#arya has short hair to ME

[mothdoly]

favorite inheritance cycle characters and how i pictured them when i read the books with 12

#arya has short hair to ME #idk why eragon is blond he just is shush #eragon #murtagh #nasuada #arya #saphira #inheritance cycle #just finished my reread :)

[pixiecactus]

i don't ship jonrya (gendrya it's the one for me tbh) but i swear it bothers me so much that people in this fandom like to discard jonrya like something absurd, that really has no foundation in the books (i can only think of one jon's ships that is like this and it's not jonrya let me tell you) when we have time and time again in both of arya and jon's chapters actually shown how they are so devoted to eachother, making one of the strongest bonds in the entire series, even if you don't take the og outline (jonrya endgame) in consideration:

in agot:

"And Arya…he missed her even more than Robb, skinny little thing that she was, all scraped knees and tangled hair and torn clothes, so fierce and willful. Arya never seemed to fit, no more than he had…yet she could always make Jon smile. He would give anything to be with her now, to muss up her hair once more and watch her make a face, to hear her finish a sentence with him."

and:

"She would have given anything if Jon had been here to call her “little sister” and muss her hair."

in acok:

"When at last she slept, she dreamed of home. The kingsroad wound its way past Winterfell on its way to the Wall, and Yoren had promised he’d leave her there with no one any wiser about who she’d been. She yearned to see her mother again, and Robb and Bran and Rickon . . . but it was Jon Snow she thought of most. She wished somehow they could come to the Wall before Winterfell, so Jon might muss up her hair and call her “little sister.” She’d tell him, “I missed you,” and he’d say it too at the very same moment, the way they always used to say things together. She would have liked that. She would have liked that better than anything."

and:

"As he rode, Jon peeled off his glove to air his burned fingers. Ugly things. He remembered suddenly how he used to muss Arya’s hair. His little stick of a sister. He wondered how she was faring. It made him a little sad to think that he might never muss her hair again. He began to flex his hand, opening and closing the fingers. If he let his sword hand stiffen and grow clumsy, it well might be the end of him, he knew. A man needed his sword beyond the Wall."

their current companions remind them of eachother:

“NO!” Arya and Gendry both said, at the exact same instant. Hot Pie quailed a little. Arya gave Gendry a sideways look. He said it with me, like Jon used to do, back in Winterfell. She missed Jon Snow the most of all her brothers.

and romantic interests too:

Ygritte trotted beside Jon as he slowed his garron to a walk. She claimed to be three years older than him, though she stood half a foot shorter; however old she might be, the girl was a tough little thing. Stonesnake had called her a “spearwife” when they’d captured her in the Skirling Pass. She wasn’t wed and her weapon of choice was a short curved bow of horn and weirwood, but “spearwife” fit her all the same. She reminded him a little of his sister Arya, though Arya was younger and probably skinnier. It was hard to tell how plump or thin Ygritte might be, with all the furs and skins she wore.

and i want to end with one of my favourite arya's quotes:

“I know where we could go,” Arya said. She still had one brother left. Jon will want me, even if no one else does. He’ll call me “little sister” and muss my hair. It was a long way, though, and she didn’t think she could get there by herself. She hadn’t even been able to reach Riverrun. “We could go to the Wall.”

so... no, the idea of jon x arya is not strange at all actually

#there's a lot of more moments in the books but i'm lazy sorry #as a gendrya shipper if jonrya it's actually the books endgame i'm going to be so happy for them #and as a gendrya shipper somedays i can´t help to think that jonrya has to much potential for gendrya to actually happen (one of my fears) #but in the end jonrya are eachothers person (soulmates if you will) #and term that can be romantic or platonic #a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #house stark #arya stark #jon snow #gendry #jonrya #ygritte #anti sansa stans #anti jonsa stans #anti jonsa #even typing that anti tag makes me want to vomit #like jon(🙂) and here comes the vomit sa(🤮)

[daenerysstormreborn]

Also something that drives me fucking wild is seeing people refer to Dany and Arya’s roles as patriarchal or wish-fulfillment for men. Just yesterday I saw the phrase “patriarchal power fantasy” used. I need everyone to sit down and think about what “patriarchy” means.

For the purpose of this post, and any other post I make, please know that when I say “masculine” I am referring to stereotypes associated with the male sex and when I say “feminine” I am referring to stereotypes associated with the female sex. Masculine =/= male and feminine =/= female.

Patriarchy does not refer to masculinity. It does not mean that masculine people are in power (I wouldn’t go as far as to call Dany or Arya masculine, but bear with me). Patriarchy refers to systems where MEN are the sex caste in power. Men. Not masculine people. Under a patriarchal system, women are oppressed regardless of whether or not they conform to femininity, although the less a woman conforms, the more she is punished for it. Dany and Arya’s arcs are inherently ANTI patriarchal on the simple basis that they are female and they defy what is expected of women in Westeros. They can never represent male power fantasies because they are not men. Referring to their arcs as male power fantasies is telling on yourself. You are revealing that your view of women and what we want and fantasize about is narrow. Why would you assume that only men would desire to travel across the sea and learn the ways of a secret society of assassins? Why would you assume that only men would want to wield the power of dragons and amass loyal supporters?

You are part of the problem by assuming that the desire for power is a male trait. Yes, we stereotypically associate that with men. That stereotype, and what we consider masculine and feminine as a whole, almost exclusively exist to uphold the patriarchy. Women are expected to be peaceful pacifists, complacent, quiet, because that keeps us under the boot of the male caste. Consider why so many “strong” female characters are less feminine. Is it because people feel the need to make them more like men in order to be “strong?” I say no. At least, not most of the time. If this is what you think, you’ve got the order mixed up. Skirts, dresses, and heels are impractical for fighting and limit movement a lot. Thus, it wouldn’t make sense for a competent female fighter to be wearing them. These things have been forced upon women BECAUSE they are impractical. A woman who keeps her hair short and wears no makeup and wears pants and no heels is not trying to emulate men. She is shedding femininity because femininity is impractical and time consuming. Consider WHY so many traits associated with power, leadership, and combat are considered masculine. It’s the enforcement of the patriarchy. Female characters who chase down these things and embody these qualities and do not conform to femininity are not basically men. They are women who are rejecting the system. This is antithetical to the patriarchy and to male power fantasies.

In summary: a female character who has an arc typically associated with male characters can never be a male power fantasy BECAUSE she is female.

Obligatory note that women who do conform are not lesser and their stories are not less important—they just do not challenge the patriarchy.

#valyrian scrolls #asoiaf #arya stark #daenerys targaryen #asoiaf fandom

[esther-dot]

Do you think Jon and Sansa will meet again at Castle Black, and from there, they will plan to take Winterfell? Or will Sansa take Winterfell on her own and reunite with Jon along the way? I’m of the idea of two lost souls who, when united, find the strength in each other to take the land of their family. But I don’t know, I haven’t finished the books yet so I need guidance on this.

I don’t consider myself an ASOIAF expert, anon so I don't offer guidance, but I will def share my thoughts with you!

In order to talk about this, I'm afraid there are some ADWD spoilers, though. If you mind that, maybe revisit this post after you've read it? Short version, I agree with you. Sansa should be involved in retaking Winterfell because we need a Stark there:

Battles had been fought at Winterfell before, but never one without a Stark on one side or the other. (ADWD, Jon VII)

but I think the reunion happens first because of the The Girl in Grey theory. I'll explain more below the cut due to the major Jon spoiler.

In ADWD, a character named Melisandre tells Jon about a vision she has:

She stood beneath the scorched stones of the Lord Commander's Tower, cloaked in darkness and in memory. The light of the moon was in her hair, her red hair kissed by fire. When he saw that, Jon's heart leapt into his mouth. "Ygritte," he said. "Lord Snow." The voice was Melisandre's. Surprise made him recoil from her. "Lady Melisandre." He took a step backwards. "I mistook you for someone else." At night all robes are grey. Yet suddenly hers were red. He did not understand how he could have taken her for Ygritte. She was taller, thinner, older, though the moonlight washed years from her face. Mist rose from her nostrils, and from pale hands naked to the night. "You will freeze your fingers off," Jon warned. "If that is the will of R'hllor. Night's powers cannot touch one whose heart is bathed in god's holy fire." "You heart does not concern me. Just your hands."

"The heart is all that matters. Do not despair, Lord Snow. Despair is a weapon of the enemy, whose name may not be spoken. Your sister is not lost to you." "I have no sister." The words were knives. What do you know of my heart, priestess? What do you know of my sister? Melisandre seemed amused. "What is her name, this little sister that you do not have?" "Arya." His voice was hoarse. "My half-sister, truly …" "… for you are bastard born. I had not forgotten. I have seen your sister in my fires, fleeing from this marriage they have made for her. Coming here, to you. A girl in grey on a dying horse, I have seen it plain as day. It has not happened yet, but it will." She gazed at Ghost. "May I touch your … wolf?" The thought made Jon uneasy. "Best not." "He will not harm me. You call him Ghost, yes?" "Yes, but …" "Ghost." Melisandre made the word a song. The direwolf padded toward her. Wary, he stalked about her in a circle, sniffing. When she held out her hand he smelled that too, then shoved his nose against her fingers. Jon let out a white breath. "He is not always so …" "… warm? Warmth calls to warmth, Jon Snow." Her eyes were two red stars, shining in the dark. At her throat, her ruby gleamed, a third eye glowing brighter than the others. Jon had seen Ghost's eyes blazing red the same way, when they caught the light just right. "Ghost," he called. "To me." The direwolf looked at him as if he were a stranger. Jon frowned in disbelief. "That's … queer." "You think so?" She knelt and scratched Ghost behind his ear. "Your Wall is a queer place, but there is power here, if you will use it. Power in you, and in this beast. You resist it, and that is your mistake. Embrace it. Use it." I am not a wolf, he thought. "And how would I do that?" "I can show you." Melisandre draped one slender arm over Ghost, and the direwolf licked her face. "The Lord of Light in his wisdom made us male and female, two parts of a greater whole. In our joining there is power. Power to make life. Power to make light. Power to cast shadows." "Shadows." The world seemed darker when he said it. "Every man who walks the earth casts a shadow on the world. Some are thin and weak, others long and dark. You should look behind you, Lord Snow. The moon has kissed you and etched your shadow upon the ice twenty feet tall." Jon glanced over his shoulder. The shadow was there, just as she had said, etched in moonlight against the Wall. A girl in grey on a dying horse, he thought. Coming here, to you. Arya. He turned back to the red priestess. Jon could feel her warmth. She has power. The thought came unbidden, seizing him with iron teeth, but this was not a woman he cared to be indebted to, not even for his little sister. "Dalla told me something once. Val's sister, Mance Rayder's wife. She said that sorcery was a sword without a hilt. There is no safe way to grasp it." "A wise woman." Melisandre rose, her red robes stirring in the wind. "A sword without a hilt is still a sword, though, and a sword is a fine thing to have when foes are all about. Hear me now, Jon Snow. Nine crows flew into the white wood to find your foes for you. Three of them are dead. They have not died yet, but their death is out there waiting for them, and they ride to meet it. You sent them forth to be your eyes in the darkness, but they will be eyeless when they return to you. I have seen their pale dead faces in my flames. Empty sockets, weeping blood." She pushed her red hair back, and her red eyes shone. "You do not believe me. You will. The cost of that belief will be three lives. A small price to pay for wisdom, some might say … but not one you had to pay. Remember that when you behold the blind and ravaged faces of your dead. And come that day, take my hand." The mist rose from her pale flesh, and for a moment it seemed as if pale, sorcerous flames were playing about her fingers. "Take my hand," she said again, "and let me save your sister." (ADWD, Jon VI)

The vision keeps coming up and dictates some of Jon's decisions. Jeyne Poole (Sansa's friend) was forced to marry Ramsay in the guise of being Arya, she escapes, and people expect her to reunite with Jon and be the girl in grey (escaping a marriage, she was pretending to be his sister). Others point to Alys Karstark who runs to Jon to escape a marriage. The problem is, Mel doesn't know who it is, she only knows sister. People pick Jeyne because of the Arya connection, but neither she nor Alys are Jon's sister. And Jon has another sister, Sansa.

