A/N: Disclaimers
- I don't gain anything by this. The characters & story are the brilliant work of GRRM. And the title of the fic is taken from Loreena McKennitt's, Dante's Prayer which is a huge inspiration for this story ;)
*My betas: swiftsnowmane, onborrowedwings & gingerbeer48, thanks for always delivering great feedback and for helping me out with this! :D
- The story though mainly book canon, can still apply for the HBO show (I don't anything from the tv show either).
- The story will contain dialogue from both the books and the show from now on.
12. The Three Bells
A/N: There isn't much information about Norvos, so besides using what the wiki said, I made up everything else about this city. Hope you all don't mind it, and like it
Even from a reasonable distance, Sansa knew Norvos would be unlike any other city she'd ever experienced. They were deep inside the Hills of Norvos, yet the biggest mountain around was the one where the people of Great Norvos had decided to built their ancient city.
It's really more like two cities, Sansa thought as she gazed at it. There's the High City surrounding the mountain going all the way to the top, while beside the great river Noyne at the base of the mountain there's the Low City. She remembered Maester Luwin telling her that long ago.
Sansa had been in White Harbor, King's Landing and Pentos, yet this city made her feel as nervous and excited as she'd ever felt when first laying eyes upon the former three. We're finally here! We made it to Norvos after all! Those thoughts filled her with such happiness she would have danced and broken into a song upon the Valyrian road had it not been a gateway for caravans and travelers both entering and leaving the city's main gates. We must try to remain as unnoticed as possible, she recalled, before remembering that she was feeling far too tired and sore for dancing anyways.
Dusk was an hour away when they reached the main gates of the city. Earlier that day they had seen more people and come upon at least three villages and a manse and a terraced farm, all surrounded by pine forests. It was as though they were finally seeing all the villages that had seemingly vanished during the past weary weeks of solitude. Now, as they approached the gates, the imposing sight of the city protected among hills and mountains that had stood since before the Andals crossed the Narrow Sea to Westeros, took Sansa's breath away.
She looked towards Sandor to find him silently taking in the sight of the High City, craning his neck to get a better look. He dismounted from Stranger while she rode Nan. There were pine trees all about them and a slight fog misted the air.
"Ready?" Sandor asked beside her, his hood swallowing his face. So long as he kept his face down, you could not see his face, only the whites of his eyes, peering out.
"Keep your head down and your mouth closed, little bird."
She nodded and together they moved towards this strange, far away land- a land where Sansa Stark would never have even dreamed possible to find herself a year ago. The guards at the gate stopped them, eyeing Sandor with no fear.
"What's your business in this city?" One of them asked Sandor as his companion walked over towards Sansa, eyeing her saddlebag. Sansa noticed that instead of swords the guards had menacing looking longaxes as their weapon.
Sandor put on a respectful tone and replied, "Looking for whatever employment I can find here."
"You're not from the Free Cities?" the second guard remarked.
"No, we come from Westeros."
"That's a long way from Great Norvos."
Sandor shrugged. "We know. We just spent many weeks on the road, and the hope of finding a better life gave us the strength for this long journey."
The guards then gave Sansa a cursory glance, and the taller of the two asked her if she was looking for employment as well.
Sansa mumbled that she wasn't, keeping her eyes down and her face hidden. "I've only come to keep my husband company."
Sandor and the guards all looked at her at that, yet Sansa didn't flinch. She was playing her part. Sandor thankfully didn't do anything either, so after waiting patiently on the guards' lesisure for a moment, they were finally allowed into the city, after they paid the usual tax charged for their entrance.
Sansa was so excited that they'd made it through the gates that she couldn't keep the wide grin that came to her face hidden. As Sandor walked in front of her, each of his hands leading the reins of the horses, he turned to look at her and snorted, lowering his hood.
She made a face. Well, what else would you have me tell them? That I was a princess in exile and you my sworn shield? She thought in her own defense. Yet she didn't say anything, she just kept on beaming as Sandor started looking ahead of him again. Sansa looked around her, giddy with excitement.
