Tumgik
#wallace waynwood
agentrouka-blog · 2 years
Note
I actually find it sweet that Alayne and Myranda didn't made fun of Wallace stutter. Alayne even helped him. Also during the feast he tried to make Alayne laugh like his nephew but failed to do. Alayne then leads the conversation to balance the situation. In this case a maiden helping and rescuing a knight. I could picture a scenario where Jon is dancing with Sansa but feeling awkward while Sansa tried to ease the tension.
Yes, I really like the interaction between them, and what it likely leads up to. Sansa isn't particularly impressed with him, but she is very much trying to take the pressure off for him.
Ser Wallace reddened. "I am no more a s-squire, my lady. My n-nephew knows full well that I was k-k-kni-k-k-kni—" "Dubbed?" Alayne suggested gently. "Dubbed," said Wallace Waynwood, gratefully. Robb would be his age, if he were still alive, she could not help but think, but Robb died a king, and this is just a boy. (...) After that Ser Roland Waynwood swept her up and made her laugh with mocking comments about half the other knights in the hall. His uncle Wallace took a turn as well and tried to do the same, but the words would not come. Alayne finally took pity on him and began to chatter happily, to spare him the embarrassment. When the dance was done she excused herself, and went back to her place to have a drink of wine. (TWOW, Alayne I)
Sansa, who cares a lot for social graces, tends to be a bit judgy when it comes to others lacking the talent for them:
Podrick Payne had changed as well, and looked almost a proper squire for once, although a rather large red pimple in the fold beside his nose spoiled the effect of his splendid purple, white, and gold raiment. He is such a timid boy. Sansa had been wary of Tyrion's squire at first; he was a Payne, cousin to Ser Ilyn Payne who had taken her father's head off. However, she'd soon come to realize that Pod was as frightened of her as she was of his cousin. Whenever she spoke to him, he turned the most alarming shade of red.
"Are purple, gold, and white the colors of House Payne, Podrick?" she asked him politely. (ASOS, Sansa IV)
She is unfailingly polite in those cases and tries to ease the flow of the social interaction.
But Sansa does have a bit of a wicked streak that goes back to her friendship with Jeyne and continues with Margaery and later Myranda, when it comes to making fun of others. (Arya certainly remembers her own unkind nickname, which Sansa may not have used but certainly tolerated.)
 Arya had seen them in the bailey a hundred times; the Redwyne twins, Ser Horas and Ser Hobber, homely youths with orange hair and square, freckled faces. Sansa and Jeyne Poole used to call them Ser Horror and Ser Slobber, and giggle whenever they caught sight of them. They did not look funny now. (AGOT, Arya V)
She even does it herself at Harry:
"Saffron?" Alayne tried not to laugh. "Truly?"
Ser Harrold had the grace to blush. "Her father says she is more precious to him than gold. He's rich, the richest man in Gulltown. A fortune in spices."
"What will you name the babe?" she asked. "Cinnamon if she's a girl? Cloves if he's a boy?"
That almost made him stumble. "My lady japes." (...)
"Little pointy beard and all?" Alayne laughed. (...) "I hope you joust better than you talk." For a moment he looked shocked. But as the song was ending, he burst into a laugh. "No one told me you were clever."
Sansa's is not above transcending the rules of courtesy but her own mockery is usually aimed at people at or above her own status. We never see her mock or laugh at someone below her station. She never laughs at Wallace even when Roland mocks him, because his "flaw" is fully outside his own control. Harry, though, is fair game because he's The Heir and behaved rudely toward her.
Wallace seems like the kind of guy who - like Podrick Payne - she is still prone to underestimating because they don't create an impressive image at first glance. She pities Podrick, but Brienne gets to see his ingenuity and bravery. Sansa is kind to Wallace but she is likely to come to admire him and learn to look closer beyond just offering a smooth path past a superficial weakness. I think Wallace will do something impressive, like @powderpowderblue has speculated!
Here's hoping that Sansa will take that insight into the future and step up a bit more to curb instances of mean-spirited mockery when she has the power to do it.
Though if she and Jon stumble over an especially mockable enemy together, all bets are likely off.
~~~
Your image of Jon on the dance floor is making me laugh!
Sansa: Awww, Jon is being awkward and sullen, I bet he hates dancing. Let me make some light conversation to ease his nerves!
Jon:
"Oh," said Sansa Jon. I am talking to him her, and he's she's touching me, he's she's holding my arm and touching me. (ASOS, Sansa I TWOW, The Awkward Bastard)
Sansa: Poor little lamby, he really can't wait for this social situation to end. I'll do the talking for both of us to spare him this torment.
119 notes · View notes
isefyres-archive · 4 months
Text
Tumblr media
@dcviline asked: “i just want to feel something.” (Sansa/”Alayne” @ Wallace)
Wallace   is   surprised   by   her   words.   Or   the   fact   she   is   not   with   any   of   the   other   ladies.   House   Royce   of   the   Gates   has   a   grand   tournament   ahead   of   them   and   those   were   always   meant   for   trouble   and   it   seems   he   had   tangled   himself   into   one   as   well,   the   moment   the   young   woman   appears   before   him.   They   had   danced   all   night,   a   stroll   or   two,   and   he   certainly   feels   something.   But   Wallace   thinks   he   is   a   gentleman,   by   the   Gods,   he   wants   to   believe   that,   but   her   tone   tells   him   that   this   is   something   she   needs,   not   just   a   whim   of   the   moment.   "Your   father   would   have   my   head   if   he   found   out   you   are   here."   And   he   does   not   wish   to   ruin   her.  
Yet,   he   walks   close   to   where   she   stands   and   press   his   hand   to   her   chin,   thumb   tracing   the   lines   of   her   lips,   they   always   felt   so   enticing,   and   in   the   promise   of   intimacy,   almost   irresistible.   "There   are   many   things   that   we   can   do   without   you   losing   your   honor,   if   you   still   want   me   to,   I   can   show   you."   Wallace   offers   instead.   If   she   wants   him   in   full,   then   he   will   lose   his   head   for   a   good   cause   but   he   is   giving   her   options   in   the   moment,   allowing   her   to   choose   what   they   could   do   in   that   moment.
  His   hand   moves   lower,   to   trace   the   line   of   her   neck.   "Because   I   want   to   show   you.   And   I   promise,   you   will   feel   something,   and   forget   plenty,   at   least   for   a   moment."   And   green   eyes   look   back   at   those   deep   eyes   of   hers,   and   he   knows   she   desires   exactly   that.   What   exactly,   he   is   not   sure,   but   he   is   willing   to   give   it   to   her.   He   is   a   knight   after   all,   is   he   not?   He   is   there   to   serve.
5 notes · View notes
isefyres · 25 days
Text
Tumblr media
𝔐𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔞𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔭𝔢𝔯 𝔢𝔯𝔞:
CONQUEST ERA. aegon i targaryen, rhaenys targaryen, obsidia celtigar, torrhen stark, brandon snow, thorea stark.
JAEHERYS ERA. alaric stark, alyssa targaryen, baelon targaryen, viserra targaryen, saera targaryen, alarra stark.
DANCE ERA. laena velaryon, jacaerys velaryon, rhaena targaryen, serafia celtigar, kermit tully. floris baratheon, cassandra baratheon, heleana targaryen, criston cole, aemond targaryen, daeron targaryen. viserys i targaryen, rhea royce, lea tyrell, aliandra martell, lyandra saan.
POST DANCE ERA. viserys ii targaryen, jaehaera targaryen, myrmadora haen.
REBELLION ERA. rhaegar targaryen, ser arthur dayne, ashara dayne, elia martell, ned stark, catelyn tully.
MAIN ERA. osney kettleblack, balerion blackfyre, orysa baratheon, cersei lannister, tywin lannister, joanna swyft, laena longwaters, gendry baratheon, shireen baratheon, alynne connington, jon connington, vera dondarrion, rolland storm, shyra errol, daven lannister, addam mallister, elyra brax, jeyne westerling, joy hill, edmure tully, barbara bracken, eleanor mooton, liane vance, bethany blackwood, astor sunderly, gyselle goodbrother, wallace waynwood, myranda royce, lyn corbay, mya stone, bryanna coldwater, harrold hardyng, jennis templeton, catelyn stark, jeyne poole, mara mormont, jorah mormont, wylla manderly, alys karstark, beth cassel, brandon cassel, freyia knott, sigorn of thenn, howland reed, ellaria sand, edric dayne, gwayne dayne, addam whitehead, quira qorgyle, trystane martell, harmen uller, jeyne fowler, willas tyrell, elinor tyrell, desmora redwyne, megga tyrell, eleana vyrwel, bayard norcross, taena merryweather, tommen costayne, irri, doreah, lysandro orthys, narcyssa orthys, ezzara, sariah, cahira, malakai veltheos,
INDIVIDUAL BLOGS WITH MOST MUSE: JON SNOW | ROBB STARK | MYRCELLA BARATHEON | SARA SNOW | JAIME LANNISTER. | MELISANDRE. | CREGAN STARK. | DAEMON TARGARYEN | VISERYS III TARGARYEN | ALICENT HIGHTOWER. | RHAENYRA TARGARYEN | DAENERYS TARGARYEN | LYANNA STARK | MYSARIA OF LYS | SANSA STARK | MARGAERY TYRELL | VAL OF THE FREE FOLK | OBERYN MARTELL.
bold: most likely to respond faster and high need to write. italics: testing or wanting more interactions. nothing: can go either way.
*note: jacaerys velaryon, willas tyrell and maybe ashara dayne will get single blogs possible but they remain here. you can request things from solo blogs here or on my discord: caliofhousestark
8 notes · View notes
aegor-bamfsteel · 2 years
Note
I know you hate the Vale but do you think the Waynwoods will play a role in TWOW? Do you see Sansa stopping on the Sisters like her father while going to White Harbour? Will she make the journey alone or will she have any companions?
