It had been over four months since the Ironborn Fleet attempted to burn the Westerlander ships at Lannisport. Three and a-half months since King Robert Baratheon declared war on the Ironmen. Two months since the sea battles off Seagard and Fair Isle. Less than one month since the siege of Pyke.
Now, the insurrection known as Greyjoy's Rebellion was over. The result: a decisive tactical victory for the Royal Army. Balon Greyjoy would be sent to the wall, his three sons would be wards of the crown, and his brother Victarion was the new Lord of the Iron Islands.
That was all the information that had reached the mainland of Westeros. The specific details, such as who had endured and who had perished, had not yet been released. Some saw this as a blessing, as they could not bear receiving news that any of their loved ones had fallen in the fighting. Others, however, would wish to be told straightaway. To them, silence was worse than no news at all.
Alas, they had no sway on when the news would arrive. So until it did, they would have to tolerate this silence.
Ellaria Sand had come to terms with the silence long ago. Every time her lover needed to employ his combat expertise elsewhere, she did not protest. Sometimes he could afford to bring her along. Normally, he did so whenever he was simply required to settle a dispute nonviolently. But whenever his errands involved straight-up fighting, she opted to remain behind. So she had not joined Prince Oberyn or her stepdaughters when they set sail with the other royalist soldiers.
Instead, she lingered at Clegane's Keep. There she looked after her own daughters, as well as the children of the other parents in the Legion without Banners.
Ellaria was with Lady Daliah Clegane and her daughter Ellyn in the keep's nursery when they were visited by Maester Velix. He revealed to them that a message had just arrived; a message from the king. He read it aloud, informing them of the Royal Army's triumph over the Ironborn. The Royal Army would be coming back to the mainland eminently.
Furthermore, the King had proposed for a tourney to be held in Lannisport in celebration of their victory. The majority of the royalist soldiers would stay camped at or near Casterly Rock. However, House Clegane's retainers had been granted the exclusive privilege of returning home before the tourney. Lord Gregor Clegane and the other Legionnaires would be accompanying them. They were due to arrive within one day of the raven that carried this message to Clegane's Keep.
That's the best news I've heard all year.
After sharing this news with his lady and Ellaria, Maester Velix went to share it with Ser Tarrence Clegane, whom he had been seeing a lot more of ever since he diagnosed him with palsy.
Ser Tarrence's condition was still a secret to all but his family and his family's closest allies. Oberyn and Ellaria were counted amongst those in the latter category, given their close friendship with Gregor Clegane.
From what Ellaria could gather, she had done much to lessen Lady Daliah Clegane's prejudices towards bastards. In fact, after spending so much time with Lord Harmen Uller's baseborn daughter, Daliah thought of Ellaria Sand as a dear friend.
So there are some decent Westerlander women. What a pleasant surprise.
After Maester Velix left to find her husband, Daliah walked over to the center of the nursery. There her grandson Rickard was playing with Ellaria's girls, Elia and Obella. Daliah Clegane – who would once have sneered at the very thought of her own sons mingling with bastards – smiled at the sight of how well her grandson was getting along with two of the Sand Snakes. That in turn made Ellaria smile.
Just then, Daliah gently picked Rickard up and cradled him in her arms. Rickard giggled and welcomed his grandmother's warm embrace. As she held him close, she whispered softly "Your father's coming home, sweetling."
"And his mother," Ellaria added in coyly.
"Of course," Daliah conceded with a light chuckle, "Never forget her."
I don't think anyone is likely to forget the woman who set the record for the largest babe ever born.
Rickard Clegane was entering his twenty-first month. According to Lady Daliah's claims, he was still not as large as his father had been at that age, but he was still much bigger than average. Seeing Rickard next to her eldest daughter, Ellaria could confirm that herself.
Elia Sand had seen roughly thirty-nine months, eighteen more than Rickard. Yet the two of them were roughly the same size. In addition to that, Obella Sand was only two months younger than Rickard, but she was tiny compared to him. She would grow, of course.
But not at the rate "little" Rickard has.
At one point, Obella got up off the ground and toddled over to her mother. When she got to Ellaria, she smiled up at her. Most of her primary teeth had grown in. Only the secondary molars had yet to appear. So the smile was complete.
It's a beautiful smile, nonetheless.
Ellaria was sitting down at this time. She reached down, picked up her younger daughter, and set her on her lap. Obella was still at the age where she craved her mother's attention. Elia had nearly grown out of that phase, but she still thoroughly enjoyed her mother's attention.
I hope she always does.
In Ellaria's mind, she had the two most wonderful children anyone could ask for. Granted, many mothers thought the same of their own. Still, Ellaria felt Elia and Obella were everything she could ever want.
That was not to say she did not truly want more, or at least the possibility of more.
As she held her younger girl close, Ellaria wondered if Oberyn would be interested in having a third child someday. He already had six (or seven, as far as the rest of the country knew), but he done what most fathers of baseborn children had not. He had acknowledged each of them as his, and he had gone to great lengths to win full custody of them from their mothers. Except in the case of Elia and Obella, of course. Because of her status as his lover, he and Ellaria shared custody of his two youngest girls. Maybe they would someday share custody of three. Or four. Or even more…
I should speak to Oberyn on this when he returns to me.
A couple minutes after Obella came to her, Ellaria noted Rickard Clegane stand up. For some reason, his legs were quite shaky. She watched as he made his way over to his grandmother and tugged on her dress. He said a little anxiously "Grandma… Grandma…"
Daliah Clegane looked down at her grandson and stated curiously "Yes, Rick?"
That was what his parents often called him. As such, Lady Daliah had agreed to address him by that way, as well.
"Have to… have to…" Rickard began haltingly.
Ellaria was a bit bewildered and concerned by the young boy's actions. Then she saw that only one of his hands was griping his grandmother's gown. His other hand, he held near the top of his trousers. Additionally, he was squirming in place.
Straightaway, Ellaria knew what the trouble was. Luckily, so did Lady Daliah. She grinned down at Rickard kindly, took his outstretched hand in hers, and told him "Very well, let's go."
The two of them went over to the privy in the adjoining room. Daliah beckoned Rickard to enter first, and she stepped in after him. She made certain to shut the door.
Ellaria soon heard the sound of liquid striking metal. It started as a stream, but it gradually faded to trickling, and then it disappeared altogether. That noise was soon followed by water being splashed in a wash-basin.
He remembered to wash his hands. Very good.
Ellaria next heard Daliah say "Stand still, dearest."
She must be helping him refasten his trousers.
"Yes, Grandma," Rickard affirmed. Ellaria's supposition was proven true a moment later, when he added in "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Daliah said plainly.
There was a slight pause. Then the door to the privy opened, and Rickard and his grandmother remerged.
As Rickard went back to playing with Elia, Ellaria asked curiously "How'd it go?"
Daliah looked to the Dornishwoman, smirked, and stated merrily "I think he's nearly mastered the chamber pot."
