Secret Flames (Sandor Clegane)

Chapter 35

The meeting in Kings Landing had not gone well. There had been a moment where Tallulah thought they were making progress, but when Jon declared his loyalty to Daenarys, any hope of an agreement of peace was quickly thrown away. From the look upon Daenarys face and the rest of Jon's men, they had also not been expecting the declaration, but it had been done and now they would all have to live with the outfall.

Once the meeting had finished, the group quickly returned to their ship and began their journey back to Winterfell. During that time, Tallulah was kept busy by keeping Daenarys company. The dragon Queen would ask her about all that she had been told about Westeros and Tallulah would help her learn rumour from fact. In the evening, she would return to her room and spend her nights sleeping recklessly next to Sandor. She had not asked him to sleep in her chambers, and one their first night on the ship, he had just showed up and so had happened each night from then.

There was a separation between them though, some unspoken understanding that she was not yet ready to share her body with him. Sandor respected this though and would only wrap an arm around her when she invited him to do so.

When they finally reached the north, they made port and travelled the rest of the journey by foot and horseback. Jon and Daenarys lead the group on horseback, with all they men behind them in a show of joint power and commodity. Sandor and Tallulah rode further behind, also on horseback, in complete silence as she watched the common people come out of their grey stoned homes to watch the arrival of the dragon queen and their king.

Once inside the high walls which surrounded Winterfell, the party was met by Sansa and her young brother, Bran. Tallulah watched carefully as Sansa greeted Daenarys and waited for the moment when their eyed would meet.

"I thought Arya would be here as well?" She whispered to Sandor who stood at her side and replied with a muffled grunt.

Once the greetings had finished, sansa waited behind and Tallulah went straight over to her. "You have no idea how-"

"You left me!" Sansa interupted with a face of pure stone.

"I...,"

It was no use, Tallulah had no words to explain her actions, at least none that would ease the pain she had obviously caused the girl.

"You have no idea what I have ben through. The things that have happened to me. The pain I have been through."

"I know... I'm sor-"

"Yet Arya has told me of how you helped her. Even sacrificing your own safety for hers."

The coldness of Sansas face started to melt now as a small smile crept across her mouth.

"Sansa," Tallulah sighed and quickly pulled the girl into a tight hug.

"I'm so sorry, for everything." She went on to whisper into her ear.

When the girls parted, Sansa was still smiling warmly. "There's someone else waiting to see you."

Sansa then led Tallulah and Sandor inside and into what seemed to be the library, where stood by a large open fireplace was Arya Stark.

"Arya!" Tallulah cried and ran over to her to pull her into a tight hug.

"I never thought I'd see you again... well both of you." Arya smirked as she looked over to Sandor.

"Yes and a great deal has happened since then, but I suppose you will also have your own story to tell," Tallulah sighed and gently stroked Arya's hair.

Arya told them of the temple with the black and white door and of the faceless men. Tallulah could hardly believed it, she had heard of them before but never believed it to be true. Yet again, it wasn't as though her story was one of common occurrence. As they continued to catch up, the daylight began to fade from the window and a servant brought them some dark ale and hard cheese.

"I cannot believe my brother declared loyalty to her," Sansa snapped as the conversation changed topic.

Tallulah was about to reply when there was a shot knock at the door.

"Jon," Arya smiled as he walked in with Tormund and Davos.

"We've had word. The dead have made more progress, they'll be here for the morning," Davos announced grimly.

"How have they travelled so far... so quickly? Jon, the men, do you think they are ready? Are we to battle in darkness?" Sansa asked quickly with a voice full of worry.

"We have no choice," he sighed back.

"And we will not fight in darkness. I have a light within me, and they will feel its power," Tallulah injected as she reached for Sandors hand under tha table.

"So what now?" Sansa asked with an agreeing nodd.

Jon looked over to Tallulah, and for a brief moment she could see a boys eyes staring back at her, a boys eyes filled with fear.

"Jon, perhaps you should gather everyone. Explain the plan you developed on the ship. I really believe it could work, but we need everyone to work together. I will come and meet you later to help with any last details,"

Jon continued to look at her and nodded slowly.

"So tonight we fight," Davos spoke.

"Tonight our watch begins.... for all of us." Jon replied.

A.N
So I know this doesnt happen as quickly in the actual show, but this story will be taking a completely different route from the show from here on out. I hope you enjoy what's to come as I'm super excited to write it. I'm also in the Highlands (in Scotland) on holiday right now. This place is so inspiring to my writing and I'm definetly keeping an eye open for our Rory haha. Next update coming tomorrow :)
Happy reading x