Shortly thereafter, a grieving father brings his sickly daughter to the temple within the House of Black and White and explains to Arya that he has been to every healer in Braavos and spent every penny he had. He informs Arya that his daughter is suffering and needs to find peace. Arya then sits besides the girl and tells her a short made-up story, about how she was sick too, but her father brought her here and when she drank from the temple's well, she was healed. This persuades the sickly girl to drink the poisoned water from the well. The water gives the peace of a quick death to the sickly girl, and Arya, having successfully proven that she can lie, is then brought to the Hall of Faces with Jaqen H’ghar, a great underground chamber that houses thousands of faces that have been peeled off dead corpses. All of the faces have been taken from the corpses that the acolytes wash in the temple. The Faceless Man then asks Arya if she is ready to give up who she is to become "no one". After a moment of silence, Jaqen then states that she is not ready to become "no one," as she is too attached to her past as a Stark, but that she is ready to become "someone else".

Weeks later, Arya assumes the identity of “Lanna,” an orphan-turned-clam-seller. She demonstrates to Jaqen H'ghar that she can convincingly become a different person, developing an elaborate and very believable backstory. The Faceless Man then sends her, as Lanna, to the harbor and fishing markets where she observes someone Jaqen refers to as "the thin man". A gambler, as Jaqen calls him, that Arya witnesses at the markets refusing a contract to insure a man's boat, leaving the man in desperate circumstances. Jaqen later explains that the thin man's business is a gamble of sorts, yet he does not honor his agreements; when a ship captain dies at sea, he is supposed to make good on his promise to pay the family, but he often doesn't. Jaqen  instructs the girl named Lanna to return to the harbor for a second time to carefully watch the gambler and “get to know him as well as the girl knows herself.” When Arya asks of her instructions beyond that point, Jaqen informs her that she is to kill the thin man, and hands her a "gift" for victim — a vial of poison. As Arya leaves, the Waif asserts her skepticism of Arya’s success to Jaqen. The acolyte asks him what is to happen if Arya is not ready. He cryptically responds by saying “then it is all the same to the Many-Faced God,” implying that there would still be a death served to the gods.

Some days later, “Lanna” pushes her cart through the streets of Braavos selling various types of shellfish. She passes the thin man with intention to poison his purchased oysters from her cart. Just as she reaches him, however, she stops in her tracks, fixated on a boat that has just arrived to Braavos. Stepping out of the boat is none other than Ser Meryn Trant of the Kingsguard, one of the names on Arya's kill list, who assisted in betraying her father and killed her trainer Syrio Forel. She abandons her mission and follows Ser Meryn, who is escorting the capital’s Master of Coin, Mace Tyrell, to the Iron Bank of Braavos. Afterwards, Arya remains in pursuit of Trant, following him and several guards to a brothel. She sneaks into the brothel under the guise of selling oysters and clams, insisting their benefit as an aphrodisiac. Arya sells a few and then makes her way to the back chambers where she spies on Ser Meryn from behind some shutters. She eventually is chased out by the owner, but not before she learns that Trant prefers sex with very young girls. After returning empty-handed to the House of Black and White, Jaqen asks Arya what happened, as she lies to him, informing that the thin man wasn't hungry and didn't order any oysters. Jaqen quips that perhaps this is why he is a "thin man”. Arya then promises that she will follow through on the assassination tomorrow. She departs, and while Jaqen seems to suspect that she was lying, he makes no outward reaction to it.

Some time later, the now blind Arya begs for money on the streets of Braavos. After overhearing two passing citizens discussing Ser Meryn Trant’s murder, she is approached by the Waif who is holding two fighting sticks. After remarking on her blindness, the Waif gives her one of the sticks in preparation for sparring. Arya explains that she obviously can't fight because she's blind, the Waif answers "that's not my problem" and starts beating her. Arya poorly tries to defend herself but fails miserably. Unimpressed, the Waif leaves Arya, promising to return the following day.

As promised, the Waif returns the following day and asks Arya who she is. When Arya answers "no one," the Waif brushes this off and promptly beats her in another sparring match. Arya angrily lashes out after the Waif leaves her, but is stopped by Jaqen H’ghar, who repeatedly asks her to say her name. Even after Jaqen’s promise of food and accommodation if she states her name, Arya repeatedly asserts to him that "a girl has no name.” An impressed Jaqen then allows her to return to the House of Black and White.

Later on, the blind Arya resumes her melee combat training with the Waif and Jaqen H'ghar, as she is also tasked to mix potions without sight as well. During her training, Arya continues sparring with the Waif while answering questions about her family and Sandor Clegane. Arya admits to leaving the Hound to die instead of killing him, despite wanting his death. The Waif then interrogates Arya about the people on her list: Cersei Lannister, Ser Gregor Clegane and  Lord Walder Frey, who was responsible for the Red Wedding massacre that claimed her mother and brother’s lives. The Waif voices her disbelief in Arya’s short list, but she counters by asking which name the Waif wants added. When Arya insists that she is no one, the Waif does not believe her and tries to hit her. However, Arya is able to deflect her blow and leap out of the way, surprising the Waif. After confirming that Arya has mastered blind sparring, Jaqen approaches Arya and offers to give back her sight if she tells him her name. Arya confidently replies that "a girl has no name." Jaqen then leads Arya to the well where he scoops up a bowl of water and offers it to Arya. She is reluctant, as others have drunk from it before and died, but Jaqen insists that if she is truly "no one" there is nothing to fear. Arya drinks from the bowl and her sight is instantly restored. When Jaqen asks Arya who she is, she again replies that she is no one.

Some weeks later, The Waif continues to drill Arya with combat training while never missing an opportunity to attempt in offending her, this time mocking Arya’s high-born origins from Winterfell, stating that she’ll never be “one of us, Lady Stark.”  When Jaqen H’ghar enters the room, he tells Arya that the Waif has a point. Bringing Arya to the Hall of Faces, Jaqen then explains that the first Faceless Men were slaves in Valyria before establishing the Free City of  Braavos and the House of Black & White. As they both look at the faces that hang on the pillars, Jaqen further explains that these were the faces they wore in life when not wearing others. He then states that now “a girl is one of them if she desires.” Arya insists that she doesn’t have any desires. Then handing Arya a vial, Jaqen tells her an actress named Lady Crane will be the next to receive the Many-Faced God’s “gift.” Jaqen warns Arya that she has been given a second chance and won't get a third.

Afterwards, Arya enjoys the spectacle of Braavosi actors re-enacting the War of the Five Kings, playing Baratheons and Lannisters in a play called “The Bloody Hand.” The first scene depicts Robert Baratheon’s indulgence of wine, as Cersei Lannister, played by the actress Lady Crane, asks him to not drink so much, or he will not make good decisions during small council meetings. Robert slaps Cersei and calls such meetings boring. He says he would prefer if Eddard Stark attends the meetings in his stead. Tyrion Lannister is then depicted as having arranged the assassination of King Robert by plying with him more wine before the ill-fated boar hunt. Tyrion then reveals his plans to the audience to dispose of Robert and install Ned as the new king, with Tyrion taking the position of Hand. At the last minute, however, Tyrion reveals the conspiracy by laying sole blame on Eddard. Sansa Stark then begs the good prince Joffrey to show her father mercy, and he agrees, but Ned gets beheaded after Tyrion bribes the headsman. Arya’s enjoyment of the play ceases when her father, and his execution, are inaccurately caricatured on stage. Eddard also is portrayed as a buffoon and the actress playing Sansa, named Bianca, has her breasts bared to the audience. In further displays of vulgarity, Tyrion pushes Sansa’s hand to his crotch, and announces he will force himself on her during their wedding night. After the performance, Arya sneaks into the dressing room after the play to observe her target, Lady Crane. She appears to be a clever, decent woman, however, Arya later shares with Jaqen her plan to poison Lady Crane’s rum, which no one else in the troupe drinks. Arya suspects that the jealous younger actress Bianca is the one who has commissioned the kill. Jaqen cuts Arya off, however, reminding her that a servant does not question.

Some time later, Arya is watching the second half of the mummers' performance of “The Bloody Hand” in which the caricatured version of Tyrion Lannister poisons his nephew Joffrey and murders his father Tywin. Arya displays amusement at the rendition of Joffrey's painful death, while the crowd watches mournfully. Arya then walks backstage and poisons Lady Crane's rum, as planned. Upon her exit, Lady Crane notices Arya, and the two briefly converse about the play and Crane’s portrayal of Cersei Lannister. Speaking from experience, Arya suggests that Cersei’s response to the death of her son would not only be grief- it should also include anger. After asking Arya if she likes pretending to be others, Lady Crane tries to express Arya's opinion to the rest of the troupe, but is quickly shut down. Crane then goes to drink the poisoned rum, but Arya slaps it from her hands before she can drink it, blaming the actress Bianca, and quickly runs away. Unbeknownst to Arya, the Waif has been following her and discovers that Arya has failed to kill Lady Crane. The Waif proceeds to report Arya's failure to Jaqen H’ghar, who grants her wish to let her kill Arya, but that she must not let her suffer. Meanwhile, Arya retrieves her sword Needle from its hiding place near the lagoon and makes preparations to defend herself, presumably abandoning the goal of becoming a Faceless assassin and knowing her failure has made her a target.

Some time later, Arya is walking casually through the streets of Braavos without her sword. Descending down a path of steps she approaches two tradesmen drinking at an outdoor table. The Westerosi trader is speaking with his companion concerning the Ironborn fleet's recent arrival to Slaver's Bay when he is approached by Arya, who recognizes him as a trader due to his usage of the common tongue. Arya then pays him with two bags of coins in order to secure passage at dawn for her journey back to Westeros.

Afterwards, Arya is standing on a bridge admiring a view of the Titan of Braavos statue, perhaps appreciating where her journey has taken her, regardless of the looming threat against her. She is interrupted by an old woman who approaches her and reveals herself to be the Waif as the mask is removed. The Waif repeatedly stabs Arya in the gut, twisting the knife as she does. Arya escapes by rolling over the bridge into the river. Once the Waif assumes her death, as Arya hasn’t come up for air, she walks pleased with herself. Arya eventually emerges from the water and is left stumbling through the streets of Braavos, leaving a trail of dripping blood, visibly terrified.

Following the Waif’s attack on Arya, the acting troupe are once again performing “The Bloody Hand,” this time with Lady Crane heeding Arya’s advice in playing Cersei’s loss of her son with more anger. Unlike the previous version, it is edited as Arya proposed, as Crane's portrayal of Cersei includes a promise of revenge. After the scene finishes, Lady Crane walks off stage where she eventually finds Arya in hiding and heavily-injured from the assassination attempt. Afterwards, in Lady Crane’s home, Arya is treated by the gracious actress, who explains her experience in patching up people is due to her proclivity for bad men and violent relationships. When Arya then enquires about the actress Bianca, who ordered the kill, Lady Crane asserts that it will be difficult for the younger actress to find work now after what Crane has done to the girl’s face. With Bianca’s absence from the play moving forward, Lady Crane asks Arya to join the acting troupe, who are next traveling to Pentos. Arya refuses the kind offer, warning Crane of the dangers that will be coming for them if she leaves Braavos. When Crane asks her where she will go, Arya declares her curiosity for lands unknown that lie west of Westeros. Finally, Lady Crane tries to give Arya the milk of the poppy which is rejected at first, but Arya then relents after being told that sleep is the only way for the wound to heal.

The following morning, Arya wakes up, startled by a crash. She finds Lady Crane brutally murdered and the Waif waiting for her. Arya leaps out the window and flees into the streets. She rolls under a wagon and flees into a bathhouse but is unable to outrun the Waif, who is closing in on her. Arya barely manages to stay ahead as she leaps and rolls down a broad flight of stairs, overturning several baskets of vegetables in the process. Arya’s fall causes her wounds to reopen. She then flees into an alleyway and uses her bloody hand to purposefully leave a trail to a doorway, thus luring the Waif into a darkened room that is lit by a single candle. The Waif soon catches up with her. Closing the heavy door, the Waif informs Arya that she can choose to die on her knees or on her feet. Arya rises to her feet and retrieves her sword Needle from its hiding place under a blanket. With one swift slice of Needle, the candle is chopped in half and the room is plunged into total darkness. Afterwards, Jaqen H’ghar enters the Hall of Faces to find a trail of blood. He eventually learns that Arya has murdered the Waif and ripped off her face, sticking it into one of the shelves. Arya has also gouged out the Waif's eyes with her sword. From behind, she confronts Jaqen, who admits sending the Waif to kill her. He then tells Arya that she has finally become "No One" and can now join the Faceless Men. However, Arya corrects him and declares that she is Arya Stark of Winterfell, and that she is going home. Jaqen responds with a nod and a barely perceptible smile as Arya walks away towards her exit from Braavos.

