Wounds (Sansa & Sandor)

Chapter VIII

Sandor left the cabin and climbed on deck, unable to fall asleep. He had been lying down for a long time, sleeping, trying not to die, and now he needed to feel alive again

On deck, he found only a few crew members, who are in charge of keeping the ship on course, and checked the state of the sails. They paid no attention.

He went overboard and watched the harsh winter loom over him. The armies of the North returned home by land on a long and unpleasant journey, coming out to meet the intense cold, snow and ice ... Sandor layered on the starboard of the ship almost felt envious of them. He didn't like the sea ... and less that sea. The icy fog that enveloped him gave him the texture of the metal that the blacksmiths melted, and he still liked it less ... it was like gray lava ...

But despite all this, the presence of Sansa nearby was already cause more than enough to bear it.

He could not leave her alone ... Arya had made him promise that he would take care of her ... He had come to see him to bring her clothes and something to clean up, and incidentally, she was trying to convince him to go to Winterfell.

In the hours that had passed since he had woken up, and the fever had disappeared, at no time, he had told them what he was going to do. He just cursed ...

He closed his eyes. She was going to miss that damn girl, but it was obvious that she knew how to take care of herself ... Sansa would have to face a thousand adversities ... and enemies would grow, at the same rate that snow would pile up in the northern fields. He could be his shadow ... but ... but he wanted more ... he thought, clenching his lips tightly. That was why it was so important that she answer the question he had asked her, before Arya interrupted them.

He heard a few steps behind him. He did not turn. Was not necessary to.

- You came ...- Sansa said approaching the place where he was ... I didn't have them all with me ... Arya told me your farewell ...

- That girl does not know how to keep her mouth shut ...- he commented, in his huskiest voice.

- She is my sister ... with me she has no secrets. The pack is protected, it is part of who we are ... .- she said staring at him.

Sandor stopped looking at the sea and looked at her. Sansa's snowy skin glowed in the darkness of the night and her eyes shone brighter than the stars. Looking at her caused him pain, and pleasure, hard to bear.

- I have recovered the memories of my confrontation with my brother ...- he began to say -... Although the bastard was about to kill me ... When he already had me at his mercy and was strangling me, I reached him stick a stake in the eye, and still, he was still alive. I was going to pounce on him, not caring if he died trying, when suddenly, the tower wall collapsed and he fell. I went to the edge and saw how the flames devoured him ...

Sansa remained silent while he spoke. she had retired to her cabin as soon as she had dinner with the captain, but her steps had taken her without realizing it to the door of the narrow cabin where she had demanded that Sandor be installed in case he appeared, quite disgusted, by the way, of one of the members of her council, who accompanied her. She recognized that they deserved an explanation, but it was not yet time to give it

- Now I know what you felt when you killed Ramsay ...- Sandor continued, breathing deeply -... You were right. The end leaves you empty inside .. Your desire for revenge is over, but everything remains the same. My face is still what it was and my life has remained ... empty ... I don't even know if I can wield a sword again ...

- There may always be other options ...- she said and unable to avoid it, put her gloved hand on his arm.

Sandor looked at that hand and then looked into her eyes again. He swallowed. He had the need to ask for the answer she owed him, but he didn't dare. He remembered something at that moment and decided to ask about it, giving himself a few more seconds of margin: