Wounds (Sansa & Sandor)

Chapter XVI

They sat at one of the large tables next to the fireplace. They offered them something to eat, but they refused. They had recently stopped along the way to recharge their batteries before it snowed again.

-But, we will gladly accept a few jugs of your wine .. .- Tormund added, taking off his cloak and approaching the fire for a few seconds.

Sir Gerald nodded and left the great room to do his errand in the kitchens. There would still be someone left and if not, he would serve it himself. The newcomers deserved it.

Jon took off his cloak and sat next to his sister. Sandor stayed in front of him. It was such a strange situation for him that he did not know how to behave. Never in his life had he felt that he had to need anyone's approval to live his life. The demands of the northern nobles mattered very little to him, just as they did, and on that, both he and Sansa agreed. It was a mere procedure that had to be saved, so as not to endanger, her status as Queen in the North, but Jon was something else.

Besides, he knew him well ... that "suicidal" expedition that had led them to catch an undead so that everyone would believe them, had taught Sansa's brother, what his future "brother-in-law" was like. They couldn't be worse references.

One of the maids, still up, entered just then and left them a tray with two large jugs of wine and four glasses. Sansa returned one of them, and asked for some water.

Jon lowered his head.

- I still can't believe you're pregnant .- he said slowly, when the maid had already left. He tried not to make it sound like a reproach, but he couldn't.

Sandor went on the defensive, while Tormund filled the remaining glasses. He would undoubtedly have his own opinion of it all, but he kept it to himself. He knew that nobody cared.

Sansa looked at him determined.

- If I'm honest, neither do we. Sandor just nodded. It was a conversation that belonged to Sansa. He would only step in if he had no choice. Anyway, he instinctively he clenched his fists under the table.

- How could something like this happen? .- Jon asked them both. The astonishment did not leave his face.

Sansa looked at Sandor. She took a deep breath and as always when she had to defend her decisions, she stretched her back and raised her head from her.

- Sandor and I are united by something impossible to explain...- She looked her brother in the eye. ... but I can assure you that I could not be happy with anyone else ... we understand each other as no one can understand us ... and when he looked at it I only see what is under those wounds, and, without a doubt, it is what what do I want...

Tormund looked at Sandor tilting his head, making an effort to see what Sansa saw. In a few seconds he shook his head, and refilled his wine glass.

Meanwhile, the Queen in the North continued speaking.

- Jon... .- she took his hand. She licked her lips trying to find the words -... He tried to help me when nobody did, and believe it or not, he is one of the few people, outside of you, of my family, whom I have missed in all this that It has been my life since we parted ...- she took a deep breath. She didn't want to start to get excited. She wanted to maintain the dignity of a Queen, also in front of her brother, but she was being impossible. Ghost, perhaps sensing the situation Sansa was going through, got on the bench where she was and lay down next to her. Sansa couldn't help but smile.- I know we are destined to be together ... - she continued - ... despite everything Ramsay did to me and everything that is written in blood on Sandor's body, I am pregnant ... and I swear ... it's the most incredible thing I could ever imagine ... He leaned back and smiled -... Which by the way the lords of the north were very worried ... Much to his regret, .- he smiled when he said it and his smile had a lot of irony -... the Stark lineage will continue ... thanks to a Clegane ...