Selfish // Sandor Clegane

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐗𝐈𝐈

꧁✯꧂

"𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐒𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇 of His Grace that his loyal servant, Janos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch be at once raised to the rank of lord and granted the ancient seat of Harrenhal" I listen to Pycelle as I feel Sansa walking to my right after greeting some Sers

"You betrayed father" she hisses in a quiet tone

"Father is already dead meat, sister, I did it to protect you" I whisper back

"No, you did it to protect yourself" Sansa says, taking a step ahead

I grab her hand, not letting her take one more step "Your pretty chirping won't help. Joffrey doesn't give one flying shit about your pleadings"

"Ser Barristan Selmy" Cersei rose

"Your Grace, I am yours to command" the knight bows to his Queen

"Rise, Ser Barristan. You may remove your helm. You have served the realm long and faithfully. Every man and woman in the Seven Kingdoms owes you thanks. But it is time to put aside your armour and your sword. It is time to rest and look back with pride on your many years of service." I knew Cersei Lannister was mad, but not that mad. The Kingdoms will start to rebel against her son and she is dismissing the best living Kingsguard

"Your Grace, the Kingsguard is a sworn brotherhood. Our vows are taken for life. Only death relieves us of our sacred trust"

"Whose death, Ser Barristan? Yours or your King's?" The Queen asks

"You let my father die" Your father did it to himself "You're too old to protect anybody"

"Your Grace-"

"The Council has determined that Ser Jaime Lannister will take your place as Lord Commander of the Kingsguard"

"The man who profaned his blade with the blood of the King he had sworn to defend"

"Careful, Ser" Yes, Ser, don't you dare insult my lover was the thing I could almost see in Cersei's eyes

"We have nothing but gratitude for your long service, good Ser" spoke Lord Varys "You shall be given a stout keep beside the sea, with servants to look after your every need"

"A hall to die in and men to bury me. I am a knight. I shall die a knight" Ser Barrstan starts taking off the white cloak

"A naked knight, apparently" men laugh at Littlefinger's comment

Barristan takes up his sword, as other five knights do "Even now I could cut through the five of you like carving a cake!" He rises his tone

"Here, boy" he throws the sword "Melt it down and add it to the others" and he leaves

"If any man in this hall has other matters to set before His Grace, let his speak now or go forth and hold his silence"

A moment later I realise I'm looking at The Hound. I didn't avoid him and yet I could not find the perfect timing to speak with the dog. Only his presence made me shiver, pressing my legs together at the glimpse of the familiar sensation between them.

That's when my sister snaps free from my grasp "Your Grace"

"Come forward, my Lady"

"The Lady Sansa of House Stark"

"Do you have some business for the King and the Council, Sansa?" I fight the urge to sigh by clenching my hands into a fist and letting my nails wound through my flesh

Sansa kneels "As it please Your Grace I ask mercy for my father, Lord Eddard Stark, who was Hand of the King"

"Treason is a noxious weed" It would e better if my sister sew the Grand-Maester's mouth instead of dresses "It should be torn out, root-"

"Let her speak" Joffrey silences the old cunt's mouth "I want to hear what she says"

"Thank you, Your Grace"

"Do you deny your father's crime?"

"No, my Lords. I know he must be punished. All I ask is mercy. I know my lord father must regret what he did. He was King Robert's friend and he loved him. You all know he loved him. He never wanted to be Hand until the King asked him. They must have lied to him-Lord Renly or Lord Stannis or somebody. They must have lied!" Oh, sweet and naive Sansa...

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𝐈 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐍𝐎𝐓 sketch a smile like Sansa's, who was happy thinking Joffrey will be merciful.

I watch father being dragged next to us. It was pure hatred that filled my glare, staring at the people who cheered.

"I am Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King" he looks at Sansa who happily nods, choosing to ignore the warning in my eyes
"I come before you to confess my treason in the sight of Gods and men. I betrayed the faith of my King and the trust of my friend, Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children. But before his blood was cold I plotted to murder his son and seize the Thorne for myself " Father spoke the lie bitterly

"Let the High Septon and Baelor the Blessed bear witness of what I say. Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne, by the Grace of all Gods, Lord of The Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm"

Sansa slowly realises something's not right. "As...as we sin... so do we suffer" Pycelle tells the people "This man has confessed his crimes...in sight of Gods and men. The Gods are just, but beloved Baelor taught us they can also be merciful. What is to be done with this traitor, Your Grace?" he turns to the King

"My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join the Night's Watch. Stripped of all titles and powers, he will serve the Realm in permanent exile. And my Lady Sansa...has begged mercy for her father" Sansa smiles at the boy-king, who smiles back

"But they have the soft hearts of women" Send the guards away, Your Grace and I'll show you how soft I can be with the help of my damn fist

"So long as I'm your King...treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Ilyn...bring me his head"

I look at my father with sad eyes, even if I knew Joffery won't show mercy I wasn't prepared for this. Sansa's scream along with the young bastard's wicked smile will hunt my memories forever, and so will father's head hitting the ground.

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𝐈 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓 the number of empty wine vessels in my new chamber in Maegor's Holdfast.

Unlike Sansa, who cried her eyes out I couldn't shed a tear. I've been sitting for hours on the cold floor leaning against my bed, staring at my even colder feet, hopping for Eddard Stark to walk through the door.
Somebody did, but it was not father. I wanted father.

The Hound's hand wraps around my arm and lifts me off the ground and without saying anything he places me on his lap with an arm around me. Without a word being spoken I let myself play with the pattern of his armour for confort.

His body produces the warmness mine lost during the long period of time of being miserable alone.

I did not know for how much time I sat with him, but I wanted to remain like that for a lot more.

But one thing I knew for certain

Winter will come for House Lannister.

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