After a lengthy trip sailing back to Westeros, Arya travels to the Twins to cross another name off of her list in order to avenge her mother Catelyn and brother Robb. Inside the castle’s hall Lord Walder Frey is eating dinner when one of the servants serves him pie. Frey doesn’t recognize the servant and immediately questions who she is, slapping her on the behind as he wonders if she's one of his progeny. Walder goes on to gripe about the tardiness of his sons, Black Walder and  Lothar Frey, to which the servant earnestly insists that they are already present. Eventually, Lord Frey opens the pie and reacts in horror: he has been served the flesh of his own sons, with a fingertip visible in the stuffing. The servant then removes her face, revealing herself as Arya, who informs him that she has come to remind Walder of his crimes and take revenge. Arya victoriously informs that “the last thing you’re ever going to see is a Stark smiling down at you as you die.” Lord Frey is shocked and tries to escape, but she holds him down and slits his throat. Arya then smiles as she watches the man who murdered her mother and brother bleed to death.

At the Twins, after killing Walder Frey, Arya uses his face to impersonate him and hold a feast in honor of all of his sons. “Lord Frey” presides over the feast and has summoned every Frey who took part in the Red Wedding massacre under the pretext of revealing his plans. Walder orders the servants to serve them wine from the Arbor but harshly tells his latest wife Kitty Frey that he is not wasting any wine on "a damn woman.” He then thanks his family for helping him to slaughter the Starks and backhandedly compliments his brood for the violent deaths of King  Robb Stark, his wife Talisa Maegyr, their unborn child, and Lady Catelyn Stark, much to the nervous laughter of his family. However, when the Freys quickly begin to choke from poisoned wine, Walder chides them for not killing all the Starks. Arya as Walder then remarks, "Leave one wolf alive, and the sheep are never safe," as his family members die around him. Lord Frey then reveals himself as a disguised Arya Stark, who has exacted vengeance on those who arranged the massacre of her mother and brother at the Red Wedding. Arya spares Walder's wife and the female servants, informing them: "The North remembers. Tell them winter came for House Frey."

After departing from the Twins, Arya, having now acquired a horse, is riding south when she stumbles upon a small convoy of Lannister soldiers who have been sent to the Twins. Their purpose is to keep law and order after learning of the latest massacre to take place at the castle. The soldiers are singing "Hands of Gold" and offer to share rabbit meat for dinner. When the soldiers ask if Arya is riding south, she informs them that she is traveling to King's Landing. Although she previously told Jaqen H’ghar, upon her departure from Braavos, that she was going home to Winterfell, Arya still has her kill list to complete before returning to her former home. Arya learns from the soldiers that the Great Sept of Baelor, where her father was executed, and its surroundings have been destroyed and that the Red Keep has been essentially sealed. The young soldiers insist that she join them around the campfire to eat and rest. When she asks about their adventures, the soldiers admit that they are homesick and once they left home they wished to return to their families. A young soldier offers her blackberry wine while his brother in arms asks why she is traveling south. Arya asserts to them that she is going to kill  Queen Cersei Lannister. Assuming she is joking, they all burst out laughing. Arya smiles and laughs with them.

Some time later, en route to Winterfell, Arya encounters Hot Pie at the Crossroads Inn, where she’d last seen him years ago. She immediately starts accosting him to give her some pie and ale. Hot Pie informs her that he has become a seasoned pie-master, as Arya mentions that she has had some experience baking two pies, alluding to Walder Frey’s sons. When Hot Pie asks Arya if Brienne of Tarth had found her, Arya gives an affirmative answer, recalling their encounter in the Vale where she left the Hound to die. When asked where she is traveling to, Arya informs him of her journey to the capital. Hot Pie tells her that Queen Cersei has blown up the Great Sept and wonders why she is not heading to Winterfell. Arya declares that the Boltons, led by Roose Bolton and his bastard Ramsay, now occupy the castle. Hot Pie, however, informs her that the Boltons are now dead, with Ramsay being killed during a battle for Winterfell against her half-brother Jon Snow, who now has been named King in the North. In the moment of receiving this news, Arya quickly decides to head north again to Winterfell, deferring her plans to attack Cersei Lannister. With the thought of Jon returning to Winterfell, Arya gets up with haste to the leave the inn. Hot Pie insists for her not to worry about paying for the cost of the meal since she is a friend. As she departs, Hot Pie remarks that Arya is pretty for someone whom he once thought was a boy. Arya then rides her horse into the frost-covered forest of the Riverlands.

After leaving the Crossroads Inn and en route towards Winterfell, Arya makes a small campfire in the woods, as it nears sunset. As she warms herself by the fire, she is suddenly ambushed by a large pack of wild wolves, which startles her horse. Surrounded, Arya pulls out her sword Needle to defend herself, though the wolves do not attack. Suddenly, Arya finds herself face to face with a now fully-grown Nymeria, much to her astonishment, who appears to be the leader of the pack. She pleads for her direwolf to return with her to Winterfell, and though Nymeria recognizes her former owner, the wolf instead retreats with her pack back into the woods. Arya realizes that Nymeria is no longer the same pup she once knew, mirroring her own growth and independence since the last time they both saw each other. Softly, and with a small smile, she murmurs, “that's not you,” echoing what Arya once said to her father Eddard years ago when he suggested that someday she would marry a powerful lord.

Some weeks later, Arya finally returns to her home of Winterfell. She rides up to the gates and dismounts from her horse, however, the guards don't believe her when she identifies herself as Arya Stark. They are convinced that Arya has been dead for years. She then asks that they send word to Maester Luwin and Rodrik Cassel, who can prove her identity, unaware that they both have perished at Winterfell several years ago. The guards brush her off, informing Arya there is nobody by those names at Winterfell. Arya asks for her brother Jon, but they assert that he recently left Winterfell, so Arya enquires who is currently in charge. The guards respond, "Lady Stark," who Arya realizes must be her sister Sansa, whom she assumed had perished years ago in King’s Landing at the hands of Joffrey Baratheon. The guards attempt to brush her aside, but she dodges them with the reflex of an assassin, insistsing that one way or another she's getting into the castle. She then explains to them that if she is Arya, they'll be in a lot of trouble for stopping her, and if she isn't, she won't last long in Winterfell anyway. Mildly concerned, they agree to at least let her in the courtyard, but insist that she stay put while they send for Sansa so they can disprove her identity. As soon as they take their eyes off her, however, she slips away.

