Sandor is named Joffrey's Kingsguard towards the end of "A Game of Thrones", but always refuses to become a Knight. Clegane is often assigned to guard Sansa, and becomes quite protective of her, calling her "little bird." He tries to protect her from Joffrey's abuse in "A Clash of Kings", and advising her to do whatever Joffrey tells her as the best method of survival. He saves Sansa's life when Joffreys entourage is set upon by his own impoverished citizens, in the streets of King's Landing. Sandor becomes disillusioned during the Battle of the Blackwater and abandons his duty as Joffrey's guard due to the widespread use of wildfire (a fictional incendiary substance inspired by Greek fire). He offers to help Sansa flee King's Landing, and is agitated when she refuses. He threatens her but then calms down after she sings him a song about mercy, before fleeing the capital on his own.