"Good for him," Ellaria commented, grinning back. She gazed down at Obella after that. As she brushed her daughter's hair, she thought aloud "As I recall, that's usually a rather messy affair."
"Not this time, thankfully," Daliah wryly remarked.
"That's fortunate," Ellaria pronounced, "I taught Elia how to use the chamber pot easily enough, and Obella is learning quickly, as well. But I can imagine male children would have… more room for 'error.'"
Daliah Clegane scoffed and muttered "You'd be correct. That was the case with Sandor."
"What about Gregor?" Ellaria enquired. Again, she was genuinely interested. Although she and Oberyn had been friends with the Mountain for years, they still knew very little about his childhood. For whatever reason, he seemed unwilling or reluctant to discuss it with anyone. But his continuous refusal to divulge anything about his early years only made the Red Viper and his paramour more determined to find out about him.
It was at that moment that Ellaria realized that she had the next best source of information on Gregor Clegane's early life: the one who had primarily carried for him during those years.
Why did that not occur to me before now? I could have asked Lady Daliah about Gregor's life months ago.
At least she had this realization before Oberyn and Gregor returned. Now once they got back, she would know something one of them did not, and something the other did not know she knew.
Ellaria had to resist the urge to smile deviously.
A few seconds later, she was able to. That was when she saw the expression on Daliah's face.
Daliah folded her hands over her stomach, and she revealed "Actually… it wasn't so difficult with Gregor. It was surprisingly easy, as a matter of fact."
"You mean training Gregor to use the privy was a simple affair?" Ellaira presumed
Daliah nodded her head and informed her "After the first lesson, he seemed to understand the process straightaway. He didn't even require a… demonstration."
Ellaria lightly nodded her head in acknowledgment. Then another thought entered her mind. She asked the elder woman "How old was he at the time?"
"He had not even seen seventeen moons," Daliah Clegane disclosed, "Interestingly, a few months before even that, he was able to clothe himself."
"That's rather unusual," Ellaria observed.
"Yes, but Gregor managed it," Daliah recounted, "In fact, even as a babe, he matured at any alarmingly fast rate. He said his first word when he was closer to his birth than to his first nameday. He spoke in complete sentences very shortly after his first nameday. He was weaned in his fourteenth month. He could walk without stumbling in his sixteenth. And he hardly ever cried."
Ellaria whistled at that. "It sounds as though he was the ideal babe."
"At the time, he certainly seemed so," Daliah expounded, "But there was something that always perplexed me. It was not the fact that he grew out of infancy sooner than the average babe. It was the fact that he almost seemed… eager to grow out of it."
"You mean on a subconscious level?" Ellaria supposed.
"No, not just subconsciously," Daliah clarified, "Even when awake, I was under the impression that Gregor physically desired the ability to communication, move independently, and feed and care for himself."
Now Ellaria was baffled. "Forgive me if I sound impertinent, my lady, but you seem to be implying that Gregor was… already aware of the world when you could hold him in one arm."
"You are not out of line, Ellaria," Daliah asserted, "That truly is what I believe. From the day I brought Gregor into this world, I was convinced that he was smarter and wiser than any babe had a right to be. Whenever his name was mentioned, he would give his attention to whoever said it."
Ellaria must have looked very astonished, for Daliah told her next "I know; it sounds ludicrous. For the longest time, I keenly denied it all myself. But now, I can assure you everything I say is the truth. I honestly believe there is a distinct possibility that Gregor understood and comprehended his surroundings from the moment he drew his first breath."
Ellaria thought on that concept, and after a minute, she murmured "That… would be nightmarish. I mean, if one could not only remember, but also fully grasp the entirety of one's life… I don't like to think on what effect that might have. The experience would be both unimaginable and unbearable."
"To say the least," Daliah coincided, "Even so, allow me to set your mind at ease, if you will. As of yet, there is no firm proof that Gregor actually was conscious of the world as a babe. All the same, as hard as I try to, I cannot think of any way to negate that he was, either. So until I can arrive at a definite conclusion, I cannot wholly ignore my theory."
I can relate to that mindset.
"Does anyone else know of your theory?" Ellaria enquired in interest.
"I have shared it with several others," Daliah Clegane illuminated, "None of them found it very plausible."
"What of your husband?" Ellaria Sand contended, "Or the maester?"
Daliah shook her head and disclosed "Tarrence and Velix strongly contested my claims, as well. They have dismissed them as nothing more than 'motherly intuition.'"
Ellaria released a heavy sigh and mumbled "I cannot claim to be surprised. Men are often so irritatingly ignorant."
"Indeed," Daliah concurred, "Alas, we do not live in a world where our sex has the better say."
Unless that 'world' includes Dorne. Or Moat Cailin. Otherwise, that grim observation is incontestably true.
Ellaria felt that this conversation was rapidly becoming uncomfortable for Lady Daliah. It certainly was for her. As such, she elected to change the topic.
She smiled lightly and stated "In any case, I'd like to make an observation, my lady."
"What sort of observation?" Daliah Clegane queried curiously.
"It is often said that the first child is the hardest," Ellaria pointed out, gazing over at Elia, and then looking back down at Obella, "That was how it was for me. I assume it was not that way for you?"
"Indeed it was not," Daliah confirmed, grinning slyly, "For me, my first child was by far the easiest to raise. My second was slightly more difficult, and the third and final one was an absolute chore."
At that time, Ellyn Clegane was in the nursery. She was playing a game of cyvasse with Joy Hill, Ser Gerion Lannister's daughter. Ellyn was about to position her elephants so that they would flank Joy's dragon. Then she would have the younger girl cornered.
But before she could make her move, she heard her mother's last remark. She could tell that her mother was somewhat joking. Even so, she turned to Lady Daliah and glared at her. Her countenance suggested she was quite unamused. She uttered in a very sardonic voice "It happens that I'm right here, Mother."
Daliah Clegane chuckled at her daughter's reaction to her words. She stated in a reassuring tone "I am only being partly serious, Ellie."
"On which part?" Ellyn inquired.
"Well, you were a bit of a handful," Daliah claimed, "Your brothers can attest to that."
"Of course they can; they were there," Ellyn debated, "Whereas I wasn't even around until well after they were babes. They remember the earliest part of my life better than I ever will, but I have no way of knowing that what they tell me is the truth. That's a disadvantage I have to put up with. I mean, I'm the only one in this family with no memory of any other member's infancy."
"Not so, my dear," Ellaria countered, gesturing to Rickard Clegane in the center of the room.
"Rickard does not count," Ellyn disputed, "He's been in the North for most of his life. He's hardly even an infant anymore. Apart from that, Gregor and Dacey could always have another child."
They probably will. I am almost certain they will.
"I know how you must feel, darling," Daliah proclaimed, "All your aunts and uncles are older than I. I know full well how challenging it can be to be the youngest in the family."
"Being the youngest is not what troubles me, Mother," Ellyn murmured, gazing off to the side, "It's… well…"
Ellaria could tell that Ellyn was upset. Out of concern, she asked the tall girl "Ellyn, is something bothering you?"
