#yohn royce

[alemoncakelife]

If Sansa Stark has no supporters then Yohn Royce is dead. If Sansa Stark has no one to hate other houses with then Yohn Royce is dead. If Sansa Stark has no one to go to go into battle with then Yohn Royce is dead. If Sansa Stark-

#they are thee underrated duo #they were haters together and I loved it #sansa stark #Yohn Royce #besties #game of thrones #opinion

[dailysansastark]

Sansa Month day 20: Potential Friends/ Allies

#sansa stark #sansastarkedit #alys karstark #brienne of tarth #yohn royce #jon snow #wynafryd manderly #wylla manderly #ours: edits #asoiaf #asoiafedit #valyrianscrolls #valyriansource #sansasource #thenorthedit #thenorthsource #sansamonth2023 #day 20: potential friends/allies

[lives4lovesworld]

It's always assume that at the very least Sansa will i) out smart Petyr Bealish, ii) regain autonomy and her identity, that iii) in some way or form Petyr's tale will become true such as Sansa securing herself a marriage with Harrold Hardyng and her having such a strong influence on him that he will a) wage war for her 'birthright' or b) aid the North by providing goods, food and manpower. With the Vale enthusiastically doing his every bidding, simply because she is his wife and she asked him nicely/is so courteous and eloquent/he is so inlove with her/its profitable for the Vale.

In this meta I will list (and explain) the problems I have with these speculations that seem to be rooted in wishfullfilment rather than the probability of certain plots being likely to become canon, or if they are even feasible or realistic.

i) How Sansa is suppose to outsmart and overthrow Petyr Bealish, AND remain in power afterwards?

Petyr Bealish is the man that managed to crawl his way up to the ruling elite of Westeros, despite his incredibly (relatively speaking) low birth, lack of power, wealth, family or image (he does NOT fit the feudalistic standards of a man his positions). And yet, he remained in power through several civil wars that brought houses, dynasties and monarchs to fall. Petyr is the man with circa two decades of experiences and had no qualms of sacrificing countless souls, including his self-proclaimed "true love" and lives by this philosophy:

Always keep your foes confused. If they are never certain who you are or what you want, they cannot know what you are like to do next. Sometimes the best way to baffle them is to make moves that have no purpose, or even seem to work against you. - Sansa V, ASoS

Yet the one to supposedly bring him down is the thirteen year old girl that needed to witness her own father's decapitation for her rosa colored glasses to fall off. And this after she was present to her idol and her "love" ordering her direwolf's murder to mend their wounded pride! This is the same girl that is so quick to build her entire hopes and dreams upon strangers (that shows her a little bit of kindness and fit her conforming prejudices like Margaery and her circle did) and got carried away in her own dreamworld that she could not even follow conversations and plots, even in ASoS:

Sansa wrinkled her brow. "Our true purpose, my lady?" [...] "To see you safely wed, child," the old woman said, as Butterbumps bellowed out the old, old song, "to my grandson." [...] Wed to Ser Loras, oh . . . Sansa's breath caught in her throat. She remembered Ser Loras in his sparkling sapphire armor, tossing her a rose. Ser Loras in white silk, so pure, innocent, beautiful. The dimples at the corner of his mouth when he smiled. The sweetness of his laugh, the warmth of his hand. She could only imagine what it would be like to pull up his tunic and caress the smooth skin underneath, to stand on her toes and kiss him, to run her fingers through those thick brown curls and drown in his deep brown eyes. A flush crept up her neck. [...] "Would you like that, Sansa?" asked Margaery. "I've never had a sister, only brothers. Oh, please say yes, please say that you will consent to marry my brother."

The words came tumbling out of her. "Yes. I will. I would like that more than anything. To wed Ser Loras, to love him . . ."

"Loras?" Lady Olenna sounded annoyed. "Don't be foolish, child. Kingsguard never wed. Didn't they teach you anything in Winterfell? We were speaking of my grandson Willas. He is a bit old for you, to be sure, but a dear boy for all that. Not the least bit oafish, and heir to Highgarden besides."

Sansa felt dizzy; one instant her head was full of dreams of Loras, and the next they had all been snatched away. Willas? Willas? "I," she said stupidly. - Sansa I, ASoS

Some (very in favor for her) could argue there is some desperate small wiggle room here and there for insisting that Sansa has evolved (for the better). (While nonsensically insisting she at the same time is almost stupidly naive and "idealistic", but also these traits are not obstacles to her potentially rise to an autonomous player. No they make her all the better for it.) But even if she had a stellar development; How exactly is she with no true authority suppose to best a man like Petyr Bealish?

After ASoS, Sansa has become a disgraced orphaned female beggar, married to the enemy "Imp Kingslayer", and has become utterly dependent on Petyr Bealish as his natural born daughter, depriving all her limited autonomy and authority from him as Lord Consort.

Petyr Bealish has also managed to gain Sansa's compliance and ensure her loyalty and secrecy to him by filling her head with his wonderful tale of him as her benefactor that is going to gift her all her dreams, while reminding her of her status as wanted by the crown and making her a complice in the murder of her aunt and a participant in his scheme to poison SweetRobin Arryn.

Not to mention that Sansa has yet to express her wish to detach herself from Petyr (in her POV) in the first place, but as of TWoW's releases, Sansa seems pretty content with all the privilege (x, x, x) she has as his daughter. Nor does she not seem to have a problem in being his pawn:

The Merling King's returned to Gulltown, and old Oswell had some tales to tell."

She knew better than to ask what sort of tales. If Petyr had wanted her to know, he would have told her. - Alayne II, AFfC

And as said, even if she would want to due to her involvement in Petyr's schemes as well as her being wanted for kingslaying, she would risked death herself.

But let's assume for the sake of the argument that she does; what sansa would truly need are people to genuinely protect, stand by, believe and defend her in the Vale, and as of now there is no such one, especially after the death of her aunt.

And no, Lord Yohn Royce's question if he had already meet Alyane is NOT the same as actually recognizing Alayne as an older Sansa AND publicly voucing for her on behalf of her identity, despite her stans insisting otherwise. Yohn Royce (like all vale lords) did NOT fought for Robb Stark (Winterfell's heir with an northern army at this back and strong ties to Riverrun), which really does not bode well for the possibility of him fighting for her. And this knows even Sansa:

He will know me. How could he not? She considered throwing herself at his feet to beg for his protection. He never fought for Robb, why should he fight for me? The war is finished and Winterfell is fallen. - Alayne I, AFfC

At best (which would entail the Vale remains oblivious to her involvement in those schemes and have the lords of the Vale not sell her to the crown for the bounty) she would remain a "guest" to her cousin, and likely be married off to the next best suitor that befits her unfortunate status (as Lady Lannister)

ii) A believable explanation (any really) has yet to cross me as to HOW Sansa would (or even could) reclaim her identity without taking for granted that everything will work out in favor for her. 1) which would entail the majority of highborn lords in the Vale unquestionably believing Sansa that she, who was introduced to them as a bastard (which are seen by society as greedy and treacherous) of the Petyr Bealish (known for his schemes) is indeed Sansa Lannister, simply because she makes a teary proclaimation with her pretty Tully blue eyes. And 2) that the lack of a direwolf serving as proof will not be an obstacle 3) nor the lack of a relative voucing for her.

Infact her closest, most influential relative's death Lady Lysa's, which occurred while Sansa was supposedly already under her care as her lord husband's natural daughter will also not in any way, shape or form make them wary of her tale. Nor appear like an identity theft and poor attempt to grasp power for their own gain in the eyes of others.

