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SPOILERS: The saviour we didn't see coming.

Warning SPOILERS lie ahead.

Photo:HBO
Photo:HBO

Arya Stark literally just came out of nowhere and changed Westeros history forever.

Many feared no one could defeat the Night King and as it turns out they were correct; No One did defeat the night King.

The moment had fans predictably going crazy:

But the twist on reflection, perhaps wasn’t as unexpected as initially thought.

The episode was peppered with indications that the little girl from Winterfell would be the undoing of the greatest threat mankind has ever known, as was her entire story line.

Here were the biggest clues that Arya Stark was destined to kill the Night King.

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO

This foreshadowing moment

Humans have a funny way of underestimating little girls, and the episode had already proven that that was something we shouldn’t do:

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO
Photo:HBO
Photo:HBO

That’s right Lyanna Mormont’s epic final moments were our first clue that a pint sized warrior can defeat a dragon, and was the first point at which the ending was foreshadowed.

For those that thought you needed dragons, or a claim to the Iron throne, or a big sword to destroy the biggest threat to the living world, think again.

Beric Dondarion

‘Do you have a moment to talk about the Lord of Light?’ Photo: HBO
‘Do you have a moment to talk about the Lord of Light?’ Photo: HBO

The most preachy born-again (literally) follower the Lord of Light has was brought back for a very specific purpose as we were constantly reminded.

So when he saved Arya Stark’s life by throwing a blazing sword at the wight that’s trying to kill her and died moments later, as Melisandre pointed out it meant his purpose was served, and Arya was clearly a part of that purpose.

Melisandre

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO

Melisandre’s ability to see the future had been established and from the get go she was focusing on Arya. The two shared a long look early on in the battle, before meeting for their final tet-a-tete, where Melisandre it must be said laid it on pretty thick.

The women remember the prophecy Melisandre recited when they first crossed paths back in season three: “I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness, eyes staring back at me; brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes. Eye’s you’ll shut forever.”

Only this time, our favourite red priestess changes the order ever so slightly: Brown eyes, green eyes, blue eyes.

Emphasis on the blue apparently, because this is what happened not long after:

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO

Way back to the beginning

Finally what really sealed the deal was another throwback, to Arya’s very first sword-fighting lessons, and the motto her teacher taught her:

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO

In an episode breakdown showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss confirmed that it was a twist they had planned for years.

“We knew it had to be Valyrian steel in the exact spot where the Children of the Forest put the dragonglass blade to create the Night King. And he’s uncreated by Valyrian steel,” they explain.

The dagger

And let’s not forget who gave her that particular dagger:

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO

The dagger is one of note; it was used to try and kill Bran in season one. Littlefinger then took the dagger from Catelyn Stark and returned it to Bran, who passed in on to Arya.

As the three-eyed raven, Bran knew exactly what he was doing passing on that dagger.

Right before the Night King goes in for the kill, eagle eyed fans will notice Bran’s gaze shifted ever so slightly:

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO

Turns out he really was just waiting for an old friend all along, and what a friend to wait for.

All hail Arya Stark, the baddest b*tch in Westeros.

Photo: HBO
Photo: HBO

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