After setting afoot on the shore Myrna still felt a bit rocky despite being on solid ground now. She studied the busy town past the docking area. It was much livelier than Maidenpool. Peasant people made their way up and down alleyways as others tried selling goods under canopies made with colorful, inviting fabric. Before they left the ferry Myrna and Sandor made an agreement with her acquaintance, who she now knew he went by the name of Tod, that in return for some coin he would give them a ride most of the way towards their destination. They accepted, especially Myrna. Her legs still ached from their previous walk through the forest even after their rest traveling on the ferry. Sandor was not too keen on spending so much coin at once.

"You sure it's not walkable?" Sandor complained as the two of them followed Tod down a heavily trafficked pathway.

They moved aside as a cart went rolling by. "If we're walking then you'll have to carry me. I'm not taking one more step if it can be helped," Myrna replied. For a moment she took in how silly he kind of looked, carrying a sword on his belt but wearing no real armor. Just his green-gray tunic and trousers with some muddy boots. Or perhaps she was still not used to seeing him in this fashion.

He went on to tease her, as usual. "You talk big for a tiny thing. You think you can command me like I'm your dog?" he spat.

"By the Gods, I was not commanding you to do anything. I said if," she emphasized. "And to be honest, I do not remember the way there. The first time I arrived I was unconscious. They nursed me back to health," she reminded him.

Tod had lead them to a busy inn, but they were not going inside. A few wagons were parked along the side where the main road was, and Tod was fetching his horse from the stable that lied on the other end of the inn. Myrna and Sandor stepped out of the heavy traffic and stood near the wagons. She had caught him eyeing up the entrance of the inn watching people enter and exit. Knowing he was thinking of catching a quick drink she gave him a scolding look that made him frown and she had a taunting tone to her voice. "I thought you wanted to save coin?"

He groaned. "Oh, bugger off…"

Before they could enter another argument Tod crossed them leading a brown and white mare towards his wagon and they followed. Tod instructed them to jump on the wagon that was stacked with wooden boxes, most of them covered in white sheets.

Sandor had to squeeze himself in. It seemed Tod was not expecting more cargo as the wagon was almost filled. There was just enough room for Myrna to sit on the edge and let her skinny legs dangle. When the wagon initially started to move Myrna felt her stomach drop as the jerk almost made her fall off but Sandor grabbed a good hold of the back of her shirt. The horses pace picked up once they finally left the major town and there was no pedestrians to worry of. Myrna could see the rush of the Blue Fork once more now that there were no buildings in the way. Grass fields expanded as far as they could see in every direction. It was like a green sea. They followed alongside the Blue Fork for most of the afternoon.

Despite the sun being high in the sky with only little clouds crawling across it there was a chill in the air. When she went to run her fingers over the wooden hilt of her dagger that was resting under her belt it was cold to touch. Lately she had no use for it, which she preferred.

The wagon came to a slow, creaking stop in just a short hour. Not being able to speak to Tod where she was, Myrna slid off the wagon and landed on her feet. She would have rubbed her sore rear if Sandor had not been right behind her. When she approached the front of the wagon she saw Tod had already been leaning over to speak with them, still sitting at the front seat.

"See this fork in the road?" he pointed in front of them at it. "Youse will be taking the one on the right. I will be heading left. I would say youse will be at Dontin's village 'fore the sun sets. Wish ye good travels! I am sure we will see each other again if youse do stay there!" he waved and ordered his horse to accelerate once more, lugging the full wagon behind it.

They let the wagon roll on by before starting their hike. "Who the hell is Dontin?" Sandor rasped a question.

"The Elder. Thalina is his wife, and they have two children-"

"I just asked who Dontin was, not his whole fucking family," he interrupted.

Myrna pouted. "Everything is going so well. In fact, better than I thought. You can have a better attitude than that," she whined. "The bloody weather is even in favor of us!"

"Oh, good. Why don't we thank the Gods for all the wonderful things they have done for us as of late," Sandor scoffed.

She hesitated but let herself open up. "At least we always had each other," she said quietly and looked straight down the path they were on. Myrna could feel his gaze but he said nothing. She did not expect him to reply to something in that manner.

Soon the road began to slope down. In the far distance a little town was nestled not too far from the Blue Fork. All around it was fields of tall grass and the cool wind would send waves of swaying grass all the way down the hill and past the town. It was too far to tell, but it seemed no people wandered the small streets within it. Myrna would not judge yet, but Sandor decided to put his word in.