Slow your roll there, anon. I don’t hate the Vale, I just sometimes forget about it in my worldbuilding of Westeros, and the tour post was gently teasing that. When I don’t like something from ASOIAF, you’ll know.
The Waynwoods are already playing a role as early as AFFC, as their ruling lady was a key member of the Lords Declarant. I see no reason why that role should be cut off come TWOW; Catelyn met the eldest sons Morton and Donnel back in AGOT, and now in TWOW Sansa has met the youngest son Wallace and his nephew Roland. Donnel in particular is the new Knight of the Gate and previously rescued Catelyn et al from the mountain clans. Like their relative Harry, Wallace and Roland are newly made proud knights eager to prove themselves in battle. Even Morton wanted to marry Lysa. There’s indication that despite Baelish buying their debts, the Waynwoods have ambitions that would put them in conflict with him. Should the Vale rise in rebellion in support of the Starks (and why not, that Chekhov’s Army that’s been built up since the beginning), the Waynwoods would be the second to join after the Royces.
Asking me to predict anything going forth in the main series is asking for me to sound silly. However, I think after Godric Borrell’s powerful memory of Eddard “what if we prevail” Stark, there should be at least one of his children to come back to visit, and that will be Sansa. Her tracing her father’s secret journey in reverse has a symmetry. For the reason of him being all alone and Melisandre not seeing anyone else in her vision of the girl in grey, I think Sansa will have to take the journey alone for at least part of it (though I am hoping for some Sansa/Mya roadtrip antics at least to the Sisters). This will be a unique moment for her, because up to that point she’s been surrounded by people who seek to control her, and now she’s on her own choosing to go where she thinks is safe.
40 notes · View notes
queencatelynstark · 2 years
Photo
Tumblr media
ASoIaF Fancasting: Unseen Mothers of ASoIaF [12/?]
Fancast: Harriet Walter as Anya Waynwood, mother of Morton, Donnel, Wallace & unnamed daughters
56 notes · View notes
dwellordream · 2 years
Note
Miss Dwell, I just read the chapter of Haunt/Hunt where Wallace Waynwood asks Jory to marry him. I will write an entire romcom where he gets to court an heiress and she swoons for him! Thank you for the inspiration.
I did feel pretty bad for Wallace lol
2 notes · View notes
Text
A speculative family tree of Stark-Vale relationships
So @mrsjadecurtiss/@amuelia, while working on her great new Vale artwork, asked me if it were possible that House Royce had some Stark blood. (Based on recollections of Stark-Royce marriages, Bronze Yohn's visit to Winterfell, and also apparently there's a theory the Others attacked Waymar Royce because he had "the Stark look".)
I explained that while we know the Starks are descendants of Lorra Royce, it doesn't go the other way, at least not for certain. Per Catelyn (and per the TWOIAF Stark family tree), there was a Stark daughter, Jocelyn, who married a Royce (of the junior branch of House Royce)… but they only had daughters. Since one of those daughters married a Waynwood, and per Sansa's TWOW preview chapter “all the Waynwood men are horse-faced”, it's a near-certainty that they at least have Stark blood. But as for the Royces themselves, probably not, unless a child of one of Jocelyn's daughters married back into the Royce family. Which is feasible, and we shouldn't rule it out entirely– but if Waymar had any sort of look similar to the Starks, most likely it's a generic First Men appearance. (As the Royces are descendants of First Men, albeit with some adoption of the Faith, as they have knights.)
But that got me wondering, how exactly is Sansa related to the Waynwood boys she meets in TWOW? And if there was a marriage back into House Royce, could it be Yohn Royce's mother? (Or Nestor's?) And we've met other people from the families Jocelyn's daughters married into, how could they be related, if at all? So, I worked up a bit of a speculative family tree, to figure the generations:
Tumblr media
(click to embiggen)
Notes:
We don't yet know anything about the Corbray and Templeton that Jocelyn's daughters married. They might have been younger sons, they might too have only had daughters, or no children at all. In other words, there's no guarantee whatsoever that Lyn Corbray or Symond Templeton are Stark descendants – and if there are any Corbrays or Templetons that are, they could be cousins of those named characters. We'll probably find out in Sansa's TWOW storyline, as the subplot of Jocelyn's descendants seems to be getting re-activated there.
Lady Anya Waynwood is an older woman, more of a grandmother-age than Ned's generation, granted. However, since women tend to marry younger, and Jocelyn could also have been older than her brother Edwyle, that could explain a bit of the generational skew there. And note Anya's youngest son, Wallace, is younger than her grandson Roland, and close to Robb's age, so the skew factors back out again.
We don't know Anya's family tree in detail yet– she might have had several husbands, one of those husbands could have been a Waynwood cousin and the actual descendant of Jocelyn Stark. (Especially considering the “all the Waynwood men are horse-faced” factor.) But as both Roland and Wallace are long-faced and brown haired, this is the tree I've gone with for now. Again, we'll probably get more details in TWOW.
This tree does not include Carolei Waynwood (widow of Geremy Frey), as I don't know if she's Anya's daughter or niece or cousin or what. Otherwise I'd've definitely included her and her children Sandor Frey (12-year-old squire to Donnel Waynwood) and Cynthea (Anya's ward), as I strongly suspect they'll interact with Sansa at some point.
Harry Hardyng (Anya's cousin and ward) isn't on this tree either, but for a good reason, as his grandfather Elys Waynwood couldn't be one of Jocelyn's descendants, the generations don't work out at all. (Unless GRRM is incredibly bad at math, and though he is pretty bad, he's not that bad, lol.) Alas, Harry will have to settle for just being the Arryn heir, not a Stark one too.
So, to answer my questions: The newly knighted Ser Wallace Waynwood (around age 16-17) is Sansa's third cousin, and his nephew Ser Roland Waynwood (around age 25) is her third cousin once removed. (Probably.) Roland would probably be the alternate Stark heir Catelyn was reaching for – shame, as he's kind of an asshole – though tbf his father Morton would have rights before him. (And Anya too, if it's her and not her husband who was Jocelyn's descendant.) Also, with how the generations work out, if there is any Stark blood in the Royces, it would probably be through Yohn's or Nestor's wives, rather than their mothers. (Making Yohn's children and Myranda the potential Stark descendants in question.) Maybe if this is actually a thing, these wives might even get names. Imagine.
111 notes · View notes
butterflies-dragons · 4 years
Note
Loved your post on the similarities between Jon and Waymar Royce and Sansa's preference in men. I would like to add something else on the table. The Royces have Stark blood through the maternal line. Catelyn even suggested to name them as a possible heir to Robb. So Sansa really has a thing for the Stark look. This might be incestuous in nature. But isn't there a phrase that women tend to fall for men who remind them of their father? In Sansa's case it's more literal than usual lmao
Hello there! 
Thank you very much ♡
You know, when I was writing my meta, I was suggested by @lostlittlesatellites, to write about the Royces with Stark blood, but I decided not to bring the subject up because we don’t really know who they are.
I know about what Catelyn said to Robb regarding the Stark relatives in the Vale: 
“Young, and a king,” he said. “A king must have an heir. If I should die in my next battle, the kingdom must not die with me. By law Sansa is next in line of succession, so Winterfell and the north would pass to her.” His mouth tightened. “To her, and her lord husband. Tyrion Lannister. I cannot allow that. I will not allow that. That dwarf must never have the north.”
“No,” Catelyn agreed. “You must name another heir, until such time as Jeyne gives you a son.” She considered a moment. “Your father’s father had no siblings, but his father had a sister who married a younger son of Lord Raymar Royce, of the junior branch. They had three daughters, all of whom wed Vale lordlings. A Waynwood and a Corbray, for certain. The youngest … it might have been a Templeton, but …”
“Mother.” There was a sharpness in Robb’s tone. “You forget. My father had four sons.”
She had not forgotten; she had not wanted to look at it, yet there it was. “A Snow is not a Stark.”
“Jon’s more a Stark than some lordlings from the Vale who have never so much as set eyes on Winterfell.”
“Jon is a brother of the Night’s Watch, sworn to take no wife and hold no lands. Those who take the black serve for life.”
“So do the knights of the Kingsguard. That did not stop the Lannisters from stripping the white cloaks from Ser Barristan Selmy and Ser Boros Blount when they had no more use for them. If I send the Watch a hundred men in Jon’s place, I’ll wager they find some way to release him from his vows.”
He is set on this. Catelyn knew how stubborn her son could be. “A bastard cannot inherit.”
“Not unless he’s legitimized by a royal decree,” said Robb. “There is more precedent for that than for releasing a Sworn Brother from his oath.”
“Precedent,” she said bitterly. “Yes, Aegon the Fourth legitimized all his bastards on his deathbed. And how much pain, grief, war, and murder grew from that? I know you trust Jon. But can you trust his sons? Or their sons? The Blackfyre pretenders troubled the Targaryens for five generations, until Barristan the Bold slew the last of them on the Stepstones. If you make Jon legitimate, there is no way to turn him bastard again. Should he wed and breed, any sons you may have by Jeyne will never be safe.”
“Jon would never harm a son of mine.”
“No more than Theon Greyjoy would harm Bran or Rickon?”
Grey Wind leapt up atop King Tristifer’s crypt, his teeth bared. Robb’s own face was cold. “That is as cruel as it is unfair. Jon is no Theon.”
“So you pray. Have you considered your sisters? What of their rights? I agree that the north must not be permitted to pass to the Imp, but what of Arya? By law, she comes after Sansa … your own sister, trueborn …”
“… and dead. No one has seen or heard of Arya since they cut Father’s head off. Why do you lie to yourself? Arya’s gone, the same as Bran and Rickon, and they’ll kill Sansa too once the dwarf gets a child from her. Jon is the only brother that remains to me. Should I die without issue, I want him to succeed me as King in the North. I had hoped you would support my choice.”
“I cannot,” she said. “In all else, Robb. In everything. But not in this … this folly. Do not ask it.”
“I don’t have to. I’m the king.” Robb turned and walked off, Grey Wind bounding down from the tomb and loping after him.
