Why the White Horse in ‘Game of Thrones’ Plays a Bigger Role Than You Realized


The Bells, which was the title of episode five of Game of Thrones had a rather interesting line. Daenerys Targaryen said: “I will take what is mine with fire and blood.” The Mad Queen Theory came true when the Dragon Queen came into King’s Landing and killed every civilian within her sight.

In that episode, a lot of characters died but there was one that survived, even though they were buried in the rubble, Arya Stark. She happened to be in King’s Landing for revenge but after hearing the last words of The Hound, she decided on something else. She tried to escape by running through the crowd of bodies that were left behind.

Eventually, you see the character emerge from the smoke and rubble and she finds a white horse. Since there is nothing but a burn out city and dead bodies, she jumps on the horse and rides out to some unknown destination.

Many people have been wondering what the white horse symbolizes.

“All she’s left with is the sound of burning people and the smell of burning flesh. And she sees a white horse because it’s symbolic and beautiful and then she hops on and gallops off and makes it out of the city.” actress Maisie Williams said behind the scenes. Some think that the white horse symbolizes hope amidst despair.

There also some fans who say that Bran Stark, her brother, may have warged into the horse to save her.

The Three-Eyed Raven has been seen throughout the series with the ability to see past, present, and future. Bran may have been aware of the self-destruction on Dany’s part and the innocent people who were laid to waste as a result. When the young wolf saw Arya alive, the white horse may have been a way to help her continue.

Nobody is sure where she is riding off to but some feel that she will put an end to Daenerys once and for all.

There are also some people who feel that the white horse is the symbol from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, in which death is riding on a pale horse.

Quaithe warns Dany in season two about her fate: “The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun’s son and the mummer’s dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal.”

Although it does mention a number of figures, it also talks about a ‘pale mare’. It will be interesting to see where this one goes.


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