AFFC re read Sansa I
Sansa I
The chapter starts with Sansa reminiscing about a singer at Winterfell and how upset she was when he left. When Ned explains to her why he cant keep the singer there when he wants to leave, I tear up a bit at what a lovely Dad he was. This builds up a contrast between Ned and Littlefinger throughout this chapter as the themes of family, honesty and honour are explored. She thinks how then she was a little Girl and foolish and now she is a maiden flowered she prays for silence.
Marillion is being held in the sky cells and his voice is echoing all over the castle from the open wall of the sky cell. She reflects on how beautiful his voice is, even lovlier than before and wonders how the gods gave such a voice to such a wicked man and reminds herself how he tried to rape her and played to cover the sounds of her screams when her aunt threatened to push her out of the moon door. When she begs Petyr to make him stop, he says he cannot because he gave the man his word. Have I missed something? Do we know what the agreement with Marillion is? Later on we are told that some of his fingers have been removed and he has been blinded (although he is wearing gloves and a blindfold so maybe not?) and we never see him die on screen, maybe Petyr has told him he will be released if he lies for him over Lysa's death.
When Sansa says Robert keeps crying for his mother, LF replies "that cannot be helped the wench is dead." I think we can safely assume from that comment LF is not remorseful over killing her. Sansa is worried about Nestor Royce arriving to interview them and Marillion. LF assures her that he will believe them because their lies will profit him. She thinks how a lie kindly meant can be a kindness, the first of many of her thoughts on lies. When I read this I instantly thought of the Hound and his "a dog will die for you but never lie to you" speech. I think that subconciously Sansa is comparing the significant males in her life to LF. When she still questions whether Royce will believe them, Petyr replies that she best hope he does or they will both be leaving by the moon door. Classic grooming behaviour, trying to make the victim feel complicit in my opinion.
When Petyr tells her he will serve Nestor "lies and Arbour gold and he will drink them down" Sansa realises that he is "serving her lies" also and that it would be more comforting if she believed them. She questions him over what Lysa said before Petyr killed her and he dismisses them as mad ravings. Sansa things about how he loved her mother and he must love her because he saved her. Then she thinks of how it is Petyr who saved her and is "her protector, warm and funny and gentle", whilst Littlefinger was the man who never helped her in Kings landing and plots and schemes. She thinks of Littlefinger as the mask, but she cannot see where the man ends and the mask begins. Will this what Sansa/Alayne becomes? A comparison could also be drawn to where Sandor clegane ends and the hound begins.
In this chapter I think we see a more revealing picture of Petyr/Littlefinger. Whilst, imo he is a great character, Sansa has the right if it. Petyr could be brilliant. I love his humour, intelligence and the element of class warfare his character has. However LFs schemes and ammorality leave a bitter taste. Is it Petyr or Littlefinger that kisses Sansa?
When she thinks how she would like to flee Petyr and Littlefinger but that she has nowhere to go, her family all being dead or at war. If only some tall, dark (man riding a horse called) stranger would appear and whisk her away.
When Nestor Royce arrives she goes to get Robert ready, I feel sorry for Robert, but I hate that kid! Sansa has had to ask Luthor Brune to lock his bedroom door because at night he comes into her bed and nuzzles her breasts and wets the bed when he fits. They go to the high hall where they meet Nestor Royce and some knights of the vale. Despite her reservations she colludes with Littlefingers story until Robert has a fit.
When Robert has been taken away Nestor Royce and the knights discuss how they did not like Marillion and recounted some of the rude (and funny!) songs he had made up about them. My particular favourite being a song about pigs taking a falcons leaving and when challenged about it he says its just a song about pigs. When Marillion is bought up from the sky cell he also agrees with LFs story saying he had been overcome by madness when Lysa said she was with child by Petyr.
When Mord takes him back to the cells Sansa notices he has gold teeth. Did he have these when Tyrion was a prisoner there, or this what he used Tyrions gold for? In my head I picture Mord as having rapper style teeth like Flavor Flav. When he returns to the cells Nestor Royce comments that he won't live long since "the blue will call him".
Which is quite a beautiful way to describe forcing a prisoner to suicide.
Whilst Oswell Kettleblack takes the knights to the hall, LF takes Nestor Royce and Sansa to his solar where they discuss the lords declarant and their dissatisfaction with LFs position as lord protector. LF gifts Royce the gates of the moon with the document signed by LF as lord protector rather than Robert Arryn. Sansa quickly works out that this buys his support for LF, turning him against his cousin and the other lord declarants. He says that Lysa called him her rock, a la Princess Diana and Paul Burrell.
Later he says that Lysa called him a rock, not her rock and his son a clod.
When Nestor has gone they discuss the events of the day and Petyr says how Nestor accepted the Gates of the moon for his son, and that honourable men will do things for their children they would not do for themselves. Ned confessing to treason to save Sansa springs to mind. He then calls her his daughter. When she objects he silences her and says that even in private she must not say that in case a servant walks in and hears. But it's fine if a servant walks in and sees them kissing? ! To reinforce the point he says "does she want more blood on her hands", reminding her of Ser Dontos. Again making her feel complicit in his actions. When Petyr says he would say they are not playing a game, but of course they are "the game of thrones", Sansa thinks "I never asked to play, the game is too dangerous. One slip and I am dead."
Just when you think Sansa is going to get through a whole chapter without being molested, LF touches her left breast, asking can she be Alayne in her heart. Sansa wants to say she does not know, but knows that is not what he wants to hear so replies "I am Alayne father, who else would I be?"
When Sansa finally gets to bed Robert crawls in with her and asks if she is his mother now. She replies "I suppose so" and thinks that there is no harm in a lie kindly meant.
This chapter is so full of significant moments it would be impossible to list them all in a summery, so apologies if I have missed anything vital or anyone's favourite bits!