'Game of Thrones': 5 Spoilery Things We Learned From 'Winds of Winter'

The week before Game of Thrones returns to HBO for its fifth season, Westeros mastermind George R.R. Martin unveiled a preview chapter from The Windof Winter, the long-delayed sixth book in his epic fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire. Available now on Martin’s official website, the chapter unfolds from the POV of the character commonly known as Sansa Stark… but we’re already getting into spoiler territory, so it’s time for you spoilerphobes to clear out while we list the five big plot points we gleaned from this new Winds of Winter chapter. Seriously: SPOILERS AHEAD!

1. Sansa Is Still Going by a Different Name
Midway through A Feast for Crows — the fourth book in the series and the last she appeared in as a POV character (she sat out the last one, Dance of Dragons) — Sansa disappeared into her alternate identity as “Alayne Stone,” bastard daughter of her protector (and imprisoner), Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish, current regent of the Eyrie since his murder of his wife (and Sansa’s aunt) Lysa. Alayne’s primary duty is to mind the realm’s young Lord, the sickly and spoiled Robert, while Littlefinger puts his grand plan of reclaiming Winterfell into effect. A demanding little tyrant, Robert (aka Sweetrobin) is still bossing poor Alayne around in Winds of Winter, demanding that she marry him.

How It Differs From the Show: Sansa briefly inhabits her “Alayne” identity in the eighth episode of Season 4, but then revealed her true self to an assembled tribunal investigating the death of Lady Lysa, conveniently leaving out the part about Petyr being responsible for her death.

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2. She’s Anticipating a Marriage to Harrold Hardyng
Littlefinger’s “Reclaim Winterfell” plan hinges on Alayne marrying handsome Harry the Heir, the successor to the Eyrie throne if and when Robert meets an untimely end. Then, as the new Lady of the Eyrie, Alayne can reveal her true self and rally the soldiers of the Vale to her cause. There’s only one problem: Sweetrobin is convinced that Harrold is working against him. As he remarks early on in the chapter: “I hate that Harry. He calls me cousin, but he’s just waiting for me to die so he can take the Eyrie. He thinks I don’t know, but I do.” He may be a brat, but he ain’t stupid.

How It Differs From the Show: Since Sansa isn’t hiding her identity, a marriage to Harrold isn’t necessary, so there’s no Harrold on the scene… at least, not yet.

3. Harrold Is Not That Into Her. Not At All.
Were she still publicly known as a Stark, Harrold would be falling all over himself to marry Alayne. But because she’s wearing the mask of Baelish’s bastard, he’d rather not be seen in her company. When she offers to escort him to his chambers in the palace, he disdainfully replies: “Why should it please me to be escorted anywhere by Littlefinger’s bastard?” Dude, that’s no way to talk to your future wife.

How It Differs From the Show: See above — there’s little chance of this storyline being part of the show, at least given how events have progressed so far.

4. Preparations Are Underway for an All-Vale Tournament
As a way to stir the spirit of the Vale’s young fighting men, Littlefinger has orchestrated a competition pitting aspiring knights against each other for the honor of joining the ranks of the “Brotherhood of Winged Knights,” a new squad charged with serving little Robert. Frustrated by Lysa’s refusal to get involved in the wars rampaging through Westeros, competitors show up in droves for the chance to get to prove their valor. And though she won’t receive any public acknowledgement for it, Alayne was the one who dreamed the whole event up, to the admiration of her “father.”

How It Differs From the Show: Neither Baelish nor Sansa seem in the position to launch this kind of event, but Robert does need protecting. The “Brotherhood of Winged Knights” could still factor into the season, albeit in a very different form.

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5. Alayne Is Under Littlefinger’s… Thumb
Call it Stockholm Syndrome or simple survival skills, but Alayne has re-trained her mind to the point where she really does view Baelish — rather than dearly departed Ned Stark — as her father, and is a willing pawn in his scheme, putting her pride aside and cuddling up to the detestable Harrold.

How It Differs From the Show: By revealing her true identity, and sparing Baelish from being revealed as Lysa’s murderer, Sansa currently has more power over Littlefinger than he has over her. We’ll see how she uses that power in the season ahead.

Game of Thrones premieres April 12 at 9 p.m. on HBO.