POV's in Essos: Going to/Getting Back to Westeros

Background

I thought it would be fun to take a look at all of our POVs who have been to Essos and the route that they have taken (or will take) to get back to Westeros.

Characters in Westeros who have traveled from Essos

Melisandre

We don't know when exactly Melisandre came to Westeros (or how), but we do know that she wasn't sent by the Red Temple and it was based entirely on her own:

Why did Melisandre seek out Stannis? Did she see him in her flames and decided to seek him out on her own, or is she on a mission on behalf of the red priests? It doesn't seem at any point as if the latter is the case, when you compare to Moqorro who has been sent out by the priesthood.

GRRM: You're right. Melisandre has gone to Stannis entirely on her own, and has her own agenda. -SSM, Interview in Barcelona 2012

and that it happened during the events of AGoT at the latest:

His father frowned. "I have felt from the beginning that Stannis was a greater danger than all the others combined. Yet he does nothing. Oh, Varys hears his whispers. Stannis is building ships, Stannis is hiring sellswords**, Stannis is bringing a shadowbinder from Asshai**. What does it mean? Is any of it true?" He gave an irritated shrug. "Kevan, bring us the map." -AGOT, Tyrion IX

If interested: "Fled to Dragonstone": The Schemes of Stannis Baratheon

Jon Connington

We meet JonCon/Griff in Essos in Tyrion's chapters, but later on once the Golden Company arrives in Westeros, Griff picks up the plot for the invading Golden Company:

If this is indeed Jon Connington, he will be a different man. Older, harder, more seasoned … more dangerous. "Connington may have more than the Golden Company. It is said he has a Targaryen pretender." -ADWD, Epilogue

Areo Hotah

Areo Hotah came from Norvos to protect Doran's wife Lady Mellario

"You know me, captain," Arianne had said, as the leagues rolled past. "You have known me since I was little. You always kept me safe, as you kept my lady mother safe when you came with her from Great Norvos to be her shield in a strange land. AFFC, The Princess in the Tower

and now serves as our camera POV in Dorne.

If interested: Parallels: Areo Hotah/Sandoq the Shadow & The Showdown at High Hermitage

Possibly but Unconfirmed

• Asha Greyjoy (we don't know where she sailed to or where she met her Lysene lover)
• Davos Seaworth (as a smuggler, I am assuming he touched both coasts of the Narrow Sea)

Characters in Essos Who Could Travel Back to Essos

Arya Stark

While GRRM has stated he could potentially write a book about Arya's adventures in Braavos, he maintains he will stick to writing those relevant to the story. There are so many ways/reasons she could get back to Westeros. There are many different ships traveling up and down the Narrow Sea, and she could return on her own or on a mission from the Faceless Men.

We do know that she will no longer be "Mercy" after her first chapter, and the trouble she will have created with Raff's death could create a reason to return (Harys Swyft's ships) with a potential mission or just vengeance in her heart.

If interested: Let's talk about Braavos in The Winds of Winter

Victarion Greyjoy

Victarion has his 3 thralls about to blow the dragonhorn (with a readily accessible dragon). He is either returning to Westeros on dragonback:

Victarion seized the dusky woman by the wrist and pulled her to him. “She will do it. Go pray to your red god. Light your fire, and tell me what you see.”

Moqorro’s dark eyes seemed to shine. “I see dragons.” -TWOW, Victarion I

or much more likely a corpse:

The black priest bowed his head. "There is no need. The Lord of Light has shown me your worth, lord Captain. Every night in my fires I glimpse the glory that awaits you." -ADWD, Victarion I

and (this may have changed but at the time this was about Victarion):

A corpse stood at the prow of a ship, eyes bright in his dead face, grey lips smiling sadly.

Tyrion Lannister

Tyrion's plotline in Essos (or later in Westeros) will intersect with Dany's at one point:

“Well, Tyrion and Dany will intersect, in a way, but for much of the book they’re still apart,” he says. “They both have quite large roles to play here. Tyrion has decided that he actually would like to live, for one thing, which he wasn’t entirely sure of during the last book, and he’s now working toward that end—if he can survive the battle that’s breaking out all around him. And Dany has embraced her heritage as a Targaryen and embraced the Targaryen words. So they’re both coming home.” -SSM, EW Interview: 26 June 2014

but Tyrion is currently a blood-sworn member of the Second Sons, so until then and unless he schemes his way away from Brown Ben and Co., wherever he goes, they go.

If interested: GRRM: "Back with Tyrion" in TWoW

Barristan Selmy

Barristan's life could end in Essos (but hopefully his legacy lives on through his lads and it happens in a much more satisfying way than the show). The Battle of Fire seems like a resulting victory for "Team Dany", but the aftermath (and power vacuum unless Dany returns immediately or a dragon is bonded with by another) is where the real drama starts.

If interested: The New Commander if Ser Grandfather Dies During the Battle of Fire...

It is also possible he could survive and in that case he would have to take one of the routes in the next section.

Daenerys

Daenerys is currently out on the Dothraki Sea (To Go Forward You Must Go Back) and upon her return to Meereen, the area could bevery differentfor a myriad of reasons (dead friends, new dragonriders, abandoned forces, etc.) but I would assume the better part of her army will still be there to head to Westeros with her. The size and different plotlines along the way are the issues (you can't just go hey dragonflame to each city from a plot perspective):

• The Demon Road
• Volantis
• Pentos
• Fleet/Sailing around Valyria

etc. etc. etc. all of these take time and have issues.

Quentyn Martell

He was a POV in Essos (while some may hope/pray he survived) and at a minimum I hope his bones get returned to Dorne by his friends:

“I have more use for you alive than dead. Serve me, and afterward I will arrange a ship to take you back to Dorne and give you Prince Quentyn’s bones to return to his lord father.” -ADWD, The Queen's Hand

but maybe they take the Demon Road:

“I’ll do it,” offered Ser Archibald, “just so long as there’s no bloody boats involved. Drink will do it too.” He grinned. “He don’t know it yet, but he will.”

If interested: Doran Martell: "Where is my Son?

TLDR: Just a list of POV Characters who have been to Essos at some point and how/why they went to/are going to go back to Westeros