They were in the Low City, and Sansa could see the Noyne nearby with the poorest little shacks besides its banks. As the city moved farther from the river and closer to the foot of the mountain where the High City could be seen above them, the houses and buildings increased in numbers, so close to one other that they made Sansa feel a bit cramped. All the streets she saw so far were made of cobblestone, and as she and Sandor walked nearer towards the mountain, streets with steps appeared.
Sansa noticed two things right away: first, that everyone in this part of the city, whether they were wealthier than others or not, were considered the common folk of Norvos, and secondly, that the people here weren't as laid-back as the Pentoshi. Here everyone was briskly walking this way and that, looking ahead of them but not really seeing anything, whereas in Pentos time really did seem to stop, so leisurely had the Pentoshi gone about their daily lives. But so far as Sansa could see the Norvoshi barely paid either Sandor or her attention. Of course there were exceptions; little boys playing with a ball in a corner of a street where Sansa gladly noticed a garden nearby adding to the view, stopped their play when they saw Sandor towering over them, casting a long shadow as he passed them by. And then a little girl teasing a kitten stopped to look up at her with wide eyes. Yet what Sansa noticed most were the men: from young to old, their eyes glancing quickly at her face and chest, and there were even two who grinned and winked at her. Sansa felt a bit flustered and could feel herself growing red, and she glanced at Sandor's back to make sure he hadn't noticed anything.
They didn't have much luck with the first two inns they found, as the first one was located beside a brothel and the second one had no rooms available, besides being a bit scary looking. Sandor even began asking strangers if they knew where there was an inn, but it was only after he stopped a Norvoshi with a bursting blue mustachio that they had any luck, for the man spoke the Common Tongue.
"You're from Westeros?" he asked Sandor, looking at his face without revulsion. In fact, Sansa saw a flicker of kindness in his eyes.
"Why would you think so?"
"Well, it's clear you're not from around here. You pronounce your r's too short and your n's too long, but your accent gives you away easily enough. My father was from Saltpans, and even though he lived half his life here in Norvos after he married my dear mother, he never quite lost his accent. Thus, I can tell you hail from the Sunset Kingdoms, though the exact place I do not know."
Sandor grunted, dismissing that. "Do you happen to know where there's a respectable inn in this bloody city?"
The man laughed before he looked over at Sansa with a smile and gave her a ridiculously low bow. Sansa giggled. He was not a handsome man, yet he could be called comely with his blue eyes and blond hair, if not for that ridiculous blue mustachio ruining the effect. Though from what I've seen so far, he is one of the less strange looking Norvoshi so far…
"I bet you've been to Nunoc's Den then and didn't find it to your liking?" the man continued.
Sandor shrugged. "Was that the one by the whorehouse or the one with blood stains on the wall of the common room?"
"The one with the blood stains… But you're in luck. I live at The Three Bells boarding house and inn. There's an empty house at present, and I'm ready to bet the contents of my purse that you'll not refuse it once you lay your eyes upon it."
Sandor looked over at Sansa, and she nodded. We can at least look at it. She liked this man and hoped he was indeed as honest and kind as he appeared so far.
"And how do we find it?" Sandor asked.
"Come, I'll take you. I live there, so it isn't much trouble."
Sandor nodded and began walking beside the man down the street. Since Sansa was riding Nan behind them, she had to raise her voice as she called out to the man, "Pray excuse me, but what is your name?"
The Norvoshi turned his head to look at her and said, "I'm Vintos Lorann, and it's an honour to meet you…?"
"Oh, I'm Alysanne Mallister," she lied quickly. "And the honor is ours."
The man tipped his head at her again before he looked over at Sandor expectantly. Sandor tried to ignore Vintos' stare for a moment, but finally said that he was Edric Goodbrook. Before Vintos could remark upon that Sandor went on, "So how does this boarding thing work?"
