The Journey We Face (A Sandor Clegane Fanfic)

Will you teach me?

Nymaria's POV:
Nymaria didn't know what time it was. All she knew was the sun had gone down an the thoughts of that terrible day kept racing in her mind. The tears could not stop. After the arrival from the forest, and the harsh but caring scorning from her father, Nymaria strayed away from the people and her family to be alone. She couldn't think of anything else. She couldn't go five minutes dry till the stubborn tears pricked at her eyes again. Run, my love. And don't look back The tears started to form bigger and bigger. Nymaria unable to stop the reliving of that nightmare in her head. I won't leave you! She had meant it. As little as she was. I'll see you again, Nymaria. Go!

Nymaria cupped her cheek, reenacting as her mother did that day. I love you. Had been the last thing she heard her mother say when the men cornered them. She could still hear the screams.

Nymaria took another sip of her cup. The bitter yet smooth wine ran down her throat as she sniffled back the tears. Wiping the wetness from her now blood shot eyes.

"Girl." she heard a raspy voice come from the shadows. She stood up from her place, squinting her sore eyes towards the end of the hall as to see whom it was.

He was dressed in his same old metal armor. The same that was now glistening from the soft moonlight. "Oh, it's just you. what do you want?" She asked, sitting back down. Taking another swing of the drink. "Lord Stark asked me to come find you. they were worried where you had flown off to after today."

His voice was softer than she was used to. "Well, I'm right here." She stammered, not bothering to look at him. "I didn't take the little bird for much of a drinker." Sandor beckoned to her cup. "How did you know it was wine?"

"It's wine. I can smell it a mile away."

"Yeah, well here." She stood up. Pushing the goblet to his chest. The context of the cup spilling on his armor as it slid in drops. the smacking clank of the cup coming into contact with the metal plate. Surprisingly, he took a gulp of the liquid. Finishing it in a matter of seconds. Wiping his mouth, he threw the empty cup to the side. The sound of it sliding across the stone floor echoed against the walls.

"You've checked on me. You know I'm fine. You can leave now." Nymaira drunkly spat. "Ah, the mighty direwolf has been startled."

"No." She replied in defense. "Look, you wanna know what's really bothering me?" She looked up. Feeling confident from the wine. He said nothing in objection so she kept going. "I'm not as strong as I thought I was." Nymaria began, crossing her gown covered arms over her chest, feeling self conscious. "If you didn't show up today, Arya could have been hurt. And me, I would be on the forest floor right now with my throat slit. I would have been helpless to protect either of us."

He only stood there and listened. "Little bird..." He trailed off, the softness of his tone surprised her. "If you want...I could teach you how to fight against cunts like that." He shifted his gaze from her, as if he was afraid to keep contact. Nymaria, not sure what to say to the offer just stared at him. Is he trying to be nice? She thought to herself. "I can't be here all night. if you want me to teach you then I could show you how to protect yourself against cunts that want to hurt you."

"You will teach me?" She asked in a small tone. "I can't very well bloody be with you every minute of the day saving you." He reverted back to his harden state. "Yes." Nymaria quickly blurted. A small amount of excitement rushing up her spine. "Alight then. Tomorrow it begins." Sandor went to turn around before Nymaria ran up to him. Engulfing his big figure, wrapping her arms tightly around him as the coolness of the metal met the warmth of her damp cheeks. "Thank you." Nymaria smiled as Sandor remained stiff in her embrace. "Aye, no need for that, girl."

He pushed her away and walked past her. The sound of his shaking attire fading into the distance.

Nymaira made her way back to her bedchambers and started to undress into her undergarments. Untying, she felt relieved as the gown made a pool around her ankles. Stepping out of the clothes, she found her back pressed to the soft feathered bed. Tugging the warm furs over her body and blowing out the candle, Nymaira had fallen asleep that night thinking, maybe Sandor isn't that bad after all...