The Hound: A theory

[DeannaBelle]

Also, Arya makes a better son than Joffrey did.

 

[JDP]

MY £1,000,000 PREDICTION: Sandor (The Hound no longer) will return... as the High Septon's champion at the trial of Cersei and Maergery!!! Just when Cersei's managed to wangle the Un-Gregor as her champion instead of a member of the Kingsguard, Sandor will kill Un-Gregor, thus condemning Cersei, only to be killed by Maergery's champion (a disfigured Loras - yes, he was burned, but not that badly).

 

[DeannaBelle]

No, JDP, I'll bet you $1,980,000 instead.

 

[Young stormlord]

Have you noticed that Hound and Arya look a lot like Dunk and Egg.
Hound= Dunk.
1)Both are tall
2)both were in kings guard
3)there were not knights but were acting as true knight would
4)both roamed through seven kingdoms with someone of kings blood
Arya=Egg
1)both are small
2)both are weird though on a different way
3) both have king for a brother
4) both saved their protectors from death

 

[vervain_ashe]

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.

Gawd! I hope that's not what it'll be called!

 

[Fourth Hunter]

Boaz was being sarcastic, don't worry...well, he may have been being sarcastic...

 

[Aegon the Unworthy]

The Hound is an interesting character....he obviously has some good nature left in him, some sense of right that hasnt been damaged by his traumatic upbringing.

On the day Gregor burned his face, it changed his outlook to the point where his moral compass lost meaning. I suspect he was a great deal like Bran as a small child, with his now bitter views of knighthood and chivalry. He still strives to be a knight of some sort, if we discount his slaying of the butcher's boy Mycah he has definitely behaved in the most chivalric manner of all the knights we see....

Defended Loras from his brother on the tourney field
Consoled and councilled Sansa
Attempted to return Arya to her mother

There was always an air of anger, and selfishness in his actions but I suspect its a cover and coping mechanism that enables him to stand against the world. I think he would have tried to return Arya regardless of whether or not he got paid, but the money would enable him to survive and that is one thing Sandor is good at...surviving.

Clearly he was delighted when Arya fought beside him, I dare say very few others have ever stood with Sandor like that and that changed their dynamic greatly. Of course he lacks the ability to properly process basic human emotion and would probably lash out shortly thereafter but thats his upbringing not his character.

His growth and story cycle seem more genuine than Jaime's. Jaime had no horror stories that mitigate pitching Bran off a ledge, but the Hound at least has a reason for his anger. Whereas Jaime calculates his sins before he does them, Sandor reacts in a haze of red violence which makes his sins less onerous. Even his callous dismembering of Mycah can be rationalized in part by a zealous overprotectiveness of Joffrey.

No real point, just kinda chatting about the Hound.

 

[viZion]

Nice thoughts, Aegon. In a way, I think he views his brutal slaying of Mycah and other innocents as exactly the way a knight would act which is another reason he despises knights. They act noble but many are also brutal cold-blooded killers. Anyway, you said it better than I can.

 

[Slyde]

I've seen several people state that they think Sandor will do battle with his 'undead' brother.

From what I remember, I thought that Gregor's head (or skull) was being sent to Dorne.

Being headless, it seems he would not be a likely candidate to become 'undead'.

Am I wrong ?

 

[Tysha]

So many interesting thoughts!
The Hound found a refuge in religious place and so did Arya. I just hope that it's a temporary shelter for both of them. With all the respect for Faceless Men, I don't really want to see Arya loosing herself and her identity to become a religious killer. And the same about the Hound.

 

[dredd i knight]

i'm with lady on this 1.
i can see sandor getting a battle royal with his brother, but i can also see him helping/rescuing/protecting sansa.
i mean if petyr comes out into the open and challenges cersei (or whoever ends up in charge at kings landing), then qyburn brings his monster out, there could very well be a situation where sansa needs protection from his brother; she will after all be one of petyr's major pieces in the forthcoming books. this would bring her into direct conflict with cersei and she never liked sansa at all... then hey who's here to save her and get the digs at his bro that he soooo wanted? return of the hound!

 

[viZion]

I've seen several people state that they think Sandor will do battle with his 'undead' brother.

From what I remember, I thought that Gregor's head (or skull) was being sent to Dorne.

Being headless, it seems he would not be a likely candidate to become 'undead'.

Am I wrong ?

