The Traitor's Escape

Chapter Eight

"Lady Sansa, will you please come outside? I would like to show you something." Sansa Clegane turned her attention to the carriage door, where Willas Tyrell had poked his head in. The carriage had finally stopped for the first time in many hours. He hadn't wanted to stop until they were to the Keep, to be able to return as quickly as possible. During that time, Willas had been nothing, but a gracious host. He offered her platters of food for her to nibble on, many drinks to choose from, and had left her be to her own devices. She wanted to be polite, make conversation with the man who had given her a place to stay, but it was hard to bring any words to her mouth. The thought of coming to a new place as strange to her as King's Landing had been was terrifying. Willas didn't seem to mind her heavy silence and kept himself busy with his own books to read, which she was grateful for.

Now that the carriage had stopped, it would be good for her to stretch out. Despite the comfortable cushions, her back had started to ache and she began to feel restless. She kept her head low as she stepped out, asking Willas, "How far away are we from the Keep?" She took his offered hand as she stepped out onto the luscious green ground. A bit off, the sound of a splashing stream reached her ears.

"Turn around, milady, and you'll see." Immediately, she turned her attention behind her and almost gasped at the sight. Everything was just as she had read as a child. The Keep of High Garden was beautiful. The castle was more beautiful than Sansa could have ever imagined. The tiered walls were tall, reaching high into the sky with tanned stones discolored by the sun. Ivy climbed across the walls, the leaves beautiful greens and a dusting of reds. From her view below, she could just barely make out the marble colonnades behind the walls surrounding the Keep. She couldn't see it from her place now, but she knew High Garden was full of the most beautiful foliage, trees, and flowers imaginable and so many groves she could be there for days. The smell of the air was sweet and fresh, like a ripe peach.

Sansa almost couldn't believe this was where she would be staying now.

Lord Willas continued, "I thought perhaps you'd enjoy seeing the sights of High Garden rather than riding in that stifling carriage the entire way up. I can take you as far as you'd like, but I wasn't sure if you would rather rest for the evening."

"I can't believe this is your home," she told him, focusing on a red stoned pathway in front of them. She took his offered arm once more and let him lead her onto the pathway.

"It will be yours as well. I hope to make you feel safe and secure and that you are welcome to anything and everything you should need."

"Thank you," she murmured, glancing over her shoulder towards the party that was riding up.

As if reading her thoughts, Willas offered, "I told my Squire to make sure Ser Clegane knows where we are headed. I thought it best if we walked to the Keep by ourselves. There are a few other questions I have for you. Also, Maester Lomys is willing to meet with you as soon as you are ready, if there is any particular time of the day..."

"Perhaps on the morrow. I would like to speak with Sandor first before deciding anything. If I could let you know in the morning...?"

"Of course, that should be just fine, milady." Willas had continued to speak, but she was no longer paying attention to his words. Sansa glanced over her shoulder and spotted Sandor, just as he was riding up to the rest of the group of Knights. His expression was stony, a mix between anger and a look of longing, as if he wanted to come after her. To her surprise, he didn't stalk after them or even call out to her. He turned his attention back to Stranger and didn't look back. She stared after him for a moment longer and eventually turned her attention back to Willas.