"No, not really, Ellaria," Ellyn claimed, staring down at the floor. After some quietness, she looked back up and uttered softly "Well, actually, yes."
"Tell us what troubles you," Daliah beseeched her daughter, "Please."
After a little more silence, Ellyn slowly turned to Lady Daliah and said inquisitively (and worriedly) "Mother, am I really a burden to you?"
Daliah looked downright flabbergasted at that. "I never said you were anything of the sort."
"You said I was a 'chore,'" Ellyn reminded her
"That was just a jape," Daliah insisted, "A very poor jape; I see that now."
"I know it was a jape," Ellyn pronounced, "But the jape itself is not what bothers me."
"Then what is?" Daliah Clegane asked her daughter.
"You might call it… a feeling of inadequacy," Ellyn vaguely answered.
"'Inadequacy?'" her mother repeated, baffled.
Ellyn opened her mouth to speak again, but this time, nothing came out. It was here that her motivation and desire to continue this conversation must have declined. Eventually, she did talk, but all she said was "Oh, never mind. Please, let's not go on with this. I was merely being too sensitive about all this."
Ellaria was in no way convinced that the tall girl's sensitivity was the sole motive behind her outburst. Lady Daliah did not seem convinced, either. The latter assuredly told her daughter "Are you certain, sweetling? I'm your mother; you can tell me anything."
"Perhaps some other time," Ellyn proposed, "I do not wish to cause a conflict to arise. We've already won one war. No need to start another so soon."
That was when Lady Daliah agreed not to force the issue. "As you wish, Ellie."
Daliah may have been content not to discuss this topic anymore. Ellaria, however, could tell what Ellyn's problem was right then. Her so-called "feeling of inadequacy" evidently stemmed from the insecurity often felt by the youngest child in the family.
I wonder if Lady Daliah realizes that Ellyn is jealous of her brothers. Oh, she loves them; no doubt of that. But it's very probable she wants to be them, too.
In that one afternoon, Ellaria learned more about Ser Tarrence Clegane's children than she had during her entire stay at Moat Cailin. She had found answers to some questions, but so many more questions had been raised, as well. She decided she would simply meditate on what she had learned for a while before she looked for any more explanations.
The following morning, before daybreak, the Royal Fleet came within sight of Lannisport. By dawn, all their ships were garrisoned in the harbor. By midmorning, virtually all the soldiers had disembarked onto the docks. They spent the remainder of the morning and part of the afternoon returning to their camps in the fields between Casterly Rock and Clegane's Keep.
In the early afternoon, House Clegane's units and the units from the Legion without Banners could be seen approaching Clegane's Keep in the distance. Ser Tarrence, Lady Daliah, and Ellyn Clegane all stood at the front of the keep, eagerly awaiting the return of the Mountain and the Hound. Daliah currently held Rickard in her arms. Ellaria Sand was there, as well. She held Obella in her arms, and Elia was standing near her feet, as was Joy Hill.
Just before one o'clock, the Legionnaires and the Clegane soldiers reached the keep. Once again, Gregor rode at the very head of the column. Alongside him were Dacey Mormont, Oberyn Martell, Victarion Greyjoy, Gerion Lannister, Allard Seaworth, and Smalljon Umber. Ellaria noted Garth Hightower was missing from the top Legionnaires' ranks.
Isn't that curious?
As before, Gregor was the first to enter the grounds of the keep, and the first to dismount. His captains and lieutenants followed him straight after; the rest of the Legionnaires remained ahorse outside the walls.
Once the Mountain was on his feet, he strode over to his parents, his sister, and his son. There he removed his helm and held it under his armpit. He gave Ser Tarrence a respectful bow, kissed Lady Daliah a kiss on the forehead, and hugged Ellyn warmly. He gave his regards to Ellaria and her daughters, and then he turned his attention to Rickard.
"Hello, dada!" the little boy said excitedly.
Daliah Clegane gently passed her grandson over to her eldest. The Mountain had a very strong grip, but he was delicate with his son. After placing a kiss on the top of Rickard's head, Gregor said to his mother "I hope he was on his best behavior."
"No trouble at all," Daliah reassured him.
A proper gentleman, like his father.
It was then that Dacey joined her husband and his family. The moment she saw Rickard, she broke into a wide smile, and he smiled back.
"Mama!" he joyously remarked.
Dacey reached out for Rickard, and Gregor carefully transferred their son to her arms. She embraced him tightly, as though it was the last time she would hold him. She told him softly "Mummy missed you, Rick."
This display of affection brought warm feelings to Ellaria's heart. Dacey Mormont may have been fiercer and gruffer than most Westerosi women, but at times, she could be very caring and tender. Ellaria always admired such unconditional love.
The reunions were not limited to the Cleganes. Just then, Joy Hill ran to her father, and Ser Gerion Lannister embraced her affectionately.
A moment later, Oberyn Martell came to Ellaria and their two daughters. He hugged both Elia and Obella, and he gave their mother a kiss on the lips. A very passionate, elongated kiss. It was insufficient in conveying just how much the prince had missed her, but Ellaria did not mind.
He'll be able to properly show me how he longed for me tonight.
Smalljon Umber, Allard Seaworth, and Victarion Greyjoy had no immediate family there. So they just stood off to the side as their colleagues reunited with their relations.
"So, I hear you're now the liege lord of the Iron Islands," Tarrence Clegane called out to Victarion.
"You've heard correctly, good ser," the Iron Captain affirmed, "It was the king's way of repaying my devotion to the crown."
"I'd say you've earned it, my lord," Ellaria commented.
"Thank you, my… Ellaria," Victarion said in response, remembering at the last moment that Ellaria hated to be addressed as "lady."
"Your Ellaria?" Oberyn humorously muttered.
"Oh, let him be," Ellaria beckoned her lover.
Ellyn then stepped up and asked "Where is Garth Greysteel?"
That was the alias Lord Leyton Hightower's second son normally went by.
"He was killed at Fair Isle," Allard Seaworth grimly informed the others, "I wasn't there when he died, though."
"It happens that I was," Gerion Lannister disclosed, "I saw it with my own eyes. One of Lord Gregor's black powder pouches did the deed."
"I thought Ser Wallis was managing the black powder, and Ser Garth was monitoring him," Lady Daliah recalled.
"He was, my lady," Smalljon Umber confirmed, "Alas, Wallis Peckledon was slain in battle. He was down to his last pouch, which had already been lit before he died. Ser Garth tried to dispose of it, but it went off before he could."
That was an even more astounding revelation. Ser Tarrence said in astonishment "Ser Wallis is dead?"
"Arrow to the throat," Gerion Lannister responded.
Ser Tarrence sighed in frustration. Ellaria could hardly blame him; Wallis Peckledon had been the master-at-arms of Clegane's Keep for over two decades. He would be mourned by those who knew him, and replacing him would not be easy.
