#syrio

[nanni-shall-be-restored-in-full]

it's as heavy as it needs to be

Throughout Arya's training, mostly with Syrio but also with the Faceless Man, she has these little litanies that she repeats to herself.

Swift as a deer. Quiet as a shadow. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Quick as a snake. Calm as still water. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Strong as a bear. Fierce as a wolverine. Fear cuts deeper than swords. The man who fears has already lost. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Fear cuts deeper than swords. […] Never do what they expect. –a Game of Thrones, Arya IV

As I've been learning modern fencing (my needlework!), these come back to me now and again and I love them all.

Still as a stone. Swift as a deer. Strong as a bear. Quick as a snake. Light as a feather. Slippery as an eel. Calm as still water. Quiet as a shadow. Fierce as a wolverine. Smooth as summer silk. Look with your eyes. Listen with your ears. See with all your senses. Never do what they expect. Fear cuts deeper than swords. Where there is a way in there is a way out. The one who fears losing has already lost. A bruise is a lesson and each lesson makes us better.

Sometimes, when I'm starting a bout, I think "look with your eyes" or when I evade a thrust, "slippery as an eel".

And of course, when I've been holding my arm out too long and I think my sword is too heavy, Syrio's voice echos in my head,

It is heavy as it needs to be to make you strong, and for the balancing. A hollow inside is filled with lead, just so. One hand now is all that is needing.

or Jon's,

It's as heavy as it needs to be to stop a sword.

[radioactiveoreoshake]

Arya Stark

Fear cuts deeper than swords.

These were taught to Arya by her 'dance master' Syrio Forel. During the darkest time of my life I used to chant these words to myself and somehow I survived.

We take a lot many things for granted but I have realised the role that literature plays in our lives. These lines were read by me as a girl of 17 and at 20 these very lines helped me carry on. Was I afraid? Yes. But isn't that the only time you can be brave?

[thesidebog]

The Viru Bog boardwalk in Estonia by Syrio.

[babyitsbeautiful]

Imagine Arya & Gendry meeting at a gym while she is training with Syrio and he is training with.....

Ooooh... I love Gym! Gendrya. 

I could see him training with Dadvos or someone from the Brotherhood, or maybe even the Hound. 

Imagine Gendry training with Sandor for months, trying to get him to give him something other than insults and grunts and Arya comes strolling over and critiques him or something with her sass and Sandor actually cracks a smile which infuriates him, because she did it first AND he’s insanely attracted to her. 

(The scenarios alone from that Gym Joe image, I love it. He looks good too, ugh.) 

[ilovelaica]

My endless list of favourite horses: Syrio. [Ridden by Libuse Mencke.]

[chowsinthepack]

Game of Thrones should have ended with Arya becoming a Dancing Master. Think about it! She learned her first skills from Syrio Forel, and they’ve been a huge part of her character development. She could’ve taught Sansa’s future children (IF she wants any), or the young squires of the kingdom, or even be the “First Sword of Westeros”. Instead of sailing west to go on an out of character expedition, she would’ve gone east to Braavos to continue her training. Way more like Arya, satisfying plot, and the whole “student becomes the teacher” motif would be perfect for her. Also, do you really think that just when Westeros achieved peace, Arya would risk fucking it up by discovering a new world? You know they’d go colonial all over that shit and Arya is not about to be Christopher Columbus. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

[el-dungeon]

[la-reina-de-plata]

Syrio Forel: What do we say to the god of death?

Arya: Not today