"I have never been here before but I don't think this is the place," his voice a deep, concerning tone.

She sighed. "Let us get closer before we jump to any conclusions…"

Both of them picked up their pace. Myrna's legs felt heavy and strained. All she wished for was her old home within this town that she was sure she lived in. Sandor tried to hide it but she could hear his labored breathing.

"Do we need to slow down?" she fairly asked him but Sandor took it as a jab. He scowled and ignored her question, only to pick up his pace more and going ahead of her. Myrna made a disgruntled noise and tried to stay close behind him by picking up even more speed with her tired legs.

As the town grew larger from the distance closing in between them she instantly recognized the town. "This is it!" Myrna exclaimed from behind him as she approached one of the tiny village's entrances. Sandor entered and then she did shortly after. It was merely an opening of the low wooden railing that bordered the outermost lodges. When she entered she could not help but take in the feeling of a ghost town. Initially not seeing anybody while they were still outside the village did not bother her but now she was wandering amidst the place and still no one was there.

Sandor called out to her as he neared the other end of the village while she was peering through a foggy window of a small house. When she hurried along and followed his finger at what he pointed at she was confused. They saw a crowd and smoke rising near them beyond the northern entrance. All they could do was investigate and so they did. They made their way through the village and out the northern entrance towards where the people had gathered. Myrna stared hard at them, but doubted she could tell if she knew any of them just by looking at their backsides, except for maybe one person. They all faced north and once they were close enough they saw the source of the smoke.

"A funeral pyre," Sandor stopped as he noted that and so did Myrna.

Myrna put her hand to her chest. "I hope it's not the elder's wife. She was our ticket in," she explained.

"How old was she?" he asked.

"Old enough that I would not be surprised if she had died," she sounded sad.

"Hmph. Standing here is not doing us any good. Go over there and see if you can recognize anybody."

"What? Just interrupt a funeral?"

"It's not interrupting if you are as friendly with these people as you claim to be. Don't you want to say goodbye if it is someone you know?"

That made her think. "Fine. Wait here," she told him and stepped towards the crowd.

Myrna entered with one shoulder leading the way to squeeze between the outer ring of people. Then she broke through the next ring, and the next and soon she was able to make out the stacks of flaming wood that were tied together with an outline of a body lying within the flame. She could not tell who it was.

When she took a peek at some of the faces around her she thought she recognized some of them, but they were not people she had talked to regularly. Now that she was within the crowd she was puzzled at the amount of people that were there. There's no way this is just the villagers. People must have come from other places. That thought scared her more. This was no common peasant that died. What if the elder's wife really did die?

A loud sob drew some attention towards the front, including Myrna's. It was loud but soft. A woman's cry. Trying to look between the heads of the people in the way she tried to see who it was. With that failing, she decided to close in. Once again she excused herself and threaded herself between people, trying to keep her head down to avoid bothering anyone more than she was. From behind she saw a frail old lady with her thin gray hair tied back in a long pony tail that reached her tailbone. That long pony tail told her what she needed to know.

She's alive, Myrna stopped and found herself smiling. Yet, as soon as she smiled she frowned again. Someone still had passed away and she doesn't know who it was. She watched from afar the lady that took her in a few years back with her face in her hands. Not wanting to interrupt any more than she had, she decided to return to Sandor and wait for the crowd to disperse. Since no speeches were being made they assumed this was the end of the funeral and any time now people would be going back home. They were correct, and people circled around them as they trickled up the hill towards the village. Some headed in other directions, probably people who had visited from nearby villages as Myrna had assumed. They stood there for some time before the old lady finally started to wander back towards the village. When Myrna's eyes connected with hers she could see the surprise visibly appear on her worn face.

"Oh, Gods. I must be seeing things," she put her damp handkerchief over her mouth as she blinked her gray eyes with heavy wrinkles and spots formed around them. "Ina?"

Myrna smiled at the familiar face and approached with her arms opening for an embrace. "I've missed you, Thalina!" and her embrace was returned by the old woman.

Thalina found the strength to grab Myrna by the arms after their hug and gave her a look from toe to head. "What in seven hells happened to you, my child!? Oh, and your clothes. It is as if you have been sleeping in mud the past few weeks! And if I may say it smells like it, too…" she wrinkled her nose.

Not knowing where to begin, she shook her head. "I can explain later. But first…" she looked off to the pyre. "Who died?"

"My husband…" Thalina softly replied.

"I'm so sorry," Myrna embraced her once more. "Is there anything I can do?"