"Did you bring Ser Wallis' bones back?" Tarrence Clegane asked the Legionnaires.
"Of course we did," Dacey answered him.
"Good," her father-by-law stated appreciatively, "They need to be sent back to his family's ancestral home. I also need to write to Lord Peckledon, expressing my sincerest condolences for the death of his eldest nephew."
"Very well," Gregor agreed, "We'll be sending Greysteel's remains back to Oldtown, as well. Along with an official apology for Lord Leyton."
A somber silence came over that vicinity. It lasted about thirty seconds. Then Gregor announced "There is some good news, though."
"What?" Ellyn asked her brother.
"The Ironborn vessels at Fair Isle were commanded by Euron Greyjoy," Gregor disclosed, "His galley, the Silence, is infamous for its vast horde of treasures stolen from the lands beyond the Narrow Sea. Lord Tywin offered possession of those treasures to any man who managed to successfully apprehend or slay the Crow's Eye. Now he is dead. Guess who did the deed?"
"You?" Ellaria assumed.
"Close," Gregor told her, smirking.
The answer came to nearly everyone straight away. Tarrence assumed eagerly "Sandor killed him?"
"He did," Gerion validated that presumption, "Originally, I thought to be the one to eliminate the Crow's Eye. I almost lost my arm in the process. I risked losing even more, but Sandor saved my life. Now because of him, I still draw breath and Euron Greyjoy is a rotting corpse."
"Good for Sandor," Ellaria remarked in amazement
"Good for all of us," Gregor corrected her, "He and I made a deal. If either of us take out the Crow's Eye, we would split the wealth."
"Fair enough," Tarrence Clegane perceived. After a short pause, he asked "Do you know when Sandor will be here?"
"Soon; very soon," Oberyn Martell proclaimed, "He is bringing in the treasures taken from the Silence. Naturally, the goods are under heavy guard. My daughters are assisting him with the convoy."
"They should be here momentarily," Allard Seaworth contended.
Tarrence and Daliah smiled and nodded in acknowledgment. Their smiles faded slightly when they saw the uneasy look on the Mountain's face.
"Gregor?" Daliah said worriedly.
"There is… something else you should know," Gregor uneasily revealed.
"What?" Tarrence inquired apprehensively
"It may be better if Sandor showed you himself," was all their firstborn son told them in response.
"'Showed?'" Ellaria noted.
"Or told, depending on how you wished to be informed," Gregor muttered solemnly.
Neither option sounds very favorable.
Ten minutes later, three more horses rode through the gate of Clegane's Keep. They were followed by a dozen heavy-laden carts, which were surrounded protectively by no less than a hundred Legionnaires and Clegane's Keep soldiers.
The riders on the right and the left were both young women clad in leather armor. The one with the spear was Obara Martell; the one with the whip was Nymeria Martell.
The middle rider was wearing a cloak with the hood drawn over his head. His head was tilted so that his face was totally invisible to anyone on the ground. But based on his height and the massive black destrier he rode, he could only be Sandor Clegane.
The Hound and the two former Sand Snakes remained astride their mounts as they approached the large group that had already assembled in the courtyard. Sandor stopped when he was five feet from his family. Beneath his hood, he smiled at them and declared "Father, Mother, Ellyn, I come bearing gifts."
He then gestured at the carts behind him and continued with "These are the exploits I earned from my triumph over Balon Greyjoy's treacherous brother. Half of them are ours now. The other half belongs to Gregor."
"We know," Tarrence proclaimed, looking over the treasure carts in fascination, "He told us of your agreement."
Sandor nodded his head to acknowledge that statement.
Daliah Clegane was not as interested in the carts as her husband. She was far more intrigued by her younger son's current appearance.
"Sandor… why is your face concealed?" Daliah asked nervously.
Sandor did not answer straightaway. Instead, he looked to his brother.
"We told them," Gregor revealed.
"How much?" the Hound requested.
"Just that something happened," the Mountain elaborated, "I felt you should be the one to tell them what that 'something' is."
Sandor let out a sigh and conceded "Yes, I suppose that's best."
It was then that the younger Clegane son got off his horse. He gradually came closer to his parents and sister. Gregor stayed close by. Ellaria and everyone else there watched him intently.
Even on the ground, Sandor's face was hidden in shadow.
"Just what happened at Fair Isle?" Tarrence questioned in an almost demanding tone.
"My victory over the Crow's Eye came at a price," Sandor ambiguously declared.
"What price?" Daliah inquired, her voice dripping with worry.
For a moment, Sandor just stood there, not moving a muscle. Then he sighed once more, took ahold of his hood with both hands, and threw it back.
Oh, Seven help him…
…
Most young girls would likely shriek at the sight of a man with a deformed face. Even if said man was her elder brother.
That was not the case with Ellyn Clegane. When she saw Euron Greyjoy's mark on her brother Sandor's face, she did not scream. She was stunned, but she did not scream.
"What did he do to you?" Ellyn muttered quietly.
"The Crow's Eye tried to burn my head," Sandor illuminated, "In response, I planted my dagger in his neck twice."
Now that's what I call retaliation.
Ellyn's mother did not share her composed reaction. By contrast, Lady Daliah Clegane appeared to be in shock. Sandor noticed her discomfort, and he told her "If you wish to scream, Mother, go ahead. I would not blame you if you do."
To some, that comment may have seemed mocking. Sandor was known for his bluntness and occasional lack of tact, but he was not trying to be disrespectful or insensitive when he made those two statements.
At any rate, Mother did not scream, either. But if she did, it would not have been out of fear. Instead, it would have been out of horror for what had happened to her son.
Amidst an unpleasant quietness, Ellyn observed Mother as she stepped up to Sandor. When she stopped, she slowly lifted her left hand and moved it up to his head. Sandor remained silent and motionless as his mother lightly tapped the tips of her fingers against his scar.
He doesn't so much as flinch.
"Does… does that hurt?" she asked in concern.
You probably should have asked before you touched it. Ellyn did not say that aloud, of course. She was not indifferent to her mother's grief.
All the same, Sandor firmly shook his head and revealed "The right half of my face is completely numb. The maester who treated me claimed that feeling will eventually return to it. But the damage to my skin cannot be undone."
Maester Velix was in the company of House Clegane retainers assembled in the courtyard. Father beckoned him to come forward and inquired "Maester, what say you to that?"
"My colleague was correct in his diagnosis," Velix dismally informed his master as he looked over Sandor's wound, "The numbness will subside, but the scar, I'm afraid, is permanent."
At that, Mother finally broke down. She pulled Sandor close and embraced him as though he was on his deathbed. She sobbed loudly into his breastplate. Sandor said nothing; he merely wrapped his arms around his mother and held her tenderly, all the while letting her weep onto his shoulder.
Ellyn was inclined to try to comfort her mother, but she chose not to intercede just yet. She would wait until Mother moved away from Sandor. That turned out to be a prudent choice on her part.
