The last season of Game of Thrones will be filled with reunions. Some of them will be happy, but some will be a little awkward. The reunion between Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister is likely to be one of the awkward ones. This is because Sansa and Tyrion used to be married (not that either of them wanted to be).
In season 3, in a bid to spread the Lannister family name to all corners of Westeros, Tywin Lannister forces Tyrion to marry Sansa. This move will help the Lannisters rule The North, in addition to the other parts of the country.
Saving Sansa
Before the prospect of their marriage, Tyrion intercedes on Sansa’s behalf more than once. He rescues her from her torment in the throne room where Joffrey has a crossbow pointed at her, while his King’s Guard beats her and tears at her clothes.
He also makes sure she returns to the castle after a mob attacks the royal procession.
The Wedding
Tyrion and Sansa’s wedding might possibly the most depressing wedding ever, although it’s good as far as Game of Thrones weddings go… because no one dies. In order to cope with the uncomfortable circumstances, Tyrion gets very drunk (and that’s saying something for a person who drinks as much as he does) and Sansa looks bored and defeated. Tywin chastises Tyrion for drinking so much, thinking it will make things harder during their wedding night. It’s during this scene that Tyrion says one of his best lines — “I am the god of tits and wine.”
Poor Sansa’s wedding turns worse when Joffrey threatens to rape her before insisting on the “bedding ceremony” (a Westerosi custom where the couple is carried and de-clothed by wedding guests of the opposite gender.) When Tyrion refuses, we get a signature Joffrey moment where he childishly tries to remind everyone that he’s the king. Tywin intercedes and Tyrion escorts Sansa from the wedding talking about he once threw up on a girl during sex.
The Wedding Night
Once Sansa and Tyrion actually make it to Tyrion’s quarters, Tyrion asks Sansa how old she is (14, by the way,) but he’s unable to have sex with her, not because of his ability to perform, but because he refuses to force himself on her. Their exchange during that scene is heartbreaking.
Tyrion: I won’t share your bed. Not until you want me to.
Sansa: What if I never want you to.
The Reunion
This reunion is a little tricky to predict. The last time they saw each other was at Joffrey’s wedding where Tyrion is accused of murder. There’s no doubt both will be courteous to each other, as we’ve seen the respect they have for each other in different occasions in season 7. Tyrion notes how smart Sansa is while talking with Jon Snow, and Sansa tells Jon that Tyrion “was always kind to me.” Beyond the courtesy, things are likely to be pretty awkward, compounded by the fact that Sansa does not trust Daenerys.
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