It had been many days since she had been kidnapped by the Hound, one bleeding into the next as they traveled together through Westeros. She knew he kept her alive so he could turn her over to her aunt Lysa in the Veil, and it made her hate for him grow all the more. She had no intention of going to the Vale, but now that her parents were dead, along with her brother Robert, Lysa was the only family she had left, except for Jon and Sansa and she had lost track of both of them; Sansa when she fled Kings Landing with Yoren and his men headed for the Wall and Jon, when he left Winterfell to take the black. Now she was stuck with the Hound! Fate was cruel, for she hated him more then she could explain. He had killed her friend Mycah, Had done horrible things while in service to Joffery, whom she hated worse than the Hound, and had kidnapped her when she ran away from the Brothers without Banners and was planning on selling her! She cast him a sour glance, as they prepared to ride onward and scowled.

"Where are we going today? What are we doing?" She questioned him, her stance radiating with frustration and malice.

"I am in need of a cup of wine…or two or three." His gruff reply makes her snarl, is that ALL he thinks about, wine? She doesn't fight him when he scoops her up and tosses her astride Stranger, his huge Deseter, instead eeps softly as you pick her up as if she weighs nothing, hanging on as they ride down the road, heading for an Inn nearby.

"Where are we going?" She looks up at him with a slightly confused look on her face, it is not usual that they keep to the roads, until she sees the Inn. "Why on earth are we here?" Her voice took on a slightly angry tone, wondering why they had stopped so early in the day.

"I told you, I'm thirsty..." Sandor scowls and gets down from the horse and ties him to a post, then lifts Arya off and plunks her on the ground, turning on her with harsh words. "Now remember, if anyone asks I'm your father. And don't bloody well tell anyone where we're going!" He stalks off into the inn and throws a couple copper stars on the bar. "Innkeep... a flagon of sour red!"

she glared at him as he lifted her down and set her to her feet. Her father INDEED! she would rather eat nails then say such a thing and hoped no one would bother asking her about such things. Her first instinct, once he set her down was to turn around and stride off on her own, but she knew that would be folly, for many reasons.
One, she didn't have the slightest idea where she was or even how to get where they were going from here.
Two, She was unarmed and that was dangerous for someone of her nature. both young and a female.
and Three, Though he would find it amusing that she would run from him, he would wait and then come after her and catch her, and his measures of how he would bring her back would be far to embarrassing then just cooperating. So she swallowed her bitter words and followed quietly behind him, sitting at his side as he drank his wine. Her eyes flit around the room subconsciously, looking quickly at all within the room before looking away and sighing softly to herself.

Sandor returns quickly pours her a cup and waters it down. "Here, probably gonna be a long time since you get anything to drink without anything swimming innit..." He scans the patrons of the tavern, wondering if any of his brother's men are here. Seeing none, he sits in the corner facing the door, frowning into his cup, wondering what the fuck he's gonna do with the Stark bitch now that her mother and brother are dead. She takes the drink and looks up at Sandor before sniffing it and then drinking it. The taste is bitter and it slightly burns as it goes down her throat, and she never cared for the taste but it is filling, quenching her thirst for now. She follows the Hound and goes to sit across from him, her back to the door, not a sitting arrangement that she likes and sits quietly, lost in thought. The death of her mother and brother are still to new, it has not registered inside her yet as she tries to process it. Yet she knows that when it hits her, she will bury it deep inside for no one sees her cry, most certainly not the Hound! Casting her eyes up to his and just stares for a moment before finding her voice and quietly whispers. "So, where are we going?"

Sandor glances up from his cup, at the sound of her voice and looks at her for a long time, then finally saying... "I could take you to the Vale, to be with your aunt... or, maybe to Riverrun. Your uncle would be there. The Blackfish..." He scowls as he says the name. "Either way, I should be able to ransom you back to them and get on my bloody way. Where to, the old gods and the new only know..." She made a face at the mention of the Vale. She had no desire to go there and be around people who are simple minded, even though they were family. She took a sip of her watered down wine and sighed softly, playing with her cup as she thought.

