Game of Thrones season 7: Jon Snow, Arya Stark and Tyrion Lannister love triangle features in original outline
*WARNING - SPOILERS* George RR Martin letter revealed some of his original ideas for the plot
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An original outline of George RR Martin's plans for the characters Game of Thrones reveals that the author intended to include a surprising love triangle between three of his most important characters.
It may seem completely impossible now, but back when he was planning the series as a trilogy, rather than what will (hopefully) turn out as a seven-volume epic, Martin thought that Arya Stark could become tangled up in a love triangle with Tyrion Lannister and Jon Snow.
In a proposal from 1993 that was tweeted (now deleted) by bookseller Waterstones and corroborated by Game of Thrones publisher HarperCollins before the tweet was removed, the second part of an excerpt about Tyrion reads:
"Exiled, Tyrion will change sides, making common cause with the surviving Starks to bring his brother down, and falling helplessly in love with Arya Stark while he's at it. His passion is, alas, unreciprocated, but no less intense for that, and it will lead to a deadly rivalry between Tyrion and Jon Snow."
It follows: "[Arya] realises, with terror, that she has fallen in love with Jon, who is not only her half-brother but a man of the Night's Watch, sworn to celibacy. Their passion will continue to torment Jon and Arya throughout the trilogy, until the secret of Jon's true parentage is finally revealed in the last book."
Vanity Fair, which recorded the outline before it was removed from Twitter, notes that if Martin's initial plan is carried out - in a slightly different way - there could still be a chance to explore an incestuous love story between two characters that fans are rooting for.
One of the longest-running theories is that Jon's real rather is Daenery's brother Rhaegar Targaryen, which would mean that she is actually Jon's aunt. But no one on the show, apart from Bran, has any idea that the two are related.
An emerging romance between Dany and Jon Snow is the worst-kept secret on the show, with show-runners and actors going into raptures over the chemistry between the two characters, along with a pointed comment from Davos after Jon and Daenerys' intense discussion about the White Walkers.
In the latest episode, 'Eastwatch', Gilly and Sam have just made a big discovery about Jon's parentage.
Reading the diary of High Septon Maynard, Gilly asks Sam what "annulment" means and he explains, asking her why.
She is reading about someone called "Prince Raggar" who married someone else - whose name is not given - during a secret Dornish ceremony.
For any Game of Thrones fan aware of the long-running Rhaegar theory this was huge news, as it likely means that Daenerys' brother annulled his first marriage so he could marry Lyanna Stark - Jon Snow's mother.
This would mean that Jon is a legitimate child - not a bastard - which would change everything. It would mean that Jon now has a better claim to the Iron Throne than Daenerys.
Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for more news, features and video on TV, Music, Film and Art
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments