The Queen's Hound

Chapter Two

Sandor still wasn't sure how his life had come to this, he was the son of a landed knight who himself was the son of man who had only been risen to that high position because of one selfless act he had done for the lord of Casterly Rock, he should have been nothing.

He was happy to be nothing, in truth.

When the bird had come from Casterly Rock inviting him to come and stay as a ward for Lord Tywin, well, to say that his mother had been ecstatic was an understatement. Sandor did not think he had ever seen her so happy, at least not since he had been very little.

His mother had been in a foul mood since they returned from Casterly Rock, ever since Lady Cersei had threatened her into silence in truth, but it seemed that the fact her younger son had managed to give their family a chance at future advancement had caused her to forget all her anger, she had even given him a kiss on the cheek when she had finished reading the letter.

Before he was sent off to Casterly Rock his mother bought him an entire new wardrobe, new tunics, trousers, doublets, hose, socks, boots and shoes. He was fairly sure he had gained more clothes in a few nights than he had over his entire life.

He also knew that his mother and father had fought over the amount of coin she was spending on them, but his mother hadn't listen and had simply refused to send Sandor off without making sure he was properly prepared.

Sandor supposed he should be glad that she hadn't tried to buy him any jewellery or chains, he would feel like a fool and a charlatan if he tried to wear them and it would probably send their house into inescapable debt if she tried.

He was forced to have a bath every day leading up to the day he would depart for Casterly Rock, Gregor had laughed at him and told him that if he didn't know any better he thought that he had two sisters instead of just one.

Sandor hadn't said anything in response, if he had then Gregor would have made him pay for it and so he had bite his tongue and comforted himself with the knowledge that he would be far away from Gregor and would not see him for years unless House Clegane was summoned to pay court to the Lannisters.

Of course that was a bittersweet comfort because it meant he was leaving Oriana alone with him, his older sister tried to be brave for him but Sandor had always been able to see through her smile and he knew if he left then he was leaving her at the mercy of their mother and Gregor.

But there was naught he could do, mother had made it clear that she wanted him to go and even if she didn't they could not defy their liege lords in anything, everyone in the westerlands knew what happened when you defied the Lannisters and Castamere and Tarbeck Hall would always be the proof of that.

On the day he left Clegane Keep he was given a new pony and sent off with a small escort of guardsmen, Oriana was crying to watch him go and his father's proud smile looked a little sad as well but mother's was full and bright and hungry and Gregor just looked like he wanted to know when he could go back to sparring in the courtyard.

Clegane Keep was not far from Lannisport, it would only take a day's ride to reach it and then about an hour's ride to reach the Rock itself. They made good time and reached the walled city when the sun was rising and when it was agreed it would be a good idea to have a few hours sleep in an inn before presenting themselves at Casterly Rock Sandor could have wept with joy.

He was awoken in the afternoon by one of the guardsmen and a serving girl at the inn brought him a flagon of warm water to wash himself with, and once he had cleaned himself Sandor dressed himself in the finest of his new clothes, he didn't want to give Lord Tywin any reason to complain to his mother about anything, lest of all his appearance.

The ride to the Rock itself was slow and uneventful but Sandor had to admit it was nice, to ride in the warm afternoon sun and listen to the sound of the waves of the Sunset Sea lapping against the beach.

When they finally arrived in the Rock it was not Lord Tywin who was there to greet them, it was his younger brother Ser Kevan Lannister. Sandor supposed that made sense, Lord Tywin would have more important things to do than to greet someone as low as him.

Ser Kevan waited until Sandor had dismounted from his pony before speaking to him, "Welcome back to Casterly Rock lad, I'm glad to welcome you here. You have been given a great honour you know, both to ward here and to be given the honour of protecting my niece."

"I know Ser," Sandor said, trying to make sure his voice was even and respectful and to remember the words his mother had told him to speak. "House Clegane is very grateful for the honour, and for the trust you have placed in us. I will always do my best to protect Lady Cersei and her honour, whatever the cost to myself."

"I am very glad to hear it," Ser Kevan said with a small smile that looked just a little bit like he was humouring him, "Now, I imagine you've had a long journey so come with me and I will show you to your chambers and we can see about getting you something to eat."

