About a week into the journey to King's Landing, everyone had started to grow weary of the constant riding and craved a bit of a break. It was around this time that you saw the Queen turn to King Robert and say, "My love, aren't we close to those wonderful hot springs? I was hoping we could stop at them again."
Hardly looking over at her, he took another swig from his wineskin, carelessly spilling a bit down his front. "Ahhh, yes I suppose it would be nice to wash off a bit. We'll need to be stopping for the night soon enough, anyway." At that, she sent the knights closest to her off ahead, searching for the camp they had rested at on the way up to Winterfell. Slowing your horse, you pulled alongside Lady Sansa and animatedly told her about the hot springs the Queen was just talking about. After a week on horseback, soaking in hot water would feel absolutely divine.
It didn't take long for the knights to locate the place in question and soon enough, everyone was off of their horses and stretching the kinks out of their muscles. The Queen left immediately with her handmaidens to bathe in the hot spring. Knowing it'd be a while until it would be your time to go in, being a Stark handmaiden, you set about helping the knights to feed and water the horses.
You brush your hand gently across a painted mare's neck, feeling her glossy fur beneath your fingertips. You pull a chunk of carrot you put in your skirt pockets and hold it out for her, smiling warmly as her lips tickle the palm of your hand. You reach into your pocket to pull out another piece, looking off to your right as some Lannister knights burst into laughter a few feet away and you catch them all staring at you, huge grins plastered on their faces.
Suddenly uncomfortable, you quickly feed the mare the other piece of carrot before making your way over to where Lady Sansa is standing, openly flirting with Prince Joffrey. You curtsey to both as you approach, bowing your head. "Your grace. My lady." You raise your head and look up into the Hound's eyes, who is standing directly behind the Prince. Smiling, you turn towards Lady Sansa, "My lady, I was wondering if you'd like some water? And of course, you as well, my Prince." You smile in his direction as you mention him, looking at them both expectantly. They both agreed, so you rushed off to the back of one of the carts to the barrels of water and filled up two of the wooden chalices, carrying them back to the giggling pair before running off to another cart.
You excuse yourself past the knights who were still standing around the cart, grabbing a flask and filling it full from one of the barrels of ale. "What's a little lady doing with such a big glass of ale, hmm? You trying to get drunk tonight?" You look up at the group of men, gritting your teeth so you don't bite his head off.
Forcing a smile, you circle around them and head back off in the direction of Lady Sansa and the Prince, but go slightly past to where the Hound is standing in wait. His eyes flick to you as you walk towards him, your smile becoming a genuine one as you hold the mug of ale out for him. "I thought you might be thirsty as well, Ser."
'This little cunt can't even see that she has no interest in his hunting stories. Poor girl.' Laughter erupts from over at the drink carts and several snide comments about the things some of the Lannister knights would do to the pretty brown haired handmaid that accompanied Lady Sansa. She was feeding one of the horses, minding her own business.
Sandor sighed. 'Dumb cunts. Just go to one of the whore houses when we get back to King's Landing. Stop making the girls uncomfortable. No wonder none of them like you.' Sandor adjusted his sword on his hip, leaving his hand resting on the pommel. His eyes flick to her as she walks up to the young couple a few feet away. "My lady, I was wondering if you'd like some water? And of course, you as well, my Prince."
She then wandered back towards the vile group of Lannister knights making derogatory comments about what they think is under her skirts. Sandor watches as she scurries off away from them, handing the young Prince and Lady their water, then heads back towards the drink carts again. 'Really now, I wouldn't have taken her for an ale girl.' He watches as she fills the mug up, pursing her lips at the men around her before she looks straight up into his eyes. Her forced smile melts into one that feels more natural as she holds the mug out for him.
'So the ale was for me … ?' He looks down at her with a confused expression. "I thought you might be thirsty as well, Ser." She bats her eyelashes and bites one side of her lip as the other side perks up in a smile. 'Cute …'
He grunts as he takes the ale, bringing the cup up to his lips, "I'm no ser." He takes a few large gulps from the ale, breathing out when he pulls the cup from his mouth and wiping at his face with the back of a gloved hand. "Oh … " Letting out a breathy chuckle, she takes a step closer, reaching up towards his face to wipe some foam from the side of his mouth, however, he takes a hurried step back before she's able to touch him.
'What the fuck is she doing? Why is she reaching out like that?' His eyebrows furrowed as he looks down at her anxious face. "I-I'm sorry … You just had some of the ale still on your face."
'Why does she look upset …?' He grunts as he hurriedly wipes at his mouth again. "No need to dirty your hand over a dog's messy habits." He downs the rest of the ale, walking off to set the mug on the back of the drink cart, causing the smaller men to nervously walk off to yak about things elsewhere.
'Dumb cunts.'
Several hours past nightfall, after everyone else had bathed in the hot springs, it was finally your turn. Lady Sansa had offered to let you accompany her when the Stark ladies had gone, but the thought of being in there while she gossiped about how her beloved Joffrey said the sweetest things made you want to gag. So you waited for the Lannisters, their handmaids, their knights, the Starks, their handmaids and their knights to be done bathing before you headed over with a lit lantern, towel, and a fresh change of clothes. The water wouldn't be as clean now but at least you were alone.
