Trial of Petyr Baelish

The **Trial of Petyr Baelish** was the event that marked the closing of the War of the Five Kings. It is held in the great hall of Winterfell by Lady of Winterfell Sansa Stark, with Arya Stark and Bran Stark, against Petyr Baelish, the nominal Lord of Harrenhal and the Lord Protector of the Vale. It is witnessed by the Maester Wolkan, Lord Yohn Royce and multiple Stark and Arryn men.

## History

### Prelude

Sansa and Baelish talk about Jon Snow and Daenerys forming an alliance, with Baelish suggesting that Jon should be unnamed as King in the North.

Sansa knows that Arya would not tolerate it and that she is now a killer, having trained with the Faceless Men, whom Baelish only knows by reputation. Baelish explains that when he wants to understand a person's motive, he plays 'a little game' and plants the seed that Arya wants Sansa dead for apparently betraying their family and to replace her as Lady of Winterfell.

## Trial

Sansa has Arya brought to the great hall in front of the lords of the North and the Vale. Addressing Arya, Sansa states her desire to protect the North and House Stark. She then proceeds to state the accusations of murder and treason, asking how these charges are answered. Because she continues to look at Arya, it appears she is directing her question to her sister, but Sansa then adds, "Lord Baelish", revealing it is he who truly stands accused.

Taken by surprise, Baelish tells Sansa that he's confused. Sansa starts with the simplest charge: that Baelish murdered their aunt Lysa by pushing her through the Eyrie and asks if he denies it. Because Sansa herself was a witness to Lysa's murder, Baelish admits to it but claims he did it to protect Sansa. She refutes his claim by making her own: he did it to gain control of the Vale.

The next charge laid against Petyr is that he orchestrated the Assassination of Jon Arryn by giving Lysa Tears of Lys, which she used to poison him. Asked whether he denies this charge as well, Baelish avoids a direct response by explaining that Lysa's state of mind made her see enemies everywhere, implying that Lysa acted alone.

Sansa accuses Baelish of having her aunt send a letter to Eddard and Catelyn Stark, claiming the Lannisters murdered Jon Arryn. The result of the letter set events into motion that started a feud between House Stark and House Lannister, eventually culminating in the War of the Five Kings. This accusation, if true, would make Baelish the true instigator of the war. This time, Petyr directly denies knowledge of the letter.

The final charge is that Baelish conspired with Cersei and Joffrey to betray their father, which led to his imprisonment and ultimately his execution, on false charges of treason. Now clearly angry, Sansa asks Petyr if he denies it. Baelish denies it, stating that none of them saw what happened, and thus there is no case against him. However, Bran, having seen Baelish's crimes through his powers in Greensight, says that Baelish held a knife to Ned's throat and repeats what he told Ned when he betrayed him, "I did warn you not to trust me", leaving Baelish speechless and shocked.

Arya, wearing the Valyrian steel dagger that an assassin used to try and kill Bran, draws it for all to see and reminds Baelish he told Catelyn that it belonged to Tyrion, which was another of his many lies: the dagger, in fact, belonged to Baelish himself.

With the court against him, Baelish pleads that he has known Sansa since she was a child and that he's always protected her, to which Sansa retorts that he sold her to the Boltons. When Baelish asks if they can speak alone (presumably to try to manipulate Sansa into freeing or exonerating him), Sansa repeats his words of 'playing a little game' to assume the worst of someone, thus assuming the worst reason Baelish has for turning Sansa and Arya against each other, deducing that he did the same to Catelyn and Lysa. Baelish protests, demanding a chance to defend himself, but is ignored.

As Baelish realizes that he won't be able to talk his way out of this, he commands Lord Royce to escort him back to the Eyrie as the Lord Protector of the Vale. Given the specific crimes Littlefinger committed against House Arryn, however, Lord Royce no longer recognizes Baelish's authority, and thus refuses, having long distrusted Baelish and knowing that he is a bad influence on Robin Arryn. Out of options and now terrified, Baelish pleads with Sansa for his life, confessing his love publicly for her and for Catelyn, though Sansa points out that despite this, he still betrayed both of them. Sharing a look with her sister, Sansa sentences him to death and callously thanks Baelish for all his lessons, which she vows to never forget. As Baelish tries to speak one final time, Arya, with his former dagger still drawn in her hand, walks up and swiftly slits his throat with it before stepping back and sheathing it. Everyone present in the great hall watches as the former Master of Coin, and the true mastermind behind all the chaos in the realm, bleeds out and slumps to the floor, finally dead.