Will Arya "Share" Nymeria with Sansa?

[Lady Blooms]

The surviving Stark children have all struggled to maintain their Stark identity -- Jon sheds family loyalty to become a brother of the Black Watch and it’s Lord Commander, Bran becomes a greenseer, Arya is forced to become everyone (except a Stark) and no one, Sansa must hide her Stark loyalty to survive Cersei and Joffrey in King’s Landing and become Alysane in the Vale, and Rickon has no connection to the Starks off in Skaagos.  This may be changing as we head into TWOW, as there are strong hints some or all of the Starks might be converging on the North and even perhaps Winterfell.

However, during their journeys, the Stark’s direwolves keep them grounded, even if only in their wolf dreams.  Not only does it keep their connection to the Stark family and to Winterfell, the direwolves keep the connection amongst themselves as the wolves see each other through their dreams.

Not so Sansa, whose direwolf has been killed.  Many have been concerned that Sansa, without Lady, has struggled harder to keep her Stark connection and is more susceptible to Littlefinger’s machinations -- without a living direwolf, might her connection to the Stark core be weaker or more difficult to maintain?

This quote from Ned’s speech to Arya makes me wonder whether there is hope for Sansa.

“Let me tell you something about wolves, child.  When the snow falls and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.  Summer is the time for squabbles.  In winter, we must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths.”  (GOT)

This oft quoted speech is usually referenced for the phrase “the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.”  I am interested in the last part . “We must protect one another, keep each other warm, share our strengths.”  I believe that this might foreshadow that, as winter arrives, Nymeria might serve as a direwolf touchstone for Sansa as well as Arya.   In other words, “when snow falls and the white winds blow,” Arya (and Nymeria) will take her father’s words to heart and “share [her] strength” -- her direwolf connection.

Clearly, there would be some justice in Arya “sharing” Nymeria with Sansa -- Lady was punished and killed in place of Nymeria and for Nymeria’s “crime” of biting Prince Joffrey.  It is precisely because of Nymeria that Sansa is without direwolf protection, why her connection to the Stark legacy is weaker.  There would be a great deal of pathos if Ned’s word came to fruition with Arya “sharing” Nymeria with Sansa, or more probably Nymeria sharing herself, as I believe it might be a naturally flowing occurrence rather than Arya actively doing something to “share.”

I’m not suggesting that Nymeria will be fully shared by Sansa and Arya or even that Sansa will warg into Nymeria, but merely that Nymeria, who has already shown herself willing and able to save another Stark family member, might serve as the link that helps Sansa reconnect with her Stark roots beyond snow castle building and Sansa/Alyane’s love of lemoncakes.

I’m not going to lie, now that Sansa is no longer in the Eyrie and is getting closer to the Riverlands and ultimately heads toward Winterfell, I’m fantasizing a scene where Nymeria wanders into camp and seats herself regally at at Sansa’s side as Littlefinger looks on in horror.  Calmly, coldly, Sansa looks Littlefinger right in the eyes, gives Nymeria the nod, and looks on as Nymeria tears Littlefinger’s throat out.

 

[TheLastWolf]

Puck off Sansa. She might not be a a Stark. Incest ship says LF's her pop. Whatever. Meh. Duh. Don't care. All I know is Arya ain't sharing. Nymeria certainly won't care for a sissy. Sansa can play the game and die 

[Tucu]

Sansa's symbols has been evolving from the little bird to the mockingbird (from his "father") into the the falcon (from Harry the Heir). From little bird into bird of prey; she might not need a wolf anymore.

[Nevets]

While I can see Nymeria helping Sansa in great need, sort of like Summer with Jon, I don't see it getting any deeper than that.  Lady's loss has affected Sansa's skinchanging abilities, though.  I have a suspicion that she will skinchange a bird, probably a small hawk, at some time in the near future.  She has plenty of bird connections.

8 hours ago, The_Lone_Wolf said:

Puck off Sansa. She might not be a a Stark. Incest ship says LF's her pop. Whatever. Meh. Duh. Don't care. All I know is Arya ain't sharing. Nymeria certainly won't care for a sissy. Sansa can play the game and die 

Sansa's as much a Stark as the others.  She isn't going to join LF, at least not permanently, nor is she going to die.  She's here to stay.  On Team Stark.  And she is a lot stronger and wiser than she used to be, so she'll actually be useful.

