time for them to betray me."

"And you think a captain will just accept a new passenger?"

"Two passengers," Sansa corrected. "And yes, he will if one of them is you."

"So you meant it when you said you would take me with you," he spoke slowly, looking at her intently. Sansa looked down.

"You are the only person I can trust."

"Little bird," he sighed before he tipped her chin up to make her look at him. "You're going to put your faith in a dog like me? Truly?"

"Yes, I am," she kept her eyes on his and he was the first to look away.

"Foolish little bird," he let go of her face. "What about money? You'll have to pay your passage in some way."

"I have my jewels. They can be sold."

"You have thought of everything, little bird, haven't you?"

Sansa smiled at the veiled praise and started cleaning the table. She would come back later with a quill and a parchment and copy the maps she needed but that could be easily done another day. She had already made a considerable progress with her escape plan. And the Hound had said he would go with her. She knew he would keep her safe. Now all that was needed was to wait for the right moment. But Sansa had learned to be patient. A couple of weeks would make no difference, now that the freedom was so tantalazingly close.