—A Storm of Swords - Catelyn V
This passage is very interesting because Robb said: By law Sansa is next in line of succession, so Winterfell and the north would pass to her.  But since Sansa was married to Tyrion Lannister, Robb had to name another heir.
This is a contrast with Jon.  Stannis use the same argument to convince Jon to accept his offer to be Lord of Winterfell, he called Sansa “Lady Lannister”, but no matter what, Jon didn’t accept it.  
“But, instead of Tyrion, Willas or even Robert, who pursue Sansa’s claim over her, there is a man that has been offered Winterfell and choose her over it. Among all the high lords interested in becoming the Lord of Winterfell by marrying Sansa Stark, the bastard Jon Snow refused to despoil his sister Sansa of her rights, even if her claim is the one thing he has wanted as much as he had ever wanted anything.”
“By right Winterfell should go to my sister Sansa.”
—A Dance with Dragons - Jon I
Jon said, “Winterfell belongs to my sister Sansa.”
—A Dance with Dragons - Jon IV
Robb and Catelyn were both pushing to prevent Sansa and Jon to get Winterfell, and ironically enough, I think that Sansa and Jon will be the Starks that will retake Winterfell.
Now, about who may be the Royces with Stark blood...
“Your father’s father had no siblings, but his father had a sister who married a younger son of Lord Raymar Royce, of the junior branch. They had three daughters, all of whom wed Vale lordlings. A Waynwood and a Corbray, for certain. The youngest … it might have been a Templeton, but …”
This means: Ned Stark’s father Rickard had no siblings, but Rickard’s father  Edwyle, had a sister Jocelyn who married a younger son of Lord Raymar Royce, of the junior branch, Benedict Royce.  
Jocelyn Stark and Benedict Royce had three daughters:
Daughter 1 married an Unknown Waynwood
Daughter 2 married an Unknown Corbray
Daughter 3 might have married an Unknown Templeton
See? we really don’t know who the Royces with Stark blood are. We don’t even know if they have the Stark features. We don’t even know if they are still alive… 
Also take note that Jocelyn Stark married a Royce from the junior branch, called House Royce of the Gates of the Moon.  While Waymar Royce was from House Royce of Runestone. 
So I addressed the subject only with this line:   
The resemblance between the Starks and the Royces [of Runestone] maybe has to be with both houses being descendants of the First Men.
Now back to House Royce of the Gates of the Moon.
At this point in the books, the known Royces of the cadet branch are: Nestor Royce and his children: Albar and Myranda.  Imagine Myranda having a claim to Winterfell, Alayne will hate it…
Also imagine Lyn Corbray having a claim to Winterfell, Alayne will hate it even more…
About the Templetons, we don’t even know for sure if the third daughter of Jocelyn Stark and Benedict Royce married into House Templeton…
Now, about the Waynwoods, this is exactly why @lostlittlesatellites​ suggested me to write about the Royces with Stark blood, because at this point at the Books, Alayne is very linked with the Waynwoods. And even Harrold Hardyn’s mother was a Waynwood! Imagine Harry the Heir having not only a claim to the Vale but also to Winterfell!  Alayne will like this scenario a bit more… This is unlikely,  but it was funny to think about it… 
Harry the Heir doesn’t have the Stark Look tho.  But his Waynwood cousins do. So they could be the descendants of Jocelyn Stark and Benedict Royce.  Let see:
In the first Alayne chapter of the Winds of Winter, Sansa meets the Waynwoods and Harry the Heir:
“Lady Myranda. Lady Alayne.” Anya Waynwood inclined her head to each of them in turn. “It is good of you to greet us. Allow me to present my grandson, Ser Roland Waynwood.” She nodded at the knight who had spoken. “And this is my youngest son, Ser Wallace Waynwood.  And of course my ward, Ser Harrold Hardyng.”
(…)
Ser Roland was the oldest of the three, though no more than five-and-twenty. He was taller and more muscular than Ser Wallace, but both were long-faced and lantern-jawed, with stringy brown hair and pinched noses.  Horsefaced and homely, Alayne thought.
—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I
Ser Roland Waynwood and Ser Wallace Waynwood have three features that match the Stark Look:
Both long-faced
Both horsefaced
Both have [stringy] brown hair 
Sansa/Alyane doesn’t find the Waynwoods attractive tho, not like she fancied Ser Waymar Royce. Maybe this have to be with their other features: lantern-jawed and pinched noses.
The lack of attraction to the Waynwoods was another reason why I didn’t bring this subject up in my meta.          
In contrast, the Waynwoods seems pretty attracted to Sansa/Alayne:
“Had we known such beauty awaited us at the Gates, we would have flown,” Ser Roland said. Though his words were addressed to Myranda Royce, he smiled at Alayne as he said them.
“To fly you would need wings,” Randa replied, “and there are some knights here who might have a thing to say concerning that.”
“I look forward to a spirited discussion.” Ser Roland swung down from his horse, turned to Alayne, and smiled. “I had heard that Lord Littlefinger’s daughter was fair of face and full of grace, but no one ever told me that she was a thief.”
“You wrong me, ser. I am no thief!”
Ser Roland placed his hand over his heart. “Then how do you explain this hole in my chest, from where you stole my heart?”
“He is only t-teasing you, my lady,” stammered Ser Wallace. “My n-n-nephew never had a h-h-heart.”
“The Waynwood wheel has a broken spoke, and we have my nuncle here.” Ser Roland gave Wallace a whap behind the ear. “Squires should be quiet when knights are speaking.”
Ser Wallace reddened.  “I am no more a s-squire, my lady. My n-nephew knows full well that I was k-k-kni-k-k-kni –“
“Dubbed?” Alayne suggested gently.
“Dubbed,” said Wallace Waynwood, gratefully.
Robb would be his age, if he were still alive, she could not help but think, but Robb died a king, and this is just a boy.
—The Winds of Winter - Alayne I
And about that phrase you mentioned: “women tend to fall for men who remind them of their father,” it is true that the Asoiaf Books have plenty of incestuous undertones with the Targaryens, Cersei and Jaime, Asha and Theon, Crater and his daughters, etc. But in the case of the Starks, GRRM uses the pseudo-incest trope. After all, Jon and Arya, that are lookalikes, were intended to be in love in the so called “original outline”.
We also have the issue of the First love’s Resemblance: Sansa fell wildly in love with Ser Waymar, and Jon fell in love with a wildling girl kissed by fire.
Waymar Royce looked like a Stark. Waymar Royce was Jon’s lookalike. And Jon is Ned lookalike:
Riding through the rainy night, Ned saw Jon Snow’s face in front of him, so like a younger version of his own. 
—A Game of Thrones - Eddard IX
More about it here.
And Jon’s first love was Ygritte, a redhead, with blue-grey eyes, and to make the Tully look even more evident, Ygritte called herself half a fish:
“Ygritte punched his arm. “You know nothing, Jon Snow. I’m half a fish, I’ll have you know.”
—A Storm of Swords - Jon V
Sansa’s first crush having the Stark Look and Jon’s first lover having the Tully look, reminds me of Catelyn being first betrothed with Brandon Stark but marrying Eddard Stark instead.  Brandon, died like Waymar.  Ned said Jon’s is a younger version of himself.  Ned never imagined marrying Catelyn, he had a young infatuation with Ashara Dayne, but he never acted on his feelings for her, and she died.  Ned also killed Ashara’s brother Arthur.  
Sansa fell wildly in love with Waymar, but she won’t marry him, he died.  She will probably fall in love with Jon in a more mature and calmly way.  Jon Snow, after a non-con beginning, ended loving Ygritte, not a lady, that offered him a “comfort level of femininity”, but he won’t marry her, she died.  Jon will probably fell in love with Sansa, freely and willingly.    
Thanks for your message.
87 notes · View notes
molicioushat · 6 years
Text
Lady Waynwood's Debt
"The Waynwoods are a very old and very proud, but not as rich as one might think, as I discovered when I began buying up their debt. Not that Lady Anya Anya would ever sell a son for gold. A ward however..." Alayne II, A Feast for Crows.
As anyone familiar with series like Downton Abbey, the situation Lady Anya Waynwood found herself caused much drama for the Crowley's. But it was the reality for much of the nobility. For these old families, money problems haunted them. Much of these problems is caused by keeping up appearances. Of course the nobility of Westeros are not the like the Crowleys even if they have similar problems. So where does Lady Anya's debt come from?
Now the Vale is one of the centers of Chivalry of Westeros with only the Reach rivaling them. They value knighthood as one of the highest honors. Even Sistermen strive to become knights much to the consternation of many a father as Lord Triston Sunderland can attest.
"He'll sell you to the queen for a pot of that Lannister gold. Poor man needs every dragon, with seven sons all determined to be knights. I used to curse the gods who gave me only daughters until I heard Triston bemoaning the cost of destriers. You would be surprised how many fish it takes to buy a decent suit of plate and mail." Davos I, A Dance with Dragons.
Now as far as we know, Lady Anya has at least 3 sons: Ser Morton her heir, Ser Donnel, and her youngest Ser Wallace. Her only named grandson is Ser Roland but she has others. Now while Lady Anya doesn't have as many sons as poor Lord Triston, she still has to suit and arm them all as well as horse them. I wouldn't be surprised if they were gifted with more armor, arms, and horses for special occasions. Ser Morton's marriage, Ser Donnel becoming Knight of the Gate. And George knows how many grandsons she has to provide for as well. In addition paying to suit and arm all these men, there's also the cost of tourneys. None of these are cheap expensives.
But that's not all. Any daughter Lady Waynwood had she would have to pay dowries for. If we look at the ages we have for Wallace and Roland, we realize that there is ATLEAST a 14+ age difference between Morton and Wallace. We can bet that there are more Waynwoods in between them besides Donnel. So there has to be a Lady Waynwood or 2 in there. Personally I believe that Lady Carolei Waynwood is one of Lady Anya's daughter (making Sandor Frey one of her numerous grandsons). A family as proud of Waynwoods would have to offer a dowry worthy of a daughter of house Waynwood.
