Jon serving as Mormont's steward and Arya serving as Bolton's cupbearer is such an underrated parallel. While their circumstances are completely different, the actual details of their jobs are pretty much the same. They're taking on servile positions where they're waiting on a person in power, which gives them access to privileged information, shows the inner workings of the politics, and gives them unofficial instruction on leadership. Both Jon and Arya even use their position as a powerful person's steward/cupbearer to convince others that what they're doing is on the orders of the person they serve. Its not lol
While this position is presented as a reward for Arya (which it is), Jon takes offense to it until Sam explains that this position puts him on the path to leadership. And that's true. Serving a person in power is usually treated as a type of internship for young nobles and royals. Rhaenyra became her father's cupbearer once she became his heir so she could attend small council meetings and court sessions, the same way Arya and Jon are both present for meetings that they otherwise wouldn't have access to. It was similar with Aegon V who served during council meetings when he was a child.
Roose doesn't intend for this to be an internship for Arya the way Mormont foes for Jon, but it's likely the author's intent for her in this case.
She was the cupbearer for Tywin Lannister not the Boltenâs