"Well, there are five small houses at the back of the inn, and we all eat at the common room. The children of the innkeep clean the house and make the beds, bring water for bathing… It's very comfortable really. I was married four months ago and my wife and I both agree that it's the best way to get used to married life."
Sansa could feel herself blushing yet again. Does he think we're married too or just… together? She didn't know what to say, so she kept quiet, as did Sandor. Vintos was about to say something when a bell, far away and with a high-pitched sound, began to ring from the High City, though the noise it was making was so loud everyone in the Low City could clearly hear it as well.
"What the bloody hells is that for?" Sandor asked loudly, before Sansa covered her ears with her hands. In King's Landing the bells of Baelor's Sept would ring whenever a king or a high septon died. Sansa remembered then the day her father had fallen from grace; the day King Robert had died and she had been locked up in a tower with a crying Jeyne Poole. Will they ring the bells as well when Joffrey dies?
When the bell finally ceased ringing, she asked Vintos if someone important had died today.
"Died?" Vintos repeated, frowning. "No, no. That was only Nyel announcing dusk."
"What?" asked Sandor and Sansa at the exact moment.
Vintos laughed. "Oh sweet gods, how long are you planning on staying in Great Norvos?"
"We're not sure yet…" Sansa informed him, hesitantly. "Why?"
"Because my friends, you two have much to learn. Nyel is one of the three bells of Norvos- hence the name of the inn I'm taking you to. Here we have three bells to announce the passing hours of each day. At dawn Noom is heard, its deep sound telling the city of the coming of a new day. Then at midday and midnight the strong sound of Narrah rings, and the one you just heard is Nyel, which has just informed us that dusk is here."
Sandor snorted at that as they took a turn to the left. "You mean to tell me that we will have to hear theses bells rattling on four times a day to let us know the time?"
Vintos nodded. "You'll get used to them sooner than you think, don't worry."
Sansa wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or not. I may not mind the noise after a time, but poor Sandor will… Sandor spoke with Vintos something, but their voices were too low to hear, so Sansa's thoughts wondered as she looked at the houses and people around her. So far Norvos was so different from Pentos that Sansa wasn't sure what to make of it. Yet she reminded herself that the first night she and Sandor had spent in Pentos, she had been too nervous to enjoy it. In a few days time I'm going to like it here just as much as I did Pentos. Besides, Vintos seems like a decent man. Maybe he will help us learn our way around the city sooner than we would have were we on our own.
After winding left and right through yet more streets, Sansa could now see the High City with more detail, since they were indeed drawing closer to the foot of the mountain. From where she was Sansa could see manses and temples with golden domes up on the higher levels of the city, along with square brick towers and beautiful terraced houses. That's where the highborn Norvoshi could be found.
"How does one get to the High City?" she asked Vintos.
Sandor looked up at the wealthiest part of Norvos as Vintos waved a hand to their left. "Over at Rozzo's Square by the main market you'll find the Sinner's Steps which lead up to the High City. That's the only way one can get there, I believe."
"You've never been there?" she asked.
Vintos shook his head at that. "Me? Oh no, only the richest and most privileged get to cross the gates to the High City. Down here, we are all free to go where we please, but you need an invitation to step through the golden gates."
"What's that big building right at the top?" Sandor asked, pointing.
"That's the temple of the Bearded Priests. They rule the city along with the High Magister."
Sansa knew what magisters, high or low, were and what they did, but she had never heard of these Bearded Priests.
"Those who guard the gates into the city are trained by the Bearded Priests, aren't they?" Sandor asked Vintos.
Sansa arched an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"
"Long story," Sandor said, dismissively. "But if I remember correctly these guards are just as dangerous as Unsullied, right?"
"Oh yes," Vintos agreed. "Unsullied and men trained by the Bearded Priests are married to their axes are the best fighters in the world. And you can find them both here."
"We saw Unsullied in Pentos," Sansa remarked.