[StarksInTheNorth]

First, I think LF has more of an undoing than just getting his throat ripped out. True justice is going to be him not just dying, but seeing all his well-laid plans unravel, particularly if it's done because Sansa has out-manipulated him. She's not quite there yet, and because I think she's only getting 4-6 chapters in TWOW, I'd predict something like his Winterfell trial in S7 to come early in ADOS. Sansa making allies for herself and winning people over, not through her claim or name but as herself and with her skills, proves that she is worthy as more than just the claim (the only reason people have "wanted" her for the last several books) and shows that the better part of the world, kindness etc., can win over the grimdark manipulation of the chaos ladder that personifies Littlefinger.

While I wouldn't mind interactions with Nymeria or the other direwolves, sort of an accepting of Sansa even if she's married or no longer has a wolf, I just don't feel this "sharing" to be as incredibly deep. Plus, I'm of the opinion that Sansa arrives in Winterfell via White Harbor (ships sail from Gulltown to White Harbor, her entering through the "southern" part of the North) and Arya will make her return North through the Riverlands, picking up Nymeria and potentially the Brotherhood without Banners on the way (also maybe giving the gift to her mother/Stoneheart?).

@Tucu has the right of it:

10 hours ago, Tucu said:

Sansa's symbols has been evolving from the little bird to the mockingbird (from his "father") into the the falcon (from Harry the Heir). From little bird into bird of prey; she might not need a wolf anymore.

I feel like if GRRM had more time (and pages) we might see Sansa warging into a bird or a dog (there was a close bond with the old dog at Petyr's castle in the Fingers) but there's so many other things to wrap up in the two books that are slightly bigger plot points, even for her (addressing the northern inheritance issue, Sweetrobin, Petyr's downfall, etc.) that I just don't think there's time for much more.

[Lady Blooms]

2 hours ago, Nevets said:

While I can see Nymeria helping Sansa in great need, sort of like Summer with Jon, I don't see it getting any deeper than that.  Lady's loss has affected Sansa's skinchanging abilities, though.  I have a suspicion that she will skinchange a bird, probably a small hawk, at some time in the near future.  She has plenty of bird connections.

Sansa's as much a Stark as the others.  She isn't going to join LF, at least not permanently, nor is she going to die.  She's here to stay.  On Team Stark.  And she is a lot stronger and wiser than she used to be, so she'll actually be useful.

I agree it will be more of like a momentary help, maybe sort of a trigger to give Sansa strength to get back on the Stark path. 
 

I also agree she will be useful, certainly she has a lot of information and knowledge re LFs plots that I hope get out. 
 

[Lady Blooms]

2 minutes ago, StarksInTheNorth said:

First, I think LF has more of an undoing than just getting his throat ripped out. True justice is going to be him not just dying, but seeing all his well-laid plans unravel, particularly if it's done because Sansa has out-manipulated him. She's not quite there yet, and because I think she's only getting 4-6 chapters in TWOW, I'd predict something like his Winterfell trial in S7 to come early in ADOS. Sansa making allies for herself and winning people over, not through her claim or name but as herself and with her skills, proves that she is worthy as more than just the claim (the only reason people have "wanted" her for the last several books) and shows that the better part of the world, kindness etc., can win over the grimdark manipulation of the chaos ladder that personifies Littlefinger.

While I wouldn't mind interactions with Nymeria or the other direwolves, sort of an accepting of Sansa even if she's married or no longer has a wolf, I just don't feel this "sharing" to be as incredibly deep. Plus, I'm of the opinion that Sansa arrives in Winterfell via White Harbor (ships sail from Gulltown to White Harbor, her entering through the "southern" part of the North) and Arya will make her return North through the Riverlands, picking up Nymeria and potentially the Brotherhood without Banners on the way (also maybe giving the gift to her mother/Stoneheart?).

@Tucu has the right of it:

I feel like if GRRM had more time (and pages) we might see Sansa warging into a bird or a dog (there was a close bond with the old dog at Petyr's castle in the Fingers) but there's so many other things to wrap up in the two books that are slightly bigger plot points, even for her (addressing the northern inheritance issue, Sweetrobin, Petyr's downfall, etc.) that I just don't think there's time for much more.

