Until We Meet Again❄ (Sandor Clegane) Game Of Thrones (Wattys2019 Nominated)

44 - The Dog

Sandor and Alia hadn't spoken since they almost kissed and it had caused some bother towards Alia because whenever she would speak or attempt to speak to him for that matter, he would give her the cold shoulder and give a normal grumble as a response. Since he had told her that he liked her, it was all she could think about, especially after Beric had not-so-subtly told her that Sandor was the one for her.

Currently, they were all on a horse each, Sandor on Stranger, Arya on a white steed that she had named Winter and Alia on the same horse that she stole from the Twins to which she had named her horse Bonnie and were all heading towards the Eyrie. It had been around a week since Alia had returned to them and a week that Sandor had blatantly ignored both girls. Arya could sense the atmosphere between the two but didn't want to comment on it because as much as she disliked The Hound as she still calls him, she didn't want to offend Alia; especially after everything she had done for her.

Alia had hunted down some rabbits along the road on her horse, impressing Arya more and more with her archery skills and had begged Alia that when they rested at night that Alia would finally teach her how to use her bow. Since Eddard and Catelyn were gone, Alia didn't see the harm in training the fierce young warrior and had taught her how to hunt down small kills such as rabbits in case she needed to. As for Sandor, he would refuse any food from Alia when she cooked it on the fire and would turn away from her and lay on his bedroll and head to sleep. Tonight was one of those cases as they set up camp, Sandor immediately resting his eyes as soon as he laid back.

Arya looked to Alia, arching her eyebrow in confusion at his quieter self than usual and mouthed something towards her.

'What's gotten into him lately?'

Alia just shrugged and picked the meat off the end of her sword that she used to cook and eat the rabbit from as the day falls to night.

"Alia?" Arya speaks aloud, making Alia look back to her and asking what she wanted politely in comparison to.... Others.

"Can you tell me a story? Like the ones Old Nan used to."

Alia laughed lightly, remembering Old Nan and the gruesome tales she would tell herself and her brother at night when they first arrived at Winterfell.

"Of course." Alia chirps, patting the seat next to her as Arya crawled on her hands and feet rather than standing and walking over to Alia. She had purposely nudged Sandor as she crawled, smirking to herself as he let out a small annoyed grumble and sitting up briefly to stare at the two females. "Arse." He mutters under his breath but they both heard him causing them both to roll their eyes simultaneously.

Alia searches around in her head for a small story to tell until she finally settled on one and cleared her throat.

"You ever heard the story of the Prince Who Was Promised? Azor Ahai?"

Arya shook her head excitedly, finally somewhat happy to hear something new for a change instead of Sandor's constant moaning and his gory tales on what he would tell them both when they were all one speaking terms.

"Well, he is a legendary hero. He is most talked about in the faith R'hllor, which the Brotherhood follow and named him the Lord of Light. One day, he will be reborn to end all wars."

"All Wars? The one between the Lannister's and us Starks?" Arya inquired, looking into the fire as Alia pulled her legs towards her chest, draping her hands over her knees.

"No. The one between the living... and the dead."

"You see, myths of White Walkers are not just myths. They are real, Arya and they will rise again." Alia proceeds, smirking to herself because although she doesn't believe anything of the sort, it was entertaining to see Arya look so interested in her story.