"But they weren't the real thing li- Alysanne. Those were just fat eunuchs. There are real Unsullied up in the High City, aren't there?"
Vintos nodded and Sansa saw his eyes fall upon the sword at Sandor's side. Just then, he stopped in front of a large yellow house, with a painted sign of three bells hanging above the entrance to the building.
"Here it is! The Three Bells Inn. It's owned by Medra, a good woman- I've known her since I was just a lad so she's practically family. But beware crossing her path when she is in a temper. I still have headaches from the blows to the head she gave me with her cooking spoon. When I was a boy, you see, stealing wintercakes right out of the oven. Well, I still do so maybe that's why I can remember the pain so well."
The mention of wintercakes made Sansa lift up her head. "Does she make lemon cakes as well?"
Vintos told her that he didn't think so. "I can't say she would say no if you told her how they were done though."
Sandor took down his hood as he led Stranger and Nan to the stable besides the house. A boy who Sansa guessed was the same age as Robb when she'd last seen him stepped forward. Sandor told him in his best Valyrian not to touch Stranger. He whispered something to the big black stallion and led him into an empty stall while Vintos talked with her.
"I'm sure you'll like it here. And if you decide to stay maybe in a couple of days you and Edric would like to join us at my house for dinner so you can meet my wife?"
Sansa smiled. "Oh yes, we would love to. What's your wife's name?"
Vintos beamed as Sansa's interest, "Frema, the sweetest word for the sweetest woman in the world. It means "joy" in Norvoshi. We were married four months ago, but I've told you that already, haven't I? I think you two would get along splendidly."
Sansa told him that she was looking forward to meeting Frema, just as Sandor came out of the stall. He dropped Stranger's saddle on the ground next to Nan and walked over to Sansa to help her from the chestnut mare. Without a word he placed his warm, strong hands on her waist and as he pulled her from her horse as lightly as if she were a feather, down Nan, Sansa's hands moved to his arms for support, noticing how steady they were. When he had settled her gently on the floor it took them a moment to realize that Sandor's hands were still holding her waist, and she was still clutching at his arms. Their eyes met, and for the briefest of moments he leaned down ever so slightly towards her, sending butterflies fluttering inside Sansa's tummy. But then Sandor blinked and drew back, letting her go. He had helped her from her horse before, yet this had felt and been different! She was sure of it…
Vintos must have seen whatever passed between her eyes and Sandor's, because he coughed discretely before saying, "Let's see if Medra has given away the empty house."
Sansa handed Nan's reins over to the stable lad who reminded her of Robb before following Vintos into the house, Sandor beside her, a saddle under each of his arms.
"You'll get a reward if you wash and feed and water the mare," Sandor called over to the boy. "But don't touch the black horse. I'll come to take care of him myself later."
The first thing Sansa saw was a large fleshy woman in an apron walking towards her and Sandor, to meet Vintos.
"There you are, Vintos! Haven't seen you all day long. How was work?"
"The same as usual, Medra. I expect Frema is waiting for me right now with my dinner. But before I go to her I wanted to introduce you to my new friends who happen to be looking for a place to stay."
The innkeep Medra looked over at Sansa and then at Sandor. "You assure me they won't be trouble?"
Vintos shook his head. "Of course they won't! You do have the empty house still available, don't you?"
"I do," Medra continued. "For them as have coin. Would you like to take a look at it?"
"Yes," grunted Sandor while Sansa smiled to soften Sandor's blunt reply.
Medra scratched the back of her head as she asked them how long they would be staying.
Sansa looked around the common room. It was round and yellow, just as the rest of the house, and at present some locals and guests were sitting at different tables, as a fireplace warmed the room, looking over at the as the newcomers with ill-concealed interest.
"We don't know, but we'll pay you for a week right now," Sandor informed her.
"And what would your names be?"
"I'm Alysanne and this is Edric. We're from Westeros."