Once Sansa Stark is informed of her younger sister’s arrival, she finds Arya exactly where she had expected her to be, in the family crypts beneath the castle looking over their father Eddard’s grave. The sisters are happy to see each other, however, so much has happened to the both of them in the past few years that they are awkwardly unsure of what to say to one another. Arya asks Sansa if she has to call her "Lady Stark" now, to which Sansa firmly insists "Yes" - and then laughs. They then share an emotional embrace, though Arya still remains hesitant. Arya then notes that Jon left Sansa in charge as her sister vocalizes her hope for Jon to return soon, as he will be elated to reunite with Arya. Sansa recalls how happy Jon was to see her when they were reunited, yet the pair were never that close, unlike Jon and Arya. The sisters then look sadly on their father's statue as Arya comments that it doesn't really look like him. Sansa acknowledges that everyone who really knew his face has died. However, Arya points out that they're not, as she then asks if Sansa killed Joffrey. Sansa explains that she didn't, though she wishes she had. Arya remarks that he was always at the top of her list. This confuses Sansa, and Arya explains that she'd been keeping a list of everyone she was going to kill - at which they both laugh. Finally, Sansa asks how Arya returned to Winterfell, but she only says her road wasn't a pleasant one. Sansa insists that hers wasn't either. They warmly hug again as Sansa then informs Arya that her younger brother Bran has also returned. Arya is elated, but her smile fades when Sansa does not mention her youngest brother Rickon. She realizes that Rickon is dead, later to find out that he perished during the battle for Winterfell against House Bolton.

Sansa immediately escorts Arya to visit Bran in the godswood, where he is lost in thought by the weirwood tree. Arya is saddened to see him paralyzed, recalling his fall from the tower when she had initially left Winterfell. Somewhat detached even at the sight of his sister, Bran informs Arya that he isn't surprised she's alive because he saw her at the Crossroads Inn. Arya is confused, as Sansa then explains that Bran is having "visions" now. He tells Arya that he assumed she was going to King's Landing, and when Sansa asks why she would head there of all places, he again startles Arya with the knowledge that Cersei is on her kill list. Something which he couldn’t possibly have known. Sansa asks Arya who else is on her list, as she informs that most of them besides Cersei are actually dead already. The siblings then discuss the Valyrian steel dagger in Bran’s lap, and he explains that Petyr Baelish gave it to him, thinking he'd want it. Bran holds no interest in keeping the dagger that was once used in an attempt to kill him years ago, which then indirectly set off a chain of events, ultimately leading to their parents' deaths. Arya is confused as to why a common cutthroat would have had a rare, priceless blade of  Valyrian steel. Bran matter-of-factly asserts that someone very wealthy once wanted him dead, and gave it to the assassin. Bran adds that it doesn't matter now, handing it to Arya, saying she can have it because it's "wasted on a cripple."

Afterwards, the female warrior named Brienne, whom Arya met in the Vale of Arryn, is sparring with her squire Podrick in the courtyard. Impressed, Arya interrupts them and asserts that she'd like to spar with Brienne, the woman who beat Sandor Clegane in combat. Sansa and Lord Baelish, who also now resides at Winterfell, watch silently from the walkway above. Brienne goes easy on her at first, but Arya completely outmaneuvers the statuesque woman using a combination of her Water Dance and Faceless Men training. Surprised that such a young girl is so skilled, Brienne stops holding back, leading to a more grueling sparring session. Brienne actually manages to knock Needle out of Arya's hand, but she simply switches to the Valyrian steel dagger she had in her belt. Arya uses her speed and agility to compensate for Brienne's strength and size to overwhelm her. Ultimately, they reach a stalemate, with each of them holding a blade at the others' throat. Brienne asks Arya who taught her to fight like that, and she simply responds, "no one". Arya takes her leave of Brienne, both mutually impressed, as Sansa and Littlefinger are baffled by her lethal skill-level. As Sansa leaves the gallery, Arya and Littlefinger then stare at each other suspiciously for a lingering moment.

Some time later, in the great hall of Winterfell, Arya observes her sister Sansa presiding over a meeting of the Northern lords. Insisting that the King in the North should have remained in the North, Lord Robett Glover and Lord Yohn Royce imply that they’ve made a mistake in choosing Jon Snow as their ruler. However, Sansa insists that Jon is their king who is doing what he believes is best for their people, as he’s left to secure an alliance for the coming war against the White Walkers. Following the meeting, Sansa confides her frustration in the Northern lords with Arya, who calls Sansa out for diplomatically handling their concerns instead of shutting the lords down. Arya thinks that Sansa should not let the lords get away with insulting Jon, and hints at assassinating them. Sansa disagrees, however, to which Arya then calls attention to the fact that her older sister is using their parents' chambers and that she still thinks she's better than everyone else. Arya then assumes Sansa might need the support of the Northern lords if she wishes to seize the North from Jon for herself. Hurt by the accusations, Sansa informs Arya that she has "work to do." Arya leaves Sansa, but not before asserting a passive-aggressive “milady” upon her exit.

Later on, Arya grows increasingly suspicious of Sansa and her relationship with Littlefinger. She then begins to spy on Lord Baelish as he is walking through the grounds of Winterfell and conversing with the two Northern lords who hold issue with Jon Snow’s absence. Arya then follows Littlefinger to his personal quarters and finds him in discussion with Maester Wolkan. Arya eavesdrops while he asks the maester if he’s sure that "this" is the only copy, as he’s handed a message scroll. Assured that it is, Petyr informs that "Lady Stark thanks you for your service." After Wolkan leaves, Baelish briefly enters his room, then exits, locking the door. Arya then breaks into his chamber and rummages through his study and furniture. Hidden under his mattress, she finds the scroll, which turns out to be the message that Sansa wrote years ago to their late brother Robb urging him to bend the knee to King Joffrey. Arya is horrified by the letter, unaware that Sansa had written it under duress while under Cersei’s imprisonment in an attempt to save their father from execution. Arya rolls up the scroll and sneaks out of the room, oblivious to a grinning Littlefinger, who watches her from behind a dimly-lit wall, indicating that the letter itself had been planted on purpose in order to manipulate her against Sansa.

Over the next few days, Arya and Sansa's relationship continue to grow increasingly strained following Arya's discovery of her sister's "incriminating" letter. Watching over the castle courtyard from the balcony, Arya reminisces about how their father used to watch her and her brothers train in the very same spot, bitterly claiming that Sansa wouldn't remember as she was usually inside the castle knitting with her fellow ladies. Arya then informs Sansa how on one particular day, after their brothers had finished training with Ser Rodrik, she wandered into the vacant courtyard and began practicing her archery with Bran's discarded bow, as Lord Eddard watched from above. Arya then resentfully states that he was killed by the Lannisters with Sansa's help, reading the scroll aloud to her. Sansa insists that she was forced to write it and, being a naïve child that she was at the time, was led to believe that she was saving her family. However, Arya is adamant to point out that had she been in Sansa's position, she would have died before betraying her family, calling her stupid for believing the Lannisters' lies. Arya reveals that she, like Sansa, was present during their father's execution and that she saw the whole thing from the statue of Baelor. Arya surmises that Sansa is afraid she will show the letter to the Northern lords, thus losing their respect. While recognizing that Sansa wrote the letter out of fear, a bitter Arya says that she prefers to embrace anger over fear.

