Shoutout to Johanna Swann who was mentioned in tonight's episode. Despite tragic circumstances of being kidnapped, trafficked, and sold into sexual slavery by the triarchy, she became the famed courtesan, the Black Swan, and eventually rose in influence and became the unofficial ruler of Lys. 👑 She is also the ancestor of Lady Ravella Smallwood (nee Swann) who was so kind to Arya in the Riverlands in ASOIAF.
697 notes
·
View notes
I just noticed that Lady Smallwood tells Arya more or less the same thing that Jon Snow tells Maester Aemon regarding Samwell Tarly.
Here’s Lady Smallwood telling Arya that whatever her gifts are, they have worth:
“What do you like to do?” She scuffed a toe amongst the rushes. “Needlework.”
“Very restful, isn’t it?” “Well,” said Arya, “not the way I do it.”
“No? I have always found it so. The gods give each of us our little gifts and talents, and it is meant for us to use them, my aunt always says. Any act can be a prayer, if done as well as we are able. Isn’t that a lovely thought? Remember that the next time you do your needlework. - Arya, ASoS
And when Jon tries to convince Maester Aemon to take on Sam as his steward:
“The collar is supposed to remind a maester of the realm he serves, isn’t that so? Lords are gold and knights steel, but two links can’t make a chain. You also need silver and iron and lead, tin and copper and bronze and all the rest, and those are farmers and smiths and merchants and the like. A chain needs all sorts of metals, and a land needs all sorts of people.The Night’s Watch needs al sorts too. Why else have rangers and stewards and builders? Lord Randyll couldn’t make Sam a warrior, and Ser Alliser won’t either. You can’t hammer tin into iron, no matter how hard you beat it, but that doesn’t mean tin is useless. Why shouldn’t Sam be a steward?” - Jon, AGoT
It highlights the similarities between Arya and Sam feeling like they don’t have a place in a highly patriarchal society and the characters who help them out.
Lady Smallwood is incredibly important for Arya, lifting her spirits and comforting her. Arya wears a pretty acorn dress because Ravella is kind and non-judgemental. She does not help Arya because she’s Arya Stark of Winterfell but because it’s the right thing to do:
"I do not know who you are, child," the woman said, "and it may be that's for the best. Someone important, I fear." She smoothed down Arya's collar. "In times like these, it is better to be insignificant. Would that I could keep you here with me. That would not be safe, though. I have walls, but too few men to hold them." She sighed. - Arya, ASoS
In the same way Jon helping Sam become a steward makes Sam feel one with the rest of the boys. And Jon never tells Sam what he did. He simply did it because it’s the right thing to do.
“I’ve been summoned to the sept,” Sam said in an excited whisper. “They’re passing me out of training. I’m to be made a brother with the rest of you. Can you believe it?”
“No, truly?” - Jon, AGoT
And the way Jon and Ravella give encouragement:
"I'm sorry, my lady." Arya suddenly felt bad for her, and ashamed. "I'm sorry I tore the acorn dress too. It was pretty."
"Yes, child. And so are you. Be brave." - Arya, ASoS
“Truly. I’m to assist Maester Aemon with the library and the birds. He needs someone who can read and write letters.”
“You’ll do well at that,” Jon said, smiling. - Jon, AGoT
62 notes
·
View notes
Minor characters I love unreasonably (5/?): Ravella Swann, wed Smallwood
“I do not know who you are, child,” the woman said, “and it may be that’s for the best. Someone important, I fear.” She smoothed down Arya’s collar. “In times like these, it is better to be insignificant. Would that I could keep you here with me.”
130 notes
·
View notes
“I have no gowns of leaves,” said Lady Smallwood with a small fond smile,
“but Carellen left some other dresses that might serve. Come, child, let us go upstairs and see what we can find”
It was even worse than before; Lady Smallwood insisted that Arya take another bath, cut and comb her hair besides ; the dress she put her in this time was sort of lilac-coloured, and decorated with little baby pearls.
So the next morning as they broke their fast, Lady Smallwood gave her breeches, belt, and tunic to wear, and a brown doeskin jerkin dotted with iron studs.
“They were my son’s things ,” she said. “He died when he was seven.”
“I’m sorry, my lady.” Arya felt suddenly bad for her, and ashamed.
“I’m sorry I tore the acorn dress too. It was pretty.”
“Yes child. And so are you. Be brave.”
75 notes
·
View notes
Ravella Smallwood - Fancasts
Age: Unknown [Most likely in her 50’s given her alleged romance with Tom when they were young.]
Appearance: She’s not described
Character: Claire Fraser
Actor: Caitriona Balfe
Show: Outlander [2014] [Season 5 & 6]
[She’s in her early 40’s. She’s a kind older woman with a sharp wit. She wears 17th century clothes.]
Character: Mechtild
Actress: Naomi Watts
Movie: Ophelia [2018]
[She’s in her early 50’s during this movie.She is a kind, witty maternal figure at the start of the movie. She wears medieval ish clothes.]
Character: Lady Danbury
Actress: Adjoa Andoh
Show: Bridgerton [2020]
[She’s in her late 50’s during this show.She’s a smart, determined, caring mother figure so good for Lady Smallwood. She wears regency ish clothes.]
Character [s] : Jocasta McKenzie & Queen Catherine of Aragon.
Actress: Maria Doyle Kennedy
Show [s] : Outlander [2014] & The Tudors [2007]
[She’s in her early 50’s for Outlander and her early 40’s for The Tudors. Both seem to be strong caring women and Jocasta has a love interest that could be Tom. Jocasta wears 17th century clothes and Catherine wears Tudor ish clothes.]
11 notes
·
View notes