"You still planning on ransoming me off?" She averts her eyes up to yours, curiousness flickering in them for just a moment. "How do you know they will give you what you ask for?" lifts her cup and sips again, watching him. "Why do we have to go to either place?" finishes her drink and stares at him back, her eyes just as piercing and probing, as if testing him. "Why can't you take me back to Winterfell...or to the Docks. I might could catch a boat there..." She trails off and sighs, looking away. Her eyes narrowed at the Hounds snorts.

"I don't ask for much... I'll be selling my sword for the rest of my days, I reckon. I could give you safe passage to the docks, I suppose.." He replied gruffly. He slurps his wine and looks at Arya, curious as well but he hides it badly, or tries not to hide it at all. "If ye want a boat, you'll need help securing a ride with those bastard captains. You think I'm bad? They're worse than I am." He smirks as he gazes at her. "But why would a wolf girl want to go across the Narrow Sea?" he asks as he looks at her suspiciously. she pause a moment before answering, weighing whether or not to trust him with a direct answer.

"I have only to get to the docks, I have safe passage to where I am headed, the reasons are my own." She was not aware that she had taken out the coin Jaqen had given her and was fumbling with it under the table in her nervous habit of hers as she stared hard at him in return. "why would the Hound wish to sell off the wolf girl?" She questions his question. "It might suit his needs better if he saw her safely to the docks." Looks down at the coin in her hands and sighs softly again. "...or go with her across the Narrow Sea..." She froze, she had no idea why she said that, but it was true. it would be safer, for both of them across the Narrow sea and he could do much better then a sell sword. Sandor smirked down at her, finding her spirit amusing.

"Spare me your secretiveness, wolf girl. I'm not bothered either way..." He glances at the door way and looks back at her. "You think you have safe passage? Sometimes you're not as smart as you think you are. They all be thieves and bastards, those men of the sea... I'll get ye safe passage. There's nothing left for me here." He states plainly as he leans back in his chair with a dismal look and slurps more wine.

"You really shouldn't drink so much..." She says softly, under her breath as she watches him down yet another flagon of wine, tucking the coin back into her pocket and leans back in her chair. He had promised her safe passage, she would hold him to it and travel with him, long as he kept his promise. One sign that he would sell her off and she would slip his grip faster then a greased cat! she was no ones property to be bought and sold! Crossing her arms, she watched him through her eye lashes, waiting for him to finish. At her words, Sandor glared at her, his eyes hiding the smoldering anger behind them.

"What are ye, my mother? I'll drink what I want." He slams the flagon down and goes to get up from his chair, wavering a bit. "Stay here, I gotta go water a tree..." He says gruffly as he stalks towards the door, shoving a servant out of the way. She glares back at him at his show. She shook her head as she waited for him to return, wondering what on earth she had gotten herself into!

"No, if I was your mother ye would be better behaved." whispers softly to herself and smirks, hiding it before he came back. she knew he acted all tough, but on the inside, he wasn't so bad. why did people like that think that they had to act a certain way, hide things? she didn't understand it at all! Huffing under her breath, she crossed her arms and sat back in her chair, hoping he would return soon. She didn't like the way a few of the men sitting near the back were looking at her or in her general direction from time to time. While he was away, it gave her time to ponder her earlier words. Why on earth had she asked or suggested him to come with her to Braavos? She hated him! Didn't she? She had tried, on more then one occasion, to kill him in his sleep, but every time he surprised her when he woke up and threatened her. After the last time, where he threatened to break both her hands, she had just stopped trying to catch him unawares, but always was on the lookout for a way to get at him, so why in the seven hells, did she ask him to come with her!? Shaking her head, she sat back in her chair and waited for the Hound to return. She nearly jumper out of her skin when he kicks the door open and comes back in, seeing her sitting there with a sour look on her face and notices the men in the corner.

