They traveled a full week without incident, falling into a routine of getting up at first light and having a quick breakfast, walking the horses at an easy pace, stopping for a meal around the middle of the day, and continuing until the shadows lengthened, at which point they would find a place to camp for the night. There were diversions. Sometimes Arya would challenge Sansa to a race, or Brienne would spar with Sandor. Whenever they came upon a stream, they would stop and break out the fishing tackle. To no one's surprise, Arya and the Hound argued constantly over who was better at fishing, and it was amusing to watch them squabble over the best spot to cast a line. Arya generally caught more fish, but Sandor tended to reel in the bigger catch, and Sansa learned to exercise diplomacy, assuring them that she admired them both for their skill. Brienne and Sansa could never quite master the trick of getting a fish on the line and landing it on the bank, but Podrick was also very capable and there was always enough for a good meal.

There were no streams today and the little group moved steadily across the open fields, Brienne and Podrick in front and the Hound following with the girls. Fleecy white clouds drifted across the sky, cutting off and revealing the sun and dappling the grass with shadows. A gentle breeze kept them cool, and the air was alive with butterflies attracted to the multitude of wildflowers that delicately scented the air. It was all so peaceful that even Sandor relaxed enough to smile and agree with Sansa when she remarked what a beautiful day it was. Then they caught sight of a ruined cottage in the distance and Arya spurred her horse towards it.

The Hound swore, galloping after her, and Sansa, utterly bewildered, followed with Brienne and Podrick. They caught up with Arya and the Hound in the yard before the cottage. Sandor had dismounted and was standing quietly holding Stranger's reins, while Arya cursed at him with a fluency that caused Sansa to blush down to her collarbone and Brienne's jaw to drop open. As her sister rode into the yard, Arya abruptly halted her abuse and took off again. Brienne and Podrick followed her, and Sansa pulled up her horse and jumped to the ground.

Sandor's face was as white as a sheet and Sansa went up to Stranger and took out the wine flask. "Here," she said gently, offering it to the Hound. He just looked at her, and seeing that he was in some kind of shock, she took his arm, led him over to a stump, and made him sit. He obeyed her with a passiveness that frightened her, and she held the flask to his mouth. "Drink this, Sandor." He took a single swallow and she tilted the flask again. "Drink it all. Now." He gulped down the rest of the flask and some color returned to his face but he was trembling and there was a lost look in his eyes. Sansa took a deep breath. "What is this place?" He didn't respond, and she took him by the shoulder and shook him as hard as she could. "Answer me, Sandor. What is this place?"

"Farm," he muttered. "Used to be."

Sansa frowned. "I can see that." She looked at the cottage, burnt out, the roof fallen in, and a sudden thought sickened her. "Did you do this?" He nodded and she swayed, a wave of dizziness sweeping over her. "Why?"

"I needed the money." The Hound avoided her eyes, and Sansa struggled to remain calm.

"You mean you burnt this cottage for money?" Sansa heard herself saying the words and they unexpectedly restored her composure. Whatever crimes Sandor Clegane had committed, setting fires was not one of them, and now she knelt beside him and turned his face to hers. "Tell me what happened here, Sandor."

He shuddered. "Your sister and I...we came upon the man who lived here, him and his daughter. Sally, I think her name was...she made very good rabbit stew…" He was rambling and she shook his arm. "What happened to them?"

The Hound sighed. "They took us in, fed us...the man offered me money if I would stay and work for him, he was afraid of...of all the men wandering the countryside, thieving and raping and killing. He wanted to hire me to keep him and his daughter safe." He fell silent for a moment, then went on. "We slept in the barn that night, and the next morning, before Arya woke up, I went into the cottage and took every piece of silver they had. The man tried to stop me, and I hit him, and his daughter screamed...your sister came out, cursing me for a thief...and I said...I said they're too weak to live and...and dead men don't need silver."

"Were they alive when you left?" asked Sansa.

Sandor looked surprised. "Aye."

"Then you didn't do this."

"I took their last bit of money...it was all they had...I told you I wasn't as brave as you thought I was…" His voice was flat but she could hear the agony under it. "I'm not as good as you think I am either."

Sansa took a moment to collect her thoughts, then pulled a scrap of a handkerchief out of her pocket. "Do you remember this?"

He took it and turned it over in his hand. "You kept it all this time?" There was a faint stain where he had wiped the blood from her mouth the day Joffrey showed her her father's head and ordered Meryn Trant to strike her.

Sansa put her hand over his. "After you left, whenever I was afraid, I held this in my hand." She smiled a little. "It probably sounds stupid, but it was a comfort to me. You're not just a killer, Sandor." She held his eyes with her own. "You're more than that now."

Podrick came riding up. "Milady, your sister and my mistress are making camp. Will you join us?"

"Of course." Sansa stood up and reached a hand down to Sandor, and he took it and got to his feet, then went slowly over to his horse and swung himself into the saddle. Sansa mounted her own horse and followed Podrick, keeping close to the Hound.

They rode into the camp to find the other three horses settled for the night and grazing contentedly. Brienne was tending a small fire, while Arya sat to one side, staring moodily into the flames. She looked up as they dismounted and Sansa handed the reins of her horse and Stranger to Podrick. The young man looked nervous at handling Sandor's horse, but the Hound spoke to Stranger and although the big animal flattened his ears for a moment, he went quietly enough with Podrick.

Sandor watched the horses being led away, then sat down where he stood, apart from the fire and the others. Sansa sat beside him, trying and failing to find something to say and hoping that her mere presence would be a comfort. Then Arya came over, and the Hound flinched as she dropped to the ground next to him.

Sansa glared at her. "Arya…" she began, but her sister cut her off.

"I shouldn't have acted the way I did," said Arya crossly. "I know that man and his daughter didn't have much of a chance, but it was a shock to see their cottage like that, to know they were dead…" She looked squarely at the Hound. "It was as much my fault as yours. I know we needed money to live on and the only reason you took it was because of me."

"What difference does it make why I did it?" asked Sandor wearily.

To that, there was no answer.