Alayne Stone is a young woman who knows her place in the world. She is the bastard daughter of Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and she is beginning her training in courtly etiquette under his tutelage. On the outside, she is polite, courteous and ready to follow the guidance of her "father". Her "mother" is out of the picture - she doesn't wish to speak of her - so it follows that she must rely on her adoring "father" for everything she needs or wants. It is her hope - or so Littlefinger has told her - to make a promising match between herself and a well-to-do young man. As a bastard, that is all she can hope for, surely.
Underneath her act as Alayne Stone, however, Sansa Stark is unhappy. She hasn't healed from the horrors she has witnessed/endured - including watching her Aunt Lysa pushed through the Moon Door. At first, it was easy to let Littlefinger take control and mold a new, safe life for her as a bastard daughter. However, after losing her Aunt, she is beginning to realize that he is using her as a means to an end.
She is, frankly, tired of being used. The least she can do is keep her eyes and ears open to a path which will lead her back to Winterfell. She misses her home more and more every day. If she can, somehow, make her way back to that beloved castle and restore it to its former glory, her sacrifices will have been worthwhile. So, yes, for the time being she will be a bastard daughter of Littlefinger and dye her hair dark. Others have asked far more of her without giving her anything close to Winterfell in return.
The hopelessness that she felt in King's Landing while under the thumb of the Lannisters has, more or less, abated. There are times she is sad and the longing for Winterfell is growing rather than lessening, yet she is focusing her energy into being the best daughter for Littlefinger. Her determination for a better future - something she hasn't had since learning King Joffrey's true nature - is like a fire burning in her heart.
"With my wits and Cat's beauty, the world will be yours, sweetling." - Littlefinger
She won't let the fire die down - even if Littlefinger is tricking her too. The thought has occurred to her - how could it not after dealing with Lannister lions? - but she is prepared to follow this path. The pale, broken prisoner of King's Landing is blossoming into a true wolf - and lady - of Winterfell.
But there is still a certain fragility about her. She will forever be someone who feels their heart keenly. The best she can do is teach herself to look strong even when she isn't feeling strong. The world is far harsher than she ever imagined as a child and she knows, thus far, she has been easy prey for the courtly predators. She fears her weakness will continue - especially when she is in uncomfortable territory. But she is finally in a place where she feels like she can make a stand. Maybe not in the manner she desires, but beggars can't be choosers.
Alayne, despite her strong exterior, is also prone to anxiety and depression - though she hides it well. How can she not be scarred from her past as Sansa Stark? As much as she likes to pretend she is smarter - stronger - she knows, deep down, that it's a convenient act until she can secure herself behind the familiar walls of Winterfell.
Her fragility will be especially apparent upon arriving in Haven. The fact that her path has been altered again (and that she is in a different world) will hit her hard. The hopelessness of her past will return until she realizes that she can be a strong, supportive role model to others. The shackles that bound her in King's Landing and the Eyrie will vanish and her life will be her own for the first time in her life - and that is even including her childhood.
Slowly, Alayne Stone will transform back into Sansa Stark again.
However, for the time being, while she is under Littlefinger's thumb, Alayne realizes that her act as Alayne Stone must be impeccable. Should anyone see through her disguise, she would undoubtedly be faced with either killing them (to silence them) or (since she lacks the physical strength without Petyr's aid) being returned to King's Landing for her execution. She holds not misconceptions that Queen Cersei will give her an ounce of sympathy. Therefore, on the outside, despite her inner turmoil over denying her beloved heritage, she chirps lies prettily, meets the gazes of anyone who thinks to question her and makes decisions based on what will benefit her best in the moment (rather than making decisions based on the truth).
Since her time in King's Landing, it has, on multiple occasions, been pointed out to her that she is a bad liar. Those words ring constantly in her ears and she knows she cannot let her focus on Alayne Stone waver. There is a certain sense of pride when she manages to deceive someone underneath her guilt. Yet even her guilt has abated over the years. Why should she feel bad for people who would make her life infinitely worse if they knew the truth? No, she has no misconceptions. The naive girl of her youth is dead and in her place, there is a young woman who is prepared to play "the game of thrones" as Cersei put it oh so succinctly.
