#pov: your son finally brings home that guy he won't stop talking about and it's just some nerd

[bydusklight]

Happy Starlight! ⭐

[kittykatknits]

Jumping off your amazing Sansa and Sandor meta, do you think Sansa and Tyrion have a possibility of becoming canon? Unlike S*nsan, GRRM seems to like the idea of these two (when Sophie said at Comic Con that they'd be a great power couple, he nodded and smiled) and he did marry them for a reason. If they won't be canon, do you think they'll meet again?

Nope. For starters, I’m about 99.44% certain Tyrion (like almost every POV character) isn’t going to survive, which pretty much negates them becoming canon or ending up together. I also would not read anything into GRRM’s facial gestures on this, he does variants of it all the time. Earlier, when the fandom was smaller, he was much more forthcoming with info but has become much less inclined to do so over the years, so he sure isn’t going to give it away at Comic Con for the tv show.

As for them meeting up again, yes, absolutely.

My current prediction for Tyrion in the books is that he attaches himself to Dany, is with her when she burns Volantis and Pentos, and sails with her to Dragonstone. In Westeros, he will claim CR, which is what Tyrion has wanted as his birthright since the very beginning of the series. However, it will be an empty victory, his niece and nephew will be dead, so will Lancel and Kevan, so will Genna and Devan (this will be after the Freymageddon), and probably Jaime and Cersei too. I hope I’m wrong about the Jaime part though, this is one of my hoped for reunions.

Now for Sansa, her story line has been leading her north and nothing in the gift chapter should make us doubt that is what will be happening. She’ll be outed, she’ll probably marry Harry, and she will go north. Sometime during all this, LF will go down, she’ll get to WF, and finally reunite with Jon Snow. The Harry the Heir marriage is one I’ve argued against for years but the gift chapter and World book pretty much removed my doubts, as much as I dislike it.

For your question, let’s suppose Tyrion lives through the war for the dawn while Harry dies (which he will in canon too), what purpose would it serve? What benefit would either characters gain from it?

I’m not going to spend much time on them falling in love because if this is their idea of an intimate evening meal among newlyweds, well….:

“The pease are overcooked,” his wife ventured once.“No matter,” he said. “So is the mutton.“It was a jest, but Sansa took it for criticism. “I am sorry, my lord.”  "Why? Some cook should be sorry. Not you. The pease are not your province, Sansa.“"I … I am sorry that my lord husband is displeased.”“Any displeasure I’m feeling has naught to do with pease. I have Joffrey and my sister to displease me, and my lord father, and three hundred bloody Dornishmen.”

- Tyrion VI, SoS

So, let’s talk about their marriage as political reunion or a way to bring peace and stability to a war-torn Westeros. The question I would have is, how?

Tyrion is a Lannister, a known kinslayer and a (believed) kingslayer. His marriage to Sansa was meant to be another Rains of Castamere by Tywin on House Stark:

“Why, do you plan to mistreat her?” His father sounded more curious than concerned. “The girl’s happiness is not my purpose, nor should it be yours. Our alliances in the south may be as solid as Casterly Rock, but there remains the north to win, and the key to the north is Sansa Stark.”

“When you bring Eddard Stark’s grandson home to claim his birthright, lords and little folk alike will rise as one to place him on the high seat of his ancestors. You are capable of getting a woman with child, I hope?“

- Tyrion III, SoS

Let’s be clear, Sansa’s body is a tool, a means to an end. This is Tywin Lannister, the man who says there is a tool for every task and a task for every tool. After the Red Wedding, Sansa’s child would secure the north for the Lannisters. Notice that Tywin says nothing about her returning north, only Tyrion and the child. She’s a disposable object.

Robb knows it:

“For Winterfell,” Robb said at once. “With Bran and Rickon dead, Sansa is my heir. If anything should happen to me …”

-Catelyn IV, SoS

It’s the reason why Robb created his will, and if he knows the reason why it was done, be assured all his bannerman do as well. Even Stannis knows it, that’s the reason why he calls her Lady Lannister.

So, how is it beneficial to complete Tywin’s Rain of Castamere on the north and Starks? What good does that do? How does that placate a north that is in the process of tearing down the Boltons and Freys? It isn’t peace, it’s giving Tywin exactly what he wants, and if anyone thinks that is a direction Martin will be taking the story, I’d suggest they dig a bit deeper into the legacies of both Tywin and Ned.

Also, if we are talking about a political marriage, it’s important to note the differences between Tyrion and Sansa. First, we need to remember that Tyrion Lannister on the show is absolutely not the character that appears in the books. The guy in the books is not pushing for democracy and he’s pretty damn sexist.

When it comes to Tyrion Lannister, no matter the book or the situation or the characters on page, his moral compass always, always leads him to Casterly Rock. That moral compass of his is pointing the exact same way, from his first appearance all the way though his last chapter in Dance. It never sways. As for Sansa, her moral compass, how she approaches the world, well “I will make them love me.” It’s the exact opposite to Tyrion.

I’m not going to do a complete analysis of Tyrion’s POV, or his character in this, since it would never end. But, let’s look at a few quick examples.

