Arya Stark
A wolf-blooded girl who refuses to be tamed, wielding Needle and a list of names across Westeros and beyond.
Arya Stark is a prominent point-of-view character in George R. R. Martin's *A Song of Ice and Fire* series, portrayed by Maisie Williams in the HBO adaptation. Introduced in 1996's *A Game of Thrones*, she is the third child and youngest daughter of Lord Eddard and Lady Catelyn Stark. Uniquely, she holds the distinction of having a viewpoint chapter in every published book of the series, with alternative titles such as "Cat of the Canals," "The Blind Girl," and "Mercy." Described as tomboyish, headstrong, and feisty, Arya disdains traditional female pursuits like dancing and sewing. She wields a castle-forged steel smallsword named "Needle," gifted by her half-brother Jon Snow, and is trained in the Braavosi "Water Dance" style of sword fighting.
- Aliases
- ["No One", "Arry", "Mercy", "Cat of the Canals", "The Blind Girl", "The Ugly Lit
- Birth Year
- 289 AC
- Age at Series Start (Books)
- 9 years old
- Age at Season 1 Start
- 11 years old
- Siblings Count
- 5
Lore & Background
Born in 289 AC as the third child of Eddard and Catelyn Stark, Arya is nine years old at the start of the novels (eleven in season one). She has five siblings: Robb, Sansa, Bran, Rickon, and half-brother Jon Snow. Physically, she inherits the Stark features—lean build, brown hair, grey eyes, and a long face which earned her the nickname "Horseface." Described as "wolf-blooded" and blunt by her mother, she is often mistaken for a boy and nicknamed "Arya Underfoot" by Winterfell guards. Uniquely among her full siblings, she possesses the skinchanger ability, instinctively controlling her direwolf Nymeria from sleep even across continents and bonding psychically with a street tomcat in Braavos. She is left-handed and talented in sums, favoring outdoor exploration over ladylike activities.
In Their Own Story
Arya's journey begins when she names the direwolf cub Nymeria and travels to King's Landing. After defending her friend Mycah from Prince Joffrey, Nymeria wounds Joffrey, forcing Arya to drive the wolf away; Lady is killed in Nymeria's stead, and Mycah is hunted down by Sandor Clegane. Following her father's arrest and execution, she escapes with Night's Watch recruiter Yoren, pretending to be a boy named "Arry." Captured at Harrenhal, she saves three prisoners including Jaqen H'ghar, who grants her three deaths. She uses this power to free northern prisoners before escaping with Gendry and Hot Pie. Later captured by the Brotherhood Without Banners, she reunites with Sandor Clegane, witnesses the Red Wedding at the Twins, and skinchanges into Nymeria to pull her mother's body from the river. Abandoning a dying Hound near the Trident, she travels to Braavos on the *Titan's Daughter*, presenting Jaqen's iron coin and the phrase "Valar Morghulis" to join the Faceless Men.
Reader's Guide
To understand Arya Stark, note her progression from Winterfell's outcast to a Faceless Man trainee. She is taught the Braavosi "Water Dance" by Syrio Forel, emphasizing speed and agility with quick thrusting attacks. In Braavos, she adopts identities like "Cat of the Canal" while secretly hiding her sword Needle in the river. Her training involves reciting a nightly list of names of those she wishes to kill. Key milestones include her escape from King's Landing as "Arry," the rescue at Harrenhal where she named Jaqen H'ghar as her third target to secure freedom for others, and her survival of the Red Wedding. She is an excellent horserider and displays increasing ruthlessness and resourcefulness throughout her travels.
Did You Know?
- Arya is the only character to have a viewpoint chapter in every published book of the series.
- Her sword 'Needle' was named after her least favorite activity: embroidery lessons.
- She is a powerful skinchanger who can control her direwolf Nymeria even when sleeping on a different continent.
- Arya is left-handed, talented in sums and housekeeping, but rejects traditional noblewoman pursuits like dancing and sewing.
- In 2016 and 2019, actress Maisie Williams was twice nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Arya Stark?
She is the youngest daughter of Lord Eddard Stark who famously rejects traditional noble feminine duties in favor of martial training. Her journey tracks her survival from Winterfell through King’s Landing and eventually across the Narrow Sea.
What aliases does Arya Stark use?
To survive, she has adopted names like Arry while disguised as a servant boy and Mercy during her time in Flea Bottom. In Braavos, the Faceless Men refer to her as No One because of her struggle with identity.
How does Arya Stark's story end?
The published books do not yet provide a final conclusion for her character arc. As of A Dance with Dragons, she has fled the House of Black and White without completing her training or achieving full mastery.
Why is Arya Stark important to the saga?
She serves as a central figure who challenges Westerosi gender expectations by choosing violence over courtly grace as her path. Her relentless hunt for vengeance drives much of her narrative focus throughout the series.
What are Arya Stark's powers or abilities?
She possesses no confirmed magical abilities but is highly skilled in the water dancing sword style taught by Syrio Forel. Her primary strength lies in her adaptability and willingness to use lethal force against her enemies.
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