I would argue the reason that the girl in grey is Sansa (ie Sansa will flee North to escape LF's plots and reunite with Jon before Winterfell is taken/she is in a position of power), is if you read Jon's passage about the girl in grey, Jon being dead is written all over it. His white breath, the reference to him as a stranger, Jon telling himself he isn't a wolf...you see, here is the major spoiler...

Jon is assassinated at the end of TWOW.

Now, he may not actually be dead-dead, some of us have said he might be in a coma like Bran, but a) we believe he warged into Ghost (I am not a wolf--he will need to come back to himself, not lose himself in Ghost), b) the stranger = Jon is dead, c) the white breath = his body being cold cuz he's dead etc. The other side of this is, the way Jon sees Mel and remembers a different redhead can be viewed as foreshadowing for recently undead Jon seeing a redhead and mistaking her for Ygritte. The description of Mel's words like a song made people think of Sansa (it's been speculated Sansa's singing will help Jon remember things post rez/help him return to himself), and Ghost's strangely positive reaction to Mel may foreshadow how he reacts to Sansa as a familiar person. So, when I read that passage, it sounded to me like Sansa and Jon will be reuniting shortly after his rez, or even perhaps before his rez, so yes, I imagine that happens at the Wall.

Way back in 2013, a famous Jonsa essay predicted that Jon and Sansa would be reunited first of all the Starks, and then in 2016 that happened on the show which spurred a lot more discussion in the Jonsa fandom about Sansa being the girl in grey in the books as well.

I'll link some additional posts with various thoughts on how it might go.

Jon as the Stranger, Sansa as a silent sister. Pertinent quotes:

Then one morning she spied three women in the cowled grey robes of the silent sisters loading a corpse into their wagon. (ACOK, Arya VII) The women in grey bowed their heads. The silent sisters do not speak to the living, Catelyn remembered dully, but some say they can talk to the dead. (ACOK, Catelyn V) Grey was the color of the silent sisters, the handmaidens of the Stranger. (AFFC, Brienne VIII) When we find the Imp, we will find the Lady Sansa too. She is not dead . . . but before I am done with her, I promise you, she will be singing to the Stranger, begging for his kiss." (AFFC, Cersei IV)

@loveroflemons wrote a post in 2017 talking about Mel's prophecy and the map of the North to explain why Sansa is the Girl in Grey here. @une-nuit-pour-se-souvenir has a post explaining that Sansa is Ned's narrative heir and her path North will follow his here, and some general ideas for her TWOW story here.

@istumpysk talks about The Girl in Grey foreshadowing here. @aegor-bamfsteel tried to give us a time table here, @redteabaron has talked about the possibility that Sansa will be hunted by Ramsay for some Red Riding Hood parallels here, That and Sansa meeting Ghost while Jon is still out of it is discussed here as well. And this post talks about Jon saving Sansa from Ramsay while warged into Ghost using some king’s prize/thief quotes. I also found a Tolkien poem (Martin is a massive fan) that has Girl in Grey vibes here (not proof, just fun).

Anyway, it's a very popular Jonsa theory, for many of us, a given at this point. For a different ask i scrolled some BNF blogs and they mocked it a lot, called us delusional because they can point to the other girls as fulfilling the prophecy, but to me, that prophecy takes up too much space for it to disappear without a real payoff. It makes sense to me that Martin would use that vision to prep us for Sansa arriving in the North.

Let me know what you think after you read ADWD!

#soon i'll post links for book verse girl in grey fics anon #not meta but jonsa fics have a funny habit of predicting things to come! #jonsa #dot chat #the girl in grey

[daceytheshebear]

My Oak Leaf Dress post is getting some traction again years after it was first posted, and it got me wondering if tumblr might be more fertile groud to talk about some Arya Stark-centered analysis of mine I feel never got the attention it deserved in the westeros.org forum?

Okay, have you noticed that Arya's five chapters in AGOT have very very strong parallels to Arya’s five chapters in Feast/Dance? I've cataloged them and it blows my mind that more people aren't dissecting it. If we take into consideration that the AFFC and ADWD were supposed to one book, Arya has exactly the same amount of chapters as she had in book one, which is much less than she had in ACOK or ASOS. A pity in my opinion, as I love to read her, but I believe this is not a coincidence on Martin’s part as there seem to be several parallels between what Arya experiences in the first book and the last two. I’ll compare:

AGOT Arya I to AFFC Arya I 

AGOT Arya II  to AFFC Arya II

AGOT Arya III to AFFC Cat of the Canals

AGOT Arya IV to ADWD The Blind Girl

AGOT Arya V to ADWD The Ugly Little Girl

So, AGOT Arya I / AFFC Arya I: Both take place in a different setting from the other four chapters (Winterfell vs. Kings Landing for AGOT, the ship The Titan's Daughter vs. the city of Braavos in AFFC and ADWD). In both we have Arya directly interacting with two siblings, one who is two years older than her and whose place she would like to be able to occupy (Sansa with all her ladylike abilities, Denyo who is a cabin boy) and another who is older and more guarded and with whom she has important conversations about the ways of the world (Jon Snow and the talk about bastards and girls and Yorko and all the exposition about Bravosi culture). Quotes about Sansa and Denyo:

It wasn't fair. Sansa had everything. Sansa was two years older; maybe by the time Arya had been born, there had been nothing left. Often it felt that way. Sansa could sew and dance and sing. She wrote poetry. She knew how to dress. She played the high harp and the bells. Worse, she was beautiful. Sansa had gotten their mother's fine high cheekbones and the thick auburn hair of the Tullys. Arya took after their lord father.

And

Denyo had taken her up to the crow's nest once, and she hadn't been afraid at all, though the deck had seemed a tiny thing below her. I can do sums too, and keep a cabin neat. But the galleas had no need of a second boy.

In both chapters we have adults who are not really happy to be in charge of Arya, who are associated with the color grey, and who frown at Arya with similar phrasing (septa Mordane and Tradesman-Captain Ternesio Terys). I'll give you the quotes:

Septa Mordane raised her eyes. She had a bony face, sharp eyes, and a thin lipless mouth made for frowning. It was frowning now. "What are you talking about, children?"

And

Arya turned to find Denyo's father looming over them in his long captain's coat of purple wool. Tradesman-Captain Ternesio Terys wore no whiskers and kept his grey hair cut short and neat, framing his square, windburnt face. On the crossing she had oft seen him jesting with his crew, but when he frowned men ran from him as if before a storm. He was frowning now. "Our voyage is at an end," he told Arya.

In one of the chapters Arya is said to be “too skinny to hold a sword” and in the other she is “too small to man an oar”. Both chapters end with Arya entering rooms where two authority figures await for her (septa Mordane and Catelyn in her room AGOT, the kindly man and the waif inside the House of Black and White in AFFC).

AGOT Arya II  / AFFC Arya II: In both chapters a long time has elapsed between Arya I and Arya II. In both chapters Arya feels very isolated from people around her (in AGOT she is mourning Mycah, angry at her father’s men who let the boy be murdered and sad that even Sansa “wouldn’t talk to her unless their father made her”, in AFFC Arya takes the other servants of the HoBaW for mutes until she hears them praying, they never talk to her and Umma, who does talk, speaks in a language she can’t understand.

In both chapters we have vivid descriptions of rich food Arya eats, which is very rare in her story because she is underfed most of the time. In both chapters Needle is discovered (in AGOT Ned sees the sword, in AFFC the waif catches Arya training).

In both chapters she has a very important conversation about lies (Arya tells her father Sansa lied about not knowing what happened at the Trident, and Ned says to her:  "We all lie" and later says that some lies are “not without honor”, meanwhile the kindly man says to Arya “All men lie when they are afraid. Some tell many lies, some but a few. Some have only one great lie they tell so often that they almost come to believe it”).

In both chapters Arya promises to obey:

“This willfulness of yours, the running off, the angry words, the disobedience… at home, these were only the summer games of a child. Here and now, with winter soon upon us, that is a different matter. It is time to begin growing up." "I will," Arya vowed. She had never loved him so much as she did in that instant. "I can be strong too. I can be as strong as Robb."

In AFFC the kindly man tells Arya

“Remain if you will, but know that we shall require your obedience. At all times and in all things. If you cannot obey, you must depart." "I can obey." [...] “It takes uncommon strength of body and spirit, and a heart both hard and strong [to be a faceless man]" I have a hole where my heart should beand nowhere else to go. "I'm strong. As strong as you. I'm hard."

In Both chapters Arya is said to be beautiful (a word that is not used to describe her in any other occasion). In both words Arya explicitly refuses feminine roles (in AGOT she tells Ned she doesn’t want to be a lady, in AFFC she thinks she wanted none of the placements the kindly man offers her, with courtesans where she would “sleep on rose petals and wear silken skirts that rustle when [she] walks” or “marriage and children”).

In both chapters Arya uses rocks to save a part of herself: in AGOT she recounts to Ned how she had to throw stones at Nymeria for her to stop following and be saved from the Lannister men who would execute her (we hope Arya will reunite with Nymeria again), and in AFFC she hides Needle behind a loose stone step to keep it safe for later (we hope she will retrieve it at some point).

Another plot-point that repeats between the two chapters is the introduction of a teacher. Arya II in AGOT opens in a dinner scene in the Small Hall ends with the introduction of Syrio Forel in the same Small Hall, where Arya begins to learn water dancing. Syrio says “now we dance”. Arya II in AFFC starts with Arya reciting her list, and ends after the Waif becomes Arya’s teacher on the braavosi language and the lying game (she actively compares what she is learning now with the lessons she once had from Syrio) and then Arya finally leaves the temple, reciting her list like in the beginning (so both chapters start and finish “in the same place”) and saying she is “so happy she could dance”.

AGOT Arya III / AFFC Cat of the Canals: Okay so in AGOT Arya II, Arya assumes a “fake identity” for the first time ever! Tommen and Myrcella mistake her for a peasant boy, and she acts the part. In her third chapter in AFFC this is taken up to the next level and this is the first time her chapter title changes when she takes  the identity of Cat. Cats! Of course, Arya II in AGOT is that one chapter that is all about cats, she talks about pursuing them and she finally kisses Balerion. She then becomes Cat in her third chapter in AFFC, and reminisces about chasing cats in the Red Keep in that chapter!

There is a sense of expanding horizons in both these chapters. Arya leaves the Red Keep for the first time in AGOT Arya III, and walks back from the Blackwater all the way to the castle. In her third AFFC chapter, Arya is exploring the city of Braavos after having finally been allowed out of the temple. She is also very cheeky in both these chapters! Arya interacting with the guards of the Red Keep is hilarious, and very similar to how she acts when being her Cat persona.

Nightmares. Arya experiences vivid, terrible nightmares in both these third chapters (and in her third chapter in ASOS). In AGOT she hears her father’s voice becoming fainter and fainter in her dreams, which some have interpreted as foreshadowing for Ned’s death and as a sign that Arya may have precognitive abilities. In AFFC it’s her mother she hears screaming. Both these chapters also explore and detail the place Arya inhabits. In AGOT Arya III the Red Keep is heavily featured, and it’s described as an “endless stone maze”. In AFFC Cat takes us all around Braavos, which of course is a “crooked city” with all its buildings made out of stone.

Daenerys is mentioned!! Illyrio and Varys discuss “the princess with child” in AGOT Arya III, and tales of “dragons hatching” reach Cat in AFFC. Daenerys isn’t mentioned in any other Arya chapters.

