#jonarya

[argelladurrandaun]

Jon shrugged. "Girls get the arms but not the swords. Bastards get the swords but not the arms. I did not make the rules, little sister."

Arya gets the arms but not the swords while jon gets the swords but not the arms. That is the rule of the patriarchal society.

But immediately after this jon breaks the rule of patriarchy (one of the many rules he later breaks for arya) and gifts arya a sword. And i think i am certain that arya will also break the rule for jon and give him the arms. Arya would give jon arms of house stark by marrying him.

This is why this quote is very cool and near to my heart.

[silverflameataraxia]

It would be so epic to get a moment before a battle where Dany and Jon come riding in on the dragons and below them is Arya, riding Nymeria, surrounded by her superpack.

[tonyloom]

Jon will want me, even if no one else does. - Arya, ASoS

[jackoshadows]

There's a reason ADwD is seen as the Jonrya bible and, if anything, looking at the changes from original drafts of AFfC/ADwD it almost feels like GRRM doubled down on the Jon/Arya relationship in the published book.

The leaked drafts have given us a glimpse into how some of the stories for characters have changed from early versions.

Notably, Davos was always involved in the retrieval of a Stark. While it was Arya in the early drafts, in the book it is Rickon Stark. I had written earlier on how Rickon was always meant to be with House Manderly and with Davos' story changing that meant Rickon's story also changed.

The Arya/Ramsay wedding also takes place at Barrowton. While it would have been super fun to see Theon and Davos from each other's POV, I like the changed version with the wedding at Winterfell and reading that entire story from Theon's POV is some of the best writing in ADwD. And with Davos and Theon's story changing, the North plot has clearly evolved from what it was originally.

Which brings me to these farcical Jonsa theories which are always based off of the Jon/Arya relationship - from Jon's thoughts of Arya being subconsciously about Sansa to Jon is actually referring to Sansa when he talks of Arya to Jon is pretending to admire and love girls like Arya when he is really attracted to girls like Sansa etc.

One of the most egregious of these theories is when they use the OG leaked outline to argue that GRRM replaced one Stark sister with the other (since apparently these two very different characters are so interchangeable!) because he was supposedly so 'charmed' by the character of Sansa.

Contrary to this nonsense theory, what the draft changes actually tells me is that not only has GRRM not given OG outline's Arya to Sansa - which most sensible readers have already known - but he has in fact changed the story to strengthen the Jon/Arya bond in ADwD!

Jonsas keep pointing to the Sansa/Tyrion marriage for their theory that GRRM replaced Arya with Sansa in the OG outline. Except, if GRRM was interested in building up any kind of love triangle between Tyrion/Sansa/Jon then ADwD would be where he would have written Jon Snow show some emotion after being made aware of the marriage.

What we did end up getting, however, is Jon's utter anger and desperation on hearing about Arya's marriage contrasted with the utter nonchalance and indifference towards the Sansa/Tyrion marriage. Forget heavy emotion and passionate anger, GRRM couldn't even be bothered to write a few lines where Jon Snow shows some slight brotherly concern for a sister forcefully married off and her current whereabouts.

We got nothing, nada, zilch. Even Brienne, who has never even met Sansa, has showed more concern and worry for Sansa than Jon Snow has done. There's no outrage or emotion when Stannis tells him that Sansa will never get Winterfell on account of this marriage and instead Jon even suggests Mors Crowfood as a possible alternate as Lord of Winterfell.

Given all the changes in these early 2003/2004 drafts for AFfC/ADwD/TWoW and given ADwD was finished in 2011, if GRRM had indeed decided to switch Jonrya with Jonsa, surely we would have seen the hints and the difference in Jon's thoughts wrt Sansa? We get none of that. Indeed, Sansa is a complete non factor in Jon Snow's story, his arc from the start to the end of ADwD, his theme of Love Vs Duty and the human heart in conflict with itself.

There's also been some speculation that, in the early draft, Jon Snow actually does end up leaving for Hardhome and this is where the assassination/mutiny happens.

Several other clues in these early drafts point to this conclusion. For ex. Melisandre's visions point to Jon Snow being stabbed to death - 'daggers in the dark' - while on a ranging.

