Content notices: language, mentions of past physical abuse


The three of them took dinner in Sansa's room, the fare being much less exotic than Sansa had expected. Then again, the inn catered to Westerosi men arrived for trade or other purposes and after a near fortnight on the sea, Sansa preferred to eat things she was familiar with.

It would be bad manners to try and talk while eating and Sansa didn't want to inquire too much into Ser Barristan's reasons for being in Tyrosh. Truth be told, until she had recognized him in the side street where he had followed her and the Hound, she had not even contemplated the possibility of meeting him again. When King Robert had still been alive and Ser Barristan had served as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, she had had only a very limited contact with him. He had been courteous enough if he had happened to pass her in the halls but after that last time she had seen him, the time when Cersei and Jofrey had dismissed him from the Kingsguard, she had not given much thoughts to his whereabouts, more concerned about her father's situation. And after her father's execution and with how Joffrey had utilized his control over the Kingsguard, she had had few thoughts to spare for their former Commander.

Still,she thought as she watched the old knight sitting opposite her, I am sure that he would not have hit me were he still the Lord Commander and he would stop the others as well. Her father had held Ser Barristan in the highest esteem, as a man of his honour and Sansa had learned in the past months how rare such men truly were.

Once the dishes were taken away and only the wine remained, Sansa dismissed all attendants, unconsciously falling back on her training. Even with only two other people as her company, she behaved like a lady of the house. Or lady of the room as was the case.

"Thank you for the dinner, my lady," Ser Barristan spoke up first and Sansa accepted the thanks with a simple nod. "Let me speak my condolences first before we talk any further. Your father was a good man and what the Boy King did to him was dishonourable."

Sansa hadn't expected that but she didn't let her surprise nor her sudden tears show.

"Thank you, you are very kind to say so, but my father was a-" Sansa stopped herself before completing her learned speech. For so long she had been saying things about her father and mother and brother being traitors that she had almost started to believe it herself. But that wasn't necessary any longer, was it? She was free of Joffrey, free of the court intrigues and she could speak the truth again without a fear of reprisal. "My father was a good and just man who died for his beliefs," she said in a strong voice. "Joffrey is not the rightful King and my brother and mother are not traitors for fighting against him."

Ser Barristan stared at her for a moment, surprised at her outburst but the Hound who had been silent all through the dinner laughed outloud.

"Feels good to speak the truth for once, doesn't it, little wolf?"

"Yes, it does," she agreed before adding, "Especially when I know I will not be punished for it."

"Punished?" Ser Barristan echoed, looking between Sansa and the Hound. "What do you mean by that, my lady?"

But it was the Hound who answered as he leaned forward, poured himself a cup and took a sip.

"Did you know that they gave me your spot, Selmy?"

"I heard about it," the old knight said frostily, making the other man grin.

"Aye, and it rubs you the wrong way, I bet. A dog like me, without the fancy ser before his name getting to wear that pretty white cloak. I didn't even take the bloody vows, not like the rest of those fuckers."

"Watch your mouth, Clegane, a lady is present!"

Sansa sighed. Why would she have thought this would end well? She didn't really mind Sandor Clegane's language. It was rough and crude at times, just like him, but his honesty more than made up for it, after all the lies she had both told and listened to.

"My lords, please," she appealed to them. "I do not want you to quarrel."

Both of the men who looked about ready to leap at each other's throats backed down. The Hound filled his cup again and Ser Barristan finally took a taste from his.

"My apologies, Lady Stark," he said before looking at the Hound again. "I cannot help but find it strange that you are in this man's company and so far away from King's Landing."

"Yes, I imagine it does appear strange," Sansa agreed. "But Sandor Clegane has been instrumental in my escape plan and has done everything in his power to protect me, not just during our journey here but before that as well. And in my opinion," she added, strangely galled by Ser Barristan's doubtful look, "He might not be a knight in name but he is one in truth."

That procclamation sent the man in question choking on his wine.

"What in the seven hells?!" he sputtered, looking far more disturbed than Sansa had ever seen him. It would have been almost funny if not for the fury slowly edging into his eyes. "I thought you have grown out of your stories, girl. Don't make me into something I'm not just so I'll fit into your stupid fairy tale."

