His little bird was pleased in their match, the news should have provoked something within the Hound but he found himself numb. Marriage. He had never contemplated the idea, it had always seemed like a prison to him and he could not cage his little bird. He would be as bad as Joffrey if he were to do that. After Sansa had closed the door, he gazed out of the arrow slit onto the Red Keep. It was bustling with activity but he did not want to join the festivities. He found himself to be in a murderous mood and he turned to face Sansa's door. He knocked firmly. The guard had not showed up, she was alone in her chambers. His little bird, all alone.

Sansa opened the door. To his surprise she did not look fearful, she looked expectant.

"They've forgotten us in their happiness. That is why the Lannister's will fall." she whispered victoriously. The Hound stepped into her chambers, casting his eyes around the luxury she had been granted despite her status as a prisoner. A cheerful fire burnt in the grate beside a tin bathtub, filled with fragrant water. A luxurious fur pelt covered the floor by Sansa's large bed.

"Where is your maid?" he asked gruffly. His mood had evaporated at seeing her, she seemed to calm him down despite her need to always be courteous. Her words at answering the door had surprised him. The Hound could remember when she'd arrived at the Red Keep, her willingness to sell her family for marriage to a Lannister. Now she was a fugitive, a traitor and nowhere would accept her. The Hound felt cheated in his match, almost as forcefully as Sansa felt. His reputation was already cemented as a single man, a man who enjoyed blood lust and he was betrothed to a traitor.

"She sleeps with the stable boy when she thinks no-one is around." Sansa replied, her face twisting into an expression of fear as she realized the change his mood had taken.

***

Sansa wanted to hide from that gaze, so horrifying was it. The Hound's face was twisted in pain and anger and she was watching the play of emotions across his scarred, horrifying face. Yet despite her fear, she felt excited. She wanted to kiss him, hard and feel him against her, his knight's body so toned and supple. She wanted his hands on her. She stepped forward, ignoring her fear. She had already taken a beating and she was still standing, the Hound could do no worse. He could bruise her and beat her and she'd fight him every step of the way, until he was forced to confess the feelings she knew were there. She reached a hand to his chest and placed it there. The emotions were evident on his face.

"Where you about to take a bath?" his voice was hoarse but gentle. He grabbed her hand and held it firmly in both of his. His eyes appeared confused but when his hands moved to remove her dress, they knew their way around her body and she felt herself shiver in anticipation. She had never been naked before a gentleman and she found herself nervous at the thought. Somewhere deep within she knew that this was not the behaviour of a highborn lady, she was more than a traitor of her family, she was betraying her status but she found it easy to ignore the protests of the voice in her mind. She wanted to feel the Hound. She stepped from her dress and allowed him to strip her of her undergarments until she was naked. She stood shivering in the cold air that swirled around her chambers. She moved her arms to hide her modesty but the Hound stopped her, gazing at her unabashedly. The feel of his gaze against her skin made her self conscious.

"Caress me." she whispered, reaching for his hand. At first he pulled his arm away but the second time she tried, he allowed her to lead his hand to her throat. He ran his finger down the protruding vein that throbbed on her neck until he reached her budding breasts. He found himself feeling strange at having her in control but he did not want to stop touching her silky skin. He led her to the bath and washed her carefully, avoiding touching in between her legs. He did not trust his self control.

"Sansa."

"Touch me my lord. Please." her voice was low, filled with emotion. He found himself wanting to keep asking her to call him "my lord." He reached slowly into the warm water and caressed her skinny legs. He reached in between her legs and touched the downy softness, watching her face change into an expression of pleasure. He had never seen her look so beautiful and flushed and he found his erection straining against his pants. He wanted her, wanted her as he'd never wanted anybody before. She stepped out of the tin bath and he resumed touching her, making her knees buckle and spots appear in her vision. Suddenly she gasped and felt her body collapse in on itself, a rush of wetness coating the Hound's fingers. She watched him carefully as he licked at her juices as her body rode out her climax. Suddenly, she heard a noise on the staircase, the sound of her guard returning.

"Oh no, Joffrey shall hang me from the walls."

"But we are to be married." the Hound whispered. His voice had not recovered its harshness. He draped her cloak around her naked body and bid her climb into her bed.

"Nobody shall know I was here. If they ask, you shall tell them I was disciplining you."

Sansa nodded, disappointed that her fun with the Hound had had to end so abruptly.

"Don't let Joffrey be the first. I would like to wake up in your arms." she whispered her confession and he nodded curtly. He would make sure he was the first to take her. It would be tonight, before they were married and before Joffrey had the chance to steal his little bird away from her.