"All right then, follow me." She ordered a woman, who looked like a younger version of Medra and the stable boy, to take care of the inn as she stepped outside.
Sansa followed her, with Sandor and Vintos at her heels as the innkeep turned the corner of the inn and walked into what Sansa would have expected to be a garden or an empty courtyard. Instead it was a cobblestoned courtyard surrounded by not only the back of the inn, but by five little white one story houses. Vinto told them then that he had to go, so Sansa thanked him kindly for showing them this place. So far, there isn't any reason why we shouldn't take it, she thought as Vintos gave Sansa another low bow and a kiss on her hand before entering the first house to the right.
Night had fallen some time ago, yet Sansa was surprised to see that there was light coming from the house Medra was walking towards. Sansa wished she could hold Sandor's hand then, but his arms were full with the saddles, so instead she turned to look at him and smiled. He smiled back a little as Medra unlocked the door to the house.
The moment Sansa stepped inside she knew this was the place she wanted. While their rooms back in Pentos had felt like a home, that was because with days and time they had decorated it with their belongings into something they felt comfortable with, but this little house already felt like home to her. This is bigger than where we lived in Pentos too.
"Were you expecting someone?" Sandor asked Medra, as the house was supposed to be empty at present, yet it was lighted up everywhere with tallow candles, and even the little brazier had hot coals heating it. Only the fireplace remained unlit.
"Oh no, it's just that I like keeping things clean and ready in case something like today happens. You may very well decide to take the house just because it's well kept, after all. And my brother is a candlemaker, so we always have candles to spare."
There were three rooms, connected by a corridor, Sansa observed. In the first room a little table with a couple of chairs and the fireplace could be found; in the second room there was a copper tub, two small couches and the water basin, and a chamber pot. The last room at the back was the bedroom, with a brazier, a full length mirror with a crack at the top, a small old wardrobe and a little table beside the big bed. Sandor dropped the saddles in the second room after their little tour and followed the innkeep to the first room.
"You like what you see then?" Medra remarked, curious.
Sansa nodded and the innkeep replied, "Good. Well then, there's suckling pig tonight for dinner so come to the common room when you're ready- which better be quickly- if you want to have a bite."
"Will you please send hot water for the bath?" Sansa said.
"Aye, I'll tell my sons to help with that. Here," she said, turning to Sandor. "Take the key to the house."
"Is there a water pump and a well where I can wash up?" Sandor inquired.
"Aye, it's behind the stables though."
"Makes no diffrence."
When Medra was gone, Sandor locked the front door. When he turned around and looked at her, Sansa she couldn't hide her smile any longer.
"I take it you like it then?" he grinned at the sight of her face.
She nodded vigorously. "Yes, oh Sandor, gods be good, I cannot believe that we've been so lucky in our travels so far. After the second inn I was beginning to despair we wouldn't find a decent place to sleep in- let alone live- when the gods saw fit to send us Vintos!"
Sandor walked to the second room and sat on one of the couches, sighing. "Yes well, it was good that we met him so he could show us this place, but I have a feeling he is going to become an annoying presence soon, always coming around to see what we're doing and such."
Sansa couldn't help but laugh at Sandor. "He has already invited us to meet his wife, you know."
She meant to tease him and it worked. He rolled his eyes incredulously making Sansa laugh harder.
"Oh come on, you don't dislike him so much, else you would have bitten his head off with one of those nasty remarks you are so good at."
"If I haven't it's because I needed him to bring us here. But I'll start on the morrow."
"Oh no you won't," Sansa warned him. "He is the first friend we have since Captain Iytus Mollaris and we can't repay him like that."
Sandor snorted but seemed to relent, so she offered him her hand and said happily, "Come."
Sandor arched an eyebrow at her. "Where? This old couch is the first time I've been able to sit on anything that isn't a rock or Stranger's saddle in weeks, little bird."
Sansa grabbed his hand. "We haven't tried the bed."