A dowry can enhance the desirability of the marriagability of a woman, as many a Lady can will tell.
"My lord grandfather offered Roose his bride's weight in silver as a dowry, though, so my lord of Bolton picked me. I weigh six stone more than Fair Walda, but that was the first time I was glad of it." Catelyn VII, A Storm of Swords
A dowry can make or break a betrothal. A rich dowry can make an otherwise undesirable bride into a very appealing one. Each Waynwood daughter would have to come with the appropriate dowry. And unlike sons who could possible recoup some of their expenses with tourney winnings (atleast with the kind of winnings Robert offered...), a daughter takes her dowry away from her birth house to her husband's house. Now in asoiaf we don't know what happens to a dowry if the marriage doesn't yield issue. In history the dowry is supposed to revert back to the bride's family, but that doesn't always happen. Henry VII had a long dispute over Catherine of Aragon's dowry. Until George says otherwise we'll just write the dowries off as a loss for House Waynwood.
All these expenses for Lady Anya's children would drain the Waynwood coffers. In order to keep up with "House Joneses" they would need to spend without retrenching. The Waynwoods might also be too proud to do so, much like the Elliots were in Persuasion. Loans would be need for the continual expense.
"My lord father had hoped to marry to marry me to Harry, but Lady Waynwood would not hear of it. I do not not know whether it was me she found unsuitable, or just my dowry." Alayne II, A Feast for Crows
Without suitable dowries from potential brides they would be hard pressed to continue as they had. Such a secret could not remain hidden for long.
50 notes · View notes
Photo
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
House Waynwood of Ironoaks || requested by @gennalannisters
273 notes · View notes
themockingpoint · 2 years
Text
House Stark of King’s Landing
Formed after the final battle of the War of the Five King’s, the Battle of Liberation. After days of deliberation, Sansa Stark was declared Queen due to her blood ties and friendships that she had developed over the course of the War of the Five Kings. House Stark’s colors are Grey and Red (coming from Sansa Stark’s personal epithet ‘The Red Wolf’) Their House words are “We Endure”. House Stark’s blazon is a Red Direwolf on a Grey background.
Queen Sansa Stark/Prince Edric Dayne
Hand- Ser Brienne of Tarth
Master of Law- Lady Anya Waynwood
Master of Coin- Lord Willas Tyrell
Master of Ship- Lord Rodrik Harlaw
Master of Whispers- Prince Doran Martell
Kingsguard
Lord Commander Brynden “The Blackfish” Tully- vowed to protect her due to failing to protect her brother and mother.
Ser Oliver Frey- Her brother King Robb’s former Squire.
Ser Gendry of Hollow Hill- Her sister’s friend.
Ser Wallace Waynwood- A friend she made from her time in the Vale.
Ser Rolland Storm- A recommendation from her future good sister.
Ser Balon Swann- a carry over from the previous Kingsguard as to ease transitions
Ser Harrison Karstark- Took the white to clear the way for his sister Alys of Thenn to take the Ladyship of Karhold.
North- Prince Bran Stark/Lady Meera Reed
The North voted for Sansa because she is the sister of Bran, Arya and Rickon, and the daughter of Ned Stark
Riverlands- Prince Edmure Tully/Lady Roslin Frey
The Lords of the Riverlands voted for Sansa because she is Edmure ’s niece, and daughter to Catelyn Tully.
Vale- Prince Robyn Arryn
The Lords of the Vale voted for Sansa because she is Robyn’s cousin and helped solve the murder of their liege lord Jon Arryn and bring his murderer to Justice.
Westerlands- Princess Myrcella Lannister/Prince Trystane Martell
The Westerlands voted for Sansa because she was Myrcella’s aunt through marriage, her friendship with Myrcella from their time in King's Landing and promised to legitimize Myrcella and name her Lady of Casterly Rock.
Reach- Prince Willas Tyrell & Lady Talla Tarly
Lord Willas voted for Sansa due to the friendship between Sansa and Margaery and out of guilt for her being framed for Murder by Olenna Tyrell.
Stormlands- Princess Shireen Baratheon & Prince Rickon Stark
Shireen Baratheon voted for Sansa because she is sister to Rickon, and due to the numerous ties between House Stark and Baratheon including but not limited to the friendship between Mya Stone and Sansa herself, Ser Gendry of Hollow Hill and Arya, Ned Sansa’s father and King Robert, and the grudging respect between Jon Snow and Stannis Shireen’s father
Dorne- Princess Arianne Martell
Princess Arianne was hesitant to vote for Sansa but relented when she revealed she accepted Lord Edric Dayne’s offer of marriage. Having a Dornish Prince Consort on the Iron Throne, one from House Dayne who have strong ties to House Martell, assuaged some of Arianne’s doubt’s and allowed her to go back to Dorne to mourn the loss of her husband King Aegon VI Targaryen. Princess Arianne declined a advisory position on the small council.
Iron Islands- Princess Asha Greyjoy
Did not vote for Sansa but was outvoted. Only conceded it because Sansa agreed to make sure that her rulership over the Iron Islands was uncontested.
45 notes · View notes
jackoshadows · 2 years
Note
The thing about Sansa's "kindness" is that she is not learning it but UNLEARNING even the clumsy attempts she had before with Dontos. Because the Dontos case has burnt her and made her untrusting. Sansa in the Vale is all done even trying with "kindness". She is snappy, dismissive, and all in for fake courtesies for her own interests only.
I don't fully agree. She does have moments of kindness.
Ser Wallace reddened. “I am no more a s-squire, my lady. My n-nephew knows full well that I was k-k-kni-k-k-kni –“
“Dubbed?” Alayne suggested gently.
“Dubbed,” said Wallace Waynwood, gratefully. - Alayne, TWoW
Given how much importance Sansa used to give to appearance and good looks and being perfect in all ways, I am not sure AGoT Sansa would have been so understanding of Ser Wallace's disability.
So it's definitely progress from AGoT Sansa to TWoW Sansa.
But again, Sansa's moments of kindness are reserved for the people in her inner circle, the knights and lords and ladies around her.
Except for that one time, she asks Joffrey to throw a coin to a starving woman, we don't read in her POV empathizing with the smallfolk, the bastards, her non-conforming little sister. GRRM had the opportunity to have the character question the societal prejudice against bastards for example when Sansa pretends to be one. But Sansa herself is still horrified that she has to pretend to be a bastard daughter of the Lord Protector of the Eyrie and the Vale of Arryn - again see the vast difference between her and Arya who was a blind beggar on the streets. Sansa sees LF hoarding food from the masses and has no compassion for people being deprived of it.
Also, notice the use of words like 'gentle' here for Sansa. That's why there's a tendency to associate Sansa with compassion because compassion is seen as soft and gentle and couched in traditionally feminine terms.
No doubt being gentle to Ser Wallace is indeed compassionate but so is Dany going amongst sick and dying to help her people or waging war to free slaves or Arya stepping in to help Mycah from Joffrey's brutality or Jon wanting to save the Freefolk trapped on Hardhome or Bran sending sweets to Old Nan and Hodor or Tyrion helping Penny with her act or Theon helping Jeyne Poole or everything Brienne does or the boys of the NW helping Sam and Lady Smallwood and so on and so forth.
Sansa's compassion and kindness - directed mainly towards the high born nobles - does not stand out in any way as being unique and in fact the compassion of characters like Daenerys holds more weight seeing as how many lives she has changed and improved by her actions.
That's what I was critiquing - the notion and narrative in fandom that Sansa is the only character who is compassionate and kind, when characters like Daenerys and Arya have exhibited more of these tendencies right from book one and their actions hold more weight for me considering it's directed towards the powerless sections of society like the smallfolk and slaves of Essos.
I do agree that Sansa has become more cynical by the time she gets to TWoW. For instance, she overrides Maester Coleman on giving dangerous doses of Sweetsleep to SweetRobin, despite knowing that SR is frail and of ill health, because 'Father and I have larger concerns'. She is flirting with Harry the Heir to get him to want to marry her, not for love but to carry out LF's plans for her to get the Vale and the North. Sansa is changing under LF's influence. LF and Varys don't win at playing the game by being kind and compassionate and Sansa will have to get her hands dirty to outwit LF at his own game.
21 notes · View notes
isefyres-archive · 2 months
Text
Tumblr media
@dcviline asked: ❛ you feel so good . ❜ (sansa/alayne @ wallace)
These   visits   had   been   passing   more   and   more.   It   was   safer   in   his   part   of   the   castle   with   other   guests,   if   they   heard   anything,   they   would   assume   it   was   Wallace   simply   having   fun   with   a   maid.   Better   that   than   the   truth,   or   her   side,   where   her   father   could   find   them   and   execute   him   on   sight   for   defiling   his   daughter.   Though   cheekiness   would   thrive   in   the   moment   to   tell   Littlefinger   his   daughter   came   to   him   first.   She   had   never   been   shy,   but   every   touch   was   always   done   with   consent   and   hesitation   at   first.   He   had   kissing   her   stomach,   her   dress   pulled   up   as   he   went   down,   holding   one   of   her   legs   in   place   and   kissing   her   inner   thigh,   approaching   her   smallclothes   where   he   could   feel   and   see   the   wetness.
  "Good.   That's   good.   Tell   me   what   feels   good,   Alayne.   I'm   going   to   keep   touching   you   now   and   you   have   to   tell   me   where   it   feels   specially   good.   And   I   want   you   to   come."   Green   eyes   look   over   as   he   removes   her   smallclothes   with   slow   pace,   first   one   leg,   then   the   other   before   its   thrown   away   to   the   side,   alongside   his   own   shirt   before   he   returns   to   the   task   at   hand.   His   finger   teases   her   slit   first,   pressing   on,   opening   her   lips   as   he   takes   his   first   taste   of   her   wetness   and   begins   to   lick   and   suck,   his   tongue   swapping   wherever   he   could   find   her   dripping,   as   his   hand   is   left   on   her   bud,   for   her   to   guide   where   exactly   it   felt   good.