Secondly, Sansa's very identity (the disowned female orphan to an overthrown House, married to the "Imp Kingslayer") does not allow her to be an autonomous player so many want her to be. Robb Stark and House Lannister saw to that. Nor would an identity reveal, even believed by everbody, give her more opportunities than the (relatively speaking) limited ones she already has as the current bastard daughter of Petyr.

iii) Petyr's tale (and why I believe it is just that and not a plan that will actually become canon);

When Robert dies, Harry the Heir becomes Lord Harrold, Defender of the Vale and Lord of the Eyrie. Jon Arryn's bannermen will never love me, nor our silly, shaking Robert, but they will love their Young Falcon . . . and when they come together for his wedding, and you come out with your long auburn hair, clad in a maiden's cloak of white and grey with a direwolf emblazoned on the back . . . why, every knight in the Vale will pledge his sword to win you back your birthright. So those are your gifts from me, my sweet Sansa . . . Harry, the Eyrie, and Winterfell. - Alayne II, AFfC

So Petyr Bealish has managed to match a marriage pact by buying all of Waynwood's debts, providing Lady Anya with an enormous dowery and because at this point Harrold Hardyng remains nothing but the son of the perished sister to Jon Arryn and a landed knight sworn to the Waynwoods. His relatively low status at the moment would allow such a "low" match with the bastard daughter of the disliked temporarily Lord Consort of the Vale. However, if SweetRobin truly dies and Harrold indeed becomes the Lord, all the reasons why "Alayne Stone" is unfit for Robert Arryn will apply for Harrold as well:

You are the Lord of the Eyrie and Defender of the Vale, and you must wed a highborn lady and father a son to sit in the High Hall of House Arryn after you are gone." Robert wiped his nose. "But I want —" She put a finger to his lips. "I know what you want, but it cannot be. I am no fit wife for you. I am bastard born." [...] Some call my father upjumped and ambitious. If you were to take me to wife, they would say that he made you do it, that it was no will of yours. The Lords Declarant might take arms against him once again, and he and I should both be put to death." [...] "You must have a proper wife, a trueborn maid of noble birth." - Alayne I, TWoW

Now Petyr Bealish's further step is to reveal Sansa's true identity on their supposed wedding, which would not solve the problem of the bride being unfit for a groom of such a caliber and it holds in and of itself many obstacles that prevent the very plan to unfold.

To start with; (as already said) should Harrold indeed become Lord Paramount he will be showed with marriage proposals by the ambitious feudal Houses of the Vale (as they were already courting widowed Lysa in AGoT) and its rather unlikely that they would grant that position to a "foreign" beggar (which Sansa would be either way, whenever she goes by her real name or by "Alayne Stone".) instead of trying to make one of their own daughters the next High Lady.

Secondly, the marriage pact entails "Alayne Stone", not Sansa Lannister. Petyr's plan to reveal Sansa's identity while she is walking down the aisle risks invalidating that very pact. And while the fandom refuse to acknowledge it, "Alayne" being revealed as Sansa would neither lessen the insult of the lie and betrayal by "Sansa Lannister" being more "attractive" as a political match. And no such a scheme would not simply brushed under the rug.

Yes, Sansa would be high born, but Harrold would get nothing politically speaking from their marriage given the position Sansa is in (as Lady Lannister). Neither will her previous marriage, especially to the House that the Vale believes has murdered their previous Paramount Lord make her more attractive. Whenever Tyrion might be believed dead or Sansa assures her virginity ten times, it more than likely that she would be seen as "sullied leavings" in the eyes of others.

Lysa Arryn likely only allowed a marriage between Sansa and her precious son, because she was her sister's daughter, and despite her flaws, their complicated relationship and her unstable mental state saw Sansa as family. And while Lysa mention Sansa's claim, (which will likely cease to exist as soon as Robb's Will becomes public knowledge) she also saw Sansa for what she was and reminded her of her position as well.

Petyr HIMSELF has pointed out how Sansa would bring nothing to any marriage (excluding her body):

"Joffrey is betrothed to Sansa Stark," Cersei objected.          "Marriage contracts can be broken. What advantage is there in wedding the king to the daughter of a dead traitor?"                 Littlefinger spoke up. "You might point out to His Grace that the Tyrells are much wealthier than the Starks, and that Margaery is said to be lovely . . . and beddable besides." [...]

Littlefinger agreed. "The Stark girl brings Joffrey nothing but her body, sweet as that may be. Margaery Tyrell brings fifty thousand swords and all the strength of Highgarden." - Tyrion VIII, ACoK   

And while Petyr has also mentioned Sansa's claim, it should mean little to nothing to Harrold considering that i) House Bolton has been installed as Warden of the North, ii) House Stark lays broken and it would have to re-establish itself as sovereign to the North. A bloody, tedious and costly task with little to no profit as the North is even under its best circumstances poor and hard to cultivate. As soon as iii) "Arya" is revealed as Jeyne Poole, it will even further slim the credibility of her identity reveal. iv) Her claim will be even further catapulted down in the line of succession with Rickon, Arya, Bran's impending reappearances. Not to mention that v) Jon will more than likely involve himself in the matter of succession as well and vi) Robb's Will will disinherited Sansa and make Jon his heir. (x)

And while most has yet to unfold on page, it would extremely OOC for Petyr Bealish (and the story!) to believe everything will work out in Sansa's favor and that Harrold will marry her out of his own volition, (which is indeed a condition in the marriage pact).

Much and more is made of his and Sansa's little playful banter at the tournament, yet what we know of Harrold's character, it's likely that he will pose the biggest threat to Petyr's little "plan".

Harrold is known for his high opinion of himself, his classism and that he has no qualms of fathering bastards on girls, he is infatuated for a brief time and then abandoning them as soon as he stops viewing them as sexually attractive. Petyr has also already stated that Harrold thinks Alayne is beneath him:

This betrothal was never [Harrold's] idea, and Bronze Yohn has no doubt warned him against my wiles. You are my daughter. He does not trust you, and he believes that you're beneath him." - Alayne I, TWoW

And it's not entirely unreasonable to think that Harrold would be insulted at the idea of marrying a girl whose virginity is questionable and who doesn't bring him any ties or wealth as Sansa Lannister. And the fact that she plans to use him and his position for her political gain will likely not make Harrold more sympathetic towards her.

The part hardest to dismantled because no matter from what angle you look upon it, it shouldn't be feasible to become canon;

. . . why, every knight in the Vale will pledge his sword to win you back your birthright. - Alayne II, AFfC

So Petyr supposedly plans to use Sansa's marriage to Harrold to mobilize the army of the Vale to reclaim Winterfell in the name of House Stark.

As already said (a dozen times) Sansa (as the orphan married beggar of an overthrown House) should NOT be able to secure the Lord of the Vale as her Lord husband in the first place. Realistically speaking, Sansa should only be able to match such a marriage if she and her family would still hold the same position as of the start of the series, but as we all know, this is NOT the case anymore. House Stark is neither the secure, ancient sovereign of the stable peaceful north nor is Sansa the indisputable maiden daughter of said family. Sansa should NOT be an attractive potential bride in the eyes of the Vale without House Stark retaking the North and it becoming politically attractive enough again for other kingdoms to be of interest and them voucing for her identity.

–> Thus Petyr's entire plan falls apart, before it can even truly begin.

But let's push this all aside for the sake of the argument: Even the concept of the entire Vale doing Sansa's bidding simply because she would be their Lord's newlyweded wife is absurd as well. Her aunt had been their Lady for seventeen years and they still did NOT view her as one of them nor as a authority figure;

Young Lord Hunter said, "Lysa Tully was never truly of the Vale, nor had she the right to dispose us." - Alayne I, AFfC

Also; Why would a girl's birth claim to an entire different region that is uttelry in shambles due to the political uproar after her family's fall from grace matter to Harrold or any Valeman?

If Sansa were to marry Harrold under normal circumstances (if House Stark was still in power and Sansa would have never been married off) what would be expected of her is to rule by his side (if Harrold is progressive enough to allow it) give him children and her place would be in the Eyrie or at the Gates of the Moon. As it would befit (and deem more than sufficient for) any high born daughter that has married into another Great House of Westeros.

Never once in the history of ASoIaF was there ever a High Lord that wage war against another kingdom because his wife wanted her father's seat as well. Nor was there a High Lady that held her father's lands AND was simountanastly the High Lady to an entire different kingdom as well. This would not even be feasible.

The question as to HOW a vale army, (a southern army!) would even reach the instabil (due to the already happening civil wars, the mass exodus of the Free Folk, the famine) war torn North given the lack of a fleet or the renewed impregnability of the Neck in the middle of winter also remains a big question mark.

However, let's brush this essential question aside as well; The assumption of the vale army conquering the North is absurd as well. GRRM has already empathized how a southern army is not fit for the North's harsh climate in ADwD with Stannis Baratheon's suicidal march, contrasting it with the marching mountain clans. Nor is Harrold (a "green" boy commander) likely to win against the seasoned ruthless Roose Bolton, which the lords of the Vale would surely know too. Another reason why the vale army would NOT simply do its new young untested Lord's bidding, if he were to call for war. Harrold will likely need a few years to prove and establish himself before the valemen will willingly follow him into battle, especially into a economically nonsensical war whose favors are against them from the beginning.

