The Forest Child {Sandor Clegane Story}

Fight For The Living

As the group from the north sailed back home, Jon  received word from Arya and Sansa. Through the help of the wildlings, Mormont men and the knights of the Vale, they had managed to recover Winterfell. Gone were the ruined remains of the Boltons command, and in its place hung the sigil and flags of House Stark.

Further South at the Red Keep, Cersi sipped her wine as her brother tried to think of the words to speak, words which he hoped would change his sister's mind in the fight against the dead.

"The Starks and the Targaryens have joined forces against us, and you wish to fight beside them?" Cersi scoffed.

"You saw with you own eyes, you saw a dead man try to kill you".

"And I saw it burn, if dragons can't stop them how will our armies make a difference".

"This isn't about noble houses. This about the living and the dead" he insisted.

"And I intend to stay among the living. Let the stark boy and his new queen defend the north. We will stay here, where we have always been.  Whilst they battle in north, we shall take back the lands which belong to us".

"When the fighting in the north is over, someone will win, you understand that don't you. If the dead win, they march south and kill us all. If the living win and we betray them, they march south and kill us all" he snapped, raising his voice in pure frustration and anger.

"The Starks and Targaryens already want to kill us all. If there are less of them-"

"We can't defeat them. I've seen them in battle, seen what the dragons are capable off" he inturpted her.

"How many dragons did you see at the pit?" She asked now with smile.

"Two" Jamie answered with slight confusion.

"What happened to the third? She came here to show us her power. Something happened, the dragons are vulnerable".

"Perhaps, but we can't defeat the Dothraki army. We don't have the numbers, we don't have the support of the other houses".

Cersi smiled at her brother again and poured another glass of wine. "No we have something more powerful, we have the support of the iron bank. You should have listened more when father spoke about the importance of gold. I know it's boring donyoh, you just wanted to hunt and ride and fight, but I listened, I learned. Gold has brought us the most powerful army in all the cities and kingdoms. The golden company, 20,000 men, horses, elephants".

"The golden company are not here, they are leagues away in the free cities. How is a mercenary company across the narrow sea going to help us?" Jamie sighed.

"Do you really think Euron Greyjoy turned tail and sailed back to the Iron Islands. Do you think he abandoned the chance to marry the queen. No one walks away from me".

Jamie felt a sudden sickness run through his entire body. As he looked as his sister, he could no longer see the girl, the woman that he had grown up with, loved more than anything in the world.

"He's sailing his fleet to the free city, to collect the golden company and sail them back here to win the war" Cersi continued.

"You plotted with Euron Greyjoy without telling me?"

"As you met with Tyrion, the no ster that killed out father without telling me. You met him in secret without my consent. You planned to promote my enemies interest" she snapped.

"I pledged to protect this city's this kingdom and all those within it. If that means riding north and fighting with the Starks then so be it".

"I forbid it" Cersi hissed as the mountain stood by the doorway.