And so we've finished the story. I must admit I am a bit sad to do so. I originally started writing this to cope with the sudden loss of a close friend and it is time to move forward. I'll be updating this with an epilogue :D
Thanks to all of you for your support, con/crit and encouragement! I truly have the best readers *group hug* I could not have written this during my cancer treatment without you. :)
Sandor leads Sansa by the hand into the granite crevasse. "Come on, love, get in there now," Sandor rasps low, his rough voice reverberating against the icy crag as they makes their way deeper into the narrow opening.
"This is far enough, my love," Sansa whispers back, clinging to his arm in fear. "I wish to hear what is happening."
Grunting, Sandor sighs and nods at her.
"What is it? Is it the Brotherhood Without Banners up there?"
A voice echoes down to them from the trail. "Where is such an unlikely group of travelers headed so late?" Sansa and Sandor look toward the trail, straining to see. In the moonlight the group is barely visible among the shadows.
Looking towards the road above them, Sandor spits in disgust. "Yes, love, it is. I'd recognize Thoros' voice anywhere. Buggering bastard."
"Do you think Lady Stoneheart is with them?" Sansa hugs herself, trembling.
"You best believe she is with them," he whispers, drawing her close. "We need to be silent, understand? That fucking fire god has ears."
Sadly, Sansa nods, her eyes widening as the voices above them grow louder.
"Hold on to me, now, and offer your prayers in silence. The gods listen to you, wife. They've kept us safe so far. Your brother and I won't let anyone hurt you, I swear it," he whispers in her ear.
"I know, husband. I believe in you with all my heart," Sansa replies, snuggling tightly against his chest.
Above them, the sound of horses grows louder. There must be at least a dozen men up there, Sandor thinks to himself. He hears screeching of the wagon being pulled to a halt in the gravel.
"Good evening to all of you. You must be the party Lord Tully and Lord Royce are expecting," Elder brother's genial voice resounds a little louder than necessary, causing Sandor to chuckle. "The whole of the castle has been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
"Aye that we are. We are the Brotherhood without Banners. Perhaps you've heard of us."
"Indeed I have," Elder brother replies.
"I am Thoros of Myr and this man to my right is Jack-Be-Lucky."
"Thoros, Jack, I am Elder brother from the Quiet Isle. I am the spiritual advisor to Lady Sansa Stark. This is my attendant, Rafe and the lady is our fellow traveler, Ros. She is headed for the inn at the base of the mountains."
Thoros grins and nods to the trio while side eying the Stone Crows silently approaching from the mountainside. "Easy there, men. Our archer Anguy here's aim is true. You best not try him." The Stone Crows pull rein on their horses and watch Carrig closely.
"I am Lem," a man wearing a yellow cloak responds, stepping forward. Elder brother notes the man is easily as large and muscular as Sandor. "This one here is Lady Stoneheart, formerly Lady Catelyn Stark of Winterfell. She is our leader. Beric Dondarrion raised her from the dead for our noble cause."
The sickeningly sweet odor of decayed flesh reaches Elder brother's nose as she steps forward. "Nice to meet you my lady and you men as well," Elder brother smiles cordially, trying not to gape at the decrepit creature before him. "Your brother is expecting you, my lady."
Beside him Ros gasps audibly before quietly murmuring her own greetings. Lady Stoneheart approaches the wagon, staring closely at the young woman. Up close, Elder brother observes her ashen flesh appears spongy and is the color of curdled milk. Half of her hair is gone and the rest is white and has a fragile, brittle appearance. In addition, her extensive wounds have not healed. With her face covered in scratch marks and her throat still slit open, the undead creature still bears the marks from her violent end. Her hollow eyes follow him closely, unsettling the holy man. Silently the Elder says a prayer to the Seven for help.
"And what is this, now?" Thoros asks, gesturing at the Stone Crows in the woods surrounding them. "Why do a holy man, his attendant and his whore need the protection of a fierce mountain clan? And even if they needed it, how did they get such fellows to go along with it?"
"These men are members of the Stone Crows led by Chief Carrig there, on the buckskin to your right," Elder brother replies, ignoring his comment about Ros. "He and his men assisted Lord Royce in the battle for the Eyrie. I would be careful giving voice to your assumptions as such men are not to be trifled with."
Carrig quickly maneuvers his horse out of the brush with his sword drawn, nodding warily at the newcomers. "The holy man speaks true, Thoros of Myr. We've heard o'you and your lord of light."
"How do, Carrig. Just to be clear, you are the chief?"
"That I am," Carrig allows, motioning for two of his men to come forward. "Don't look so surprised. Get this one thing straight, Thoros: I don't escort no one, lad, and make no mistake. You're a long way from home so I'll let one comment slide but you best mind your manners."
