Wandering // Sandor Clegane // Thorin

29. Why stay?

 'You will be pleased to know that our mutual friend is doing quite well in lady sansa's service.' Varys said to tyrion.

'Good,' Tyrion answered 'one of my better ideas.'

'And it seems the grandmaster has found himself into a black cell? Well played my Lord hand but should I be worried? Slynt and now Pycelle the small council grows smaller every day.'

'Counselors have a reputation for serving past tense poorly. I don't mean to follow ned stark to the grave.' Tyrion told him.

'Power is a curious thing my Lord. Are you fond of riddles?'

'Why am I about to get one?'

'Three great men sit in a room a king a priest and a rich man between them stand a common sell sword each great man lets the sell sword kill the other two. Who lives and who dies?' varys questioned him.

'Depends on the sell sword' Tyrion told him.

'It doesn't, he's neither Crown, nor gold, nor favor with the gods.' Varys told him.

'He has a sword the power of life and death.' Tyrion went on.

'But if it's swordsman who rule why do we pretend kings have all the power?' varys questioned.

'I've decided I don't like riddles.' tyrion said.

'It's a trick.' Aroura told them and Tyrion glanced back at her handing over a glass. 'Power is where men believe it lies.'

'Correct my lady,' Varys said nodding to her. 'A shadow on the wall and a very small man can cast a very large shadow.' Varys looked over Aroura she was very much a mystery, yet an open book.

'Do I have to go to the banquet tonight?" Aroura questioned Tyrion.

"Yes. Because I have to go, so you have to go.' Tyrion informed her and she groaned.

++

'Princess of an imaginary realm, to a lady of casterly rock, must be such a disappointment.' Aroura stared blankly at some lord or another that Tywin was trying to match her with, aroura finished her drink before clearing her throat and stepping forward.

'No matter what title I hold I consider wanderer to be my favorite,' aroura remarked.

'Wanderer?'

'Yes. Anyone can be a wanderer no matter the rank or title because the elements do not care for names or holdings only that you are brave enough to face the world head on.' Aroura told him confidently. 'Men like you can't handle the real world. Men like you need the walls of castles to protect them from the dangers. Men like you don't deserve my breath.' Aroura told him and sandor snorted holding back a laugh as tyrion grabbed his sisters arm.

'Excuse her,' tyrion offered.

'This place sucks!' Aroura shouted. 'I hate it here. No one but you and sandor give a damn about me so why am i staying?'

'For sandor and I?' tyrion offered. 'I would miss you.'

'You would survive. You did well enough without me for 20 years,' aroura reminded him

'I was far more miserable with you gone.' Tyrion told her. 'I like having you back. Its nice not being the only disappointment in fathers eyes,' tyrion mused and aroura pulled away from him rolling her eyes. 'I'm sorry I'm sorry that was rude but you don't care for him anyways.' Tyrion remarked

'I don't.' She agreed. 'But this place sucks! Everything sucks! I just want...'

'What do you want?' Tyrion questioned 'whatever it is i will give it to you.'

'You can't'. Aroura told him

'Well... perhaps an alternative-' but aroura was marching off.

'Nephew i need the hound.' Aroura told joffrey

'Why?'

'Do i need a reason?' Aroura countered and joffrey stared back at sandor before nodding.

'Take him, what do i care. Be a good dog for my aunt.' Joffrey warned

'Thank you Joffrey,' aroura coed ruffling his hair. Sandor followed aroura off

'You're right,' tyrion remarked as she left she slowed her steps. 'I can't give you what you want.'

'Not unless you wanted to be like our eldest siblings,' she whispered and tyrion drank down the rest of his glass quickly before pouring another and shaking his head. Arouras laugh filled the room as she pulled sandor away.

'You asked the king-' sandor began

'For you and he gave you up so easily.' Aroura remarked letting his armor fall to her floor with a thud. 'Makes me think you are not the best guard if he so easily tossed you aside.'

'Or perhaps he wanted his pretty aunt to like him,' sandor countered

'I'm not a fan of the king,' aroura told him

'Neither am I.' sandor told her.

'Good thing hes not here,' aroura whispered against him as she let her dress fall to the floor.

+

He scooped her into his arms and gently moved them until she could snuggle in his arms, their lips meeting for a long, lazy kiss.

Aroura slept far more deeply than Sandor ever could. Though he wondered if she slept so deeply only with him? If so, she would sleep well for the rest of her life, for she would never again be parted from him again.