Editing Arya Stark (section)

===''A Game of Thrones''===
[[File:Arya and nymeria by vvjonez-d370kfi.jpg|thumb|350px|Arya Stark and [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]], by Veronica V. Jones © Fantasy Flight Games]] 
When her brothers [[Robb Stark|Robb]] and [[Jon Snow|Jon]] find six [[direwolf]] pups,{{Ref|AGOT|1}} Arya adopts one of them,{{Ref|AGOT|2}} whom she names [[Nymeria (direwolf)|Nymeria]], in reference to the [[Rhoynar|Rhoynish]] warrior-queen [[Nymeria|of the same name]].{{Ref|AGOT|7}}

Arya and her sister, [[Sansa Stark|Sansa]], travel with their father, Lord [[Eddard Stark|Eddard]], to [[King's Landing]] when he is made [[Hand of the King]]. Before she leaves, Arya's half-brother Jon gives her a sword called [[Needle]], after her least favorite ladylike activity, as a parting gift. He tells her she will need to practice, but that the first lesson is to "stick 'em with the pointy end".{{ref|AGOT|10}} On the way south, she befriends a [[peasant]] boy named [[Mycah]], and they often play at swords.{{ref|AGOT|15}}

While walking near the [[ruby ford]], Prince [[Joffrey Baratheon]] and Sansa happen upon Arya and Mycah "battling" in the woods. Arya defends Mycah from Joffrey's torments, and Nymeria helps Arya fight off Joffrey, wounding his arm in the process. Knowing that Joffrey will likely want retribution, [[Jory Cassel]] helps Arya chase the direwolf away when he finds them.{{Ref|AGOT|15}} Arya is brought to [[Darry]] before King [[Robert I Baratheon]], who counsels Eddard to discipline Arya. Queen [[Cersei Lannister]] is not satisfied with this, however, and orders Sansa's direwolf, [[Lady (direwolf)|Lady]], to be killed in Nymeria's place. Mycah, having fled, is tracked and killed by Joffrey's "dog," [[Sandor Clegane]].{{Ref|AGOT|16}} From this moment, Arya harbors enmity for the [[Hound]].

While in King's Landing, after Arya fights with Sansa, their father discovers Needle. Questioned how Arya gained possession of the sword, she refuses to give up Jon's name as the gift giver. Eddard realizes that she must be trained if she is entertaining ideas about swordsmanship, and hires [[Syrio Forel]], a celebrated [[Braavos]]i swordsman, under whom Arya begins her training. Under his strict, but creative, tutelage, Arya learns to fight in the Braavosi [[water dancer]] style with Needle.{{Ref|AGOT|22}}

Arya spends most of her time doing balancing and swordplay exercises as Syrio instructed her. During one of these she discovers a [[secret passage]] in the [[Red Keep]]. She overhears two men, who by description seem to be [[Varys]] and [[Illyrio Mopatis]], speaking about her father, Cersei, and [[little birds|spies]].{{Ref|aGoT|32}}<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [http://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1214 Eastern Cities and Peoples], June 12, 2002</ref>

When tensions heighten in the capital, Ned intends for Sansa and Arya to return to the north via the ''[[Wind Witch]]''.{{ref|AGOT|45}} His plans are halted by the Robert's death, however, and the succession of King Joffrey I. During the purge of [[House Stark]] from the Red Keep, Ser [[Meryn Trant]] and [[House Lannister guards]] attempt to take Arya into custody, but Syrio holds off Arya's attackers with a practice sword so she can flee.{{Ref|AGOT|50}} Arya kills [[stableboy at King's Landing|a stableboy]] with Needle and escapes the castle using the passage she found earlier,{{ref|AGOT|50}} but Sansa is captured by the Lannisters{{ref|AGOT|51}} and Septa [[Mordane]] is slain.{{ref|AGOT|67}}

Arya cannot leave King's Landing since the city gates are heavily guarded, so she lives on the streets of [[Flea Bottom]], catching [[pigeon]]s and rats to trade for food. Arya witnesses her father's public condemnation at the [[Great Sept of Baelor]]. She is found in the crowd by [[Yoren]] of the [[Night's Watch]], who saves her from the sight of Eddard's execution and drags her from King's Landing.{{Ref|AGOT|65}}

Cersei has Sansa send letters to Winterfell, but Arya's mother, [[Catelyn Stark]], notices that no mention is made of Arya.{{ref|AGOT|55}} Catelyn negotiates an alliance between Robb, her eldest son, and Lord [[Walder Frey]] at the [[Twins]], and the agreement calls for Arya to wed one of Walder's sons, [[Elmar Frey]].{{ref|AGOT|59}}