#Willow Heddle

[bookhousestark]

ARYA STARK + stand-ins (insp.)

[laurellerual]

Some random gurlz

[dr3adlady]

❄️💠Winter Roses💠❄️

[fromstormsend]

Arya Stark&Willow Heddle (Little Sisters)

First we all know Willow Heddle is a character who have parallels with Arya Stark. But it’s not just paralles. If we look in detail she and her sister Jeyne and their aunt Masha both have paralles with Sansa and Catelyn. Three of them are living in an alternative universe for Arya&Sansa and Catelyn. Look at their surnames; Heddle aka needle.

I am going to focus on Arya and Willow’s paralles. I found some of them from the forums and some of them myself.

1) Willow and Gendry together look after the orphan children and before Gendry did this with Arya too. They looked after Weasel, Hot Pie and Lommy.

2) Both of them threatened with rape by Rorge with tools in their hands;

“You shut your mouth!” Arya tried to think what Syrio would have done. She drew her wooden practice sword. “Come closer,” Rorge said, “and I’ll shove that stick up your bunghole and fuck you bloody.” -ACOK Arya II

“Willow stepped out into the rain, a crossbow in her hands. The girl was shouting at the riders, but a clap of thunder rolled across the yard, drowning out her words. As it faded, Brienne heard the man in the Hound's helm say, "Loose a quarrel at me and I'll shove that crossbow up your cunt and fuck you with it.” -AFFC Brienne VII

3) Arya&Gendry paralles;

-When Brienne first saw Gendry she thought he is Renly and said;

"My lord?" she gasped. "Lord?" The boy pushed back a lock of black hair that had fallen across his eyes. "I'm just a smith."

She thought Gendry is a lord. And after that she noticed Willow’s attitude on the children;

“Gendry was the closest thing to a man grown, but it was Willow shouting all the orders, as if she were a queen in her castle and the other children were no more than servants.”

Brienne started to think if Willow could be more, if she could be a highborn lady like Arya Stark;

“Brienne wondered whether Willow might be more than she appeared. The girl was too young and too plain to be Sansa Stark, but she was of the right age to be the younger sister, and even Lady Catelyn had said that Arya lacked her sister's beauty. Brown hair, brown eyes, skinny . . . could it be? Arya Stark's hair was brown, she recalled, but Brienne was not sure of the color of her eyes. Brown and brown, was that it? Could it be that she did not die at Saltpans after all?”

And the last shot comes from Ser Hyle;

“"One day that little girl will make some man a frightful wife," Ser Hyle observed. "That poor 'prentice boy, most like."

-Willow is stobborn girl too like Arya and made polemics agaisnt Gendry(again like Arya :)

“We better be careful. I’ll go around west, see if there’s some road. There must be if you saw a wagon. You take the shore. If you need help, bark like a dog.” “That’s stupid. If I need help, I’ll shout help.” (Just an example)

“"No," said the boy smith. "Yes," said the girl Willow. They glared at one another. Then Willow stomped her foot. "They have food, Gendry. The little ones are hungry."”

But of course real Arya says “no” with him at the same time 😂;

“"NO!" Arya and Gendry both said, at the exact same instant. Hot Pie quailed a little. Arya gave Gendry a sideways look.”

BONUS;

“We have beds, though. Some featherbeds, but more are straw.”

[coldraindropsss]

Jeyne Heddle, Willow Heddle

[beryndraws]

@melrosing's ASoIaF Shipping Meme

Honestly, I’d just be satisfied with a Gendrya reunion at this point.

[asoiaf-fancasts]

Willow Heddle - Fancasts

Age: 10

Appearance: She has brown hair, brown eyes and is skinny.

Character[s]: Danielle De Barbarac [Younger] & Emily [Younger]

Actress: Anna Maguire

Movie[s]: Ever After: A Cinderella Story [1998] & David Copperfield [2000]

[She was 7 - 11 during these movies so around the right age for Willow. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She wears medieval clothes in Ever After and early Victorian in David Copperfield.]