Later, Sansa enters Arya's quarters and snoops around her room. Eventually she notices a satchel poking out under Arya’s bed and opens the leather case. To her bewilderment it contains several faces that Arya has taken from the Hall of Faces in Braavos, including the late Walder Frey's face recently used to massacre House Frey. Arya catches her sister pilfering through her personal effects. When Sansa asserts to Arya that her men are loyal to her, Arya mockingly retorts that they, however, are not here. She then explains to Sansa that she obtained the faces from the Faceless Men of Braavos and admits she spent time training to be one herself. Arya forces Sansa to play the lying game and begins by asking if she thinks that Jon is the rightful king. Sansa demands that Arya tell her what the faces are, as Arya replies that they always wanted to pretend to be other people. Sansa wanted to be a queen while Arya herself wanted to be a knight. In the end, neither of them got what they wanted. Arya informs that the faces allow her to become someone else, and menacingly admits that she toys with the idea of assuming Sansa's face and status. Arya approaches Sansa with the Valyrian steel dagger she received from Bran and muses over the possibility of becoming the Lady of Winterfell. However, Arya relents and leaves a disturbed Sansa alone with the dagger.

After spending a lengthy period of time reflecting on her next course of action, Sansa orders Arya be brought to the great hall. Inside the hall, Sansa and Bran are both seated at the great table, while the room is lined with Stark and Arryn men as well as Lord Baelish, who is watching the whole thing with a malicious grin. Arya is brought into the hall and asks Sansa if she "really wants to do this." Sansa insists that it's not about what she wants, it's about justice. She proceeds to rattle off a list of crimes perpetrated against House Stark whilst staring at Arya and then suddenly Sansa switches her line of sight from her to Littlefinger. Sansa then asks Lord Baelish how he intends to answer over the charges. At this, all eyes turn towards Littlefinger. Thrown, Petyr then attempts to piece together this turn of events. Sansa reveals his murder of their aunt Lysa Arryn, as well as his use of Lysa to murder the former Hand of the King, Jon Arryn. Sansa uses his own words against him and correctly accuses Baelish of orchestrating the conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters that has ultimately engulfed the Seven Kingdoms for the better part of the last decade, including the betrayal and death of Lord Eddard. Littlefinger tries denying this, but Bran uses his gift of greensight to recall the exact words Baelish used when holding a knife to their father’s throat. Swiftly realizing that the trial is an elaborate ruse, as was Arya and Sansa’s staged rivalry, Baelish demands that Lord Royce, Protector of the Vale, take him to safety. However, Yohn refuses him. In desperation, Littlefinger falls to his knees and pleads for his life, insisting yet again how much he loved their mother Catelyn and how much he now loves Sansa, but Sansa, unswayed by his pleadings, sentences him to death. Sansa promises that she’ll never forget all the lessons he taught her, sharing a look with Arya. As Baelish tries to speak, Arya walks up and slits his throat with the same Valyrian steel dagger that lay at the heart of his plots. Littlefinger bleeds out and slumps dead to the floor as the Northern and Vale lords and ladies watch dispassionately. At long last, the War of the Five Kings is ended, as justice has now been met to the person responsible for it all.

Afterwards, on the battlements, Sansa and Arya discuss Littlefinger's plots and how much they have both changed. Arya warmly informs Sansa that she wouldn't have been able to survive the things Sansa has gone through. Sansa disagrees, insisting that Arya is the strongest person she knows. The sisters then muse over one of their father's sayings: “the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.” They realize the truth of his words as their remaining family needs to stick together.

Some time later, Arya stands among the residents from the village of Winter Town as they eagerly await Jon Snow’s return to Winterfell. Gaining new allies in the fight against the army of the dead, Jon brings with him the dragon queen from Essos, Daenerys Targaryen, and her army as they march into Winterfell. She happily gazes upon Jon as he rides past without noticing her in the crowd. To her amazement, she then witnesses Sandor “The Hound” Clegane as part of their entourage, whom she previously left for dead after his fight against Brienne of Tarth in the Vale of Arryn. Another surprise for Arya is the additional arrival of Gendry Baratheon, whom she last saw many years ago in custody of the Red Priestess, Melisandre. When Daenerys’ two dragons fly overhead, Arya is the only person among the crowd who doesn't appear frightened; on the contrary, she is fascinated by their arrival. As the dragons soar high above Winterfell, the Northern and Targaryen lords and advisors meet to discuss their impending battle against the White Walkers, who are fast approaching the North.

Afterwards, Jon visits Winterfell's godswood, and while standing in front of the heart tree, Arya appears and startles him. Jon turns and asks how she was able to sneak up on him, then prompting Arya to ask how he survived a knife to the heart. Jon responds, "I didn't.” Arya runs over to Jon and they embrace, with Jon lifting Arya in his arms. Jon asks Arya if she still has Needle, as Arya unsheathes it. He asks if she's ever had to use it as Arya quietly responds: "Once or twice." After a silence, Jon shows her his Valyrian sword. Arya admires it but remarks it's too heavy for her. Jon confides that he could have used her help with Sansa during the meeting as Arya surmises that Sansa doesn't like Jon’s new queen, Daenerys. Then she tells him not to forget he's family too. Later on, Arya visits Winterfell's forges and comes upon Gendry, who is presenting the Hound with a custom-made axe of dragonglass, which the latter is not especially impressed with. Arya tells Sandor to stop insulting Gendry's work and the two lock eyes. Before he leaves, the Hound gives Arya a back-handed compliment; calling her a "cold little bitch,” but saying that's probably why she's still alive. In private, Arya and Gendry exchange banter, recalling their past time together on the road in the Riverlands and she asks him to craft a special weapon for her. Although skeptical, Gendry agrees. Arya shows him her Valyrian steel dagger, and he playfully replies that he always knew she was just another highborn girl. Before leaving, Arya cheekily shoots back that Gendry doesn't know any other highborn girls.