First, Tyrion says this:

“So what will you do, m'lord, now that you’re the Hand of the King?” Shae asked him as he cupped that warm sweet flesh.“Something Cersei will never expect,” Tyrion murmured softly against her slender neck. “I’ll do … justice.”

- Tyrion I, aCoK

Tyrion says he is going to do justice, but remember, that moral compass is pointing to Casterly Rock.

“A daughter will suffice where there is no son. They shall be treated gently and given high places here at court, so long as their fathers commit no new treasons.”

&

Tyrion glanced toward Sansa, and felt a stab of pity as he said, “Until such time as he frees my brother Jaime, unharmed, they shall remain here as hostages. How well they are treated depends on him.” And if the gods are good, Bywater will find Arya alive, before Robb learns she’s gone missing.

-Tyrion XI, aCoK

Let’s be clear, Tyrion loves his brother dearly and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, Jaime is a grown man and a soldier while Sansa is twelve and completely defenseless. At this stage in the story, she’s also been subjected to months of physical and emotional abuse via Joffrey and Cersei. Is the subtle threat to Robb on his sister’s treatment something Ned Stark would do or Tywin Lannister? Does this look like justice?

Now let’s look at a couple nuggets during their marriage. Tyrion goes from this:

What difference did it make? They were laughing at him all the same. The only person in the Red Keep who didn’t seem to find his marriage a source of amusement was his lady wife. Sansa’s misery was deepening every day. Tyrion would gladly have broken through her courtesy to give her what solace he might, but it was no good. No words would ever make him fair in her eyes. Or any less a Lannister. This was the wife they had given him, for all the rest of his life, and she hated him.

- Tyrion IV, SoS

to this:

He made certain not to look at Sansa, lest his bitterness show in his eyes. You might have knelt, damn you. Would it have been so bloody hard to bend those stiff Stark knees of yours and let me keep a little dignity?

- Tyrion VI, SoS

Sansa is miserable and deeply grieving. If you read her chapters during the PW, she is almost suicidal. She’s witnessed her father’s death, been threatened and assulted, beaten, forcibly married, molested by Tyrion, and been told her remaining family has been killed by Lannisters and Lannister allies. Yet, Tyrion is certain her feelings towards him are because of his looks, he never reflects on any of the above. He never makes the connection that Sansa’s feelings towards him are because she understands exactly where that moral compass points. He is a Lannister, he is her jailer. Let’s also never forget, that not once during their marriage, does Tyrion sway on where his loyalties lay. He may despise his sister and nephew, he may hate Tywin even more, but he’s still working to keep them in power. Sansa is very, very aware of this.

Sansa though, she comforts the women during the BBW, she helps Lollys, she offers help to Lancel, she tries to stop the bread riot, she saves Dontos, she prays for Sandor and so many others. I could go on here. But, she does all that, when she has no power and nothing to gain. Sansa acts to make people love her.

Either way, this is a thought exercise. He’s dying, going out in a blaze of glory fighting the others.

As to how they will reunite, I believe it will take place at some point during the battle against the others. It’s important to note, that as smart as Tyrion (and many readers) think he is, the man does not know Sansa at all. He constantly underestimates and dismisses her.

Let’s start with Clash. Here, Sansa gives the perfect lie so she can keep visiting the godswood when he’s on the verge of making her his prisoner in the hand’s tower:

“I would sooner return to my own bed.” A lie came to her suddenly, but it seemed so right that she blurted it out at once. “This tower was where my father’s men were slain. Their ghosts would give me terrible dreams, and I would see their blood wherever I looked."Tyrion Lannister studied her face. "I am no stranger to nightmares, Sansa. Perhaps you are wiser than I knew. Permit me at least to escort you safely back to your own chambers.”

- Sansa III, aCoK

She does it again here:

. “I confess, I know little of the old gods,” he said, trying to be pleasant. “Perhaps someday you might enlighten me. I could even accompany you.”“No,” Sansa said at once. “You … you are kind to offer, but … there are no devotions, my lord. No priests or songs or candles. Only trees, and silent prayer. You would be bored.”

- Tyrion XI, SoS

There is also this:

Either Sansa had been stupid enough to confide in one of her bedmaids, every one of whom was a spy for Cersei, or Varys and his little birds were to blame.

- Tyrion IV, SoS

Sansa had all this figured out in the last book but Tyrion is now coming to it? No way would Sansa talk to her maids, and the fact that Tyrion even considers it, shows us how little he knows her.

Again, Tyrion really does not know Sansa at all:

Does she wish it were her in Margaery’s place? Tyrion frowned. Even a child should have better sense.

-Tyrion VIII, SoS

Every reader knows that she has no wish to be in Margaery’s place. She was assaulted, beaten, and terrorized by Joffrey for months.

So, despite living together in court for quite some time, and being married for a short while, Tyrion really only knows the superficial self Sansa puts forth. She’s beautiful, grief stricken (duh!), courteous, and not all that smart. This is going to be very, very relevant at some point.

Hopefully I answered your question, anon!! Thank you for the ask!