Is Arya Stark Azor Ahai?

Azor Ahai, or the Prince That Was Promised, is a prophesied hero that is meant to save the living in the Great War against the dead. So is Arya Stark Azor Ahai?

When all looked lost for the living in the battle against the dead in Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 3, Arya Stark appeared out of nowhere to kill the Night King - and the entire army of the dead - once and for all.

As soon as Arya dug her Valyrian steel dagger into the Night King, he shattered into ice, just like the White Walkers we’ve seen killed in previous episodes. And just like when the White Walkers died, all undead beings under the Night King’s control fell when he died, including the undead dragon Viserion.

The Long Night and Azor Ahai

Azor Ahai was prophecies to end the Long Night (the battle against the dead), and fittingly, the episode in which Arya kills the Night King is called “The Long Night.”

There were many heroes in the battle, but Arya was the unquestioned primary hero - and the one who ultimately ended The Long Night.

The ‘Prince’ that was promised can be male or female

In High Valyrian, the word “prince” as used in the prophecy is gender neutral.

Arya was prophesied to shut blue eyes forever

As Melisandre reminded viewers and Arya, Arya had previously been prophesied (by Melisandre) to shut many eyes forever - including blue eyes.

The Night King and his undead army were notorious for their bright blue eyes. This was said to Arya way back in season 3 - it was right in front of us the entire time.

R’hollor - the Lord of Light - resurrected Beric Dondarrion so that he could save Arya

Beric Dondarrion had been resurrected many times by the Lord of Light. He never knew exactly why, other than to know he was meant to serve a purpose in the fight against the dead.

It turns out, that purpose was to save Arya’s life just moments before she vanquished the Night King.

As Beric lay dying, Melisandre said that he had been resurrected to serve a purpose - and that purpose had now been filled.

Azor Ahai is a servant of R’hollor. And if Dondarrion was kept alive to save Arya, that means Arya is important in the eyes of the Lord of Light.

What do we say to the God of death? Not today

Arya has been training to say “no” to death since the first season. Melisandre also reminds Arya of this saying before Arya killed the Night King.

From her “water dancing” training to her days with the Faceless men, Arya has been preparing for an encounter with death itself.

Arya even reminded us in season 8 episode 2 that “death has many faces” and that she was looking forward to seeing the Night King’s. That was foreshadowing to her literal face-to-face encounter with the Night King.

Is Arya Stark Azor Ahai? She doesn’t check every box

Despite all of the above serving as good evidence, Arya Stark doesn’t check every single Azor Ahai box.

For one, Azor Ahai is said to wield a flaming sword, called Lightbringer. Arya used a dagger to kill the Night King.

Arya was also not “born beneath a bleeding star” or “amidst salt and smoke.” Some other characters, like Jon Snow, could also still be Azor Ahai.