The Hound, The Imp, and The Cripple // Sandor Clegane

Hit me hard

'do I frighten you child?' beric asked arya that night, the fire crackling between them, sandor slept peacefully, kitty watched the fire next to sandor, watching arya as well.

'no.' arya answered.

'I don't blame you. But letting him go is the right thing.'

'I thought he killed you.'

'he did.'

'but how?' arya couldn't comprehend it. He was dead but now he wasn't. it didn't make any sense.

'thoros... how many times have you brought me back?'

'It's the lord of light that brings you back' thoros answered. 'I'm just the lucky drunk that says the words.'

'how many times?'

'five I think , this makes six.'

He began to tell arya all the ways he died.

'and the last one the lannisters caught me and executed me for treason. Was it hanging or a dagger in the eye?' beric said.

'both the fuckers couldn't decide.' Thoros told them. 'and the hound makes six.'

'second time ive been killed by a Clegane.' Beric said. 'The mountain previously and now the hound.'

'could you bring back a man with no head?' arya asked. 'not six time just the once?'

'I don't think it works that way.' Thoros told her.

'he was a good man. ned stark. Hes at rest now. Somewhere. I would never wish my life upon him.' Beric told her.

'I would. Youre alive.' Arya remarked before going to bed. Kitty couldn't sleep though she was mentally and physically exhausted, she was in a different kind of lions den now, one with vipers and law less man. She wrapped herself closer to sandor his arm around her as he slept.

Kitty had managed to fall asleep and when she woke up she heard the usual complaints of sandor.

'clearly said on that note you will be paid in full when the war is over.'

'oh piss on that, your nothing but thieves.' Sandor spat at them.

'we are outlaws. Outlaws steal. Your lucky we didn't kill ya.'

'come try and I will send those antlers up yer ass!' sandor yelled

'you cant let him go, hes a murderer, hes guilty!' Arya yelled.

'not in the eyes of the gods.' Beric said calmly.

'you cant!' arya demanded.

"Enough!' beric told her. 'the judgment isn't ours to make.'

'go in peace sandor Clegane.' Thoros said.

'the lord of light isn't done with you yet.' Beric said.

********************

The brotherhood without banners had said they would bring Arya home but Lannister soldiers were spotted and Lannister soldiers had Lannister gold. Fucking money. Arya didn't want to be caught by the lannisters, she ran but sandor grabbed her. he needed money if he was going to get him and kitty to the free cities if they ever bloody made it that far it seemed like it was taking forever with all the side tracks but he would need money and selling off Arya to her family would get him more than enough to get him and kitty started on a new life.

As they lay staring up at the stars her eyes getting heavy as sandor ran a hand up and down her side. She curled deeper into him as arya sat on the opposite side of the fire grumbling and complaining after saying her list of names about a dozen times. Joffrey, cersei, meryn, Gods that girl was persistant, lastly she spat out the hound before going to bed. kitty didn't like the vengeance she saw in arya, she didn't like how her vengeance was turned to sandor, he had been protecting her, cared for her, more so than her family ever had and arya was treating him as though he was the villain.

They were all asleep, or that's what kitty thought but she heard sandor and arya talking.

'you got one shot girl, just one. Make it count.' Sandor said, he had kitty in his arms. 'kill me and your free. But if I live... I will break both your hands.. go on. Hit me. hit me hard..' he encouraged. He gave her a squeeze. kitty shot up.

'ARYA!' she yelled but arya didn't drop it, her gaze falterd to kitty for a moment still debating. Arya new she was stronger than kitty but now that sandor was awake she had less of a chance at succeeding.

'You killed my friend!' arya snapped dropping the rock down next to him.

'fucking ridiculous. Still on that? its been over a year, gods move on, hes dead. Usually when shits die they stay dead.' Sandor told her shoving her out of the way as he helped kitty up. 'since we are all awake might as well get a move on.'