"A most unusual collection of travelers, indeed. I didn't catch where you said you are headed this time of night, Elder brother. Not going all the way to the inn, are you?" Thoros of Myr smirks, leaning in the saddle.
"That's enough of you. You didn't catch where they are headed because the holy man didn't say, nor does he owe you an answer. You are in my woods, not the other way around and I'll be the one requiring answers, not you. Why do you care if they tell you where they are headed, anyhow?" Carrig sharply asks, his tone bringing forth yet more Stone Crow soldiers from hiding.
Lady Stoneheart emits a phlegmy gurgling sound and Elder brother turns to look at her questioningly. "She is unable to speak due to her injury?"
"Aye but we understand her. She says, 'Where is my daughter and why are you in the company of Baelish's whore? I have a right to know, clansman. My daughter is among you. I can sense her. I can smell her. Give her to me at once'," Thoros interprets for them. "If you stand in our way, I'll have my men kill you."
"I'm too old to scare, lady. I have not seen your daughter since we left the Eyrie several hours ago. She is not with us-perhaps your sense of smell was damaged along with your voice. Ros is on her way to a new life," Carrig shrugs casually before spitting on the ground.
Lady Stoneheart casts a long glance around her before emitting more gurgling noises, this time in a much louder, demanding tone.
"Lady Stoneheart insists Sansa is close by. Give her to us!" Thoros demands, drawing his sword and motioning for Lem and Anguy to come around the other side of the wagon.
The howling of wolves echoes off the granite walls through the area. A large raven circles overhead before landing on the wagon's edge next to Elder brother. Nymeria leaps in front of Elder brother, baring her teeth and raising the fur on her hackles at the Brothers Without Banners.
Startled by the sudden appearance of a direwolf, the men move back. Carrig laughs ruefully. "Bet you wish we were your biggest worry now, don't you? You so-called brave companions! Try your luck with that bitch and see how far you get!"
Hissing, Lady Stoneheart steps closer, loudly rasping at Elder brother.
"What is she saying?"
"Bran?" Thoros looks at her questioningly and she nods in response. "She is asking for her son, Brandon Stark. Is he here?" He asks as he scans the area, clearly puzzled by her words.
Elder brother closes his eyes and tilts his head. Faintly he hears the voice of a young boy offering his reply in his mind. "Yes, I am here. I have warged into Arya's direwolf, Nymeria. You cannot sense my presence because Father will not allow you to harm me. I have changed Mother, and I am intimately connected to the old gods of the forest."
Howling wolf song surrounds the area. It is an eerie reenactment of the events surrounding the battle with Lord Baelish, and Carrig and Elder brother nervously exchange glances. The raven caws next to the holy man and then takes to flight, circling the group overhead.
"Jojen and Howland Reed are here, too," Elder brother replies. "Jojen is with the raven and Howland is among the wolves."
The members of the Brotherhood glance around them anxiously. Lady Stoneheart sputters her reply, stepping closer to Elder brother and furiously staring him in the face.
"I know the red god R'hllor controls you now, Mother." Pausing, Elder brother winces a moment and then adds, "Arya is far away from here but she is with us in her dreams. We will never allow you near Sansa."
Lady Stoneheart blinks several times, slowly approaching the enormous direwolf while hissing out a response. "I must have Sansa and Arya, too. The girls and I must have vengeance for our family. I need them to gain the support of the north. You are too young to understand, Bran. Arya does, I sense it in her. Get out of my way," Thoros replies.
"No, Mother, you are mistaken. Arya has learned to control her anger with the help of her friend Jaqen. This vengeful creature is not you. The old gods have shown us that it is R'hllor using you in an attempt to gain control of the north. Father revealed it to me personally and sent me to Sansa. The same god controls Great Uncle Brynden, though not to the same extent as you. It is a battle between ice and fire, the old gods and the new against the red god. Mother please, you must stop this at once!"
Shaking her head, Lady Stoneheart cries out in a fury and though her words are unintelligible, the bloodcurdling sound sends a shiver throughout the men assembled.
Frowning, Thoros reluctantly gives her answer. "Bran, no! It cannot be!"
"Mother, I know you feel the truth of my words in your heart. Father and Robb want you to let go. Go to them, Mother-join them in the afterlife. There you will find the peace the gods have given them and begin again."
Distraught, Lady Stoneheart gurgles and shrieks, clawing at her face and throat. Suddenly she lunges toward Lem. Grabbing his blade, she loudly cries out before plunging the dagger deep into her belly, shrieking at the top of her voice.
