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

67 - A Unbroken Bond

Alia walked along the cold beach of Eastwatch, her mind in the clouds and her heart in the bottom of the sea.

When they had arrived, she was in floods of tears as she climbed off Drogon, Tormund lifting Archie's body before laying him on the sand.

Alia watched as her father approached her, a smile on his face until he got close enough to see Archie's body behind her.

No tears escaped his eyes, instead, he just took his daughter into his arms as she heart-wrenching sobs came out of her, her knees buckling from underneath her from the exhaustion she was enduring before slowly crawling over to his body, resting her head against his chest. Her eyes were tightly closed as she held onto him.

She stayed like that for an hour. Just holding onto her brother with Davos by her side at all times.

Sandor was there too, just watching her. He had suggested to burn the body but she just burst out into more tears, knowing that it will be the last time she will see her twin.

After she finally moved, she ordered that her brother was to be burnt at Castle Black. It was a journey but she was willing to face it alone.

So, they prepare a wagon for her as well as two men who would join her. Sandor was automatically ruled out after she firmly stated that he was not to go with her and that he should head straight to Kings Landing with the Wight that Archie had died for. All this heartache for her to prove a spiteful Queen wrong about myths and legends.

As she stared out to sea, her eyes landing on the large Targaryen ship, she didn't even realise that Sandor had stood beside after placing the Wight into the small rowing boat.

"I'm so sorry."

Alia closed her eyes as the words came out of his mouth but at least she knew that his sympathetic apology was genuine. She breathed in the cold air, the wind making her brown wavy hair flow in the mind behind her.

Sandor gazed at her, and slowly reached his hand out to her, lacing his fingers through hers and was relieved to feel her lace her fingers through his too.

"Until we meet again, Sandor." She whispered, a sad tone in her voice as she glanced his way, a very faint smile on her lips.

"He was a good man, your brother. A great fighter too. I can see where you got it from." It was more of a backhanded compliment from Sandor but nevertheless, she just chuckled. She was all out of tears at that point so the other only things she could do was laugh. It would have been what Archie would have wanted anyway.

"He was. Better than you." She remarked, her eyes looking at the grey sea as the waves crashed against one another.

Sandor remained silent, knowing better than to deny her statement so he let it slide, rubbing his thumb along side the back of her hand.

"Alia. We're ready when we are." Alia looked over her shoulder to see one of the men that would accompany her on her travel to Castle Black. She gave him a quick nod and then looked back up to Sandor.

He turned to face her, a defeated look on his face knowing they were going to be apart again for however long this time.

"I'll head to Winterfell after... will you be there or staying in Kings Landing?"

"I'll be there. I ain't stayin' in that shithole again." He states making Alia smirk softly and look down to the sand between them, slowly letting go of his hand.

"I'll miss you. This life is cruel. It brings people together again only for it to tear them apart." She whispered, his hand holding onto the side of her cheek gently, brushing a small tear that managed to leak out from her left eye.