Some days later, the men at the forge are hard at work forging dragonglass weapons for the battle. As Gendry is busy working, he doesn’t see Arya arrive, who is watching with piqued interest. She then enquires if he’s finished making her dragonglass weapon. Gendry remarks that he'll get around to it after he's done making a few thousand more weapons first. Arya urges that he needs to make hers first, and that it should be stronger than the weapon he's currently working on. Gendry insists to Arya that it'll be more safe for her down in the crypts, and describes the army of the dead as best as possible to Arya, as he’s encountered them in the past. Gendry tells her that he knows she wants to fight, but they are much different than rapers or murderers. He simply calls them “death”. Arya coyly asserts that she knows death, and lifts one of the dragonglass arrowhead weapons and throws it like a dagger, hitting a door frame in the near distance. She adds that death has many faces, before throwing another and have it landing right beside the first dagger she threw. Arya adds, "I look forward to seeing this one," as she throws a third dagger, landing exactly beside the other two. Arya then walks past Gendry and asks one last time for her weapon, for which he hastily replies, "I'll get right on it."

After it is reported that the castle of Last Hearth has fallen and the army of the dead are within hours from arrival, Arya attends a war council. Jon notes to the assembled leaders that even with weapons of  dragonglass and Valyrian steel, the army of the dead outnumber the living too heavily. He suggests they single out the army’s leader, the Night King, as their primary target; given that he raised every monster in the army of the dead; if they can kill him, his army should die with him. Arya’s brother Bran interjects that the Night King will come for him specifically, as he's tried to kill the Three-Eyed Raven many times before. He adds that the Night King's ultimate desire is to erase all memory of the world of men, something which Bran now possesses as the raven. Arya and Sansa balk at the prospect of Bran using himself as bait, but Theon Greyjoy declares he and his men will defend Bran. Ser Davos Seaworth then suggests the dragons will be helpful on the battlefield, but Jon notes they need the dragons near the godswood to protect Bran, when Bran is luring the Night King in for an ambush. Jon adds that they'll hold the dragons back to keep the Night King from suspecting a trap, then when their enemy makes his move for Bran, they'll strike. Arya asks if dragonfire will stop the Night King, to which Bran can only reply that he has no idea, as no one has ever tried it.

Late evening, upon the castle’s battlements, Arya approaches the Hound who is sitting by himself. She sits down next to him, not saying a word. Sandor then comments that Arya never used to shut up and now she is sitting there like a mute. Arya responds by saying she guesses she has changed, and then enquires as to why Sandor has travelled here, joining Jon and Daenerys’ forces. She pointedly asks him, “when was the last time you fought for anyone but yourself?” They are joined by Beric Dondarrion, from the Brotherhood Without Banners, who apologizes for his actions when they last parted years ago. Arya gets up to leave, remarking that she’s not spending her final hours before battle drinking with “you two miserable old shits.” Afterwards, Arya trains with her bow and arrow when Gendry arrives with the new weapon he forged for her. An inquistive Arya asks Gendry what the Red Woman, Melisandre, wanted from him so many years ago when he was taken into custody. Gendry informs that she was after his royal Baratheon blood for a spell. Arya then asks a confused Gendry how many partners he has slept with in his past, as he answers “three”. Arya confidently informs Gendry that if they may die in this battle, she'd like to know what it's like before that happens. The pair then kiss and have sex with one another. Their bliss is unfortunately short-lived, however, with the arrival of the White Walkers.

As the battle commences, Arya is stationed along the wall of the castle overlooking the battlefield alongside Sansa, who both witness the arrival of the Red Priestess Melisandre, minutes before the attack. The Red Woman uses her magic to light the arakh weapons used by Daenerys’ Dothraki army, as they then charge into the blackened field towards the army of the dead. After the wights easily defeat the initial charge of Dothraki calvary, they begin to overwhelm the living forces, including both dragons being flown by Daenerys and Jon. Arya insists that Sansa head down to the family crypts to hide from the attack, handing her a dragonglass dagger. Arya then shoots flaming arrows at the wights as the army retreats into Winterfell, narrowly saving the Hound as well. Melisandre manages to light the trench around the castle with her magic, however, the Night King commands some of the wights to pursue into the trenches, smothering the flames with their bodies, allowing the rest to cross towards the castle. Arya participates in the fighting on the ramparts with the weapon Gendry made for her. She skillfully kills off many wights but is nearly surrounded and narrowly escapes. However, she loses her weapon in the process and sustains a head injury after being knocked into a doorway by a wight. Disoriented and bleeding from the gash at the side of her head, Arya feels a newfound fear for the wights. She escapes through a window into the castle, and as she traverses through the corridors, she takes a dead soldier's dragonglass dagger. Making her way from the library, she takes a brief moment to catch her breath before she realizes that wights have entered the room already. She carefully hides from them, between the bookshelves and underneath a table. Arya then throws a book into an area of the room away from the exit, distracting the wights and giving her an opening to escape. She quietly dispatches a wight on the way and closes the door behind her. Her relief is short-lived, however, as more wights have broken into the corridor and alert the ones in the library of her presence as they proceed to chase her. Ser Beric and the Hound have entered the castle to rescue Arya. She appears when a wight tackles her through a door, breaking it off its hinges, and prepares to kill her when she's pinned underneath him. Beric throws his flaming sword into it and helps her to her feet. More wights come through the doorway and Beric is stabbed in the leg whilst the Hound fights more wights. As the three try to escape the corridor, Arya watches as Beric runs in front of her to pin a wight to a wall and gets stabbed by more wights. Arya picks up a dragonglass hatchet and kills the wights attacking him. The Hound then picks Arya up as Beric is overwhelmed by wights. The trio make it safely into the great hall, which is littered with dead bodies, however, Beric succumbs to his wounds shortly afterwards. Melisandre then appears, informing that Beric has fulfilled his purpose. Arya states that she remembers her, as that the Red Priestess asserts her correct prediction in meeting up with Arya again. She recounts what Melisandre once said to her; that she would “shut many eyes forever.” Melisandre confirms this, recalling the colors of the eyes, including blue - those of the army of the dead. With this, Arya quickly processes a realization. As wights try and fail to enter through the hall, Melisandre asks "what do we say to the God of Death?" as Arya replies "not today,” reminding her further of her training under Syrio Forel. The women share one last look before Arya leaves Melisandre and the Hound behind. Meanwhile, the Night King arrives to the godswood after his army cleared the path for him, and prepares to kill Bran, the Three-Eyed Raven. However, Arya slips past his forces and launches a surprise rear attack with her Valyrian steel dagger. Though he reacts swiftly enough to whip around and catch her by the neck and arm, Arya drops her dagger from the arm he is restraining. She catches it with her free hand and plunges it into his heart, causing the Night King to shatter into ice. As predicted, with his death, the White Walkers and the entire army of the dead fall, as the magic animating them died with their king, bringing an end to the war.

Following the victorious battle against the White Walkers, Winterfell has been cleared of the thousands of corpses in and around it. The fallen are gathered into funeral pyres and Arya is present when the bodies of those who fell during the battle are set to be cremated. Jon then gives a eulogy stating that it is the duty of those who survived to keep them alive in memory for generations to come. Jon notes to the survivors in his eulogy: “Our fellow men and women, who set aside their differences to fight together, and die together, so that others might live. Everyone in this world owes them a debt that can never be repaid.” The assembled leaders go forward with torches to light the multitude of pyres: Sansa weeps over Theon Greyjoy's body, who bravely protected Bran in the godswood. Meanwhile, Arya lights the pyre for Beric Dondarrion, thinking back more fondly than she once had of her time with him and the Brotherhood Without Banners.

Later that evening, in the subsequent celebrations, Arya chooses not to participate, not entirely welcoming being hailed as the "Hero of Winterfell".  As Gendry notices her absence, he slips out of the great hall to find her practicing archery alone in the stables. He happily announces to Arya that he is no longer a bastard, as he now has been legitimized as a “Baratheon”. Thanking him for his contribution to the war, Queen Daenerys has declared him as Gendry Baratheon, the Lord of Storm’s End. Arya is elated for Gendry, but he then states that he doesn't know how to be a lord, and it won't mean anything to him if she isn't by his side. Gendry gets down on one knee and begs Arya to marry him, and become the new Lady of Storm's End. Arya is deeply moved by this, but is at a loss for words. She pulls him in for a passionate kiss. Despite this, Arya then declines the proposal. She asserts that while he deserves a wonderful wife, she doesn't think she'll ever be a proper "Lady" or ever get married. Arya insists that any woman would be lucky to marry Gendry, but alas states: "that's not me,” once again echoing the words she once said to her father years earlier. Arya continues to practice her archery as Gendry is left heartbroken.

Some time later, Arya attends a meeting over Daenerys resuming her conquest of Westeros. While the dragon queen demands King's Landing must be taken from Cersei Lannister as soon as possible, Sansa counters that their men are exhausted and need rest, to which Arya silently agrees. Jon, however, reaffirms his loyalty to Daenerys' cause and states that the North will march to King's Landing, much to his sisters' displeasure. After the meeting, Arya blocks Jon before he can leave the room and asks for a word in private. In the godswood, Arya and Sansa express their distrust towards Daenerys while Jon defends her, stating she is the reason they survived the battle. Arya concedes that Jon did the right thing when he bent the knee to Daenerys, as they needed her dragons and army, but adds that she and Sansa are also doing the right thing in their distrust of Daenerys. Jon insists they need time to get to know her, but Arya urges this will never happen because she's not one of them. Jon then protests they can't only trust the people they grew up with as Arya insists she only needs her family: “the last of the Starks.” Jon responds that he's not a Stark as Sansa and Arya disagree. Arya tells Jon, "You're my brother. Not my half-brother or my bastard brother. My brother." This then prompts Jon to reveal a recent secret he’s learned about his parentage - but only after they swear this information to secrecy. Once Arya and Sansa vow not to tell, Jon allows Bran to inform them. He is not, in fact, a bastard as he’s known and had to overcome his entire life. Jon is actually Aegon Targaryen, the son of their aunt Lyanna Stark and Daenerys’ deceased brother Rhaegar Targaryen, who secretly wed and birthed Jon together. On Lyanna’s birthing bed, her dying wish was for Arya’s father Eddard to claim him as his own child to protect him. Jon is no longer Arya’s half-brother, but her cousin, who now has the rightful claim to the Iron Throne over Queen Daenerys.

Afterwards, as Sandor Clegane leaves Winterfell, he hears the sound of another horse approaching him and finds Arya. Arya moves to ride alongside Sandor, who enquires why she is leaving her home again. Arya vaguely hints at her intentions as Sandor likewise does, both stating they have unfinished business in the south. It becomes clear to both of them that they intend to seek their long-awaited and respective revenge on Queen Cersei and the Hound’s brother, Ser Gregor Clegane. Sandor cryptically articulates that he doesn’t think he’ll return to Winterfell, as Arya echoes the same sentiment. The two proceed to ride south towards the capital, reminiscent of when they were together years before. In the time it takes for Arya and the Hound to journey down to King’s Landing, much has happened in the development of the looming war between the Lannisters and the Targaryen/Northern armies. Daenerys witnesses the death of one of her dragons as well as one of her closest advisors, as a direct result of an ambush attack on the command of Cersei Lannister. This then sparks an immediate attack on King’s Landing, just in time for the arrival of Arya, who still wants to take down Cersei herself. The night before the attack, Arya and Sandor arrive outside of the capital at the Targaryen/ Northern camp. A guard tries stopping them from proceeding beyond the camp, but Arya informs him of who she is, as well as her intentions. Sandor asserts to the guard that if Arya is successful, there might not be a need for a siege tomorrow. When the guard informs that he will have to speak to his captain, Arya and the Hound continue to ride ahead without permission.

On the morning of the attack, a hooded Arya and Sandor make their way into the Red Keep just before the doors are closed off, preventing anymore of King’s Landing citizens from coming inside. Cersei has allowed for some smallfolk in the capital to wait out the attack inside the walls of the city’s fortress to act as a shield and protect herself from Daenerys’ invasion. Cersei confidently assumes that Daenerys would never attack scores of innocent people in her pursuit to sack the city. As the battle commences and Arya makes her way towards the Red Keep, the Targaryen and Northern army, including Jon, battle the Lannister forces, as Daenerys begins to scorch a large part of the city on her last remaining dragon, Drogon. However, as Cersei orders for the bells to ring, signalling the city’s surrender, her calculation of Daenerys’ mercy is proven incorrect as the dragon queen then begins to burn the entire city, inclusive of the Red Keep and the innocent civilians inside of it. As the buildings of the Red Keep start to collapse all around them, Arya is still determined to carry out her revenge on Cersei. She and Sandor find their way into the crumbling war room of the Red Keep. After Sandor witnesses the destruction being wrought by Daenerys on top of her dragon, he attempts to dissuade Arya from attacking Cersei. He earnestly discourages her from ending up like him - beaten down by the world and driven by nothing but the desire for vengeance. When Arya tries to continue onward, Sandor shouts at Arya, "Look at me! You wanna be like me? You come with me, you die here." Arya gratefully thanks him, calling him “Sandor” for the very first time. They bid each other farewell before Arya then flees from the Red Keep, leaving the Hound to continue his pursuit in finding his brother Ser Gregor. Arya later learns that the Hound, his brother and Cersei Lannister have all perished within the crumbling Red Keep. Once Arya finds her way out of the castle, she attempts to flee the flame-engulfed city but is trapped in by the large mass of terrified civilians fleeing dragonfire. She tries to rescue a young girl and some other inhabitants but is knocked unconscious, unable to help anyone. By the time Arya regains consciousness, the battle has dwindled to smoke, ashes and the flickering of extinguishing flames. As she witnesses the city in complete ruin, Arya then discovers a solitary white horse among the scores of dead bodies on the street. After mounting the horse, Arya rides further out of King’s Landing, shell-shocked by Daenerys' massacre.

