You could have strangled the queen. Why in the gods' names did she need more wine at that very moment? There was a battle going on outside and you had absolutely no desire to go scouring the cellars of the Keep to find more wine for Cersei Lannister. You sighed as you made your way to the cellars. To your surprise, there were still some casks full of wine. You moved to fill the wineskin and jug the queen insisted upon when a sound above you caught your attention.
You were never the type of person to leave anyone in distress, so when you heard the sounds of someone crying echoing through the tunnels, you immediately sprang into action. From the cellar, you could follow the tunnels up to the streets of King's Landing. You dropped the jug and went running, the wineskin tied to your belt.
You soon found the source of the cries. A little boy was standing there, one hand in his mouth and tears running down his face. "Shh," you cooed. "Where is your mother, little one?" He simply shook his head and started sobbing louder. You quickly pulled him into your arms. "Shh. It's alright. We'll find her, but you must be quiet. We do not want any guards to find us." You decided to try and find the boy's mother.
Taking the back alleys, you lead the boy through the streets, hiding whenever you saw the soldiers of Stannis Baratheon's army. Suddenly, you heard a voice. "My child! Thank you, my lady!" The boy's mother was crying almost as much as her son. "It was nothing. Now hurry, before they find you. Go." Once they were out of sight, you turned to go back to the tunnels.
You found the entrance to the tunnels and smiled, thinking you were home free. You rounded a corner and came face to face with a soldier. You couldn't tell if it was one of Joffrey's or Stannis', but it didn't really matter when you felt the cool metal cut across your side. You cried out in pain before falling to the ground. You placed your hand to the seeping wound, your blood dripping all over your fingers. The soldier ran back toward the street, leaving you there to bleed out.
A little while later, your vision began to cloud. "Y/N?" a raspy voice called and you were barely able to acknowledge the voice. "What in Seven Hells are ya doin' down here?" You saw the face of Sandor Clegane just before you lost consciousness. Sandor ran his hand over his face. This was not what he expected when he wandered into the tunnels. Without pausing to think, Sandor lifted you into his strong arms.
He put you on the back of his horse in front of him and watched you. He hoped he could find a way to get out of King's Landing and help you before it was too late. He urged Stranger into a gallop, all while keeping pressure on your wound. As soon as you were safely away from King's Landing, Sandor pulled Stranger to a stop and got you off the horse.
He gently laid you down on his cloak and tried to check your wound. From the outside, he looked calm and collected, but inside, Sandor felt something he only felt around fire. Panic and fear. He was so worried you were going to die and he wasn't sure he could take it. He'd only just realized his feelings for you and now, he thought he might lose you.
*short time skip*
Sandor looked over at you again. You had woken up a few hours after you left King's Landing, but you were still weak and Sandor spent his days keeping an eye on you. "You're staring again, Sandor," you whispered, not looking up from the shirt in your hands. You were attempting to mend it. "No, I'm not." You chuckled and shook your head. After a moment of silence, Sandor spoke again, "I need ta check yer wound."
You nodded and put the shirt down. You felt your entire body heat up as Sandor removed the bandage and studied the wound. "Yer lucky there's no infection." You nodded and held your breath while he rebandaged it. When he finished, you looked up at him. "Why did you save me, Sandor? You could have left me in the tunnels to die, but you did not." He met your gaze and his voice caught in his throat.
"I, uh, it did not feel right ta just leave ya." You quirked a brow. "Sandor, you do not have to lie to me." He pulled away and turned where his back was facing you. " 'M not lyin'. It wasn't right." You could tell he was trying his best not to stutter. You got up and walked in front of him to look in his eyes. "Sandor," you said gently. His eyes were full of mistrust and fear. "If it was anyone else, you would have left them, except perhaps Lady Sansa, so why me?"
Sandoropened his mouth, but quickly closed it again, knowing he couldn't speakwithout getting tongue tied. "Dammit, woman. Stop staring at me with thosebig doe eyes!" You laughed. "Tell me, please?" The giant of aman took a deep breath and opened his mouth once more. "I..Seven Hells whyis this so difficult? I love ya, alright?!" You stared up at him in shock.Had he really just said that? "Ya happy? Now go on and laugh."Instead of laughing, you reached up and cupped his cheeks. "I'm not goingto laugh at you, Sandor," you whispered before you pulled his face down tomeet yours so you could plant a sloppy, clumsy kiss to his lips.