George R.R. Martin has published another spoiler chapter from The Winds of Winter, starring a long-missed character.
The chapter, released today on Martin’s website, is told from the perspective of Sansa Stark – who still bears the identity of Alayne Stone. Set at the Eyrie’s Gates of the Moon, where the Arryn household has retreated for the winter, Sansa navigates the delicate social and political strata of Petyr Baelish’s growing power base.
The chapter is presumably Sansa’s first appearance in The Winds of Winter, and sets in motion a situation guaranteed to bring the drama – a tourney in honor of little Lord Robert Arryn.
Related: George R.R. Martin hints he’s close to finishing The Winds of Winter
Major players in the sprawling chapter are Sansa’s friend Myranda Royce, the continually scheming Littlefinger, and – perhaps most importantly – Ser Harrold Hardyng. Harry, who has been established through a convoluted line of succession as Robert Arryn’s heir, is all but betrothed to Sansa – and is not at all happy at the prospect.
Because, you know, Sansa needed another challenge in her life.
But “Alayne” proves admirably equal to the challenge as the chapter culminates in a dance with Harry. Following Littlefinger’s instructions, Sansa teases, toys, and subtly confronts her would-be-betrothed until the lordly man-whore is all but eating out of her palm.
Even Sansa, always shy of her own skills at intrigue, admits that it is a masterful performance.
Since Sansa did not appear in A Dance With Dragons, this chapter also represents the first time readers have encountered her perspective since the release of A Feast for Crows in 2005. This absence all but guarantees that Sansa’s storyline from The Winds of Winter will be spoiled in the imminently premiering Game of Thrones season 5.
Related: A Game of Thrones fan’s dilemma: To watch, or not to watch?
This, we suspect, is the main reason why George R.R. Martin has released this chapter now. But ulterior motives aside, we literally could not be happier to reunite with Sansa Stark – and now we’re all the hungrier to see where The Winds of Winter takes her.
Game of Thrones season 5 premieres on Sunday, April 12 at 9:00 p.m. on HBO.
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