Devotion / Tywin Lannister / Sandor Clegane /GoT

34. Clegane

"Good Lord who is that?' Sansa questioned Petyr as the competitors in the tournament rode forward. Kathleen and phoebe we're chatting while aislynn was trying to seduce joffrey from afar. Aislynn tossed her hair over her shoulder, but JOffrey didnt seem interested. SHe bat her eyelashes and gave him her best sexy face but he barely spared her a glance. 

''That is ser Gregor Clegane they call him the mountain.' Petyr told her 'the hounds older brother'' Mallory heard the word hound and knew they were talking of Sandor. She hated that they called him such things. She knew he was more than that. 

'And his opponent?' Pheobe questioned. 

'Sir hugh of the veil,' Petyr told her as both opponents came forward bowing before the king 'he was Jon Arryn's squire'

'Where is Arya?" Birdie questioned looking around.

"Her dancing lessons.' Sansa answered bored.

'Yes yes enough of the bloody pomp,' Robert said 'have at it,' he said leaning lazily back in his chair. Both riders took their places at the opposite end of the jousting arena the horn blew and both men took off their jousting spears pointed at each other's faces. They missed, they turned around to begin again this time however Gregor did not miss. His lance speared Ser Hugh in the throat and he came colliding to the ground. Blood spewed from his neck as part of the lance was lodged in his throat he spewed for breath before he breathed his last. Ser gregor stood victorious as ser hugh was carried away.

"I'm gonna be sick." Birdie decided as she got up. "Thats enough for me. I'm going to find mother." 

'It thought it would be more pomp and circumstance,' Aislynn remarked clearly unphased. Petyr scooted closer to Pheobe, her eyes brightened. 

'Not what you were expecting, my dear?' Petyr asked. Pheobe stared back at him, shaking her head ever so slightly. ''has anyone ever told you the story of the mountain and the hound?' He glanced back at sandor. Mallory wanted to punch him. ''a lovely little tale of brotherly love.' Sansa glance back at Sandor as well 'the hound,' Petyr went on, Sandor was a person, it was extremely rude to call him such names. 'was just a pup six years old maybe Gregor a few years older but he was already getting a bit of a reputation some people said that the boy was just born with a talent for violence. One evening Gregor found his little brother playing with a toy by the fire Gregor's toy. A wooden knight. Gregor never said a word he just grabbed his brother by the scruff of his neck and shoved his face into the burning coals held him there while the boy screamed, and his face melted...' he smirked over at a scared sansa. 'There aren't very many people that know that story''

"Thats such a lie." Mallory hissed leaning forward, Sandor glanced their way. "Petyr loves telling that story. He loves feeding on others fear. Sandor is a good man, its Petyr you shouldnt trust." She declared confidently. 

"Lady Selmy." Petyr offered through a tight light.

'You know how rude you are?" Mallory questioned.

"I"m sure you are going to tell me." Petyr offered. 

 'You thrive on others pain don't you?' Mallory snapped. 'You do. Most men who like to belittle others, bring up their own trauma were not loved right as a child and it turned them sour. I assume you will never find love because you thrive on fear.' Mallory spat and Petyr stared at her baffled. 'Leave these girls alone.' she instructed before getting up. Sandor reached out for her. 

"What was that?" Sandor whispered. 

"I'm sorry, I just hate Petyr." Mallory whispered back. Sandor smirked wanting to kiss her. Mallory hoped he would. 

"Hello ladies... Where is arya?' Ned questioned looking around as he sat down.

'At her dancing lessons.' Sansa answered once again. 'The knight of the flowers...' sansa said happily as ser loras Tyrell approached he held out a rose for Sansa and she took it gratefully 'thank you ser loras.' 

'Knight of flowers.' Pheobe repeated looking to aislynn. 

'Quite ferocious indeed.' Aislynn mused. They bowed before the king ser Loras on a white steed while Gregor was on a black horse. Gregor's horse started to whine and complain he rode off ill tempered as Gregor try to stable him.

'Don't let Ser Gregor hurt him.' Sansa begged 'I can't watch' Ned tried to comfort his daughter. Aislynn yawned out as Petyr and renly took a bet. Pheobe didnt care if Petyr was a loud mouth, she was used to that, she was best friends with Aislynn Hightower. But she liked how petyr looked at her, not like she was a child but a woman. 

'Now what will I do with 100 gold dragons Dornish wine or a girl from the pleasure houses?' Petyr questioned.

'You can even buy yourself a friend.' Renly suggested. The horn blew and they were off. Charging at one another Loras' lance got ser Gregor, he collapsed to the ground into the fence breaking it. Mallory spun around seeing the mess before them. Sandor put a hand on her shoulder. It was a tight grip, it made her look up to him concerned. 

'Such a shame little finger it would've been so nice for you to have a friend.' Renly told him.

Sandor looked worried, concerned like he knew something bad was going to happen. Mallory opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, Gregor lost, surely this was a good thing, knock him down a peg. She didnt know the last time Gregor lost. 

Gregor was not happy about it he threw down his helmet screaming out as Loras approached the victor.

'Sword!' Gregor screamed out as everyone cheered. Gregor was given a sword and he chopped his own horses head clean off with one swing Pheobe jumped as the horses head severed and fell to the ground, a scream stuck on her lips as Gregor kept going. 

"Okay I'm done. Lets go before a raid starts and anything with tits is fair game." Aislynn decided jumping up and grabbing Pheobe's hand pulling her along. Kathleen looked between them and the fight before them. Gregor came at Loras knocking him down again and again. Loras's shield was not strong enough to fend off against Gregor but Sandor jumped forward.

'Leave him be!' Sandor declared dueling off against his brother. Gregor charged at Sandor, a wicked look in his eyes. Everyone watched in horror as Sandor faced off against his older brother. Mallory couldnt lose him, not when she finally got up the courage to kiss him, she fisted her dress nervously as she watched unable to tear her eyes away. She prayed to the Gods old and new that sandor made it out alive. 

'That is enough! In the name of the king!" Robert shouted and sandor dropped to a knee, gregor's blade just barely missed his head. Mallory's hands flew to cover her mouth, horrified. 

'Let him be.' Robert muttered as Gregor stormed off.

"You saved my life ser.' Loras said walking up, still frazzled from his near death. 'thank you.' Loras told sandor.

"I'm no ser.' Sandor grumbled but Loras lifted Sandor's hand and declared him the victor of the tourney. Mallory waited, her heart still beating as fast as a hummingbird, her breathing finally calming down when sandor headed off. Mallory wrapped her arms around him and sandor realized how much he liked this connection. Someone to hold.