The conversation between Cersei and Qyburn in AFFC about Gregor's head went something like this:

Cersei: So, did you send off the skull to Dorne?
Qyburn: Oh yeah, *totally* sent GREGOR'S skull to Dorne. Of course. Yes, I did! Those are *definitely* GREGOR'S bones! *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

The exact wording in the book may differ.

 

[Boaz]

Very droll, viz.

 

[Hilarious Joke]

LOL, viz.

 

[juleska]

The conversation between Cersei and Qyburn in AFFC about Gregor's head went something like this:

Cersei: So, did you send off the skull to Dorne?
Qyburn: Oh yeah, *totally* sent GREGOR'S skull to Dorne. Of course. Yes, I did! Those are *definitely* GREGOR'S bones! *wink*wink*nudge*nudge*

The exact wording in the book may differ.

LMAO! *That's* right....NOW I remember.

 

[Tansy]

You have to die to be born again which would fit with Sandor joining the church army, but I don't think his piety will last.

I'd like to think he has some part to play in Sansa's story, at some point she has to realise that Littlefinger is just out for himself and out maneuver him, possible even be his downfall, but for now he is the one person keeping her safe. Maybe with Sandor at her back she will have the courage to do this

 

[Syphon of Oor-Tael]

I agree here, Tansy. I am actually expecting Sandor to kill Littlefinger at the behest of Sansa once she figures it out.

 

[Slovian]

I was thinking that it looks like Hound might become Warrior's Son to fight against reanimated Gregore in trial against Cersei. It would be very epic twist but also as I think an easy-to-guess now on. Reading book most of us probably was expecting this two to clash. And now as it looks impossible (both are known as dead), they will "rise from grave" for this final fight. It might be that GRRM will go that way, it might be not. I personally would like it as long as Sendor stays Sendor - not warrior of faith. What I don't like in theory of Hound becoming "Holy Warrior" is that he had shown great consciousness seeing throught all falsehood of chivalry and knightship. Because faith of seven is based on christianity and probably Warrior Sons are based more-less on organizations like Teutonic Order, it would be a shame if Hound would stay blind to falsehood of brotherhood like Warrior Sons. For me they look like just another "contender for power", drawing in as savior of masses but in reality an organization oppressive and brutal to any opposition (like all others of course).

As for Sendor relations with Sansa or Arya - I wouldn't overrate them. They are living in completely different worlds on completely different level. This relation was important previously to build up Hound character, to show his twisted nature. Hound has nothing to do with Littlefinger, and he won't do any heroic action just to do heroic action - he must at least be able to find benefit in it for his own consciousness (as was with Arya).

 

[Slovian]

I agree here, Tansy. I am actually expecting Sandor to kill Littlefinger at the behest of Sansa once she figures it out.

And I don't expect any downfall of Littlefinger. For me he is made of win. Of course he won't get Iron Throne, but I believe he will become powerfull Lord. And for Sansa, as I stated before - there will be moment to make a decision once she realize how large was Littlefinger role in downfall of her family. And I'm really unsure what decision it will be - she can just keep playing with Littlefinger to get north for herself.

 

[viZion]

As for Sendor relations with Sansa or Arya - I wouldn't overrate them. They are living in completely different worlds on completely different level. This relation was important previously to build up Hound character, to show his twisted nature. Hound has nothing to do with Littlefinger, and he won't do any heroic action just to do heroic action - he must at least be able to find benefit in it for his own consciousness (as was with Arya).

Exactly! I couldn't have said it better myself (and I didn't). I've always thought it unlikely that Sandor becomes some kind of guardian angel for Sansa or Arya just because he's had some positive interactions with them in the past. It just doesn't make any sense. He was a bit of a father figure to each of the girls and his role was to help expose them (and us, the readers) to the harsh realities of life in this world. That role does not extend to running off to help them out of their predicaments.

What I don't like in theory of Hound becoming "Holy Warrior" is that he had shown great consciousness seeing throught all falsehood of chivalry and knightship.

Also an excellent point. It does seem like the monks on Quiet Isle aren't particularly connected with the faith of the Seven so that's probably why Sandor is obviously willing to accept their hospitality and work for them. I guess it is a bit of stretch to theorize that he'll become a Warrior's Son since they are so far removed from the monks he's staying with now.

I still think he'll eventually leave Quiet Isle and face off with his brother. He'll just not do it for anyone but himself. Perhaps he hear a rumor of Ser Robert Strong, figure out that it's his brother and then set out to kill him.

Welcome, Slovian. You've made some excellent points and you really seem to have a great understanding of who the Hound is, what makes him the way he is, why he does what he does, etc. I appreciate your analysis.