The Hound: A theory

[viZion]

Here are my thoughts concerning the future of Sandor Clegane. First, he's alive. Anyone who doubts should probably reread Brienne VI in AFFC. Failing that you can just take my word for it based on the following clues:

1) Brienne sees a large novice who is also lame in his leg. This would fit Sandor.

2) Dog (haha, get it??) goes over right over to that large novice. This is GRRM's way of saying, "Hey! This is The Hound".

3) Elder Brother says that Sandor died. Then Elder Brother goes on to describe how he (Elder Brother) died in a battle. Obviously, he didn't die since he's sitting right there talking to Brienne. It's a metaphorical thing that he's also applying to Sandor.

4) Septon Meribald mentions how great a healer Elder Brother is. He says he can do things that even the maesters can't do. Why would GRRM even mention it if he wasn't trying to tell us something? He's trying to tell us that Elder Brother managed to save Sandor despite the fact that he was nearly dead.

Ok, so The Hound is alive. I believe that once he's fully healed he'll join the Warrior's Sons. I would imagine that he might even end up leading them. He'll face whatever undead monstrosity that Qyburn has created out of his brother and that will be the glorious battle between the two that we've been waiting for. Obviously, some undead knight would be an enemy of the Faith. Probably their greatest enemy. Sandor will be the one to kill it. Then he'll die of his wounds taken in that battle.

 

[Boaz]

The Elder Brother told Brienne something like, "The man you seek is no more." He never specifically says Sandor is dead. He may have said the Hound is dead, but he evaded ever saying that Sandor Clegane is dead. Another proof is the horse, Stranger. If Sandor had died, how would the brother's have ever gotten that horse to their island? Sandor is the only one who can handle that beast.

What will happen to Sandor? I envision three possibilities... I know that's my cheater's way out.

1. Sandor stays and becomes the big, strong brother who occasionally provides muscle when the situation arises.

2. Sandor has some degree of a changed heart and resolves to right his wrongs. His atonement sends him in search of Sansa Stark.

3. Sandor goes to the Wall.

 

[viZion]

Heh, I like my theory better and my way will make for a more glorious ending for someone who is obviously one of the most interesting and dynamic characters in the book. He deserves his final showdown with his brother and I think he'll get it.

He's definitely not going after Sansa Stark. First, he won't need to since she's going to reveal herself on her own anyway. Second, well, I just don't see it happening, that's why.

The Wall? Definitely not. Why woud he join this brotherhood of holy men and then go to the Wall? The two don't mix and The Wall has its own thing going on. The Wall doesn't need him and GRRM doesn't need him there, either.

Your first theory is the closest to mine. They are going to need the muscle when the thing that Qyburn is released upon the world. The Hound's the man for that job like I said.

Btw, Elder Brother says, "The man you hunt is dead." He then goes on to say that he buried him personally. Anyway, Sandor Clegane is alive and destined for a great ending and probable death.

 

[pan naranus]

holy dog

Yes, Sendor will probably kill the unmountain.
No, don't you make him a knight, definitely not a believer.
Sendor is a bitter cynical man. He is not and never will be a quire boy. Making him one will be his unmaking as a character.

I do believe that man was sender. I look forward to see his inner straggles - how the hell dose the bitten and hated dog faces kindness?
His sneering remarks will get to the favorite quotations thread.

 

[Boaz]

If this stray dog is to ever find a true home and a true master, it will not be in his current situation.

Sandor, as much as he despises knights, was born and bred to serve and protect. The only time in his life that he was remotely happy was when he was Joffrey's sworn shield. He never said so, but I believe he took some measure of satisfaction in counseling and protecting Sansa. She was completely helpless and defenceless after Eddard's death.

I think he will need to find someone to guard. The brothers may appreciate his fighting prowess once or twice, but they are peaceful men and will not suffer his desire to get involved in the nastiness of the politics of Westeros. His lame leg will hamper his efforts, but fighting with sword and shield is more natural to him than using a staff.

We've been comparing and contrasting Sandor to Sansa, Brienne, and Gregor for a while now. But what about Barristan? Both served in the Kingsguard... both left. Neither has lands, wealth, or family... only their superb fighting prowess and a desire to protect. Barristan went in search of his true king, so why not Sandor?

Not many knights know better than Sandor the need for the strong to protect the weak. He was taken advantage of by Gregor. Sandor despised his own weakness. He grew up to be huge and powerful, yet he continued to despise weakness, eg. his murdering of Mycah, his mockery of the Stark children. Yet at the same time his own vow not to take knightly vows reminds us that he remembers that the weak need protection.

I don't think his change of heart will include becoming a recluse brother. I don't know that he'll ever forgive Gregor, but I do think he'll find remorse for his crimes. I think it leads him to become a knight in action, not in name, who will die protecting the weak. Like Jaime and Barristan, and unlike Jorah, I think Sandor will strive for atonement.

Who would take in this stray dog? Who strives to do good and needs a protector? Who does Sandor think needs his assistance? Who will not automatically shun him? Who could potentially see him for a man and not a dog?

Mayhaps I'm asking the wrong questions here, but to me the only answer to all of them is Sansa.

 

[viZion]

You're forgetting that Sandor doesn't need to be taken in by anyone since he's already been taken in the by the brothers on Quiet Isle. I don't think Sansa is going to have much need of him. It's a possibility, sure, but I don't think their paths will be crossing again. Certainly not as master and protector although it would be interesting that way, too.

