#theres been a couple theory posts about arya and the hardhome refugees

[gendrie]

@lesbiansintheimpala left these great tags on one of my posts a couple days ago:

i hope you dont mind that im about to hijack your theory a lil bit! but i havent been able to stop thinking about it. as im rereading braavos material im noticing the power of the braavos fleet which i think has got to play a role in twow. and once i considered that a lot of other pieces also started to fall into place 

when arya arrives in braavos one of the very first things she learns is that the city has an impressive power at sea:

The shadow lifted, the pine-clad ridges fell away to either side, the winds dwindled, and they found themselves moving through a great lagoon. Ahead rose another sea mont, a knob of rock that pushed up from the water like a spiked fist, its stony battlements bristling with scorpions, spitfires, and trebuchets. "The Arsenal of Braavos," Denyo named it, as proud as if he'd built it. "They can build a war galley there in a day." Arya could see dozens of galleys tied up at quays and perched on launching slips. The painted prows of others poked from innumerable wooden sheds along the stony shores, like hounds in a kennel, lean and mean and hungry, waiting for a hunter's horn to call them forth. She tried to count them, but there were too many, and more docks and sheds and quays where the shoreline curved away. (Arya, AFFC) 

which twoiaf supports so its not just a cabin boys boasting:

The youngest of the Nine Free Cities, Braavos is also the wealthiest, and in all likelihood the most powerful. Originally founded by escaped slaves, its humble beginnings were rooted in nothing more than a desire to be free. For a great part of its early history, its secret status made it of little consequence in the wider world. But in time it grew, eventually emerging as a power almost without rival.

Neither prince nor king commands in Braavos, where the rule belongs to the Sealord, chosen by the city's magisters and keyholders from amongst the citizenry by a process as convoluted as it is arcane. From his vast waterside palace, the Sealord commands a fleet of warships second to none and a mercantile fleet whose purple hulls and purple sails have become a common sight throughout the known world. (TWOIAF) 

braavos is an all around powerful city. the iron bank and the faceless men are involved in numerous plots both political and magical throughout the series. theres also the sealord who ‘commands a fleet of warships second to none’! so its probably not a coincidence that the sealord election is emerging as a very important plot for arya. ive always been curious as to why? because it seems kinda random, but it might, ultimately, connect back to braavos’ fleet if thats where the sealords strength lies.

Look with your eyes, he had said. She saw: the knight in his pale armor head to foot, legs, throat, and hands sheathed in metal, eyes hidden behind his high white helm, and in his hand cruel steel. Against that: Syrio, in a leather vest, with a wooden sword in his hand. "Syrio, run," she screamed. "The first sword of Braavos does not run," he sang as Ser Meryn slashed at him. (Arya, AGOT) 

since agot, arya has had a connection to the sealord (and braavos in general) via syrio. he died saving arya’s life. this could be her very powerful escort back to westeros, home, bringing syrio’s sacrifice full circle. theres a precedent for the sealord bestowing “grand” gifts too. and it might be that arya is in the company of her fellow northerners? 

"I know why the Sealord seized the Goodheart. She was carrying slaves. Hundreds of slaves, women and children, roped together in her hold." Braavos had been founded by escaped slaves, and the slave trade was forbidden here. "I know where the slaves came from. They were wildlings from Westeros, from a place called Hardhome. An old ruined place, accursed." Old Nan had told her tales of Hardhome, back at Winterfell when she had still been Arya Stark. (Arya, ADWD) 

because its also worth noting that the sealord seized a ship full of hardhome refugees, women and children, who were enslaved. arya has experienced a similar situation when she was taken captive in the riverlands. hardhome and harrenhal both have grim, haunted reputations. the wildlings are now seemingly stranded in essos - far from their home and the rest of their community in the north. again, not unlike arya. when relaying this information arya relates it directly to her past as arya stark. 

"The Night's Watch will make for Hardhome. I ride to Winterfell alone, unless …" Jon paused. "… is there any man here who will come stand with me?" (Jon, ADWD) 

the crisis at hardhome becomes a major issue for jon as lord commander too. jon planned to send the night’s watch to aid the stranded refugees while he marched on winterfell to rescue “arya” who is.....ironically, in braavos gathering intel on the hardhome crisis lol. among other things. this wouldnt be the first time arya got involved in night’s watch business either. arya herself traveled with yoren’s group posing as a recruit and took it upon herself to execute dareon for desertion. the wall was always the place arya wanted to reach the most. 

Nymeria nipped eagerly at her hand as Arya untied her. She had yellow eyes. When they caught the sunlight, they gleamed like two golden coins. Arya had named her after the warrior queen of the Rhoyne, who had led her people across the narrow sea. (Arya, AGOT)

"Just so. Your father was oarmaster on a galley. When your mother died, he took you off to sea with him. Then he died as well, and his captain had no use for you, so he put you off the ship in Braavos. And what was the name of the ship?" "Nymeria," she said at once. (Arya, AFFC)

Higher on the Rhoyne, in Ny Sar, Princess Nymeria soon received the news of Garin's shattering defeat and the enslavement of the people of Chroyane and Sar Mell. The same fate awaited her own city, she saw. Accordingly, she gathered every ship that remained upon the Rhoyne, large or small, and filled them full of as many women and children as they could carry (for almost all the men of fighting age had marched with Garin, and died). (TWOIAF)

theres another big connection here and thats nymeria ny sar. the legendary warrior queen arya named her direwolf after. she commanded a fleet of ships to travel from essos to westeros with refugees fleeing the threat slavery before she settled in dorne and ruled for nearly 3 decades. arya's story has been driven by a desire to protect others, social connections, and a safe place to call home. her direwolf reflects this by amassing a giant pack in the riverlands too. 

i really do not think grrm put the hardhome refugees in arya’s path for no reason. the fandom has a tendency to write braavos off as a meaningless side quest for arya to simply train (and then go kill some character), but the pieces are already set up for arya to become the heroine she’s always admired. all she has to do is go for it. 

#asoiaf nonsense #arya stark #another shoutout to lesbiansintheimpala! #for the inspo #theres been a couple theory posts about arya and the hardhome refugees #but not since the old days of like 2014 #that ive seen #and they never gained much traction #but ive been puzzled by the sealord election in a big way #so when i read those tags and then her braavos chaps #it felt like things were clicking #anyway half baked idea but im excited and wanna know what others think