Retelling overheard stories features heavily in both chapters. Arya tries to convey to Ned what she overheard and is casually dismissed. In Cat of the Canals, Arya is learning to actively overhear conversations and gather information and retells them to the kindly man with caution.

Bathing is also present in both chapters. Arya usually doesn’t really enjoy bathing in ACOK and ASOS, but both in AGOT Arya III and in Cat of the Canals, on the other hands, we witness Arya disrobing and cleaning her body of her own volition, getting rid of bad smells in almost ritualized cleansing. Compare the quotes from AGOT, Arya III:

She found herself standing at the mouth of a sewer where it emptied into the river. She stank so badly that she stripped right there, dropping her soiled clothing on the riverbank as she dove into the deep black waters. She swam until she felt clean, and crawled out shivering.

and AFFC, Cat of the Canals:

Down in the vaults, she untied Cat's threadbare cloak, pulled Cat's fishy brown tunic over her head, kicked off Cat's salt-stained boots, climbed out of Cat's smallclothes, and bathed in lemonwater to wash away the very smell of Cat of the Canals. When she emerged, soaped and scrubbed pink with her brown hair plastered to her cheeks, Cat was gone.

One of the most important parallels in this set of chapters regards the Night’s Watch. It is in Arya III AGOT that Arya for the first ever interacts with a black brother, when she meets Yoren. Although Arya isn’t aware of it, it was Yoren’s death that made it possible for Dareon leave Eastwatch and go to Braavos in the first place, as the singer was assigned by Jon Snow to take up the role of recruiter that used to be Yoren’s. Yoren had other roles as well, including that of Arya’s protector. The first encounter she has with each of the two black brothers show us just how much Arya has changed. She thinks of Yoren:

He was stooped and ugly, with an unkempt beard and unwashed clothes. [...] The old man in his smelly black clothes was looking at her oddly, but Arya could not seem to stop talking.

While Arya can’t stop herself from rambling to Yoren, she has learned not to share all of her thoughts by the time she meets Dareon. This is the quote:

He is fair of face and foul of heart, thought Arya, but she did not say it

Also, in both this chapters she goes blind! “She was blind.” That sentence shows up exactly like that, word for word, in both chapters. Of course in AFFC she actually becomes blind, while in AGOT she is only in a really really dark room. But still. The wording! And structurally speaking, while the last pair of chapters starts and finish “in the same place”, now both of these chapters start with a more light-hearted tone to then plunge into really dark territory, literally and metaphorically, as Arya hears the threats to her family whispered in the dark in AGOT and kills Dareon to then goes blind in AFFC.

AGOT Arya IV / ADWD The Blind Girl:

Considering AFFC and ADWD as one long long book, Blind Girl is Arya’s fourth chapter. Arya’s fourth chapter in AGOT is the one in which she gets that all-important lesson when Syrio Forel tells her to “look with her eyes”. He also touches upon her other senses though:

“The heart lies and the head plays tricks with us, but the eyes see true. Look with your eyes. Hear with your ears. Taste with your mouth. Smell with your nose. Feel with your skin. Then comes the thinking, afterward, and in that way knowing the truth." 

Syrio says all that! And while Arya looks with her eyes in several moments of the story and this true seeing literally saves her life more than once, she never does explore her other senses that much… until she goes blind in ADWD. In The Blind Girl we get:

Hear, smell, taste, feel, she reminded herself. There are many ways to know the world for those who cannot see. [...] "You have five senses, learn to use the other four, you will have fewer cuts and scrapes and scabs"

Also, both chapters feature scenes where Arya in engaged in training with someone to improve her martial skills. While she practiced her needlework on her own all throughout ASOS, this is the first time she does so with someone else since Syrio in AGOT Arya IV! The way the two fights are described is incredibly similar, with the descriptions of rights and lefts and right and lefts, and the clacking sound of wood, her opponent “cheating” (coming from the “wrong” side) and there is a “sudden stinging” cut which catches her by surprise. It’s very very similar, go reread it if you don't believe me.

Another really important parallel regards skinchanging: in Arya’s fourth chapter in AGOT, Arya is helpless after witnessing the horrors that took place at the Tower of the Hand. The narration tells us “she was only a little girl with a wooden stick, alone and afraid” (the wooden stick here is her practice sword). And than, to escape, she pretends she is chasing cats… “except she was the cat now”. I kid you not, this is the exact wording used. She is the cat now, and that is what empowers her to keep going. In ADWD, when Arya is most definitely LITERALLY just a little blind girl with a wooden stick, she actually skinchanges into a cat for the first time, and that is what finally empowers her against her mentor/abuser. She “becomes a cat” in both chapters

Also, it is in The Blind Girl chapter that we learn that “the Sealord is dying”, which is comparable (both from doylist’s and watsonian perspectives) to Robert Baratheon dying, exactly what happens around Arya IV. Now a bit of a stretch: in AFFC "The Merling Queen has chosen a new Mermaid to take the place of the one that drowned. She is the daughter of a Prestayn serving maid, thirteen and penniless, but lovely." I propose the new mermaid might stand in for Jeyne Poole. While the new Mermaid is the daughter of a Prestayn’s serving maid, and we know Prestayn be a noble house, Jayne is the daughter of the Stark’s steward. Petyr Baelish, who is connected with the braavosi galley The Merling King, takes charge of Jayne, who is then a twelve year-old.The “Mermaids” are actually described to be “young maidens in the blush of their first flowering who hold [the Merling Queen’s] train and do her hair”. Of course, same as the Mermaids are being trained to become courtesans, Jeyne will be trained in a brothel to become Ramsay’s bride.

AGOT Arya V / ADWD The Ugly Little Girl: Okay, so Arya V makes me sad from the very first line to the very last. The situation is hopeless, Arya is helpless. King’s Landing is unwelcoming and claustrophobic, the people range from rude to downright mean. The people of the city likely look at her with suspicious eyes, and as much as Arya has told us she loved nothing more than to be underfoot and mingle with the common people of Winterfell, the experience in King’s Landing is traumatizing, and it ends with her father beheaded. Oh joy. In A Dance with Dragons the waif describes how people will react to the ugly little girl Arya will become after she changes her face for the first time:

"Women will look away when they see you. Children will stare and point. Strong men will pity you, and some may shed a tear."

For reasons very different than a destroyed face, this sounds very similar to what Arya experiences in King’s Landing. I find the overall tone of The Ugly Little Girl chapter to be rather analogous to that of Arya V. Arya is in the HoBaW because is certain she has nowhere else to go. Life is easier now than when she was blind, but she doesn’t feel very comfortable – and yet goes through with all that is asked of her. Though not helpless anymore, she is more hopeless than ever before. She experiences physical pain and nightmares; she is questioned and constantly told she doesn’t have what it takes to be in the only place that has been a steady roof over her head in years.

Before undergoing her magical transformation in ADWD, Arya is given a tart drink. This is the quote:

She drank it down at once. It was very tart, like biting into a lemon. A thousand years ago, she had known a girl who loved lemon cakes. No, that was not me, that was only Arya.

In AGOT Arya V, we get this:

Arya would have given anything for a cup of milk and a lemon cake,

In fact, lemons come up very scarcely in Arya’s whole story. She only thinks about the fruit in her inner monologues in Arya V and The Ugly Little Girl, both times prompted from external stimuli (there is the lemon tart she could not steal moments before she wishes for the lemon cake in AGOT, and the magical tart drink she is given in The Ugly Little Girl). The word comes up a handful of times in A Storm of Swords while Arya is in the company of Lem Lemoncloak, but the fruit not so much.

Another parallel between this pair of chapters comes in the form of Arya’s target, the binder salesman. The man Arya targets for the faceless men in ADWD is described in a way that calls back to Petyr Baelish (pointed beard, thin lips) and Yoren (a hard face, mean eyes, crooked shoulders), both of which Arya encounters in her fifth chapter in AGOT.

Eddard Starks beheading is a moment full of similarities to Arya’s “defacing” by the kindly man. This is from AGOT Arya V:

The old man shook her so hard her teeth rattled. "Shut your mouth and close your eyes, boy." Dimly, as if from far away, she heard a… a noise… a soft sighing sound, as if a million people had let out their breath at once.

and this is from ADWD The Ugly Little Girl:

"Sit," the priest commanded. She sat. "Now close your eyes, child." She closed her eyes. "This will hurt," he warned her, "but pain is the price of power. Do not move."

And of course what follows her closing her eyes in AGOT hurts much more deeply than having her forehead slashed. In A Game of Thrones, Arya opens her eyes to finally recognize Yoren. He then giver her Needle back, and drags her to a doorframe where he cuts her hair to give her a new identity, that of Arry. This is the quote from Arya V:

As the blade flashed toward her face, Arya threw herself backward, kicking wildly, wrenching her head from side to side, but he had her by the hair, so strong, she could feel her scalp tearing, and on her lips the salt taste of tears.

and this is the quote from The Ugly Little Girl:

She sat unmoving. The cut was quick, the blade sharp. By rights the metal should have been cold against her flesh, but it felt warm instead. She could feel the blood washing down her face, a rippling red curtain falling across her brow and cheeks and chin, and she understood why the priest had made her close her eyes. When it reached her lips the taste was salt and copper.

That's it! If you are interested in a more in-depth analysis check my original post from (five!!) years ago .

#arya stark #valyrianscrolls #asoiaf meta #asoiaf #a song of ice and fire #a feast for crows #a dance with dragons #book!arya #arya stark meta #a game of thrones

[sailorshadzter]

Prompt: Jon doesn't know the depth of his feelings for Sansa until he reunites with his sister Arya.

thanks anon!!!

send me prompts

He’s standing in the godswood when he hears the approaching footsteps. 

He turns, the smile already tugging on his lips, twin colored eyes meeting from across the snowy path. Truth was, he can’t recall now just how long it’s truly been since he last saw her, this most precious little sister of his. But, what he can still remember is the way he’d felt leaving her, just the same as he’d felt leaving Robb, wishing for only one moment more. “Arya…” He’s the one to call out first, watching as she comes ever closer, swearing she must be the very same height as she was so long ago. 

A moment of hesitation and then a smile is transforming her face- he’s surprised by how it changes her. “Jon,” she says and a moment later, he’s wrapping her in his arms, holding her as closely as he can. 

Their conversation sways with the memories they both share and the ones they must explain to one another, details of lives neither of them thought they would ever live. They aren’t finished until the sun is streaking crimson across the sky, reminding him of the other sister he holds so close to his heart. “We should return,” Arya is saying, gesturing back towards Winterfell, which looms in the distance. “Sansa will be missing us.” The way she says her sister’s name, all vowels, reminds him of their father and he’s smiling. 

“I’ll follow you, I just need a moment or two longer,” he says, hand to her shoulder, their eyes meeting as if she understands. But then she sighs, shrugging those shoulders and turning on her heel, heading back the way she’d come just a few short hours ago. Jon stands and watches her retreating back, thankful to have this moment with her. He and Sansa had gone from being alone together to gaining back pieces of their broken family and he was incredibly thankful for such a thing. And yet, happy as he was to have Arya home, here during this first reunion of theirs all he could think of was her. 

When she’s out of sight, he sinks back down onto the tree trunk he usually sits upon, running a hand over his face as he lets out the breath he’s been holding all this time. As much as he missed Arya, the feeling was simply not the same as it was for Sansa- he doesn’t mean to compare them, certainly not for his love, but… It’s different and now that he’s been reunited with Arya, it’s glaringly apparent. 

He has to wonder if it’s apparent to everyone else, as well. 

These feelings he’s tried so desperately to squash, to hide, to ignore… At this moment, they are vibrant and warm, wonderful and wild. They are so unlike the brotherly feelings he has for Arya. Try as he might to outrun these feelings for Sansa, try as he might to hide the feelings deep inside of himself, this moment has laid it out quite honestly for himself. There was no hiding it now, he fears. 

