The Journey We Face (A Sandor Clegane Fanfic)

Together

"You have to make sure you watch your footing when fighting, one wrong move from that dancing, and you're dead."

'Hmm, what else? Is water wet?" Nymaria joked, leaning playfully over her practice plank. "Sandor, I know, but when it comes to fighting, those Braavos swordsman know a thing or two."

She smiled brightly up at him, and he couldn't help but smile himself. She was talking about fighting, and yet she made it look innocent and sweet.

With those damned eyes that made him weaker, then any other sight. What made it worse for him, he still saw the fire of power, and strength that glistened each time she spoke.

"Then come on, little bird." With that, she pulled her arms back and swung as hard as she could. Aiming at his breast plate.

He caught the blow with his own weapon, and pushed her back with his weight. Nearly knocking her down.

Before she went down, her hand caught the fall and she pushed herself back up.

Sandor not giving a moment for the girl to catch her breath, he charged towards her. She dodged him, turning around doing her best to match his strength.

Although she was much smaller then Sandor, she wasn't going to let it intimidate her. Whoever she was going to fight, she was going to win.

"Fight dirty, use all the tricks you know." Sandor yelled, trying to encourage her to try harder.

He swung the wooden sword down onto Nymaria's, their swords pressed together while she used every bit of strength she had to hold.

Thinking of his advise, she kicked him in the sheen, he buckled as his knee hit the ground floor.

With the opportunity, she pressed her weapon to his heart, looking at him with that smile as she caught her breath.

"Dead." She smiled. "Dead." he replied, and pushed the pressure off his chest.

"Those are the kinda moves you need to remember in fighting. Whatever it takes." She nodded her head, and he stood up, tossing the old stick to the ground.

Walking over, Sandor grab his wineskin as he took a seat.

She repeated his action, and he handed her the wine as she took a sip from the hard leather.

"I didn't hurt you did I?" Nymaira turned her body over to face him, she placed her hand on his knee.

"I've had worse." He pointed to the scars on his face, and she chuckled lightly shaking her head.

The thing she loved most about his personality, his raw sarcasm. The way he didn't seem to care about what anyone said. She admired that in a world were honor and status, were all that seemed to matter.

But he was different, he saw the world for what it was. Yes it hardened him.
But, for a person who had been through so much, he still remained sorta kind. even gentle when he felt like he could be.

"Is the little bird, excited for the arrival of the King and Queen?"

She laughed, and shook her head. "Why would I be excited?" He tilted his head looking at her. "Because, King Robert has sons. Princes. And I hear he wants you married to one." She raised an eyebrow confused. "How did you?" "

"I overheard your father, rambling about it."

He cut her off before she could finish. "Married off to that prince Tommen."

As it had been happening a lot lately, Sandor felt himself caring about things he normally wouldn't. In all the conversations, plots, schemes, all the shit he had heard through out his time serving, never seemed to distract him or catch his attention.

But this one did, So he listened. and he felt his anger rise at the thought of Nymaria being married off to a boy she didn't know, for alliances. To pop out a few sons and heirs to the Lannister fortune.

"Oh, is someone jealous?" She mocked, and he said nothing. Seeing that he was actually genuinely upset by this, she took his hand in hers, and grabbed his chin, forcing him to look at her.

"I'm not going to marry Tommen Baratheon. I'm not going to be his wife. and I am not going to have Cersei Lannister as my mother in law."

She smiled, he glanced down at the ground then back to her. "You know,"

She started,"I haven't been out much today, care to come with me on a walk?"

He stood up, pulling her by the hand. "I'm surprised you didn't use all your strength during training."

She rolled her eyes, and started to pull him towards the direction of her intent. She gripped his hand, interlocking their fingers. "I'm young, I have enough to do it again. She faked a kick
towards his knee, he only pulled her closer. "don't get cocky, little bird."

It was shortly into their walk, an Sandor heard a familiar sound.

They grew louder, an now the sight was before him.

"Robb, Jon, an I used to play here, when we were younger. Figured I'd let you in on the spot."

The sight was something out of a story. A crystal blue stream, that sparkled with each swing of the trees that opened up the sun is rays. The water that moved so gracefully over the grey stone that went on for what looked like miles. Wild flowers of every color. Red, yellow, blue and purple.

Everything looked so fresh and alive. Even the dirt had an ebony earthy color, that smelt of life and nature.

The trees were taller then any he had ever come across. The old wood cracking from the time it had endured. It was beyond any kind of words. Then there she was,

even with all the beauty of this sight, it couldn't compare To her. Sandor was scared as he felt a warm sensation move through out his body when she looked at him.

She smiled, and started to unlace her dirt covered shirt, tossing it to the side. Doing the same with her worn out bottoms, she pulled them down her legs and stepped out of the pool around her ankles.

"Don't take too long." She giggled, and ran towards the stream, the cool water splashing against her waist and she felt the goosebumps raise on her skin. but it didn't stop her from going deeper. "Don't drown."

He chuckled, and undressed himself as fast as he could. Joining her in the depths. He stood only in his breeches, while she stood in her lace smallclothes. Her hair was wet and her smile..warmer then the rays that hit his skin. It was then, she swam over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, and attached her wet lips to his warm dry ones.

He kissed her back and she smiled into the embrace, looking into his deep broken eyes.

"Now, how could I ever have this much fun with a Lannister?" She smiled a toothy grin, and ran her fingers through his hair.

"I can't imagine, you'd have any." They shared a laugh, and spent half the day right there..together.