"Say it again and I dare you!"
Arya shouted in fury. The men all laughed at the little girl with the tiny clenched fists screaming at them as they jested about how their new gypsy queen had killed the king.
"The fuck are you girl, anyway? You one of the gypsys friends?"
One of the men said, he stunk of sweat and ale. The other three all laughed harder, this time with more malice as they stepped closer. Arya was alone, she'd been walking near the barracks after climbing the exterior wall of the Grey Keep when she'd over heard the men talking. They obviously didn't know who she was, she wasn't surpised. Everyone expected Arya Stark to dress like a lady, act like a lady, smell like a lady yet she was wearing a dress mostly covered in mud from her escapades around the castle and her hair and face were a mess. She no doubt looked like any other street urchin but at the moment all Arya wanted was to make these idiots shut their mouths.
"Actually I am and you all are fucking cowards! You wouldn't talk so tough in front of Dae, she's the queen now. And when Jon comes bac-"
"King ain't coming back you little bitch, that whore gypsy saw to that. And if you think we're scared of that cunt-"
"Only cunt I see here is you."
His voice struck fear in the depths of their hearts, the growling savagery of a man who cared little for the lives of others. They called him The Hound or Dog, his name was Sandor Clegane. He was a massive man, brother of The Mountain Ser Gregor Clegane and was one of the finest killers in The North as well as Arya's sworn shield. The Hound towered over all three men, looming over them like some dark giant ready to tear them limb from limb.
"M-meanin no offense Hound, we's jus-"
"You were just calling Arya Stark a little bitch, and the queen a whore... and a cunt... I say you lot are the only cunts here... now what are you going to do about it... cunt."
Sandor growled, almost daring them to speak up. Their eyes went wide with terror, first at the concept of The Hound tearing into them then at the realization of what they'd been saying about the king to the kings sister.
"We-"
The Hounds balled up mailed fist silenced him as he hit the ground from the brutal back hand. The man spit up teeth in a bloody pool in the dirt.
"What was that you were saying?... cunt."
Arya hated Sandor when she first met him. He was crude, brutish and a miserable shit but there were times, times like this she did rather enjoy his company.
"I-"
The man stammered out before getting kicked in the gut so hard Arya though The Hound broke a rib as his friends all stood on and watched in horror, too afraid to intervene.
"Sorry, didn't catch that. Try speaking into my good ear... cunt."
Sandor said cruelly as he stood over the man who groaned in pain. Arya stepped froward and The Hound stepped back.
"You're lucky I don't let The Hound kill you all right now. Take your stupid friend and get out of here, now."
They scrambled to collect their friend and vanish as quickly as possible.
"I didn't need your help."
Arya said as she folded her arms over her small chest while the massive Hound stood behind.
"I know wolf girl, but dogs enjoy chasing rats."
Arya chuckled and headed back to the keep with Sandor in tow. He didn't leave her side till she reached her brothers room where Dae was no doubt still holed up in. She told Sandor to wait in the hall before she went inside.
"Dae?..."