And while yes, someone could argue the vale army would be better rested and organized (than Stannis's measly beaten ragtag of an army) and therefore have better chances, even in the best case scenario the vale army would likely lose most of their men in the battles against House Bolton and its banners for a gigantic region that brings them nothing; no wealth, no man power, no minerals, no goods, no trade.

All these points listed above, together with GRRM's comment on how Petyr would never give up Sansa, Petyr's wish to marry her himself (when she was Sansa Stark) and the fact that it would be incredibly stupid of him to ever allow Sansa to detach herself from him (as it would put him at risk due to her knowing so many of his crimes) further marks Petyr's tale in Alayne II, AFfC as a tale to ensure Sansa's compliance and nothing more IMO. Not to mention, which author would tell his audience the plot of a character word-for-word in dialog beforehand?

Now, some believe that instead of waging war Sansa will influence Harrold to aid the North by providing goods, food and manpower, which (fair enough) is only an ounce more feasible than the alternative. Yet, it is still something NOT supported by the books;

For this to happen, Sansa would first need to grasp the gravity of the famine that is plaguing Westeros, and care enough about the (common) people's wellfare.

Which she does not given the fact that she cannot fathom why the commoners love Margaery and as of her last chapter has her organizing a feast with 64 dishes in the middle of winter, amongst these dishes even a 6 feet tall lemon cake that required every lemon in the Vale with her being very proud of herself. Nor does she have any reaction whatsoever to Petyr's plan to cutting the food supply and hoarding food as war tactic, which would hit the common folk the hardest. Not to mention that Sansa's POV never showed her really thinking about... really anything happening in the North (especially its people), neither prior nor post House Stark's fall.

So beside all that, it would also requires the Vale to suddenly become altruistic and humanitarian, given that all possible supplies send by them would essentially all be gifts since foreseeable payment is unlikely given the north's state.

Some even have the idea of Sansa somehow achieving it all in another way on her own (because they hate the idea of Sansa marrying Harrold) (which is even less likely than Petyr turning into her Santa Claus) and exaggerated the potential influence her skills have even more. But has @brideoffires already perfectly explained in her post Sansa has NOT evolved in terms of learning new skills (unlike Arya) and more importantly none of the political plot in the Vale is moved forward through her own knowledge or scheming.

It's all propelled forward and catalyzed by her relationship with Petyr Baelish. [...] As in King’s Landing, Sansa is /being/ moved by the machinations of other people and being induced or compelled to act in certain ways because of the politics around her. - excerpt from @brideoffires linked post

Her particular skillset can only be of use and influential if the priori are Sansa already having strong ties to political thriving male relatives or/and a husband. Otherwise her skillset are not of use as GRRM has already shown throughout the whole series; Sansa can be as charming, courteous and polite as she wants to be, it does not give her agency, protection, support or power.

There is so much unrealistic, unreasonable, OOC nonsense, no one would even dare to suggest if it would be any other character, already taken for granted because it's Sansa. Sansa is always the expection. As always, everything will work out in Sansa's favor.

So why is it that even the ones critical of Sansa believe it all becomes canon anyway, one way or another? The most popular arguments I have seen are the proclaimnation that Petyr Bealish is Sansa's personal antagonist and therefore their "arc" simply MUST conclude with her triumphant. There is no other way.

The other is that SOMEONE has to get the Vale involved in the affairs of the realm, SOMEONE has to mobilize the resourceful Vale for the War of the Dawn and to aid the North's etc... And Sansa is the POV character located in the Vale so logic says GRRM MUST plan for her to be this SOMEONE to accomplish these tasks.

An entirely different reason is the fandom's climate; Basically Arya, Bran and Jon fans seem to concede Sansa these gigantic convoluted unrealistic plots (= a triumphant vale arc) in hopes that her fanbase will do the bare minimum of NOT butchering the story's integrity and the ones of their favs by not stealing their individual importance, relationships, ties, skills and arcs in the North to give Sansa a place in the northern plots (which her fans insist on having).

In conclusion; these reasonings are infuriating and incredibly offensive to the story's integrity and Sansa as a character. And more importantly, this fandom should stop offering to concede and tolerate it all simply because her fanbase is just that incredibly wild.

#asoiaf #asoiaf meta #✨vent time✨ #anti sansa stans #anti stansas #sansa stark #sansa lannister #Littlefinger #petyr baelish #yohn royce #harrold hardyng #robert arryn #sweetrobin #lysa arryn #robb stark mentioned #jon snow mentioned #arya stark mentioned #brandon stark mentioned #rickon stark mentioned #jeyne pool mentioned #anya waynwood mentioned #tyrion Lannister mentioned

[alaynasansa]

#asoiaf #sansa stark #alayne stone #brynden tully #shadrich the mad mouse #yohn royce #brienne of tarth #myranda royce #vale plot #asoiaf speculation #asoiaf polls #another poll upsy #sansa will go back to winterfell #and she needs allies #but who

[dyannawynnedayne]

Terros Next Top DILF: Round 1

Greatjon: art by John Matson, AWOIAF Page

Yohn: art by Chris Dien, AWOIAF Page

BRACKET LINK

#terros next top dilf #round one #jon umber #yohn royce

[goodqueenaly]

I don't know if this question has been asled before, but once LF is brought to justice will Bronze Yohn Royce take the 14-yo Sansa on as his ward as well as Sweetrobin? After Sansa's marriage is annulled, do you think Lord Royce will arrange her marriage to a suitable Vale nobleman? Can a guardian arrange marriages for his wards? If so, who could be the prospective bridegrooms? Maybe Sansa might consider Lord Royce advice as this would tie the Vale to her & helping her return home. In any case, if this were to happen do you think the Lord Declarants have a say too? Will Sansa be allowed to have a say too? Thank you ❤️

Generally speaking, it seems at least possible for the foster parent of a ward to decide on a ward's marriage. After all, despite Harry Hardyng being an adult now, it is Anya Waynwood who negotiates with Littlefinger over Harry's marriage, since Harry is her ward.

However, I don't believe that Yohn Royce will take on Sansa as a ward. (Robert Arryn, I think, is so definitively and speedily doomed that for me it's not even worth considering him as Yohn's ward.) For one, I don't see any reason why Sansa's marriage to Harry Hardyng, as planned by Littlefinger, is not going to go through: Sansa (in her "Alayne Stone" guise) has certainly proved capable of Littlefinger's directive to "[c]harm him [i.e. Harry]. Entrance him. Bewitch him", while Littlefinger's own predictions about the reaction of the chivalry of the Vale to his geopolitical ambitions with Sansa appear reasonable to me. Nor do I see this marriage as being put aside or annulled between the point of it happening (presumably in the Vale) and Sansa's return to Winterfell, with this Vale army behind her; indeed, I think her status as "Lady Hardyng/Lady Arryn" will play into the factional Stark succession quarrel as she and her siblings reunite, fulfilling her own mother's debate with Robb about his successor. On top of all of this, moreover, I think it is Winterfell, not the Vale, where Littlefinger is brought to justice by Sansa (with the support of her fellow Starks): Winterfell is where Sansa feels strong and at home - no less so than when she will have her brothers and sister with her again, the Starks as a united pack once more - and it is in reuniting at Winterfell that I think Sansa will meet her old friend Jeyne Poole - successfully returned with Arya, and with lots to tell Sansa about Littlefinger's crimes against both her and the Starks. (And all of this is without point out that Sansa is almost an adult by Westerosi standards, long past the age when fostering would usually start.)

Which is not to say that Bronze Yohn won't be important and an ally to Sansa - and, probably, the rest of the Starks - once Littlefinger is brought down. If Sansa replays her mother's role in condemning Littlefinger by calling on the loyalty of the vassals of Winterfell and the Eyrie, then I could well believe she will look to Bronze Yohn as Jon Arryn's loyal bannerman to drive home the point that Littlefinger himself conspired to murder the late Lord Arryn. Both physically formidable and apparently upstanding - certainly offended by the breach of conduct of his (ostensible) aristocratic ally Lyn Corbray and aware of the grievous social crime of the Red Wedding - Yohn Royce is exactly the sort of person who could be a useful leader in the apocalyptic war just about to begin. Moreover, with two sons having sacrificed themselves in noble causes - Waymar acting as a man of the Night's Watch in dueling with the Other, and Robar agreeing to hold off the other members of Renly's Rainbow Guard to allow Brienne and Catelyn to escape after being convinced that Brienne was innocent of Renly's murder - Yohn Royce has a narrative history of family honor that could well make him prepared to not only believe in the coming of the Others but ready to fight them for the sake of humanity.