"Fuck you, Polliver! She's not for you." He raged at a smaller man who had been staring at her in open lust as he glares at him and comes back to sit down, keeping an eye on him. "Fucking knights, they can all bugger themselves!" looks at her with a scowl. "How come yer all in a snit? Are ye hungry?" He waves the serving wench over and gets even more frustrated when he sees the look in her eyes as she gazes at him. "Bring the girl a bowl o'brown or summat..." He flicks her a copper star and the serving girl went quickly to fill his order.

Arya had not realized her hunger till he mentioned it and dug in hungrily as the serving wench sat the bowl of food before her, before she remembered her manners. Eating slower, did she cast her glance up at him, watching him as he watched her. she had a hard time guessing what he was thinking, and that disturbed her, usually she was very good at guessing ones thoughts. "Thank you..." She said softly as she finished up her food and sat back again in her chair. Her green eyes pierced into his nearly sky blue ones, trying to figure out exactly who he was...he was both fire and ice, hate and love, robber and lawmaker and though she loved riddles at times, she could not for the life of her figure him out. If he was planning on selling her, why did he agree to take her to the docks? Why did she trust him when she knew on some small level that she shouldn't!? snorting air out through her nose, did she stare at him, wondering how long till he lashed out at her for doing so. He stares back at her for a long time, curious about the cross between scared little girl and fierce killer that's sitting before him, finally saying to her.

"I'll give you one thing, wolf girl... yer not afraid to look at my face." He was still not sure what to do with her... ransom her? And then what? The money runs out and he's back where he started... on the run from King's Landing. She met his gaze with fire in her eyes as she paused in eating her meal.

"why should I be afraid to look at you?" quips back softly. "I don't see anything wrong with you, or the way you look." She says honestly, because in fact, she didn't. "Its just a scar, and I have lots of those. Some heal in time, others do not. Our looks do not make us who we are, our actions do, nothing more." She places her elbows upon the table and rests her chin in her hands as she watches him more closely. Did she hit a nerve? she couldn't tell. "Are we just going to sit here till evening or are we going to get going? What exactly are your plans?" she asks, being curiously nosy. He looked at her skeptically, not used to hearing kind words, opens his mouth to say summat then shuts it again... cocks his head and looks at her, a bit hazy from the wine... decides to answer her question instead.

"We should probably get a couple rooms for the night. Travelling at night is precarious at the best of times. We'll ride come first light. Towards the Saltpans. We can get a ship there."

she looks out at the door and sees the coming of the night, and then looks around the Inn and back at him. Was it odd of her that she would feel much safer sleeping out under the stars then in this rat infested hole?! So many men came and went since they got here, and some were not so subtle in hiding their lecherous looks at her direction. "Fine..." she looked back up at Sandor, her face serious. "...but I get to keep your dagger for the night."

He cracks a grin at herand chuckles softly, such a firey little wolf. "Fine, fine.." He hands her his parrying knife with a slight smirk, almost as if he were teasing her. B"ut don't worry, I won't let anyone near ye. They'd be stupid to try. Get some rest. The journey over the Narrow Sea is a long one and ye may not sleep if the waves start heaving." He gets up and finds the innkeeper, tosses him a silver dragon and motions for her to follow to the rooms upstairs. she scowled at his grin at her but hid a smile under it at his laugh. She had never heard him laugh before. Taking his parrying knife from him, she tied it around her waist and followed after him, well aware of the heads that turned slightly at their departure. She kept her senses on alert as they transverse the stairs, taking in everything as they made their ways to the rooms. He unlocked the first door and hands her a key. "Go through and take the room in the back, that way anyone who wants to fuck with you will have to go through me first..." He turns and bolts his door then flops on the flea-ridden bed, half exhausted and half drunk. "G'night wolf girl..." He grumbles tiredly and dozes off.

she takes the offered key and goes towards the back of the room and into another room. "Good Night Sandor!" Shutting and locks the door behind her, however, when she looked around she sighed softly and taking the blankets off the bed, along with one small pillow, she took the dagger off her hip and put it under her pillow and laid down upon the floor, rolling up in the blankets. Only as she fades into sleep does she feel the wetness of tears upon her face before she passes out into sweet oblivion, dagger clutched tightly in her hand.