He looks up then, pulled out of his own thoughts by the sound of snow crunching beneath boots- he would know those footsteps anywhere, after all. There she stands in the falling darkness, her cloak tucked tightly around her, the lightest dusting of snow sprinkled in her auburn hair. It was as if his thoughts of her and summoned her to him. “I thought I might find you frozen solid,” she teases as she approaches, looking down at him with those big, blue eyes of hers. “You’ve been out here quite some time.” She sobers now, knowing he’d met with Arya and likely been left with a thousand different thoughts and feelings, just as she had been. 

“I lost track of the time,” he admits, rising up from where he sits, closing the gap between them. “Did I miss supper?” He asks and she laughs, looping her arm through his, gently tugging him back towards the path that would lead them home. 

“I saved you a plate,” she grins as he falls into step at her side. Jon smiles, warmth flooding through him as she huddles in closer, her other hand laying over his forearm; he can feel the warmth of her skin through every layer of wool he wears. “Come, I will pour you a goblet of ale and get you warm once more.” Jon nods and allows her to lead the way, chatting happily, her cheeks as rosy as her lips. He realizes, as they walk, that he wouldn’t change this for anything- not the depth of his feelings and certainly not the way she looks at him when they’re alone like this. Wrong or right, he’s just happy to have her at his side. 

So he will let her into his rooms and pour him some ale, though he will pour her one as well, and they will be happy, even just for the night.

#jonsa #actuallyjonsa #jon x sansa #i wrote this #my writing #this is something like a comeback #anon asks #writing prompts #send me prompts

[tonhalszendvics]

Inheritance Cycle height headcanon time!

We have height descriptions like "tall", "an inch or so taller", "slightly shorter", let me ruin your day~

Roran: He was slightly taller than Eragon, when they parted, Eragon caught up, they are the same height now. He has no opinion about his appearance – until it's good enough for Katrina, he's content with it.

Eragon: Average height. He was still growing when he left Palancar valley, but because of his hard time on the road – injuries, not enough food, straining himself – he stopped growing and by the time he was about to get a growth spurt, Agaetí Brödhren happened. Physically he didn't changed after that. Later he was a bit mad at Umaroth for ditching that small height he had stored in, and doesn't care about the dragons "but it would've thrown you off-balance!" excuse.

Murtagh: If Eragon is Literal Average at their first meeting, then he's an inch or two taller than that. That's five centimetres, it's mostly unnoticeable. However, the height difference between him and Eragon stayed the same even though he was around twenty in the end of the series and finished growing – the spell that made Thorn grow faster, leaked through their bond and gave him some height, too. Just enough to keep that difference between him and Eragon, just enough to make him re-learn all of his moves. All of his clothes and his armour had to be remade as well. (The king was more careful with his magic after that.)

Arya: Eragon says, she's tall. She's not, by elf-standards, she's just taller than Eragon. By looking at her, you'd think she is tall, and most people are surprised when standing next to her, they notice that she is, in fact, not. Still deadly, though.

Nasuada: One long queen, please. Her people are tall, she had a healthy upbringing, she's tall, no questions asked.

Katrina: One short queen, please. She's small, but not petite. Also, don't let her height fool you; she will fight you.

Brom: Only slightly taller than Eragon; our boy would be on his level if that thing didn't happen. Brom would be relieved that he remains taller, as he was always shorter than any of his long-time acquaintances, except for the dwarves.

Selena: She can see eye to eye with Brom, which is tall for a woman. She's around Arya's height, but doesn't have her "i am lean and tall" aura. (She's a hair taller than Brom, but he pretends she's not. She lets it slide.)

Jeod: 2/3 of his body are his legs. He's as tall as Ajihad, except when he sits down, then he's just as tall as Brom.

Galbatorix: average for his time, slightly short for the present. He's built like a barrel.

Morzan: You bet he does door frame quality control with his forehead. He's just Freaking Tall. Galbatorix made sure that whenever they had to be present at the same time, he stood on the dais or on the top of the stairs whenever Morzan was around him. Everyone knew his general was taller than him, but no-one wanted to mention it, obviously. Morzan was very pleased, though.

#shhh i am having a bad time and need some funny things to think about #inheritance cycle #roran #eragon #murtagh #arya #nasuada #brom #selena (inheritance cycle) #jeod #galbatorix #morzan #the world of eragon #i want to make a chart of this #tonhal pofázik

[madamebaggio]

Notes: This isn't related to any of my previous snippets. It's just something short and sweet.

***

Robb cleared his throat as he held the mic in front of his mouth. “Good evening, everyone. I’m Robb, the best-man and the bride’s brother.”

“Hi, Robb!” Many voices called back, and someone wolf whistled -probably Theon.

“Sansa was the first of many -many- younger siblings I’d get eventually, and she was a cute baby, even though the patch of red hair made her look a bit like a tomato.” Laughter all around. “She was also a bit annoying as a teenager, but at least she wasn’t setting the house on fire like Arya. But the one thing that Sansa has always been is immensely kind and loyal.”

He turned his eyes to his sister. “I feel that -at times- we didn’t appreciate it as much as we should’ve, and we took her for granted, but Sansa is a rock.” He was looking directly at her as he said that. “She only became stronger with time, and now she’s this beautiful bride and I couldn’t feel prouder of her.”

Sansa had tears in her eyes as she looked at her brother.

“Now, that fucker…” Robb turned to the groom, making the whole room explode in laughter.

“ROBB STARK! Language!” Cat screeched at her son.

“I met Arthur in University, where we became friends almost immediately.” Robb raised his glass to Arthur, who repeated the gesture. “And the first time I invited him to our house for Easter, he took a look at Sansa and said: ‘We’re going to be brothers’. And I asked him ‘why?’ to which he replied: ‘because I’m going to marry your sister’.”

Laughter all around again, because they all knew that Arthur would’ve definitely said something like that. “And I said: ‘it’s never going to happen, because my sister is way too smart to fall for you’.” Robb gave Sansa a flat look that made her explode in giggles. “And you know what? She is smart. Smart enough to see how good he was. To look beyond his reputation, and see the great guy he actually was. So yeah, Sansa is still smart as hell. And I guess you were right, Arthur: we’re brothers now.”

Arthur covered his mouth with his fist, while Sansa rested her head on his shoulder.

“I’m happy that we got here.” Robb told the others. “That Sansa found someone that knows how amazing she is, and that Arthur is with someone that knows he is great. As much as it pained me as a big brother seeing those two flirting all the time before they finally decided to get together, I couldn’t imagine two people more perfect for each other: you’re both smart, kind and hard working.”

“And hot!” Arthur called from his place.

Robb rolled his eyes as people laughed again. “Welcome to the family, Arthur. We’re really happy to have you here.” He narrowed his eyes. “But we’ll still fucking kill you if you hurt her.”

“ROBB!”

Applauses all around, and Robb could finally get drunk and party (and hopefully sleep with the maid of honor).

#madame baggio #crackship #crossover #gifs not mine #crossover pairings #snippet #au #game of thrones #king arthur legend of the sword #sansa stark #robb stark #arthur pendragon #sansa x arthur

[silverflameataraxia]

"I don't care about their stupid tourney," Arya said. She knew Prince Joffrey would be there, and she hated Prince Joffrey.

She went to the window seat and sat there, sniffling, hating them all, and herself most of all. It was all her fault, everything bad that had happened. Sansa said so, and Jeyne too. She thought of Mycah again and her eyes filled with tears. Her fault, her fault, her fault. If she had never asked him to play at swords with her...

Arya desperately wanted to explain, to make him see. "I was trying to learn, but..." Her eyes filled with  tears. "I asked Mycah to practice with me." The grief came on her all at once. She turned away, shaking. "I asked him," she cried. "It was my fault,  it was me. .." Suddenly her father's arms were around her. He held her gently as she turned to him and sobbed against his chest. "No, sweet one," he murmured. "Grieve for your friend, but never blame yourself. You did not kill the butcher's boy. That murder lies at the Hound's door, him and the cruel woman he serves." "I hate them," Arya confided, red-faced, sniffling. "The Hound and the queen and the king and Prince Joffrey. I hate all of them. Joffrey lied, it wasn't the way he said. I hate Sansa too. She did remember, she just lied so Joffrey would like her."

AGoT, Arya II

Sansa and Septa Mordane were given places of high honor, to the left of the raised dais where the king himself sat beside his queen. When Prince Joffrey seated himself to her right, she felt her throat tighten. He had not spoken a word to her since the awful thing had happened, and she had not dared to speak to him.  At first she thought she hated him for what they'd done to Lady, but after Sansa had wept her eyes dry, she told herself that it had not been Joffrey's doing, not truly. The queen had done it; she was the one to hate, her and Arya. Nothing bad would have happened except for Arya.

She could not hate Joffrey tonight.  He was too beautiful to hate. He wore a deep blue doublet studded with a double row of golden lion's heads, and around his brow a slim coronet made of gold and sapphires. His hair was as bright as the metal. Sansa looked at him and trembled, afraid that he might ignore her or, worse, turn hateful again and send her weeping from the table.

Instead Joffrey smiled and kissed her hand, handsome and gallant as any prince in the songs, and said, "Ser Loras has a keen eye for beauty, sweet lady."

AGoT, Sansa II

Sansa has listened to too many songs that she can't see or understand reality, even when she's slapped in the face with it. Arya didn't like Cersei or Joffrey from the beginning, but Sansa practically worshipped at their feet. Even after they ordered Lady to be killed, Sansa...still worships at their feet. All the while blaming/hating on Arya for it.

Yes, Arya hates Sansa over the whole ordeal, but she also hates the Prince, the Queen, the King, and the Hound. Sansa doesn't hate anybody, except Arya and the Queen (but even then she only hates Cersei for a short while).

It amazes me how two sisters can be so different. Arya is younger but understands reality and the dangers of the world, whereas Sansa lives in songs, dreams, and fairy tales.

#a song of ice and fire #arya stark #joffrey baratheon #anti sansa stark #jeyne poole #eddard stark #sandor the hound clegane #queen cersei #septa mordane #asoiaf #pro arya stark #ned stark #the hound #cersei lannister #george rr martin #canonarya #sandor clegane #valyrianscrolls #canonaryastark

[dearsnow]

THE WATCHER

- the uncertainty that kept jon quiet and watchful is thrown for a loop when you suggest becoming kids again. (jon snow x gn!lannister!reader, part of the standstill collection)

word count: 644

STANDSTILL: The arrival of the Lannisters and Baratheons in Winterfell has caused the world to quiet for just a moment- a moment long enough to last lifetimes.

a/n - this fic and the last one are kind of just an introduction to jon and your dynamic, so they are a bit short. the next ones (whenever i get to writing them) will hopefully be much better :)

“There’s really no need to follow me everywhere,” you protest, trying to close the door. Jon sticks his fur-laden arm through the gap and blocks you from all privacy.

“It’s my job.” He really isn’t going to leave you alone, is he?

“I know full well, but don’t you think it’s… I don’t know, an invasion of privacy? I’m just having a chat with my father.” There’s a fiery determination written on his face.

“You never know.” His reply is honest, as usual.

You open the door just enough so it won’t be crushing his arm, sighing deeply the whole time. “Alright. Fine.”

The talk goes how it normally does, with your father, Tyrion, pouring the three of you wine and telling you about the latest happenings in the kingdoms, along with things he plans to fix in the future. He values your input, not just as his offspring, but as a similarly inclined mind. He trusts you with far more than anyone else, and it makes you swell with pride. You notice that his words are measured in the presence of your bodyguard, and you mirror his carefulness.

He’s called out of his room soon enough, leaving just you and (what you think may be) the most stony man in the kingdoms.

“You don’t need to be so serious all the time. Let go a little, will you? At this point, it will make me feel better.” He has no answer to that. The rational part of you knows your words went in one ear and out the other, but the emotional side hopes he’s just too conflicted to answer. “I’m being serious. I have an idea-“ you grab his wrist lightly, though you know he’ll follow anyways, “why don’t we join your siblings in the courtyard? I’m sure they know how to put a smile on your face.”