(I have no strong feelings about how Sansa's marriage to Harry goes or what her ultimate marital fate is. However, I would like to think that Sansa has much more to do in the story to come than decide whom to marry - or have it decided for her.)

#asoiaf meta #yohn royce #sansa stark #speculation

[jonsnowwesterosworld]

Though his hair was grey and his face lined, Lord Yohn still looked as though he could break most younger men like twigs in those huge gnarled hands.

#yohn royce #asoiaf edit #asoiaf edit series

[aoiaf]

Yohn Royce by Chris Dien

#official art #fantasy flight games #yohn royce #chris dien

[thebluelemontree]

In your opinion, what kind of Lord of the Eyrie and Warden of the East would Harrold Hardyng be?

As a high lord, Harry would probably be as good as the counsel he receives and the influence he is under. I don't think he would care all that much about the how and why behind the governance of the region, so as long as he was its star. On one hand, he's very much what the conservative Vale lords are attracted to. He's not only a handsome young knight in his prime but he is also said to look like Jon Arryn in his youth. By contrast, Robert Arryn looks nothing like his father, is small and sickly, and has a huge image problem with his infantile tendencies. Harry is considered an ideal specimen for the traditional culture and continuing the Arryn line into the future. At least for appearance's sake. Even with his flaws, I can see him maintaining a high degree of popularity with his vassals. On the other hand, one of the things we see other characters note about him is that he's easily swayed, willful when it comes to the next shiny new thing, and will gladly accept honors he didn't earn. When Littlefinger tipped his hand at the Lord's Declarant meeting that he was interested in Harry coming to live at the Eyrie, Yohn Royce saw Littlefinger's intent to gain influence over the heir to the Vale. Royce promptly returned to Runestone and held a tourney for squires to earn their knighthood. Myranda Royce tells Alayne that Harry was meant to win, so he did. It was rigged. The thing is, Harry's tourney skills are said to be unimpressive and quite lacking, making it unlikely he could have earned the knighthood himself regardless. Yohn ensuring he got to knight Harry himself was supposed to strengthen their bond, so when he warned Harry to resist any moves Littlefinger might make toward him that sage advice would hopefully stick.

This says a lot about the kind of person Harry is. If he is totally unaware by the age of 18/19 that people are battling for influence over him as the heir, then he is an idiot. If he is aware but is content to be flattered and swayed by whoever is offering him something desirable, then he is alarmingly immature, self-centered, and thoughtless of the consequences of freely handing out the keys to power. If he is aware that the tourney was rigged for him and he did not actually earn the title ser, but accepted it anyway as if he deserved it, that's a lack of integrity someone like Littlefinger can easily exploit. Despite that effort on Yohn's part, once the invitations for the TotWK went out, Harry insisted on going because all his peers were going to be there and he didn't want to be left out. Yohn was said to have no choice but to let him go or else "a rift would come between them." It implies there was a tense and frustrating exchange about this issue, with Yohn spelling out to Harry that this is a ploy designed to lure Harry in (it totally is) and that it is strongly ill-advised to attend. But Harry throws all caution to the wind because "I don't care that the party is being held in a pit of vipers. All the cool kids are going, and you're not my real dad." :/ Good lord, does he make this easy for Littlefinger or what? So much for that knighting the little punk. Oh, yeah, and there will be a ton of bastards littering the countryside that will need to be provided for. Harry isn't very discreet. That's not anything too out of the ordinary for some lords, but I could see a few scandals that would need damage control if the paramour was of noble birth. Politics is personal. Even though most noblewomen are raised to expect and forgive infidelity, this still might cause a ton of marital discord or even bad blood between the Lady of the Eyrie and the baby mama's house. He does seem to love and care for his bastard children, so fatherhood and family life at home might be a point that grounds him a bit more if we're being charitable. The impression we're given strongly suggests he will continue to chase tail around. So in order to be a decent leader, I think Harry needs a team around him that knows how to manage his weaknesses and how to put his star image to good PR use. To be fair, he's still very young, and maybe with time, maturity, and good influence he could grow to be better than what we're seeing right now. He needs a Jon Arryn to wrangle his Robert Baratheon, albeit even Jon Arryn's capabilities were limited. Unfortunately, the person who is successfully jockeying for influence is Littlefinger, who we know just wants to use Harry until he outlives his usefulness; however, I don't think Harry is long for this world anyway.

#harrold hardyng #harry the heir #littlefinger #petyr baelish #yohn royce #asoiaf characterization #asoiaf speculation

[asoiafreadthru]

A Game of Thrones, Jon III

“The talk is, your uncle is too long away.”

Jon remembered the wish he’d wished in his anger, the vision of Benjen Stark dead in the snow, and he looked away quickly. The dwarf had a way of sensing things, and Jon did not want him to see the guilt in his eyes.

“He said he’d be back by my name day,” he admitted. His name day had come and gone, unremarked, a fortnight past.

“They were looking for Ser Waymar Royce, his father is bannerman to Lord Arryn.

“Uncle Benjen said they might search as far as the Shadow Tower. That’s all the way up in the mountains.”

“I hear that a good many rangers have vanished of late,” Lannister said.

“Perhaps the grumkins are hungry this year.”

#a game of thrones #jon iii #asoiaf #a song of ice and fire #jon snow #benjen stark #tyrion lannister #night's watch #beyond the wall #rangers #ranging #house stark #name day #uncle #nephew #waymar royce #house royce #yohn royce #house arryn #bannermen #shadow tower #mountains #northern mountains #frostfangs #grumkins #death #guilt #vanished #wights #the others

[atopvisenyashill]

“you have your year. best use it wisely. not all of us are fooled.”

BRONZE YOHN GONNA HELP SAVE SANSA AND FOLLOW HER AND BRIENNE NORTH CONFIRMED!!!

#bronze yohn royce #sansa stark #valyrianscrolls

[warsofasoiaf]

Going off the recent Davos Seaworth question and which councillors he might have a decent relationship with, do you think Garlan Tyrell (and his wife, Leonette) would form a positive opinion of Davos, in light of his public praise for Tyrion Lannister throughout A Storm of Swords? Likewise, Wyman Manderly and Robett Glover seemed well-disposed towards Davos in Dance?

Additionally, do you think there is any chance Bronze Yohn Royce could have formed a good working relationship with Davos, under different circumstances?

The big thing is that for a lot of people, the idea of the class structure is baked into them from an early age. In our own history in the Middle Ages, the class structure was not only seen as right and proper, but divinely ordained. This isn't to say that everyone is bound by it, as we see numerous examples both in our own history and in Westeros, but the question is, what does Garlan think about the class structure. There's a sort of pragmatic bent to Garlan in the way he trains to fight, but does that translate over to class structure. Tyrion might face a lot of social stigma due to his physical formation, but he is still an aristocrat of the noble order, a true blue-blood. So while Garlan is far more decent to Tyrion, we cannot assume that it carries across the class structure. That's not saying that it won't, Garlan may be open-minded and practical enough to value the honest council and perspective that Davos can bring, but it might not.

Wyman was rather decent to Davos, but let's also remember, Davos can get something that Wyman *wants* in exchange. It's good business for Robett and Wyman to treat with Davos with decency, so he can go to Skagos and get Rickon, and hopefully work with Stannis to secure vengeance against the Boltons and Freys that murdered his son. So that is a huge contextualization of Wyman's actions. If the Frey escorts didn't believe that the criminal head above the gates of White Harbor was Davos, Wyman was fully prepared to murder Davos right then and there.