1 note · View note
astradrifting · 3 years
Note
Hello! I was just wondering what your fave Jonsa metas/theories are at the moment, apart from maybe the more obvious ones like Ashford and girl in grey. Enjoying your re-read btw! 💕❤
Awww thank you! It’s been really fun to re-read and look at the story more deeply, I’m glad you’ve liked it so far!
My favourite metas tend to be the ones that dig deep into the textual links between them, so I love this meta by @esther-dot about Jon and Sansa’s forced “marriages” and the shared ‘one heart’ imagery surrounding them, that acts as a bitter refrain mocking their dreams of love and marriage, yet also sets them up perfectly to understand each other truly. I think that imagery will reoccur for them in a sincere way, giving them the kind of partnership that the phrase “two hearts that beat as one” evokes (a wedding ceremony would be the perfect place to bring up both the song and the vows again, just saying 👀)
I don’t think this is strictly meant to be a Jonsa meta but I also love this old comment on westeros.org about Jon and Sansa’s pre-canon relationship and how she modelled Alayne after him, because it’s such an insightful look into early canon Sansa’s worldview and actually acknowledges the parallels between their arcs (warning, there’s a lot of discussion about sans*n on the other comments in that thread). It also goes into the myth of Persephone looming over both Sansa and Jon’s chapters, treading perilously close to Jonsa but refusing to say it, preoccupied as everyone else was with comparing the Hound to the Fisher King (which, what?) and insisting that Sansa is attracted to him 🙄
I’m also gonna be a little selfish and mention this meta on how Sansa’s dance partners reference Jon in TWOW Alayne I, by the brilliant @cappymightwrite, because it’s a response to an ask I sent her pointing that out :P That was my first real dip into the Jonsa fandom and I’m still proud of myself for catching it. Just as a quick little summary, she dances with Ser Ben Coldwater, Ser Andrew Tollett, Ser Byron the Beautiful, Ser Morgarth the Merry, Ser Shadrich the Mad Mouse, Ser Albar Royce, the Sunderlands, Ser Uther Shett, Ser Targon the Halfwild, and Sers Roland and Wallace Waynwood. All thirteen of those men reference either the Night’s Watch, Jon’s parentage, or just straight up look like Jon - which I think is GRRM ramping up the Jonsa foreshadowing for the book in which it will probably be established. I like to think of it as George going “Sansa danced with Jon all night long 🥰 and this lil bitch Harry too I guess 😒 but don’t worry, she’s not giving her favour to him 😉”
Funnily enough it’s Ser Morgarth the Merry of all those mentioned that convinces me the most that they’re all intentional references to Jon, because what the hell else could that dumb pun be referencing if it’s not the three separate Garths that Jon encounters in the Watch??
39 notes · View notes
sayruq · 3 years
Text
Sansa Stark Week 21
Traits
Bravery
The king stood. "A cask from the cellars! I'll see him drowned in it." Sansa heard herself gasp. "No, you can't." Joffrey turned his head. "What did you say?" Sansa could not believe she had spoken. Was she mad? To tell him no in front of half the court? She hadn't meant to say anything, only . . . Ser Dontos was drunk and silly and useless, but he meant no harm. "Did you say I can't? Did you?" "Please," Sansa said, "I only meant . . . it would be ill luck, Your Grace . . . to, to kill a man on your name day."
Compassion
Sansa went to Ser Lancel and knelt beside him. His wound was bleeding afresh where the queen had struck him. "Madness," he gasped. "Gods, the Imp was right, was right . . ."
"Help him," Sansa commanded two of the serving men. One just looked at her and ran, flagon and all. Other servants were leaving the hall as well, but she could not help that. Together, Sansa and the serving man got the wounded knight back on his feet. "Take him to Maester Frenken." Lancel was one of them, yet somehow she still could not bring herself to wish him dead. I am soft and weak and stupid, just as Joffrey says. I should be killing him, not helping him.
Kindness
"The Waynwood wheel has a broken spoke, and we have my nuncle here." Ser Roland gave Wallace a whap behind the ear. "Squires should be quiet when knights are speaking." Ser Wallace reddened. "I am no more a s-squire, my lady. My n-nephew knows full well that I was k-k-kni-k-k-kni—" "Dubbed?" Alayne suggested gently. "Dubbed," said Wallace Waynwood, gratefully.
Charming
She is good at this, he thought, as he watched her tell Lord Gyles that his cough was sounding better, compliment Elinor Tyrell on her gown, and question Jalabhar Xho about wedding customs in the Summer Isles. His cousin Ser Lancel had been brought down by Ser Kevan, the first time he'd left his sickbed since the battle. He looks ghastly. Lancel's hair had turned white and brittle, and he was thin as a stick. Without his father beside him holding him up, he would surely have collapsed. Yet when Sansa praised his valor and said how good it was to see him getting strong again, both Lancel and Ser Kevan beamed. She would have made Joffrey a good queen and a better wife if he'd had the sense to love her. He wondered if his nephew was capable of loving anyone.
Intelligent
When she pulled it free, her long auburn hair cascaded down her back and across her shoulders. The web of spun silver hung from her fingers, the fine metal glimmering softly, the stones black in the moonlight. Black amethysts from Asshai. One of them was missing. Sansa lifted the net for a closer look. There was a dark smudge in the silver socket where the stone had fallen out.
A sudden terror filled her. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and for an instant she held her breath. Why am I so scared, it's only an amethyst, a black amethyst from Asshai, no more than that. It must have been loose in the setting, that's all. It was loose and it fell out, and now it's lying somewhere in the throne room, or in the yard, unless . . .
Ser Dontos had said the hair net was magic, that it would take her home. He told her she must wear it tonight at Joffrey's wedding feast. The silver wire stretched tight across her knuckles. Her thumb rubbed back and forth against the hole where the stone had been. She tried to stop, but her fingers were not her own. Her thumb was drawn to the hole as the tongue is drawn to a missing tooth. What kind of magic? The king was dead, the cruel king who had been her gallant prince a thousand years ago. If Dontos had lied about the hair net, had he lied about the rest as well? What if he never comes? What if there is no ship, no boat on the river, no escape? What would happen to her then?
95 notes · View notes
cappymightwrite · 3 years
Note
So I’ve just read your meta on the TWOW Alayne I sample chapter (it’s amazing btw!) and I noticed something while reading it that I wanted to share and see if anybody else has noticed - nearly every man Alayne dances with during the feast could be taken as a reference to Jon or the Night’s Watch.
Ben Coldwater -> Snow is, obviously, cold water, and Ben is a sneaky Benjen reference
Andrew Tollett -> most likely related to Dolorous Edd Tollett, Jon’s old steward and good friend
Ser Byron the Beautiful -> GRRM has described Jon as a Byronic hero
Ser Morgarth and Ser Shadrich the Mad Mouse -> these men are more dubious, I’m not really sure of the link with Morgarth. Shadrich is a callback from Brienne’s AFFC plot though, and a sign that Sansa’s cover isn’t as secure as she and Littlefinger think it is
Ser Albar Royce - a reference to Waymar Royce, he of the many Jon parallels and Sansa’s old crush, though she finds his cousin(?) stout and dull
The Sunderlands - their family are the lords of the Three Sisters. In ADWD, Davos is told a story on Sweetsister about Ned having to sneak across the Bite during Robert’s Rebellion, to get North and call his banners. A fisherman helped him but drowned when a storm caught their boat - but his daughter got Ned safely to the Sisters. The prevailing story on the islands seems to be that he left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly, whom she named after Jon Arryn
Uther Shett - I was half-convinced this guy also had a relative on the wall, because his name (insulting pun aside) seems to be a reference to Chett, the prologue POV of ASOS who had a grudge against Jon for losing him his position as one of Maester Aemon’s stewards in favour of Sam
Ser Targon the Halfwild - Jon will likely be half-wild when he comes back from the dead, but he’s already been described as ‘half a wildling’ multiple times. Also Targon = Targ-Jon?
Ser Roland and Ser Wallace Waynwood - both are described earlier in the chapter as long-faced with brown hair, which are also Stark features. Alayne thinks of them as “horsefaced”, probably an Arya reference that also calls back to her and Jon’s shared Stark look. Wallace is even the same age as Robb, and thus Jon, would be.
So though Jon wasn’t mentioned by name in the chapter, I think he was very present... not just lemoncake-wise ;)
Thank you! :D Haha for a moment there I was like...wait which meta? Had to take my mind back for a sec there because I've written quite a bit since then! But yeah, doing deep dives into certain chapters is really fun — my next one that's in the works is Jon XI in A Dance With Dragons. Great to hear you enjoyed my Winds one :)
Ooooh that is really interesting and a mighty fine catch! Definitely the vibe I got whilst reading that chapter, after having analysed Alayne II, AFFC (which chronologically precedes it), is that Jon's presence or references to him are made subtly throughout the chapter(s) — especially whenever Winterfell is alluded to because Jon is the "Snow of Wintefell", the "blood of Winterfell", etc. But also vice versa, Sansa is very much connected to Winterfell in Jon's chapters as well — "Winterfell belongs to my sister, Sansa."
But let's take a look at those names you listed below the cut! Big post ahead, so buckle up kids!
So, I hadn't noticed the significance of those names on my reading, but I can well believe what you're suggesting because it plays very much into how I interpreted the subconscious goings on of that chapter — that you have these rememberances/reminders of Winterfell and Sansa's Stark idenity at crucial moments within the chapter’s narrative pacing, especially prior to moments with Harry the Heir. Not to sound too crass, but it's sort like a marking of territory, and this is made even stronger by that goddamn phallic as hell Giant's Lance lemoncake (aka Jon's peen). It's all quite neatly buried, but when you start matching up the imagery...I mean, I guess wolves are territorial beasts, so...checks out? (George...why are you like this?)
