The kiss felt as if it lasted an eternity, though it was only mere moments before the sounds of shouting echoed through the tunnels. Slowly Sandor pulled his lips from Sansa's and looked at her with his dark eyes. Her Tully blue eyes looking directly at him was almost enough to make him kiss her again.

"My Lady!" The sound of men running towards them broke the moment between the two.

"Sandor…" Sansa's hands grasped tightly to him, the adrenaline wearing off. Now the remainder of the Essence of Nightshade in her system was causing her to become dizzy.

Sandor looked down and could see the change in her eyes, he quickly lifted her into his arms and turned to the men who were approaching. He knew they would be in shock over the body of their Kingslayer behind him, so he quickly moved past them. Sansa's head now resting on his chest as he carried her back to her chambers.

Once he stepped through the wardrobe doors, he was greeted by an anxious Arya.

"Sansa!" Arya quickly helped Sandor place Sansa into her bed. "Is she alright?"

Sandor nodded as he carefully laid his little bird down. "Aye… a bit shaken up, but unharmed." He then looked to Arya who refused to look away from Sansa. "We have more trouble wolf-girl."

Arya looked up at him with a frown, "you mean Tyina? She admitted to helping the man take Sansa."

Sandor growled a bit then shook his head, "no, but that will be an issue to address later." His eyes moved to Sansa as she slept peacefully. "It was the Kingslayer…"

Arya's eyes shot up at his words, "Ser Jaime? He was the one who took her?"

"Aye…" Sandor looked back down at Sansa, knowing the guards would be returning soon, and they would be wanting answers." He looked over to Arya, "he's dead, I killed him myself."

"That means…" Arya let out a small gasp, "Sandor they are going to blame you!"

He nodded, not saying a word as he heard the footsteps approaching. He remained seated on the bed next to Sansa as the men began to enter from the wardrobe doors. The last two carrying Jaime's lifeless body.

"You know what to do with the body…" an older soldier addressed the two men holding Jaime's body. He then turned to Sandor as the men left, leaving him and two soldiers behind. "It seems, we need to ask you a few questions Clegane."

"Aye…" He turned his head slightly, "it seems you do Lindro." He then looked to Sansa again before standing from the bed. "The Lady is resting, it seems she was drugged. The maester should tend to her tonight." He nodded to Arya, "go and fetch him wolf-girl."

Arya was about to protest, but the look in Sandor's eyes kept her silent. She quickly ran from the room to fetch the maester.

"We have Darnal in the dungeons." Lindro started, taking a seat near the hearth.

Sandor moved to sit next to him, his eyes cautious of the guards around them. "Darnal, wasn't he a close friend of the Kingslayer?"

Lindro sighed but nodded, "Ser Jaime and Darnal were the best of friends. When we were told of the happenings this evening, we found Darnal waiting by the water in a rowboat. He was quickly apprehended and questioned." He let out a small chuckle, "it appears their friendship was not worth his life. He told me that Ser Jaime had plotted to kidnap the Lady Sansa."

Sandor nodded, another grunt escaping his lips. "He had her tied up when I found them. I had no choice but to kill him, he wanted to fight to the death." He glanced over to Sansa's sleeping form, "he was going to force her to marry him."

Lindro shook his head, "there are men here who are loyal to Ser Jaime, the Lady will need to be under constant protection once word gets out about his death."

"I do not plan on leaving her side Lindro, you can count on that."

….

The cells in the dungeons slowly filled with men who had plotted against Sansa, Darnal trying to spare his own life by naming anyone he knew that was associated with the attempted kidnapping. Though this did not keep Sandor from keeping an extra eye on Sansa, he had refused to leave her side. Sleeping on the ground in her chambers at night, and escorting her wherever she went within the Rock.

Tyina was still recovering from her stab wounds, which she had admitted to doing herself. She had begged Sansa for forgiveness, explaining how she had been threatened to aide in her kidnapping. Sansa agreed to let her remain in a regular room while she healed, but she would face trial for her actions as well.

"I am so glad you were unharmed Lady Sansa…" Margaery had her arm laced with Sansa's as they walked the gardens. Sandor walking close behind them. "Tommen and I were horrified to hear of what had happened. To think Ser Jaime would turn like that." She sighed shaking her head, "but in a world where power is what men desire, it is not completely surprising."

Sansa nodded, she had hardly spoken to anyone about that night except for Sandor and Arya. She knew Margaery was wanting details, but she wasn't sure she was ready to fully discuss it. "He was driven mad your grace, so many things had happened to him, it was only a matter of time."

Margaery let out a small laugh, "you were always the last to judge anyone. You see the innocence in everyone, don't you?" She looked to Sansa then over her shoulder to Sandor. "I warn you Sansa, you need to keep your guard up more. Though you are Lady of the Rock, there are still men here who would turn on you should another Lannister appear."

Sansa looked at her curiously, "another Lannister? All of Tywin's children are dead, he may have some nephew's and niece's out there. But I have never met or even heard of any of them."

"True, but the men are Lannister loyal. If they feel you are not with them, you are not safe." She held Sansa's arm a bit tighter, "I am only asking that you be more cautious. We have lost so many people in our lives, and I know Tommen would be devastated, as would I, should anything happen to you."

Sansa nodded with a smile, "as I would be if anything were to happen to the two of you."

The two girls smiled and continued their walk, the subject changing to the fact that in a day's time, the King and Queen would be returning to Kings Landing.

….

Winterfell…

"The castle has been fully rebuilt, we must send word to the Lady." An older man with grey hair and a long beard spoke to another man, his face hidden. "I trust she would want her sister Arya to return to take her place."

The mysterious man nodded, "a Stark must always be in Winterfell, and since Lady Sansa must remain at Casterly Rock, Arya is the only choice. Unless we find Bran and Rickon."

"Search parties continue to scavenger the north, we shall leave no rock unturned until we find the boys. We should not give up hope that they still live and that the Winterfell heirs will all be reunited once again."

"Send a raven to Sansa, tell her Winterfell needs a Stark." The man turned, lowering the hood that covered his dark curly hair. "Tell her that a bastard cannot claim his father's land."

"As you wish Lord Snow." The older man bowed before heading towards the castle to send a raven.

Jon stood in the courtyard, looking around at the newly built Winterfell. It still had months of work ahead, but it was coming together quickly. And he knew that it would be as grand, if not grander, than it once was.

A smile crossed his lips as he thought of seeing the youngest of his two sisters, he and Arya had always been so close.

"See you soon… sister."

….

(((I'm back! I tell you, writers block is kicking my ass)))

~Huggles~