"But I did not mean any offense," Sansa protested. She noticed Ser Barristan shifting in his seat, as if readying himself to come to her rescue but a physical harm at the Hound's hands was not something she was afraid of. She knew he wouldn't harm in such a way.

"Then think about your words next time, you stupid girl," he snarled at her before he stood up and stalked out of the room angrily. Sansa watched him depart with a feeling that was half-regret and half-resignation. He had been nothing but kind to her for so long she had forgotten just how angry he could get when provoked. She had meant to compliment him but all she had managed to do was anger him again. She knew why he despised knights but even he had to admit that not all of them were as rotten as his brother or as false as sers Boros or Meryn. She had meant to point out that the deeds, not the words made a knight but he didn't stay long enough to listen. And yet she could not find it in herself to blame him.

"I am sorry you had to witness that," she turned to Ser Barristan who shook his head.

"I have known Clegane for years. And I happen to know that he has refused knighthood several times when it has been offered to him. I never asked about his reasons but I know he feels quite strongly about the subject. Still," his tone became reproaching, "speaking to a lady in such a manner is unacceptable."

"I value him for several reasons," Sansa said, smiling gently. "His manners are not one of those."

Ser Barristan chuckled at the jest.

"True, my lady. But you spoke of an escape and his help in it?" he asked leadingly. Sansa looked down at her lap. It was still not easy for her to even remember, much less talk about her experiences in King's Landing, but she knew she would have to at least touch upon those in order to explain herself.

"You know of my father's death. With my sister's disappearance days prior to that, I was the only Stark remaining in King's Landing. That made me a valuable hostage and my betrothal to Joffrey was still effective as well. Joffrey, he.." Sansa thought about how to phrase her next words politely. She was still a lady, after all. "The power he got to wield made him very dangerous to anger and I had the misfortune of not having anyone to speak up for me."

"My lady, you cannot mean..." there was an outrage in Ser Barristan's voice which Sansa was glad to hear. It meant that Joffrey had been wrong about her deserving her punishments.

"It is not befitting of a king to strike his lady, you see," Sansa said. "But that was not a problem for him. He had five knights sworn to obey his every word. And I was but a traitor's daughter and a traitor's sister. They left my face alone most of the time. Joffrey liked me pretty," she smiled but it felt forced and unnatural. Ser Barristan was looking at her with something akin to horror on his face.

"They hit you? The knights of the Kingsguard hit a highborn maiden of twelve?"

Sansa nodded quietly.

"Even Oakheart?"

Sansa thought it was quite telling that Ser Barristan singled out only one man out of the five he had served along.

"Ser Arys protested against the command, at least. And he did not strike me very hard, either," she told the knight truthfully but it did nothing to diminish his rage, quite the opposite.

"They should not have touched you at all!" he got to his feet and started pacing agitatedly, talking to himself. "Knights of the Kingsguard are the knightly elite of the Seven Kingdoms! Letting the Kingslayer remain and accepting the Hound was bad enough but hitting helpless children? How could they have stooped so low?"

"Ser Barristan," Sansa tried to speak to him but was interrupted when the old knight got down on his knees in front of her, taking one of her hands into his.

"Lady Stark, I cannot say how sorry I am for how my former brothers treated you. If there is anything in my power I can do to make amends, name it and it shall be done."

"Ser Barristan," Sansa could hardly speak around the lump in her throat that had formed suddenly. This was how the ladies in the songs were treated, with the gallant knights swearing themselves into their service or to carry out a task for them. Ser Barristan was truly one of the greatest living knights still. "Rise, please, good ser."

He obeyed and Sansa gestured for him to retake his seat.

"I know that were you still the Lord Commander, my treatment would not have been such. You are not responsible for the choices those men made. Joffrey and the knights themselves will have to answer for them once they leave this world. The Father is just and he will give them appropriate sentences, I believe. But it was the way I was treated that led me to decide that I had to escape soon. I knew that Joffrey would never treat me with honour and that he might get even worse if we got married. When Lord Stannis began his march on the city, I started to think about my escape."

Sansa kept explaining, telling Ser Barristan just how she had come up with her escape plans, how and why she had secured the Hound's help, how they had left the Red Keep and she finished with telling him just why they had ended up in Tyrosh of all places.