Outside the gates of the city, a stony-faced Arya appears from the ruined city covered in ash and blood. Jon pushes his way through the crowd of celebratory Dothraki soldiers and walks toward the gate, upon which a huge Targaryen banner has been draped. As Jon reaches the top, Daenerys appears and, after landing her dragon, walks out to address her army as they victoriously cheer. She thanks them for giving her the Seven Kingdoms, but now wants to break the wheel and enlists her army to aid her in “liberating” not only all of Westeros, but the world. From behind the cheering armies, Arya looks up balefully at Daenerys. When the Hand of the Queen Tyrion Lannister approaches, the dragon queen accuses him of treason since he freed his brother Ser Jaime. He replies, "I freed my brother, and you slaughtered a city," with a look of disgust, throwing away his Hand’s brooch. Outraged by this show of defiance, Daenerys tells her men to seize him. Arya then silently appears beside Jon while he watches Daenerys walk away. Jon is surprised that his sister is in King's Landing, but is informed that while she came to kill Cersei, Daenerys got to her first. Arya adds that Sansa won't bend the knee to Daenerys as Jon tells her to wait for him outside the city gates. Arya warns Jon that Daenerys knows who he really is and will view him as a threat due to his claim on the Iron Throne. Before she leaves, Arya insists to Jon that "I know a killer when I see one." Ultimately this prompts Jon, along with a conversation with the imprisoned Tyrion, to assassinate Daenerys. As having witnessed the massacre for himself, Jon understands that not only is he and his family in danger of the dragon queen but the rest of Westeros is as well under Daenerys’ now-tyrannical vision as a ruler.

Weeks later, Arya, Sansa, Bran, Gendry and the other leaders of the Great Houses of Westeros meet to discuss Jon and Tyrion’s punishment for their treason against Daenerys that resulted in her death. Jon is not in attendance, though Tyrion has been escorted to the trial. When Sansa asks where Jon is, Daenerys’ Master of War Grey Worm asserts that he decides what to do with their prisoners, as King’s Landing now belongs to the Targaryen forces. Sansa is not pleased, explaining there are thousands of Northmen outside the city gates and as result, harming Jon wouldn't be in Grey Worm's interest. However, Grey Worm replies there are also thousands of Unsullied as well. Yara Greyjoy sides with Grey Worm because the Ironborn agreed to follow Daenerys and wants Jon executed. Arya then warns her not to say another word about killing her brother or she'll cut her throat. Grey Worm demands justice for Daenerys's assassination and insists Jon cannot go free. Tyrion reminds him that he does not get to decide that, the power rests with their new king or queen. When it's pointed out there currently isn't one, Tyrion says that as the most powerful lords and ladies gathered, they can elect one of themselves. Grey Worm relents and tells the assembly to decide their new ruler. After some discussion, Tyrion is told that perhaps he wants the crown himself, but he disagrees as someone who is hated by half the people for serving Daenerys and the other half for betraying her. When asked his opinion, Tyrion responds that stories unite people. Proposing an elective monarchy, he concludes, "And who has a better story than Bran the Broken? A crippled boy who crossed the Wall and became the Three-Eyed Raven. He's all our memory. Who better to lead us to the future?" Sansa, however, displays reservation in the fact that Bran cannot father any children. Tyrion asserts that it is a good thing since sons of kings are often cruel, as she well knows, referring to Joffrey. Tyrion then asks Bran whether he will accept the crown as Bran replies, "Why do you think I came all this way?" The assembled leaders all slowly start saying "aye" one by one. Representing the North, Sansa is still hesitant about this. She states her belief in Bran as a good king, but asserts that the North will once again be an independent kingdom. Her brother gives his assent to her demand as he understands the importance of the region’s independence that their family has fought for.

As the Master of War is still unsatisfied with the lack of punishment on Jon specifically, King Bran decides to exile Jon to the Night’s Watch to live out the rest of his days in atonement. This is accepted by Jon, as he understands this sentencing will prevent a new war from starting against the Targaryen army. Some time later, Arya, Sansa and Bran meet Jon before his departure. Sansa asks for Jon's forgiveness. Jon hesitates before informing her that "the North is free, thanks to you." When Sansa replies, "But they lost their king," Jon insists that "Ned Stark's daughter will speak for them. She's the best they could ask for." They share an emotional hug as Jon then turns to Arya, telling her that she can come and visit him at Castle Black. However, Arya gives him a sad smile as she informs him that she's not coming back North. Sansa asks her sister where she's going, as Arya then reveals her plans to travel west. "What's west of Westeros?," she asks her family, as Jon states that he doesn’t know. Arya asserts that "No one knows. It's where all the maps stop. That's where I'm going." This echoes the conversation Arya once had with Lady Crane in Braavos. This exploration west is what she’s envisioned for her future. Jon asks, "You have your Needle?" Arya tells him she has it right here and begins to cry. Jon wipes away her tears and they share a long hug. Jon then turns to Bran and kneels, "Your Grace, I'm sorry I wasn't there where you needed me." However, Bran responds, "You were exactly where you needed to be,” as Jon then walks away, potentially never seeing his family again.

While King Bran remains in King’s Landing to help rebuild the city and rule under a new monarchy, Arya and Sansa depart from the capital to journey towards their new futures. When Jon later reaches the Night’s Watch at Castle Black, he releases the wildling army back into the forrest, no longer facing a threat from White Walkers or the undead. Meanwhile, Sansa returns to Winterfell and is crowned as Queen of the North, leaving the Stark legacy in her hands to rule over an independent kingdom. With her remaining family safe, Arya stands on the bow of her own ship, which flies the Stark banner. A glint in her eye indicates the excitement that lies ahead as she sails west towards unknown lands and an uncertain fate. Arya has experienced many adventures, one that led her across the seas already, but her journey thus far, however, was met with death, violence and trauma. Now, as an adult and under a peaceful leadership, Arya has more agency over her travels, and would be better able to wield her unique curiosity, grit and learned skills to explore not only the wider world, but herself.