At first, he just watches, despite how many times you try to pull him into playing. He watches as you and Arya team up to dump cold slush down Sansa’s coat, though you do apologize profusely afterwards. He watches Bran trying to teach you how to string a bow. He watches for about an hour before your wandering eyes glimpse a smile on his face. Then, he finally, finally joins you.

In the blink of an eye, you’re kids again. Laughing and playing and genuinely having the time of your lives. A smear of dirt has made its home on your left cheek and the cold afternoon has frozen your lips, but you can’t think of anything greater.

That simple, fleeting feeling of joy- that’s what you’ve been looking for. You never got it as a highborn only child. It warms you from top to bottom in spite of the aching wind.

You quite suddenly realize that you never want it to stop. You never want to see Jon’s warm smile disappear behind cold eyes and a flash of steel. You never want to see Arya’s spark fleeing from her grasp, Sansa’s wit going right along with it. There’s something that buries itself in between the fibers of your heart when you even imagine Bran losing his free spirit and Rickon his loyalty. You’ve known the Starks for a little over a few days, but you know deep in your soul that you wish to know them forever.

There’s no way Jon can ever go back to being “the watcher” now that you know he’s capable of smiling like a little boy with a mouth full of chocolate. For a second, you take a step back. You watch him ruffle Arya and Bran’s hair at the same time, one kiddo in each palm. Your mouth hurts from how long it has been stretched into the dopiest grin you can muster.

This visit has changed everything, you think, and it hasn’t even been a week.

Reblogs are greatly appreciated!!

#standstill ; jon snow ❄️ #solar eclipse. #jon snow x reader #jon snow #jon snow headcanons #jon snow fanfic #jon snow imagine #game of thrones #game of thrones fluff #got x reader #game of thrones fanfiction #game of thrones fic

[mortumslab]

Remembering to be Human - Chapter 10

Hello everyone!

Here's chapter 10!

Chapter 10 tw: violence, gore, suicidal thoughts

Chapter 9 Link:

Trapped. Can’t get out. Not alone.

Not alone. Not alone. Feed. Must feed. Hungry.

Become. Become. Hungry. Feed.

“AH.”

Your scream wakes you. Julia’s hands are on you before you can fall out of bed. She pulls you back towards her. Breathing ragged. Heart hammering. The rush of blood is the only sound. Your head throbs. Eyes tight until the pain subsides.

“Arya, what happened?” Her voice is soft yet firm. Trying to ground you. It’s not working. You’re going to be sick.

Breaking from her grip, you bolt to the toilet. The bastard weaving your fate grants you a small mercy as you make it in time. Last night’s meal hits the toilet. Vomiting is normal for you. But the degree to which it has happened this week is concerning. You know the nightmare is related to your identity crisis. The thing inside is breaking through. It’s taking control. 

Julia is behind you. She’s held your hair out of the line of fire. Whatever is happening needs to be fixed soon. Or you may be yourself much longer. Do you tell Julia this? Worrying her may make her more emboldened. But it could get her killed, too. You don’t want her to die for you. Though you know she’s stubborn and would do it anyway. 

You would die for her.

“I think…” you swallow back the nausea. The headache is diminished now. A familiar pulsing. “I think something Heartbreak did. Or the Farm did. It’s inside my head. My telepathy. It’s like another conscience is in there.”

“How is that possible?” 

“I’m not sure. The experiments they did on me were nothing short of torture. Who knows what the damage is.” She helps you to your feet. Turning you to face her. She wraps you in a tight hug. Neither of you has an answer. But you both know who does.

“Just another reason to take the fight to them.” Your voice is muffled against her shirt. You realize a second late that the shirt is a Heartbreak fan shirt. “No way.” And your laughter echoes in the bare bathroom.

“Hey, just supporting my girl.” She smiles. “I have no idea why you have more merch than I do at this point, but I doubt you’re getting royalties.”

“I am not, but seeing that the public doesn’t fully condemn me is nice.” Your goal is to bring awareness to the corruption. Apparently, it’s working. You hadn’t paid much attention to your ranking in the officially unofficial Los Diabolos, but a cursory glance at breakfast tells you you’re in the top 10 of villains. Though commenters under your profile are in a heated keyboard debate about whether you’re a villain.

“We need to get you armor. And a name.” You look to Julia. She is ecstatic. Oh no.

“I have been thinking about this from the moment I started to suspect you were Heartbreak.” 

“Were you fangirling over me before you knew me?” You can’t stop the astonishment from covering your face.

“I will neither confirm nor deny that.” She says with a wink. Confirmation, indeed. “But I have some ideas.”

“Go on, then, enlighten me.” You say with a hint of teasing. She’s truly serious about this. You weren’t sure if it was an empty promise but a clear head doesn’t seem to have dissuaded her.

“Well, I still need to use my mods. So I need to find something to distract from the similarities.” She’s getting excited. You can’t help but smile. “So I was thinking of a few names. And I was thinking about getting a sword.”

“A sword?” You almost laugh. But Charge has never used a weapon. Why should anyone suspect she’s anything more than another villain?

“Yeah! Something I can maybe make electrically charged.”

She’s onto something. “So a name?”

“I had a few ideas.” Then she lists them off. “Diode, Electropath, and then to keep in theme with you, Pacemaker or Defibrillator.”

“I like Pacemaker. It makes it sound like you’re keeping me sane. Which, I guess, is why we’re doing this.” She’s truly giving everything up for you and your crusade. “What did I do to deserve you?” That slipped out. Shit.

“Being you was enough.” She says it so simply it has to be true. Right?

“Sap.” You grumble, finishing your coffee. “I need to coordinate Rosie dropping off money to the Children’s Hospital and then into our funds. Then I need to get Mortum to work on something for you.” 

“What do we do in the meantime?” 

“Investigate, I suppose.” You groan, getting to your feet. “I should suit up and deliver the Koch files to the D.A. and then whatever Blaze recovered.”

“Want some help?” 

“Like before, let me make a show. Drama. Then I’ll escape in a cloud of smoke. Hopefully, no one puts up a fight.” Sighing. “I think I feel better after last night. I’ll eventually need to figure out how to be the brutal fighter and the, well, me. But that’s for after.” After you take down the Farm. Figure out whatever they put in your head. Because you know it’s not making you this way. You are this way. You were broken. Now you’re trying to heal. But it won’t happen until you’re alone in your own head.

“Okay, I’ll keep the Rangers on patrol. I’m sure we also have some work to catch up on.” 

“Hey, how do you keep getting in here? I have several security measures.” You had been wondering this since she’d been in here after your escape from the Ranger HQ. 

“Oh, you have a… security flaw.” A small electrical charge rolls down her arm. 

“Ah, you fried my systems. Twice?” You can’t help but laugh.

“You never gave me a key.” 

“It’s a passcode. It’s the date of our Psychopathor mission.” You feel your cheeks burn up.

“Now who’s the sap.”

“Fuck off, I need to get going.”

Suiting up, you hear Julia leave via the private elevator. You don’t know what will happen if someone catches you together out of gear. But Arya isn’t yet a criminal, and your romance wasn’t exactly a secret in the Sidestep days. Hopefully Heartbreak and Pacemaker draw even less attention.

Julia is officially in your life in a capacity you couldn’t have expected last week. Deep down, you might have hoped for it, but your current career choice felt incompatible. Now, however, you’re letting yourself hope. Hope is dangerous. Hope leads to heartbreak. And there’s been far too much of that lately.

You open Mortum’s contact information on your phone. How do you phrase this? How do you just ask for something? As Arya? Not as Eden? Eden. Eden who’s currently being kept alive in one of Mortum’s research facilities. You had Mortum take her when you decided to go public with the Rangers. 

Your fingers hesitate over the keyboard. Just be honest. Open. Like friends. Because you are.

Hey, I was wondering if I could commission a project from you.

Need to call? 

Yeah.

Then you dial.

“Mon cherie, what can I do for you?”

Deep breath. “Hey, I think I’m going to need another suit. Nothing as high tech but safe and anonymous.”

A moment. “Oh? For yourself?”

Another deep breath. “No, actually, for an associate. Getting myself a sidekick.”

“Do I want to know who it is?”

“I’ll tell you, but it might be better not to know.”

“Ah, I wondered when this would happen.” She sounds amused.

“Are you laughing at me?” 

“I would never.” Definitely a laugh. That one even came across the speaker.

“Well, would that be possible?” Your meekness outside of the suit is your truthful self. Which helps when Heartbreak is nearly overbearing at times.

“Yes, in fact, I might have something available. Would you happen to have her measurements?”

“Uh, shit. Probably not. I can ask?” Her. She knows. You’re becoming swiftly incapable of keeping secrets. Thankfully, Mortum and Julia seem to be the only two who take you apart like this.

“Or I could come to your base. Avoid having to show a Ranger my lab.”

“That works. I have some gear here, but you may need more.”

“What you have will suffice. Tonight?”

“If you’re free, yes.” Relief. Good to have allies. Friends. Being human.

“See you tonight then, Mon cherie.” 

That’s one issue solved. You send a text to Julia.

Need you back here tonight. Mortum has a suit.

One problem solved.

Confronting the mayor wasn’t on your agenda for many months. However, with what Blaze discovered - more communications between GeniTech and Los Diabolos’ ruling class - and your discoveries from Koch, you feel ready to make some waves.

Heartbreak needs an entrance. You always do. And, once again, you find yourself perched on a building overlooking the city hall. You’re surprised they don’t have guards stationed here. You’ve done this enough times you wonder if they’re just asking for you to make a fool of them.

You know Alvarez is in her office. You can see her through her office window. Dampeners are active, but you won’t be here long enough to warrant taking them out.

Deep breath and—

BEEP

Your brows furrow for a moment. A notification? Why? Who?

Julia.

Special Directive is here. They’re being ordered to bring in Steel. They’re not telling us why. Stay away. Love you.

Rage.

Rage rolls through you. 

The Rat King alerts you to nearby guards. You don’t care. You’ve already dropped to your bike stashed below. It’s nearing the end of the day, so you can hide amongst the shadows.

The Rat King is doing its best to calm you, but you’re not about to let go of this. The Directive may be made of ReGenes like yourself, but they do not get to go after your friends. If someone dies. If. It will be on you. And you alone. If they touch Julia. If. 

The soft whirring of your bike is the only sound as you speed through afternoon traffic. You’re not far from the HQ. You wouldn’t have stayed away even if you were. You’ll pretend like you accidentally happened across this. Decided to take advantage of the commotion and rob the place. Something. Not really important right now. What’s important are the two military transports parked outside the Ranger HQ. They’re parked in a position to secure and exfiltrate. You recognize it well. You were usually with the target.

Leaping off your bike, the two ReGenes covering the front entrance are mowed down. The shrapnel of your cycle goes in several directions. One ReGene stops moving. He took the brunt of the force. The other moves on you with inhuman speed.

When you fight, it’s a dance. A graceful mantra you’ve shown the world. Heartbreak is a gentleman as much as a brutal weapon. Now, however, you’re just a weapon. A weapon the Directive created. Mental and physical trauma awaits your enemies.

Your fist catches the remaining ReGene. He goes down, but inhuman joints allow him to catch himself and spin, coming in for another attack. No. One word. One word and the ReGene falls limply at your feet. He’s alive. Barely. You shut him down without even a twinge of a headache.

Stepping over the guards, you stride inside. The receptionist appears to be alive. Terrified but alive.

“Are they upstairs?” Your voice is clipped. Harsh. No joviality. Not normal for Heartbreak.

This level of fear is usually expected. But right now you need information. Data.

“Anna. Are they upstairs?” Your voice softening. You use her name. She blinks. Then nods vigorously.

“Get yourself out of here. I took out the two out front.”

