Sep 28, 2023
Parrying Dagger Italian, ca. 1550–75
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Parrying Dagger Italian, ca. 1550–75
Parrying Dagger, German, 1600
From the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Arya Stark, the night wolf, daughter of the North.
Aryas journey away from the rest of her family has been one of putting on new faces and names. Even as soon as she escaped the red keep, she accepted the label of urchin almost immediately. However, she never really shed her previous identity, just adding a new layer of paint on top. It wasn't until the House of Black and White that she stripped away Salty, Lumpyhead, and Weasle, but try as she might, she can't scrape away Arya Stark.
Even after being blinded, and on the streets. Forced to let got. Even after she believes she is nobody. As soon as someone from her list arrives, Arya Stark peaks through.
I think returning Arya to Westeros is one of the corners Martin has written himself into, and I cannot say that I know how to fix that. I can however talk about some things I want to happen.
The first thing I'll note is something present in the visuals here. I depicted Arya with Little Finger's Dagger, and a Valyrian Steel rapier. I want house Stark to get the two parts of ice back, but instead of reforging it into blade, for Widows Wail to be worked into a sword for Arya. Maybe call it Icicle.
I'd also like her and Gendry to meet again. I don't necesarrily want this to be romantic, because Arya is only about 11 years old, but they have a very fun friendship. I think this could also help Arya meet with Lady Stone Heart, and return some semblance of sanity for her mother.
I think in part, Arya's story won't end with A Song of Ice and Fire, because she is so young. If she is to receive a happy "ending" it would be a reunion with her family back at Winterfell.
A Spring-Loaded Triple-Bladed Parrying Dagger, Western Europe, late 16th century, housed at the Château d'Écouen.
Lunar
Versicolor swordbreaker Value ●●●○○ ; Size ●○○○○ It allows you to block or even break the opponent's blade between the teeth of the weapon. Its color changes depending on the environment and seems invisible.
Swordtember 2024: Duel
And as to whether I choked myself or we strangled one another... the choice was as arbitrary as the result was unavoidable.
There is an art to cutting ties, and you were ever the better artist between us.
....
Technically today's prompt is Glass, but as I've covered that one in a previous piece, I figured it might be a good time to post one of the prompts I was behind on.
This is unexpectedly one of my favorite pieces so far. I hate to admit it (because the "one drawing a day" momentum is awesome) but... the drawings that I let myself work on a little longer do seem to turn out a little more to my liking?
Anyway, I'm basically 15 drawings in (including some I haven't posted yet) and I'm incredibly surprised at myself for getting this far. I'm not making any promises, but I really hope I can keep it up a bit longer!
Few are foolish enough to cross blades with Wally Cox
(Allan Grant. 1956?)