The old woman shook her head. "We have decided that our eldest son, Ryler, will be our new elder. It's only fitting," she explained. "There is some problems we have, but… oh that can wait for another time. You're back. The Gods have not left me alone…" she began to tear up again. Then her head perked up when she looked beyond Myrna. "What is he doing here?"

Myrna looked back at Sandor and saw him look at Thalina. "I've never met you, woman…"

"I know who you are, though. That burn. You're the late king's guard dog," she explained.

Before Myrna began to defend him, she played back what Thalina had just said. "What do you mean the late king?"

"Oh, don't you know child? The news spread quickly. King Joffrey is dead. Prince Tommen is said to take his place on the throne!"

Joffrey's dead... Her and Sandor both looked at each other in disbelief. Joffrey's really dead! That news brought joy to her. She wished to know the details but right now she was not Myrna Beaumont. Right now she was never captured and brought to Joffrey to be a play thing along with Sansa Stark. She was Ina Rivers, and Ina Rivers has no business with King Joffrey Baratheon, dead or alive. "How sad," she faked her sorrow.

"Ina, I heard he was not a person to be missed!" she laughed at that.

If only you knew. Myrna forced a polite smile. She decided now it was best to switch topics. "We need a place to stay, Thalina… You are our last chance to have a place to call home!" Thalina squinted at Sandor. Myrna knew Sandor was probably glaring back at the old lady without even needing to look. Unfortunately Sandor seemed to be right all along and that he could not pass as someone else. His burn was well known even to people out in the middle of nowhere. "I will explain everything if you take us back to the village," she pleaded.

"You are always welcome, Ina. I am just not too sure how having The Hound around will benefit us. We are not looking to become involved in wanted criminals," she crossed her arms, handkerchief still in her wrinkly hand.

"If it weren't for him I'd be dead," she informed Thalina. It was true, but they obviously could not tell the real story if Thalina ever asked. If Sandor had never broke her out of Kings Landing she'd be married to Gregor and would have ended up like the rest of his wives. For a moment Myrna wondered what happened to Gregor. Probably out searching for them, surely. Will he ever stop hounding her?

Thalina made a humming sound before replying. "If this is true, I owe you, ser…"

Before Sandor could open his mouth Myrna said it for him. "He's not a knight, Thalina. No need to say that title," she smiled at him. He closed his mouth and his ruined side of his face twitched, as if he could tell he was being teased by her.

They were lead back to the village. Thalina welcomed them into her home which was quite larger than the other houses that surrounded it and it was in the very heart of the village. When they first entered the smell of rabbit stew pleased her nose and made her belly growl. Her eyes traveled the interior of Thalina's home to see if it had changed over the past year of her absence. She had spent a lot of time in here when she was healing from her malnourishment. She blocked out the painful memories that lead her to coming here in the first place.

Thalina's fireplace was made of beautiful stone and was easily the best spot in the place. A painting of Elder Dontin hung over the mahogany mantel with candles lit in a row underneath it. Directly in front of the fireplace was her dining table made out of fine mahogany wood with four matching chairs, two on opposing sides. Way off to the very left of the room were the stairs that lead up to the second floor where they slept and stored various things such as the wooden bath tubs. Early in her previous stay that was where she was kept, resting on one of the feather filled mattresses. To the right of the fireplace was the small kitchen area and another smaller table and rocking chair that sat by a large window.

When Sandor went to grab one of the chairs and pull it out Thalina made a loud gasp. "Oh, wait! Not that chair…" she reached her hands out towards Sandor. He let go of it and gave her a puzzled stare and looked to Myrna for guidance.

"That was her husband's chair…" Myrna recalled and informed him, grabbing a chair on the other side of the table and sat down.

The awkward encounter left everyone quiet, and Sandor walked around the table to sit next to Myrna as Thalina fixed up bowls of rabbit stew for them. A knock on the door gained their attention and Thalina wiped her hands down her skirt. "I am so sorry. Ina, can you bring the bowls to you and your friend? I fear this will be happening a lot lately. Everyone is worried about me, I assume…"

Nodding, Myrna stood up and went to fetch the two small wooden bowls of steaming stew that had a metal utensil in each one. It looked so delicious. When she turned around with one bowl in each hand she saw Thalina opening the door and stepping out slightly to speak to someone. Myrna placed Sandor's bowl in front of him before sitting down with hers. He hastily grabbed it and began stuffing his face. It was their first hot meal in a long time. Even though Myrna was hungry, she did not eat as quick for her attention kept being drawn to Thalina standing at the door.