Sandor's eyes quickly met hers at that, but she behaved as if nothing was amiss, tugging at his arm to make him stand up. He did after a moment of wary tense silence, following her into the bedroom, their hands entwined.
Sansa threw herself upon the old feather mattress and stretched across it, looking up at the white ceiling, content. Sandor sat first on the edge of the bed before he finally laid down beside her, looking up as well.
"There are no windows in this room," he remarked.
"I guess we won't need the sun's light to wake us up when we have a bell to do that."
"Seven hells," he swore. "I'd forgotten about the bloody bells! I think I'm going to go crazy here."
Sansa laughed, turning her head sideways so she could look at Sandor, the unburned side of his face to her. She took this time to quickly imagine what he would have looked like had he not grown up with the Mountain as his brother. He looks like a northman, she thought before he turned his head to look at her in return.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Sandor. I cannot imagine anyone else crossing half the world with me just so that I could keep my head on my shoulders and because I asked them too."
Sandor's grey eyes bore into her blue ones. "And I cannot imagine anyone else I would have done this for, little bird."
Sansa smiled shyly, searching for his hand out once again with hers. "Though this is a nice place, I think the only thing I need in order to be happy is having you by my side to share all this with," she admitted to him, in a whisper. We're so close.
"Sansa…" he said hoarsely before a knock at the door interrupted them. Sandor sat up quickly and was at the empty doorframe within the blink of an eye.
"Who is it?"
"We bring the water for the bath," a boy's voice replied.
Sandor looked at her briefly before walking over to the living room to open the door. Sansa was still in bed, flustered and confused, when she resignedly sat up as well. Don't let this ruin the moment. This is your first night here, enjoy it. She stood up and leaned against the doorframe, watching two boys her age bringing in pails of hot water to fill the copper tub, placing a bar of soap on the arm of one of the couches as well.
Sansa had to giggle when both of them stopped short and gaped at her with open mouths. They were wearing some funny looking floppy straw hats, but they took them off quickly enough in respect, though they seemed unable to actually say anything.
Sandor didn't look pleased at this turn of events. "What the hell are you two standing there for, letting the water grow cold?"
His rasping voice brought the brothers back to the present, for they hastily began to fill the tub, as they stole furtive glances at her. Sansa laughed once again, teasingly. When the boys left Sandor told her that while she took a bath he was going to go tend to Stranger and take a quick bath himself.
"I'll lock the door but this courtyard isn't very big so if anything happens scream and use your dagger."
"You do the same if anything happens."
When he left her, muttering about incompetent twats, Sansa undressed and stepped into the hot water before sitting down in the tub, sighing in relaxation. A hot bath after a weary journey always made her feel so good. It reminds me of the hot springs in the godswood, and of father cleaning Ice by the heart tree, and of Bran climbing up trees. She wished she could go to sleep right there, but of course she couldn't. Sandor could come in anytime, and she didn't want to think of what he would say to her then.
So when she was clean and as pink as she was as likely to get she donned her nightgown and began to brush her hair. When that was done Sandor still hadn't arrived, so she began started unpacking their things from their saddlebags. They didn't have many possessions though, so it took her very little time to put their clothes inside the wardrobe and to place her little wooden figures of the gods upon the table beside the bed. What do I do now? She wondered as her belly began to make noises, realizing how hungry she was.
She sat on their bed and took out the sheepskin maps they had acquired back in Pentos at The Hall of A Thousand Scrolls to admire how far she'd come since that time. After a while, she realized that she was starting to think of Sandor. I ought to surprise him one of these days with a nice hot warm bath just for himself. He's done so much without that little comfort for so long now.
Sandor finally came back wearing breeches and a clean shirt, along with his swordbelt.
"Are you hungry?" he said, stepping into the bedroom, noticing she was wearing her nightgown.
"I'm starving," she said, looking up. "But I feel like having supper here, not in the common room."
"All right, I'll bring the food. Wait a moment."
