Summary of this chapter: The only thing that mattered for now was to make sure they reached their destination safely and once there, would not be parted but would stay together, one way or another.

Sandor

Sandor felt the frustration of the last few days giving way to a newly invigorated feeling of purpose. The next day he went to the city to buy a sturdy but good natured mare for Sansa. He also visited shops and warehouses for supplies they would need in weeks to come; another bedroll, warm blankets and water-proof covers, fur-lined cloaks, dried food to maintain them until they could buy more, and snares and traps for trapping small pray. He thoughtfully weighed up wine skins trying to determine how much they would need, and with a small sigh decided that food and clothing was more important than wine, and settled for four small skins.

He left the horse and supplies at an inn in the Flea Bottom to wait for their departure. His next task was to find out about troop movements. That was achieved surprisingly easily by talking to veteran men-at-arms, squires and stable boys. The news was good and it appeared that at least their initial route until as far as the Trident was relatively safe riding if they just avoided the Kingsroad.

His next task was harder. Sandor wanted to buy them as much time as possible, and the only way to get that was through the King. He approached Joffrey that same afternoon after judging him to be in one of his good moods. He had made up a story about some trouble in Clegane's Keep, asking permission to visit it on important estate matters.

Joffrey looked at him surprised. "Why would you care about the matters of Clegane's Keep – aren't they Ser Gregor's worries? It is not your land, after all."

Sandor made a face of indifference. "That is so, Your Grace, but if I am lucky, someone will kill him soon enough. There is a long list of people who would like to see him dead and I might just be fortunate enough to see it happening sooner rather than later. If that happens, I would want my lands to have been properly looked after."

Joffrey examined him with narrowed eyes. "The present company included, I suppose?" It was well known that the Clegane brothers hated each other, so Sandor only shrugged his shoulders without commenting.

"You plan ahead, dog. I like it!" Joffrey declared, rising from his chair and starting to walk towards the throne room. If you only knew, Sandor thought while following, trying to suppress a sardonic smile tugging in the corner of his mouth.

"Well, if you must, go then. But be back as soon as possible. The realm is restless because I was bold enough to punish the Stark traitor as he needed to. You get one week and that is all. Ride there and back as fast as you can with that beast of yours. If he is as good as you say, you should be able to do that easily."

"Very well, Your Grace." Sandor bowed stiffly. One week! That was better than he had expected. They could get far before his desertion would be noticed.

Desertion. He didn't like the sound of it. But that's what it was, whichever way it was viewed. If he was lucky, he would be thought deserting on his own – but if Ser Meryn's suspicions were further raised or if anyone had seen or heard anything... If he was found to have escaped with the Stark girl, he would be a hunted man for the rest of his life in any territory where the Lannisters held sway.

He considered for a moment killing Ser Meryn, but in the end concluded it would raise even more suspicions. Also, he knew he was never going to come back to serve the Lannisters again. He was done with them, no matter what followed.

As Sandor was readying himself for their journey he did the one last sweep in his room, packing only his most valuable possessions to take with him. Among them was the little doll that had belonged to her sister. IT had been the only thing he had taken with him from Clegane's Keep all those years ago when leaving for Casterly Rock. He had been only a young boy then, keen to get away from the house under Gregor's tyrannical rule. Tywin Lannister had welcomed him and he had been grateful to him, returning his favour by dedicating himself to his cause, however skewed or twisted.

He stared at the doll. The little bird was already sleeping, the steady rhythm of her breathing in his ears. I took you from Clegane's Keep. Is there anything I want to take from the Red Keep? Were th ere any good memories of the life he had lived there, and now inevitably leaving behind forever. Is there anything I will miss?

In his heart he knew that the only thing he wanted to take away with him was sleeping there, ready to depart with him. When the little bird had asked him to what cause he was ready to commit himself, he couldn't have given her a truthful answer. That the only cause that had ever roused him from his indifference was the girl himself, and the bond he felt slowly forming between them.

'I only hope that your cause and mine are aligned,' she had said. So would I, Iittle bird – if that only could be. He was determined all the same to make sure that she reached her home safe, secure from the Lannisters, protected from anyone who may want to harm her – even from himself. Sandor winced thinking ahead the long journey ahead. They would have to stay close, if possible even closer than before when sharing the room. There would be temptations...

Sandor was grateful that Sansa didn't seem to be afraid of him anymore. He still couldn't decide what to make of the kiss. He was sure she had leaned towards him, but why? She was grateful for him, he knew – was that it? She wanted to reward her faithful knight with a kiss of faith? She was so young and naive that she might think something like that. The kiss itself hadn't certainly been a chaste kiss of reward but something much more...

He cursed, swearing to keep himself in better check in the future. No matter how tempted he would be, he would control himself. Not only did he want to protect her, but he decided that if he was given an opportunity to stay at her family's service, he would. Whether the young Lord Stark could trust a man who had abandoned his previous liege lord and master, was another story.

Sandor couldn't bear the thought of leaving her there and riding away, alone. Maybe he could offer himself as her sworn shield – would she accept him? It would mean that they wouldn't have to part. It would also ensure that when her family inevitably married her to some high lord, he would have to follow her to her new home. He would see her growing heavy with his children, her bestowing her favours to her lordly husband. He grimaced, feeling his hatred for that nameless foe already heating his blood.

Still it would be better than not to be with her at all. There was still much that could happen until then. The only thing that mattered for now was to make sure they reached their destination safely and once there, would not be parted but would stay together, one way or another.

I will make sure of that.

The End

Thank you for everyone who made it this far, for your perseverance! Comments are love…