Needle

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Arya Stark practicing her needlework - by Oozn ©

Needle is a small, slender sword owned by Arya Stark.[1]

Appearance

See also: Images of Needle

The thin sword is suitable to Arya's slight build and the style of fencing used by bravos of the Free Cities.[1]

Recent Events

Depiction of Needle

A Game of Thrones

Before leaving for the Night's Watch, Jon Snow commissions Mikken to make the sword for his sister, Arya Stark. The girl names it Needle as an ironic reference to her hatred of needlework.[1]

In King's Landing, Lord Eddard Stark hires Syrio Forel, a water dancer from Braavos, to train Arya.[2] When House Lannister purges the Red Keep of House Stark, Arya kills a stableboy with Needle while fleeing.[3]

A Clash of Kings

While travelling north, Arya continually practices at swordplay. She loses the sword to Polliver when she is captured by Ser Gregor Clegane and the Mountain's men in the riverlands.[4] This theft earns Arya's fierce enmity, thus she adds him to her prayer kill list. Practicing with a broken broomstick while at Harrenhal, she refers to her swordplay as needlework.[5]

A Storm of Swords

Arya arrives at the inn at the crossroads in the custody of Sandor Clegane. There she spots Polliver carrying Needle, accompanied by the Tickler. Arya and the Hound cross these two names off her list, and Arya retrieves her sword.[6]

A Feast for Crows

When Arya has to give up all her possessions to train to become a servant of the Many-Faced God, she cannot bring herself to give up Needle. She hides the sword in a crack in the stairs leading to the House of Black and White.[7]

Quotes

Arya: It's so skinny.
Jon: So are you. I had Mikken make this special. The bravos use swords like this in Pentos and Myr and the other Free Cities. It won't hack a man's head off, but it can poke him full of holes if you're fast enough.[1]

Stick 'em with the pointy end.[1]

Needle was Robb and Bran and Rickon, her mother and her father, even Sansa. Needle was Winterfell's grey walls, and the laughter of its people. Needle was the summer snows, Old Nan's stories, the heart tree with its red leaves and scary face, the warm earthy smell of the glass gardens, the sound of the north wind rattling the shutters of her room. Needle was Jon Snow's smile.[7]

—thoughts of Arya Stark

The Many-Faced God can have the rest, but he can't have this.[7]

—thoughts of Arya Stark

References