As far as serving goes, he's doing that already, too. He's not going to be leading his own faction but he can still lead certain areas within the faction he already belongs to. The Warrior's Sons sounds like a good place. Even if that doesn't happen I just don't see how he'll not be called upon to defeat the new un-Gregor.

I do believe he's learning to bury his hatred of his brother but it's not really his brother he'll be fighting. However, un-Gregor is close enough to his brother that it will nicely wrap up Sandor's story arc of both killing his brother for good and finding his redemption by protecting everyone from un-Gregor.

 

[MIDNIGHT]

I agree that the hound will face off against his brother. He is the only one capable, but I also believe that Sansa will prove to be a large player in what Sandor does and why. He will probably die is her arms or something, although I would prefer "and they lived happily ever after" !!

 

[TK-421]

Sandor is one of the best characters in this series and I would hate to see such potential wasted and I have no doubt GRRM sees the value in this character as well.

I see Sandor do 2 things:

1) He is now a changed man and will instead put his fighting skills in the service of the Sparrows and the new High Septon. This will eventually lead him back to King's landing where he will kille his brother once and for all.

2) He will continue on his quest to help the Stark girls by saving Brienne (he could of followed her to Stoneheart) and by helping the only woman he truly loves: Sansa.

 

[Boaz]

I disagree that Sandor has found a home and a master in his current location. These brothers are more the ASPCA or the Humane Society. He's given food and shelter, but he's just basically waiting to die... he's devoid of real social contact. He's digging graves and being forced to stay mute. What fighting dogs like to be forced to dig holes and wear muzzles? Dogs dig from boredom and for escaping a pen.

Sandor called Sansa a little bird. To him she was a pretty little minature. He despised her innocence and frailty while wishing that he could regain his own innocence and child-like trusting nature. His own innocence ended when he stole Gregor's toy soldier. The toy soldier was a pretty little miniature... like Sansa.

He seems drawn to the pretty little miniature. He was Joffrey's sworn sword when Joff was very young. He dragged Arya around for half a year... okay, so Arry/Lumpyhead/Weasel might not have been pretty, but she was little.

Last year, in honor of the plethora of Hollwood couples nicknames over the last few years, such as TomKat, Benifer, BenJen, and Brangelina, I coined the Sandor - Sansa match as SanSan. Use it. Promote it. It'll come true.

 

[pan naranus]

Imagine

Imagine the metamorphosis of the hound, hero of the people, holy slayer of the beast. A man transformed, an idealist.

Imagine a new Sansa stark, wife of Harry the heir, disciple of lord Balish, a cold political mastermind.

Imagine a little lesson about the real world...

A beautiful symmetry don't you think?

 

[viZion]

I think Sandor actually enjoyed Arya's company and even came to respect her. I mean, she's certainly not shy about killing when necessary. There are probably a lot more subtle undertones within the relationship between Arya and Sandor but it's too late for me to think about them right now.

 

[Boaz]

He did find some kindred spirit in Arya. Both of them were filled with rage. Both of them have a sibling that they hate. Both have killed for survival, for convenience, and out of anger. I think Sandor was secretly delighted when Arya backed him in combat at the Twins and in the inn. He really was proud of her when she gave the gift of mercy to that boy.

 

[Charming Serpent]

Yeah, plus theor banter back and forth between the two was so funny and bitter that I reread that part where all they do is rip into each other over and over.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I think it will be a little of both your theories. I think that the Sandor/Sansa storyline will be continue at some point, as well as the epic battle between Sandor and Gregor. I think GRRM put to much into both of these storylines not to continue them and give them a solid conclusion in the next few books.

 

[scalem X]

He's dead to me. Maybe undead, but no more.
After al Martin won't dodge everyone's dead. Before we know Eddard and Tywin are alive again.

 

[viZion]

He's dead to me. Maybe undead, but no more.
After al Martin won't dodge everyone's dead. Before we know Eddard and Tywin are alive again.

This is akin to the theory that pretty much everyone in the book is a Targaryen *******.

 

[viZion]

He did find some kindred spirit in Arya. Both of them were filled with rage. Both of them have a sibling that they hate. Both have killed for survival, for convenience, and out of anger. I think Sandor was secretly delighted when Arya backed him in combat at the Twins and in the inn. He really was proud of her when she gave the gift of mercy to that boy.

I really like the scene where Arya gives mercy to that boy. Sandor has a teaching quality in that scene. Almost like a father teaching a daughter the correct way to do things. Kind of a twisted father-daughter scene but nonetheless I think the sentiment exists in that particular moment.

 

[Boaz]

The Hound is Arya's father figure? Interesting. Eddard the Wolf died only to be replaced by Sandor the Dog.

 

[TK-421]

Sandor sure has his moments, especially with the Stark girls.

Seriously, he is a character that as Shrek would say, is like an onion. He has many layers.

 

[DeannaBelle]

Hilarious. Yes, I did enjoy the Hound's affection for Arya, but I hadn't thought of him as a "father figure." So crazy I love it! So, with the Hound possibly be a priest-type and Arya becoing a Faceless Woman, what kind of reunion/partnership do you see coming?

(See? All we all really want - even in Westeros - is to love and be loved. Even the Hound.)