Arya and Hardhome

[Harlaw's Book the Sequel]

The last raven from Hardhome described a bleak situation. However, the reason the wildings were at Hardhome in the first place was because Mother Mole “had a vision of a fleet of ships arriving to carry the free folk to safety across the narrow sea.” Since Mother Mole is a woods witch, the same status as the Ghost of High Heart and Maggy the Frog, and ASOIAF prophecies come true in unconventional ways, I’m inclined to give Mother Mole the benefit of the doubt that her prediction was correct.

I think the free folk will find salvation across the narrow sea –in the form of Arya Stark. From “The Blind Girl” we know Arya overhears talk of Hardhome.

“…this woods witch said that if they [the wildings] went to Hardhome, ships would come and carry them away to someplace warm. But no ships came except these two Lyseni pirates, Goodheart and Elephant... They dropped anchor at Hardhome…saw the wildings… The wildings had nothing to eat, so the men sent out their wives and daughters, but as soon as the ships were out to sea, the Lyseni drove them below and roped them up. They meant to sell them all in Lys. Only then they ran into another storm and the ships were parted. The Goodheart was so damaged he captain had no choice but to put in here, but the Elephant may have made it back to Lys. The Lyseni at Pynto’s think that she’ll return with more ships.”

That there are Hardhome Wildings in Braavos and potentially another ship full in Lys (and more Wildings might be coming) corresponds to locations where Arya might be after her last ADWD chapter.

After entering the House of Black and White, the FM tell Arya to learn the Braavosi tongue while at the temple. It is only after the KOM decides “…you [Arya] have enough words to make your wants understood after a fashion,” that Arya is allowed to go out and about in Braavos as Cat of the Canals.

If knowing some of the basics of a location’s language is a prerequisite before sending that person out on assignment, then the possibilities of where Arya goes is narrowed down based on the languages Arya knows and the ones she is learning. “The blind girl understood Braavosi and could speak it passably, she had even lost most of her barbaric accent, but the kindly man was not content. He was insisting that she improves her High Valyrian and learn the tongues of Lys and Pentos too.” Since it’s unlikely for the FM to send Arya to Westeros, and High Valyrian no longer seems to be the official language of a place, the choices left are Lys, Pentos, or remaining in Braavos.

Futhermore, there are other reasons for Arya being in Braavos, Pentos, or Lys.

Justin Massey might come to Braavos

And Harys Swyft might go to Braavos with the Mountain’s men escorting him.

Illyrio is already residing in Pentos. In the future all or some of Dany’s group may come to Pentos. I’m pretty sure at least some of the Meereen group will stop in Pentos because of the deal made with the Tattered Prince.

Lys is where Andrew Estermont’s group is –nothing has been heard from them since leaving Dragonstone in ASOS. Since Sallahador Saan has returned to his old haunts, he and his crews may be in Lys. Also, Lynesse Hightower is in Lys –as the concubine to Tregar Ormollen. Sam’s last AFFC chapter mentions that Ser Humfrey Hightower has gone to see Lynesse about getting a proper fleet to defend Oldtown. If Ser Humfrey’s plan comes to fruition, then it becomes another way Arya can return to Westeros. IMHO it gives rise to the interesting possibility of Arya encountering Jaqen and Sam at the same time. Arya being in Lys could also provide the opportunity for learning more about Illyrio, Serra, Varys, Aerion, Viserys II, Shiera Seastar, and Shiera’s mother –Serenei of Lys.

As mentioned above, there already are Wildings in Braavos and potentially wildings in Lys. Wildings could come to Pentos via slave trade. Since AGOT we’ve known Ilyrio has been involved in the slave trade. And we know he has connections with Lys because Doreah came from Lys, the description of the girl Illyrio sent to Tyrion appears Lyseni, and Illyrio says he found Serra at a Lyseni pillowhouse. Futhermore, buying Wildings could be attractive to Illyrio because of the potential of quickly gaining a lot of “little birds.” Most of the Wildings that were put on ships were children, and many of them should already know the Common Tongue –so some of the requirements for being a “little bird” are already met.


Why would Arya get involved with the Wildings?

First, there has to be reason for so much text to be spent on Hardhome. Since it doesn’t look like Jon will be a part of any expedition to Hardhome (command of the mission was already given to Tormund, and even if the situation at the Wall stabilizes enough for a relief force to be sent, Jon will probably have other things to take care of, so command will probably be given to someone else again), the reason for so much Hardhome exposition is probably to set up Hardhome becoming important in someone else’s storyline. GRRM has already done something similar numerous times. For instance a lot of information about Skagos comes from a Sam chapter, but it doesn’t look like Sam will go to Skagos. Instead the exposition serves to set up Davos’ storyline. Another example is the information about Harrenhal in a Cat chapter. Considering the characters and locations of the POVs, having Arya be the one who gets involved with the Hardhome wildings makes the most sense.

Second, Arya has a penchant for getting involved with the NW and northern affairs: Yoren, Daeron, Sam, weasel soup, and being at the scene of the Red Wedding. The Daeron incident also gave Cat of the Canals the impetus to revert back to being Arya Stark. Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Wildings cause Arya to retake her identity again. Remember, Cotter Pyke and his crews are at risk of being taken by slavers too. If Arya encounters NW men and/or find out Jon was trying to save the Hardhome Wildings, I believe this would motivate her to take action despite the risk of jeopardizing her standing with the FM.

