How To Kill a Flower

Chapter 13

Days turned to weeks, and Robb had gotten closer and closer to Kings Landing. My spires had told me that he sent Theon to his father for his ships. I wish I had been with Robb to tell him what a stupid decision that was. Theon's father hates the Starks, and Theon was raised by them. He would never accept Theon as his son. 

The nights were the worst. I couldn't sleep, and Sansa had already caught on. Not that it was hard to notice. The circles under my eyes were so dark and my hair became limp with lifelessness. 

This particular night i had decided that i needed to keep practicing my archery skills. So i snuck out late at night when i couldn't sleep, and when most of the guards were either passed out drunk or patrolling. Leaving the training yard empty, except for one person. Sandor Clegane. 

At first he didn't say a word to me. He just kept hitting the practice dummy with the practice sword. After an hour of my arrow never missing it's target he finally stopped and turned to me.

"Bows are a weak man's weapon. Rather shoot a man from a distance than slice him open himself." Sandor said to me.

"Well good thing im not a man then."

"A weapon like that wont save you in a close distance fight, here" He throws a mall training sword toward me, "I'll show you how to gut a man."

"I already know how to fight with a sword, my brothers taught me." I said picking up the short blunt sword. "Plus, i like fighting with both my hands, and a shield just slows me down."

"Ever fought with two swords then?" He walks over to pick up another short sword. 

I look down at the one sword in my hand, grinning i walk over to Sandor grabbing the second sword in my left hand. "Now you're talking."

"You're small and skinny,  means you can move fast and out last a larger opponent." He lectured.

"Like the Martells, they're know for their speed and agility."

"Enough talking, wolf. Show me what you know." I test the blades in my hands before circling with Sandor. 

The rest on the night, Sandor and I practiced together. Though it was more of a beating than practice for me. I hadn't used a sword in what felt like years. By the end of our practice i could swear my bruises hand bruises, but i had gotten used to the feeling of two swords in my hands. Sandor was right, I was very agile when fighting. It was almost like a dance for me.

That night i had gone to sleep the fastest i had ever been able to since father had been killed. So exhausted that i didn't even dream.

The nights to come Sandor and i had created a routine, Practice when the yard was dead quiet, and as long as we could both go. It became something i had looked forward to, Gods know i needed something to keep the fire burning in my heart alive. Before this practice, i could feel my body giving up, which my brain knew wasn't an option as long as Sansa was still captive in King's Landing. Not as long as she was alive.