"We shall start looking for a ship back to Westeros in a couple of days," she concluded. "I still have to decide just where exactly I want to go and I am not very eager to get on a ship again so soon," she smiled. "I am even half-tempted to stay in the Free Cities for a while, maybe until the war is over but that would be very selfish of me, I think. My family deserves to know about my fate."

Ser Barristan had listened very carefully to all she had said, a contemplative look on his face.

"An extraordinary story, my lady," he said at last. "Finding a ship bound for Westeros should not be very hard but avoiding the recapturing on your return would be harder. Most of the ships from Tyrosh sail either to King's Landing, Planky Town or Oldtown. Neither of those places seem a good choice for you."

"I expected difficulties from the very beginning," Sansa replied. "I am sure we will manage."

"So Clegane gave his allegiance to you," the knight said wonderingly. "Are you sure he can be trusted?"

"I staked my life on it and I have yet to be proven wrong," she replied coldly and Ser Barristan conceded her point with an apology before steering the conversation on the matter of her brother.

"He is calling himself the King in the North and he has the Riverlands behind him as well. The Ironborn might have stabbed him in the back but from all I heard, he is more than capable at warfare. Tell me, should he manage to defeat the Lannisters and the Ironborn and regain the North, do you think he will make a bid for the Iron Throne as well?"

There was some ulterior motive behind Ser Barristan's question that Sansa could not divine. Nevertheless, she answered him, secure in the knowledge of her brother's nature.

"No, he will not. Robb only took the crown because Joffrey killed our father, I am sure of it. He does not desire to rule the Seven Kingdoms."

"What would your brother do if someone else were to turn up and demand the Iron Throne which was theirs by right?"

"You mean like Lord Stannis? I am sure Robb would support the rightful king," Sansa was not quite sure about that. Robb and Lord Stannis had not made a pact, as far as she knew. But Robb had honour and if the new ruler proved to have a right to rule, he would make peace with them.

"No, not Stannis Baratheon. His right to the throne derives from Robert's claim and that claim was won in a rebellion which makes it less rightful, even more so now, with the news from the east," Ser Barristan replied and then took a deep breath as if making a hard decision. "Aerys Targaryen's daughter is still alive and she has managed to hatch three living dragons. From what I know, she does plan on returning to Westeros to claim her father's throne for herself. The only reason I am in Tyrosh is because the ship I travel on is taking on supplies. I mean to continue on to Quarth and to offer my services to the Mother of Dragons, as she is being called in the far east."

Sansa almost forgot to breathe. Living dragons and a Targaryen heir ready to claim her inheritance was almost too fantastic to believe. But she didn't think Ser Barristan would lie about such a thing. But what would it mean for the situation in Westeros? Three hundred years ago, Aegon Targaryen had conquered Seven Kingdoms with three dragons. Now his descendant had gained three dragons of her own. Was the history set up to repeat itself, with this Targaryen girl being the new conqueror? And if it was, what role would be played by Sansa herself?

"Why would you tell me all this?" she asked at last.

"Because when Robert gave orders for Daenerys Targaryen to be assassinated, your father was the only one to protest against such an action, calling it dishonourable. Starks are known for their honour. If they swear themselves to a cause, they will hold to it. Daenerys is barely fifteen years old and she has known nothing but life in an exile. She knows nothing of the ways of the Westerosi courts. If a lady of a high standing was to join her as a companion, to teach her something of the homeland she never knew and its customs, it would be of a tremendous help to all. I have given it a lot of thought, my lady," Ser Barristan spoke earnestly now. "I have known several Targaryen royals and some were as mad as Aerys, true, but there were noble ones as well, King Aegon and Queen Rhaella and Prince Rhaegar most of all. According to the information I had, Daenerys shares nothing but her name with her father and is in all aspects like her elder brother. I planned to join her and observe her for a while, to make sure the rumours were true and she was Rhaegar's sister, not Aerys' daughter. And then I met you and it was like a sign, my lady."

Sansa finally understood. Ser Barristan was asking her to join him in his journey to see the Targaryen Princess and not only that, he wanted her to pledge herself to her cause as well, to become Daenerys' companion and teacher, to share the knowledge of her upbringing with the exiled royal and to prepare her for the court life in the Seven Kingdoms.

