I am simply in awe of Arya and how could I not? This girl is brilliant in every way. Every time I do a re-read of her chapters I am reminded of how iconic she truly is. This is why I will never get people who call her povs boring and/or who categorize her under some mere stereotypes.
In the beginning of ASoS we find Arya just after her escape from Harrenhal. She is navigating the wilds of Riverlands while simultaneously trying to be responsible for the well being of two other kids. At just 10 years of age, Arya has the capability to apply her theoretical knowledge to practical uses. From reading maps to determining directions with the help of moss and having the foresight to take into consideration that the Bloody Mummers might use hunting dogs to track their scents, Arya emerges as someone who has the potential to become a brilliant leader in the future. What's especially admiring is that none of her decisions are taken impetuosly; she consistently maintains her calm and presence of mind, even with fear and apprehension coursing through her veins. Also this part:
She would make much better time on her own, Arya knew, but she could not leave them. They were her pack, her friends, the only living friends that remained to her, and if not for her they would still be safe at Harrenhal, Gendry sweating at his forge and Hot Pie in the kitchens. If the Mummers catch us, I'll tell them that I'm Ned Stark's daughter and sister to the King in the North. I'll command them to take me to my brother, and to do no harm to Hot Pie and Gendry. They might not believe her, though, and even if they did . . . Lord Bolton was her brother's bannerman, but he frightened her all the same. I won't let them take us, she vowed silently, reaching back over her shoulder to touch the hilt of the sword that Gendry had stolen for her. I won't.
Arya knows that perhaps she has acted selfishly when she ushered both Gendry and Hot Pie out of Harrenhal (it worked out pretty well imo considering what happened after...) but she never for once, thinks of shrugging away her responsiblities regarding this. In fact she is ready to give up her secret should the occasion call for it and vows to not let the Bloody Mummers catch her or her friends.
Arya Stark was, is and will always be iconic. It's a shame that so many of the people in the fandom fails to see this or chooses to ignore this bc of their preoccupation with stereotypical notions of how a female character should behave. I hope that by the end of Asoiaf, Arya will at least get the respect that she deserves.
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