Sansa Stark: Know the unpredictable badass who went through hell
What's the story
"I am a huge Sansa Stark fan!" is something not many people say.
Sansa used to be the most hopeless Stark sibling until Rickon took her place while exhibiting his impeccable running technique.
Over time, Sansa has grown into a mature, intelligent woman (completely contrasting her old self) who can see through people's schemes.
Here are some interesting facts about Sansa fans should know.
It's Complicated
She has an interesting relationship with The Hound
During the Battle of Blackwater, a bloodied Sandor Clegane (Hound) comes in her room and asks her to escape with him.
She declines and he puts a knife on her, demanding her to sing. It is also said that The Hound kissed her that night.
Nevertheless, she keeps his bloodstained white cloak with her at all times.
Sadly, Hound is dead in the books.
Differences
Her character arc in the books in completely different
She was 11 when the story began and has faced some extenuating circumstances like seeing her father killed, getting married to two monsters, and facing betrayal after betrayal.
In the books, however, it is her friend Jeyne Poole who gets married to Ramsay Bolton.
Also, Sansa has ceased to exist. Instead, she has taken the identity of Alayne Stone, Littlefinger's bastard daughter.
Quote
Littlefinger telling Sansa that she is now Alayne
Petyr: Trust no one. You are Alayne, and you must be Alayne all the time. Even here. In your heart. Can you do that? Can you be my daughter in your heart? Sansa: I ... I am Alayne, Father. Who else would I be?
Tenacious
The only living Stark whose strength doesn't come from magic
Bran has ability to warg and can see the future. Arya trained with the faceless men to become a master assassin and Jon (Aegon Targaryen) was resurrected from the dead.
Sansa has no such ability and yet, she stands tall with her siblings as the Lady of Winterfell.
All she has is survival instinct and the ability to endure any and all hardship.
The Irony
She absolutely abhors two people; both have (kinda) mentored her
She got a lot of life lessons from Cersei during her time at King's Landing. In a lot of ways, her survival instinct developed by watching Cersei.
But the Lannister queen was also responsible for the utter destruction of Sansa's family.
Similarly, Littlefinger helped her survive and protected her but he also played a major role in her father's execution.
Talk about irony!
Alternate Storyline
Sansa's alternate storyline is darker and quite unpleasant
In an earlier draft, Sansa would fall in love with Joffrey and betray her family, causing the Stark family to be crushed and Winterfell destroyed.
She would later give birth to a son while Joffrey would be killed by Tyrion.
A darker version of Jaime Lannister would go on to kill all potential heirs (including Sansa's child) to ascend to the Iron Throne.