"No!" Thoros shouts, racing toward her. "Lord of Light, her light has been extinguished, restore it-"
Nymeria howls long and sorrowfully, interrupting his prayer. The massive direwolf positions herself between Lady Stoneheart's fallen body and Thoros and Lem. Growling low, the beast continuously circles her, denying them approach. "Let her go," Elder brother states as Nymeria bluff charges them, sending the men running in all directions.
Anguy raises his bow and arrow at the direwolf. Closing one eye, he carefully aims for the enraged animal. The raven swoops down upon him as he is about to loose his arrow, clawing and pecking the man's face. "Call it off!" The man shouts while batting at the bird with his hands.
Falling to the ground, Lady Stoneheart hisses out her final words before pressing the dagger all the way to her backbone and slumping lifelessly to the ground. The wolves suddenly fall silent, casting an unnatural stillness over the forest.
Nymeria raises her head and emits another long howl. Against the backdrop of the full moon, the raven circles once more while cawing loudly overhead and then disappears over the ridge of the Giant's Lance.
Deep in the rock below the trail, Sandor holds Sansa tightly against his body while listening to the happenings from a safe distance. Crying quietly, she squeezes her eyes closed, burying her face in his studded jerkin and grasping at his back for purchase.
Her fear envelops him, threatening to cloud his thoughts and judgment. "You're safe, wife. Shh, it's almost over now." Sandor rasps softly, smoothing her hair. Breathing deeply, he allows the meditative peace Elder brother taught him to wash over his mind and heart. After a while he feels Sansa sighs softly and her muscles relax as his inner peace becomes her own.
Over the sound of shrieking, shouting and Nymeria's howls, Bran's voice softly declares to them, "It is done! Mother has gone to Father and Robb. Sansa, you must not be afraid. It is over, sister. Lady Stoneheart is dead and only the Brotherhood remains here now. Great Uncle Brynden has been released from the red god's control, I sense it."
"Thank the gods, brother! Sandor, please, let us go to them! The men will need your skill in battle!" Sansa pleads, pulling on his arm.
"Aye, we'll join them," he nods. "Easy Sansa, easy now; with ten Stone Crows and one angry direwolf up there, they need no help from me."
"Don't you want to take Thoros yourself?" She asks uncertainly. "I felt your rage and pain when you heard his voice."
"No, wife. My job is protecting you. The others can bloody well take care of the rest of those bastards."
Trembling, Ros clings to Rafe as the pair stare around them in abject fear. "What is happening?" She whispers but the young man only shakes his head in disbelief.
"I'm going to get out of the wagon. When I do you two head down the trail and meet me at the base of the mountain in the morning," Elder brother whispers. Rafe nods in assent, moving closer to the holy man on the bench.
Nymeria lowers her head with a frightening growl and then leaps onto a startled Thoros. "What were her last words? Tell me!" Elder brother relates to him, getting down from the wagon. Rafe takes the reins and heads down the trail unimpeded by the Brotherhood.
Kneeling down, Elder brother grimly stares at Lady Stone heart's body, which suddenly disintegrates into ash at his feet.
The members of the Brotherhood all repeat the refrain, "For the night is dark and full of terrors."
"Silence!" Elder brother commands. Snarling, Nymeria snaps at Thoros' face. "She said…she said to tell her children that she is sorry. She…she could hear Lord Eddard and King Robb calling to her and that she is going to them," the frightened man chokes out. "Men, this is the sorcery of the Seven! R'hllor is the one true god and all men must serve him! He cannot be defeated! Kill the septon!" Thoros shouts, pounding his fists against the direwolf's chest.
At his words the rest of the Brotherhood draw their weapons and engage Carrig and the Stone Crows in battle. Elder brother draws his sword and stays beside Nymeria, who growls loudly once more.
"This is for my goodbrother, Sandor Clegane. You falsely accused and tormented him, leading him to be horribly scarred. It is a just death," Elder brothers states as Nymeria clamps her huge jaws down on Thoros' throat, his shouting suddenly transforming into a high-pitched scream. His cries are reminiscent of Lord Baelish's demise and Elder brother glances at Carrig once more.
Sansa and Sandor hurriedly make their way up the mountainside to the trail. The noise of steel clashing, Nymeria snarling and shouting resounds against the walls of the creek bed below, amplifying the frightening sound.
Unsheathing his greatsword, Sandor tucks Sansa close to him as they advance toward the battle. "Stay close, love." As the couple reaches the summit of the trail, they are startled to see the battle is over. The frozen ground is littered with the bodies of the Brotherhood Without Brothers and Sandor nods his head approvingly.
"They finally got what was coming to them," Sandor says to Carrig, kicking Lem's body with the toe of his boot.