Eventually, Mother regained her composure and forced herself to let go of Sandor. She was still crying, but most of her tears had been spent. She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and she mumbled glumly "I'm so… so sorry, Sandor."
"Mother, you did not cause this," Sandor attempted to reassure her, "You were nowhere near Fair Isle when I faced the Crow's Eye. You did not participate in the fighting, nor did you push my head into that fire. You have no reason to apologize. And there was nothing you could have done to prevent this."
"There was something I could have done," Tarrence Clegane debated, apparently cross with himself, "I could have led the troops. I could stopped Euron Greyjoy."
"In your condition, Father?" Ellyn whispered so that only those who were immediately around them – which were the Cleganes and the Martells – could hear.
"Ell is correct," Sandor conceded, "The Crow's Eye could have killed you, Father. You may have fought as valiantly as I, but the risk to your safety would have been too great. I am not that eager to succeed you. Especially when you're so close to getting your lifelong wish."
Father raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. "What wish would that be?"
"Lord Tywin has all but decided to go through with his proposal to raise this house to lordly status," Gregor announced.
That produced a fair deal of muttering from the assembled crowds. Father uttered gleefully "He has?"
"Indeed so," Sandor confirmed, "We'll know his final verdict on the issue sometime before the tourney at Lannisport begins. That will be about a month from now."
"That is wonderful," Father stated, stepping forward and patting Ellyn's brother on the back, "Very good work, Sandor. You've done well."
"I just do what I can, Father," Sandor casually remarked, smiling. Oddly enough, when he smiled, his face looked a little less deformed.
Maybe now he'll smile more often.
Ellyn then noticed Mother did not seem to share Father's joy. As a matter of fact, she appeared somewhat outraged at his happiness.
"Your son has been mutilated beyond hope of recovery, and all you care about is that you may become a lord soon?" she snapped angrily.
Father was alarmed by that outburst. Ellyn, Sandor, and Gregor were quite stunned, as well. They had all seen their parents argue on many occasions, but Mother had never raised her voice to Father like that.
Ellyn knew that Father would not tolerate that sort of insolence from anyone at Clegane's Keep, least of all his lady wife. But he made an effort not to seem unruly in front of the present company. He murmured through gritted teeth "Of course not. I am pleased that Sandor has secured a great deal of wealth and the almost-official guarantee of lordship for this house. But that will not be sufficient to distract me from the suffering he endured to acquire those benefits. Nothing would ever make me immune to that."
"By your behavior, you could have convinced us otherwise," Mother snapped in fury.
"Mother, I very much appreciate your concern," Sandor claimed, gently placing a hand on Mother's arm, "But I do not wish for this scar to be the cause of any conflict, particularly amongst my own family. I already got justice and revenge when I buried my knife in the Crow's Eye's neck. Perhaps you can take some comfort from that."
"I believe I can," Mother admitted, calming down considerably "But do you mean to say that you've already come to accept having this scar for the rest of your days?"
At that, Sandor shook his head and disclosed "I don't suppose I'll ever fully accept it. But I have learned to live with it."
"That is what truly matters," a feminine voice interjected.
Ellyn and the other people on the ground looked in the direction of the voice. It belonged to Obara Martell, the woman who would soon be Ellyn's sister-by-law.
Prince Oberyn's oldest daughter had remained mounted on her horse, as had her sister Nymeria. It was at that moment that both of the Dornishwomen climbed off their mounts and joined the others on the ground. Nymeria stayed close to her horse whilst Obara stepped next to Sandor.
The former Sand Snake then took Mother's hand in hers and proclaimed "I cannot pretend to understand how you must feel, my lady. I do not, and – at the risk of sounding selfish – I hope I never do."
"I hope you never have to know it either, child," Mother claimed softly.
Ellyn noticed there were still a few tears in Mother's eyes. Obara gently wiped them away, and then she declared "When I first saw Sandor's scar, I was just as shocked as you are now. He was not the least bit receptive of it, either. But I persuaded him to look at his scar differently."
"Differently how?" Ellyn enquired. She got her answer immediately.
Obara kept one of her hands interlocked with Mother's. Then she turned to Sandor and delicately placed her other hand on his burn. After that, she gazed around the area and announced "I have no way of knowing what form of anguish Sandor went through when Euron Greyjoy gave him it, but you must remember that it was he who survived that skirmish, not the Crow's Eye. I myself saw Sandor stab and kill his opponent… while his head was still in the flame. He overcame unspeakable pain to triumph over his adversary. A weaker man would have given up in his situation. Not he. He proved to be the strongest man aboard that ship. Perhaps even the strongest man in that battle. As such, I say that this scar is not a blemish to be pitied or scorned. It is a symbol of victory and hope. Those carts of treasure we brought in, Lord Tywin's newfound respect for House Clegane, this family's practically-guaranteed ascension to lordly status… we owe all of that to this scar."
For more than a minute after Obara's speech ended, the entire courtyard was struck by tense silence. Ellyn looked around and saw that many of the others were taken aback. In the good way. One could plainly tell that Obara Martell had greatly impressed everyone with her words. Oberyn Martell just smiled proudly at his daughter.
The quietness was ultimately broken by Ser Tarrence Clegane. He gazed at the assembled crowd and professed "My lady Obara Martell has the right of it. Sandor's scar was what won the battle of Fair Isle. For that, I declare he should be praised for the scar."
"Yes, he should," Mother quietly conceded. Her hand was still being held in Obara's. Her other hand was free, and she used it to wrap the former Sand Snake in a hug, much to Obara's surprise… and Ellyn's amusement.
Mother soon released the Dornishwoman and stated gratefully "Thank you, Obara."
"I only said what needed to be said, my lady," Obara decreed, smiling a bit.
"Nevertheless, not every woman can bring such comfort to her future mother-by-law," Mother contended, "I know that you will make a fine ruling lady in your own right one day."
"I thank you for your confidence," Obara stated appreciatively.
A moment later, Sandor stepped behind Obara. He placed his hands on her biceps and kissed her on the cheek. Mother, Father, and Gregor smiled at that. Ellyn tried not to roll her eyes.
Really? Do you have to be so open with her in public?
Sandor then turned to Mother and remarked "On that note, Mother… I wish to remind you that the tourney at Lannisport will not be for at least a month. A lot can be done in a turn of the moon."
He kept his hands on Obara's arms when he said that. He subtly gestured at his intended with a nod of his head. His family grasped the meaning of the gesture almost right away.
Someone's eager, isn't he?
According to the ecstatic expression that had just appeared on Obara's face, Sandor was not the only "eager" one there.
"Well," Father thought aloud, "We were talking on conducting the ceremony sometime after Greyjoy's Rebellion ended. Prince Oberyn is here, and we have a large congregation nearby. There is plenty of food and wine on-hand, and there are bound to be minstrels somewhere in the Royal Army's camp. So… yes. I agree with you wholeheartedly, Sandor."
Sandor and Obara grinned widely and asked in unison "When?"
