Chapter 24.
The next few weeks found Sandor pulled more and more into the duties of being Lord over Emerald Bay. Even from a distance, he was active in all aspects of it. With the help and teachings of Tyrion, Bronn and Prince Oberyn, he slipped easily into the role. He had even bought and sent to the horse master, six destrier foals. Three colts, three fillies, to start a breeding herd of them. He spent less time with Shalene, she never voiced any complaints, and he found himself taking his satisfaction more and more with the other women though he missed Shalene desperately.
He began to notice that at night, though she never denied him if he came to her, she seemed to pull away some. He didn't sense any jealousy in her, when he asked her, he felt no change in her comments. He left it as his own guilt for taking the easy pleasure in his concubines instead of coming to Shalene as he used to. He was headed towards their chambers one night when he saw Shalene leaving in the opposite direction. It surprised him because she rarely left after retiring and he was slightly hurt as he had wanted to spend some much needed time with her. To feel the way he had always felt with her. He missed being with her he finally admitted to himself.
He decided to follow her so old habits kicked in and he eased into the shadows. As she approached Chatalaya's, he was confused as to why she would be here but just eased in, looking for her. When he didn't see her, he sat in a dark corner and ordered his usual Dornish red. He watched and waited. He was well into his second flagon when he pulled the serving girl to him and gave her a gold dragon and asked her where Shalene was. The girl didn't want to answer, she didn't seem scared of him, he knew it was frowned upon for any information to pass about who came and went. He gave her four more dragons and asked where she was. The young girl looked around and nodded to a garden that Sandor had never been to and said, "She's at the
grotto, please, My Lord, don't say I told you." Sandor assured her, he would say nothing and walked to the garden.
It was a beautiful place, an Oasis in the hell hole that King's Landing was. It was lit softly, with colored glass lanterns, giving it a mystical appearance. Hedges and flowers were everywhere. Benches and soft cushioned couches were placed in various strategic areas. Sandor didn't make a sound as he moved towards a small pool that had a slowly cascading waterfall. It was a breath taking place. He saw Shalene in the water, naked, so beautiful. As she eased up and sat below the waterfall, she tilted her head back and let the water run through her hair and over her body, she was so beautiful and erotic in that moment, it took his breath away. He was about to move to her when a form moved under the water and as it broke the surface he thought it was a woman, the hair was so long it came to the persons hips. As they stood, he knew from the shape of the
shoulders and behind that it was a man. Sandor stepped back behind a tall hedge and felt his stomach roll. He wanted to rage, but what right did he have. He wanted to leave but his legs wouldn't move.
The man was tall and muscular but not anywhere Sandor's size. His hair was dark but Sandor could see streaks of white or silver in it, he couldn't tell which due to it being wet. Shalene looked at the man and smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her to him. Sandor felt like the earth was slipping from under him yet he didn't move. He watched them as they kissed, the man was so gentle, he touched her with a familiarity that made Sandor know he knew her well.
He sat Shalene on the side of the pool, her back to Sandor. He saw the man, front on, as he stepped back from Shalene. Sandor had to admit that the man was a very handsome young man. He was younger than Sandor, his skin was smooth and unmarred. The only hair on his body was the long hair on his head and what he had at his groin. He was a solid, muscular man but in a different way than Sandor, whose muscles were bulging and shaped from years of training and battle.
Sandor watched as Shalene leaned back on her elbows and the man raised her leg and kissed her foot, sucking on each of her toes so softly and slowly before he casually made his way up her leg, he rested it on his shoulder and gave the other leg the same loving, leisurely affection. He spoke softly to her but Sandor didn't know the language. He heard Shalene laugh and he felt his heart sink, she hadn't laughed with him like that in so long.
The man eased his hands under her behind and pulled her to the edge of the pool as Shalene let herself lay down, he kissed down the inside of her thighs, so sensually it was mesmerizing, even to Sandor. Sandor had a full view of when the man began making love to Shalene with his mouth. He couldn't look away no matter how badly he wanted to. Shalene arched her body up to the man, her hands touching his shoulders, his arms, his face. All the time talking to him in the language they shared. He watched as she pulled the man to her and he moved them back further from the water, he was on his knees and eased back to sit on his heels as Shalene wrapped her legs around his waist. The man held her so gently, one hand bracing her lower back and the other holding her head, as she eased down and he slid into her, Sandor heard him moan, deep, full of passion. The man let his head fall back and his hair pooled around him on the ground. Shalene leaned away from him, hold his arms as he supported her in his loving embrace. So slowly, they began to move, such tenderness, gentleness and longing was in each movement of their bodies that Sandor knew they had been lovers a long time, she had never loved him like that and he felt his heart break even more.
It seemed they made love for hours, but he knew it wasn't. He knew the changes in Shalene's body when she was getting close to climax and as he watched, he saw the same in the man. He heard them talking again and saw the man's body tense as he made love to Shalene, saw her in the beauty of her release as she thrust against the man, her body shaking, speaking over and over, and as the man reached his climax, he held Shalene to him so reverently, his release so powerful his body shook both of them. He leaned in and kissed her neck and as he opened his eyes, he looked right at Sandor. His eyes were breathtaking! They were the most beautiful amethyst surrounded by silver. Made even more alluring because of the darkness of his skin. The man
gave no indication of fear or apprehension. He was perfect in his confidence. Sandor felt as if part of him had died. He quietly backed away, Shalene never knew he had been there. He was in a haze, she had found another lover. He knew his luck had been too good. He thought of all the times that he had gone to his other women when he could have just as easily sought out Shalene. The nights that felt as if something wasn't quite right. He didn't know when he found the wine skin, he didn't know when the tears fell down his face. The only things he felt was heartache, pain, loss, and all of the old feelings he had hidden away. He found himself at their chambers but he couldn't go in there, he went instead to Bronn. When Bronn opened the door and saw Sandor, he was going to be his usual irksome self but the look on the man's face and in his eyes stopped him. He just opened to door and Sandor disappeared into his solar and he heard the door bolt. Bronn was shaken, what the hell had just happened?