Upon seeing them, Nymeria drags Thoros' lifeless body toward Sandor and deposits the red priest at his feet. "I have seen justice for you, goodbrother," Bran's voice echoes in his ears.
"That you have, lad. Many thanks," Sandor grunts, surveying the mangled body of his former tormentor. "The cave is dark but I'm the terror here," he mutters.
"Arya says to take their heads Sandor, or else they may be brought back to life by a red priestess who she has seen with them once, someone named Melisandre. She'll do to them just as Beric did to Mother."
"I'll take their heads with pleasure. Give the she-wolf my thanks; I had forgotten that," Sandor growls.
Pulling Sansa close, he says low, "Keep your back turned, love. I'm going to finish this."
"Of course, Sandor," she nods, turning away. The huge direwolf wags her tail and slowly approaches Sansa.
"Thank you, brother," Sansa says softly, placing her hands around Nymeria's neck and nuzzling her face into the animal's fur. "We are free because of you and Father and the Reeds. We will never be able to repay you, dearest, for all you have done. The gods bless and keep you, brother."
Exhausted, Nymeria rolls her eyes and suddenly slumps down at their feet. "Mother is back with Father and Robb, Sansa. Forgive me, I cannot stay any longer."
"But why dearest? I have missed you so!" Sansa says, stroking Nymeria's fur. "Must you leave us?"
"The warging and bonding has exacted its toll on me and Elder brother as well. I am transforming, sister, in a way I cannot explain. Do not worry Sansa; I am becoming quite strong. You will see when you come to us."
At his words Sandor turns to see Elder brother collapse next to the wagon. Rafe reappears from out of the shadows, and he and Sandor hurry to over to help him.
"I had to join with him, Sansa, in order to speak to Mother. I should not have done so, I fear; he is not used to such things, though he did not fight me. He will suffer no lasting damage, sister."
"Brother, you did what you had to do. There was no other way. Sandor and I would not question your methods and I doubt the Elder brother will hold it against you, my love."
Nymeria heaves a huge sigh. "You are right, Sansa; he was not angry. I sensed he wanted to help me and submitted even though I felt his fear. I am going now. Jojen will lead me back. I will find you again and lead you to us," Bran whispers to her.
"We will come to you as soon as we recover from this night, brother."
Nymeria's head lolls to the side, rolling her eyes. "Goodbye, sister. Rickon and I will wait for you. By then Jon and Arya will be there, too. Our pack will be together again."
Sansa nods. "Goodbye Bran. Dearest, I love you. Please tell Arya and Rickon and Jon that I love them, too. I so long to be with all of you again!" She sobs into the animal's neck.
"The wolves will come again, Sansa," he whispers. The direwolf raises her head and licks Sansa's face, her eyes turning from Tully blue back to yellow once more.
"Bran is gone, husband," Sansa weeps quietly.
"I know, lass. I heard his words. We'll join your family soon. There is nothing to keep us here now."
Sansa leans down, raising her canteen to the weakened holy man's mouth. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Ros bringing the wagon forward from the underbrush. Without a word she climbs into the back and arranges an area for Elder brother. "Is he very ill?" She asks worriedly.
"No, milady, he's going to be alright," the Stone Crow's healer says calmly. "He just needs to rest. Warging is powerful magic and often takes its toll on both parties."
"My brother said as much," Sansa says quietly, bathing his brow with a damp cloth. "I had no idea it would cause such extreme exhaustion."
"Don't you worry, lass. A hearty meal and a good night's sleep will set both your brother and Elder brother aright."
Chief Carrig turns to Rafe. "Lad, you and the woman are welcome to pass the night in our camp. Rest up there as long as you like."
"That is most kind of you, Chief Carrig," Rafe replies as he looks over at Ros, who nods her assent. Several of Carrig's men help Rafe carry Elder brother into the wagon.
Fatigued, Sandor leads Sansa back to Stranger after the Stone Crows depart. "What say we go to Carrig's cabin for the night?"
Tearfully, Sansa throws her arms around her husband. "Oh, yes, let us go there. It's almost like a dream, my love! After spending so long apart from each other and then bound by so much sadness and misery, we are free at last."
Burying his face in her hair, Sandor is overwhelmed with gratitude, an emotion the scarred man has experienced precious few times in his life until the past week. Sansa's immense relief and happiness mingle with his own into a singular, powerful bond, strengthening their love and commitment to one another. "The gods be good, Little bird, we are free to love each other-free to be a family at long last."
With soothed minds and contented hearts, Sandor and Sansa have witnessed their dreams become reality. In the respite that follows, the couple finally allows themselves to hope for a future infinitely better than the past, no longer bound by the life they have left behind.