Sandor woke early the next day, quickly finding himself in the training yard. The sun had not risen yet, the only light came from a few torches in the windows of the castle. He had to get away for a moment, he had to think without anyone distracting him. She had told him that she loved him, his little bird. He had to practically smack himself to realize it was not a dream. Those beautiful blue eyes had locked with his, and he could see it. He could see she meant every word of what she said.
Moving to where the straw dummies stood, he quickly drew his sword. He needed to let out some of his tension. There was so much he had to think over, what if the King agreed to Sansa's request? What if the King would require Sandor to become a Lord? He had fought his entire life to avoid such things, he did not want to be a knight, and he hated knights. He was a dog, that's all he was and all he wanted to be. But then she came into his life, before her, the only thing he desired was to kill his brother Gregor. Now she was his desire, in his mind, Gregor no longer existed. It was all about Sansa, every breath he took was for her.
His sword met with the straw dummy, nearly slicing it in half on his first strike. Sansa Stark was a complicated girl, and she was slowly making his life more complicated. Though he knew he wouldn't trade it for the world. The feeling he got when her eyes locked with his, when her sweet voice spoke his name. It gave him a peace he had not experienced in a long time.
"Sandor?"
Arya walked up behind him, looking at him curiously as he stared blankly at his practice dummy.
"What is it wolf girl?" He did not turn to look at her, he simply remained still, his mind still racing.
"Is something wrong?" She walked towards him, "you practically destroyed that dummy in one swipe. Did the Kingslayer try to pull another trick?" Arya had been holding the same hatred for Jaime as Sandor had.
Sandor shook his head, letting his sword arm fall limp as he turned to face her. "No, it's not him." He looked to Arya and shook his head again, "I cannot tell you wolf girl, not yet." He then quickly walked past her, moving inside before she could question him more.
…
Jaime paced in his chambers, he was waiting on word from Darnal. The soldier he had put in charge of the plans he had in motion. He knew that the King would not leave before making Clegane a lord, and possibly would remain until Sansa and he were wed. Jaime would not let it happen, but with the added soldiers of the king's guard there, it made things more difficult for him.
"Ser Jaime…" Darnal entered his room, closing the door behind him. He held out a letter to Jaime, "here is a list of men who have agreed to help you. They all pledge their alliance to you and the Lady Sansa. They will not serve Clegane."
Jaime took the letter and opened it, his grin growing at the amount of names on the list. "Am I seeing members of the king's guard on here?"
Darnal nodded, "indeed, my cousin is a member of the king's guard. I spoke with him and he had told me about a group of men who were loyal to the Lannisters. They will help in keeping the king and his men distracted."
Jaime let out a laugh as he folded the paper and looked to Darnal. "We will have to be quick, Clegane hardly lets the Lady out of his sight. And her sister is a quick one, with her training she's had."
With a nod Darnal turned to leave, "I will prepare the men."
"Remember Darnal, tomorrow night, when Clegane takes his evening drink. That is when he leaves the Lady with her handmaiden to bathe."
Darnal nodded and quickly left the room.
….
"I think he will make her happy, and he can protect her better than anyone." Margaery was sitting with Tommen in their chambers. "I could see it in her eyes when she told me she loved him, I haven't seen that look in her eyes since the day I suggested she marry my brother Loras."
Tommen had been sitting on a small rug, letting his kittens play with a string he held out for them. "But… do you think it would be wise?" He looked up to her, "the Hound? He's a good man, if you let him show you that side of him. But there are so many men out there who would rather see him dead. To make him a lord and give him Lady Sansa, that could be dangerous."
"I know," Margaery took a sip of her wine, "but you agreed to let her marry for love. And she truly is in love with him. The men of the north will follow her no matter what, it is the men here we would have to deal with."
"That's the problem, the Lannister army is one of the largest armies in Westeros. I fear they remain more loyal to my uncle Jaime and would refuse to follow Sansa if she married Sandor."
Margaery moved to sit with him on the carpet, "I have faith in Sansa, and she knows what is right." She stroked the top of Tommen's blonde hair. "Rest on it my sweet King, talk with the Lady again in the morning."
Tommen nodded, slowly standing as he took a hold of Margaery's hand. "Very well, I will talk to her in the morning."
…
"You want me to betray my lady?" Tyina had a horrified look on her face as a man wrapped in a dark cloak held a dagger to her throat.
"It is not betrayal, the Lady Sansa will not be harmed. She is a Lannister, she must remain a Lannister." The man held the dagger tight against Tyina's throat. "The King plans on granting her the freedom to marry whom she chooses, this cannot happen. The man she intends to marry is not worthy to have the Lannister army at his disposal. You will help us get the lady away from Clegane, or I will kill you."
Tyina's eyes filled with tears but she nodded carefully, "you swear no harm will come to her?"
The man chuckled and pulled the blade away, "I swear on my very own life. No harm will come to her, she will be completely safe. We only wish to get her away from those who would turn her against the Lannisters and against the crown."
Tyina reached up with her hand to hold it to the small cut on her neck and nodded, "I will delay her bath, and once her shield leaves I will send a signal that it is safe to come for her."
"Good girl." The cloaked man chuckled as he turned and quickly left the handmaiden trembling against the wall.
"I'm so sorry my lady…" She sunk to her feet and began to weep.
….
(((Oooh… you think the kidnapping will happen?)))
~Huggles~