"My father played a large role in overthrowing her father's reign," Sansa pointed out quietly. "She has most likely little love left for Starks."

"But certainly more than for Lannisters or Baratheons. What your father did, he did for love he held for his own family and his friend. If Daenerys is indeed like Rhaegar, she will understand. And, may I be frank, my lady?" at Sansa's nod, Ser Barristan continued. "Even with three dragons at her side, the retaking of the Seven Kingdoms will be hard for her and a lot of blood will be spilled. But if one of the Great Houses was to declare for her, it would simplify things enormously. You said it yourself, your brother would support the rightful ruler. Daenerys has the right to the throne and with the dragons she has the might as well. And the North coming to her side could convince others more easily. You could be the herald of that alliance, my lady."

"The wolf and the dragon joining together," Sansa said slowly. Ser Barristan was right, she could see it. Dragons were the decisive force in this. Who would want to risk another Field of Fire? Joffrey, she answered herself. He would be foolish enough to risk it to keep his power, his mother supporting him in his delusions. But Sansa remembered her lessons. Torrhen Stark, the last King in the North before Robb was crowned, had bent his knee to Aegon after seeing what the dragons had been capable of.

Robb had gone to war with the Lannisters to first free and then to avenge their father. He had let himself be crowned not out of desire for the crown but because it would have been easier to consolidate his forces under the royal banner. Sansa knew her brother enough to be sure of that. Her father had risen against Targaryens because his sister had been kidnapped by Prince Rhaegar and because King Aerys had killed his father and older brother. Daenerys had nothing to do with those crimes. And wasn't one King or Queen better than four? Seven Kingdoms had always been better off when united under one ruler. To help bring that peace about, wasn't that a noble task, worthy of a song?

Sansa was startled out of her thoughts when Ser Barristan stood up from his seat.

"I can see I have given you a lot to think about, my lady," he spoke up. "I do not ask that you make a decision immediately. Take your time to think it through. My ship will remain in Tyrosh for three days yet. When you come to a decision, let me know so I can arrange things as necessary."

"Tell me one thing, Ser Barristan," Sansa stood up as well. "If I decided to pursue my original plans and return to Westeros immediately, what would you do?"

"I would ask that you let your brother know about Daenerys. She will come back to claim her birthright regardless of anything. That is not something that can be changed," he bowed to her. "Good night, Lady Stark."

"Good night, Ser Barristan," Sansa returned his greeting almost too late as she sat down heavily. She eyed the half-filled wine goblets on the table and finally poured herself a cup, sipping at it slowly. Her head was swimming with thoughts and possibilities. When she had first started planning her escape from King's Landing and even later on as she had gotten further and further away from the place, she had only imagined that she would make her way back to her family and stay with them. Maybe Robb would arrange a match for her for when she was older and she would spend time with her mother and once Robb took the North back, she would stay in Winterfell until the time for her marriage came to pass. It had been her dearest wish but all of a sudden it seemed rather dull.

Sansa wanted a song. She had realized during her captivity in King's Landing that no songs were being sung about frightened little girls but now she also realized that singers rarely made songs about young ladies who did their duty, either. Escaping her imprisonment was guile and clever from her but there it also ended. She would come back to her family, resume her role as a dutiful daughter and become forgotten. Was it vain of her to wish for more?

Dragons. Daenerys Targaryens had three dragons and she meant to conquer the Seven Kingdoms like her ancestor had once done. iFire and Blood./i The Targaryen words never seemed so ominous. Sansa didn't notice she had drained her cup already but she decided against drinking more. The wolf and the dragon joining together. Those words wouldn't leave her mind. Why did she speak them like that? The alliance made a lot of sense, no doubt about it but there was something about that wording that tugged at her instincts, made her think there was more to it.

The wolf and the dragon. The Starks and the Targaryens. Queen Daenerys and Princess Sansa, companions and friends as Ser Barristan clearly wished? Or Prince Rhaegar and Lady Lyanna, a captor and his captive? Or something else? Lord Eddard spoke rarely about his younger sister and her fate. Sansa knew her aunt had been kidnapped by Prince Rhaegar and died before she could be rescued. King Robert had been convinced that Rhaegar had raped her and he had killed the Targaryen for it. And yet, the few times Sansa's father had spoken about those events, he had seemed more sad than angry.

