Portrait// Sandor Clegane (1)

40. Dishonorable

"What's going on?' Avalon questioned, she had blacks and greys covering her hands and pants as she worked diligently on his wolf wall.

'Avalon!' Ned declared his heart pounding in his chest.

"Lord stark? Is there something can do?' Avalon questioned putting her brush down.

'No, no... JORY!' ned called and he came rushing in sensing the panic. Avalon rose confused, as she looked between them.

'Lord stark?' Jory questioned.

'We must leave, get the girls and...' ned began as they walked, Avalon followed after them. 'It is no longer safe here, we must leave for winterfell at once.'

'My lord?' Jory questioned confused, but Avalon noticed his lack of Hand pin.

"You quit?' she questioned as they stepped outside.

'Yes... I quit and Catelyn has taken lord Tyrion.' Ned told her. 'We must go, leave now before-' but as they stepped into the light they saw red coats, Lions. They were surrounded.

'It looks like a small pack of wolves' Jaime noted

'Stand back ser this is the hand of the King.' Jory told him

'Was the hand of the King.' Jaime corrected 'I'm not sure what he is now... Avalon dear, run along.' Jaime told her but she was too scared to move.

'What is the meaning of this Lannister?' Petyr said running outside

'Get back inside where it is safe, Avalon and you too Baelish. I am looking for my brother.' Jaime informed Ned 'you remember my brother don't you lord stark? Blonde hair, sharp tongue, short man.'

'I remember him well' ned admitted

'He had some trouble on the road you wouldn't happen to know what happened to him?' Jaime questioned.

'he was taken at... My command to be punished for his crimes.' Ned knew as soon as he spoke the words he was going to die. Jaime and his men unsheathe their swords.

'My Lord,' Petyr said stepping forward 'I will bring the city watch.' but ned held him back. 'Avalon...' Petyr said pulling her back as Jaime stepped forward.

'Come on stark I'd rather you die sword in hand.' Jaime said

'If you threaten my lord again-' Jory warned.

'As in I'm going to open your lord from balls to brain and see what's starks are really made of.' Jaime clarified.

'You kill me. Your brother is a dead man' ned informed him.

'You're right...' Jaime acknowledged 'take them alive, kill his men.' Jaime instructed and Lannister soldiers stepped forward attacking but ned was not about to go down without a fight.

Avalon screamed as a sword came barreling at her but Jaime blocked his men. She looked to him gratefully.

'Ned stark's men.' Jaime sneered. 'Does she look like a man to you?" Jaime slapped his man across the face. 'Get her out of here.' Jaime instructed and petyr pulled her inside.

A sword, Jamie's sword was drove through Jory's chin, all the way out the other end of his skull. Jaime pointed his sword Ned ready for a proper duel as the rest of the Lannister soldiers waited circling them ready for an attack if necessary.

They were at a face off when one of Jaime's men came from behind Ned stabbing him through the leg. Jaime stepped forward punching that man in the face.

'that was dishonorable.' Jaime informed him. Ned watched in complete agony spear still through his leg as Jaime mounted his white horse.

'He is my brother Lord Stark and I want him back.' Jaime spat riding away as Ned collapse to the ground.

+++

'Avalon? AVALON!" Sandor declared he looked at the splatter of blood on her cheek.

"It's not mine.' She said weekly and she clung to him.

"What the fuck happened?' he questioned holding her to him, his hands running through her hair, her paint stained hands holding tight to Sandor. "avalon..' he wiped at her face, the blood smearing red across her cheek as scared eyes looked up at him. 'Come on,' he brought her back to her room and cleaned her up running a damp rag across her face, her eyes were distant, he dragged the rag along her arms, scrubbing at the paint and blood alike.

It was a massacre of stark men, blood splattering everywhere as men were torn down left and right, Avalon stood frozen in it all.

'Lord stark?" she questioned quietly.

"a maester has him.' Sandor told her. 'Stabbed through the leg.... but you already know that, don't you love?' she nodded. He held her that night as she let out shaky breaths, before her eyes fluttered closed and her breathing steadied. Sandor kept a close hold of her but he couldn't sleep. His mind racing, she was close enough to that fight that she had blood splattered on her face from the dead, she could have easily been killed and Avalon was the best thing in Sandor's life. He could have lost her. Just. Like. That.