Falling / Bran Stark

9. Quit

Sandor didnt leave odettas side. She was in and out of consciousness for the past two days. Bran however didnt wake up. Odetta could move her arms and legs she had her reflexes by gentle stimulation.

Ned came in offering sandor a plate of food. He thanked Ned gruffly but didnt touch the plate he held to Odettas hand.

"I told her no climbing." Sandor murmured. "I fucking told her. No climbing..." his chest felt tight at the thought that she wouldnt wake up. That her mind wouldnt be the same. "How is the little lord?"

"Still no progress." Ned answered.

"What happened?"

"I wish i knew. Hes the best climber. I have seem him climb every wall every tree every little thing he could for years. He has never once fallen. Hes like a monkey." Ned added.

"I told her..." sandor gave her hand a squeeze begging her to wake up open her pretty eyes. "I told her..." ned headed out closing the door quietly behind him.

Sandor knew what he had to do. The royal family was ready to leave. Sandor wasnt going torment Odetta with the travel when she woke. He pressed a kiss to her head as he got up. Promising to return.

'Better looking bitches than your used to uncle." Joffrey remarked snidely as he looked down at Tyrion laying in the kennels. Tyrion looked up to him with distaste as he brushed himself off. 'Mother was looking for you. We ride for Kings Landing today.' Joffrey told Tyrion. Tyrion glanced around sandor was no where to be seen.

'Before you go you will call upon the Lord and Lady Stark and offer them your deepest sympathies' Tyrion told him

'What good are my sympathies?' Joffrey sneered. "There you are hound. Where the hell have you been?"

'None but it is expected of you, your absences already been noted.' Tyrion told him. Sandor sighed heavily. He couldnt handle joffrey.

'The boy means nothing to me and I can't stand the wailing of women-' tyrion slapped him across the face.

'One word and I hit you again' Tyrion threatened. 

'I'm telling mother!' so Tyrion hit him again. Sandors face showed no emotion as he watched joffrey whimper.

'Go. Tell her, but first you will go to lady and lord stark fall upon your knees in front of them and tell them you are very sorry that you are at their service and all your prayers are with them. Do you understand?' Tyrion instructed.

'You can't!' Joffrey cried out and Tyrion slapped him again

'Do you understand?' Joffrey stormed off.

'The prince is going to remember that little lord.' Sandor remarked blandly.

'I hope he does, if he forgets be a good dog and remind him for me.' Tyrion mused

"I won't." Sandor countered. "I'm not going back to the capital."

"What?" Tyrion questioned.

"Odetta isnt up yet, the maester doesnt think its good for her to travel. I quit. This is my resignation, do tell the queen for me." Sandor remarked before marching off.

"Clegane-" tyrion declared. Sandor spared him a glance. "Shes a fighter. She will wake up."

"If she doesnt..." tyrion thought sandor might cry. "I dont know what im going to do."

"She will wake and be running around sassing the knights in no time." Tyrion assured. Sandor gave a tight nod before heading off.

"He what?" Cersei questioned.

"Quit. Yes." Tyrion agreed.

"Probably for the best." Jaime assured. "He will need to tend to odetta-"

"And when bran wakes they have a wedding to plan." Tyrion teased. "To be that in love at such a young age."

"When Bran wakes?" Cersei countered.

"The maester said he will wake. Same as odetta. The boy might not have use of his legs but he will wake. I will be interested to see what they both have to say." Tyrion added.

"When she wakes-"

"You are welcome here." Ned assured. "The both of you. You two have a home here at winterfell."

"I dont want to be a burden." Sandor assured.

"You are not. My bran and your odetta were in love. They were planning a wedding. I think that makes us family clegane." Ned assured. "Stay."

"Thank you." Sandor whispered. "Good luck at the capital."

"Thanks." Ned answered glancing back at an unconscious Bran. "Look out for him for me." Sandor extended a hand.

"I will."