The Journey We Face (A Sandor Clegane Fanfic)

Wanna race?

Nymaria's POV:
The sound of laughter and stomping of hoofs echoed in Nymaria's ear as the Stark family rode through the woods of their beloved land. "Be careful, Bran!" Robb shouted, steering his horse closer to the younger boy who was too busy laughing and enjoying the ride. Hardly paying attention to where he was going.

Nymaira was riding Silvermain. Laughing along with everyone else. She had been having such a splendid time she had barely noticed Sandor who rode at a slow pace behind.

"Hey, Arya!" Nymaria yelled, turning her attention to the young girl. "Wanna race?" Arya quickly nodded her head and before Nymaria could react, Arya was already leading her by quite the distance.
"I didn't say go!" Nymaria laughed, gently kicking into the horse. Thankfully, Sandor didn't seem to follow them. As time went on, not long after the race had started, Nymaira caught up to Arya who had slowed her horse down to catch a breath. It hadn't dawned on her until now that they had strayed far from the rest of the group. Now they were away from any marked trails and deep into the forest. "Don't worry, we'll find our way back." Nymaria reassured her cousin and gave a smile, though feeling quite anxious herself.

She began to quietly thank the gods when the noise of ruffling bushes and shaking leafs came from behind them. That Sandor was good for one thing, after all. Nymaria steered Silvermain closer.

The first think Nymaria noticed was the rusty daggers in the strangers hands. "What are two girls doing all alone in the woods?" One of the men commented. Walking closer to Arya. "We're riding you, idiots," Arya spat. The man shot his head towards her, laughing darkly. "Little highborn ladies like you shouldn't speak that way." He grabbed her leg. "Don't touch her!" Nymaria looked at the man and their eyes met. There was something desperate about his stare.

"We don't have any money on us."

"You have horses. Very, very nice horses." The stranger replied, stroking Arya's horse. "We aren't giving you our horses." Arya, the girl seemed to not understand how dangerous this situation really was. "Oh, there's not much of a choice."

"Stop!" Nymaria shouted. Sliding down from her horse, she put her hands up carefully. If only I had my sword. She walked over to Arya. Nymaria knew she had to be calm. Even if she was terrified. "We can get more." She grabbed Arya's waist, helping her down from the horse.

"You know, I've never been with a highborn lady before." The dirty man said as he gently slid the old knife down from Nymaria's cheek. Lowering all the way down to her bosom. "Maybe that should change." His breath was fowl. He was snickering until he caught sight of the sigil that was sown into her cloak. "You're a Stark bitch?" He gave a glance at the other man and looked back to Nymaria.

"Don't touch her! you wanted the horses you got them." Arya started to punch at the man assaulting Nymaira. Her little fist trying to make a difference. He pushed her back as the second man grabbed Arya, holding her back. She kicked and yelled. Run, my love, run. Don' look back. Nymaria grew tense. A feeling of horror washed over her when she caught his stare. A plan of immorality lit his eyes.

He grabbed her at full force, pushing Nymaria to the ground. She started to fight. Run! She couldn't run. Not this time. Run! No! Fight! Nymaria scratched, bit, however she could protect them she tried. She stopped, when the stranger held a knife to Arya's throat. Suddenly, all she could hear were her own heartbeats. The mixed sounds of Arya's frantic screaming, and laughing from the men began to echo out.

As she froze, The man stopped. Nymaria looked up to see the aslant choking. The freshly used blade slid from his mouth and back out of his skull.

Sandor had grabbed the man's lifeless body and tossed it like a doll to the side. Turning around, he began to take steps near the remaining man who was holding Arya. He threw down his weapon and backed up. Not fast enough for Sandor who swung his sword across his stomach. The innards of the man now hanging from his wound.

Before Nymaria even processed the action, Jon had ran to her, engulfing her into a hug. "Nymaria?" He spoke worriedly, when he pulled back from the embrace. She couldn't say a word. Only muttering to herself with wide eyes.

Sandor had walked over, pushing past Jon and picked Nymaria up, slinging her motionless body over his broad shoulder. Not risking it again, the Stark boys placed Arya with Jon while Bran was with Robb. As they gathered the unoccupied horses, Sandor placed Nymaira ontop of Stranger. He then lifted himself on the horse.

Sandor has positioned her so that her back was to his chest. He kept a firm grip, making sure she didn't fall from the horse. The ride home was blank for Nymaria. Arya told of what had happened. Looking back at Nymaria, the little girl stopped speaking for a moment when she saw her older cousin staring into nothing.

Sorry that this is so little detailed. This is my first story and I'm hoping to become better explaining the surroundings as I mature in my writing.