We had AI write the first five chapters The Winds of Winter

Chapter 2: Shadows of the Past

Deep within the haunted forests of the North, a figure moved with a grace born of both shadow and steel. Arya Stark, once a young girl chasing dreams of vengeance, had transformed into a deadly assassin under the tutelage of the Faceless Men. But her heart remained tethered to her family, and the call of Winterfell had grown too strong to resist.

Guided by a newfound sense of purpose, Arya returned to the halls that had once echoed with her laughter, now filled with the ghosts of her past. As she traversed the familiar corridors, memories of her childhood danced before her eyes, intermingling with the present, as if the walls themselves whispered tales of joy and sorrow.

But Winterfell was a changed place. The war had taken its toll, and the scars ran deeper than the castle’s ancient stones. Arya could sense the lingering pain, the remnants of lives lost and dreams shattered. Yet she also felt a flicker of hope, like a dormant flame yearning to be reignited.

In the godswood, she found solace amidst the towering heart tree. Its ancient face seemed to observe her, its silent presence both comforting and unsettling. Arya closed her eyes, allowing herself to become one with the woods, to feel the spirits of her ancestors whispering through the rustling leaves.

When she opened her eyes, Arya’s gaze fell upon her direwolf, Nymeria, standing in the shadows. The connection between them was unbreakable, a bond forged in the harsh wilderness. Nymeria’s eyes gleamed with a mix of loyalty and wildness, a reflection of the path Arya herself had tread.

“We are survivors, Nymeria,” Arya murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “And we will not let our enemies tear us apart.”

A rustle behind her made Arya spin on her heels, her hand instinctively reaching for Needle. Standing before her was Bran Stark, his eyes milky white, a mark of the powers he had gained beyond the Wall.

“Arya,” Bran said, his voice distant yet filled with ancient wisdom. “I have seen visions of the darkness that approaches. The Night King seeks to erase our world, to extinguish the light. But we have a chance to change our fate.”

Arya’s heart quickened, and a glimmer of determination ignited in her eyes. The siblings, bound by blood and shared struggles, were now poised to face a common enemy. They knew that the battle ahead was not just for Winterfell, but for the survival of all they held dear.

As Arya and Bran stood in the godswood, they knew that the time for reunions was over, replaced by the urgency of action. Winter had come, and with it, the need to awaken the dormant powers within themselves and rally the remaining forces of the North.

In the darkened corners of the castle, whispers of treachery and secrets echoed. Enemies lurked, both known and unknown, threatening to tear apart the fragile alliances that had been forged. Arya sensed that in the coming days, she would be forced to confront not just the physical threats, but the shadows that had haunted her own soul.

With her heart filled with equal parts determination and uncertainty, Arya Stark vowed to bring justice to those who had wronged her family. The winds of winter blew through the ancient halls of Winterfell, carrying with them a sense of foreboding and anticipation. And in the midst of darkness, Arya would emerge as a beacon of relentless strength, ready to face the battles to come.

The journey toward the ultimate fate of the Seven Kingdoms had only just begun, and the second chapter of The Winds of Winter whispered promises

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Okay, first up: it just ends like that. I didn’t tell it to cut things off. The chapter just kind of ended with the word “promises”; no further words or a punctuation mark.

So we’re at Winterfell again, and once again ChatGPT doesn’t seem to really be starting where A Dance With Dragons ended. I again wonder if it can’t distinguish between what’s happened in Martin’s books and what happened on the HBO show.

Honestly, I’m also not sure if it remembers what it wrote for the first chapter. Is Arya wandering around Winterfell at the same time as Jon Snow is giving his speech? Or is this at another time?

What’s Nymeria doing here? And I’m sorry, “Standing before her was Bran Stark…” Standing before her? Bran picked up some new tricks.

Two chapters in and I have serious doubts about whether robots can effectively mimic George R.R. Martin. But maybe the third time is the charm…