[the-king-andthe-lionheart]

Also love the fact that willows represent friendship and they were used as parting gifts. Like what better name could GRRM have picked for a girl to be by Gendry's side as an Arya stand-in character? Also Willow is the one with the bow trying to protect the Inn, just like how placing a willow branch on the front door is meant to ward off harm. And let's not forget that Arya at this time is learning humility with Valar Dohaeris. And once again Arya has rebirth and immortality symbolism in her arc. Anyone who thinks GRRM doesn't purposely use symbolism in his books just isn't paying attention especially in Arya's chapters. The sheer richness found in them is just staggering. The amount of symbolism and motifs and parallels is out of this world. I haven't noticed any other character, besides maybe Dany, getting the same amount of layers and depth, as Arya.

something something about how a willow tree is also known as a weeping willow because its leaves are meant to imitate the appearance of rain drops and that means that the tree is crying.

something something about willow heddle being a stand-in character for arya, about willow being placed near a boy who met, traveled with and befriended arya stark and is currently going through his own process of mourning and grief, because she's no longer at his side.

something something about jeyne heddle, having one of the most common names you can find in westeros, but her little sister is named after a tree, a crying tree.

[daenystheedreamer]

i always think its a bit funny when renly and loras are brienne's friends in modern au. renly okay but loras... that man has pretty privilege &uglyphobia. but maybe he's nicer when he's not being a teenage superstar widower at 16

[jackoshadows]

"No," she said, "that's Sansa." - Eddard, AGoT

It's skillful the way GRRM sets up a situation with Sansa and then subverts with Arya in the books.

First, Robert Baratheon wants a redo of his relationship with Lyanna Stark by fixing a marriage between Sansa and Joffrey. Except Joffrey is not really his son and the marriage ends up not happening.

Meanwhile Ned (and several other characters including Bran with his visions) compares Arya to Lyanna in terms of looks and personalities in the text of the story. And it's Arya who has the love of both Robert and Rhaegar's sons Gendry and Jon Snow.

Secondly, it's the way the Southerners see Sansa as the key to the North. From the Lannisters to the Tyrells and even Littlefinger in the Vale, all plotting to marry Sansa off for her claim.

Meanwhile, it's Arya Stark for whom the North is rising up and waging war. Arya Stark for whom the LC of the NW has broken his oaths. Arya Stark whom the King Beyond the Wall/Abel the Bard was trying to steal out of Winterfell. Arya Stark whom Stannis Baratheon has promised Jon Snow that he will save.

While unbeknownst to the south and even LF, Robb Stark has written a decree that disinherits Sansa and Jon Snow supports Stannis as King even as he vows to never let Sansa Lannister get Winterfell while he lives.

And thirdly, even with Jaime sending off Brienne to find Sansa (because he and everyone else assumes that Arya is dead), we see Brienne following in Arya's footsteps through the Riverlands, meeting the same side characters. She meets Gendry and Willow Heddle who is a stand in for Arya with similar characteristics and Hyle Hunt even ships them together! And the constant references to the great big wolf pack hunting in the Riverlands - we know who that is!

All this is subtle and yet build up steadily over five books. And Arya has not returned to Westeros yet and still GRRM has several plots revolving around the character. Can't wait to read what happens when she actually gets back as Arya Stark in TWoW.

[sapphicwizards]

“I have to hand it to you,” said the professor. “It is courageous of you to stand against one such as me.”

Two wizards faced each other under the mid-day sun. It was a hot spring day, the kind that's pleasant when you're in the forest or by the water, but here on the open stone road, the heat and humidity was oppressive. A young woman stood across from her opponent. Where he wore purple satin robes, her garb was a simply sewn tunic in traditional patterned weave. Where he carried a silver staff tipped with sapphire, she held a twisting bough of willow.

Heddle spat blood onto the road stones. She used her staff to steady herself, one hand holding her side. “I’m not feeling very courageous right now,” she coughed. She was caught off guard by his latest force-blast and took damage to her right lung. She was able to cast a spell to repair it but needed to buy some time for it to finish doing its work. Hopefully her opponent would think the fight is over. Wizards who cough up blood don’t usually make it another round. But she was not only a wizard. “My mother taught me... She said that courage is when you are afraid but...” She trailed off. Heddle didn't need to pretend to be in pain.

The man relaxed his fighting stance. Good, she thought. His face relaxed as well, though he was still red, and his lip still curled upwards in disgust.

