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

45 - False Apologies

Sandor awoke that morning to the sound chickens and hens clucking and his mind instantly focused on Alia and what he did to her last night. He sat up from his bedroll and scanned the barn to see her cradled up next to Arya with her arm draped over her body protectively. From where he was sat, he could see the cut he had created on her cheekbone, making his chest tighten with unease.

He got up, and slowly crept towards the two sleeping girls as quiet as he could just to see Alia. He had hated what he had done to her, especially at the fact that the cut almost resembled the long scar on the opposite side of her face but he did it for him and in a way, to protect her. He couldn't have her becoming too attached to him because when they are to part ways, it would have hurt them both so as he tried to let her down gently and her not taking it too well, he had to retort in insulting her. Calling her dishonourable was a low blow, even for him especially after everything she had done to him. He nearly snapped and wanted to bring up the fact that if she had honour, she wouldn't have left Arya at the Red Wedding and better yet, killed her own mother. But, he had understood her reasons to which Arya, who will wake up completely complexed at the sight of Alia's face, will not.

Sandor was not certain if Arya had known about how Alia had got her scar as she usually dismisses it whenever someone points it out to her or lies about it so he felt apprehensive at the fact that Alia may inform Arya of the previous night's controversy and will just go with Alia to the Eyrie meaning less time with Alia and no gold.

He made his way outside, his eyes landing on the farmer and his daughter who was picking some vegetables from a patch of carrots whilst her father shifted some hay-bales. The man saw him and beckoned Sandor to come over and with a small grunt, he headed towards him to see what jobs he had in store for him.

Alia and Arya were soundly sleeping until a loud scream fills the air followed by frantic squawking of chickens causing Arya to sit up straight look around the barn for any signs of danger before dashing out the barn door to look at the commotion. Arya's sudden movements jolted Alia who let out a small grunt when Arya had stepped on her stomach to hop over her body.

She too got up, grabbing her weapons in the process and dashing out the door to see what was happening and her heart filled with dread as she looked down towards the father who had a heavy graze on his head from where he has fallen.

"What did you do!?" Arya yells as Sandor is seen walking off in the distance, a small bag of silver in his hand which Alia spotted straight away, making her blood curdle.

"This is a new low even for you!" Alia scolds, rushing up beside Arya who was scolding Sandor as he walked off.

"You told me you weren't a thief!"

"I wasn't." He grunts, not paying any attention to the two women who were marching up behind him as he counted each silver in his large, dirty hands.

"He took us in. He fed us and you-"

"Aye, he took us in. He's a good man. Daughter makes nice stew."

"So? We were going to make honest money from him!" Alia snaps, rushing ahead of Arya and taking a hold of her waist so she was behind him in case Sandor had any more thoughts about hurting both of them this time.

"They'll both be dead come winter."

"You don't know that!" Arya and Alia exclaim in unison, slowing down as he does, turning to face them both with no source of remorse on his face.

"I DO KNOW IT." He roars, both girls stopping in their tracks, Alia with her hand stretched behind her to reach one of her swords if needed, Arya in the same predicament.