Third, there has been foreshadowing for Arya becoming a queen: Ned saying she’ll marry a king, the “Queen of Humility” comment, and probably the most important is that her direwolf is named after a queen. Arya helping and being a leader to the Wildings is a way for her to become queen (and it seems more fitting she does this way than by marrying a king). And if she does lead the Wildings to a new homeland, that would be very Nymeriaesque. (Note: Bran describes Nymeria as a witch queen, and Arya would fit the description whether or not witch refers to magical powers or her attitude. Furthermore, the Wildings seem to be comfortable with having witches as leaders –Morna White Mask and Mother Mole). And ADWD has shown that Wildings do respect the Stark name and are willing to follow a Stark.

Fourth, it has been demonstrated that the Wildings are not the same as the northmen, but they do share a lot of similarities. So Arya having a pack of Wildings would be similar to Nymeria the direwolf leading a pack of wolves –who are similar to direwolves but not same as direwolves.

Maybe I’m overstating the idea of Arya as “Queen of the Wildings.” Maybe she does encounter them but doesn’t do anything to help. (This seems unlikely to me considering what happened with Daeron and the thoughts she had when she hid Needle). She might be among them for a different reason –for example joining a group Wilding kids that are about to become Vary’s birds. However, the fact that Arya and the Wildings (and possibly NW men) are (or going to be in) in proximity of each other doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

[mindchap]

Nice, I definitely like the idea of her helping the wildlings(and maybe leading them back Nymeria-style). Maybe her "queen" status will be more of as a proclaimed queen rather than a traditional one(I just can't picture her married). I like it. :)

[Harlaw's Book the Sequel]

Nice, I definitely like the idea of her helping the wildlings(and maybe leading them back Nymeria-style). Maybe her "queen" status will be more of as a proclaimed queen rather than a traditional one(I just can't picture her married). I like it. :)

Thanks! :) I definitely agree that having Arya be a proclaimed queen makes a lot more sense for her character than her receiving it via marriage. And I like the idea that she could give Jon a run for his money when it comes to being the Wildings' favorite Stark.

Also if Arya falls in with the Hardhome Wildings, then each Stark kid has the potential to become a leader to a group that was on the outskirts of Westeros society: Jon with the Wildings that crossed the Wall, Bran with the COTF and possibly any Wilding still beyond the Wall, Rickon could be backed by Skagosi, and Sansa with the Vale Mountain Clans.

[RoamingRonin]

I don't see Arya completing her Faceless Man training. If the wildlings were shipped back to Westoros, I could see her joining them. She'd fit right in. IIRC only women and children were taken from Hardhome.

[Harlaw's Book the Sequel]

I don't see Arya completing her Faceless Man training. If the wildlings were shipped back to Westoros, I could see her joining them. She'd fit right in. IIRC only women and children were taken from Hardhome.

So far only woman and children have been taken aboard the two ships that came. The Lyseni sailors Arya overhears at the tavern say more ships might return to get more. Also Mother Mole said that she "had a vision of a fleet of ships..." Do two ships qualify as a fleet? (I'm not being sarcastic, I actually want to know). If yes, then perhaps the vision has been fulfilled. If not, then it seems likely more ships are coming.

[Shebara]

I also think she will be back in Westeros soon...I imagine her meeting Justin Massey, learning news about Jon (not that he is dead, Justin probably does not know about that) but mayhaps that he is Lord Commander and needs help at the Wall or something like that...) and thus going back to Westeros for Jon.

[mindchap]

Thanks! :) I definitely agree that having Arya be a proclaimed queen makes a lot more sense for her character than her receiving it via marriage. And I like the idea that she could give Jon a run for his money when it comes to being the Wildings' favorite Stark.

Also if Arya falls in with the Hardhome Wildings, then each Stark kid has the potential to become a leader to a group that was on the outskirts of Westeros society: Jon with the Wildings that crossed the Wall, Bran with the COTF and possibly any Wilding still beyond the Wall, Rickon could be backed by Skagosi, and Sansa with the Vale Mountain Clans.

I hadn't even thought of it like that but it would give each their own little cult following, Sansa may be a stretch but we'll just have to see how that one pans out. Definitely makes more sense than some of the other theories about Arya though(and as much as I'd like to see Arya with a dragon this just seems more likely).

[Mithras]

I think Arya has still works to do in Braavos and after that, she should cross paths with Dany. The people at the Hardhome are doomed thanks to the conspirators on the Wall. Mel saw that they were all defeated and wightified. That is a necessary boost the the Other's army because, you know, they have to attack the Wall before the series ends.

[Harlaw's Book the Sequel]

I hadn't even thought of it like that but it would give each their own little cult following, Sansa may be a stretch but we'll just have to see how that one pans out. Definitely makes more sense than some of the other theories about Arya though(and as much as I'd like to see Arya with a dragon this just seems more likely).

Thanks! I don't think this theory requires you give up on Arya being a dragonrider. She might still have time to train/warg a dragon. :)

I think Arya has still works to do in Braavos and after that, she should cross paths with Dany. The people at the Hardhome are doomed thanks to the conspirators on the Wall. Mel saw that they were all defeated and wightified. That is a necessary boost the the Other's army because, you know, they have to attack the Wall before the series ends.

But they didn't all become wights. Some escaped on ships, and one of those ships with Wildings ended up in Braavos. And I don't see how Arya getting entangled with the Wildings prevents her from joining with Dany. It's not my preferred theory on how things will will turn out, but I'm not ruling it out.

[Lady Wylla Manderly]

[snip]

This is a very interesting theory, thank you for sharing :) I don't know if I subscribe to all aspects yet (I haven't reread the books in a while so certain details are a bit hard to remember) - but there's also another interesting aspect: Hardhome is said to be haunted by ghouls, demons, and burning ghosts with an unhealthy taste for blood. I wonder if Bran's "some witch queen" comment is a slight nod to this or if I'm just overreading as usual.