When he was gone, Sansa moved into the dining room and looked out one of the two windows over to the house where Vintos lived. She could see shapes moving inside and smiled at that. It's good for us to make friends. Her eyes gazed around the courtyard wondering what their other neighbors were like. She turned around and sat on one of the chairs by the table, waiting. Norvos is a lot chillier than Pentos, she thought as she gazed at the empty fireplace, idly trying to make up her mind if she wished for a fire or not. But for her hair, she was already dry and warm due to the brazier back in the bedroom, so she decided that it was all right for them not to have a fire tonight.
Sandor came back carrying the suckling hog, along with a skin of wine full to the brim (which made him grin like a fool), and a loaf of bread.
"I see you finally got your hands on some wine," she remarked.
Sandor smiled even more. "This will be my second skin."
As they devoured the pig, Sansa tried to eat it as delicately as possible but failed terribly, which made Sandor laugh. The pig's crisp skin crackled as Sandor cut it, hot juice running from the meat, steaming. Sansa's mouth watered at the smell of it.
"It's not my fault that this is so good or that I was so hungry," she said in defense, throwing the piece of bread she had been about to gobble down at his nose.
That only made him roar with laughter, so they went on with their food and wine in between laughs and giggles. When they had finally calmed down Sansa managed to remember to ask Sandor something she'd been thinking about since they met Vintos.
"Sandor, how do you know what the Bearded Priests are and that those guards over at the gate were trained by them?"
"Well, I've known about the Bearded Priests for years, little bird. They're basically members of a religious sect who keep very much to themselves, though they call themselves godly men they are also great masters of military learning. They take unwanted young boys to be raised up as elite guardsmen. These guards swear oaths of duty and consider themselves wedded to their axes. You saw the ones axes the guards at the gate were carrying, right? Well, that's their main weapon and they are so good that lords and kings from all over the world buy them to serve them for life."
Sansa found it all very interesting. Maybe I can tell Robb about them one day and he can get some for Winterfell?
"Are there any of these guards serving in the Seven Kingdoms?" she asked Sandor.
"I'm sure there are, but I only know about one. The one. Areo Hotah who serves the Prince of Dorne."
Sansa covered her mouth with her hand, gasping, remembering. How could we have forgotten? "Sandor, isn't the wife of Doran Martell from Norvos?"
Sandor instantly knew what she meant. "She is, but they've been separated for a long time so far as I know."
"I know, I remember Cersei telling me about her once. She is called Mellario and married the Prince, but though their match was one made out of love, they soon began to fight and had so many troubles that she packed her bags and returned to her homeland. What if someone from Dorne is here, visiting her, and they recognize you? After all, you are the brother of the man who killed her good-sister."
"It's all right, little bird." Sandor paused, choosing his words with care. "Mellario won't know me and it was a rare thing to see anyone from the court of Dorne at King's Landing when Robert was alive. He preferred to overlook the murders of Rhaegar's wife and children and never gave Dorne their vengeance. The most anyone might do is become suspicious at our connection to Westeros, but nothing more. Anyway, if any were here, I would think most of those poxy Dornish court fools would be over at the High City, so there isn't any chance of meeting them down here, is there?"
"I suppose…" Sansa said, only half convinced.
"Don't worry Sansa, we are safe here. I wouldn't have brought you to a place where I was likely to be recognized and killed just for being a Clegane and related to Gregor."
He smiled and even rested his hand over hers.
"I really hope you're right, Sandor, because I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you."
"I know, but don't worry, I am as good a fighter as any Unsullied or guard trained by the Bearded Peas," Sandor jested, and made a sound that might have been a laugh then and stood up. "Come, little bird. It's time we hit the hay. I don't know about you but I feel bone-tired."
