The Wolf and The Hound~*Sandor Clegane*~

Chapter 4: Wolf/Hound Bonding

I waited on Akon as everyone else was getting ready and getting in line. I glanced up when I heard hoof beats.

"Sandor?" I looked to him, fear in my eyes and my voice wavering with worry. When I didn't get a reply I sighed. "I'm sorry, Sandor. I was angry with the Queen and that little cunt of a prince. I shouldn't of done what I did to you, or said what I did. I know you were only acting on orders, orders from the Queen." I paused and took another look at him. He kept facing forward, watching everyone around us as they finished up getting ready. "I fucked up. You have every right to hate me. To not talk to me. I just...I just wanted to tell you I was sorry, and that....I don't....I could never think of you as a monster." He still said nothing. Didn't even look at me. I sighed once more and nudged Akon to start walking. It was now going to be an even longer ride. We still had two weeks to go.

I kept taking the occasional glances at Sandor. Trying to gauge how he was feeling after what I said. But he kept his eyes forward. I spent most of my time playing with Akon's reins, looking out at the country side.

After a quick stop to water the horses, Arya had convinced father to let her ride on her own horse for a while. She decided to ride next to me. Glaring at Sandor the whole time. She hated him even more now because of what he did to that poor boy. Not to mention all of our wolves had been forced to go into the wild.

Everyone assuming Shadow was killed.

"Sing. Please." I turned to Arya and saw her giving me puppy eyes. She had been begging me for at least the past hour to sing to her to pass some time.

"Fine. One song." She smiled happily as we continued walking. Luckily we were at the back of the group. Sandor had moved to walk behind Arya and I, saying that we could have some space.

"No, I don't need the tallest tower
To prove to anyone I'm not weak
I turn my pain into power
Every tear's a diamond on my cheek

Queens don't hate, Queens don't fight
Queens don't stay unless their King treats them right, oh
Every jewel on my crown, you better believe I earned it
Won't keep people around that don't believe I deserve it
No, Queens ain't fake
A Queen's going to rule just the way she was made, oh
I ain't about to let nobody come and take me off this throne
Some girls might, but Queens don't

Queens don't break, they just get stronger
There ain't nothing they can't conquer"

Arya smiled as I finished singing. I was always making up songs, and she always loved them. Our time was cut short when father came back and got her, saying she needed to go back into the carriage. She was upset, of course, but she did as she was told.

"Didn't know you were that good." I glanced over to Sandor, surprised by his voice but happy also.

"He speaks." I smiled as he turned to me, rolling his eyes and letting out a grunt. "Singing always came naturally to me. Best in Winterfell." I gave a proud smile as I felt his eyes on me once more.

"Do you know anymore?" To say I was surprised at his question would be an understatement. I never thought, in all my years, that Sandor Clegane would ask me to sing for him.

I gave a small smile and nodded, "A few. I also made up my own as well. Arya and Sansa used to love to hear me sing. Always begging me to sing them to sleep." I looked out to the country side and smiled at the memories that flashed through my mind.

"Cold skin, drag my feet on the tile
As I'm walking down the corridor
And I know we haven't talked in a while
So I'm looking for an open door