Arya Stark is one of the most important characters heading into of House Stark as being among the very best heroes of the epic saga. Her story takes her on a tumultuous journey even by Westerosi standards, from losing her father and being separated from her family, to shedding her identity, becoming no one, and developing into an assassin.

By wait for The Winds of Winter ongoing, it always means the wait for Arya's story to continue is ongoing as well, which is particularly painful not only because she's one of its strongest characters, but also because of just how involved she's been in the series so far.

Arya Stark's A Song Of Ice & Fire Record Explained

Arya Stark doesn't have the most point-of-view chapters in A Song of Ice and Fire - an honor that belongs, unsurprisingly, to Tyrion Lannister, with Jon Snow in second place - but she is the only character to appear as a POV character in every book so far, including The Winds of Winter.

The biggest reason for this is the divide between A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons, the fourth and fifth books, respectively, in Martin's saga. Originally planned as just one book, with a time jump of several years following on from A Storm of Swords, the plot grew too complicated and required too many flashbacks. Martin eventually scrapped his time jump idea, and reworked the story into two separate books that, for the most part, happen concurrently.

Arya is the only character to appear in both of the books - with three chapters in the first, two in the second - and she has also appeared in The Winds of Winter's preview chapters.

Because of that, some of the saga's biggest characters - Daenerys Targaryen, Jon, Tyrion - don't appear at all in A Feast for Crows. Arya is the only POV character from the first three books to then appear in both the fourth and fifth novels - with three chapters in Feast, and two in Dance - and she has also appeared in The Winds of Winter's preview chapters.

Why Arya Needed To Appear In Every A Song Of Ice & Fire Book

Aside from the issues with the writing of the books, it does make sense that Arya would hold this record. She's very much a fan-favorite and one of the five characters whose story was planned to span the entire series back when Martin planned for this to be a book trilogy, along with Jon, Daenerys, Tyrion, and Bran Stark. But more than that, it's because her story is quite isolated, which necessitates her POV appearances, meaning there's not really another way of getting updates on the character.

Most of the other storylines are more interconnected, at least with one or two other characters who can help show us them, or at least shed a light on what's happening and set things up for the future. For example, we get some thoughts and updates on Daenerys in A Feast for Crows from the likes of Samwell Tarly (with Maester Aemon), Arianne Martell, and Victarion Greyjoy. For Tyrion, we have Cersei putting a bounty on his head.

The other POV characters to appear in both A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons are Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Victarion Greyjoy, Asha Greyjoy, and Areo Hotah. Of those, only Jaime had previously been a POV character (in A Storm of Swords).

Except for Sam and Arya briefly meeting in Braavos (though neither knows who the other is), she's entirely on her own, making her consistent appearances more vital. The only other major character this really applies to is perhaps Bran, who is off beyond the Wall and quite disconnected himself, but he at least has other notable characters (if not POV ones) around him with Hodor, Meera Reed, and Jojen Reed, as well as meeting the Three-Eyed Crow. Arya is much more of a solo journey, so the updates certainly help her progress.

What To Expect From Arya Stark in The Winds Of Winter

Thanks to Martin's preview chapters, assuming they haven't changed, then we already have some idea of how Arya's story begins in The Winds of Winter. She goes by the name Mercy and works as a mummer, performing a play in Braavos. However, she comes across a man named Raff the Sweetling - the person who murdered Lommy (he of "what the f**k's a Lommy?" fame) - and seduces then viciously kills him, not too dissimilar to her murder of Meryn Trant in Game of Thrones.

This quest for vengeance, alongside continuing her training, will likely form a large part of Arya's The Winds of Winter story, like it did across Game of Thrones seasons 5 and 6. However, with her still experiencing wolf dreams and a deep connection to her direwolf, Nymeria (Thrones cut Arya being a warg), there is still the pull of her old life as Arya of Winterfell, and it's expected that she will eventually make her way back to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.

I think there's a good chance that includes a meeting with Lady Stoneheart, the resurrected form of Catelyn Stark, who could be the one to turn Arya away from vengeance.

Arya's arc is one of identity, and she needs to reclaim her old one, or at least find a new way of moving forward as "Arya" rather than being Mercy, no one, or anyone else. I think there's a good chance that includes a meeting with Lady Stoneheart, the resurrected form of Catelyn Stark, who could be the one to turn Arya away from vengeance. With Arya perhaps making it home in The Winds of Winter, it could be one of her biggest and best stories yet.