Bronze Yohn would probably be a big upholder of the class structure, the Vale strikes me as socially conservative. Maybe in the right circumstances Bronze Yohn might treat Davos well, but I think his negative dealings with Littlefinger (who is still a meager noble) might color him well against it.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

#davos seaworth #wyman manderly #bronze yohn royce #garlan tyrell

[themockingpoint]

👀

306AC- 4 Months into the Reign of Jacaerys I Targaryen

Jon looked into the small council chamber and sighed. So this was the price of kin slaying? Every time Jon closed his eyes, he could see Dany’s face on the dark side of his eyelids. The nightmares were worse than ever. Bran should have been King like Tyrion wanted. But after Arya had Grey Worm translate Daenerys’ speech to the lords and ladies of the lands unanimously, minus Yara Greyjoy, to pardon Jon. Since Jon was the only person alive who had any practice in being a King- a king of just two kingdoms and Sansa did most of the hard work- but here he was. King of the Seven Kingdoms. If only Lady Catelyn could see him now...

Jon sighed, and pushed his guilt aside. Daenerys wasn’t the one who destroyed King’s Landing. He did not know who that was in her body, but he knew that they had to be stopped. After all the good she had done for her to do something like that… It was a twist no one could have seen coming. He knew his father, not the man who slept with half a child and got thousands killed for his own ego, his true father Eddard Stark would have done what was right.

Once again he sighed to himself, maybe this was the perfect punishment. To sit on the throne the woman he loved should have been sitting on when she was not able to. Just as he was about to start spiraling into another depressive state the new Hand of the King walked in.

“Good Morning, Your Grace.” He said, looking happier than Jon had ever seen. Although to be fair he barely knew the man.

“Good Morning, Lord Royce.” Bronze Yohn Royce was a recommendation from Sansa. She was his first pick but when Sansa pointed out, rightfully so, that it would not sit well with a lot of the people around the kingdom for Jon to have his female twenty year old cousin as Hand of the King. She almost immediately recommended Lord Royce, as he was one of her closest allies in the Vale and their father never had a bad thing to say about him. He was not regretting his choice so far. “You seem to be in a good mood today.”

“I am! My daughter Ysilla just gave birth. A little girl named Lydiana Redford. Apparently she looks just like her mother.” He said beaming. The man’s joy was infectious.

“Congratulations My Lord. Your first grandchild?” Jon said, allowing himself to smile. Not as wide as Bronze Yohn, not even as wide as he might have before his resurrection but a smile nonetheless. When the man nodded Jon continued, “If you would like I give you my leave to travel to the Vale after this meeting.”

“Your Grace!” He said, surprised. “I am honored, and I thank you, however I do not think it is the best idea so soon.”

“Nonsense.” Jon said, waving him off. “It is alright. We can last a few moons without you.”

“But your own reign has barely made it past a few moons.” Royce said.

“He’s right.” His new Master of Coin waddled in. If being King was Jon’s nightmare and a fitting punishment than the horror of having to fix the 13.8 million that the crown owed to various fractions would be the same to Tyrion Lannister. “You don’t even have a full Small Council yet. Already starting to send them away would look very bad.”

“We have a full Small Council.” Jon argued, technically not lying.

“Even counting Lord Manderly…” Tyrion began.

“Lord Waters will be taking over as soon as his wife recovers from the… He’ll be here to replace Lord Wyman soon enough.” Jon argued. The northern lord agreed to take the role of Master of Ships as a favor for Jon until a full-time replacement could be found. After everything that happened between the War of the Five Kings, War for the Dawn, and War of the Mad Queens the old man just wanted to go home so he could train his granddaughter how to run White Harbor.

“Even counting Lord Manderly… You still have all of the Master of Laws, Grand Maester and both Lord Commander positions to fill. Not to mention all of the smaller positions that keep the kingdom running that most people don’t think about.” Tyrion stressed. “You are going to be alone soon enough. I’ve heard from Lord Davos that Storm’s End is almost ready for Lord Gendry to go too and the Princess Lannister is set to go back to Winterfell within a Fortnight.”

“I told you that joke was not funny and not to repeat it.” Sansa snapped as she rolled Bran, the new Master of Whisperers into the room. One of the only benefits of the Tower of the Hand being destroyed by Drogon was that Bran could arrive with no issue and no need for anyone to carry him. Jon could not lie and say he was disappointed at the fact that he would not be able to work in the same place his father worked before his death.

“Good morning, Your Grace.” Lord Manderly said as he followed his sibling-cousins into the room nodding at Jon before giving Tyrion the stink eye. “Although it may not be since I believe kin slaying would put a damper on things. Even if the kin in question was no longer Princess Sansa’s kin. Not technically.”

“OK, OK.” Tyrion said, holding up his hands in surrender. “I can see with this group being so close to the Starks that that joke is not going to get me nowhere. Speaking of this group being very close to the Starks…”

“Where is Maester Samwell and Lord Baratheon?” Jon said, cutting him off. He knew where that line of thought was going, and he wanted none of it. Tyrion was too smart to make that joke in this room for him to not use it as an opening.

“Gendry was responding to some mail.” Sansa said. “He was able to track a few of Robert’s other bastards who survived Joffrey’s purge and he has been in contact. God knows that Robert had enough- it would have been hard enough to get to them all. Even with an army.”

“His lessons are going well then?” Jon asked. Gendry was by no means lacking intelligence, but he was unlearned in many subjects such as reading. Sam had been aiding him in his education that he would need to utilize as a lord paramount. “Also, I hope he isn’t expecting me to just legitimize any and every one of Robert’s bastards, we have enough problems including a potential secession crisis in Dorne. We do not need one in the Stormlands as well.”

“I do not know if he plans to do so.” Sansa said, shrugging. She held an air of nonchalance, but he could tell she was hiding something. Even if he hadn’t been able to recognize the look on his sister-cousin’s face, he recognized it from Catelyn Tully’s face. He had to deal with it every time he was in the same room as her and his father.

“Alright. I know Gendry and I trust Gendry. Without his skill in forging the Dragon Glass weapons we may not be here right now.” Jon said, “But I would need to meet the other children. Please do not allow me to forget to bring this up to him.”

“Yes, Your Grace.” Lord Royce said, nodding.

“Before we begin and I forget, Lord Royce would you mind writing to your cousin and requesting Lady Myranda for one of my ladies in waiting. My time with her in the Vale we became very close.” Sansa said, not so subtly kicking Tyrion under the table. They exchanged looks and Jon had to stop himself from rolling his eyes from how two of the best players of the "game of thrones" could be so obvious in what they wanted to convey.

“Y—Yes My lady. I shall do it after this meeting.” Bronze Yohn was saying just as Sam burst through the door. The chain's rattling reminded Jon of Maester Luwin and Jon’s Uncle Aemon, whom Jon wanted to take his new official name from but just could not. He’d not sully his name after kin slaying and oath breaking.

“We’re here!” Sam said, slightly yelling out of breath as he jogged into the council chamber. “We… are… here….”

“Thank you, Maester. Now we can finally begin.” Bronze Yohn said, passive aggressively. “We have a few important topics to speak about.”

“The first should be a matter of Kingsguard.” Sansa said, so quick Bronze Yohn might as well have been still speaking. As the Hand started to look through his papers she added, “That should be the number one priority. It is amazing that we have let this go for so long.”

“Out of all the things we should have to deal with that really should not be a priority.” Jon said. “Half of King's Landing is destroyed, the Riverlands is decimated and Dorne is on the brink of civil war and that is just the beginning.”

“Are you telling me that the man who was stabbed to death by his own men doesn’t see the importance in having protection?” Sansa sneered trying not to roll her eyes.

“She does have a point, Your Grace.” Bronze Yohn said clicking his tongue. “Not to mention that a proper Kingsguard will add legitimacy to your rule. Although to be honest at this point there are not many names I can think of that both have the skill and the desire to join such a brotherhood.”

“Yes, you cannot just have Podrick being your only source of protection. No offense Pod!” Tyrion said quickly tacking on the last part.

“None taken My Lord.” The recently knighted man said.

“I was speaking with Maester Glesson.” Sam began, talking about one of the many maesters who flooded the capital when everything was said and done. There were almost as many Maesters in King’s Landing as there were in Oldtown at the moment. “When Sandor Clegane fought his brother many of the current kingsguard were cut down. However we do have two Kingsguard who survived their injuries. Another was escorting the other nobles from the palace and was injured in the falling rubble.”

“Are any of them willing to rejoin.” Jon asked. It seemed like he was getting a Kingsguard whether he liked it or not. It might as well be people he approved of.

“Ser Balon Swann.” Tyrion said, showing that he knew more than he was letting on once again. He noted both Lord Royce and Sansa noticed the same thing.