She doesn’t ask why you know her name. Or why you’re helping.

The stairs. You use your grapple to skip the flights. You expect a standoff is going on in the break room. You were correct. Landing at the stair door, you can sense the Ranger team and at least 6 armed ReGene thought-voids. The classic absence of thought never tricked you. Though, you pretended like it did. The Farm was far too willing to believe they’d tamed you. 

Now you’re unleashed.

The door stands no chance. You go through it like a hot knife through butter. The first ReGene nearest you reacts with enhanced speed. But you don’t care. You break his mind. Rage. Pure rage. He drops before even reaching you. The Rat King tells you the others have recovered from your entrance. Steel is ordering them to get into position. 

The next two ReGenes, the first armed with cannons and the second armed with a sword start towards you. While they both launch attacks, you distract the mind of the cannoneer. His shot goes wild, and using the swordsman’s momentum, you grab his wrist and bring the sword down across the cannoneer’s arm. The arm is bisected, and wires and sparks emit from the stub. You use the weight of the swordsman and, while flipping him over your shoulder, drive the sword through his abdomen. Both are still alive. Pain gates on. You hear Julia yelling. Six more Special Directive ReGene have entered the room. Did they spend fourteen Re-Gene on you? Really? Julia is being surrounded. None of the Rangers expected a battle. None of them are armed or suited up. 

Herald has one around the neck and is lifting them into the air. He’s wailing on the faceplate, but the ReGene doesn’t seem to care. Three from the original party have surrounded Argent. She’s having fun. The invulnerable woman is in her element. She’s using her morphogenic sword and is easily matching all three who also wield melee weapons. Steel and Julia are surrounded by the remaining five. 

You’re not even sure what the ReGenes in front of Julia and Steel are outfitted with. It hardly matters. You’re running on pure hate. You strip the first ReGene of its arm. It screams in pain. The arm is entirely metal. It makes a decent club to cave in the skulls of the next two. The fourth ReGene you hit so hard, your fist goes entirely through him. You pull out wires instead of guts. Disappointing. The remaining two have decided you’re a threat. Peripherally, you see Steel cradling a missing limb. One of his cybernetic arms is missing. 

Two ReGenes are standing over Julia. She has a gash across her chest. Blood. A lot. Julia. Hurt.

There are too many. Overwhelmed. You can’t get to them all in time. Herald is down. Argent is down. Steel is down.

All for nothing. Hope is lost. All for nothing.

Julia. She’s dying. No. No. No.

No. No no no no no no no no.

No.

begin.process.void

void.step.activated

Bisected. Halved. Decapitated.

Two. Three. One.

Unrestricted. Unchained. Overkill.

Unconscious.

#fhr #fallen hero #fallen hero retribution #sidestep #fanfic

[fireismine]

ARYA STARK APPRECIATION MONTH 2022

Day 6: Favourite Book Moments → Arya giving water to men before they are mercy-killed

"A swallow," the fat one called down. "Ha' mercy, boy, a swallow." The old one slid an arm up to grasp the bars. The motion made his cage swing violently. "Water," gasped the one with the flies in his beard. She looked at their filthy hair and scraggly beards and reddened eyes, at their dry, cracked, bleeding lips. *Wolves*, she thought again. Like me. Was this her pack? *How could they be Robb's men?* She wanted to hit them. She wanted to hurt them. She wanted to cry. They all seemed to be looking at her, the living and the dead alike. The old man had squeezed three fingers out between the bars. "Water," he said, "water." Arya swung down from her horse. They can't hurt me, they're dying. She took her cup from her bedroll and went to the fountain. "What do you think you're doing, boy?" the townsman snapped. "They're no concern o' yours." She raised the cup to the fish's mouth. The water splashed across her fingers and down her sleeve, but Arya did not move until the cup was brimming over. When she turned back toward the cages, the townsman moved to stop her. "You get away from them, boy—" "She's a girl," said Harwin. "Leave her be." "Aye," said Lem. "Lord Beric don't hold with caging men to die of thirst. Why don't you hang them decent?" The bars were too narrow to pass a cup through, but Harwin and Gendry offered her a leg up. She planted a foot in Harwin's cupped hands, vaulted onto Gendry's shoulders, and grabbed the bars on top of the cage. The fat man turned his face up and pressed his cheek to the iron, and Arya poured the water over him. He sucked at it eagerly and let it run down over his head and cheeks and hands, and then he licked the dampness off the bars. He would have licked Arya's fingers if she hadn't snatched them back. By the time she served the other two the same, a crowd had gathered to watch her. "The Mad Huntsman will hear of this," a man threatened. "He won't like it. No, he won't." "He'll like this even less, then." Anguy strung his longbow, slid an arrow from his quiver, nocked, drew, loosed. The fat man shuddered as the shaft drove up between his chins, but the cage would not let him fall. Two more arrows ended the other two northmen. The only sound in the market square was the splash of falling water and the buzzing of flies. Valar morghulis, Arya thought. - Arya V, A Storm of Swords

~

They had passed a small pond a short ways back. Sandor gave Arya his helm and told her to fill it, so she trudged back to the water's edge. Mud squished over the toe of her boots. She used the dog's head as a pail. Water ran out through the eyeholes, but the bottom of the helm still held a lot. When she came back, the archer turned his face up and she poured the water into his mouth. He gulped it down as fast as she could pour, and what he couldn't gulp ran down his cheeks into the brown blood that crusted his whiskers, until pale pink tears dangled from his beard. When the water was gone he clutched the helm and licked the steel. "Good," he said. "I wish it was wine, though. I wanted wine." "Me too." The Hound eased his dagger into the man's chest almost tenderly, the weight of his body driving the point through his surcoat, ringmail, and the quilting beneath. As he slid the blade back out and wiped it on the dead man, he looked at Arya. "That's where the heart is, girl. That's how you kill a man." - Arya XII, A Storm of Swords

~

> In the center of the temple she found the water she had heard; a pool ten feet across, black as ink and lit by dim red candles. Beside it sat a young man in a silvery cloak, weeping softly. She watched him dip a hand in the water, sending scarlet ripples racing across the pool. When he drew his fingers back he sucked them, one by one. He must be thirsty. There were stone cups along the rim of the pool. Arya filled one and brought it to him, so he could drink. The young man stared at her for a long moment when she offered it to him. "Valar morghulis," he said. "Valar dohaeris," she replied. He drank deep, and dropped the cup into the pool with a soft plop. Then he pushed himself to his feet, swaying, holding his belly. For a moment Arya thought he was going to fall. It was only then that she saw the dark stain below his belt, spreading as she watched. "You're stabbed," she blurted, but the man paid her no mind. He lurched unsteadily toward the wall and crawled into an alcove onto a hard stone bed. When Arya peered around, she saw other alcoves too. On some there were old people sleeping. No, a half-remembered voice seemed to whisper in her head. They are dead, or dying. Look with your eyes. - Arya I, A Feast for Crows

#aryastarkmonth2022 #asoiaf #asoiafedit #valyrianscrolls #canonarya #arya stark #arya stark edit #book quote #asos #affc

[bkghq]

ᝰ INCLUDES ⋮ bakugo katsuki x fem! reader

— CONTENT WARNING ⋮ mha 362 spoilers! angst only that rlly it has no comfort

— BONUS ARYA ⋮ the leaks have literally ruined me hori better think some shit up bc there ain't no way he's living with doing what he did

she was late, she was so fucking late and the prize she had to pay for it was something she'd never think she'd had to even once she was old and grey.

because right now, laid the limp motionless body of the man, the man she vowed to love forever. half his face disintegrated and deep wounds littered throughout his body, he was barely breathing.

infront of her was the near lifeless body of bakugo katsuki.

she couldn't believe what she saw, she tried to shake her head tell herself that no this can't be true, he can't die, he was bakugo katsuki after all.

so she called his name, "k-katsuki . . . ?" while she gulped lowering herself to him.

as if on cue as soon as he heard her voice, his eyes glanced her way, a small barely noticeable smile formed on his face, as he tried to speak a groan left his mouth, " . . . . y-y/n?" he gulped trying his all to stand him, but god it hurt everything hurt.

"no no! don't don't sit up love im- im here, it's me." she tearfully nodded her head, bile threatening to rise up in her mouth.

bakugo let out a sound what almost sounded like a huff, "'s not that 'm weak, k-k? 'm just sleepy 'n tired." he rasped, a lone tear spilling out of his right eye, "'m —'m tired baby, will you please play with my hair—" a shuddered breath left his mouth, he was struggling struggling to breathe, to stay alive.

she gently placed his head on her lap placing a tearful kiss on his forehead carefully, not trying to cause him anymore pain.

"can i— can i sleep now? 'm tired." he breathed out his breathe coming out in short heaves.

god it was so difficult she couldn't let him sleep she couldn't let him go everyone needed him, she needed him.

as if he could sense her hesitation he tried to ease up the situation, "ya know i sleep early y-yeah? need it f' my hot looks." he tried to laugh but all that came out was a gasp as his breathes got shorter and shorter.

a choked sob let her mouth, however she quickly concealed it by putting her hands on her mouth, for in this moment she knew she had to let him go.

she had to let him go because it was time to let go. bakugo katsuki fought with all his will and now he was at his limit, and she couldn’t be selfish enough to not let him rest now, after all he deserved it.

so with a heavy heart and a promise 'i'll meet you soon my love' she ran her fingers through through his hair and spoke softly yet with such firm voice, "sleep my love, i promise it will be painless and peaceful when you wake up."

tears streamed down her face as she saw his lips form the tiniest smile and his eyes closing shut immediately. and with one last deep breathe his head went limp.

bakugo katsuki took his last breathe on the lap of the woman he once dreamt of marrying.

#im so sad #:( #hori im coming 4 u sleep w one eye open #bakugo katsuki x reader #bakugo katsuki angst #bakugo katsuki fluff #katsuki bakugo imagine #bakugo katuski #katsuki bakugo x reader #bakugo katsuki smut #bakugo katsuki x you #bakugo katsuki x yn #bakugo katsuki #bakugo imagine #bakugo drabble

[ippoliya]

Rhaena Targaryen and Sansa Stark: Parallels and Speculation

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly’s James Hibberd, George R.R. Martin responds as follows when asked whether Fire and Blood would tease what is to come in A Song of Ice and Fire:

Are there any hints here in terms of what’s to come in your Ice and Fire saga? There are a few that are definitely important, but I’m not going to flag them. Readers will have to find them and puzzle out whether they’re hints or red herrings. (x)

The distinct similarities between Sansa Stark in A Song of Ice and Fire and Rhaena Targaryen in Fire and Blood lead me to conclude that Rhaena’s life provides us with some “hints” from which we can predict Sansa’s endgame.

I. The Wild and Willful Sisters

A pertinent connection between Rhaena and Sansa are their wild and willful sisters. Below, I catalogue several similarities between Baela Targaryen and Arya Stark.