It is interesting that we get that iconic entrance of the Giant's Lance lemoncake prior to these dance partners, i.e. a claim has been staked essentially, and it ain't from Littlefinger, which is what could be interpreted on first inspection. And let's not beat around the bush, as uncomfortable as it is (because Sansa is ONLY 13/14!!), this is a sexual claim being made owing to the phallic symbolism and the general tone of the chapter being about Alayne's betrothal/marriage:
And best of all, Lord Nestor’s cooks prepared a splendid subtlety, a lemon cake in the shape of the Giant’s Lance, twelve feet tall and adorned with an Eyrie made of sugar.
For me, Alayne thought, as they wheeled it out.
I legit just snorted re-reading this: "splendid subtlety" MY ASS! What follows is a whole lot of gift-giving, which come to think of it, in combination with this bloody big cake...well, it reads quite a bit like a wedding breakfast to me, followed by dancing, in addition to a possible nod to a Stark bridal cloak, masked by the Arryn colours:
There were gifts as well, splendid gifts. Each of the competitors received a cloak of cloth-of-silver and a lapis brooch in the shape of a pair of falcon’s wings. Fine steel daggers were given to the brothers, fathers, and friends who had come to watch them tilt. For their mothers, sisters, and ladies fair there were bolts of silk and Myrish lace.
Because if we compare this "cloak of cloth-of-silver" with previous descriptions of Sansa's maiden cloak, we see this obvious recurring inclusion of either silver or grey as one of the Stark colours:
Cersei Lannister ignored the question. "The cloak," she commanded, and the women brought it out: a long cloak of white velvet heavy with pearls. A fierce direwolf was embroidered upon it in silver thread. Sansa looked at it with sudden dread. "Your father's colors," said Cersei, as they fastened it about her neck with a slender silver chain.
A maiden's cloak. Sansa's hand went to her throat. She would have torn the thing away if she had dared. – ASOS, Sansa III
"[...] 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 [...]" – AFFC, Alayne II
This is all very in keeping with the theme of the chapter, which is meeting Alayne's betrothed, Harrold Hardyng, so obviously a future marriage/alliance is very much a prevalent theme here. Furthermore, the mention of "Myrish lace" for the "ladies fair" does somewhat remind me of Alys Karstark's wedding garb:
The girl smiled in a way that reminded Jon so much of his little sister that it almost broke his heart. "Let him be scared of me." The snowflakes were melting on her cheeks, but her hair was wrapped in a swirl of lace that Satin had found somewhere, and the snow had begun to collect there, giving her a frosty crown. Her cheeks were flushed and red, and her eyes sparkled.
"Winter's lady." Jon squeezed her hand. – ADWD, Jon X
I think some other people have mentioned before how even though Jon makes a conscious comparison between Arya and Alys — "reminded Jon so much of his little sister" — the romanticised, flushed cheeked imagery very much points towards a subconsious allusion to Sansa (ETA: anyone spoken on this got a link?). With that in mind, we could see this as foreshadowing of not only Jonsa, but a Jonsa wedding, and Sansa as Queen in the North — "a frosty crown" "Winter's lady" — with Jon as her king/consort. In my current Jon chapter analysis I've been working with the idea that actually as soon as Jon starts romanticising a girl, which is notably different from just noticing someone's physical beauty (e.g. with Val), that is when the subconscious comparisons to Sansa really jump out.
But anyway! Onto those names...or rather, Jon Snow stand-ins.
Rising, [Ben Coldwater] offered Alayne his hand. “Would you honor me with this dance, my lady?”
“You’re very kind,” she said, as he led her to the floor.
He was her first partner of the evening, but far from the last. Just as Petyr had promised, the young knights flocked around her, vying for her favor. After Ben came Andrew Tollett, handsome Ser Byron, red-nosed Ser Morgarth, and Ser Shadrich the Mad Mouse. Then Ser Albar Royce, Myranda’s stout dull brother and Lord Nestor’s heir. She danced with all three Sunderlands, none of whom had webs between their fingers, though she could not vouch for their toes. Uther Shett appeared to pay her slimy compliments as he trod upon her feet, but Ser Targon the Halfwild proved to be the soul of courtesy. After that Ser Roland Waynwood swept her up and made her laugh with mocking comments about half the other knights in the hall. His uncle Wallace took a turn as well and tried to do the same, but the words would not come. Alayne finally took pity on him and began to chatter happily, to spare him the embarrassment. When the dance was done she excused herself, and went back to her place to have a drink of wine.
And there he stood, Harry the Heir himself; tall, handsome, scowling. “Lady Alayne. May I partner you in this dance?”
She considered for a moment. “No. I don’t think so.”
If I've counted that right, that's 14 men? Alright, here we go.
First up...Ben Coldwater
I think you're right that Ben Coldwater feels very much like a nod to Ben-jen Stark, who is referred to as Ben a few times I think, and Jon Snow (cold water = snow), both men of the Night's Watch. House Coldwater also traces its lineage back to the First Men, and are sworn to House Royce, who are also notably descended from the First Men, have previously married into the Stark family and still maintain close connections to the current house through Ned's fosterage in the Vale. So, through the Royces, we see another possible connection to the Starks and Jon Snow...Jon Snow who was named after Jon Arryn.
I would also add that we have Ben make this inquiry prior to his dance with Alayne:
“Are there no singers?” asked Ben Coldwater.
I don't know, maybe I'm reaching but...singers feature quite a lot in connection to Jon, for instance:
Mance Rayder, who infiltrates Winterfell disguised as a singer called Abel, an anagram of Bael, aka Bael the Bard;
Bael the Bard and the Blue Rose of Winterfell — a story told to Jon by Ygritte, which very much evokes the tale of Rhaegar and Lyanna;
Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon's real father, was a notably skilled lyre player, whose singing supposedly made Lyanna cry — "The dragon prince sang a song so sad it made the wolf maid sniffle," (ASOS, Bran II). He is also theorised to have written the song Jenny of Oldstones, possibly for the Ghost of High Heart, Jenny's friend.
Ygritte — when Jon starts to find her more attractive, when he starts to romanticise her, he observes that "sometimes she sang in a low husky voice that stirred him," (ASOS, Jon II).
Val — again, we start to see Jon begin to warm to Val, to see her in more of a romantic + typically feminine light, because of her singing to the baby Monster: "I have heard you singing to him," (ADWD, Jon VIII).
Sansa — oh, my sweet Sansa...when remembering his family, not quite in his dying moments, but a little bit prior to that, Jon thinks "Of Sansa, brushing out Lady's coat and singing to herself. You know nothing, Jon Snow," (ADWD, Jon XIII).
I think it's clear that Jon loves a good song and you know what? He'd probably be asking about the lack of singers too! One final detail perhaps worth noting is the seat of House Coldwater:
[...] the Coldwaters of Coldwater Burn [...] – TWOIAF, The Vale
Obviously, the "song of ice and fire" is not a person, but more the elemental and destructive forces of the Others and the dragons, yet nevertheless, through Jon's parentage, as well as his actions (burned hand, etc.), plus his personality to a certain extent (hot-headed then repressing emotions) you do have this duality of hot and cold, of fire and ice...Coldwater Burn? Could be something.
Ser Andrew Tollett
So, like you said, the name Tollett immediately puts us in mind of Eddison Tollett, also known as Dolorous Edd, who is like Jon, a black brother of the Night's Watch. And he is a good brother to Jon, voting for him in the election for the Lord Commander, as well as becoming his loyal steward for a time, before being sent on a mission to Long Barrow. Interestingly, Dolorous Edd, as well as the Tolletts in general, do have a bit of a Stark vibe to them...
Like a typical Stark, Dolorous Edd is described as having a "long face" (ACOK, Jon III), a face like a mule's to be exact, but also notably a horse's as well:
"[...] Me, I have the mules. Nettles claims we're kin. It's true we have the same long face, but I'm not near as stubborn [...]" – ADWD, Jon XII
He only wished he had time to kill Tollett as well. Gloomy horsefaced fool, that's what he is. – ASOS, Prologue
He is given the nickname Dolorous Edd (dolorous = mournful), and is referred to several times as being "dour" (ACOK, Jon II, Jon III, ASOS, Jon V, ADWD, Jon XII, XIII), an attribute not entirely out of place when we consider some notable Starks and their disposition, as well as their house words:
He had the Stark face if not the name: long, solemn, guarded, a face that gave nothing away. – AGOT, Tyrion II
Winter is coming. The Stark words had never sounded so grim or ominous to Jon as they did now. – AGOT, Jon VIII
I gave my maidenhood to this solemn stranger and sent him off to his war and his king and the woman who bore him his bastard, because I always did my duty. – ACOK, Catelyn VI
Ned was shorter and plainer of face, and so somber. He spoke courteously enough, but beneath the words she sensed a coolness that was all at odds with Brandon, whose mirths had been as wild as his rages [...] And after the war, at Winterfell, I had love enough for any woman, once I found the good sweet heart beneath Ned's solemn face. – ASOS, Catelyn V
So, not unlike Jon, Arya and Ned, Dolorous Edd has a "long and solemn" face (AGOT, Arya I), as well as a "dour" personality. Furthermore, even House Tollet of Grey Glen's sigil and words have Stark vibes, since according to semi-canon sources, their shield is "pily grey and black" and their words are "When all is darkest," which arguably carries the same ominous, Long Night warning of "Winter is coming". In addition to this, like the Coldwaters, the Tollets are sworn to the First Men descended Royces.
