It felt strange waking up in a bed rather than on the ground. Arya stretched slightly, finding herself under another blanket. She glanced over next to her. At the other edge of the bed, as far as possible without falling off, slept the Hound. She turned her attention away from him and climbed out of bed, clutching the sheet to her.
She had slept naked. Oops. She headed toward the tub to find her clothes. She was surprised to find them hanging to dry. The Hound? She glanced back at the bed. He was still fast asleep, snoring softly. She fought back a laugh as she imagined him washing her underclothes - she knew they both had not washed in a while. Still, she couldn't help but admit to herself it was kind of thoughtful.
After pulling on the clothes, she turned her attention once again to the large man asleep on the bed. She walked up and she shook his shoulder. "Hound."
An eye opened and glared at her blearily."Fuck off." He rolled over, turning away from him.
Arya gave him another shoved, this time digging her fingernails into his shoulder. "Get up, you lazy asshole," she snarled. "Let's move."
He climbed up and shoved her away from him. "Fucking wolf bitch," he growled. "Fine. Go get the horses. I'll be down shortly. I'll grab the supplies."
"Whatever." She turned and headed out the door to the stables. He had been awake for less than a minute and she already was pissed at him. What else was new?
She headed down to the stables and there was the stable boy, asleep in the hay. She had enjoyed chatting with him, although he seemed a little slow. A step up from Hodor, but definitely not all there.
"Vinny," she called out, marching up to him.
He woke with a start, recognition dawning in his eyes. "Oh it's you. Miss... What did you say your name was again?"
She hadn't given him a name before. "Ava," she said, hoping she didn't hesitate too long.
The stable boy didn't seem to notice. "You okay from last night, Miss? That man was a lil' rough with ye. You say he's yer father?"
She tried to stop herself from rolling her eyes. "Yes," she lied, her teeth gritted. At the look of curiousness on his face, she continued. "He was drunk. I wouldn't worry about it too much. He's a kind man. And he's all I got." She flashed him a smile,
He didn't seem convinced. He got to work helping her saddle up the horses and Arya cursed the Hound to all seven hells. He had to go bringing attention to them with his big asshole moves. No doubt this stupid boy would be blabbing to the entire town. It would only be a matter of time before word spread. The less people knew of them, the better.
She glanced up from the saddle she was tightening to see the stupid Hound coming right now. She was furious with him and she couldn't wait to lay into him later. Still, she had to do something about this stable boy situation.
"Good morning, father," she called out sweetly, trying to sound genuine. "You feel better? That was a lot of wine last night. You frightened my poor friend."
He looked at her as if she had just grown another head. Vinny had also turned to gawk at the Hound. The boy's gaze away from her finally, Arya caught the Hound's eye and gave him an angry glare, silently gesturing to the stable boy.
She pushed up past the boy, moving to the Hound and taking his hand. "You seem much better." She grabbed his hand and pressed a kiss to the top of it, but as she released him, she dug her fingers into his palm as hard as she could, hoping the stable boy wouldn't notice.
The Hound seemed at a loss for words momentarily. "Oh. Yeah I'm fine. Thanks." The fake smile that he tried to plaster on his face was actually quite frightening.
Great, he was a shit actor. Arya turned her focus to the stable boy who was still eyeing the pair curiously.
"Thanks so much for getting the horses together, Vin," Arya said, turning the sweetness on the boy instead. New tactic. "I hope we can forget about last night. I don't want you to remember me like that."
He tore his glance away from the Hound and turned his focus to Arya. "How would you like me to remember you by?"
She sighed. This was going to be disgusting. She leaned up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his, giving him a firm kiss on the lips. "I'll come back for you some day," she whispered, trying to put on a seductive smile.
The boy's face was flushing and he nodded dumbly. "Thanks, m'lady."
He moved to help her onto the horse, but the Hound was suddenly between them. "That's enough," he growled. He lifted Arya up, a little more gently than usually, and placed her on her horse. "Thanks, boy."
He mounted his horse and Arya followed on hers, turning to wave at the boy. "Bye!" she called out. She turned around back toward the Hound, the smile fading from her face turning to one of disgust.
The wolf bitch was sneaky, he had to admit her was impressed. He had been quite annoyed with her that morning. The dream he had been having was... well, it was enjoyable. He needed to get a whore soon because his thoughts toward the wolf girl had been quite alarming.
He had been dumbfounded when she had greeted him with a smile when he went down to the stables. Then he saw the damned boy and knew she was putting on an act. It was a relief. The thought of her acting that sweet to him for real was alarming. He had no idea how to react.
She had even kissed his hand. What the bloody fuck was that? She was a bloody good actress, he was beginning to figure out.