First, Baela and Arya are known for their willful behaviour:

“[Baela] is wild, willful, and wanton, as we feared,” (Fire and Blood, 648) “[Baela] was as wild and willful a young woman as any in the realm” (Fire and Blood, 645) “[Arya’s] long horsey face got the stubborn look that meant she was going to do something willful.” (AGOT, Sansa I) “And Arya … he missed her even more than Robb, skinny little thing that she was, all scraped knees and tangled hair and torn clothes, so fierce and willful.” (AGOT, Jon III)

Second, Baela and Arya commonly consort with the small folk:

“Time and time again she would escape her ladies to seek adventure in the streets. She took part in drunken horse races along the Street of the Sisters, engaged in moonlight swims across the Blackwater Rush (whose powerful currents had been known to drown many a strong swimmer), drank with the gold cloaks in their barracks, wagered coin and sometimes clothing in the rat pits of Flea Bottom.” (Fire and Blood, 645) “Sansa knew all about the sorts of people Arya liked to talk to: squires and grooms and serving girls, old men and naked children, rough-spoken freeriders of uncertain birth. Arya would make friends with anybody. This Mycah was the worst; a butcher's boy, thirteen and wild, he slept in the meat wagon and smelled of the slaughtering block. Just the sight of him was enough to make Sansa feel sick, but Arya seemed to prefer his company to hers.” (AGOT, Sansa I)

Third, Baela and Arya’s rejection of gender and class restrictions is a source of tension for their teachers' that strive to inculcate gender and class norms:

“Septa Amarys, who had been given charge of her religious and moral instruction, despaired of her, and even Septon Eustace could not seem to curb her wild ways.” (Fire and Blood, 646) “I despaired of ever making a lady of [Arya].” (ACOK, Catelyn VII) "Sansa's work is as pretty as she is," Septa Mordane told their lady mother once. "She has such fine, delicate hands." When Lady Catelyn had asked about Arya, the septa had sniffed. "Arya has the hands of a blacksmith." (AGOT, Arya I)

Fourth, Baela and Arya are romantically involved with bastards. Baela marries Alyn of Hull, later known as Lord Velayron, and Arya's relationship with Gendy, the bastard son of an alehouse worker and Robert Baratheon, is replete with romantic undertones*.

Finally, Baela/Rhaena and Arya/Sansa have strong sun and moon imagery*.

Sansa is your sister. You may be as different as the sun and the moon, but the same blood flows through both your hearts. You need her, as she needs you … and I need both of you, gods help me." (AGOT, Arya II) “Baela’s dragon, the slender pale green Moondancer would soon be large enough to bear the girl upon her back/“ “Baela’s twin had brought a dragon’s egg with her to the Vale … and egg that had proved fertile, bringing forth a pale pink hatchling with black horns and crest, Rhaena named her Morning.” (Fire and Blood, 432 & 593)

In short, the first similarity Rhaena Targaryen and Sansa Stark share is their wilful sisters. Baela Targaryen and Arya Stark challenge the status quo by undermining inherent gender, social, and class restriction; have romantic ties to bastards, and share sun and moon imagery with their respective sisters.

*Arya Stark was initially romantically tied to another bastard, her half-brother Jon Snow, as was revealed in the 1993 ASOIAF outline. Jon Snow is theorized to be the bastard son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark.

*Although Ned’s “sun and the moon” quote does not specify which of the Stark sisters is the sun and which is the moon, I speculate that Arya is the moon and Sansa is the sun. For one, Baela’s “moondancer” brings to mind Arya’s expertise in sword dancing. Second, as this essay (x) demonstrates, the moon plays a larger role in Aryas narrative than it does in Sansa's.

II. The Dutiful Daughters

It should be acknowledged that there are fewer connections between Rhaena and Sansa than there are between Baela and Arya. This is due to the Rhaena’s minor role in the Dance translating to limited information about her character. Nevertheless, the few mentions of Rhaena strike a compelling comparison to Sansa.

To begin, both Rhaena and Sansa lose their pets soon after bonding with them. Rhaena’s first dragon egg hatches but dies shortly after emerging from the egg. Similarly, Sansa’s dire wolf, Lady, is killed roughly three months after bonding with Sansa.

“Rhaena’s egg had hatched a broken thing that died within hours of emerging from the egg” (Fire and Blood, 432-3) “Lady was dead” (ASOS, Sansa IV)

Second, in contrast to their willful sisters, Rhaena and Sansa embrace and conform to the traditional feminine traits of their milieu:

“Lady Rhaena proved to be as tractable as her sister had been willful.” (Fire and Blood, 649) “[Sansa] was the good girl, the obedient girl …” (AGOT, Sansa IV) "Sansa was a lady at three, always so courteous and eager to please.” (ACOK, Catelyn VII)

Relatedly, Rhaena and Sansa enjoy by pomp and spectacle of the court:

“… Rhaena delighted in being the centre of court life” (Fire and Blood, 645) “She loved King's Landing; the pageantry of the court, the high lords and ladies in their velvets and silks and gemstones, the great city with all its people.” (AGOT, Sansa III) “Sansa would shine in the south, Catelyn thought” (AGOT, Catelyn II)

Finally, the Vale of Arryn establishes a pertinent connection between Rhaena and Sansa. During the Dance, Rhaena accompanies her cousin, Prince Joffrey, to the Vale where she spends the remainder of the war as a ward of Lady Arryn. Comparably, Sansa is smuggled from King’s Landing to the Vale where she adopts the identity of Alayne Stone and takes care of her cousin, Robert Arryn*.

In short, Rhaena and Sansa share three notable connections: the death of their bonded animals, embodiment and embrace of traditional feminine and Southron ideals as it relates to behaviour and activities, and spending their formative years at the Vale.

*Rhaena and Sansa led somewhat different lives at the Vale. Rhaena is said to have “enjoy[ed] a life of comfort and privilege as Lady Jeyne’s ward” whereas Sansa, while enjoying the comfort and privileges of being the alleged daughter of the Lord Protector, is embroiled in problematic political schemes and experiences sexual harassment at the hands of her alleged father.

III. Kind, Gentle, Noble versus Brave, Gentle, Strong

“There are a few [hints] that are definitely important,” says Martin. Given these connections, what does Rhaena’s story “hint” about Sansa’s endgame?

Perhaps Rhaena eventually hatching another dragon, Morning, is meant to hint at Sansa eventually receiving a second dire wolf. Perhaps Rhaena’s role in solving a succession crisis is teasing Sansa’s involvement in solving a potential Arryn or Stark succession crisis? These are all compelling answers, but a third captures my attention: Rhaena’s marriage.

After the Dance, King Aegon the Third's regents attempt to secure a successor for the young king by marrying off his half-sisters, Baela and Rhaena. However, Baela defies the regents by marrying Alyn Velayron. Incensed, the regents attempt to prevent Baela from being the first to provide the Crown with a suitable successor and thus quickly order Rhaena to marry a man of her choosing.

Assessing her options, Rhaena requests that her potential husband meet the following criteria:

“[I]t would please me if he was not so old he could not give me children, nor so fat that he would crush me when we are abed. So long as he is kind and gentle and noble, I know that I shall love him.” (Fire and Blood, 649)

She chooses to marry a man that she is “especially fond” of, Ser Corwyn Corbray. Rhaena’s decision is considered “far from an ideal choice” for several reasons. In particular, Ser Corwyn is thirty-two years old (sixteen years Rhaena’s elder), a second son, and has two daughters from a previous marriage. Nevertheless, the marriage is accepted not in the least part due to Lord Corbray’s influence as Lord Protector of the Realm.

—

I believe Rhaena’s marriage to Ser Corwyn is meant to “hint” at a future marriage between Sansa and Sandor Clegane. For one, Rhaena’s request that her husband is “kind and gentle and noble” echoes a promise Ned Stark made to Sansa:

When you're old enough, I will make you a match with a high lord who's worthy of you, someone brave and gentle and strong. (AGOT, Sansa II)

Although, Sansa characterizes several characters as brave, gentle, and strong, Sandor is the only character that Sansa describes using all three adjectives:

“To thank you, for . . . for saving me . . . you were so brave." (ACOK, Sansa IV) “The Hound gave her a push, oddly gentle” (ACOK, Sansa II) “He pushed her toward her wardrobe, almost gently.” (AGOT, Sansa VI) “The Hound pulled her to her feet, not ungently.” (ACOK, Sansa III) “Strong hands grasped her by the shoulders,” (AGOT, Sansa I) “She might have fallen, but a shadow moved suddenly, and strong fingers grabbed her arm and steadied her.” (ACOK, Sansa IV)

The quotes listed above are not the only moments where Sansa describes Sandor as such. Qveenofthorns created a graph illustrating the occasions where Sansa describes a character using those specific adjectives and finds that Sandor dominates the graph (illustrated here).

In addition to similar phrasing regarding what Rhaena and Sansa want in a husband, Ser Corwyn and Sandor share a few similarities. Ser Corwyn and Sandor are in their thirties, share a similar age gap of sixteen years with their romantic interests, and are second sons. However, there are some notable differences. Ser Corwyn was a previously married father and a knight of great renown … whereas Sandor has never experienced marriage and fatherhood, nor is he a knight — much less one of great renown. Nevertheless, these connections between Fire and Blood characters and ASOIAF characters are not meant to be a consistent one-to-one match but complementary.

*Ser Corwyn is Rhaena’s first husband. He dies attempting to settle a succession dispute between different Arryn claimants. Rhaena later marries an unnamed Hightower.

Conclusion

The distinct attitudes, interests, and experiences that characterise Rhaena Targaryen in Fire and Blood reappear in A Song of Ice and Fire through Sansa Stark. The compelling similarities between the two characters, which include the loss of a bonded pet, conformity to feminine ideals, and dwelling in the Vale under the wardship of Lady Arryn, indicate that Martin intends for Rhaena to be a "hint[] in terms of what's to come," as Hibberd puts it. Extrapolating from Rhaena’s narrative provides a crucial hint from which we can predict Sansa’s endgame. Specifically, given the similarities between Ser Corwyn Corbray and Sandor Clegane, Rhaena’s first marriage to the former may hint at Sansa’s impending relationship with the latter. Ser Corwyn and Sandor are second sons, in their thirties, and have a sixteen-year age difference with their romantic partners. In addition to these cursory similarities, Eddard Stark’s promise to Sansa that he will find her a husband who is "brave and gentle and strong" is oddly reminiscent of Rhaena’s request to the Council that her husband be "kind and gentle and noble." While Rhaena chooses to marry Ser Corwyn, who, by all accounts, meets her criteria, Sandor Clegane is the only character in the series that matches Eddard Stark's requirements.

#sansa stark #arya stark #rhaena targaryen #baela targaryen #sandor clegane #sansan #edited for clarity #hotd spoilers #fire and blood spoilers #sansan meta

[istumpysk]

Operation Stumpy Re-Read

ADWD: The Merchant's Son (Quentyn I) [Chapter 6]

Adventure stank.

You have no idea.

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"If the captain smells anything like his ship, he may mistake your vomit for perfume," Gerris replied.

That's an amusing new take on foul things smelling sweet.

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Quentyn was about to suggest that they try another ship when the master finally made his appearance, with two vile-looking crewmen at his side. Gerris greeted him with a smile. Though he did not speak the Volantene tongue as well as Quentyn, their ruse required that he speak for them. Back in the Planky Town Quentyn had played the wineseller, but the mummery had chafed at him, so when the Dornishmen changed ships at Lys they had changed roles as well. Aboard the Meadowlark, Cletus Yronwood became the merchant, Quentyn the servant; in Volantis, with Cletus slain, Gerris had assumed the master's role.

[...]

Quentyn cut a poor figure by comparison—short-legged and stocky, thickly built, with hair the brown of new-turned earth. His forehead was too high, his jaw too square, his nose too broad. A good honest face, a girl had called it once, but you should smile more.

Everyone meet Quentyn Martell.

He has low self-esteem.

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Smiles had never come easily for Quentyn Martell, any more than they did for his lord father.

Imagine someone as cautious as Doran Mortell, with tons of self-doubt mixed in.

I understand they don't know Daenerys's nature, and I understand Doran hasn't spent much time with his son. Regardless of those things, Quentyn is so ill-suited and unprepared for this task, I can't believe it's the plan.

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"How swift is your Adventure?" Gerris said, in a halting approximation of High Valyrian.

This is the perfect ship for Arya.

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Tell me, my Westerosi friend, what is there in Meereen that you should want to go there?"

The most beautiful woman in the world, thought Quentyn. My bride-to-be, if the gods are good. Sometimes at night he lay awake imagining her face and form, and wondering why such a woman would ever want to marry him, of all the princes in the world. I am Dorne, he told himself. She will want Dorne.

Poor little thing.