At those words Sandor's stomach growled and both Ser Kevan and the guardsmen laughed, which made Sandor's face flush and tilt his head downwards as he followed Ser Kevan inside the mountainous castle.

His new bedchamber was larger than his bedchamber in Clegane Keep, it might have been larger that that one and his siblings bedchambers put together. The bed was covered with crimson sheets made of silk and was large enough to sleep at least six people side to side, there were carpets on the floor that were some place called Myr, a city across the Narrow Sea and there was a floor length looking glass that was from another city called Lys.

Sandor was so in awe of his new bedchamber that he almost missed the knock at his door, Ser Kevan was as good as his word and he had sent to the kitchens for some food for him.

It was simple but filling, a meat pie and cheese, bacon and apples, a pitcher of milk and honey and some blackberry tarts for sweet. When Sandor had finished them all he crawled into his new bed and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

The only problem with his new bedchamber was that as it was deep within the Rock it didn't have a window so when he woke Sandor had no idea what hour of the day it was, and he had no idea what he was meant to do now.

He was in the middle of debating with himself if he should try to go and find someone when there was a knock at his door, Sandor hurried over to open it and was a little surprised to see Cersei on the other side, dressed in a green dress with green ribbons in her hair tied into bows. "Uncle Kevan said you arrived last night when he was breaking his fast with father, I told him I wanted to be told when you arrived but he always ignores me."

Cersei pushed past him without a word and glanced around his chambers before turning to face him. "Well, you're here now at least. Have you broke your fast yet?"

"No," Sandor said hesitantly. "But I am not really hungry my lady, I had a lot to eat before I went to sleep."

Cersei smiled brightly at his woods, "Good, that saves us some time then. Change quickly and then come with me."

"My lady?" Sandor started with a frown, "where are we going?"

"To the beach, there's a path down through the Rock," Cersei said and began to tug at his sleeve to get Sandor to follow her, unsure of what else to do he followed her through the stone corridors.

Eventually they came to a set of stairs that went down into the darkness, Cersei walked boldly down and Sandor followed after her as best as he could, though he wasn't sure how she could see where she was going without a torch.

It was a long descent but eventually it ended in a flat floor and Sandor didn't say anything as he continued to follow Cersei, she seemed to know where she was going and it wasn't Sandor's place to correct her or question her.

That did not mean he wasn't glad to eventually see light and hear the sounds of the sea coming from a small crack in the great stone wall, it wasn't quite a manmade entrance and Sandor could imagine a full grown man would have trouble squeezing through but Cersei manged to slip through easily enough and Sandor followed after her, biting his bottom lip as stone scraped against his hands.

Cersei lead him across the beach towards a large boulder which she ducked behind and then reappeared again with two wooden training swords in her hands, "I hid these out here so father wouldn't know about them, every morning after breaking our fast we shall come out here and practice."

"Yes my lady," Sandor said on instinct and took one of the training swords from her, it was only when Cersei started to make a few cuts through the air that Sandor found the bravery to continue on. "But, I'm to be your sworn shield, I don't think I'm suppose to hit you with a stick if I'm your sworn shield."

Cersei frowned at him, her hand falling and pointing the stick down at the beach, "Maybe not, but you are my sworn shield and that means you have to follow my orders and if I want you to spar with me then I say it's fine, and if you hit me with the stick then I'll forgive you for it if it means I know how to use a sword later."

Sandor hesitated, "But if your father finds out-

"He won't," Cersei said with a roll of her eyes and she raised her stick. "I won't tell him anyway, and I know the only person who would and I'll make him pay if he tattles on us. Now come on, pick up your sword and defend yourself Ser!"

At her words Cersei lunged forward and jammed the point of her stick into the middle of Sandor's chest and he fell on to his rump, a burst of laughter escaped from Cersei's mouth and Sandor soon found that he was laughing as well.

His lady had given him an order to defend himself and so Sandor climbed to his feet and took a firm hold of his stick and began to clap it against Cersei's own, and the morning was filled with the sound of wood clacking against wood, waves lapping against the shore and high and spirited laughter.

End of Chapter Two