Father stood contemplating a reply for about twenty seconds. Then he folded his arms, grinned kindly, and announced "Three weeks from today, you two shall be joined together."
Sandor and Obara ardently nodded their acceptance. Then he turned her so that they faced each other, and they kissed passionately on the lips. That produced a large wave of cheers and applause from the assembly. Even Ellyn Clegane could not help but clap energetically for her brother and his betrothed.
The following three weeks, Clegane's Keep was busier than it had been since Gregor relocated to Moat Cailin. That by itself said something; the keep was three times larger than it had been in those days, and it housed five times as many soldiers and servants.
The rest of the Royal Army was preoccupied with the upcoming tourney. But that affair was of little importance to House Clegane. They were focused entirely on preparing Sandor and Obara's nuptials. Gregor and his Legionnaires planned to attend the tourney, but for those three weeks, they wasted no thought on it. They would wait until after the wedding to worry about the tourney.
Mother was principally in charge of all the arrangements. This was perhaps the only occasion where Father virtually relinquished total control of the keep to his lady wife. After how hard Mother had worked to prepare Gregor's wedding to Dacey at Moat Cailin, Ellyn could understand and respect Father's decision to do so.
Since Mother was the one primarily responsible for the wedding, she ensured that everything got done, and that everyone in the keep pitched in. Gregor handled security preparations. Dacey busied herself with guest accommodations. Ellaria Sand sent out invitations. Father assumed the position at the front of the receiving line. Smalljon Umber was made head of catering (how that happened, no one knew, but it turned out to be a good choice). Victarion Greyjoy selected the drinks. Allard Seaworth organized the gifts. Gerion Lannister monitored the funds.
Oberyn Martell was able to provide the cloak of his house. Obara and Nymeria were a little suspicious that he just "happened" to have the cloak with him. He innocently claimed that he believed in being prepared. His daughters and Ellyn doubted that, but even so, Obara was grateful to have the cloak.
Ellyn helped out when and where she could. Her mother mainly put her on the decoration committee. Like at Gregor and Dacey's wedding, the adornments of this one were relatively modest. There were plenty of banners that displayed the sigils of House Nymeros Martell and both branches of House Clegane. Apart from that, decoration were limited to some tapestries and various wall-hangings.
Mother also took it upon herself to stitch together a dress for Obara. Dacey's wedding gown had been made of silks and laces from the Free Cities. They had no such expensive and exotic materials at Clegane's Keep, but Lady Daliah Clegane was able to make do with what they had.
Ellyn was there when Obara was being fitted for her bridal gown, as well as when she put it on for the first time. At first glance, Obara looked as though she detested the garment. Then again, after living with the former Sand Snake for nearly two years, Ellyn had surmised that she hated dresses in general. When Mother saw the look of disgust on Obara's face, she fretted that she had done something terribly wrong.
Obara's disgust hastily vanished, and she assured Mother that the gown was gorgeous. She reminded her that she had an aversion to all formalwear. However, she could tolerate this dress. While looking beautiful had never been one of her foremost concerns, she wanted to at least look beautiful for her wedding.
Mother became visibly relieved and elated when Obara admitted that she loved her bridal gown.
Nymeria had also been in the room when her sister first tried the dress, and she had teased her relentlessly for it. Obara attempted to disregard her younger sister's playful jeering, but after a while, it just flat-out annoyed her. Luckily, she got her vengeance when she told Nymeria "You could be in this same position one day. And when that happens… be afraid, little sister."
Ellyn all but guffawed at the subsequent expression that struck Nymeria's face. It was a mixture of realization and what appeared to be sheer terror. Those emotions could have been feigned, but even if they were, Ellyn could not resist the urge to snicker. Soon after, Obara joined the Clegane daughter in laugher. After a while, so did Nymeria. Then all was well between the two sisters once more. For the time being, of course.
The day before the wedding, nearly all the guests who had been invited to the wedding had sent a response. The majority of them were from the Westerlands, so they were able to attend.
That very night, Clegane's Keep received a response from a most unexpected invitee. It was from Lord Tywin Lannister himself.
Ellyn recalled reading somewhere that in all nine regions of Westeros, whenever a marriage was held by a house, it was traditional for the liege lord of that house's respective region to be invited to attend. Lord Tytos Lannister had attended nearly every wedding that occurred in the Westerlands during his reign. His eldest son was not so outgoing. He rarely went to any of his bannermen's weddings. Nonetheless, every time one of his vassals held a marriage, an invitation was sent to the lord of Casterly Rock as an act of courtesy.
This was one of the rare instances when he decided to accept the offer.
When word of this spread around the Keep, most of the people – including Father and Mother – were surprised, but thrilled. However, Ellyn noticed that everyone else was also surprised, but instead of being thrilled, they were skeptical.
Gregor and Dacey fell into the latter group. From what Ellyn could tell, they suspected Lord Tywin had an ulterior motive. She distinctly remembered overhearing a brief exchange of dialogue between the two of them.
"What do you suppose he's planning, my lord?" Dacey Mormont queried.
"I don't know, Dacey," Gregor admitted, "But I do not believe for a moment he is coming only to sample House Clegane's hospitality. He must have his own intentions for attending the wedding."
"Then we must be cautious whilst he's here," she proposed.
"We must be cautious always," he debated, "This is just one situation where we must be even more cautious than usual."
Ellyn ran off after that. She would have lingered to hear more, but she did not wish to be caught eavesdropping on her brother and his wife.
She found herself agreeing with their sentiment, however. It was possible that Lord Tywin actually did have something planned. Something unforeseen and unwanted. But she chose to push that to the back of her mind. Tomorrow was supposed to be a joyful event. It would do no good if anyone was distracted by what Lord Tywin might do when he arrived.
The next morning, the residents of Clegane's Keep awoke earlier than usual. They broke their fast even before the Sun rose. By the time the first rays of sunshine appeared over the eastern horizon, everyone was in the process of finishing up the final preparations for the ceremony.
The guests started to arrive very early in the day. Many of them were friends and acquaintances of Father and Mother, such as Stafford Lannister and Myranda Lefford, Damion Lannister and Shiera Crakehall, Darlessa Marbrand, and Gawen Westerling and Sybell Spicer.
When the Westerlings showed up, Gregor had gone out of his way to avoid making any form of contact with them. He was subtle in his evasion, but Ellyn was able to detect his distaste. She had a talent for noticing things that most others disregarded or thought unimportant.
For instance, she was aware of Gregor's profound disdain for House Westerling. She had realized that facet of his at a very young age. But she did not try to discuss it with him, as he never discussed it with anyone else. Even so, his deep-seated, unexplained hatred of one of the smallest houses in the Westerlands caught her interest. Later in life, she had discovered he held a similar loathing towards House Frey, House Bolton, House Whitehill, and several of the Ironborn houses. This was the same brother of hers who preached universal tolerance everywhere he went, yet he secretly abhorred quite a few individuals in Westeros.