He had awakened in the middle of the night to the sound of someone buggering with the lock on my door... Getting up and creeping towards it, standing next to it waiting to see if the intruder will get past the lock. Bugger! Scowling, Sandor remembers he gave his knife to the girl... As the door creaks open, he grabs the damned thief by the throat and shove him against the rotting wooden wall, snarling in his face! Arya had awakened instantly at the sound of scuffling from the other room! Unsheathing the dagger , she crouches, eyes trained on the door, all senses instantly on alert! Slowly takes a few steps and dares to unlock the door and peek out. It seems a thief was trying to break in and Sandor caught them, yet he has nothing but his sword to dispatch the intruder with and that would not work in close quarters. Lost in the moment, trying to process what she is seeing is unaware that the door swings slightly on its own as she watches, and only go stock still when she sees the intruders eyes lock upon her and he dare to let a fleeting smile pass his face. Growling,she grips the dagger, hidden behind her back tightly in her hand and back up into her room a few paces but it is to late, he knows of her, has seen her! Drat!

Sandor sees the intruder glance at arya and is filled with a strange feeling of jealousy and rage! He snarls at the thief as he grabs that moment to punch him hard in the face, shattering his teeth, then fling him to the floor and stand over him, sword drawn and tip pressed into his throat! "Who are you and what do you want ?" He senses Arya standing in the doorway, watching everything and turns to cast his eyes up to hers a moment before locking back on the prone man on the floor at his feet. "Get yer things, wolf girl... we're getting out of here!" slowly he pushes the blade into the thiefs neck, watching him gasp and gurgle and choke on his own blood. She doesn't have to be told twice! Not with the way the thief leered at her! Putting the dagger back in its scabbard, and around her waist did she dart back into her room and grab her cloak and put on her shoes, before returning, just in time to see Sandor shove his sword through the mans throat. Staring down at the dying man, she feels strangely empty. No feelings as she watches him die, nothing. As he gasps out his last, does she turn and slide past Sandor, and head towards the door, without giving the now lifeless body a backward glance.

"Thank you..." she says softly as she waits for him to gather his things, letting just the tiniest smile tinge her lips before hiding her emotions back behind their door where they belong, deep inside of her. "It is still dark...will we be able to find the road?" He withdraws his sword from the man's neck and wipes it on the bedclothes... glancing at you.

"Yer welcome... you okay?" Sees a flicker of a grin and nods to her, letting her keep her secrets and her emotions hidden as she will. "It'll be light soon enough. If yer still tired you can sleep while we ride, I won't let ye fall." He replies softly, in hushed tones as he grabs his stuff and walks with you down the stairs and out into the darkness of the courtyard towards the stables. When we reach there, I unhitch Stranger who whickers at me softly. "Aye, boy... gonna get an early start." He puts on his tack and pack up his saddle bag, glancing at Arya every so often, puzzled by your soft spoken demeanor, but saying naught Then he picks her up and puts her on the horse's back and climb up behind her. Together they continue down the river road towards the Saltpans, just as the sun starts to come up. She nods back slightly and shrugs at his question.

"I am fine, not tired.." though in reality she didn't get much sleep and she was betting he didn't either. Turns and follows him down the steps, trying to be quiet and towards the stables. I wait silently as he tack up Stranger, saying nothing but watching closely and wondering of his thoughts as she catches him glancing at her every so often. Allows him to pick her up and put her astride the horse and holds onto his mane as he climbs up behind her and nudge him into a walk, as we start on our way. She watches the sun rise slowly as we make our way down the road towards the saltpans and as it finishes cresting the horizon, do her eyes close and she is asleep again.