Never again will she open her heart to another - or so she assures herself. But it has also occurred to her that she can use her kindness to her advantage. Who would expect a tearful woman of lying? All she seeks to do is survive until the next opportunity arises. Producing crocodile tears and lying through her teeth seems like a small sacrifice compared to potentially losing her head for a crime she did not commit.
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Underneath her act as Alayne Stone, however, Sansa Stark is unhappy. She hasn't healed from the horrors she has witnessed/endured - including watching her Aunt Lysa pushed through the Moon Door. At first, it was easy to let Littlefinger take control and mold a new, safe life for her as a bastard daughter. However, after losing her Aunt, she is beginning to realize that he is using her as a means to an end.
She is, frankly, tired of being used. The least she can do is keep her eyes and ears open to a path which will lead her back to Winterfell. She misses her home more and more every day. If she can, somehow, make her way back to that beloved castle and restore it to its former glory, her sacrifices will have been worthwhile. So, yes, for the time being she will be a bastard daughter of Littlefinger and dye her hair dark. Others have asked far more of her without giving her anything close to Winterfell in return.
The hopelessness that she felt in King's Landing while under the thumb of the Lannisters has, more or less, abated. There are times she is sad and the longing for Winterfell is growing rather than lessening, yet she is focusing her energy into being the best daughter for Littlefinger. Her determination for a better future - something she hasn't had since learning King Joffrey's true nature - is like a fire burning in her heart.
She won't let the fire die down - even if Littlefinger is tricking her too. The thought has occurred to her - how could it not after dealing with Lannister lions? - but she is prepared to follow this path. The pale, broken prisoner of King's Landing is blossoming into a true wolf - and lady - of Winterfell.
But there is still a certain fragility about her. She will forever be someone who feels their heart keenly. The best she can do is teach herself to look strong even when she isn't feeling strong. The world is far harsher than she ever imagined as a child and she knows, thus far, she has been easy prey for the courtly predators. She fears her weakness will continue - especially when she is in uncomfortable territory. But she is finally in a place where she feels like she can make a stand. Maybe not in the manner she desires, but beggars can't be choosers.
Alayne, despite her strong exterior, is also prone to anxiety and depression - though she hides it well. How can she not be scarred from her past as Sansa Stark? As much as she likes to pretend she is smarter - stronger - she knows, deep down, that it's a convenient act until she can secure herself behind the familiar walls of Winterfell.
Her fragility will be especially apparent upon arriving in Haven. The fact that her path has been altered again (and that she is in a different world) will hit her hard. The hopelessness of her past will return until she realizes that she can be a strong, supportive role model to others. The shackles that bound her in King's Landing and the Eyrie will vanish and her life will be her own for the first time in her life - and that is even including her childhood.
Slowly, Alayne Stone will transform back into Sansa Stark again.
However, for the time being, while she is under Littlefinger's thumb, Alayne realizes that her act as Alayne Stone must be impeccable. Should anyone see through her disguise, she would undoubtedly be faced with either killing them (to silence them) or (since she lacks the physical strength without Petyr's aid) being returned to King's Landing for her execution. She holds not misconceptions that Queen Cersei will give her an ounce of sympathy. Therefore, on the outside, despite her inner turmoil over denying her beloved heritage, she chirps lies prettily, meets the gazes of anyone who thinks to question her and makes decisions based on what will benefit her best in the moment (rather than making decisions based on the truth).
Since her time in King's Landing, it has, on multiple occasions, been pointed out to her that she is a bad liar. Those words ring constantly in her ears and she knows she cannot let her focus on Alayne Stone waver. There is a certain sense of pride when she manages to deceive someone underneath her guilt. Yet even her guilt has abated over the years. Why should she feel bad for people who would make her life infinitely worse if they knew the truth? No, she has no misconceptions. The naive girl of her youth is dead and in her place, there is a young woman who is prepared to play "the game of thrones" as Cersei put it oh so succinctly.
Never again will she open her heart to another - or so she assures herself. But it has also occurred to her that she can use her kindness to her advantage. Who would expect a tearful woman of lying? All she seeks to do is survive until the next opportunity arises. Producing crocodile tears and lying through her teeth seems like a small sacrifice compared to potentially losing her head for a crime she did not commit.