Out of the woods // Ned Stark

5. Sandor

Maelia didnt like meeting new people. She didn't want to attend the feast, much to Ned's dismay Maelia stayed outside with Jon.... Maelia chose to stay in wolf form to get away from talking to others. Jon smirked back at her as Sandor came outside, not liking the stares he got anywhere he went. His scarred face made him more comfortable with the dogs.

''Arent you pretty,'' sandor whispered kneeling down before maelia. She sniffed his hand before nudging herself against him. ''And people say wolves are so scary,'' he teased. ''You big softie.'' She wanted to smile and shift and say gotcha but she didn't. She nudged against his hand, Jon chuckled and Sandor stared over at him.

"This your wolf?"

"One of the wolves, she is more Lord Starks." Jon told him as he whacked at the straw training dummy.

"Well trained.' Sandor remarked.

"You have no idea." Jon agreed and Maelia moved between Jons legs. "You hungry?" Jon questioned kneeling down before her. "You don't want to shift here and now in front of the hound?" Jon whispered and Maelia rolled over bringing a paw to her nose. "I will get you some clothes.' Jon whispered running off. Maelia moved back to Sandor, paws sinking in the snow.

"You have secret conversations with him?" Sandor remarked leaning against the kennels. "You want to have a conversation with me too?" Sandor mused. "I must be fucking lonely." Sandor grumbled. "I'm talking to a damn dog." Sandor watched Maelia as she rested her chin on his knee. Her rubbed between her ears. "I like dogs better than people." Sandor remarked.

"Lia." Jon called patting his leg. She spun around running into the kennel, Sandor's eyes followed her before downing his drink. Jon Threw a cloak over her and she shifted back. He held out a dress for her and she stared at him incredulously.

"Good as new." Jon remarked softly.

"What the fuck is this?" Maelia questioned touching the dress.

"You gotta look your best. Royal family is here." Jon reminded her.

"Gross." Maelia told him.

"Come on, you will look pretty and I know father will like it." Jon told her smugly.
"Whatever you think you know, you are wrong." Maelia told him spinning him around keeping her back to her as she slipped on the dress.

"Of course. I know nothing." Jon agreed. "But since we found you lord Stark has been in a better mood, everyone actually. Its like you gave us all a fresh start. A new take on life... on love perhaps." Jon offered.

"You know nothing, Jon Snow." Maelia said sweetly. "Thank you for this monstrosity." She gestured to the dress as she headed out. Jon turned to her.
"Maelia..." She turned back to him. "You look beautiful."

"I feel like I can't breathe." She countered. "But thank you." Maelia walked out past sandor and pat his head as she passed.

"My lady?" sandor questioned turning around.

"You don't have to sit out here all by yourself. Talking to the dogs," Maelia remarked. "I would have a conversation with you... although I do prefer the wolves to people most of the time." Maelia remarked heading inside.

"What?" Sandor questioned turning back to jon. "Who was that?"

"Maelia." Jon answered innocently as he went back to hitting the straw dummy and sandor moved inside, confused.

+

'Is it dead yet?' Benjen called over to Jon, he was beating up a practice dummy in the courtyard.

'Uncle Benjen!' Jon said coming up to him happily.

'you've gotten bigger!' Benjen remarked it had been a while since he last visited Winterfell. 'out here all day? They didn't wanna leave you alone with a Lannister?' Benjen teased. 'You don't wanna enjoy the feast?' Benjen questioned.

'Lady Stark did not want to insult the Royal family by seating a bastard in their midst.' Jon admitted.

'Well you are always welcome at the wall,' Benjen assured him. 'no bastard has ever been turned away there.' an idea, not thought through at all sprung into jons head.

'So take me with you when you go back.' Jon suggested.

'Jon-'

'Father will let me if you ask him.' Jon negotiated

'The wall isn't going anywhere.' Benjen reminded him.

'I'm ready.' Jon assured him.

'you don't understand what you'd be giving up, we have no families none of us father any sons-' Benjen explained.

'I don't care about that.' Jon told him

'You might.' Benjen told him 'if you knew what it meant... I better get inside and rescue your father from his guests.' Benjen said 'we will talk later.' he said giving Jon a pat.

'Your uncle is in the nights watch?' Tyrion said walking up the path.

'what are you doing back there?' Jon questioned

'Preparing for a night with your family.' Tyrion told him, 'I've always wanted to see the wall,' he remarked taking a swig from his jug.

'You are Tyrion Lannister.' Jon remarked 'the Queen's brother.'

'My greatest accomplishment. And you... you are ned Starks bastard aren't you?' Jon turned away annoyed, that was not what defined him. 'Did I offend you? Sorry.' Tyrion said following him. 'But you are the bastard though.'

'Lord Eddard Stark is my father.' Jon told him

'And lady Stark is not your mother... making you the bastard..' Tyrion told him simply, 'let me give you some advice, bastard. Never forget who you are or what you are the rest of the world will not, wear it like armor, that way it can never be used to hurt you,' Tyrion told him turning away from Jon.

'What the hell would you know about being a bastard?' Jon called after him

'All dwarves are bastards in their father's eyes.' Tyrion told him heading inside.