A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first fanfic ever and I hope you enjoy it. I do not own any of the characters. Please review

Prologue

Sansa went running down the halls to her room. The urgency in Septa Mordane's voice was not lost on the girl and in that moment, Sansa knew true fear for the first time. After turning a corner Sansa stopped suddenly, her breath catching in her throat. There before her was the Hound coming out of the shadows and into her path. Both stopped and stared at each other for the briefest moment. Everything seemed to move in slow motion, almost dream like, but he broke the reverie and began to walk slowly towards her. He lifted his head and Sansa could just make out the scared side of his face and the corners of his mouth twisted into a cruel grin. The women of court mocked the man and made hateful jokes behind his back. They made no show to disguise what they thought about Joffrey's dog and always looked anywhere but his face. Sansa was not like them. She had been the only one, other than perhaps Queen Cersei, to look at him.

"Stay away from me," Sansa said, mustering all the courage she had left into saying that one, simple, phrase. The Hound didn't frighten her, but his sudden appearance did. He started walking towards her, blocking any chance she had to move past him. Sansa knew she had to get away. However, the only direction she could go was backwards. Her left foot took a step back and then her right. It wasn't working.

"I'll tell my father"

The Hound kept getting closer, the threat not intimidating the war hardened warrior. His grin got bigger.

"I'll-I'll tell the queen." Sansa was running out of time to try to scare the Hound into letting her pass.

Then his mouth opened into the widest grin she had ever seen on the man and he laughed mockingly.

"Who do you think sent me?"

His large figure loomed over Sansa as he got closer and closer. Hair covered the burned side of his face, but the look in his eyes was enough to scare her. Sansa picked up her long skirts and tried to run past him. The Hound was quicker and grabbed her arm, pushing her against the cold, stone wall.

"What are you playing at girl? Think you can outrun a dog?"

"Please Ser, I need to pass. Something is wrong and it is unsafe in these halls. Armed men are coming this way."

"I am no Ser," he said harshly as he stared at her. Then he really looked at her. The Hound noticed her eyes were glistening with unshed tears and saw the fear behind them. His face softened. "Bugger them. The only thing you need fear in these halls is me and I won't hurt you."

Sansa looked up into his hard gray eyes. There was something in them she couldn't quite put her finger on, but she knew he was telling her the truth. As if to answer her, he softly muttered, "A dog will die for you, but never lie to you."

There was silence between them until the sound of the armed men drifted down the long corridor. Sansa turned her head in the direction of the noise and quickly turned back to face him with panic written all over her face. "Please help me…Ser," remembering her manners.

The Hound had never heard a more desperate, innocent plea for help. He softened his grip on her and took a step back. "Aye, I'll help you Little Bird."