It feels like the original assassination happens because of Jon's helping the Freefolk and the fear of him being a warg - there are references to Jon being referred to as a beastling by Slynt.

So it looks like in the early drafts Jon Snow leads a mission to Hardhome and that's where his story ends with assassination and death.

Also interesting in the bits that were cut out is Ghost sensing Summer beyond the Wall and wanting to go North. In the published book, Ghost cannot sense Summer anymore because of the Wall.

Deleted para:

On the other side the wind was colder still, the wolf sensed. That was where his brother had gone, the grey brother who smelled of summer. With the cliff between them, he could not sense his brother, but sometimes when he padded down the long cold burrow under the ice and poked his nose through the hard black bars, he could feel him. The snow was falling where his brother was, covering all the woods in white. And there were hunters near, living men and dead men, and the ones who wore the shapes of men but smelled only of cold.

And another deleted paragraph when Edd wakes up Jon.

He glanced to the foot of the bed. The rug where Ghost slept was empty. The big white direwolf came and went as he would, often for days at a time. He is looking for some way through the wall, he thought, uneasily, and somehow he knows that Grey Wind is gone, and Robb as well.

Three things stand out in the early draft.

Ghost can sense Summer beyond the Wall through areas where the Wall seems broken.

Ghost wants to go North beyond the Wall

Ghost can sense Bran being hunted by the dead

If Jon had been killed in Hardhome then I think Jon warged into Ghost would have gone towards Bran and saves Summer/Bran from the dead hunters hunting them in a reversal of when Summer saved Jon. We also would have possibly got an exploration of the Lands of Always Winter through Ghost!Jon's POV. [No idea how Jon gets resurrected in this version though. Maybe Bran is involved and they return to Hardhome and Jon's body? Maybe they all return to the Wall together...]

However, I think the changes in the published book means we are not getting all this. Jon never ends up going to Hardhome in ADwD. Why? The Pink Letter.

In the published book, it's the King Beyond the Wall - not Davos - who goes disguised as Abel the Bard (A play on Bael the Bard regarding whom Mance and Jon have a conversation) with a mission to steal a Stark girl out of Winterfell for Jon Snow. This leads to a set of circumstances where Theon escapes with Jeyne Poole, which in turn leads to the Pink Letter.

The Letter accuses Jon Snow of 'stealing' Ramsay's Bride. In Freefolk culture, one has to steal one's future bride or lover. Ygritte informs Jon that he has stolen her and Ser Patrek ends up dying - killed by Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun - when he tries to 'steal' Val.

Additionally, in ADwD, the straw that breaks the camel's back for the assassins is not Jon Snow helping the Freefolk or being a warg, but his breaking of sworn oaths, him choosing love over duty, Arya over the Night's Watch.

It feels to me that, far from moving away from the Jon/Arya relationship in the OG outline, GRRM has infact changed early drafts to focus back on the Jon/Arya bond in ADwD, changing Jon's story at the Wall to heavily include Arya. From Abel the Bard to 'I want my Bride back, I want my Bride back, I want my Bride back' to 'We had best change the plans' the published book now sets up a Jon Vs Ramsay conflict over Arya Stark, pivoting Jon's story towards the south and Arya rather than towards the North and Bran.

It is still possible that we get Ghost!Jon leaving for beyond the Wall and exploring the Lands of Always Winter etc. However I no longer think this is happening given time constraints. With two books left and so much story still pending there is just not enough time for Ghost!Jon to do all that and get resurrected and then participate in what's happening in Winterfell. Bran will have to deal with that part of the story by himself.

So, coming back to my point. I do think it's hilarious how Jonsa shippers keep insisting that GRRM just suddenly decided that Sansa will get all of Arya's OG plots, relationships and narrative importance, and replace Jonrya with Jonsa. When, looking at his early AFfC/ADwD/TWoW drafts, it feels more like he actually changed the story to have Jon's assassination revolve around his presumed 'stealing' of Arya and oathbreaking to go save her.