“Yes.” Sam replied. “He got hit in the arm but is expected to make a recovery within the fortnight. He said he does not wish to be presumptuous, but he is willing to come back so long as he isn’t asked to be Lord Commander.”

“Well that is a little presumptuous.” Tyrion said, “But highly astute. I would have recommended him. He was the only person who refused to speak against me at my trial.”

“He did seem different from the other White Cloaks from my time here.” Sansa said, and Jon’s face darkened at her words. He knew the extent of what happened with Ramsey, and to an extent what happened with Cersei and Joffrey, but it was only after moving to King's Landing did she tell him the full story of the Kingsguard. “He… I don’t think he’s a bad idea.”

“What about the other two?”

“Andrey Serry. Good brother to the man you just appointed Lord Paramount of the Reach.” Samwell said, “And Roland Waters, bastard from House Rosby.”

“Any of them can stay on as Kingsguard or they take the Black.” Jon said. Tyrion convinced him that taking the Black should still be an option. The Night's Watch may not have their original purpose anymore but it would prevent bloodshed to give criminals (and political opponents) an option other than death. “That still leaves a few spots open to fill and no one we can trust yet.

“Your Grace?” Gendry started rather timidly for him. He still hadn’t become accustomed to being part of a group whose decisions affected the realm as a whole despite being legitimized months ago. “When I was little, when King Robert needed to find a member he usually held a tourney.”

“There’s no way we can even think about holding a tourney now!” Jon said, trying not to sound indignant.

“Maybe not at the moment.” Lord Manderly said, “But the idea is not without its merit. While winter is dying down it isn’t completely done. So having one of them right now is out of the question. Maybe in a year’s time?”

“You expect for the city to be redone in a year?” Jon asked, looking out the room's window.

“No but we do not have to host it here.” Sansa said, in a tone that let Jon know she was leading somewhere. “We can have it at Dragonstone.”

“Dragonstone?”

“You forget Brother, you are the last Targaryen. Dragonstone is yours by right.” Sansa said, nodding. “Dragonstone is big enough and it most certainly has done so in the past.”

“In addition, we don’t have to offer such a…. steep reward.” Tyrion said. “Robert was always very generous with his offerings. With us in as much debt as we are it does not seem wise to offer that much.”

Bronze Yohn scoffed, “They will do it for the honor of being a member of the Kingsguard.”

“That seems fair.” Jon said. “I also want archers as part of the guard. We learned from our time at the Night’s Watch that just being good at swordplay is hindering in the long run.”

“That doesn’t solve our problem today.” Sansa said. “We can’t just let you go around without protection.”

“Send out the word. We are looking for knights. They don’t have to swear in the same oaths, but they’ll be needed for the next year.” Jon said, gaining various disapproving looks in return.

“You’ll be attracting many Hedge Knights, Your Grace.” Yohn said, “Not exactly the best at the moment.”

“It is fine.” Jon said, remembering the days before he went to join the Watch. He thought himself a conquering hero and determined to show that his birth did not affect his worth. Maybe he will get a few noble knights in this first group. “Duncan the Tall was also a hedge knight yet one of the greatest knights in the history of the Seven Kingdoms. So long as they’re willing to rise to the occasion.”

“Your Grace, I would also recommend another name.” Tyrion said. “There is a boy, well not a boy but a knight, Edric Storm. He is the son of King Robert?”

“And you think he is a good idea?” Gendry asked incredulously. Jon wasn’t sure whether it was due to him not thinking it to be a good idea or because he did not want to lose another family member. “With our fathers’ history?”

“He is the son of two nobles one of which was the king whom he is almost a spitting image of.” Tyrion countered. “There are many that say Storm’s End and even the Iron Throne, what’s left of it anyway, should belong to him. This gets a political obstacle out of the way for both King Jacaerys and Lord Gendry. With a prestigious position to boot.”

“Your Grace…” Gendry began before being cut off by Tyrion.

“The King has already said he doesn’t plan on legitimizing any of your siblings.” Tyrion said, causing Gendry to give an indignant huff before Jon clarified.

“I don’t plan on legitimizing all of your siblings. We do not need a succession crisis in the Stormlands as well. But yes I do not plan on legitimizing any of your siblings currently. It will only cause problems."

"However," Sansa began. "There were 18 great houses wiped out in the last few years. A few more in the male line but that is 18 keeps that need people in charge of them. We can start a cadet branch with some of them if necessary."

“Now onto the next subject, we have too much to talk about.”

All of his advisors looked around at everyone else to bring something up. “That’s it? Why did we bother even having a meeting!”

“They didn’t want to put too much on the docket due to the Dornish ambassador coming” Bran said, in his new normal deadpanned tone. “But they expected you to fight having guardsmen much harder.”

When the rest of the council had somewhat guilty looks on their faces, he knew that Bran told the truth. He didn’t want to say it, but he did appreciate the fact that Bran was much more straightforward than he used to be. It was better than most others he dealt with in King’s Landing. Even Sansa had begun to sew and weave her words when they were around other people instead of being blunt like they were in private.

Jon sighed, “When does Lord Dayne get here?”

“Lord Dayne?” Sansa asked in a tight voice. Jon looked at his sister curiously to see that she was blushing like when they were children. Jon knew that they met during the Battle of the Dawn but he was surprised that the Dornish Knight would have left such an impression on Sansa.

“In two hours,” Bran said, causing their sister to let out an almost inaudible squeak. “Maybe two and a half. This will allow us to help catch him up on things this evening”

“Good, this realm has seen enough war. If Lord Dayne can help us peacefully then we need to work with him however possible. If no one else has anything…” Jon began almost breaking the meeting before he heard two fake coughs. He looked at the open door and realized that the sell sword that was always following Tyrion around was the one coughing.

“Ah, yes. Speaking of all of those holdings that need new lords...” Tyrion began and for the first time since Jon knew him, the Lannister looked bashful. “Highgarden…”

“Yes, we found the closest Tyrell relative, Lord Theodore. They should be taking over any day.” Bronze Yohn said, eyeing the mercenary distainfully.

“Bullocks.” Tyrion said as Bronn glared at him. “There is a… personal matter I would like to speak to you about, Your Grace.”

“The Dwarf promised me a castle. Highgarden, actually.” Bronn said, curtly.

“Well I’m not going to give it to someone else while they still have heirs.” Jon snapped, although he did appreciate the bluntness.

“Well I am still owed a castle.” Bronn said, although he did have the grace to glare at Tyrion instead of Jon.

“In due time friend.” Tyrion said, holding up his hand.

“I’m sick of you Lannister’s jerking me off!” Bronn snapped.

“If I may…” Lord Manderly started, “Princess Sansa you have been looking for someone to take over the Dreadfort?”

“Yes, between the War of the Five Kings and Dawn we have had six great families wiped out in the North alone. The Bolton’s of the Dreadfort, the Umber’s of Last Hearth, the Mormont’s of Bear Island, the Fisher’s of Stoney Shore, the Hornwood’s of Hornwood and the Flint’s of the Fingers, all these bannerman and their keeps need these positions to be filled. The houses that did survive are in no position to help and start cadet branches. I can used someone I can depend on.” Sansa said, with a wry grin she added. "Any of them that tickles your fancy you can have."

“You’d be a fool to trust me.” Bronn scoffed.

“I never said someone I trust. Someone I can depend on to get the job done however, is exactly what I need.” Sansa said, calmly “You seemed to be kept on Lord Tyrion’s retainer pretty well.”

“And you expect me to freeze my bullocks off in that frozen wasteland you call home?” Bronn said, incredulously

“Beggars cannot be choosers my friend.” Tyrion said, “You have been offered six different keeps and you are turning them down.”

“I was promised Highgarden!” He snapped.

“Well I can’t give it to you! I do not know what else…” Tyrion started

“There is another choice.” Bran said, in the mystical cryptic tone he normally used. “Give him Casterly Rock.”

Tyrion choked on air. “My family seat?”

“It’s not as if you will be using it while you are working on the Small Council.” Bran said, “And it is not as if you have any family to run it in your stead.”

“Brandon!” Sansa snapped.

“What?” Bran deadpanned and Jon was horrified to see that his younger brother-cousin did not realize what he said was wrong. “He knew what would happen as soon as he fired that bolt.”

