#gottheory

Sansa and Arya have never gotten along. From their earliest days, GRRM (and the show) has set out to make the contrast between the two sisters especially…stark (sorry!). Sansa dreams of handsome knights and talented singers and majestic castles. Her dearest wish is to become the Lady of a great house, just like her mother. So when the fortunate opportunity arises for her to become queen of the Seven Kingdoms, it’s no wonder that she jumps at the chance. Arya, on the other hand, wants nothing more than to practice swordplay with Jon and Robb in the yard, climb the keep’s walls with Bran, and generally do things that would cause most ladies of noble birth to put their hands to their mouths and faint dead away. The farthest thing from her mind is needlework with Sansa and their dour faced Septa. So you see, complete opposites.

In King’s Landing,  Arya constantly finds herself being made to attend court with her father and sister, always being reprimanded for not acting like the lady she was born to be. She feels completely out of her element until her father, in his wisdom, hires a sword master to teach her proper use of her “needle”. It is only then that Arya feels fulfilled.

Sansa, however, is forced to face life to the fullest. She quickly learns that her dreams of gallant, dashing knights, are not in the least bit tales told true . In fact, most of those she meets, Joffrey in particular, are violent, heartless creatures who would not hesitate to bring dishonor to a lady or harm to those less fortunate. The same romantic figures that once occupied her daydreams have become the very monsters she was hoping to be protected from.

Some might say, this is an essential part of the maturing process. As we grow, we learn that not all dreams we had as children are rooted in reality. As harsh as it sounds, real maturity comes when we can let go of the flights and fancies of childhood, while at the same time, doing our absolute to make the best of our current surroundings and come out on top.

The Stranger

Arya is the Stranger. That much is clear. Ever since the death of Mycah at the hands of the Hound, her kill list has grown with every loss. She brings Death. She IS Death.

And ever since embarking on her goal of vengeance, she has never veered from her target. She endured humiliation, poverty, abuse, blindness, all in the name of mastering her “needlework” and becoming a Faceless Man. For what? To finish her list and to bring the wrath of the North down upon those who have wronged her.

Arya has not matured. She has not moved from her goal or expanded her world view. She has been so focused on delivering Death that she has refused to consider any other path. Therefore, I think that the ultimate end to her journey will be to embrace Death. In the words of JK Rowling, she will “greet Death as an old friend”, in the sense that this is what she has been striving for her entire life.

Once Arya’s kill list is completed, there is not much purpose left to her character. There isn’t even much she herself would want to live for. And that’s why I think she will die.

The Maiden

The Maiden is the embodiment of youth, purity, innocence, and all that is beautiful in the world. And once upon a time, that’s exactly what Sansa was. But since then, events have taken place that leave Sansa as far removed from these descriptions as possible.

Through her trials with Joffrey, Cersei, Tyrion, Littlefinger, and Ramsay, Sansa has gained an acute knowledge of the dealing of men (and women) and a keen understanding of just what it takes to win at the Game of Thrones. In my opinion, her story arc is one of the most extreme of all the players we have encountered. She, who was once a delusional girl given to unrealistic flights of fancy, has witnessed her ideals stripped away particle by particle, and  through the process of a thorough and brutal deconstruction of her ideas, become a woman so knowledgeable in the finer intricacies of human nature, that it’s only natural she should become a key player herself.

Sansa has never had a lust for power, or blood, for that matter. Only for rightful retribution. And in that, she is very similar to Arya. But Sansa has a very different motivation. Despite all her dreams being submerged in reality, she still holds on to them and in her heart of hearts hopes that one day they will indeed come true. She still dreams of castles and handsome knights and singers with the voices of nightingales. But now she knows what the true measure of a knight is, and can therefore appreciate one much more when he does appear.  She knows that what is on the outside must reflect that which is on the inside. Otherwise, she is looking at a mummer’s dragon.

Sansa has matured, in the truest sense of the word. She could have sat in her room in the Eyrie or Winterfell and played the victim, bemoaned her current situation. But no. She chose to rise above it. She learned from her abusers and became savvy enough to use their own tricks against them, thereby earning her freedom, as well as the knowledge to play the Game.

How it will end

Please be aware that we are presently leaving the realm of fact and entering the realm of conjecture. Be sure to have your tin-foil hats ready.

We need to ask ourselves, what would be the most satisfying conclusion for these characters based on their respective storylines?

Let’s start with Sansa. As mentioned before, Sansa still holds dear the dreams of knights and castles and pretty songs. But she has matured. She knows that not every helmet hides a handsome face and not every castle promises the comforts of home. But let’s imagine for a second that she will come full circle. She will get her handsome prince and her turreted keep, but it will come at a price. That of her innocence.  And when it does come, she will be able to appreciate it that much more with the knowledge she has gained.

Let’s be real for a sec. This IS GRRM. So any version of “bittersweet” he wants to serve up, I’ll happily accept.

Now, who else do we know that cherishes dreams of castles and just a peaceful, drama-free life? Why Sansa’s very own cousin, Jon Snow. Jon “I will never let anyone touch you ever again” Snow. Jon “you are to me” Stark Snow.

And now I invite you to draw your own conclusions as to the nature of their relationship.

As for Arya, death is an old friend. Death is the goal, and she will greet it contentedly. Maybe after seeing Gendry first.