mardi muse: Arya Stark

Is there anything I love more than a spunky heroine? Ha. Right. In Game of Thrones, Arya Stark has been my favorite female character from the very beginning. She just barely ousts Daenerys for that top spot. Most of the time it looks like they're dead even, but ultimately I pledge allegiance to House Stark. And yes, it's very important that I make decisions like this! Such is my personal stake in fictional worlds. So I was, shall we say, OUTRAGED when Arya failed to make an appearance in last week's season three premiere. But this week the she-wolf returned! There was fist pumping, bouncing up and down, and a whole lot of, "Aryaaaaaaaadjflsfjslkfjskjl!!!!!!!!!!!!" I was just so gosh darn excited to see her again!

I like her even better with her short hair, don't you? (x)

Arya is the business. Arya is not a little lady. Arya is a warrior. She's exactly the kind of heroine I hope to bring to life one day. She blazes through life, fiercely sticking up for her beliefs and her loved ones, speaking her mind, and fighting for her right to be herself. Society doesn't like her preference of sword-fighting over dance lessons? Tough beans, Lannister swine! The girl is just so unapologetic about who she is, you can't help gravitating towards her. You're in her corner right from the start. Separated from her family and running for her life, it's that staunch practice of sticking up for herself that carves out her path to survival on the war-torn road back home.

What I love about her is the balancing act between her relentless nature and her soft side. Her softer side is often masked by almost territorial instincts when it comes to friends and family, but it's always there in a look or gesture. Last season we saw her go through hell and yet she still came out kicking and screaming on the other side. She never gives up. Never! Even when she's been captured and chained outside in the mud and rain, she's still whispering of the names of her enemies over and over every night until she can have her revenge. Experience has made her more callous, but she's as brave and loyal as ever. 

And bonus! She's only entrusted her true identity to Gendry. GENDRY!!! *swoon* As an illegitimate son of the king who's just died, he's on the run too. From the moment they meet, these two share an unspoken bond that you can often catch in a sidelong glance. I realize there's a bit of an age difference, but I can't help it... I ship it so hard, y'all! I ship it so hard!!! Maybe the Baratheon and Stark houses will be united after all!

 

Of course, I have a horrible tendency to fall madly in love with characters who get the axe. And with a show like Game of Thrones where no one is indespensable (Ned!!! *ugly cries*), I live in constant fear for Arya and Gendry. And now that *spoiler alert* the Hound has publicly revealed Arya's identity... OH-MY-GOSH-WATCH-OUT-ARYA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM HERE FOR YOU! BUT I WANT TO BE THERE FOR YOU! ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TV SCREEN! DOING LIKE YOU DO AND STICKING 'EM WITH THE POINTY END! BECAUSE I NEVER KNEW SITTING HELPLESSLY ON THE COUCH WATCHING THIS CLIFFHANGER NIGHTMARE UNFOLD WOULD BE! THIS! STRESSFUL! *deep breath* But I believe in you. I do. You got it, girl. You do. You are a fearless she-wolf! Swift as a deer! Quiet as a shadow! Fear cuts deeper than swords.