There were several other occasions when Ellyn's shrewd observance served as a valuable asset. One such example was when Gregor moved to the North. Even before he broke the news to his family, Ellyn had surmised that something both good and bad would happen. A similar scenario had transpired when Sandor returned with a horde of wealth and a lengthy scar across his face. In that instance, she had conclude that something good and bad had already taken place. For all her life, Ellyn had been able to determine if she would receive good or bad news before she was even given it.
No one was aware of just how perceptive Ellyn Clegane truly was. That was because she had never told any other human being about it, and she had always done a fine job of keeping it a secret. She never shared the knowledge of her gift with anyone because she felt it made her special, and there was a possibility that it could get her in trouble. Most of all… she was not quite as sociable as her brothers.
Despite being one of the tallest and assertive females of her generation, Ellyn Clegane was more than a little shy. She preferred the company of her family and brothers to the company of other girls her age. Her bonding time with Obara Martell had made her less reluctant to socialize, but she still did not go out of her way to make friends.
But that did not mean she was without ambition or empathy.
That was the most unique aspect about Ellyn Clegane; there was something of a peculiar contradiction about her. While she never troubled herself with making friends, she had an internal desire to positively impact those around her. In that (as well as height and strength), she was most similar to her brothers.
The difference was that their brothers already had made such an impression.
Gregor had been a recognized warrior throughout all of Westeros for the past five years (and in the Westerlands for even longer), and Sandor had been pivotal in ending the country's last war. Now both men were beloved and praised by the people of the Seven Kingdoms.
Meanwhile, Ellyn was known by few, and those that did know her only thought of her as the younger sister of the Mountain and the Hound.
Ellyn was content if no one actually knew her name. Due to her shy nature, she had never craved attention. Even so, she felt queerly inefficient, like she could be doing something noteworthy or for the good of others. Recently, her selfless yearning had led her to worry that she would never accomplish anything of the sort. Her brothers' celebrated deeds only intensified her insecurities.
That was the reason for Ellyn's outburst in the nursery three days earlier. On top of the knowledge that she had contributed practically nothing in comparison to Gregor and Sandor, the idea that she was actually a chore to others instead of a helpful person made her feel downright useless. She knew now that her mother had not meant to hurt her feelings, and she had forgiven her for implyin that. Even so, Ellyn wondered constantly if she would ever be capable of greatness like her brothers.
The wedding preparations had helped to distract her from that envy. For the last three weeks, she had remained focused on making certain the ceremony and the feast were ready in every way possible. She had rarely given any thought to how she had down so little compared to her brothers.
By now, she had decided that her anxieties were unfounded, needless, and silly. If she was meant to do good things, then in time, she would. There was no need for her to wish a challenge would come her way before she was actually ready to face it.
Besides, today Sandor is the one facing a challenge
From what Ellyn had seen, marriage suited Gregor very well. It remained to be seen if it would do the same for Sandor. But from what she knew of his betrothed, Ellyn was convinced that he and Obara would make a wonderful couple.
In the late afternoon, the grand event took place at last.
The sept of Clegane's Keep was one of the many addendums that had been made to the keep in the past five years. It was about a quarter of the size of the Great Sept of Baelor in King's Landing; it could hold around two hundred individuals.
That many people had gathered there for the ceremony. The first row on the right was composed of the groom's family, meaning Ellyn, Mother, Father, Gregor, Dacey, and Rickard. The first row on the left was composed of the bride's family, meaning Nymeria, Ellaria, Elia, and Obella.
At the front of the sept, the keep's septon – a thin man named Ames – stood waiting with two other men. On his right stood the father of the bride, Oberyn Martell, clad in his traditional royal Dornish robes. On his left stood the groom, Sandor Clegane.
Sandor wore a leather doublet over a clean tunic, as well as a pair of ceremonial boots and a pair of starched trousers. The cloak of House Clegane of Clegane's Keep was draped over his shoulders. His hair was combed back and tied in a small ponytail. From where he stood, the burnt half of his face was invisible to all but the prince and the septon. All the same, he no longer attempted to hide his burn. Instead, he displayed it shamelessly.
Before too long, the bride appeared. All eyes were on her as she gracefully went down the aisle.
All those who knew Obara – which included Ellyn – would normally have thought the sight of the spear-wielding former bastard in an elaborate gown as a comical one. But even the Clegane daughter had to admit that in this dress, she was absolutely stunning. Around her shoulders, she wore the cloak of her father's house: a golden spear impaling a red sun on an orange field.
Soon Obara Martell reached the front of the sept. There Prince Oberyn kissed her on both cheeks and carefully removed the orange cloak from her shoulders. With little prompting from Septon Ames, Obara turned her back to her intended, and he took his cloak of three dogs on a yellow off and meticulously placed it around hers.
Everything gradually fell into place after that. Septon Ames' traditional speech of unity and love, the tying of yellow and orange motley ribbon around the groom and bride's interconnected hands, the septon's blessing, and Sandor and Obara's vows to each other. It was a very similar routine to Gregor's wedding, only there was no mention of the Old Gods or anything pertaining to their worship.
Finally, they got to the part where the union was officially sanctioned. That was when Sandor placed both his hands on Obara's cheeks, announced "With this kiss, I pledge my love," and firmly pressed his lips against hers. The kiss was meant to be a short one, but Obara kept it going for nearly an entire minute. Sandor did not resist her (or he was unable to).
Apparently, the Dornish really have perfected the art of kissing.
There was applause and cheering; plenty of both. It seemed to last hours. At least it did to Ellyn. But eventually it did end, and after that came the festivities.
Like Gregor and Dacey's wedding, the feast for Sandor and Obara's took place outside their holdfast. The fields east of Clegane's Keep were more crowded than any part of the Royal Army's camp. The dais and trestle tables covered an area of approximately 10,000 square feet, and there was at least one person per every ten square feet. The Hound's wedding may not have been as big a deal to some as his brother's, but it had more than twice as many guests as the Mountain's.
Several officers and prominent men-at-arms of the Royal Army were in attendance. Ellyn's mother's father, Lord Lewys Lidden, was there with her aunts and uncles. And, as foretold, Tywin Lannister himself had come.
Lord Tywin had not been at the ceremony. He had waited until after the words were said to make his appearance.
His sudden arrival from seemingly nowhere had taken many by surprise. But Father was able to properly welcome the lion lord before his house lost face.
Out of respect, Lord Tywin was offered the seat of honor on the dais, which the Lord of Casterly Rock declined, claiming it belonged to Sandor and his new wife. However, he asked to give an announcement at the beginning and the end of the feast. No one dared to deny him that request. Apart from that, it was a reasonable one.
It was here that Ellyn began to share her eldest brother and sister-by-law's belief that Tywin Lannister may have been there for a sinister purpose. He was being uncharacteristically benign to the other guests, many of which were his own bannermen. Ellyn had never actually met Tywin Lannister before that day, but she knew enough from Sandor to know that such behavior was not typical of him.
