The Traitor's Escape

Chapter Three

There was chaos. Fire pressed on all sides, washing her in waves of heat even as she ran through the throngs of people. The smell of fire and blood and burnt flesh filled her nostrils, cutting off any fresh supply of air. Men were screaming. The clash of steel and wood was surrounding her. She felt a wave of panic as the men grew closer and closer. Just where was she? She didn't smell the sea or anyone that was familiar to her in the least. Her eyes focused on a man, who took one look at her and began notching an arrow. Instinctively, she threw herself to the side, just as he loosed. She felt the arrow embed in her hind leg, the pain blossoming so badly for a moment, she couldn't move. It was then she realized she was on all fours.

She paused for a moment, taking the time to look down at what she now saw were paws. What the-? She heard another arrow loose from the bow and the shaft buried directly into her flank. She snarled in pain, momentarily distracted from her revelation. She started to run as best as she could. Men began to pile in around her on all sides, some after her, some wanting to get out of her way. The body she was in, because this certainly wasn't hers, seemed to know where it needed to go. She ran as quickly as she could towards two towers...

"Grey Wind! To me!" Sansa turned towards the voice, as if answering to the name. She saw him, for the first time in over a year. There was no mistaking the Tully red hair atop his head or the face she'd never forget. But her eyes found the wounds immediately, the arrow shafts buried into his back and side. She loped over as quickly as she could, the pain in her side burning the more she walked. She pressed up against his leg, so much further down, but not enough that the Stark boy couldn't lean against her heavily.

As they were making their way towards the river, painfully slow, the men began to step out in front of them, blocking their paths. Robb Stark, King of the North, released his grip on her and whispered, "Protect." Instinct took her over and, with a deep snarl she realized wasn't hers, she launched at the first man's throat.

Just as her muzzle closed on the man's throat, Sansa woke up screaming. The taste of blood was still in her mouth, but it was fading quickly. She touched her sides, her legs, but she noticed the waves of pain she was feeling moments before were completely gone. There was nothing wrong with the baby, was there? She touched the bump, to see if she could feel anything the matter. Other than a bit of fluttering (stronger than the weeks before when she felt his first movements), Sansa didn't think there was anything wrong. Her sudden panic had probably set him into motion. She could have sobbed in relief.

Beside her, Sandor jolted awake, growling sleepily, "'at's the matter?" When he noticed she was touching her baby bump, he immediately sat up.

She shook her head before he could say a word and said, "I had a nightmare." She didn't think about it, she just moved closer and pressed up to his broad chest. She couldn't stop breathing heavily. Tears flooded her eyes, thinking about her brother and Grey Wind. What had that dream been about? She hadn't even thought about where her brother could be at or how he'd managed to escape the wedding at the Twins...

She could feel Sandor tense beside her and knew he had sobered up. "Please, don't leave," she whispered, feeling ashamed that she needed him so badly at this moment. She knew she should give him his space, let him forgive her for her lies and conspiring, but she just needed this moment with him. She didn't want to think about why she was dreaming of the Twins or what looked like a massive battle. It worried her about her sibling. She wondered if she could get into contact with him, somehow, or if he was lost to her.

To her relief, Sandor wrapped his arm around her and, as he began to lay down, let her settle up against him and his chest. She closed her eyes, letting herself stretch out against him and pressing as close as she could. She could feel his hands on her skin, running his fingertips against her skin and down her back. His touch couldn't distract her though.