But beyond this, if we take a look at some legendary and historical Tolletts...we actually have two notable names:
Torgold Tollett — also known as Torgold the Grim, though ironically, because he was famous for riding into battle laughing, and naked from the waist up:
The songs say that Torgold knew no fear and felt no pain. Though bleeding from a score of wounds, he cut a red swathe through Lord Redfort's staunchest warriors, then took his lordship's arm off at the shoulder with a single cut. Nor was he dismayed when the sorceress Ursula Upcliff appeared upon a bloodred horse to curse him. By then he was bare-handed, having left both of his axes buried in a foe's chest, but the singers say he leapt upon the witch's horse, grasped her face between two bloody hands, and tore her head from her shoulders as she screamed for succor. – TWOIAF, The Vale
Ser Jon Tollett — In Fire & Blood, Jon Tollett is recorded as a member of King Maegor the Cruel's Kingsguard. After the king's mysterious death, his successor, King Jaeherys I, offered Maegor's surviving Kingsguard a choice between execution or taking the black. Jon Tollett chose the latter. This somewhat parallels Ned's decision to take the black, to a certain extent.
You could argue that there are more than a few similarities, or future foreshadowings, between these Tolletts and Jon Snow...
Ser Byron the Beautiful
Like you mentioned, Jon Snow has been described by GRRM as a "Byronic, romantic hero". I'm so annoyed with myself, because I had written up some good stuff on how Jon really does possess certain Byronic traits but as I was inserting a gif it ended up deleting most of what I wrote...so I'm still a bit bitter over that, but will rewrite it at some point soon. Take my word for it though, Jon Snow is 100% more of a Byronic Hero (a la Byron's own Manfred), than Sandor Clegane, for example:
GRRM: “Well who wouldn’t want to be Jon Snow — the brooding, Byronic, romantic hero whom all the girls love.” [source]
Ser Byron, as well as being described as beautiful, is also notably very gallant, the perfect knight:
"Dutiful and beautiful," said an elegant young knight whose thick blond mane cascaded down well past his shoulders. – AFFC, Alayne II
We all know that Sansa appreciates a bit of genuine courtesy, and in fact, she's taught Jon well in that regard:
"Gilly, he called me. For the gillyflower."
"That's pretty." He remembered Sansa telling him once that he should say that whenever a lady told him her name. He could not help the girl, but perhaps the courtesy would please her. – ACOK, Jon III
I think this Jon stand-in does rely mostly on Jon's connection to the Byronic Hero. So, if anyone is still a bit dubious on that (because Rochester and Heathcliff are trash), just hang in there for my eventual meta on the subject, which focuses on Lord Byron's OG Byronic Hero, rather than the later Brontë/Victorian iterations.
In fact, in terms of Jon's parentage and future romance with Sansa, there's one Byronic tale that may be a particular source of inspiration — The Bride of Abydos. This poem notably includes a romance in which half-siblings are revealed to be cousins...sound familiar?
Ser Morgarth the Merry
Another hedge knight, like Ser Byron, who is sworn into the service of Petyr Baelish. I've got to agree with you here, red-nosed Ser Morgarth's connection to Jon is quite a bit harder to decipher! I have done a little digging though, and it is possible that the Garth in Morgarth is a reference to several Garths that appear in Jon's chapters, as well as Garth Greenhand, the alleged ancestor of legendary House Stark founder...Brandon the Builder:
Garth of Oldtown
Garth of Greenaway
Garth Greyfeather
All of these Garths are rangers/members of the Night's Watch at the same time as Jon, though I think by Dance it is presumed that they are all dead, or at least missing — in fact, Garth of Greenaway kills Garth of Oldtown. Garth on Garth violence!!
Haha, oh god...I think I just got the pun...Morgarth = More Garth! More Garths the merrier! Get it?! More Garths everybody!
George, I hate you.
Ok, so that's what that is. It's literally just a dumb pun, yet it also connects Morgarth to the Night's Watch Garths, and therefore Jon.
Ser Shadrich the Mad Mouse
I think you're right that Ser Shadrich's presence connects us to Brienne's quest, as well as foreshadowing potential shit hitting the fan at the tourney of the Winged Knights. But he also notably makes some interesting remarks, both to Brienne and Sansa, which we can connect to Jon Snow's secret Targaryen heritage:
"Where?" Brienne slapped another silver stag down.
He flicked the coin back at her with his forefinger. "Someplace no stag ever found...though a dragon might." – AFFC, Brienne III
On the surface, in response to Brienne's questioning about the whereabouts of the Stark sisters, Shadrich is talking about a monetary bribe. However, beneath that explicit meaning, is an implicit reference to a stag (Joffrey) failing, where a dragon (Jon) will succeed. Others have talked about this line in more detail elsewhere, but it seems like a pretty good allusion to the foils, Joffrey (a prince who is really a bastard) and Jon (a bastard who is really a prince).
In this exact Winds chapter, however, we also see a conversation between Alayne and Shadrich, which hints at his possible plans to uncover and abduct Sansa Stark in return for a lucrative reward:
“A good melee is all a hedge knight can hope for, unless he stumbles on a bag of dragons. And that’s not likely, is it?”
This "stumbl[ing] on a bag of dragons" could also be seen as an implicit nod towards stumbling upon Jon's Targaryen heritage later in the novel, something that is more "likely" than anyone would expect. That claim might be a reach, were it not for the implication that when Shadrich talks about money, i.e. dragons...he isn't actually talking about gold coins, he's talking about Targaryens, but more than that...he's talking specifically about Jon Snow.
Ser Albar Royce
"Myranda’s stout dull brother and Lord Nestor’s heir." I think like Ser Morgarth, the physical appearance of these stand-ins doesn't always play a factor, because it would be kind of unnerving if they all had solemn long faces... So, what is important here is, like you say, the name Royce and his relation to Ser Waymar Royce, Sansa's first crush, who just happens to resemble and parallels Jon quite a bit:
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. – AFFC, Alayne I
Ser Waymar Royce was the youngest son of an ancient house with too many heirs. He was a handsome youth of eighteen, grey-eyed and graceful and slender as a knife. Mounted on his huge black destrier, the knight towered above Will and Gared on their smaller garrons. He wore black leather boots, black woolen pants, black moleskin gloves, and a fine supple coat of gleaming black ringmail over layers of black wool and boiled leather. Ser Waymar had been a Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch for less than half a year, but no one could say he had not prepared for his vocation. At least insofar as his wardrobe was concerned. – AGOT, Prologue
Jon's eyes were a grey so dark they seemed almost black, but there was little they did not see. He was of an age with Robb, but they did not look alike. Jon was slender where Robb was muscular, dark where Robb was fair, graceful and quick where his half brother was strong and fast. – AGOT, Bran I
"They're not my brothers," Jon snapped. "They hate me because I'm better than they are." – AGOT, Jon III
Although, it is worth noting that the Royces, as a whole, do somewhat resemble the Starks in appearance, at least in terms of their eye colour:
Bronze Yohn Royce, the current head of House Royce of Runestone, has "slate-grey eyes" as well as a "solemn face", (AFFC, Alayne I).
Ser Robar, his second son was "comely in a rough-hewn way" (ACOK, Catelyn III), with "pale" eyes (ACOK, Catelyn IV), possibly grey like his father's.
Ser Waymar, Yohn's third son, as mentioned, was "grey-eyed" (AGOT, Prologue).
It isn't as clear whether or not their cadet branch, which Albar belongs to, tend towards grey eyes as well, though we know that Myranda has brown hair, specifically "thick chestnut curls" (AFFC, Alayne II) — typical looking Starks, like Ned, Arya, and Jon, all have brown/dark hair.
As previously mentioned, the Royces are also descended from the First Men, have kinship links to the Starks, knew Ned when he fostered in the Vale, and Bronze Yohn even "knows" Sansa Stark:
"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." – AFFC, Alayne I
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?" – AFFC, Alayne I
They also have the house words "We will remember", which somewhat evokes the recurring refrain "the north remembers" (ASOS, Catelyn, ADWD, Davos IV, ADWD, A Ghost in Winterfell, TWOW, Theon I), as well as a possible remembrance of the Long Night, similar to the Starks’ and Tolletts’ words. All in all, as well as evoking a certain Starkness (and Jon-ness), the Royces seem set up to be staunch allies of the Starks going forward.
All Three Sunderlands
Since these Sunderland brothers aren't given names, we can assume what is significant about them, in relation to Jon and Sansa, is their Sunderland name. As you noted, the Sunderlands are the reigning lords of the Three Sisters, and in Dance, through Davos' pov, we hear about Ned's time there during Robert's Rebellion:
"At the dawn of Robert's Rebellion. The Mad King had sent to the Eyrie for Stark's head, but Jon Arryn sent him back defiance. Gulltown stayed loyal to the throne, though. To get home and call his banners, Stark had to cross the mountains to the Fingers and find a fisherman to carry him across the Bite. A storm caught them on the way. The fisherman drowned, but his daughter got Stark to the Sisters before the boat went down. They say he left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly. Jon Snow, she named him, after Arryn.
"Be that as it may. My father sat where I sit now when Lord Eddard came to Sisterton. Our maester urged us to send Stark's head to Aerys, to prove our loyalty. It would have meant a rich reward. The Mad King was open-handed with them as pleased him. By then we knew that Jon Arryn had taken Gulltown, though. Robert was the first man to gain the wall, and slew Marq Grafton with his own hand. 'This Baratheon is fearless,' I said. 'He fights the way a king should fight.' Our maester chuckled at me and told us that Prince Rhaegar was certain to defeat this rebel. That was when Stark said, 'In this world only winter is certain. We may lose our heads, it's true…but what if we prevail?' My father sent him on his way with his head still on his shoulders. 'If you lose,' he told Lord Eddard, 'you were never here.' " – ADWD, Davos I
This passage has one of my favourite asoiaf quotes of all time..."In this world only winter is certain. We may lose our heads, it's true...but what if we prevail?" Truly iconic. So defiantly hopeful.
But, yes, you're right that this story, and the Sunderlands, connects us to Ned, but more importantly...to Jon Snow. Really, Jon has quite a few Vale connections, all things considered, and he is named after Jon Arryn after all!
Uther Shett
Well, along with his buddy Ossifer Lipps (ass for lips), Uther Shett (utter shit) is an example of George having some pretty lowbrow fun with punny names. During their dance, Uther paid Alayne "slimy compliments as he trod upon her feet"...so not the best partner!