"Is this where you lived?" he asked now that they had a moment, mouth full of food.

Myrna swallowed what she had before answering. "For a short time while I was ill. When I recovered she gave me her daughter's lodge," she quietly responded, not wanting Thalina to hear her and think of another family member she had lost. "She died young…"

"Hm," was all he had to say about that and kept putting big spoonfuls of stew in his mouth.

Finally the door closed and Thalina made her way back towards the table with a small smile with something in her hand. When she placed it down on the table Myrna saw it was some type of pie. "People here are so sweet. Do you remember Rosie and her husband, Ina? They made me this pie," Thalina pulled a chair out and sat down with a sigh of relief. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. If you want, you can have your old place back. We did house some travelers in there for a few moons but they had to leave. A good thing, after all, now that you are back," she smiled a little more.

"And he's welcomed, too?" Myrna asked sternly.

Sandor looked at Myrna and then at Thalina. Thalina seemed to be bothered by it, but Myrna felt it was more than just him being The Hound. She could not put her finger on it, but in any way she was relieved with Thalina's response. "Yes. He's welcomed in this village, for now…"

It worked. Their plan actually work. They now had a roof over their head and food every day. All these positive filled thoughts flooded through her head and they were reality. Myrna could not help but grin. "Thank you so much, Thalina. You have no idea how happy this makes me!"

"No need to thank me," she directed her smile at Myrna. "Now, finish up. I have something to give you when you're done.

Their meal was peaceful and plentiful. When Sandor took his last bite he dropped his spoon in the wooden bowl and stretched his legs as he sat. Soon after Myrna finished but as she was about to put her spoon down the entrance door swung open harshly so she dropped it in her bowl out of fright. Sandor straightened up and put his hands on the table as if ready to charge at the intruder but it turned out to be a false alarm.

"Oh, Ryler! You've finally returned," Thalina, who was sitting by the large window, sat up and went to give her son a warm hug but his eyes were on them and did not respond to his mother.

He had grown more masculine since the last time she had seen him. They were never ones to talk much, but Myrna was around him plenty as she helped Thalina so often before. He had dirty blonde hair that reached his shoulders and the same gray eyes his mother had. Ryler would help with hard work out in the fields, so his skin was a few shades darker than his parents. Today he was not dressed for field work but had on the nicest clothes he probably owned for his father's funeral. Myrna could not recall seeing him there, however. It was strange to think now this young man was to be the new elder of this village.

"Ina's back?" he asked but it was difficult to discern who he was talking to. His mother replied anyway, putting her rejected arms down.

"Why, yes. Isn't that lovely? And we have some more muscle, too, for the village…" she was referring to Sandor. Myrna caught the hint that maybe she was going to keep his identity a secret for a while from the others if they did not know. "Why don't you show him around? I need to speak to Ina alone," she smiled cautiously at them.

Not wanting to be rude Myrna turned to Sandor. "I will find you after," she calmly told him.

It was obvious he did not want to part ways but they had little choice if they wanted to please their hosts. Sandor let out a sharp exhale through his nose and scooted the chair back as he stood up. Ryler gave Ina one final rigid stare before turning his back to them and left again, Sandor at his trail. Thalina was already fumbling through this small box she had sitting against a wall as they left and walked towards Myrna when she found something.

"I made this for you, before you disappeared. I finished it in hopes you would return one day and wear it. That there was just some mistake. Looks like I was right," Thalina held a folded up piece of clothing in her bony, wrinkled hands. When she unfolded it a skirt fell, and she pinched the top of the sleeves to hold it up. It was a plain dark green dress with fluted sleeves and some lacing in the back, but that was almost as best as you could do for a small town like this. It was almost as nice as the old lady's clothes, Thalina being part of the head family here.

A dress… Myrna felt like frowning but she made herself smile. "How lovely," she complimented it but she did not want to wear it. The only reason she would right now was to get out of her currently filthy clothes. Perhaps she could wash them on the next laundry day and then wear them again.

When Thalina handed Myrna the dress she grabbed her arm. It surprised Myrna. "You know… with you here again… it feels like I have a daughter again," she sounded doleful. A peasant life was hard. You often lost people. No one cares if you are sick or dying. Myrna pitied her, and wanted to comfort her, but she could not be someone else's daughter.

"You will see your daughter again someday. I promise," Myrna gently removed Thalina's hands off of her without letting go of the dress.

Thalina looked down at the floor and held herself. "I… Yes, I know, Ina… I know…" she croaked.