You pull the strings loose on your dress, letting the top fall down as you undo the ones that tie the bottom part closed before letting it fall to the ground and stepping out of it. You had shed your colder weather clothes the day before as the snow slowly melted away to rolling fields of aromatic flowers and grass so soft you wondered why you even needed shoes.
You step towards the water, putting the lantern and towel down on the only dry rock that was close to the water before slowly dipping your feet into the edge. The water is slightly hot, but it feels incredible as you slide down into the pool, the heat instantly sapping away the dull ache in your muscles from riding for so long. You sigh lazily as you turn towards the side of the pool and place your arms on one of the rocks above the water, resting your head atop them and closing your eyes and let your fingers sway back and forth in the water.
You're not exactly sure how long you just rest there in the water, but by the time you open your eyes again, your fingers are wrinkled and your lantern is burning low. Figuring it's about time you head back to the camp, you step out of the water and wrap your towel around yourself, squeezing the water out of your hair when you hear a rustle of leaves behind you. You freeze as several men walk out of the tree line towards you, all smiling that same lecherous smile that you saw under the Lannister helms earlier.
'Shit …'
"Can I help you guys with anything?" You quickly snatch up your dress and tie it around yourself, letting the towel fall to the ground once you have everything securely in place.
"Oh you can definitely help us out, sweetheart." One of the men slurred.
"Dunno know why you put that dress on. Not gonna need it." Another said as he closed in on you, reaching his hands out.
'Oh fuck no.' You turn on heel, completely abandoning your items. You run off into the darkness in the opposite direction of the camp, hoping to loop around once you put enough space between you and the, obviously drunk, soldiers. You duck under the arms of one of the soldiers as he stumbles in your direction and pick up speed as you hear their thunderous footsteps behind you.
Picking up your skirts so you don't trip, you jump over a log you see in the dim moonlight as you veer towards the left suddenly. Your heart is pounding in your ears as you strain to see how far behind they are.
You turn more towards the left. The camp should be just ahead of you … It was only a few hundred yards away from the hot spring. You can't hear the soldiers, but that doesn't mean anything. Between your own foot falls, your panting, and your heartbeat, you'd almost be surprised if you had heard them. You turn your head to catch a glimpse of the soldiers easily gaining on you. They're only about 10 yards away and gaining ground fast. You look ahead of you and see the light from the camp. You're going to make it!
'I'm going to make it!' A relieved grin breaks across your face as you jump over another log …
And fall face first into a ditch on the other side.
"Ahh!" You shriek as you fall on the sticks and rocks, cuts oozing blood down your arms and legs as the men attack you.
Suddenly hands are all over you, holding you down and covering your mouth, making it hard to catch your breath after running that fast. You shake your head, eyes wide and watering as one of the men yanks the top of your dress loose, exposing your breasts to the cool night air and their lecherous gazes. You try to bite the hand over your mouth, but he has a glove on and he just smacks your face with his other hand for even trying. You scream past the gloved hand, but know it's not very loud. You breathe in through your nose as you're about to try to scream again when you hear the distinct clinking of a belt buckle.
' … no … Please please please no. Oh my gods why is this happening?'
You look at the guy who is forcing your legs apart and see his pants lower to the ground around his knees, his manhood standing up and ready to violate you. Whimpering, tears are now streaming down your face as you try to pull away from them, but there's no way you can overpower five grown men … He crawls towards you so his thighs are pressed flush up against yours as two of the men loop your legs over his hips and hold him there. He takes his filthy cock in his hands and grins at you; one of the other men holding your arms leans down and takes one of your nipples in his mouth, biting down on it roughly, causing you to scream again from the pain, earning another slap across the face.
You feel the man's hand touch between your legs and you already know how this is going to end…
You suddenly hear a sickening, wet noise above you and when you open your eyes, you see a sword sticking through the man's mouth. A giant, gloved hand grabs the now dead man by the hair and yanks him to the side off of you before shoving a knife in the top of another man's head. He grunts as he dodges a punch that one of the smaller men throw at him before rearing back and punching the man in the nose. A nauseating crunch sound can be heard as metal meets bone and the man's face erupts in blood.
The other two men scramble off of you, one of them jumping on the large figure's back, trying to grab his arms and hold him back as the other draws a sword and advances. You quickly cover yourself back up as best you can as a deafening crack rings through the air. The tall figure's hands are wrapped around the neck of the man on his back and he heaves the man over his shoulder, slamming him into the last guy before plunging his sword through both of them, blood spurting as he yanks the sword out. He leans down and wipes the blood off on one of the dead men's clothes before sheathing it again and turning towards you.
"Is any of that blood yours?" Sandor's gravelly voice meets your ears and you almost sob out in relief as you reach up and take his hand, letting him hoist you to your feet with ease. You try to answer him, but your voice catches in your throat as you look up at him.
You whimper lightly and jump up, throwing your arms around his neck as you start sobbing into his neck, not caring about the blood that's covering both of you. His strong, warm arms wrap around you, holding you in place as he lets you finish.