Arya Stark’s dagger on Game of Thrones season 8 episode 3 explained
The weapon was first seen in season one
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Your support makes all the difference.**Spoilers for Game of Thrones season eight, episode three ‘The Long Night’ ahead**
The Battle of Winterfell has come to an end. While many fan-favourite characters remain standing, a few also perished at the hand of the Night King.
During the climactic episode, The Night King slowly approaches Bran Stark (having just killed Theon). However, moments before the villain kills the Three-Eyed Raven, Arya Stark comes out of seemingly nowhere and stabs The Night King with a dagger, turning him – and the entire army of the dead – to dust.
Viewers have seen this dagger multiple times throughout Game of Thrones. Named the “catspaw dagger” by fans, the blade first appeared in season one, when a catspaw assassin attempted to kill Bran Stark using the weapon.
Catelyn Stark takes the blade to Littlefinger, who claims to have lost the peculiar dagger – which is noted as having a dragonbone hilt and being made of Valyrian steel – to Tyrion in a bet. This ignites the feud between the Starks and the Lannisters. While there’s been no confirmation, it’s widely believed that Littlefinger was behind the assassination attempt, having hoped to cause chaos in Westeros.
The dagger stays with Littlefinger from then until season seven, when the silver-tongued manipulator gives the weapon to Bran. Bran then gives the dagger to Arya (foreshadowing), who in turn kills Littlefinger using it, and later The Night King.
Arya killing the Night King was previously hinted at during season three, when the Red Woman told Arya: “I see a darkness in you. And in that darkness, eyes staring back at me: brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes. Eyes you’ll shut forever. We will meet again.”
With Arya killing The Night King, she seemingly fulfilled the Azor Ahai prophecy, allowing for Melisandre to finally rest. Read more about Melisandre’s final moments here.
‘The Long Night’ was a “gritty, epic and profoundly silly” episode according to our critic, who awarded the episode five stars. Meanwhile, the intense trailer for next week’s episode sees everyone turn their attentions to the Iron Throne and the fate of Cersei Lannister.
The final season of Game of Thrones continues every Sunday. The show will be available on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV in the UK.
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