Where was the truth? And did anyone even know it anymore? They were all dead now, Rhaegar and Lyanna and Robert and Eddard. Sansa sighed and looked at the half-empty table. She wanted to go with Ser Barristan, to see the dragons and the Targaryen Queen. It would delay her return to her family, certainly, but if she managed to form the alliance, it would be worth it in the end. But she wasn't alone on this journey.

Sandor Clegane should have a say in it, too. He had given up everything to help her and she wouldn't make a decision like this without consulting him first. And she had to apologize for her comments earlier, too. She had not meant to anger him. But he had not stayed to listen, had he? Well, she would make him listen, she decided as she rang for a maid and had her clean the table before sending her to find her scarred protector.

She could hear him going up the stairs before long, his heavy steps echoing in the corridor beyond. And when he opened the door and stumbled in, Sansa had to stop herself from pursing her lips in disappointment. He was clearly drunk. She should have been used to it by now but she wasn't. She couldn't quite understand the heavy feeling in her heart before it dawned on her that she had assumed he had only drunk so much because he had had to deal with the Lannisters daily and somehow she had convinced herself that him coming into her service would have meant he would end with his bad habits. It was clearly not the case and Sansa couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"You called, my lady?" he asked sarcastically and Sansa held on to her courtesy by the barest thread.

"Yes, thank you for coming so promptly. Have a seat, please," she told him sweetly, outwardly unperturbed by his rudeness. He took the seat that Ser Barristan had vacated almost an hour earlier and he just stared at her. Sansa returned his look as best she could. He had a mean bark, she had known that for the longest time but he had yet to bite her and she was determined not to let him provoke her.

"Well?" the Hound rasped when the silence stretched for too long. "What did the lady want from me?"

"I wanted to apologize for offending you earlier," Sansa began, eager to bury their disagreement. "I only meant to point out that your conduct in regards to me was more knightly than that of other men who were actually knighted. And I did not want Ser Barristan to look down on you, not after everything you have done for me."

He was still looking at her suspiciously but the burned side of his mouth twitched, although Sansa was unsure if it was in a smile or a frown.

"A fair lady defending her champion?" he rumbled and Sansa almost pouted.

"You are mocking me again," she accused and he finally laughed aloud.

"Aye, little wolf, I'm mocking you."

"You are a horrible man," Sansa told him, meaning it as a jest but he got serious again.

"I am and you'd do well not to forget it, little wolf."

"I did not mean..." Sansa stuttered out, belatedly realizing how her words might have been taken but he shook his head.

"Then you should. I've been kind to you, aye, but that doesn't make me a good man," he spoke as his eyes that had always been so angry were staring into her own, making her feel as if she was trapped in them. "I'm not a knight and never will be because I couldn't stomach the hypocrisy. You know some of my reasons."

"Your brother," she whispered and he nodded.

"And my sworn brothers of the Kingsguard and the hundreds of knights I've known in my life. This world is full of shitty people. The strong devour the weak and all the oaths are worthless. Knights are for killing, their titles merely ribbons that pretty up the blades. But it doesn't make the swords any less deadly, does it?" Sansa shook her head mutely. He sneered but she knew it wasn't at her but rather at his own thoughts. "You still believe in songs. They didn't beat it out of you and I don't know if that's a good thing or not. Do you trust me, girl?" he asked suddenly.

"With my life," she replied honestly and he grimaced again.

"Then you're a fool," he told her bluntly before falling silent again. Sansa shifted in her seat. She wanted to say something to him, something to make him see her faith in him was justified but she didn't know how to start and so she turned to the other reason she had called him in.

"Ser Barristan wants me to join him on his journey," she blurted out.

"Does he now? And where would he have you go?"

"Quarth," Sansa pronounced carefully. "He is going to serve the Targaryen Queen and he wants me to become her companion."

The Hound snorted.

"The old man's gone senile. The Targaryens lost their titles years ago. Why serve an exile with nothing but her name?"

"Because she has dragons," Sansa told him and watched as he considered her news.

"He's certain of it?" he asked and Sansa nodded. "Bugger me, the rumours are true then."

