Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

32. Liars

"Thank you, sweet lady." Ser Dontos lurched clumsily to his feet, and brushed earth and leaves from his knees. "Your lord father was as true a man as the realm has ever known, but I stood by and let them slay him. I said nothing, did nothing ... and yet, when Joffrey would have slain me, you spoke up. Lady, I have never been a hero, no Ryam Redwyne or Barristan the Bold. I've won no tourneys, no renown in war ... but I was a knight once, and you have helped me remember what that meant. My life is a poor thing, but it is yours." Ser Dontos placed a hand on the gnarled bole of the heart tree. He was shaking, she saw. He didnt want to meet her it would get him killed and yet he sot her out. 

 "I vow, with your father's gods as witness, that I shall send you home." Dontos swore. A solemn oath, before the gods. Sansa stared back at him confused, she knew Jae trusted Jae but she could use all the friends she could get. 

"Then ... I will put myself in your hands, ser. But how will I know, when it is time to go?" Sansa questioned, maybe she could get them both out.  "Will you send me another note?" Ser Dontos glanced about anxiously. 

"The risk is too great. You must come here, to the godswood. As often as you can. This is the safest place. The only safe place. Nowhere else. Not in your chambers nor mine nor on the steps nor in the yard, even if it seems we are alone. The stones have ears in the Red Keep, and only here may we talk freely." Dontos decided. Sansa worried that it was a trick, luring her out here but he wasnt a fast man, she was sure she could outrun him, she had to talk to Jae see what he thought about this but in the meantime, she could agreed. 

"Only here," Sansa said. "I'll remember." 

"And if I should seem cruel or mocking or indifferent when men are watching, forgive me, child. I have a role to play, and you must do the same. One misstep and our heads will adorn the walls as did your father's."

Sansa nodded watching him run off. She turned back around heading to the castle, when she got to the edge of the woods she saw a knight staring down at her. Not a knight. The hound. 

 "Where were you?" Sandor questioned seeing Sansa out of her cage. Her gaze snapped around looking for Jae. He always seemed to have the best timing, appear when she needed him most. 

"The g-g-godswood, my lord," she said hesitantly. "Praying ... praying for my brother, and ... for the king, praying that he'd not be hurt."

 "Think I'm so drunk that I'd believe that?" He let go his grip on her arm, swaying slightly as he stood, stripes of light and darkness falling across his terrible burnt face. "You look almost a woman ... face, teats, and you're taller too, almost ... ah, you're still a stupid little bird, aren't you? Singing all the songs they taught you ... sing me a song, why don't you? Go on. Sing to me. Some song about knights and fair maids. You like knights, don't you?" He was scaring her she wanted to run but she was too scared to, she decided she couldnt meet Dontos if his intentions were pure or not she couldnt. She couldnt be out this late, this was when she needed a guard to protect her from the monsters outside of the castle walls. 

 "T-true knights, my lord."  Sansa whimpered. 

"True knights," he mocked. "And I'm no lord, no more than I'm a knight. Do I need to beat that into you?" Sandor questioned. "Gods," he swore, "too much wine. Do you like wine, little bird? True wine? A flagon of sour red, dark as blood, all a man needs. Or a woman." He laughed, shook his head. Sansa took a hesitant step back and  "Drunk as a dog, damn me. You come now. Back to your cage, little bird. I'll take you there. Keep you safe for the king." Sandor gave her a push, oddly gentle, and followed her down the steps. By the time they reached the bottom, he had lapsed back into a brooding silence, as if he had forgotten she was there.

"That one is nothing to fear, girl." Sandor laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Paint stripes on a toad, he does not become a tiger." Ser Boros lifted his visor. 

"Ser, where—" 

"Fuck your ser, Boros. You're the knight, not me. I'm the king's dog, remember?" Sandor barked back. 

"The king was looking for his dog earlier."

"The dog was drinking. It was your night to shield him, ser. You and my other brother." Ser Boros turned to Sansa.

"How is it you are not in your chambers at this hour, lady?"

"I went to the godswood to pray for the safety of the king." The lie sounded better this time, sansa decided.

 "You expect her to sleep with all the noise?" Clegane said. "What was the trouble?" 

"Fools at the gate," Ser Boros admitted. "Some loose tongues spread tales of the preparations for Tyrek's wedding feast, and these wretches got it in their heads they should be feasted too. His Grace led a sortie and sent them scurrying." 

"A brave boy," Sandor mused. 

 Let us see how brave he is when he faces my brother, Sansa thought. Sandor escorted her across the drawbridge. As they were winding their way up the steps, she looked to him. 

 "Why do you let people call you a dog? You won't let anyone call you a knight." Sansa questioned curiously.

"I like dogs better than knights. My father's father was kennelmaster at the Rock. One autumn year, Lord Tytos came between a lioness and her prey. The lioness didn't give a shit that she was Lannister's own sigil. Bitch tore into my lord's horse and would have done for my lord too, but my grandfather came up with the hounds. Three of his dogs died running her off. My grandfather lost a leg, so Lannister paid him for it with lands and a towerhouse, and took his son to squire." Sandor remarked and this was the most Sansa had ever heard him talk, a drunk sandor was talkative.  "The three dogs on our banner are the three that died, in the yellow of autumn grass. A hound will die for you, but never lie to you. And he'll look you straight in the face." He cupped her under the jaw, raising her chin, his fingers pinching her painfully. "And that's more than little birds can do, isn't it? I never got my song."

 "I ... I know a song about Florian and Jonquil." Sansa whispered nervously. 

"Florian and Jonquil? A fool and his cunt. Spare me. But one day I'll have a song from you, whether you will it or no."

 "I will sing it for you gladly." sansa offered. 

"I'm sure sansa has a lovely voice." Jae remarked and Sansa could finally breathe again. "I got her from her sandor."Jae assured. 

 "Pretty thing, and such a bad liar. A dog can smell a lie, you know. Look around you, and take a good whiff." sandor remarked as Sansa raced to Jae's side, he tucked her into his side as she wrapped her arms around him.  "They're all liars here ... and every one better than you."

"Thank you for your candor, Sandor." Jae offered. "I quite like Sansa's honesty, its refreshing. Come on now, lets head in." 

"Thank you." Sansa whispered not letting go of Jae. 

"What were you doing out?" Jae questioned. "How did you get out?" He clarified. 

"I... it was stupid. I wont do it again." 

"It must have been important." Jae countered. "To risk heading down through the city." 

"It was stupid. I regret it." Sansa assured. "Can I stay here with you tonight?" Sansa whispered Jae nodded closing the door behind them. 

"Did sandor hurt you?"

"No, he just... scared me is all. It was my fault, he was bringing me back, he was a little bit intoxicated." Sansa offered gently and Jae chuckled. 

"A drunk dog, a rare sight to see."