Did You Catch This Clue About Arya Stark In ‘Game Of Thrones’?

Warning: if you’re not up to date with Game of Thrones - and by that we mean, if you haven’t watched the most recent episode (Blood of my Blood), then be warned that this article contains spoilers!

After spending a season and a half in Braavos, training to be an assassin with the Faceless Men, Arya seems to have decided to sack it all in, head back to Westeros, and finish what she started (her murderous mission of vengeance).

After poisoning the rum of Lady Crane - the actually pretty nice actress that Arya had been ordered to kill - the “girl with no name” had a sudden change of heart and knocked the lethal glass out of her would-be victim’s hand.

While to some of us, this might have come as a surprise (Arya has been pretty dedicated to training with the Faceless Men), Reddit user LicoriceSticks delved into the conversation that Arya and Lady Crane had (before the rum was poisoned), and argued that there were numerous clues and metaphors suggesting that Arya was about to quit being an anonymous assassin, as well as hints about what she’s going to do next.

First of all, there’s the story of how Lady Crane became an actress:

“I remember when the plays came to my village. I didn’t have any money so I snuck in, just like you. I saw the painted faces, the costumes, listened to the songs… cried when the young lovers died in each others arms. I ran off and joined them the next day, and never looked back.”

LicoriceSticks argued that this can be directly compared to how Arya joined the Faceless Men - “she didn’t really know anything about them, but knew they were badass and wanted to be just like them”. But did she really think her decision through?

Then there’s the moment when Lady Crane complains that the “writing’s no good”. What does Arya suggest? “Change it”.

LicoriceSticks argues that this could be a hint from the writers and producers that they’re aware that a few people are getting a bit bored with Arya’s Faceless Men storyline, and that they’re about to change direction.

Or, it could just be Arya “telling Lady Crane and herself to take charge and change the situation…To quit being a follower and become a leader”. Either way, this suggests that Arya’s situation is going to change.

Then things really get interesting. Lady Crane asks Arya how she would change the writing (the story), and Arya replies:

“The queen loves her son. More than anything. And he was taken from her before she could say goodbye…. She wouldn’t just cry. She would be angry, she would want to kill the person who did this to her.”

LicoriceSticks thinks that this is Arya talking about herself as much as she’s talking about Cersei. She lost Ned - her father - before she had a chance to really say goodbye, and she was very angry about it. Angry enough, in fact, to vow to kill those responsible…

This conversation is reminding Arya of how angry she was, and how much she wanted revenge.

Lady Crane then asks Arya what her name is, and she says Mercy. Literally, mercy: (there’s no way she’s going to kill this nice lady)… Then Crane asks if she likes being other people. Arya, crucially, doesn’t answer. Instead, she says:

“I have to go, my father is waiting for me.”

Arya, forced to consider whether or not she actually likes being “a girl” or “no one”, realises that she doesn’t. And her decision is made. She’s leaving the Faceless Men (“I have to go“), and she’s going to get revenge for her family (“my father is waiting for me“).

Now that is an impressive piece of foreshadowing..

What do you think is next for Arya? Let us know in the comments!