“Much of the conflict that has happened over the past two decades have been due to the schemes of House Lannister. Both Tywin and Cersei. Mayhaps it is best we let the name die out. Both the Frey and Bolton names have been wiped out. I see it fitting that the same happens to the last name that helped break guests right at the Red Wedding shares their fate.” Lord Manderly shrugged, but no one forgot that he too lost a son due to the betrayals of those houses.

“Just so we’re clear, you’d be raising me to Paramount of the Westerlands?” Bronn asked, eyebrow cocked with an amused smirk.

“I doubt it.” Bronze Yohn scoffed. “You? You are a sell sword. You don’t even have a family name.”

“You bet your bottom and tit I do!” Bronn said, causing Yohn to scowl at the man. “House… House Blackwater! House Blackwater of Casterly Rock.”

“Lord Tyrion?” Jon asked, and he could see that his friend’s face had darkened. This was his birthright. Something that had been denied to him by his father for a long time. It was something that he could empathize with.

Tyrion sighed before saying, “My family has brought nothing but rot to the seven kingdoms this last decade.” He pinched his nose before continuing. “However, the Westerlands, my family’s own bannermen, will never follow you. Unless…”

“Unless what.” Bronn snapped.

“My cousin Joy.” Tyrion said. “The bastard daughter of my Uncle Gerion. My only family left. Still unmarried. About the same age as your youngest sister, Your Grace. If we can arrange a betrothal between her and Ser Bronn.”

“Probably a legitimization as well.” Sansa added, “Although not completely necessary.”

“And you will probably need to fill one of the empty Council spots with a Westerlenian.” Tyrion said, “I recommend Ser Addam Marbrand, my brother trusted him. He would make a good Master at Laws.”

“You are alright with this My Lord?” Jon said, “Tis your birthright.”

“Well it is like Prince Brandon and Wyman said, Your Grace. My family wrecked this country. Joy and I are the last of the Lannisters. As long as he agrees to the betrothal then maybe… if our name could fade out peacefully…”

Jon sighed with a headache. It was not even midday and he already had a headache. “Very well, Ser Bronn of House… Blackwater” Jon said pausing at the ridiculous house name. The man was going to be Lord Paramount of the Westerlands, and he was naming himself after something in the Crownlands. Whatever... “I name you Lord of Casterly Rock. However, I am not naming you Lord Paramount. We shall have another Westerlands house take that role. It will be decided at a later date. Warden of the West, that shall go to the Lord Tyrell of the Reach, With Warden of the South going to whoever holds the Dornish seat.”

“Good enough for me.” Bronn said with a side smirk. He left the council room whistling the tune to the Dornishman’s wife.

“Please tell me that was not a mistake.” Jon said, looking at Tyrion.

“He knows those mines are mostly dry. Can’t be a worse choice than my sister.” The Master of Coin said, shrugging. “At least the heirs of the Casterly Rock will have Lannister blood in their veins. Speaking of heirs…” he finished leading.

“Meeting adjourned.” Jon said, trying not to grind his teeth. “I shall see you all on the docks in two hours.”

“Gendry!” Sansa said, in a predetermined signal. The former blacksmith stood in front of the door, his bulk completely blocking the door for Jon to leave. “We need to speak of this Jon! It has been over four moons! Honestly I am surprised that there haven’t been more lords already throwing their daughters at you!”

“Sansa…”

“The Princess is correct, Your Grace.” Lord Royce said. “You must have an heir to stabilize your reign.”

There was a pregnant pause before Jon turned to her sister-cousin. “Who do you recommend?” At her faux confused look he added, “Don’t start, you always look at your feet before you lie. I know you have a list.”

“While my unmarried daughters are too young, one of my cousins, Myranda, is unattached, Your Grace.” Lord Royce said, “She is only a few years older than you.”

Myranda… Myranda… where did he hear that name before Myranda. My.. Randa, Randa… “Is she the one that…” Jon asked trailing off looking at Sansa to check on her story from the Vale. Her solemn expression breaking into a grimace told it all.

“He was… very old, Your Grace.” Yohn said, regretfully.

“If I may, Your Grace?” Lord Manderly added, “I have two granddaughters.”

“Wylla and Wynafryd If I am not mistaken?” Jon said. Honestly, he would take the first woman offered to him. Dany was barely dead and in the ground. He did not feel like courting, nor did he care who he ended up with.

“Yes, although currently I am training Wynafryd to be my heir.” Wyman said happy with himself to show that he was training and making a woman his heir as if Dorne and the Mormont’s had not been doing the same for centuries.

“I do not think that is a good idea, Your Grace.” Tyrion said, holding up his hand to the other two men at the perceived insult. “You are already connected to House Stark through your Cousins, who in turn are connected to the Vale and Riverlands through their mother’s kin. We need to think in terms of strengthening your ties to other regions.”

“I would not cut out all Northerners, Lord Tyrion.” Sansa said. “There is still Lady Meera Reed. Our family owes her quite a debt. Making her queen seems just enough to repay that debt.”

The entire council looked at her. She was speaking quite strangely and not at all how she usually speaks. “In fact, I do not think there is anyone else out there who is worthy of her. Only a king is good enough for our banner…”

“Enough!” Bran snapped, more emotion in his voice than Jon had heard in nearly a decade. It seems the Three-eyed Raven could still get jealous. “We decided no citizens of the Northerners, Vale or Riverlanders. Move along.”

The eyebrows of the council shot up in surprise but a look from Jon prevented anyone from saying something. Sansa met his eyes though- she had been more and more worried about her little brother and came to Jon frequently about it. Jon could not even be annoyed that she used the Small Council meeting for her little experiment seeing how it worked.

“Who else is on that list Sansa?” Jon asked, trying to change the subject so that Bran would stop fuming.

“Well if we are keeping in mind that we need to do this for an Alliance then not as many. Because we also want to pair you with someone we can trust, not someone who will slit your throat as soon as get a child on them. May the gods forbid another Cersei Lannister on as the Queen.”

“Here, here!” Tyrion said, holding up his goblet as if his actions were not the ones that directly led to her sitting on the throne.

“So really there are only three names that we should consider.” Sansa said, “Someone from Dorne or the Reach. Dorne is likely to still be angry about the actions of your parents so maybe a Dornish wife may relive tensions with that region. Jynessa Blackmont and Allyria Dayne from Dorne. Lady Jynessa is going to be with the Dornish ambassador’s party and Lady Allyria is…”

“Not an opinion.” Bran said, causing Sansa to look at him strangly.

“Lady Jynessa was in the Dornish Party when Prince Oberyn came for Joffery’s wedding. She seemed kind enough when I met her, but we should be wary.” Sansa said, rolling with Bran’s statements. He does not speak very often anymore so when he does they all make sure to listen. “Now for the Reach really the only choice is Desmera Redwyne.”

“I uh also Your Grace.” Sam stuttered, “My sister Talla is also of marriageable age.”

Jon looked at his best friend in anguish. It was clear he truly did not want to offer her name but was doing so because he felt honor bound to do so. Honestly, Jon could not blame him. The last two women he loved were brutally stabbed in the heart.

“You are already on the Council, Sam.” Jon said. “It would not be a good idea to marry her lest I get accused of putting friends in powerful positions.”

Everyone knew that was a weak argument, it was almost expected to put those closest to you in powerful positions, but no one contradicted him.

“There is always the new Lord of the Reach, Theodore’s daughter… Elia?” Tyrion said, “They could be a great al…”

“Elinor?” Sansa said, a mix of incredulous and furious. “Absolutely not!”

“You know her?” Jon asked. After Daenerys, Jon was not going to ignore his sister-cousin’s judgment. Not again. Especially after his interact with this specific Tyrell the night before.

“Yes.” Sansa replied curtly. Everyone looked at her expectantly, but she did not elaborate.

“Mayhaps we shouldn’t jump…”

“I will NOT have her as part of my family.” She snapped to Jon’s surprise. While she was not emotionless like Bran, she did hide her emotions much more. Outbursts like this one she hadn’t shown in years.

“Your Grace.” Bronze Yohn started and just by his look Jon could tell he would not like what was about to be said. But interestingly enough it was Gendry that he was looking at apprehensively. ��There is another Young Lady in the Vale… I believe the Princess Sansa was made her acquaintance while she was in the Vale…”

“Please just say what you wish to say Lord Royce.” Jon said, he was only in the Capital a few moons and already he was sick of the word games.