Yes I also think Sansa will end up taking a ship ultimately. And I definitely didn’t mean and sort of 50/50 sharing of Nymeria but perhaps one moment where Sansa needs an emotional push to help her have the Stark strength. Maybe even just in a dream. 

[StarksInTheNorth]

Sansa's never left the Stark path:

5 minutes ago, Lady Blooms said:

I agree it will be more of like a momentary help, maybe sort of a trigger to give Sansa strength to get back on the Stark path. 
 

I also agree she will be useful, certainly she has a lot of information and knowledge re LFs plots that I hope get out. 
 

AGOT Sansa VI:

And to the north … She turned that way, and saw only the city, streets and alleys and hills and bottoms and more streets and more alleys and the stone of distant walls. Yet she knew that beyond them was open country, farms and fields and forests, and beyond that, north and north and north again, stood Winterfell.

ASOS Sansa VII:

She wondered where this courage had come from, to speak to him so frankly. From Winterfell, she thought. I am strong within the walls of Winterfell.
...
I am a Stark of Winterfell, she longed to tell him. Instead she nodded, and let him escort her down the tower steps and along a bridge. 

AFFC, Sansa I:

I am not your daughter, she thought. I am Sansa Stark, Lord Eddard's daughter and Lady Catelyn's, the blood of Winterfell. 

She's buried her Starkness to survive, but she never left the bath.

[TheLastWolf]

3 hours ago, Nevets said:

Sansa's as much a Stark as the others.  She isn't going to join LF, at least not permanently, nor is she going to die.  She's here to stay.  On Team Stark.  And she is a lot stronger and wiser than she used to be, so she'll actually be useful.

Believe it or not, I bet my alter ego that you'd be the first to defend her. 

Plus emboldened 

Still noob. Relative to older self is like comparing racism (immediately) before and after the emancipation proclamation 

[MissM]

This is unfortunately a very common headcanon for some hardcore Sansa fans who blame Arya/Nymeria for what happened to Lady. 

The idea of sharing her is so ridiculous and once again takes away from Arya's character. 

Nymeria is Arya's other half, drawn to her even with their separation. Right now, I'm pretty sure Nymeria is somewhere near the Whispers, overlooking the Narrow sea. To think Sansa can just step in to that dynamic... not happening. 

And I agree, Arya will sooner meet Nymeria and her pack via the Riverlands. That's where Arya has so much unfinished business and inserting Sansa and using Nymeria in the way the OP imagined is just so wrong. Nymeria taking commands from Sansa? No thank you. 

[Nevets]

22 hours ago, The_Lone_Wolf said:

Believe it or not, I bet my alter ego that you'd be the first to defend her. 

Plus emboldened 

Still noob. Relative to older self is like comparing racism (immediately) before and after the emancipation proclamation 

I stand willing and able to step into the breach to defend any Stark I feel is being unfairly maligned.

Sansa has probably changed more than just about any other character.  She is way more observant, no longer takes things at face value, and any dreaminess has been thoroughly beaten out of her - literally and figuratively - by Joffrey and Cersei.  Her good nature and sense of decency, fortunately, were not.  And she's good at figuring stuff out when she puts her mind to it.  She just didn't bother in the beginning.

I do agree that Nymeria is Arya's to command.  And I put the blame for Lady's death where it belongs - on Joffrey, Cersei, and Robert.

[Lady Blooms]

3 hours ago, MissM said:

This is unfortunately a very common headcanon for some hardcore Sansa fans who blame Arya/Nymeria for what happened to Lady. 

The idea of sharing her is so ridiculous and once again takes away from Arya's character. 

Nymeria is Arya's other half, drawn to her even with their separation. Right now, I'm pretty sure Nymeria is somewhere near the Whispers, overlooking the Narrow sea. To think Sansa can just step in to that dynamic... not happening. 

And I agree, Arya will sooner meet Nymeria and her pack via the Riverlands. That's where Arya has so much unfinished business and inserting Sansa and using Nymeria in the way the OP imagined is just so wrong. Nymeria taking commands from Sansa? No thank you. 