"Thank you so much for this dress," Myrna expressed her thanks again so she would not come off so harsh.

It seemed Thalina did not hear her, or maybe did not want to hear. "Ina, you just missed bath night I am afraid. Won't have another for at least a week or so. I hope you remember your way to the pond? I don't mean to sound unkind but…"

"No, it is fine. I know I must not smell that… wonderful…" she held the dress closer to her and now she was the one looking down at her feet.

They said their farewells and Myrna agreed to come back to her house once she was finished. Once Myrna pushed the door open she noticed the sun was slowly beginning to set in the west. Not knowing where Ryler took Sandor Myrna decided to bathe first. In a way she was looking forward to some peace away from people.

Myrna walked her way through the Northern exit and looked at the field where everyone had gathered. Now no one was near the pyre. The smoke had decreased and the wood seemed to have almost collapsed on one another from burning so long. She wondered if they would return tomorrow for his remains. Turning her head away from the sight, she headed west towards the setting sun through tall blades of grass. The brightness of the sun made her need to squint her eyes. The pond was not so easy to see from a distance, for there was literally nothing around it except grass. She knew the walk was not too long if she just followed the sun.

Eventually she stumbled upon it. The blades of grass ended and there was a patch of dirt before the edge of the water. There was no shore, just a drop. She had never actually bathed in here before. The only reason she ever came here was to just fetch pails of water for the bath tub. It could be too deep for her. Myrna sat crossed-legged and sat her dress and dagger down next to her until a shuffle behind her made her turn her head around.

"What are you doing here!? You're supposed to be taking a tour with Ryler," she questioned.

Sandor ignored her and began to take off his shirt, and then his trousers. Myrna had no choice but to look down at the dirt until she heard the water splash as he entered. It was as she suspected that the water was deeper than she could handle when she looked back at him. Sandor was only a couple feet in and the water rose up to his waist. Also she took note of his shoulder. It was still bruised and looked painful but he never complained about it.

"What do you think? I followed you. There's no way in the Seven hells I'm letting you wander out on your own when you just told me some guy kidnapped you in this area," he boasted. "You can bathe, too. Don't be shy. I've seen naked women before," he splashed his arms and chest.

Myrna outright refused but her tone was not as sharp as it would have been if he had not shown some compassion just now. "Whores, you mean. You ought to treat me with more respect. I just found us a place to stay!" When she said that out loud it made her think of him sleeping with the whores in Kings Landing, or wherever he stayed. Every man did sleep with whores at some point. It was common. Right now she noticed that the thought bothered her. He has coin now… she remembered as she saw the pouch sitting on top of the dirty trousers lying near her and recalled there being a small brothel in Fairmarket. Would he…?

He approached her for what she thought was to argue with her at a closer range, but he reached out for her waist and grabbed hold of her. In a second she was pulled in and the freezing temperature of the water electrified her. For a second she was submerged, and she flailed hard enough to get her head over the surface of the water. Myrna let out a fear filled scream and clutched her arms around his bare, slippery waist. Her feet searching for something to stand on. Since her eyes were closed she could not see Sandor but she felt his massive hands grab hold of her again by her waist and lift her up. She adjusted herself to grab him around his neck. "What is this? Can you not swim? Oh, that's bloody sweet," he grinned wickedly.

"Put me back on the ground right now!" she yelled at him, wet hair sticking to her face. That only made him go deeper. Now the water really was up to his shoulders and she had to be face levelled with him as she hung on. Her heart palpitated as she surveyed the water surrounding her. Right now her clothes were absolutely soaked and weighed her down. Then there was the thought of his lack of clothing and how close she was to him. But if Sandor was not there, she would be drowning. "This is torture," she whined.

"This is fun. Why are all Northern women afraid of a little fun?"

"In the North our lakes are frozen so we don't swim," sarcasm found its way out of her despite her fear. Something in her made her look at him in the eyes. Another fluttery feeling overwhelmed her, but she felt this more in her stomach than her chest.

He had a soft gaze right now. It was a look she had seen rarely. Like the time they exchanged looks back when they were caught at Kings Landing and were forced to be separated. When he looked that way it seemed he longed for something. "Alright. I might have gone too far. If you really want to go back I'll take you there," he whispered, but it came out hoarse.

Myrna suddenly felt the urge to stay. Perhaps she missed the way he looked at her like how he was right now. She shook her head. "We can stay a little while longer. After this I'll be forced to put a dress on anyway…"

His good eye widened at her answer. "Aye," he agreed.