Game Of Thrones: 10 Storylines From The Books The Show Ignored

10. Sam And Arya Cross Paths

While Samwell Tarly is sent to Oldtown in the show, the journey, and his company, are slightly different in the books. It is not so easy as a straight shot from Eastwatch-by-the-Sea to Oldtown. Instead the maester-to-be, along with Maester Aemon, Gilly, and a Night's Watch singer named Dareon, must go by way of Braavos.

Jon sent Dareon with Sam in the hopes of bringing some would be heroes to the Wall with his songs of the valor and honour of the Night's Watch. As soon as they reach Braavos however, the singer takes to the taverns, singing for money and spending it straight on drink and women, leaving Sam, Gilly, and the incredibly ill Maester Aemon cold and hungry.

One night Dareon even gets married, after which Sam loses his temper and attacks his black brother. This all happens while Arya is training with the Faceless Men. She sees Dareon for what he is, a deserter from the Night's Watch, and swiftly slits his throat. Arya's punishment for this is losing her sight.

All this happens after Arya saves Sam from being mugged in the streets of Braavos. Though she knows he is a man of the Night's Watch she doesn't ask about Jon, as she is trying to be no one, and Sam would have no reason to think the girl in Braavos was his best friend's sister.