OP here. I don’t think I’m meant or implied sharing like suddenly Sansa wargs Nymeria. Rather that Nymeria might protect Sansa or in some way remind Sansa of her “starkness”. What I wrote was: “I’m not suggesting that Nymeria will be fully shared by Sansa and Arya or even that Sansa will warg into Nymeria, but merely that Nymeria, who has already shown herself willing and able to save another Stark family member, might serve as the link that helps Sansa reconnect with her Stark roots”

[SocratesSnow]

I think Sansa will warg into Sweet Robin. 

 

[Lady Blooms]

On 6/23/2021 at 10:35 AM, StarksInTheNorth said:

Sansa's never left the Stark path:

AGOT Sansa VI:

And to the north … She turned that way, and saw only the city, streets and alleys and hills and bottoms and more streets and more alleys and the stone of distant walls. Yet she knew that beyond them was open country, farms and fields and forests, and beyond that, north and north and north again, stood Winterfell.

ASOS Sansa VII:

She wondered where this courage had come from, to speak to him so frankly. From Winterfell, she thought. I am strong within the walls of Winterfell.
...
I am a Stark of Winterfell, she longed to tell him. Instead she nodded, and let him escort her down the tower steps and along a bridge. 

AFFC, Sansa I:

I am not your daughter, she thought. I am Sansa Stark, Lord Eddard's daughter and Lady Catelyn's, the blood of Winterfell. 

She's buried her Starkness to survive, but she never left the bath.

Agree Sansa is still stark in her core. But she has been alone so long and under the sphere of Lannisters and the Littlefinger so long — like so many characters in asoiaf Sansa has had to appear on the outside to take on a diff character to survive. But would be a nice legacy to Ned and his speech to Arya if Nymeria/Arya were to lend her a hand, similar to when Summer/Bran stepped in to help Jon nears Queenscrown.  

[Lady Blooms]

3 hours ago, Nevets said:

I stand willing and able to step into the breach to defend any Stark I feel is being unfairly maligned.

Sansa has probably changed more than just about any other character.  She is way more observant, no longer takes things at face value, and any dreaminess has been thoroughly beaten out of her - literally and figuratively - by Joffrey and Cersei.  Her good nature and sense of decency, fortunately, were not.  And she's good at figuring stuff out when she puts her mind to it.  She just didn't bother in the beginning.

I do agree that Nymeria is Arya's to command.  And I put the blame for Lady's death where it belongs - on Joffrey, Cersei, and Robert.

Blame for lady’s death def on Joff and Cersei and Robert’s weakness but lady’s death was in place of her sister Nymeria which may create an additional bond between the two girls. 

[TheLastWolf]

3 hours ago, Nevets said:

I do agree that Nymeria is Arya's to command.  And I put the blame for Lady's death where it belongs - on Joffrey, Cersei, and Robert

Plus Ned and GRRM 

[chrisdaw]

Sansa's wolf died and she's a Lannister now.

[Lady Blooms]

12 hours ago, chrisdaw said:

Sansa's wolf died and she's a Lannister now.

Someone should tell Cersei that they are family, she's treated Sansa awfully.  Oh wait, that's kind of typical for how she treats family! 

 

[Nevets]

12 hours ago, chrisdaw said:

Sansa's wolf died and she's a Lannister now.

She's definitely not a Lannister now.  The only thing Lannister about her is her marriage to Tyrion, which she didn't want, in part because he is a Lannister. 

She is thinking and acting more Stark-ish by the chapter.   Not to mention all the Stark and Northern imagery in her story.

On 6/24/2021 at 8:55 AM, Lady Blooms said:

Blame for lady’s death def on Joff and Cersei and Robert’s weakness but lady’s death was in place of her sister Nymeria which may create an additional bond between the two girls. 

Actually, I expect that to create more of a divide than a bond, but I expect them to come together in the end.

[chrisdaw]

10 hours ago, Nevets said:

She's definitely not a Lannister now.  The only thing Lannister about her is her marriage to Tyrion, which she didn't want, in part because he is a Lannister. 

Her behaviour is that of a Lannister, she is an untrusting player in the game of thrones.

10 hours ago, Lady Blooms said:

Someone should tell Cersei that they are family, she's treated Sansa awfully.  Oh wait, that's kind of typical for how she treats family! 

And how Sansa treats family too.