Then there had been the kiss between her and the dumb oaf of a stable boy. She had seemed so sincere, he wondered briefly if she was enjoying it. It was then that he decided to intervene. He didn't like the idea of her involved with the lad, who clearly lacked in intelligence.
It had to have been an act, right? As they rode away, she had turned to wave to him and called out a farewell. What the fuck? Was he reading it right?
He turned to gawk at her, when he realized she had steered her horse closer to him and reached over.
She yanked the wine skin from his side and took a swig, swashing it around in her mouth and spitting it on the ground. Then she took a few sips and swallowed quickly. "Ugh. Fucking disgusting," she cried, shuddering. "That lug was even dumber than you."
He couldn't help but laugh. Not just a chuckle, but a full blown laugh. "Damn you, wolf girl," he growled, looking at her with appreciation. "That was pretty convincing."
Her cheeks turned red. She looked like she was about to answer kindly, but then she seemed to realize once again that she was talking to him. She instead scowled at him. "I wouldn't have had to do it if you weren't always drawing fucking attention to us."
So they were back at this. Very well then. "Maybe if you would do what you're fucking told so I don't have to keep looking after you, then we wouldn't have this problem."
She just glared at him. "I don't need your protection," she said hotly.
"Then just fucking go then. Or stay. Perhaps I'll sell you off to the next whorehouse we come across. You seem like you would have a knack for that."
She gasped. "You're an ass!" she sputtered. "I can't wait until I stick Needle in your neck and watch you bleed out." She reached her hand down to brush the handle of her sword, glaring at him.
He snorted. "The day you try something with that damn toothpick will be your last."
She opened her mouth to say something, but apparently decided against it. She pursed her lips and stared straight ahead.
They rode in silence besides the occasional jab. He felt like he had definitely come out on top from their banter. He could practically feel the rage radiating off of her.
They finally made camp in the woods. It was relatively secluded and it would make do. They had been riding all day.
The wolf bitch made a fire and he managed to catch a rabbit. He skinned it and they roasted it over the fire, passing around the skin of wine as well.
They didn't speak much. The occasional grunt or cough, but otherwise silence.
Finally she spoke up, glaring at him over the fire as she yanked the wine from his hand and took a swig. "So what is the plan? Where are we actually going?"
He wasn't expecting that question. "Our best bet would be moving south. We don't want to end up near King's Landing when that dragon bitch finally crosses the sea. I imagine those beasts of hers will be roasting the entire city."
She nodded. "I agree. Perhaps we can look closer to Dorne?"
He grunted in reply. "A bunch of cunts there. It's not quite what it's talked up to be."
"I thought maybe... maybe my family could be hiding out there."
He did feel bad for the poor girl. He had been there when she had been so close to seeing her brother and mother only for them to be murdered seconds before. Rumor had it that the remaining Stark children and the bastard, Jon Snow, had fled South somewhere after the Boltons had nearly wiped out the entire army.
"I wouldn't count on it." He didn't mean to sound so blunt, but still. It was better to be honest than give the girl hope.
She bit her lip. "Well we can check. We aren't fucking doing anything else but riding around. I'm tired of you."
He rolled his eyes and laid back on his bed roll. "Then leave," he said, growing quickly tired of the conversation.
Perhaps it was the wine that was making her so moody, but she just wouldn't quit. "Just because you have no one doesn't mean I have to grow to be old and miserable like you."
"What did you just fucking say?" he had pulled himself up to glare at her. He was not in the mood to play tonight.
"Nothing." She was close to him, glaring at him and staring him down.
He didn't rip his gaze away from her. "Let me make this perfectly fucking clear. I don't need you. In fact, I would be better off without you and your whining, filthy fucking mouth. We're not going to Dorne. Maybe you are, but I'm not."
She was glowering at him. She pushed his chest roughly, which did nothing since he was wearing his armor. "You're too fucking scared. I should just kill you now." She reached for Needle at her belt.
He struck her on the face. She was getting under his skin and he had it. He didn't like any mention of his family and the wolf bitch had it coming. Still, the second his hand made contact with her face, he instantly regretted it. In that moment, he would have given his right arm to take it back.
She looked shocked. The impact had knocked her to the ground. She jumped up immediately, her hand pressed to her face and she just glared at him with so much hate. "Fuck you." She turned and ran into the forest and into the night.
She was wounded. Yeah, her face stung quite a bit, but she was hurt in a different way that he had laid a hand on her. It just was wrong.
She did not really have a plan as she ran into the forest. She wouldn't go far, she knew. She really did need his protection, whether she liked it or not. Still, she wanted to simmer down and she hoped that if the Hound had a shred of decency, he would be feeling guilty.
I hope the guilt eats him alive. She heard him calling out to her. He was already looking for her? "Wolf girl..." he was calling out. "Arya?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she shimmied up into the nearest tree, disappearing behind a big branch. Let him sweat for a bit.
