#alyssa asks

Ohhhhhh man. SO season two starts off incredibly rough for Alyssa. It is one of the darkest times in Alyssa's life. Her father was executed and now she has to survive court as a traitor's bastard. Even though Alyssa was legitimized by Robert and is now considered trueborn by law, she is still treated like a bastard. The court calls her Lady Snow and she also earns the name Lady of Ice for the way she refuses to cry or scream through the torments she experiences.The last time Alyssa spoke with her father, Ned asked her to look after Sansa, and that became Alyssa's sole motivation for the start of season two. Alyssa deliberately takes on the physical abuse Sansa suffered in canon. Sansa of course still goes through the psychological torment of witnessing Alyssa be constantly hurt (and knowing Alyssa deliberately provokes Joffery and Cersei as a way to protect Sansa) and also Sansa helps treat Alyssa's wounds because they don't trust Maester Pycelle. Alyssa and Sansa, who always had a rocky relationship before, are now closer than ever, but its because of all the trauma. They look out for each other in ways no one else will.

SO Alyssa Snow, my darling, my love. She is Jon Snow’s twin sister, older by a few minutes. While she is raised in Winterfell with the rest of her siblings, the fact that she is a bastard causes Alyssa’s childhood experiences and relationships with Starks to be complex.

Alyssa and Rob have a solid relationship because there isn’t a sense of rivalry or tension that exists between Jon and Robb (since Robb is the heir while Jon is the bastard.) So Alyssa is able to be Robb’s confidant when he expresses his uncertainties and insecurities about being the future Lord of Winterfell, and Alyssa confides in Robb her fears about being sent away to the Silent Sisters or into some pitiful arranged marriage to someone who will probably look down on her because she is a bastard, even if she is Ned Stark’s daughter. Robb swears to her that when he is Lord of Winterfell he will not let her be sent away.

The Snow twins are extremely close because no one else understands what it’s like to be bastards. Jon is extremely protective of Alyssa. He broke Theon’s nose for making comments about Alyssa. Alyssa tries to cheer up Jon’s somber moods. She sneaks cakes out of the kitchen and convinces him to hide in the library or the Godswood with her. Only 6 direwolves were found, so Alyssa and Jon share Ghost when he is a pup. Alyssa trusts Jon more than anyone and cares for him so deeply. When though Robb has promised to never send the twins away, she can't completely trust Robb because of how close he is to her mother. Alyssa thinks if it comes down to it, Jon and her really only have themselves because of how society views bastards.

Out of the younger siblings, Alyssa is close to Bran in the same way Jon is close to Arya. When Bran was an infant, only Alyssa’s lullabies would soothe him and even as he grows, he asks Alyssa constantly for stories, because she knows so many and is the best storyteller. She teaches him how to climb trees in the Godswood (but warns him to not climb the towers of Winterfell). -When Bran falls, Alyssa feels a lot of guilt because she taught him to climb, and Catelyn also blames Alyssa-

Speaking of Catelyn, I will make it clear that I love Catelyn. She’s a great character…but in staying true to her character, she absolutely despises Alyssa. Alyssa feels Catelyn’s hatred even more intensely than Jon because, if Alyssa was trueborn, Catelyn would be responsible for teaching Alyssa to be a lady, but obviously, Catelyn refuses. And, canonically, Catelyn once confronted Ned about Ashara Dayne and Ned forbade her from ever speaking the name again. So, with Alyssa’s violet eyes, Catelyn looks at Alyssa and sees Alyssa’s mother. Alyssa is a living reminder of the woman Ned broke his vows for and that causes Catelyn’s disdain for Alyssa to be even sharper. Alyssa longs for a mother and is very aware Catelyn will never be one for her, so instead Alyssa is desperate to know her mother’s identity to feel connected to this woman who is so important in Alyssa’s life even in her absence.  

Ned’s relationship with Alyssa is equally complex. It is no secret that Ned adores Alyssa. He allows her to learn archery and gifts her a bow. Since Catelyn refuses to teach Alyssa, Ned sorta takes up the role when Alyssa does show genuine interest in learning how a household functions. Alyssa spends most of her time either in the library or the Godswood. Often, when her and Ned are in the Godswood at the same time, she will sit by Ned at the heart tree.

However, there is a very clear somberness and air of grief when Ned interacts with Alyssa and Alyssa is very aware of that, especially when she starts to ask questions about her mother. It creates tension between Alyssa and Ned when Ned won’t tell her the truth. 

