In Season 7, Episode 5 of Game of Thrones, Arya spies on Littlefinger and sees him being given a scroll by Maester Wolkan. She waits for him to hide it and then searches it out. If you’re wondering what the hell that was all about, this post is for you.
Here’s what the scroll says, courtesy of this eagle-eyed Redditor:
“Robb, I write to you with a heavy heart. Our good king Robert is dead, killed from wounds he took in a boar hunt. Father has been charged with treason. He conspired with Robert’s brothers against my beloved Joffrey and tried to steal his throne. The Lannisters are treating me very well and provide me with every comfort. I beg you: Come to King’s Landing, swear fealty to King Joffrey and prevent any strife between the great houses of Lannister and Stark.”
Yep, it’s the letter Cersei forced Sansa to write to Robb back in Season 1, urging him to bend the knee to Joffrey after Robert Baratheon’s death and Ned Stark’s arrest.
Sansa was still a naive child back then, and terrified of what would happen to her father – and to her. Cersei, Littlefinger, Varys, and Pycelle manipulate her into sending the letter, making her believe her father’s life depends on it.
Sansa’s letter is the first news Robb hears of Ned’s arrest, and he’s shocked. Maester Luwin immediately recognises Cersei’s hand in the letter.
It’s this letter (and the news it contains) that causes Robb to call his banners and go to war.
So why did Littlefinger deliberately plant it for Arya to find (as we know he did from the way he was creepily lurking at the end of the scene)?
You might remember in Episode 3 of this season, Littlefinger was VERY interested when Maester Wolkan mentioned the fact that Maester Luwin kept a record of every raven ever sent to Winterfell.
He was clearly thinking of this one. He was there and part of the group that manipulated Sansa into writing it.
He wanted Arya to see it, and to make her believe that Sansa wanted to hide it from her, to fuel distrust between the sisters.
Littlefinger wants power, and he wants Sansa. He’s seen how dangerous Arya is, and knows she probably doesn’t trust him. Her returning to Winterfell (not to mention Bran and his “chaos is a ladder” comment) puts his plans of gaining power over Sansa (and through her) at risk. From Littlefinger’s point of view, the more isolated Sansa is, the more vulnerable she is, and the more she’ll rely on and listen to him.
Honestly, it’s the smartest and most ~Littlefinger~ thing he’s done all season. And there is already tension between Sansa and Arya – they’ve always been different, and their time apart has only made them more so.
BUT it’s also made them more appreciative of their family.
Not to mention the fact that none of the Starks trust Littlefinger. I mean, Sansa used him to get the Knights of the Vale, but she’s not a naive little girl anymore. She blames him for selling her to the Boltons, and knows he’s always up to shady shit.
And don’t forget that Arya saw Littlefinger colluding with Tywin Lannister to defeat Robb back in Season 2.
