Secret Flames (Sandor Clegane)

Chapter 18

Sandor has heard word on the road of the Northern forces heading to the Twins for a wedding, so for the past fortnight that was the way he and his small companion had traveled. After Arya's attempt at killing the man, she had hardly spoken a word to him, but as they sat on the outskirts of the Trident with the view of the Twins in the distance with their stolen pig feet cart, she felt a sickness in her stomach. 

"Don't worry. Their still there" Sandor announced in-between mouthfuls of his pig feet.

"I know they're still there" she bit back.

"Your checking every few minutes like you're afraid they are going to move. You're almost there and you're afraid you won't make it. The closer you get, the worse the fear gets. No point in trying to hide behind that face, I know fear when I see it, seen it a lot". 

Arya scowled at the man again before quickly turning back round to look over the Twins in the distance. Once Sandor had finished his meal, they carried on their journey and finally arrived at the gates just after sunset. For some unknown reason, the gates were not guarded, but when they entered through the walls and into the courtyard it became instantly clear. 

Carnage had engulfed the entire yard, Frey men were ruthlessly attacking the northern soldiers who were caught off guard and therefore easy kill. Arya was watching with horrified eyes as Sandor pulled the cart through. As he tried to turn them around in order to escape before the Freys noticed them, a dozen more came laughing out of the gates to the main building with the decapitated body of Robb Stark on horseback and the head of his direwolf attached to his lifeless body. Before Sandor could contemplate the sight before them, Arya had rushed off the cart and towards the men who held her brother's body up.

"Girl" he hissed after her, but it was no use and quickly she disappeared into the madness. 

At the other end of the courtyard, Tallulah sat crouched behind several empty barrels, frozen in complete fear as she watched the massacre of the northern men. However, when she saw the small figure of a girl run through the courtyard, fear turned into a rush of bravery and need to help the child, whoever she was. With this sudden rush of adrenaline, she pushed herself away from the barrels and darted across the courtyard, grabbing the small girl without a second thought or word and charging back towards the wall of the courtyard. 

"Get off me, get off me" the girl struggled against her grip as Tallulah examined the area around them and tried to come up with some sort of plan.

"Girl" a familiar voice rashed behind them, and just as they both went to turn around, the voice slammed his hand down into the child and knocking her out cold. 

"You!" Tallulah gasped, looking Sandor, the last man she would have ever expected to see again and a sudden confusion of relief and fear washed through her body.

"We got time for catching up and no doubt arguing later" he grunted and lifted both the girls up under his arms and towards a stolen horse before galloping away into the darkness. 

Tallulah was sat on the back of the horse, her arms wrapped tightly around her once friend and lover as the young girl slept in front of him. "She's Arya Stark, Ned's youngest daughter. I came across her not long after you left me, she was with the brotherhood without banners, a bunch of crazy fire worshiping cunts who wanted to take my head. I was taking her back to her family". 

"I suppose you will want to know how I ended up with them?" 

"I don't give a damn woman. You're hardly my trouble anymore". 

They returned to their silence for the rest of the ride, not stopping for rest or food even when the sun rose and began to rise again. When he was finally comfortable they had put enough space between themselves and any other fucker who might want to kill them, Sandor pulled his horse to a stop and helped the sleepish Arya down. 

Tallulah made a fire in silence as Arya studied her and Sandor returned with more wood. "Who are you?" she asked.

"Tallulah Waters".

"Waters? A bastard name? My brother Jon has a bastard last name. He is a Snow though, a member of the Nights Watch. That's where we should head next" she continued on and turned to Sandor who had just sat himself down. 

"You have an aunt in the Vale, that's the only place I'll be taking you next". 

Arya scowled at the man and then turned her attention back to Tallulah. "Why were you there? Did you know my brother? Why did they kill him? I'll kill them all one day".

"I was a... good friend of your brothers, he took me in and provided me with safety and a place to rest my head. He trusted me as I was once the handmaiden to your young sister Sansa. I don't know why they killed them all, they were good men and your mother was kind and honorable. If you'll accept my help, I'd like to help you in completing your revenge".

"Can you fight?" 

"Enough to defend myself and those I care about". 

"Pot luck that did Robb" Sandor suddenly scoffed and turned away from the two girls. 

Tallulah tried to comfort Arya for the rest of the night, telling her how she and Sansa had been in the city. How her mother had loved them both so dearly and how she would help Arya continue her lessons with sword and fighting. Eventually, Arya managed to fall back to sleep next to the fire and Tallulah placed her cloak over her to make sure the girl did not freeze. 

"Provided you with safety and place to rest your head did he? Right next to his in his bed no doubt" Sandor grumbled from across the fire. 

Sighing, she pulled herself up and walked slowly to his side. "You left me no choice" she replied and sat down next to him.

"I would have protected you".

"You would have drank yourself to darkness each night and then fucked me as you pleased until you died. Perhaps you would have protected me, but but simply just surviving is not enough for me".

"Fucked you as I please?! Woman, I loved you. And if my protection was not enough for you then you dambed well deserve to die, stupid woman. Surviving is the best anyone can asked for nowadays".