Flame // Sandor Clegane

You're alive

Scattered around the cave, sandor was told he could stay with them before he headed off, begrudgingly he looked out at the storm. The cave provided warmth he could put up with the shit company for a dry warm spot to spend the night.

'Joffrey, cersei, llyn payne, ser meryn,-'

'what are you saying arya?' chama questioned.

'the list of people I'm going to kill.' Arya told her.

'that's...' chama glanced over at beric he was grinning. 'Arya would this happen to be the man on your list?' Chama questioned tipping her head to sandor.

'The hound.' Arya confirmed. 'Where are we going?'

'We will ride for the riverrunn tomorrow your brother is there.' Thoros told her 'they will make a contribution to our cause and you can go.'

'I am a hostage ...you're selling me?' arya questioned

'Don't think of it that way.' Chama told her from across the fire.

'But it is that way.' Arya told her.

'It is.' Thoros agreed 'but it isn't.'

'What is and isn't?' arya sassed.

'Beric owes your father a great deal you know,' thoros went on.

'So why don't you just let me go?'

'We need the gold.' Thoros told her simply

+++++++

'Do I frighten you child?' beric asked arya that night, the fire crackling between them, sandor lay staring at the cave ceiling, listening. Chama was getting comfortable next to Beric while Kit curled up next to her.

'no.' arya answered.

'youre angry with me... 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.'

'lucky drunk.' Chama repeated laughing sitting upright, beric wrapped an arm around her.

'how many times?'

'five I think ,' thoros told him.

'this makes six.' Chama chimed in. He began to tell arya all the ways he died.

'lets see what was first?'

'Impaled through the chest with a lance, by Gregor Clegane, during the Battle at the Mummer's Ford.' Chama told him. 'I didn't get to see that one, but I hear it was a great fight.' Chama added, beric pinched her waist she curved into him.

''the mountain. Big fucking guy.... aint that right Hound.' Thoros teased. Sandor grumbled in return but his eyes drifted to Chama, her face lite by the fire.

'Knifed in the belly.' Berics hands went to his stomach.

'Shot in the back with an arrow.' Thoros reminded.

'An axe driven into my side.' Chama's hands moved under his shirt, her fingers feeling the scars.

'Captured by Lannister soldiers,' thoros said shaking his head. 'those fuckers... they executed him for treason –' thoros went on.

'but they just couldn't decide.' Chama informed her. 'that's how he got this pretty little accessory.' Her fingers moved to his eye patch.

'yes, to hang me or stick a dagger through my eye, they just did both.' Beric said with a laugh, eyes locked on Chama.

'and the hound makes six.' Chama noted looking over to sandor, his head snapped around, he had been staring at her too long. A ginger of all the woman in the world a fire loving ginger...

'second time ive been killed by a Clegane.' Beric said.

'it doesn't get any easier you know.' Thoros told him.

'I know. Every time I come back, I come back a little... less.' Beric acknowledged. 'piece fo you get chipped away.'

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

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

'he was a good man. ned stark.' Beric remarked, he had spent some time with Ned while he was Hand of the king, king Robert for a short while. '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.

'shes got you there.' chama told him falling back down as well. Beric wrapped her in his arms, she curled into him. Sandor turned back watching her before falling into a restless sleep himself.