A Little Unorthodox, I'll Admit.

By Night One Way,

"Why in seven hells are we taking the long way around?!" Arya whined as she slumped in her seat atop the pony. 

"There was too much fucking foot traffic for my liking on the short route. We cross the river instead." The Hound grumbled, leading the way. Sansa stirred uncomfortably between his arms at the thought, considering she did not know how to swim. 

"And how do you propose we do that?! Ladies of Winterfell are not taught to swim, you know." Arya read her mind and said what she, herself, couldn't seem to muster. 

"Just shut up and leave it to me, girl. This is MY quest, NOT yours, for a reason."

Sansa was simultaneously relieved to hear that and annoyed that her sister and her rescuer continued to quarrel so relentlessly. After all that they'd been through! She wished they could both realize that they made a notably clever team. 

"I'm sure Sir Hound knows what he is doing, Arya. Besides, this path is far more scenic, don't you think?" Sansa said, ever determined to show her gratitude to the reluctant knight. 

"Yeah, yeah, it's bloody lovely and everything, but I'm starting to get hungry for a decent meal." Arya scowled. 

"You shouldn't invite yourself on long journeys if you can't handle a little hunger." The Hound snapped back.

It was midday by the time they reached the river in question. It was coursing through the thick of the woods, but did not appear to be raging as far as Sansa could judge. But it was quite obviously too deep for her or Arya to cross on foot. Sansa gulped anxiously. 

"That's an intimidating depth, Sir." Sansa managed to say as politely as she could. 

"Not for me" The Hound chuckled. "I will guide that useless pony across, then Stranger, then I'll come back for you two."

"Shouldn't we ride atop the big horse to get across? Wouldn't that be easier?" Arya chimed in.

"Horses are easily spooked as it is, girl. Water can spook them all the more. Better we do it this way." The Hound said. "Safer".

The girls looked at each other and shrugged, trusting his instinct on this. They watched as he guided the horses across, one by one, with surprising ease. Sansa noticed that not only was The Hound tall enough to cross on foot, but incredibly strong as well, keeping the pony afloat against the current. She also appreciated the gentleness he had with the animal, even though he wasn't overly fond of it. He spoke to each horse as he guided them across, the words low and not discernable save for the cursing she could identify, but not coarse or cruel by any means. He seemed to be encouraging them as they crossed. 

Sansa felt overwhelmed with relief. She did not believe the Hound would let any harm come to her.

Arya piggy-backed across, and Sansa could of course hear them bickering the whole way. It wasn't long before he returned across and emerged from the water, soaked and dripping from his chest down. Sansa glanced past him to see her sister and the two horses safe and unharmed on the other side, then up to The Hound's expectant face.

"Well, come on Princess, we don't have all day." he said, before scooping her off her feet into a cradling position. She secured one arm around the back of his neck and shoulders, and nestled her other hand into his chest. As The Hound stepped into the water, Sansa clung tighter to him. In a matter of minutes, they were on the other side. He set her down sideways atop Stranger again, dry and unscathed. 

"Thank you, Sir." she said. He simply nodded in response and mounted the horse. He doesn't seem to mind me calling him Sir anymore, she thought. 

"If you're done taking in the scenery, we ought to keep going" he hollered at Arya. She took her time mounting her pony, Sansa guessed out of spite, and they were on their way again.