Alyssa has a small romance with a girl from Wintertown who is also a servant in Winterfell. It was an adolescent first love. They shared a few secret kisses in the Godswood, but their romance was cut short when Rober arrived at Winterfell. Robert has an immediate interest in Alyssa because of her resemblance to Lyanna and it makes everyone uncomfortable. Robert is insistent that Alyssa comes to King’s Landing with Ned. Ned can’t really refuse the King and he can’t leave Alyssa alone in Winterfell with Catelyn. Catelyn would send Alyssa to the Silent Sisters as soon as Ned stepped out of the gates. 

Alyssa honestly wants to run away instead of going to King's Landing. Her worst dream is being realized: she and Jon are being forced from Winterfell. She approaches Jon and tries to convince him to come with her. They could run, steal some horses and just go, find their way to the coast, get on a ship and sail away, maybe find a place where being bastards doesn't matter. If they have each other they will be okay, after all it's always been them. But Jon refuses. He wants to go to the Wall and earned honor and worth as a brother of the Night's Watch. Alyssa is upset and tells him how she's hard the Night's Watch is no longer so honorable. She tells him this to hurt him back but also to try to convince him to leave with her, but Jon is insistent. They sorta make up when their ways part. They love each other and don't want to remain upset when they are saying goodbye and won't see each other for a long time. It's very bittersweet and Alyssa insists that Jon takes Ghost with him so he's not alone on the Wall.

On the way to the King’s Landing, Alyssa asks for Lady to be spared and Robert listens. I know it’s a cliche, BUT it’s important because it shows Alyssa has some power and influence over Robert which is a very dangerous thing. Cersei wasn’t pleased that Alyssa was coming to King’s Landing in the first place (she protested fiercely) but after this incident, Cersei sees Alyssa as a threat.

King’s Landing changes everything. Court is a strange place and Alyssa quickly grows homesick. She thought being a bastard in Winterfell was uncomfortable but it’s even worse in the Red Keep. There are immediate whispers and rumors and sneers about Alyssa being a whore just like her mother must have been and how sooner or later she will probably become Robert’s mistress—why else would he insist on her coming to court?

So Alyssa has a rough introduction to the game and quickly decides she doesn’t like it and practically lives in the library of the Red Keep. She hears rumors about the identity of her mother which gives her the name Ashara Dayne and Alyssa is immediately obsessed with finding out everything about her. So Alyssa reads a lot about House Dayne and Dorne and about Robert's Rebellion. She also talks to a few people who give her more details about the Tourney at Harrenhall where Ned and Ashara danced and the timeline of Robert's Rebellion. She learns Ned returned from Dorne with the newborn twins and the wet nurse that initially cared for them was Dornish. Alyssa is convinced Ashara is her mother.

Learning about Ashara Dayne leads Alyssa to Ser Barristan Semly and she befriends him. They have several talks. She asks him about tales of his accomplishments and about Ashara Dayne and Semly answers all her questions. He becomes fond of her. Learning more about the horrific details of the Rebellion that Ned protected his children from leads Alyssa to let go of her building resentment and anger toward Ned for refusing to answer her questions. Since she found her own answer and learned even more about the Rebellion and all that Ned went through, she believes it was grief that kept Ned from answering and she forgives him. When Ned and Alyssa reconcile, he confides in her about his investigation into the Lannisters.

There are a few people who realize the potential she has to be a player. Renly approaches her in the gardens one day and walks with her and then asks that she sit with him at the Hand’s Tourney. Varys approaches her and starts to guide her. He clues her in on how Renly looks so much like a young Robert, and how even the King has noticed the same—what a picture Renly and Alyssa made: almost like Robert and Lyanna recreated. So Alyssa takes the hint and starts to accept Renly’s ‘courtship.’ She would rather be Renly wife’s than Robert’s whore, and sure enough, Robert legitimizes Alyssa and betroths her to Renly. Through this betrothal, Renly has gained Robert’s favor. Ned is supportive of this betrothal because he is concerned about Alyssa staying in King's Landing and hopes that he can convince Renly to take Alyssa to Storm's End.

But that doesn't happen. When Robert dies, it all takes a turn for the worst. While Ned confronts Cersei in the throne room, Alyssa is overseeing the packing. She goes to retrieve Arya from her 'dancing' lessons and ends up trying to escape with Arya. Arya makes it out but Alyssa is left behind and she tries to fight a Kingsguard. Ends up stabbing one, which lands her in the Black Cells.