He began calmly walking towards her. Before he reached her, the spell finished and Heddle felt a wave of relief as the pain melted away. She smiled. At this, the elf's eyes widened and he resumed his fighting stance. “I don’t care what your witch mother has to say about courage. Provincial filth.”

Mom isn't even a witch, she thought. Heddle put her arms behind her back and stood up straight in a mocking posture. This way she could begin casting a spell without him noticing. It was an offensive spell she’d concocted exactly for scenarios like this one. “Well, you see,” she said with a smug grin, “the reason I’m not feeling very courageous right now-”

“-you’re dead, girl,” the wizard interrupted. Heddle noted a hint of panic in his voice. Maybe he realized that he had no idea what was going on. If she could recover from something like that and keep fighting, then she must know magic completely unfathomable to him. He would be right.

The elf began to chant up another force blast but Heddle finished her spell first. She lifted both her arms in front of her and pointed both index fingers at him. The elf furrowed his brow, but before he could counter, two beams of blue light erupted from Heddle’s fingers meeting at the wizard’s feet. He looked down. Pop. The spell exploded and sent the elf spinning backwards and upwards through the air. His silver staff sparkled in the sun as it spun off in a different direction. Only a moment later, the wizard was crumpled on the ground in a heap of shiny lavender fabric.

Heddle ran up to the professor's landing place. He appeared to be unconscious, but she didn’t want to make the same mistake he had. After some inspection, she assessed that he was in fact conscious. Good. He had however dislocated a shoulder, broken a hip, and had a collapsed windpipe. Unless he had some tricks up his sleeve like she had, he wouldn’t be casting anything else today, maybe not for quite some time.

She bent down, blocking the sun with her head and spoke in a friendly tone. “I’m not feeling brave, Mr Awen. Because I’m not afraid.” She lied. She was lucky to be alive and she knew it.

Her opponent could not respond. His life was quickly slipping away. Heddle could heal him almost completely right now, but she wouldn’t. The priestesses were not far behind and would find him in an hour or so. The young witch made sure to stabilize him so he would survive the wait. She fixed his windpipe, popped his shoulder back in, and stabilized his hip so the injury wouldn't worsen. There was the matter of his concussion, but that could not be healed by magic, at least not for a witch of her skill. It would be a long and painful wait for rescue.

She needed this moment to be burned into his mind so brightly that he would never even think to go after her and her friends ever again.

Heddle leaned in closer. "Remember this mercy," she said. "If I see you again, I'll kill you." She lied.

[the-king-andthe-lionheart]

I’m actually surprised I never looked into the symbolism of willow trees before now considering GRRM goes hard with symbolism surrounding Gendrya, especially the tree symbolism.  And looking momentarily into it I think it’s definitely safe to say that GRRM knew what he was doing when he named Willow:

A large tree with long, flowing branches and leaves, the willow tree often symbolizes flexibility and adaptability. The limber and supple nature of its extremities means it bends to accommodate and withstand strong winds and adverse weather. Many, therefore, see it as inspiring and symbolic of humans’ capability to withstand hardship, loss, and difficult emotions. Thanks to its long life and the ease with which new trees can be rooted from cuttings, the willow tree is also seen as a survivor and a symbol of rebirth.

The willow can withstand strong winds and Gendry is connected to the storm, not only because of his Thor symbolism but also because of his true heritage as a Baratheon.  Willows are also symbolic of loss, withstanding hardship, and difficult emotions.  When we visit Gendry in AFFC it’s clear to see that Gendry is a harder and meaner person than he once was only a few months prior.  It’s clear he is going through difficult emotions, as well as loss.  And it’s clear that loss pertains to Arya as Gendry’s rage is more directed at the Hound than ever before, the man who took Arya.  Not to mention Gendry is doing something, helping to protect the orphans, that is clearly meant to honor Arya.

This is also interesting:

The willow tree originates from China, and in Ancient China, people believed that willow branches could ward off evil. They were often carried around or placed at doorways to keep evil spirits away. The concept of the willow tree bringing good luck and protecting against evil is also prevalent in countless cultures across the world.

Willow in the books is seen more than once with a crossbow in a doorway protecting others from danger.