“She is the bastard daughter of Robert Baratheon.” Royce said finally. “It may be a way to put to bed any lingering doubts about you sitting on the throne. With both regimes united and on the Throne.”

“She… is a good person.” Sansa said, but the look on Gendry’s face he was not sure what he should do.

“No.” Bran said, before looked confused. “There is someone at the door.”

Gendry narrowed his eyebrows and opened the door to find a woman in dark red. “Hello my king. I am…”

“A red priestess.” Jon completed.

“Yes, Your Grace.” The woman said with a slight bow. “I heard what you were speaking of. My order has done more research into… the events surrounding your death.”

“You mean his death and resurrection?” Tyrion asked.

“Yes.” The Priestess confirmed. “Thoros of our order was the first to preform… such a ceremony. We are still unsure of the long term effects.”

“Is there a point, My Lady?”

“You need an heir.” The priestess said. “Unfortunately from what we have discovered, you will be unable to.”

There was pause as his council started murmuring. Jon not being able to have children was bad omen. The realm had just come off a war due to a succession crisis, and now their elected king could not have children? This would cause a lot of turmoil. Although it did help explain how Daenerys never got pregnant despite their coupling.

“I sense a ‘However’ coming.” Sansa said, grounding the conversation.

“We have found that those who have also undergone the same procedure, are more susceptible to receive the gift of life.” The Priestess said.

“As far as I am aware, there are no other Westerosi has undergone this procedure.” Tyrion said, “We do need them to be Wester…osi.”

His new master of coin trailed off as two more women in Red Robes walked into the room. The younger blonde looked surprisingly skittish, as Tyrion and Sansa looked at her in shock. “Myrcella?” Tyrion whispered in horrified shock.

Jon and Sansa exchanged a look as the room broke up Myrcella causing the unofficial ending of the meeting. She grabbed the back of his hand and said, “Don’t worry Jon. You only have this job forever.”

“Arya is a bad influence on you.” Jon grumbled. “I don’t think I like it…”

Sansa laughed as she led Bran from the room. “It’s only for forever…”

#sansa stark #jon snow #bran stark #tyrion lannister #bronze Yohn Royce #samwell tarly #asoiaf #a song of ice and fire #bronn of the blackwater #myrcella baratheon #jon x myrcella

[nogoodsheepstealing-greatgrandma]

#art reblog #themico #not mine #the vale #the eyrie #marillion #lothor brune #bronze yohn royce #nestor royce #royce #lyn corbray #corbray #maester colemon #shadrich the mad mouse #strong sam stone #a storm of swords #a feast for crows #the winds of winter #a song of ice and fire art #valyrian scrolls art

[alaynasansa]

‘ She is beginning to at least try to understand how she can play the Game of Thrones and be not a piece but a player. With her own goals, and moving other pieces around ’

George R. R. Martin

“Father asked if there were any knights in the hall who would do honor to their houses by taking the black, but no one came forward, so he gave this Yoren his pick of the king's dungeons and sent him on his way. And later these two brothers came before him, freeriders from the Dornish Marches, and pledged their swords to the service of the king. Father accepted their oaths...”

Ser Loras is a Tyrell, Sansa reminded herself. That other knight was only a Toyne. His brothers had no armies, no way to avenge him but with swords. Yet the more she thought about it all, the more she wondered. Joff might restrain himself for a few turns, perhaps as long as a year, but soon or late he will show his claws, and when he does... The realm might have a second Kingslayer, and there would be war inside the city, as the men of the lion and the men of the rose made the gutters run red

He saved Alayne, his daughter, a voice within her whispered. But she was Sansa too... and sometimes it seemed to her that the Lord Protector was two people as well. He was Petyr, her protector, warm and funny and gentle... but he was also Littlefinger, the lord she'd known at King's Landing, smiling slyly and stroking his beard as he whispered in Queen Cersei's ear. And Littlefinger was no friend of hers. When Joff had her beaten, the Imp defended her, not Littlefinger. When the mob sought to rape her, the Hound carried her to safety, not Littlefinger. When the Lannisters wed her to Tyrion against her will, Ser Garlan the Gallant gave her comfort, not Littlefinger. Littlefinger never lifted so much as his little finger for her.

Except to get me out. He did that for me. I thought it was Ser Dontos, my poor old drunken Florian, but it was Petyr all the while. Littlefinger was only a mask he had to wear. Only sometimes Sansa found it hard to tell where the man ended and the mask began. Littlefinger and Lord Petyr looked so very much alike. She would have fled them both, perhaps, but there was nowhere for her to go

Though his hair was grey and his face lined, Lord Yohn still looked as though he could break most younger men like twigs in those huge gnarled hands. His seamed and solemn face brought back all of Sansa's memories of his time at Winterfell. She remembered him at table, speaking quietly with her mother. She heard his voice booming off the walls when he rode back from a hunt with a buck behind his saddle. She could see him in the yard, a practice sword in hand, hammering her father to the ground and turning to defeat Ser Rodrik as well. He will know me. How could he not ? She considered throwing herself at his feet to beg for his protection. He never fought for Robb, why should he fight for me ? The war is finished and Winterfell is fallen. “Lord Royce,” she asked timidly, “will you have a cup of wine, to take the chill off ?”

Bronze Yohn had slate-grey eyes, half-hidden beneath the bushiest eyebrows she had ever seen. They crinkled when he looked down at her. “Do I know you, girl ?”

Sansa Month 2023 : day sixteen - politics

#sansa stark #alayne stone #bronze yohn royce #source: a game of thrones #source: a storm of swords #source: a feast for crows #source: game of thrones #asoiaf edits #made by me #sansamonth2023 #sansastarkappreciationfest2023

[lemonhemlock]

strange that people had the thought that sansa was gonna stay in the vale and not go back to winterfell for so long when geographically other than bran(beyond the wall having trippy visions)/jon("dead")/rickon (cannibal island skagos) sansa is way closer to winterfell than a lot of characters and the knights of the vale is pretty much a chekhov's gun especially since like you said they havent joined the war yet and somehow sansa marching to winter fell with them was unbelievable since like 2009-2018 (her story might not follow the show especially because of the diverged storylines and she has the alternative to escape the vale but who knows)

It's no secret that Sansa was a very hated character throughout GoT's run. People ~manifesting she would stay in the Vale was a way of wishful-thinking her out of the narrative. Their dislike made them ignore reason and come up with many silly theories.

Much has been said about Sansa's pawn-to-queen narrative, but the main argument for her surviving the series is that, if GRRM wanted to kill her, he had many, many opportunities to do so in five books and didn't. Sansa is physically and socially vulnerable & her POV focuses on her rich internal world, strength and endurance, yet she remains unscathed and is instead learning court politics. Why is that? It's basic bildungsroman storytelling. Denying that is just being petty at this point.

Sansa also cannot remain in the Vale as Alayne, since that is Littlefinger's plot. Only the most delulu stans will not accept that a shady person such as Littlefinger will face authorial punishment for his sins. And, when he does die, what's stopping Sansa from claiming her identity? Especially as she finds out the feared and detested Ramsay Bolton has married "Arya Stark". She will naturally want to help her sister.

Now, I need to re-read for this, but I believe it is hinted in AFFC that Myranda Royce slyly figured out who Sansa is. If you remember the prologue of AGOT, the fancy, pretentious Night's Watch ranger from the group of three that first encounter the white walkers, is Waymar Royce. He is the third son of Bronze Yohn, head of House Royce. I did a quick search to refresh my memory:

"Bronze Yohn knows me," she reminded him. "He was a guest at Winterfell when his son rode north to take the black." She had fallen wildly in love with Ser Waymar, she remembered dimly, but that was a lifetime ago, when she was a stupid little girl. "And that was not the only time. Lord Royce saw . . . he saw Sansa Stark again at King's Landing, during the Hand's tourney." Petyr put a finger under her chin. "That Royce glimpsed this pretty face I do not doubt, but it was one face in a thousand. A man fighting in a tourney has more to concern him than some child in the crowd. And at Winterfell, Sansa was a little girl with auburn hair. My daughter is a maiden tall and fair, and her hair is chestnut. Men see what they expect to see, Alayne." He kissed her nose. "Have Maddy lay a fire in the solar. I shall receive our Lords Declarant there."

(AFFC, Alayne I)

I mean... you can't be more explicit than that. The Royces know who Sansa is, but they'll just keep quiet and play out this charade?

#sansa stark #ask #anon