Go Cry, Emo Kid.

Go cry, emo kid.

(Reference)

Catelyn Tully and Arya Stark + parallels (requested by anonymous)

You even look like her.

Arya’s time in Harrenhal is actively ignored and disregarded by certain circles in the fandom because that arc doesn’t fit with the agenda they have for their preferred fanon. Why? Because we see Arya being strategic, observant, self-possessed, intelligent, cunning, courteous, hard working, political, and able to read people and then adjust her behavior while dealing with them. She survives and escapes Harrenhal under the Lannisters and then the Boltons using her intelligence, not her minimal ability to use a sword. 

In particular, even among fans of Arya, she is regarded as constantly discourteous with a sassy comment always at the ready. In reality, she struggles but tries to remember her courtesies in AGOT. In ACOK, doesn’t struggle as much, especially by the time she gets to Arya X, where courtesy seems second nature. Her biggest struggle with courtesy comes from remembering to call Roose “my lord” in one scene in her ninth chapter, which seems to be something GRRM causally set up as a clue that by the time ADWD rolled around, he realized who Arya was.  Otherwise, she’s begging pardons, editing out insults from messages, and following through with the “yes, my lords” and “no, my lords” and “at once, my lord”. 

It’s also significant that she served as a page and cupbearer since that’s part of the typical leadership training of highborn children. Aegon V, Edric Dayne, and Rhaenyra I also served those roles, for example. This allowed her a place at council meetings where politics and war strategy were discussed. 

ARYA STARK MONTH - Day 22: Soft moments

Arya Month Day 2: Nymeria

Arya’s beloved direwolf Nymeria. Nymeria is named after a warrior queen whom Arya very much admired. Nymeria and Arya’s bond is immensely powerful. When Arya was in danger by the psychopathic Joffrey, instead of doing nothing but shouting and crying like Sansa, Nymeria leaped to Arya’s defense and gave that little shit what he deserved (hopefully it was painful). Sadly, knowing Nymeria would be killed for hurting Joffrey, Arya sends Nymeria away. Now Nymeria, having grown extremely large as she’s a direwolf, runs in the Riverlands with a massive pack of wolves. But Arya frequently thinks about her beloved wolf and has dreams of her. But they aren’t just dreams. Arya is a Warg like her siblings and can get inside Nymeria’s mind. Even from very long distances. A symbol of the immensely powerful bond they share. Hopefully one day Arya can reunite one day with her beloved direwolf and Nymeria’s pack could be a great asset to the living in the war against the Others.

And here’s one line highlighting how much Arya trusts her wolf.

“He grabbed the little girl by the hand and pulled her close. "What if the wolves come?""Yield," Arya suggested.”