Sansa had not left Shae's side since she had been poisoned, exhaustion had been evident in her own eyes.

"You have hardly slept in three days little bird…" Sandor stood behind Sansa who was sitting on the edge of Shae's bed, his hand on her shoulder. "You're gonna make yourself sick."

Sansa turned to look up at Sandor and shook her head, "why has she not woken up? How can I possibly sleep without knowing she is going to be alright?"

Sandor ran his finger gently over her shoulder with a sigh, "she is showing signs of strength with each day. Her color has returned to her face, and we have been able to get some of that soup into her." He then placed his other hand to her other shoulder. "She will be angry if she wakes to find you sick, and you know it."

Sansa nodded, looking down to her friend once again. "Do you promise to wake me, if she wakes up?"

"Aye…" He slowly moved his hands to her arms, lifting her to her feet, he then slowly turned her to face him. "I swear it little bird, if she wakes while you rest, I will wake you."

She looked up at him and nodded, in all honesty, she was truly exhausted. She just hated the thought of falling asleep and not being there when Shae woke up.

Slowly Sandor led her to the other bed, helping her to lay down. "When you wake, I will have the captain send some food for ya as well. Until then though, you rest."

Sansa nodded slightly, letting a yawn escape her lips before she slowly closed her eyes, quickly giving into her exhaustion and falling asleep.

Sandor stood there for a moment, watching as she slept peacefully. He moved the blankets around her then moved a stray piece of her hair from her face. He couldn't help but admire her beauty, he had to fight the urge to lean down and kiss her. He then moved to sit in a nearby chair, to watch over the ladies as they slept.

…..

'Leave her face! I like her pretty.'

Sansa watched in horror as Ser Meryn approached her, his metal gloved hand moved to strike her directly into her stomach. Next he unsheathed his sword, using the backside to hit her in the back of her knees. She collapsed to the floor in pain, her bones felt weak, if they had not broken, they would soon if this continued.

'Meryn, my lady is overdressed, unburden her.'

Sansa's eyes widened in horror as she looked to the King, she pleaded silently until she felt the cool steel of the dagger slip down the back of her dress. The sound of her gown ripping echoed through the throne room. Her hand reached up as quick as it could to hold onto what remained of her dress. She would not let them see, she would not let her dignity be completely taken from her.

'If we want Rob Stark to hear, we're going to have to speak louder!'

Sansa screamed in horror, Ser Meryn had the sword over his head, ready to strike, oh by the seven this was it.

"No!"

Sansa shot up with a scream, clutching at her throat as she gasped for air. Sandor quickly moved to sit next to her, wrapping his large arms around her, pulling her to his chest as she began to cry uncontrollably.

"A nightmare little bird, you are safe, no one will hurt you, I swear it." He hated seeing her like this, he knew what she dreamed. He hated himself for not stopping the things that had happened to her in the past, but he would never let it happen again.

….

Ser Meryn twirled his dagger in his fingers as he sat in his cabin, his eyes watching the steel shine as the sun would hit it. His thoughts returning to Kings Landing, remembering how fast the delicate green cloth ripped from Lady Sansa when he brought the dagger to her dress. He groaned out and slammed the dagger into the table before him, standing quickly as he began to pace.

He hadn't thought back on all the times Joffrey had him beat the Lady until recently, and the thoughts had flooded his mind more and more. What was worse, is he kept dreaming about them as well. He would remember the terror in her eyes as he would raise his sword, the screams of pain as he would strike her. Tyrion Lannister was right, no true knight would ever strike an unarmed child.

He rubbed his forehead slightly at the thought that damned imp, he was the only man in Kings Landing who had the guts to stand up to Joffrey. But now Joffrey was dead, they had a new King, a good king. And Meryn was determined to make his amends, he would show the Lady he was a better man. She may never forgive him, but he would find a way to forgive himself.

He moved to the small window, watching as the sun began to set over the sea, closing his eyes as he let his mind let go.

…..

"It was stupid of me really, to just eat some food left out when I had not confirmed who left it." Shae was sitting up in her bed, Sansa sitting next to her as Sandor stood next to them. "I had walked into my room and I saw the food, I figured the captain had it sent, so I enjoyed it. That is all I remember."

Sansa held her friends hand tightly, her eyes moving from Shae to Sandor, then back to Shae again. "And you saw no one walking down the hall when you returned?"

Shae shook her head, "not a soul, everyone seemed to be up on deck enjoying the fresh air."

Sandor growled a bit, "there is a spy on this damned boat." He looked to Sansa, "I am going to go talk to the captain, lock-"

"I know, lock the door and do not open it for anyone except you." Sansa giggled as she stood from the bed, following him to the door. "The same rule it has been from day one."

Sandor frowned at her a moment but did not say anything, he simply left the room and once again waited until he heard the door lock before heading to see the captain.

Sansa returned to sit with Shae, her eyes looking at her with curiosity. "Shae, Sandor said that he suspects someone poisoned you intentionally. That you may know something that they do not want me or Sandor to know. Is that true?"

Shae let out a sigh and looked to her hands, she nodded again and looked to Sansa. "I do, and it is an awful thing to know, and if you were to know it, you would be disgusted."

Sansa looked at her and shook her head, "Shae, tell me! If these would-be killers want to keep coming after you, then it is something I need to know."

"Sansa…" Shae took Sansa's hand, kissing the top of it lightly, "I told you I love you like a mother does her child, and I meant every word of it. I lied to you, when I told you I did not know who the Lannisters intended to marry you to after they annulled your marriage to Tyrion."

Sansa frowned a bit, "but why?"

Shae sighed, "Because I couldn't bear to see the fear in your eyes if you heard the name. But it seems he still seeks you out, and even now he knows where you are, so you have to be on guard at all times." She squeezed Sansa's hand a bit, "Sansa, Lord Tywin intends to marry you himself."

….

"Have the men prepared, when Ser Meryn returns with the Lady Sansa and her party, they will put up a resistance. Though I do not see it too much of a challenge, the Hound being the only true fighter of the group." Lord Tywin had been speaking to the captain of his guard, "Ser Meryn may be an issue too though, and he seems to be seeking the Lady's forgiveness as well. Once they make port, take them all into custody at once and bring the Lady directly to me, is that understood?"

"Yes sir, I will have the entire city watch with me. Should they put up a fight, I doubt they will stand much of a chance."

Tywin looked at the man, his face growing colder, "no harm comes to the Lady or I will have your head on a spike!" He then dismissed the man, moving to sit at his desk, a grin coming to his face.

…

Sansa let out a gasp, "but he's… he's so old!" Sansa shook her head in disgust. "How could he possibly find that a suitable marriage?"

Shae couldn't help but let out a small laugh, "he thinks that his virility matched with your youth and beauty will be enough to produce more Lannister heirs. And since he couldn't rely on Tyrion to give you a child, and Jamie is sworn to the Kings Guard, he would take matters into his own hands."

Sansa shook his head, "I would die before I married that man!" She continued to shake her head again, "by the seven, I thought marrying Joffrey was a bad thought, this one is even worse! Now I know how Walder Frey's wives felt when they heard he wanted them!"

Shae nodded in agreement, "well, Sandor and I will make sure that never happens!"

The two girls continued to talk, unaware of the black crow sitting on the windowsill watching them closely.

…

(((Ooh the plot thickens...)))

~Huggles~