So Littlefinger *did* recognize Arya in “Game of Thrones” Season 2 but just didn’t blow her cover

We are soon heading back to Westeros for Season 7 of Game of Thrones(eek!). But before that, we’re finally getting some clarity on a scene that happened way back in Season 2. It has to do with Littlefinger and Arya Stark, so you know it’s interesting!

Open up those castle gates!

Let’s travel back to Season 2 of Game of Thrones, a pre-Red Wedding time in which lots of our faves were still alive. Arya (Maisie Williams) had recently witnessed her father’s beheading and was obviously traumatized. But, there’s no time for trauma on Game of Thrones, so she turned her attention to disguising herself as a servant girl working under Tywin Lannister at Harrenhal.

Enter: Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen), who always seems to have ulterior motives. We never trusted him for a second, but he does sometimes surprise us. Like, how he totally recognized Arya while she was undercover, but kept it quiet. At least, that’s what Gillen thinks:

“It was unclear if he recognized her or not, but I have my own thoughts on that, Gillen told Entertainment Weekly. “Yes, I did recognize her — I just didn’t say anything or do anything about it. 

Why didn’t he spill the beans? We’re guessing it was in his best interest to keep quiet for some, manipulative reason. It’s nice to have a little insight into his thinking since we’re about to jump into Season 7 of Game of Thrones on July 16th!

And we’re sure plenty more scheming is ahead.