The Forest Child {Sandor Clegane Story}

The Women

Jon arrived back to Castle Black as promised, two days later. He had only managed to get the Morument family to join his fight, and that had not been many. The only member of the family left was a small girl, fierce and brave just like his own sweet sister, but still only a child. Nevertheless, he would not put his nose up at the 40 more men on his side. 

When he arrived through the gates, the maester was the first to approach him. "My grace, Sandor Clegance has finally woken, just this minute in fact. He wishes to speak with you".

"Of course" Jon nodded and headed straight for the man he knew had kept his sister alive this long and also been by his side at the Battle of the Bastards. 

Inside the small and warm room, Sandor Clegane still laid in bed, propped up by only a few pillows as he winced at the pain in his side. 

"I have just returned back from trying to join more men to our side. I heard you wish to speak with me Clegane?" Jon announced as he walked into the room and pulled up the stool next to the man's bed. 

"Aye... your grace"

"Please, we are in the company of just us two and I'm still not used to the title. The man who my sister has not left these past days at least has the honour to call me Jon".

"Natari?"

"Aye, I don't think she's slept one moment since we returned from battle. When I left two days ago it had been the first time I'd seen her out of this room".

Sandor sighed and slowly pulled himself up in the bed. "Jon, your sister has been a headache since the day I met her. She's ain't caused me nothing but trouble and grief. I've bled for her and travelled up and down this blasted country for her. I know that you'll already know that we had grown... close for a time".

"Aye, I heard and saw the way she looked at you. I also saw her reaction when we pulled you through these gates half dead. When I left the wall she was to marry Jory, I was never a big fan of the arrangement. She would tell me how he would sometime push the physical side too far, but with you, I ain't heard her say one wrong thing". 

"I'm in love with the woman, Jon. Have been since I walked into Winterfell and saw her little shy face staring back at me."

"Then is there something you wish to ask me Clegane?" Jon smiled.

"Aye, there this lad". 

Back outside of the room, in the corridors of Castle Black, Natari made her way back to Sandor. She had spent the morning outside, teaching Arya more skills in swordsmanship, but she could not bear to be away too long. As she reached his door, to her surprise, Jon exited the room with a large smile upon his face.

"You back... and smiling? Did you find more men?" Natari asked hopefully. 

"Some, not as many as I'd hoped, but they're good men and better than none," Jon smiled as he pulled his sister to the side. 

"Well, there has been some... I guess improvements around here as well brother" Natari smiled as she began to tell Jon all about the trial and Little Fingers fate.

"You are training those girls to become hard stone killers sister," he sighed when she had finally finished. 

"I am training them to protect themselves. The world has changed Jon, and we might not always be there to look after them. They are not children anymore, and need to be strong to protect Bran as well".

"Aye, you always did speak more wise than me. I suppose women will be the ones we ought to start fearing after this. I'll be surrounded by these sweet looking killers before I know it" he laughed.

"Don't worry brother, we will protect you." 

Jon laughed and kissed her forehead before leaving her to return to Sandor. Natari was expecting to find him still lay in bed, his eyes closed and his body motionless. When she walked in saw him sat up straight, his naked and muscular chest out for her to see, she almost fell to the ground. 

"You're awake?" she stuttered.

"Aye," he grunted and looked over at her.

"I thought you'd be... how do you feel? Do you need anything? Shall I get someone?" she quickly began to ask at a rapid speed.

"Stop talking before you hurt yourself and come here. I'm fine girl," he grumbled, but she could see a slight smile creep across his lips. 

Natari stood motionless by the door, unsure of what to say, think or do. Suddenly, she felt completely self-conscious and her cheeks began to blush hot red. "I need... I need to see to.. my sisters" she quickly blurted out before practically fallen out of the doorway and stumbling back down the corridor. 

Meanwhile back at Dragonstone, a much more confident and calm Daenerys meet with her council. The council had grown in numbers over the past week to now include Ellaria of Dorne, Yara Greyjoy and Lady Olenna of High Garden. 

"We have an army, a fleet and three dragons. We should hit Kings Landing now,  hard and with everything we have. The city will fall within a day!" Yara declared. 

"If we release the dragons lose, tens of thousands will die in the firestorms!" Tyrion argued back.

"It's called war, if you don't have the stomach for it, scurry back into hiding!" Ellaria hissed. 

"I know how you wage war, and we do not poison little girls here," Tyrion bit back. 

"That's enough. Lord Tyrion is the hand of the queen. You will treat him with respect. I am not here to be the queen of the ashes," Daenerys sighed.

"That's very nice to hear, of course, I cannot remember a better queen that was loved more than my granddaughter, the common people loved her, the noble people loved her, and what is left of her now. Ashes. Commoners, nobles, they are all just children really, they won't obey you unless they fear you," Lady Olenna chimed in. 

"I am grateful to you Lady Olenna for your council. I am grateful to all of you, but you have chosen to follow me. I will not attack Kings Landing, WE will not attack Kings Landing".

"Then how do you mean to take the Iron Throne? By asking nicely? " Lady Olenna smiled. 

"We will lay siege to the capital, surrounding the city on all sides. Cersei will have the Iron Throne, but no food for her army or her people," Daenerys announced.

"But we won't use Dothraki or unsullied. Cersei will try to rouse the Lords of Westeros by appealing to their loyalty, their love for their country, if we attack the city with foreigners we prove her point. Our army should be Westerosi" Tryion explained further. 

"And I suppose we are supplying the Westerosi?" Ellaria scoffed.

"You are, Lady Greyjoy will escort you home and her iron fleet with ferry the Dornish army back up to Kings Landing. Dornish shall lay siege to the capital. Alongside the Tyrell army, two great Kingdoms united against Cersei" Tyrion continued.

"So your master plan is to use our armies? Forgive me for asking, but why did you bother to bring your own?" Lady Olenna asked with slight annoyance. 

"The unsullied with have another objective. For decades House Lannister has been the true power in Westeros, and the seat of that power is Casterly Rock". Tyrion replied.

Finally, the entire council stopped arguing amongst themselves. Now everyone in the room was also smiling, finally, they had a plan which might just work.

"So, do I have your support? Daenerys asked, despite already knowing the answer. 

"You have mine!" Yara declared.

"Dorne is with you, your grace," Ellaria bowed.

Finally, Lady Olenna nodded with a smile at the young dragon queen.