[mattyalwayssmokesweed]

I don’t care how unlikely it is, the thought of Gendry, Jon, Nymeria and Lady Stoneheart meeting halfway to Winterfell to kill Ramsay for demanding the real Arya to be brought to him is fucking hilarious

[amorvincitomniamore]

get yourself a man, who's ready to start a war for you :)

[yeniayofnymeria]

JonArya "Son of the Dragon and Daughter of the North" (With ENGLISH SUB.)

Greetings!

With the revelation of the outline letter, it was revealed that Martin had envisioned a romance between Jon and Arya. Since then, it has been debated for years whether this idea continues. In this video we discuss the signs of JonArya.

[laboratorioautoral]

Going through old posts and Jon x Arya tags and content makes me so happy. I might not be active in the community anymore, but I'm so glad for the friends I've made and the laughs we shared.

A special shout out to @buttercuparry @alinaastarkov @justwinginoverthings @blood-and-lychee @ourmrsreynolds @maisiestyle @buckybarnex @circe1fanatic @hermiione @goodmeowningcols and so many others I lost track in this site.

[arya-jon]

needleheart winter → heart and home

far be it from me to separate two hearts that beat as one.

[lizzie-queenofmeigas]

I think there is a correlation between incest and cannibalism and an inherent eroticism in that.

I also see the incestuos feelings in certain ships as being homeless, desesperate for a home but never having one.

Something something, same blood, something something, you are in my sistem, something something, our hearts are the same/ we share a heart.

[silverflameataraxia]

"Most times," Jon answered in a flat voice.  "But tonight Lady Stark thought it might give insult to the royal family to seat a bastard among them."

AGoT, Jon I

Nymeria was waiting for her in the guardroom at the base of the stairs. She bounded to her feet as soon as she caught sight of Arya. Arya grinned. The wolf pup loved her, even if no one else did. They went everywhere together, and Nymeria slept in her room, at the foot of her bed. If Mother had not forbidden it, Arya would gladly  have taken the wolf with her to needlework.  Let Septa Mordane complain about her stitches then.

"A shade more fun than needlework," Arya gave back at him. Jon grinned, reached over, and messed up her hair.  Arya flushed. They had always been close. Jon had their father's face, as she did. They were the only ones. Robb and Sansa and Bran and even little Rickon all took after the Tullys, with easy smiles and fire in their hair. When Arya had been little, she had been afraid that meant that she was a bastard too. It had been Jon she had gone to in her fear, and Jon who had reassured her.

AGoT, Arya I

Alone and humiliated, Sansa took the long way back to the inn, where she knew Septa Mordane would be waiting. Lady padded quietly by her side. She was almost in tears. All she wanted was for things to be nice and pretty,  the way they were in the songs. Why couldn't Arya be sweet and delicate and kind, like Princess Marcella? She would have liked a sister like that.

Sansa could never understand how two sisters, born only two years apart, could be so different. It would have been easier if Arya had been a bastard, like their half brother Jon. She even looked like Jon, with the long face and brown hair of the Starks, and nothing of their Lady mother in her face or her coloring. And Jon's mother had been common, or so people whispered. Once, when she was littler, Sansa had even asked Mother if perhaps there hadn't been some mistake. Perhaps the grumkins had stolen her real sister. But Mother had only laughed and said no, Arya was her daughter and Sansa's trueborn sister, blood of their blood. Sansa could not think why Mother would want to lie about it, so she supposed it had to be true.

AGoT, Sansa I

Jon and Arya have always felt out of place in life, but they've always found their home with each other.

[palaceoftruth]

I want my bride back

I want my bride back

I want my bride back

[tonyloom]

jonrya doodle

[jackoshadows]

Granny: Are you trying to say something to the reader by drilling into us how much Arya and Jon love each other?

George RR Martin: “Say something to the reader?” No, I’m just reporting how the characters feel. Of course, everything in the book says something to the reader. -GRRM

[docpiplup]

@asongofstarkandtargaryen @aemontargaryen-bloodraven

[amorvincitomniamore]

"I think I loved Ygritte best of all the women in my life. I mourn her still. But of all those women, Arya was always the closest. She thought like me. I would sometimes start to say something and she would finish the sentence. In time, we just looked at each other and knew what the other was thinking. Of all the friends I have made in my life, I loved Arya the best." - Jon Snow, probably