After the Cleganes and the Martells were seated on the dais, Lord Tywin was given a spot on it, as well. The lion lord called for wine, and after his goblet was filled, he stood up tall and straight. He raised his goblet and made his first announcement: "As you are undoubtedly aware, there are two branches of House Clegane. The branch in the North is considerably younger, but from the moment of its creation, it has been run by a lord. Whereas this branch is still led by a landed knight. Not long ago, House Clegane of Clegane's Keep had done nothing of worthy repute. But in time since the rebellion of our good King Robert, it has grown in power and influence. Its rate of growth is almost unprecedented, and one could debate it would merit some form of reward. The king and I have deliberated on this issue, and we have made a decision."
Lord Tywin kept holding his goblet in his right hand. With his left, he produced a scroll marked with the seal of House Lannister. He continued with "For everything the Westerlander branch of House Clegane has accomplished in the last five years – with especial emphasis on its achievements in the Ironborn rebellion – I decree that it has earned the right to be recognized as a noble house. Therefore, this very moment, effective immediately, I raise House Clegane of Clegane's Keep to lordly status."
Tywin Lannister gestured for the nearest servant to take the scroll and deliver it to Father. Between that moment and the moment when the scroll reached Father's hands, there was absolute silence. Once Father had the scroll, he gradually stood up, turned to face his liege lord, and proclaimed delightedly "I accept your declaration, my lord."
Lord Tywin then raised two toasts. The first was to Tarrence Clegane, lord of Clegane's Keep. The second was to the union between his heir, Sandor "The Hound" Clegane and Obara Martell, the future lord and lady of the keep. Ten thousands goblets were subsequently drained twice.
The first of the feast's three planned courses was served. It consisted mostly of Westerlander appetizers, but there were a number of Northern and Dornish hors d'oeuvres, as well. Smalljon Umber had evidently done his research.
While the first course ended, a troupe of mummers came out and did a dramatic reenactment of Greyjoy's Rebellion. All of the actors and actresses playing the soldiers of the royalist army were made to appear attractive and refined. On the other hand, most of the actors playing the Ironborn were made to look savage and unruly. But one of them – who was obviously meant to be Victarion – was handsome and civilized. By the end of the performance, he was the only actor playing an Ironborn left standing. Every other one was on the ground or on his knee.
The thespians earned a long wave of applause for their performance. Even Victarion was intrigued by the quality and attention to detail of the reenactment.
The mummers' entertainment was soon followed by the second and main course. This one had a much more diverse selection of food than the first course. Once again, Smalljon earned a pair amount of praise for his work.
Music began to play halfway during that course. By the end of the course, many couples where out on the space reserved for the dance floor. Among them were Father and Mother, Gregor and Dacey, and Sandor and Obara.
Ellyn would have been content to remain seated until the dancing ended. But someone else had other plans.
Near the start of the dancing, Tywin Lannister approached Ellyn and asked for a dance. Ellyn was taken aback, but she decided to oblige her liege lord. So she took his hand and allowed him to escort her off the dais to the ground below.
Unsurprisingly, Ellyn garnered a number of stares when she and the lion lord were together on the dance floor. This attention was unwanted, but Ellyn managed to ignore it.
To her astonishment, Lord Tywin was a rather fine dancer. She would have thought his movements would be as stiff as his mannerisms. But that was not so. He was very graceful. Ellyn was only thirteen, but given her family's size, she stood only six few inches shorter than Tywin Lannister. Their relative evenness in height made them function better as partners.
While they were on the dance floor, Ellyn watched Lord Tywin closely. She was now more certain than ever that he had something planned. Whatever it was, she was determined to at least have an inkling of it. In order for that to work, she would have to remain as observant as possible.
However, Lord Tywin did nothing menacing or out-of-the-ordinary. All he did was ask her some questions about herself, her family, and her interests. The questions appeared harmless, so Ellyn answered them as best she could. Although she tried to be totally honest, there were times when she had to bend the truth a little. She never flat-out lied to him, though. She was not that foolish.
Ellyn and Lord Tywin continued their dance until the music finally ended. After that, they and the other participants went back to their seats. Then the third course – the desserts – were brought out.
As she helped herself to a strawberry tart, Ellyn thought back on her encounter with Lord Tywin. By this point, she could all but confirm that Lord Tywin was up to something sinister. He may have been a proper gentlemen when he had his hands on her waist, but she knew a conniver when she saw one.
All the same, she could not guess what the Lord Paramount of the Westerlands was scheming. But she suspected it would not be pleasant.
The dessert course was shorter than the first two. Once it ended and the dishes were cleared away, Tywin rose again and told Father "The wedding and the feast have both been done, and quite well, my lord. But one matter must be attended to before your son's marriage is deemed legitimate in the eyes of the Gods and the law. Shall we commence the bedding?"
Of all the people who might have called for the bedding ceremony, Lord Tywin was far from the top of Ellyn's first guesses. He may have been a strict follower of procedure, but a bedding ceremony seemed too crass for his liking.
All the same, Father had to answer the lion lord's proposition. He gazed over at his son and his new daughter-by-law. The two of them looked to each other, and then they looked back at Father and gave a synchronized nod.
At that, Father looked around the area and declared "Yes, let the bedding begin!"
In response to that, no fewer than a hundred guests got up from their chairs and rushed towards the bride and groom.
The men quickly surrounded Obara, picked her up and carried her back to the keep. On the way, they began to strip her out of her dress. They avoided getting too firsky, as many of them were aware that she could kill them easily.
The women took a little longer with Sandor. He was quite a bit larger than his new wife, and the sight of his deformed face up-close was discouraging to some. However, a number of them found that his strong physique more than compensated for his scar. Once they managed to get him off his feet, they worked together to carry him to the keep, as well. They wasted no time in removing his clothes.
After Obara and Sandor were taken off to be bedded, the atmosphere gradually eased down. It was then that Tywin Lannister made his second announcement. This time, he did not lift his goblet.
Ellyn had no doubt that this was when Lord Tywin would make his true intentions known. But she said nothing; she simply watched the lion lord intently, as did everyone else there."
The Lord of Casterly Rock announced to Father "Now that your son has gone to bed his wife, the future of House Clegane has been guaranteed. I congratulate you on how far you have come, Lord Tarrence."
"You have my gratitude, my lord," Father proclaimed.
Tywin lightly nodded his head, and he went on with: "However, while your house has developed rather finely, there is one aspect it lacks that the other noble houses in the Westerlands do not. That aspect is a direct connection to its Great House. Every other chief Westerlord house has married into House Lannister at least once. Yours has not. In order to solidify your new position, this problem should be remedied as soon as possible."
"How so, my lord?" Father queried.
Tywin gradually leaned forward, placed his hands on the table in front of him, and he declared "I propose a marriage contract between your daughter Ellyn… and my son Tyrion."
For that entire evening, Ellyn had been paying attention to everything and everyone, and she herself had never been the center of attention. But after that last statement, that was not the case in any way. Now, every single eye was concentrated on her… and she paid no mind to anything that went on around her.