It was a few minutes later when she heard him blundering through the trees noisily, searching for her. "Come out," he growled. He stopped underneath the tree momentarily, glancing around.
Arya wanted to feel a little bad that she was hiding from him and he was clearly growing concerned, but then she remembered her stinging cheek and any remorse disappeared as quickly as it came. He deserved this.
The Hound continued past the tree and moved further away. His calls grew fainter and then there was nothing.
She slid back out of the tree and headed back in the direction of camp. He would eventually come back and hopefully by then she would cool down and so would he.
She could see the light through the woods of their small fire and she followed the light, trying to tread softly so as not to bring noise to herself. She could just make out the horses, tied to the tree, when a hand grabbed her roughly.
She let out a scream when another hand clapped over her mouth. "You think this is a game?"
Arya relaxed slightly. It was just the Hound, but still.
He was even angrier than before. He slammed her up against the trunk of a tree, lifting her up so that his hips were pressed to hers, pinning her against it. "It's the middle of the fucking night. Are you stupider than I thought?"
She glared at him, their faces inches from each other. "I'd rather risk my chances than have you beat me bloody."
He looked shocked and almost remorseful. "You push me, all fucking day, all fucking night. That mouth of yours is going to get you killed one day."
Arya was breathing heavily, angry at being in close proximity and just growing more furious. She reached her hand down to draw out Needle.
"Enough!" the Hound snarled. He grabbed the thin sword and tossed it a few feet away. "I'm done with your games, you cunt!"
"I'm done with you! Fuck off and let me go. I'll leave you. I know that's what you want" She slapped him with her free hand before he grabbed that one too and pinned it about her head.
"You have no fucking clue what I want," he growled, slamming her shoulders into the tree.
She could see stars. He was being a little too rough. She opened her mouth to retort, when suddenly he was kissing her.
It was a shock. He had her pinned against the tree and had been screaming at her one second, but now his lips were on hers. She paused for a second, instinctively wanting to jerk her head back, but her head hit tree.
The pause was only for a second. Then suddenly she was kissing him back. The hands pinning hers had released her and she had wrapped her tiny hands around his head, holding him closer.
He tasted like wine and not at all unpleasant like the nasty stable boy. What was his name again? She realized she couldn't remember and also that she didn't care. All that she cared about at this moment was the feeling o Hound's lips on her.
Her mouth opened slightly and she let out a soft moan as she felt his tongue slip into her mouth. It was not a gentle kiss, but an angry one. His lips took what he wanted and he still had her jammed against the tree.
Suddenly she felt a hand toying with her shirt and felt his cool hand slip under, running his fingers along her flat stomach. She leaned closer into the kiss, taking the lead and exploring his mouth. She had not really kissed before. Definitely not like this.
She could feel his fingers drawing lazy circles on her stomach, teasing her. She felt the desire pool between her legs and she knew she wanted him. She had never been with a man, but from the hard length pressing at her from his hips on hers, she could tell her wanted her too.
The kiss seemed to last an eternity. A blissful eternity. The distant whinny of one of the horses seemed to break the spell they seemed to be in. They broke apart, both breathing heavily, their lips still inches apart.
Her eyes met his and she was suddenly frightened. Frightened of what they were feeling. His eyes her dark with lust and something else. He withdrew his hand from under her shirt and he brushed a lock of hair from her eyes, looking at her with bewilderment.
"Sorry..." Those seemed to be the only words he could muster.
He set her down from the ground and turned toward camp, not looking behind him.
Arya stood at the trunk of the tree, her knees feeling weak. What in the world just happened? She picked up Needle shakily and headed back to the clearing.
The Hound was already settling in on his bed roll. He didn't look at her when she approached. She was thankful. She had absolutely no clue what to say.
What now? She wondered. Do I go lay by him?
She quickly abandoned that silly idea. He was the Hound and he was on her list. Whatever had just transpired had been some freak thing. It wouldn't happen again She wouldn't allow it. They had both had a little too much wine. Maybe he wouldn't remember it in the morning? It was doubtful, but maybe.
Settling on her bed roll, she wrapped the blanket around herself. She knew that she wouldn't forget what had happened. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to focus on anything else, but was failing. She wasn't sure when exactly she fell asleep, but remembered later that she had forgotten to recite her list.
Finally got to that kiss. Woo! Hopefully wasn't too rushed for you. I'm trying to juggle doing homework and writing. Sometimes I just like to write. I have a good idea of the next chapter so perhaps I'll have a little more time to work on it this weekend, otherwise it may have to wait until next weekend. Classes start Monday so I can't devote as much time to this as I would like.
Happy reading!
-Pawprynt