Game of Thrones Season 4
Game of Thrones Season 4 WindsOfWinter/facebook

With just 10 days to go before Game of Thrones season 4 premieres on TV, author George R.R. Martin decided to give the fans an early treat by releasing a new, never-before seen chapter.

In a blog post on Tuesday, Martin alerted readers to another sample chapter coming from the sixth installment of the A Song of Ice and Fire series (on which Game of Thrones is based) The Winds of Winter, reports Entertainment Weekly.

"The new chapter is actually an old chapter. But no, it's not one I've published or posted before, and I don't even think I've read it at a con," Martin stated in his post.

The author published the pages on his website on Wednesday.

As die-hard fans would know, Martin's chapter titles are character names, since each comes from the point of view of a different character. This one is called 'Mercy.' Here is an excerpt:

She woke with a gasp, not knowing who she was, or where.

The smell of blood was heavy in her nostrils... or was that her nightmare, lingering? She had dreamed of wolves again, of running through some dark pine forest with a great pack at her hells, hard on the scent of prey.

Half-light filled the room, grey and gloomy. Shivering, she sat up in bed and ran a hand across her scalp. Stubble bristled against her palm. I need to shave before Izembaro sees. Mercy, I'm Mercy, and tonight I'll be raped and murdered. Her true name was Mercedene, but Mercy was all anyone ever called her...

For the full chapter, click here.

The Winds of Winter does not have an official release date as yet but Martin has been trying to complete the 1,500-page novel as quickly as possible.

In June 2013, he spoke about his progress and what he has in store for the end of the series (via Hollywood Life): "I know how it all ends in broad strokes. Of course, there's no guarantee the show will end the same way.

"[The showrunners] have been known to make changes, including in the Red Wedding. ... They turned it up to 11. There are at least four characters who are dead on the TV show who are alive in the books still. So we'll see," he said.

"Meanwhile, I'm writing very fast because my great fear is that [the show] will catch up to me," he added.

Game of Thrones