He walked over to the front door and both locked and barred it before closing the little curtains by the windows. Sansa was tired too, so she stood up and walked over to the bedroom, Sandor behind her. She took out her little wooden figures of the Maiden and the Warrior and said a prayer for them to keep both Sandor and herself safe as Sandor began to take off his boots. Don't let us be recognized, please. Don't take Sandor away from me.
When she was done she looked up to see Sandor looking at her with something warm and soft in his eyes. She noticed that he was holding her brush in his hand. Her hair was almost dry by now, her auburn hair already shaped into her natural curls, a thing that didn't happen when she hadn't brushed away the tangles, so both knew that she had already used the brush for the night. Yet neither of them said anything as she sat on the bed, her back to him, waiting. Sure enough, in moments she felt him sitting on the bed and moving behind her. Sansa was happy yet she couldn't keep a couple of tears from silently falling down her cheeks as Sandor began to gently brush her hair with a delicacy surprising in such a big man. They didn't speak as he did this, each lost in their own thoughts.
When he was done Sansa lowered her head and said in a small voice, "Thank you." She was a good girl, and always remembered her courtesies, even when she felt her heart breaking.
Sandor heard her voice break and put his hands on her shoulders. "What's wrong?"
Sansa shook her head, telling him that nothing was wrong. Yet Sandor knew better. He turned her around and saw the tears glittering in her eyes, while she bit her trembling lip.
Sandor's hands cupped her face then, his thumbs brushing the tears away before he kissed her nose.
"I'm sorry," she said, as she cried a bit more. "It's just that I feel we've come to this far away land only to end up realizing it isn't so safe after all."
"Sansa, look at me," Sandor told her, still cupping her face. She did as he said and looked at him, before he continued. "Have I ever lied to you, little bird?"
She shook her head at that.
"Well then, believe me if I'm telling you that we didn't make a mistake in coming here. I've kept you safe so far, haven't I? Well, just because we are here doesn't mean things will change-"
"No, it isn't that," she interrupted, tears streaming still down her face. "I am not worried about me. I am thinking about you. I don't want you to suffer harm, Sandor."
It was interesting to see then the way Sandor's face softened. She could see his soul and his heart then through his eyes, and she could feel herself drowning in them, even through her tears.
"Nothing will happen to me, little bird. Please stop this and believe me…"
Sansa sobbed, trying to believe him, but at the sound that escaped her Sandor hugged her. She embraced him back with all her strength and buried her face in his neck, while he did the same in her hair. Whenever she was with him he always made her feel so small; small but safe, yet now it was the other way around. She hugged him as if that could save him from the dangers outside their room.
They never knew how long they knelt there upon their bed, but finally her tears went away, even if her fears didn't. When they broke apart Sandor growled low in his throat, "I can't believe you were so happy when we first entered the house only to have you break down for a trifle, silly little bird."
She gasped a laugh then, and gave him a smile. Sandor returned it sincerely as he said, "And now I really think we should get some sleep."
"Yes," she said in agreement. She stood up then, and began to pull back the blankets to make their bed ready, fussing with the feather pillows.
Sandor stood up as well and placed his sword belt by the bedpost, as he walked over to the tallow candle on the sill to blow it out. Darkness enveloped the room and but for the noises they were making, all was quiet.
Sansa got into bed and soon heard Sandor doing the same, until she felt him beside her. She was about to tell him to please hold her, but he already knew beforehand what she needed. Her back was once again to him, but he put his arm around her, bringing her closer to him, rasping softly near her ear, "Good night, Sansa Stark."
"Good night, Sandor Clegane," she replied, as she took hold of his hand and brought it near her heart.
A couple of hours later they both woke up when Narra, the bell that rang at midnight began to sound.
"What the fuck?" Sandor said, waking up. Sansa stirred beside him as he cursed, "Oh shit, it's that thrice-damned bell again!"
Sansa began to laugh at Sandor, though what really gladdened her heart was that she was still in his arms…
A/N: Thank you so much to everyone for reading! I send you all a big virtual hug and a plate of lemon cakes courtesy of Sansa ;)