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Yet twenty days had passed, and here they remained, still shipless. The captains of the Melantine, the Triarch's Daughter, and the Mermaid's Kiss had all refused them. A mate on the Bold Voyager had laughed in their faces. The master of the Dolphin berated them for wasting his time, and the owner of the Seventh Son accused them of being pirates. All on the first day.

Only the captain of the Fawn had given them reasons for his refusal. "It is true that I am sailing east," he told them, over watered wine. "South around Valyria and thence into the sunrise. We will take on water and provisions at New Ghis, then bend all oars toward Qarth and the Jade Gates. Every voyage has perils, long ones more than most. Why should I seek out more danger by turning into Slaver's Bay? The Fawn is my livelihood. I will not risk her to take three mad Dornishmen into the middle of a war."

How do you send your son into a war zone with five companions, some gold, and virtually no other support or resources?

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Quentyn had begun to think that they might have done better to buy their own ship in the Planky Town. That would have drawn unwanted attention, however. The Spider had informers everywhere, even in the halls of Sunspear.

What should I do with this information?

Love how this omnipresent Spider and his wealthy Essosi partner have no idea Daenerys has taken up residence in Meereen. You're only as powerful as the author needs you to be.

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The cart lurched along behind her, the driver hooting at sailors and slaves alike to clear the way. It was easy enough to tell one from the other. The slaves were all tattooed: a mask of blue feathers, a lightning bolt that ran from jaw to brow, a coin upon the cheek, a leopard's spots, a skull, a jug.

Close your eyes and try to think of which character would be most deserving of this type of tattoo/branding.

You may just get your wish.

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Maester Kedry said there were five slaves for every free man in Volantis though he had not lived long enough to verify his estimate. He had perished on the morning the corsairs swarmed aboard the Meadowlark.

Quentyn lost two other friends that same day—Willam Wells with his freckles and his crooked teeth, fearless with a lance, and Cletus Yronwood, handsome despite his lazy eye, always randy, always laughing. Cletus had been Quentyn's dearest friend for half his life, a brother in all but blood. "Give your bride a kiss for me," Cletus had whispered to him, just before he died.

Fantastic, they've already lost the heir to a major house. Five companions? Make that two.

Go home, Quentyn.

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"One of you should say some words for your dead, before we give them to the sea," the captain said. Gerris had obliged, lying with every other word, since he dare not tell the truth of who they'd been or why they'd come.

It was not supposed to end like that for them. "This will be a tale to tell our grandchildren," Cletus had declared the day they set out from his father's castle. Will made a face at that, and said, "A tale to tell tavern wenches, you mean, in hopes they'll lift their skirts." Cletus had slapped him on the back. "For grandchildren, you need children. For children, you need to lift some skirts." Later, in the Planky Town, the Dornishmen had toasted Quentyn's future bride, made ribald japes about his wedding night to come, and talked about the things they'd see, the deeds they'd do, the glory they would win. All they won was a sailcloth sack filled with ballast stones.

If I existed in this story, and someone started talking like this around me, I would cover my ears and run.

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As much as he mourned Will and Cletus, it was the maester's loss that Quentyn felt most keenly. Kedry had been fluent in the tongues of all of the Free Cities, and even the mongrel Ghiscari that men spoke along the shores of Slaver's Bay. "Maester Kedry will accompany you," his father said the night they parted. "Heed his counsel. He has devoted half his life to the study of the Nine Free Cities." Quentyn wondered if things might not have gone a deal easier if only he were here to guide them.

Go home, Quentyn.

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"New Ghis is an island, and a much smaller port than this. We would be closer, yes, but we could find ourselves stranded. And New Ghis has allied with the Yunkai'i." That news had not come as a surprise to Quentyn. New Ghis and Yunkai were both Ghiscari cities. "If Volantis should ally with them as well—"

Guess what happens!

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"Do we have enough gold to buy a ship?"

"And who will sail her? You? Me?" Dornishmen had never been seafarers, not since Nymeria burned her ten thousand ships. "The seas around Valyria are perilous, and thick with corsairs."

Look who's back, and doing familiar things.

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"The demon road is dangerous, and too slow," Quentyn said. "Tywin Lannister will send his own men after the queen once word of her reaches King's Landing." His father had been certain of that. "His will come with knives. If they reach her first—"

"Let's hope her dragons will sniff them out and eat them," said Gerris.

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"Well, if we cannot find a ship, and you will not let us ride, we had as well book passage back to Dorne."

Crawl back to Sunspear defeated, with my tail between my legs? His father's disappointment would be more than Quentyn could bear, and the scorn of the Sand Snakes would be withering. Doran Martell had put the fate of Dorne into his hands, he could not fail him, not whilst life remained.

Doran Martell putting the fate of Dorne into your hands is him failing you.

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Truth be told, girls made Quentyn anxious, especially the pretty ones.

When first he'd come to Yronwood, he had been smitten with Ynys, the eldest of Lord Yronwood's daughters. Though he never said a word about his feelings, he nursed his dreams for years … until the day she was dispatched to wed Ser Ryon Allyrion, the heir to Godsgrace. The last time he had seen her, she'd had one boy at her breast and another clinging to her skirts.

Lmao.

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More recently, the youngest of Lord Yronwood's daughters had taken to following him about the castle. Gwyneth was but twelve, a small, scrawny girl whose dark eyes and brown hair set her apart in that house of blue-eyed blondes. She was clever, though, as quick with words as with her hands, and fond of telling Quentyn that he had to wait for her to flower, so she could marry him.

There's even an Arya!

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That was before Prince Doran had summoned him to the Water Gardens. And now the most beautiful woman in the world was waiting in Meereen, and he meant to do his duty and claim her for his bride. She will not refuse me. She will honor the agreement. Daenerys Targaryen would need Dorne to win the Seven Kingdoms, and that meant that she would need him. It does not mean that she will love me, though. She may not even like me.

Maybe there is a Sansa chapter in this book.

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The street curved where the river met the sea, and there along the bend a number of animal sellers were clustered together, offering jeweled lizards, giant banded snakes, and agile little monkeys with striped tails and clever pink hands. "Perhaps your silver queen would like a monkey," said Gerris.

If that's a monkey demon joke, I'm going to die of laughter.

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Quentyn had no idea what Daenerys Targaryen might like. He had promised his father that he would bring her back to Dorne, but more and more he wondered if he was equal to the task.

I never asked for this, he thought.

Go home, Quentyn.

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Across the wide blue expanse of the Rhoyne, he could see the Black Wall that had been raised by the Valyrians when Volantis was no more than an outpost of their empire: a great oval of fused stone two hundred feet high and so thick that six four-horse chariots could race around its top abreast, as they did each year to celebrate the founding of the city. Outlanders, foreigners, and freedmen were not allowed inside the Black Wall save at the invitation of those who dwelt within, scions of the Old Blood who could trace their ancestry back to Valyria itself.

That has to be some sort of historical real-world reference.

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"The triarchs are neither kings nor princes. Volantis is a freehold, like Valyria of old. All freeborn landholders share the rule. Even women are allowed to vote, provided they own land. The three triarchs are chosen from amongst those noble families who can prove unbroken descent from old Valyria, to serve until the first day of the new year. And you would know all this if you had troubled to read the book that Maester Kedry gave you."

Lots of Valyria nonsense happening here, but there might also be a few Great Council hints.

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In the center of the square, under the cracked and headless statue of a dead triarch, a crowd had begun to gather about some dwarfs putting on a show. The little men were done up in wooden armor, miniature knights preparing for a joust. Quentyn saw one mount a dog, as the other hopped onto a pig … only to slide right off again, to a smattering of laughter.

Hey Penny.

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I am eight-and-ten, six years younger than you, Quentyn thought. I am no old man. Instead he said, "I have no need for comic dwarfs. Unless they have a ship."

Is anyone else having Daenerys ACOK flashbacks? A whole chapter of worldbuilding, and finding a ship.

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Windblown, Quentyn knew. The serjeants were looking for fresh meat to fill their ranks before they sailed for Slaver's Bay. And every man who signs with them is another sword for Yunkai, another blade meant to drink the blood of my bride-to-be.

Do you ever get the feeling Daenerys will be stabbed?

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"Westerosi?" the man answered, in the Common Tongue.

"Dornishmen. My master is a wineseller."

"Master? Fuck that. Are you a slave? Come with us and be your own master. Do you want to die abed? We'll teach you sword and spear. You'll ride to battle with the Tattered Prince and come home richer than a lord. Boys, girls, gold, whatever you want, if you're man enough to take it. We're the Windblown, and we fuck the goddess slaughter up her arse."

A serjeant from a mercenary company that's fighting against Daenerys for the city of Yunkai just said that.

Both sides thinking they represent freedom. . . the jokes write themselves.

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"Do you have a better way?" Quentyn asked him.

"I do. It's just now come to me. It has its risks, and it is not what you would call honorable, I grant you … but it will get you to your queen quicker than the demon road."

"Tell me," said Quentyn Martell.

Spoiler alert, they're joining the mercenary company, and planning on defecting.

I wonder if another Dornish heir will ever side with a mercenary company against Daenerys.

Final thoughts:

I feel kind of stupid for never questioning how easy it was for Daenerys to get to Dragonstone.

To get to Dragonstone, her fleet has to sail close to Yunkai, Astapor, Valyria, Volantis, Lys, Sunspear, the Stepstones, Tyrosh, and Estermont.

Surely there will be a few problems? Where will they replenish?

-> return to menu <-

#operation stumpy re-read #adwd #the merchant's son #quentyn i

[gendrie]

arya v

ungrateful ass septon didnt appreciate aryas pigeon hunting tips

arya eating raw meat to survive and going to bed starving most nights bc she doesnt want to risk being attacked by the men in the shops who would likely r*pe and kill her. 

she is so observant and adaptable. 

this is the first time arya has been trapped and she feels like a wolf pup, pacing her cage, looking for a way out

they went so far to dress men up in stark colors to trick arya but she doesnt fall for it bc syrio taught her to LOOK and SEE (i feel like so much in arya’s arc supports her being able to see thru glamor in the future esp post FM. arya and meli interactions would be fascinating)

ah shit here we go again

eddard stark died a confessed traitor :/ he was a dumbass but that hurts 

“Ice, she thought, he has Ice! Her tears streamed down her face, blinding her.” cried again

she fought so hard to reach ned 

"Don’t look!" i appreciate arya being spared this bc she sees entirely too much in the riverlands 

her identity arc really shifts into high gear in this moment as her hair is cut by yoren. its totally out of her control and she fights it. her story in this book ends with her kicking wildly and crying hysterically 

bran vii

"we could be a knight together" surprising amount of foreshadowing for THAT twist huh

winters got no king! 

rickon has some very powerful dreams and his wolf has green eyes.....i mean its def something bc maester luwin assumes it not lol

bran is so good at taking care of his wild little brother

"the man who trusts in spells is dueling with a glass sword. as the children did" oops

andals are noted to be tall but the first men are not. short stark stuff

osha has not been wrong about a single thing. im glad rickon has such a capable guardian. he’s gonna be a smart wildling prince

rickon crying and bran holding him got me teary eyed yet again 

sansa vi

sansa will romanticize anything which does make her pov feel insincere.  

hope ned is in the afterlife happy that he spared this lil tyrant

"although she supposed she had known all along" but everybody takes her willful ignorance at face value

“he can make me LOOK but he can’t make me SEE” really contrasts to arya’s true seeing 

sandor being all gentle while sansa is full of hate.

sansa being forced to smile after meryn beats her is sick!! this chap could not be any more heavy handed with portraying the feminine role as a dehumanizing, abuse of power. 

sansa is angry and filthy and she has violent impulses like a human being! but king joffrey and his knights are literally beating her into acting like ””a lady”” the entire dynamic is showing the corruption and toxicity of gender roles.

#asoiaf reread #and thats a wrap on the stark babies