Yes, it’s obvious that Willow is a stand-in for Arya, and is meant to narratively tell us through foreshadowing and symbolism that Gendrya will happen.  And suffice it to say, the willow tree also symbolizes flexibility, survival, rebirth, fertility, new life, protection, and healing.  The willow tree is also associated with Hecate, a powerful Greek goddess of the Underworld, who in turn is associated to the water and the moon, as well as sorcery and witchcraft.  And anyone who has delved into the symbolism of Arya, they would know that she is connected heavily to nature, especially to water and the moon, but also to the earth and to the acorn and to the trees, especially the oak tree.  Arya also has a shit ton of rebirth and fertility symbolism in the Riverlands as well.

I should look more into this symbolism and write about it sometime. :)

I just realized that grrm named the arya replacement assigned to gendry after a tree and one that is associated with sorrow lol he's such a shipper

it had to be on purpose lol. her sister has the most common female name in asoiaf, jeyne, but i can only think of one willow. it wasn't enough to have brienne wonder if willow = arya and have hyle comment that she'll marry gendry. he had to throw a lil tree reference in their too.

[laurellerual]

Do you have other Arya ships? Asides from Gendrya (OTP).

Totally Jonrya. The only other one with some solid foundations.

Then there's Edric Dayne x Arya which I appreciate because I like Edric, but I don't think it has a future in the books. I would have seen it well in another life where Arya has to settle for an arranged marriage, but gets to live with a decent person, in a place where women have a few more rights. In the land where her heroine Nymeria ruled.

Dany x Arya ...Like Rhaegar and Lyanna but better under any point of view. But it will never happen.

No canon basis other than parallels to the past but I like Aegon/young Griff x Arya too.

These are the main ones, then there are less popular and more crackship ones. As long as the relationship is consensual and the age gap isn't too big I don't complain. Cause everyone should love my gurl!

But of the little ones, my favorite is Willow Heddle x Arya. It doesn't exist, I'm the only person on earth who likes it, but... come on they'd love each other.

[chthonic-cassandra]

for your lovely domesticity question! the three objects that first occur to me: i have a clothbound copy of pride & prejudice from a small letterpress that my partner got me; the numbered edition corresponds with our anniversary and the book is beautiful. i have a green suede bomber jacket that i got from my dad who got it from his german landlady in 1985, which has excellent pockets & always makes me feel cool wearing it. and my rigid heddle loom, companion of my idle hours; i have been using it to make table linens, so it feels particularly domestic. i spend the most time with my phone, but i don't feel the same way about it as an object

I realized I never posted this, and it is such a lovely answer! Reading it I feel like I get a very precious window into your life; thank you so much for sharing it.

Other responses that question (three objects you own which are dear to you for their beauty, utility, or emotional association), preserved for posterity:

@fourpatch said: i have been thinking of this for days! beech spinning wheel stained dark that wiggles its axle out of its housing if you aren’t physically relaxed while using it; cracked 18th c delft blue vase filled with willow trimmings my late friend harvested from her favourite willow ditch; my grandmother’s singer featherweight buttonhole attachment

@forthegothicheroine said: My engagement ring (a beautiful red stone- maybe but not definitely a ruby- from his side of the family), a teddy bear I had as a baby, my great-grandmother’s pears she supposedly bought one at a time

@rulesforthedance said: My cello banjo is my most prized instrument. It has the most resonant tone. And if you talk, sing, or make noise within ten feet of it, it sings softly with you

@orpheanrush said: It would take me a while to come up with the top three but one that came to mind instantly is my great-aunt’s “kitchen wizard” which is sort of a large knife I inherited that also has a bottle opener, a grater, a planer, a serrated side and a fork built into the blade. It’s older than me (predates the company switch to plastic and multi-part models) and i mostly use it to open bottles. But it’s a lovely piece of gadgetry and family history :-)

@sewer-swan said: There’s the old jeans a girlfriend once gave me; perfectly fit, boot-cut, and an indigo that’s only just more dark than light. My american national park posters I’ll count as one, all very stylized and vivid images of places I’ve never been to: Saguaro, White Sands, Mammoth Cave, Lassen Volcanic. For a third, probably my gray thermal blanket. Scowled through a lot of terrible unheated winters under it.

Thank you all very much for these generous and beautiful responses!