But from one shit to another...I think you're probably right that Uther Shett is meant to recall Chett, indeed, if we take a look at his description in Winds:
The one on her left was no more than eighteen, and skinny as a spear. His ginger-colored whiskers only partially served to disguise the angry red pimples that dotted his face.
His bad skin is somewhat comparable to Chett's boils:
Chett had a wen on his neck the size of a pigeon's egg, and a face red with boils and pimples. Perhaps that was why he always seemed so angry. – AGOT, Jon V
What is also noteworthy about Chett's prologue pov in ASOS, is that we get this linking of literal snow and Jon Snow:
Snow was falling.
He could feel tears freezing to his cheeks. It isn't fair, he wanted to scream. Snow would ruin everything he'd worked for, all his careful plans. It was a heavy fall, thick white flakes coming down all about him [...] The snow's taken it all from me...the bloody snow...
Snow had ruined him once before. Snow and his pet pig. – ASOS, Prologue
This makes any mention of snow beyond this point a bit more noteworthy, especially since Jon is referred to as "the Snow of Winterfell," (ASOS, Jon I), and we also have Sansa's famous "drifting snowflakes brushed her face as light as lover's kisses" whilst building Winterfell out of snow scene, also in ASOS, (Sansa VII). So, Chett is very important when it comes to establishing this connection.
Ser Targon the Halfwild
Targon is only mentioned once and it is in that list of dance partners. He's not connected to any particular house, all we know of him is that he is a knight and that he "proved to be the soul of courtesy." This detail is interesting because it sort goes against his "Halfwild" moniker — he is courteous in spite of his half-wildness. Likewise, Jon is also courteous, chivalrous and knightly even, in spite of the stigma attached to being a bastard:
They still think me a turncloak. That was a bitter draft to drink, but Jon could not blame them. He was a bastard, after all. Everyone knew that bastards were wanton and treacherous by nature, having been born of lust and deceit. And he had made as many enemies as friends at Castle Black...Rast, for one. Jon had once threatened to have Ghost rip his throat out unless he stopped tormenting Samwell Tarly, and Rast did not forget things like that. – ASOS, Jon VII
As mentioned in comparison to Ser Byron, Jon behaves courteously towards Gilly, calling her name "pretty", just as Sansa taught him. He also often refers to Val as "my lady" despite her being a proud woman of the Free Folk. Jon also clearly looks up to and wishes to emulate legendary knights to a certain extent, and behaving with courtesy and honour is very much part of that:
They were not little boys when they fought, but knights and mighty heroes. "I'm Prince Aemon the Dragonknight," Jon would call out, and Robb would shout back, "Well, I'm Florian the Fool." Or Robb would say, "I'm the Young Dragon," and Jon would reply, "I'm Ser Ryam Redwyne." – ASOS, Jon XII
Furthermore, Jon has this connection to the Free Folk, also known as the wildlings, having spent a fair amount of time with them:
"The wildling blood is the blood of the First Men, the same blood that flows in the veins of the Starks [...]" – ASOS, Jon I
"Some of your own Sworn Brothers would have me believe that you are half a wildling yourself. Is it true?" – ADWD, Jon IV
Mully cleared his throat. "M'lord? The wildling princess, letting her go, the men may say—"
"—that I am half a wildling myself, a turncloak who means to sell the realm to our raiders, cannibals, and giants." Jon did not need to stare into a fire to know what was being said of him. The worst part was, they were not wrong, not wholly. "Words are wind, and the wind is always blowing at the Wall. Come." – ADWD, Jon VIII
"A wildling. A filthy, murdering wildling." Cregan's hands closed into fists. The gloves that covered them were leather, lined with fur to match the cloak that hung matted and stiff from his broad shoulders. His black wool surcoat was emblazoned with the white sunburst of his house. "I see what you are, Snow. Half a wolf and half a wildling, baseborn get of a traitor and a whore. You would deliver a highborn maid to the bed of some stinking savage. Did you sample her yourself first?" He laughed. "If you mean to kill me, do it and be damned for a kinslayer. Stark and Karstark are one blood."
"My name is Snow." – ADWD, Jon X
I am not the trusting fool you take me for...nor am I half wildling, no matter what you believe. – ADWD, Jon XI
If Stark blood is also essentially wildling blood, and Jon is half Stark on his mother's side...that would make him "Halfwild" in blood as well as in spirit. And like you said, Targon feels very close to Targaryen/Targ-Jon. So this name is there solely as a hint towards Jon's true parentage — half Targaryen and half Stark. But I think you could argue that the "Halfwild" element could allude to Jon's post-resurrection state as well. I do personally like the idea of Feral Jon™.
Ser Roland & Ser Wallace Waynwood
Like the Royces, and Dolorous Edd, the Waynwoods also bear some notable Stark physical traits, as noted by Myranda in this chapter:
“The first Lady Waynwood must have been a mare, I think. How else to explain why all the Waynwood men are horse-faced? [...]"
As we know, looking horse-faced, or in Edd's case, mule-faced, indicates a rather long visage:
Arya took after their lord father. Her hair was a lusterless brown, and her face was long and solemn. Jeyne used to call her Arya Horseface, and neigh whenever she came near. – AGOT, Arya I
[Arya] even looked like Jon, with the long face and brown hair of the Starks, and nothing of their lady mother in her face or her coloring. – AGOT, Sansa I
Interestingly though, Jon is never referred to as being called horse-faced, although we know he has a long Stark face. You'd think that Chett, in the ASOS Prologue would have made that kind of dig, since he says as much about Dolorous Edd? This is why I tentatively believe that, although long-faced, Jon isn't as apparently "homely" as these Stark looking Waynwood brothers:
Ser Roland was the oldest of the three, though no more than five-and-twenty. He was taller and more muscular than Ser Wallace, but both were long-faced and lantern-jawed, with stringy brown hair and pinched noses. Horsefaced and homely, Alayne thought.
That being said, I don't think he's as "handsome" as Ser Waymar Royce, or "beautiful" like Ser Byron. But obviously, he's got something going for him because as GRRM says "all the girls love" him, and you know, he's got a good bod probably and if the Giant's Lance cake is anything to go by, as well as all Tormund's small penis jokes...um, well, maybe he's packing, I don't know! (Don't look at me like that guys...it's GRRM not me!)
But anyway! Like you said, Ser Wallace Waynwood is even of an age with Robb, and therefore also Jon:
Robb would be his age, if he were still alive, she could not help but think, but Robb died a king, and this is just a boy.
There is also a teeny bit of Stark blood, though obviously potent stuff, in the mix with those Waynwoods:
"No," Catelyn agreed. "You must name another heir, until such time as Jeyne gives you a son." She considered a moment. "Your father's father had no siblings, but his father had a sister who married a younger son of Lord Raymar Royce, of the junior branch. They had three daughters, all of whom wed Vale lordlings. A Waynwood and a Corbray, for certain. The youngest...it might have been a Templeton, but..."
"Mother." There was a sharpness in Robb's tone. "You forget. My father had four sons." – ASOS, Catelyn V
Shit — "all of whom wed Vale lordlings" — that's probably where all these Stark looking mother fudgers are coming from. So, all in all, I think there's some strong parallels.
And finally...Ser Harrold Hardyng
But let's not forget this bitch.
And there he stood, Harry the Heir himself; tall, handsome, scowling. “Lady Alayne. May I partner you in this dance?”
She considered for a moment. “No. I don’t think so.”
Prior to Harry, who notably fits into the Ashford pattern of Sansa's suitors, we have all these Jon stand-ins, or references to Jon. We can actually separate them out into their different functions, though there is some overlap with Andrew Tollett:
Those who reference Jon's Starkness/the Stark Look™:
Andrew Tollett
Albar Royce
Roland Waynwood
Wallace Waynwood
Those who reference his position/location at the Night's Watch:
Because in the Alayne chapter prior to this one, Sansa learns that Jon has been made Lord Commander:
[..] Oh, and the Night’s Watch has a boy commander, some bastard son of Eddard Stark’s.” “Jon Snow?” she blurted out, surprised. “Snow? Yes, it would be Snow, I suppose.” – AFFC, Alayne II
So, it is interesting that you then have a number of dance partners connected to members of the Watch:
Ben Coldwater
Andrew Tollett
Morgarth the Merry
Uther Shett
This could be read as foreshadowing for Sansa's future journey north, and specifically to the Wall, where she believes Jon to be.
Those who reference his true/uncertain parentage:
Byron the Beautiful
Shadrich the Mad Mouse
The Three Sunderlands
Targon the Halfwild
All these guys get a dance, but when Harry asks? He is denied. It is only after some A+ dragging by Alayne, and begging by Harry that the latter gets his dance. Yet don't be fooled into thinking this is a win for Harrold:
"Should we ever wed, you'll have to send Saffron back to her father. I’ll be all the spice you’ll want."
He grinned. "I will hold you to that promise, my lady. Until that day, may I wear your favor in the tourney?"
"You may not. It is promised to… another." She was not sure who as yet, but she knew she would find someone.
First off, we have this reminder of the betrothal, but there is a lack of certainty there — "should we wed" — and I would argue that's because...they ain't gonna. Remember all that wedding breakfast imagery, including an umcomfortably phallic lemon (wedding) cake, gift-giving and nod to a bridal cloak? Remember how that was followed by several dances with Jon stand-ins?
"[...] It is promised to… another."
Oh, I wonder who that could be? Honestly...GRRM has very clearly, for those who care to really look, stated someone else's claim here, and it ain't Harry's. In fact, it is the very same person who also evokes Valarr Targaryen in the Ashford pattern.
...it's our boi, Jon Snow.
“Jon Snow?” she blurted out, surprised.
“Snow? Yes, it would be Snow, I suppose.” – AFFC, Alayne II
You "suppose", Myranda? Honey, I'm certain.
120 notes · View notes