She wasn't sure when she had fallen asleep, honestly she didn't remember falling asleep. Perhaps it was the wine, she had drank more than she normally had. When she woke up, she found herself laying on some blankets with Sandor's large arm wrapped around her. The fire had burned down to a few smoldering ashes leaving them in complete darkness. Sansa couldn't help but shiver slightly, which caused the arm around her to tighten slightly.

"Sleep little bird, it's too early to ride."

She sighed slightly, but let herself relax against his warm body, knowing at least she could keep warm against him.

….

Ser Lothor had come across an abandoned hut and had taken refuge from the rain. He now paced as he watched the skies, waiting for them to clear. "The Hound wouldn't risk the girl getting sick, he must have gotten her to some sort of shelter." He then turned to a small fire he had built to keep himself warm and poked at it, "no doubt he's promising her things to keep her from being afraid and to ensure she trusts him." His patience was running out, the thought of Sansa being alone with the Hound was enough to drive him insane. "Once this rain stops, I will ride for you my lady." He then returned to the window, once again watching the skies, waiting.

….

They had eating in almost complete silence after waking up, Sansa casting an occasional glance to Sandor. She noticed he was trying to avoid any eye contact with her which bothered her. Once they had finished eating and had packed everything up she finally approached him. Placing her hand to his arm he finally looked down to her. "Sandor, what is the matter?"

He looked down to her a moment before letting out a sigh and shaking his head. "Nothin' for you to worry your pretty lil' head about." He then turned again to grab the reins of the horses to lead them from the cave.

Sansa didn't bother pushing the subject further, deciding it was not worth upsetting him when they would be travelling for a long time together. She had hardly been paying attention as they walked through the trees when she suddenly heard Stranger let out a loud noise that she had never heard before. She suddenly looked up to see Sandor brandishing his sword at three men. Quickly she put her hand to her dagger but did not pull it from her cloak yet.

"Well, what do we have here?" One of the men, apparently the leader of the group stepped forward. His hair was mostly gone, but what was left of it grew from only the sides. It was a lighter grey and extremely messy. The men reminded her of the mob back in Kings Landing, causing her to suddenly become extremely nervous, her hand on the dagger to tighten.

"Looks like we's gots an ugly brute and his whore." The man chuckled looking to Sandor then glancing over to Sansa. The men behind him letting out chuckles as well.

"If you want to see the light of another day, you will keep walking." Sandor gripped his sword tightly as he warned the man.

"Now that isn't very generous, why not share the lovely lady." He looked to Sansa again, this time letting his eyes roam over her for an extended moment. "Or did she refuse ya cuz of them there scars?" The man laughed again as he turned to the men behind him. "How's about we kill the man, and take the girl?"

Sansa's eyes widened in horror at his words, causing her to pull her dagger from beneath her cloak. She held it out as she watched the men suddenly advance on Sandor. She watched as the two men that had been with the leader each pulled their swords and swung at Sandor, but lost sight of the leader. Her eyes darted around wildly trying to find him.

"Lookin' for me?" The man suddenly came from behind Sansa, grabbing the hand that held the dagger he was able to pull it from her hand and instantly had it to her throat.

Sansa screamed out in horror as she struggled against the man, "let me go!" She looked to Sandor who was still fighting with the two other men.

As Sansa struggled, the man pressed the blade of her dagger harder into her throat, causing it to break the skin and start bleeding. "You had better settle down girl, I wouldn't want to have to scar that pretty face of yours." He then pulled her towards the cave entrance, "you'll enjoy this, trust me."

"Sandor!" Sansa screamed as loud as she could causing Sandor to turn and see her being drug into the cave. With a sudden swipe of his sword, he struck down both men at once. He looked to them, stabbing each once more for good measure before running towards Sansa. "You had better let the girl go, now!"

The man had stopped just inside the cave as he heard Sandor running to them, the dagger still tight against Sansa's throat. "Come any closer and I'll slit her pretty little throat."

Sansa looked at Sandor a moment, her eyes full of tears. "Sandor…" she hardly whispered his name but the way she said it showed him that she wanted him to listen to her. Slowly her eyes moved down as she lifted her right leg slightly. Sandor realized that Sansa had always carried a second dagger in her boot and knew she was going to reach for it. He knew they would only have one chance and he would have to be quick. "Little bird…" he looked to the man then to Sansa, giving her a small nod.

As quick as she could, Sansa lifted her leg fully and grabbed for her dagger. Swinging it backwards she was able to stab the man directly into his side causing him to cry out in pain. He released his hold on Sansa and stumbled backwards slightly. Sansa quickly ran towards Sandor who took her hand and quickly pulled her behind him.

"You bitch!" The man quickly advanced on them but was not quick enough. Before he could take two steps he found Sandor's sword through his chest.

Lifting his leg he kicked at the man's chest, letting him fall off his blade and to the ground. He then turned to Sansa who was holding her throat. "Did he hurt you? Let me see." He slowly removed her hands from her throat and examined her wound. "It isn't deep, but we should at least clean it." His hand then moved to stroke her cheek lightly. He couldn't help himself, when he had seen the man dragging her away he had lost it. The thought of anyone hurting his little bird… He quickly shook his head, letting the thought go as he took her hand and led her back to the horses to tend to her wounds so they could continue their travels.

…

"This is the Hounds work alright…" Ser Lothor examined the two dead bodies that were laid out on the ground. He then turned his attention to the body that laid inside the cave entrance, he measured the size of the sword entrance and nodded. "Sword width seems about right too." He then stood and walked into the cave, using some rocks to light some twigs and leafs on fire to light his way. He looked around and saw the fire pit. He kneeled down and let his fingers move around the ash, feeling it was still slightly warm. "They have an hour, maybe two on me. I'm getting closer, indeed travelling with the girl is slowing him down."

With a chuckle, Ser Lothor left the cave and quickly mounted his horse. Once again following the freshest horse tracks he saw to lead his way.

…

(((Phew… first battle scene… but not the last! Thanks For Reading!)))

~Huggles~