‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 7 Theories: Will Bran Stark, Arya Stark Be Reunited With Their Siblings? 5 Possibilities

Jon Snow and Sansa Stark have reclaimed the north in the name of House Stark, but there are a few things — or people, rather — missing from the half siblings happy home. When Season 6 of the HBO series came to a close, Arya Stark was at Walder Fray’s castle checking names off her kill list, while Bran used powers handed down to him by the original three-eyed raven to tap into family secrets.

Photos from the “Game of Thrones” set suggest that Bran (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Arya (Maisie Williams) are filming scenes together for the upcoming season. The pair were spotted sharing a trailer with Bella Ramsey, who rose to fame for playing the small but fierce Lyanna Mormont in Season 6. Williams and Ramsey appeared to be wearing similar costumes, according to pictures obtained by spoiler group Watchers on the Wall. This furthered speculation that Bran will find himself in the same location as his sister, though Wright was not in costume when the photos were taken. Additionally, the blog reported that Kit Harrington was spotted on the same set later the same day Wright and Williams were photographed. His appearance raised questions about Jon Snow’s involvement in the Stark family reunion.

Few details have been released about what’s to come in Season 7. Clearly that has done little to quell speculation. With so many “Game of Thrones” fans buzzing about the recently released set photos, we can’t help but wonder how the Starks could come together. Here are five theories:

Bran Will Tap Into His Powers To Confirm The R + L = J Theory To Jon:

When Season 6 of “Game of Thrones” came to a close, Bran traveled back in time to the Tower of Joy — dubbed that by Rhaegar Targaryen, Jon’s father — for a second time. The first time he was accompanied by the original three-eyed raven, who would not let him investigate beyond standing outside the structure. Upon his second visit, he was able to enter the tower, where he found Lyanna Stark (Cordelia Hill) screaming in pain. Inside the tower he learned that everything he grew up being told about his half brother was untrue. Jon is not Ned Stark’s (Sean Bean) bastard son, but rather the son of the Stark children’s deceased aunt and the Mad King’s son. Jon is now ruling the North with no idea that he has dragon’s blood coursing through his veins.

As such, it seems likely that Bran — last seen just beyond the wall — will find a way to travel to Jon to clue him in before the real battle for the Iron Throne begins. Along the way he may encounter Arya, who has been trying to get back to Winterfell for quite some time. Bran’s revelation will, however, leave the North without a warden once more and no male Stark children available to take the position.

The Stark Kids Will Join Forces To Fight For The Iron Throne...Or White Walkers:

Should Bran get the opportunity to share information with Jon about his lineage, everything will change. Jon will no longer have claim to House Winterfell, as he is not actually a Stark boy. His relation the Mad King and Rhaegar Targaryen makes him the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, but with just Bran’s vision and his word it’s unclear how that will be perceived by the many others vying for the title.

All that aside, the Stark children have more than enough reason to want to take Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), who is currently seated on the Iron Throne, down. Not only did she essentially orchestrate the death of their father Ned, but she sat Idly by while Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) tortured and humiliated Sansa.

While the quest for the Iron Throne will likely play a major role in Season 7 of “Game of Thrones,” it’s worth remembering that Bran has also gotten some important intel about the White Walkers and their plans to converge on the Seven Kingdoms. In Season 6, Bran was confronted by the Night King during a vision and allowed him to touch him. This served as his gateway, allowing him to kill the three-eyed raven and subsequently Hodor (Kristian Nairn). Meera (Ellie Kendrick) was able to get Bran to safety, but as we all know it’s only a matter of time before the White Walkers return. Bran will certainly have to make Jon aware of the truth about his parents at some point, but it also seems plausible that he is traveling toward him in an effort to prepare he and his men — and women fighters — to mobilize. That may also explain Arya’s warrior-like gear in the Watchers on the Wall set photos. Perhaps she’s going to put her kill list on the back burner to focus on killing the icy undead with her siblings.

Arya Will Reunite With Bran Before Leaving On Her Own Pursuits:

In a July interview with People, Williams said that she was hopeful that Arya would continue on a solo mission rather than reunite with Sansa, Jon and Bran. She told the publication that she would like to see her character, who launched a revenge mission against the remaining names on her kill list in the final episodes of Season 6, model her future after The Hound’s (Rory McCann).

“I’d love for her to be a bit of a lone ranger,” Williams said. “I’d love for her to be kind of like The House. I don’t really want her to reunite with her family because I don’t think that they’re the same people anymore or that she’s the same person anymore. I think she’s better off on her own. I’d love for her to be alive, actually, and be her own boss.”

While that is not necessarily an indication of the direction writers chose to go with her character’s Season 7 storyline, it is not out of the realm of possibility. Arya could either continue on by herself from Walder Frey’s castle or join forces with House Mormont. Her and Lyanna’s similar costumes could be explained by Arya having agreed to join the fighting ranks of the tiny house.

The Former Girl With No Name Will Tap Into Tricks Learned From The Many Faced God:

During the Season 6 finale, Arya proved that while she wasn’t willing to stick around Bravos to play the Many Faced God’s games, she had learned a thing or two during her training. The youngest Stark girl was able to switch up her appearance to slip into the Fray castle unnoticed, exacting her revenge for the killing of her mother and brother, Robb Stark. Bustle has speculated that because of her trust issues, Arya may use similar tricks to get back to Winterfell, where she’ll find Jon, Sansa and — with any luck — Bran. Whether she uses the trick to get back to Winterfell or not, it’s highly likely that there will be a ton of face swapping in Season 7 as Arya works to complete her kill list.

There Will Be No Stark Reunion:

I know, it’s not what you wanted to hear. “Game of Thrones” is notorious for killing off those you love and keeping apart seemingly perfect pairings among the cast. For example, Arya’s best friend Gendry (Joe Dempsie) has been among the missing for three seasons and Daenerys’ (Emelia Clarke) former right-hand man Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) has been cast away, never to be seen again.

It seems entirely possible that Arya, Sansa, Jon, and Bran may be in proximity of on another during Season 7 and never actually cross paths. It’s also worth noting that many of the actors on the show, including Williams and Turner, feel that there’s no point in bringing the Starks back together. During a June interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Turner pointed out the many changes that have occurred in each and every remaining Stark on the show, noting that while some things may be better if and when they come together, their many seasons of solitude may have driven a wedge between them.

“I think the Stark reunion would definitely be different,” Turner said. “A lot of dynamics will have changed. They all split up and were basically trying to get back together for so long, but they’ve all changed so much in the meantime. They’re all carrying different motives now. It would be very interesting to see them back together now, but it wouldn’t be the family dynamic that they’re used to...maybe for better or for worse.”

“Game of Thrones” is slated to return to HBO in 2017. The season will be just seven episodes long.