"Rumours?"

"The whole city's full of them," he explained. "They say the dragons are back, somewhere in the east. I thought it was just bored sailors making things up but it's not, is it?"

Sansa shook her head in negative.

"Ser Barristan was sure of the truth of it. He seems to think Daenerys will be able to take the Iron Throne for herself with them."

"And he's going to be at her side when she does it," Sandor Clegane snorted. "Ready with advice and encouragement. What role are you to play again, little wolf?"

"I am to teach her the ways and manners of the Westerosi courts. If I agree to it," she added.

"You haven't decided yet?" he sounded surprised by that.

"I wanted to ask you. It would mean changing all of our plans, after all."

He looked at her strangely.

"Our plans?"

"You are going to stay with me, are you not?" Sansa asked as it occured to her for the first time that he might not be that willing to follow her to the other side of the world. "If we went, we would get to see the dragons."

"And why would I want to see some bloody dragons, tell me that?" he asked harshly and Sansa gasped as she realized that for him, dragons were not a wonder come again into the world but rather fire-breathing creatures that would be a constant reminder of his only fear.

"I am sorry, I did not think about that," she tried to tell him as he looked away from her.

"Should have never told you," he muttered. Sansa looked down. She remembered that night when he had told her the story about his scars and while he had still seemed scary after, her fear of him had never been the same. He had shared something of himself that night and he would never be able to take it back, though at the moment he most likely wished to do just that.

"I am not yet certain of going with Ser Barristan," Sansa said. "It would delay my return to my family even more. But I could make a powerful alliance if I went and that is not a notion I can discard easily."

"You don't have right to make alliances on the behalf of your house," he pointed out. Sansa smiled.

"Not officially. But if I befriended the Queen and implored my brother to join up with her, he would listen to me. In the worst case, I would be a hostage again and I am sure she would treat me better than the Lannisters ever did."

"You want to go, don't you?" he asked and Sansa realized that yes, she did want it. Coming back to Westeros in the company of a Targaryen Queen and her dragons seemed exciting. And when she remembered Ser Barristan's words, of how young the Queen was and how lacking in proper education, her heart went out to the girl. They could become the best of friends if they tried and Sansa had not had a female friend since Jeyne had been sent away.

"Yes, I would like that," she admitted. The Hound sighed.

"Selmy's going to be with you all the time, right?" he asked. Sansa nodded and he studied her face for a while. "You trust him, too?"

"Yes, I think I do."

"Listen, little wolf. I don't want anything to do with the bloody dragons, real or human, fuck, my brother killed the girl's relatives, she won't be happy to see me anyway. You'd do better making that alliance without me at your back. And Selmy would keep you safe if you asked him so you don't need my protection, either. If you want to go to this Quarth, then go."

"But you will not come with me?" Sansa asked, feeling sad at the thought.

"No, I won't."

"What will you do?"

He grinned at that.

"You don't worry about that. This is Tyrosh. The Disputed Lands are over a short strip of sea, Myr and Lys are squaring off again and the city's full of sellsword companies. Any of them would take me on, hell, they might give me a command right off the beginning. I might even join the Golden Company, I heard the buggers are the best and actually keep their word."

Sansa listened to his words. He would be content living a sellsword's life, she thought. It wouldn't be that different from what he did while serving Lannisters. He would fight someone else's battles, selling his skill with the sword for money instead of status. And she would see a dragon and keep company to a Queen. It was the best solution for both of them. And yet...

"I will miss you," she said quietly but truthfully. He had been her only trusted person for so long she found it hard to imagine losing him. But it was about to happen and there was nothing she could do about that.

"Bugger it, little wolf, I think I'll miss you too, chirping and all," he said gruffly and Sansa smiled at him. "I'll stay until you get on that fucking ship with Selmy, alright?"

"Thank you," she told him in a trembling voice. "I will not keep you any longer."

He must have recognized her attempt at closing the conversation because he stood up without another word and left the room. Sansa latched it closed after him and only after that did she allow herself to cry. She was losing another friend soon and couldn't be blamed for her tears, could she? After all, once they parted, they would not likely see each other again. And that gave her a right to grieve for his loss.

TBC

A/N: Didn't expect that one, did you?