HBO's Game of Thrones is currently filming its next season after the season five finale left viewers in a state of shock.
Readers of George R.R. Martin's fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire weren't surprised by the season's final moments, but while book readers may have been one step ahead of show watchers up to this point, Game of Thrones is officially entering uncharted waters. Season six will officially be moving ahead of Martin's source material, meaning readers and TV lovers alike won't know what's coming when the next season of the show airs in the spring of 2016.
Not that fans haven't been trying to figure it out. For as long as the books have been available fans have scoured every word of Martin's novels for clues as to what may happen in the books (and now episodes) to come. The series features tons of ancient folk tales, prophecies and allusions that fans have picked up on over the years, but what they all mean and which may come true are up for debate. As season six creeps ever closer, here are seven fan theories that may just turn out to be reality.
Possible spoilers below. Some of these theories may come true, so if you don't want future books/seasons spoiled, best turn back now.
Tyrion Is Secretly A Targaryen
This one may seem a little out there, but there is some evidence to support it. For starters, there are Tywin's last words to Tyrion: "You are no son of mine." Is Tywin being literal here, or is he merely trying to wound Tyrion with his dying breath? The later seems more obvious, but there is a possibility that he could be telling the truth. The Mad King Aerys was said to have been attracted to Tyrion's mother, Joanna. Is it possible that he may have forced himself upon her, thus being Tyrion's father? It wouldn't be too out there. Tywin served as a friend and the Hand of the King to Aerys for 20 years, until eventually Aerys' paranoia and lust for Joanna caused the two to become bitter enemies.
Another piece of the puzzle is a prophecy delivered in the books to Dany while at the House of the Undying. In a vision she witnesses her uncle Rhaegar Targaryen giving birth to a son. During this vision, Daenerys hears Rhaegar say "the dragon shall have three heads." She takes it as a prophecy, believing herself to be one head of the Targaryen dragon. That leaves two Targaryen's still unaccounted for, leaving some to believe Tyrion might be a candidate.
The Night King Leads The White Walkers
Who is the controlling the White Walkers? It's a question that has never been definitively answered in the books, but HBO let one slip when a viewer's guide (since erased) identified the terrifying, horned Other leading the White Walkers into battle as none other than The Night King.
This had only been speculated upon up until that point. In Martin's A Storm of Swords, Bran tells Meera and Jojen Reed the story of The Night King. He was once the 13th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch who fell in love with a woman whose "skin was white as ice." Shortly afterward he married this mysterious (likely a White Walker) woman and sought to rule the North. Only the combined might of the Starks of Winterfell and the King Beyond the Wall brought The Night King down, but it appears as though he might still be alive and well. Martin has yet to confirm this, saying that his version of The Night King (or Night's King, as he prefers) is a legendary figure from long ago that isn't likely to still be alive. Perhaps he is simply attempting to throw readers off the scent?
Brienne Of Tarth Is To Overthrow Cersei
Prophecies are fickle things. It's hard to know how to interpret them. So it goes with the prophecy delivered from Maggy the witch to a young Cersei Lannister. We see this flashback both on the show and in the books, in which Maggy tells Cersei that she will be queen until "another, younger and more beautiful" would cast her down and take all that she holds dear.
Some fans don't take this prophecy too seriously, viewing it more as a sign of Cersei's increasing paranoia rather than a legitimate vision of the future. But for those who do believe the prophecy to be important, most assume it is speaking of young queen Margaery Tyrell, who replaces Cersei as the true ruler of the kingdom when she marries Cersei's son Joffery. However, some fans think the prophecy may refer to another "beauty," as in Brienne of Tarth. Points are constantly made by other characters about Brienne's less than flattering outward appearance, giving her the nickname "Brienne the Beauty" out of sheer cruelty. Might she be the one to remove Cersei from power? Brienne swore to uphold the wishes of Catelyn Stark and protect her children. Cersei and her son Joffrey have proven to be one of the biggest reasons for Sansa's and Arya's predicaments, so perhaps it isn't out of the question that Brienne may ultimately be responsible for removing Cersei from her days in government.
Syrio Lives And Is Actually Jaqen H'ghar
Fans don't enjoy it when cool characters die, so if a death is left ambiguous, you can bet a fan theory will be cooked up to explain how they survived. Such is the case with Arya's fencing instructor, Syrio Forel. The skilled swordsmen was last seen battling King Joffrey's kingsguard with a wooden sword, buying Arya time to escape.
It certainly seems like Syrio lost his life that day, but some fans insist that he survives ... and that he is actually Jaqen H'ghar. It sounds like wishful thinking. However, there is some evidence to back it up. Both men are from Braavos, and both speak an awful lot about "the god of death." Some believe that rather than being killed, Syrio escaped and changed his face into that of Jaqen H'ghar. At some point he became imprisoned, and elected to join the Night's Watch to escape. He then later reunited with Arya and granted her passage to Braavos. Is Syrio alive? Perhaps we will have a definitive answer soon.
Jon Is Azor Ahai
Yet another prophecy, but this is the "big one." It's the tale Melisandre is constantly going on to Stannis about, believing him to be Azor Ahai reborn. For those not in the know, Azor Ahai is the legendary hero who defeated the White Walkers and ended the Long Night thousands of years ago. Legends say he did so by wielding the sword Lightbringer, a sword that would light his enemies aflame. As we've seen in the show and in the books, it doesn't appear that Stannis is actually Azor Ahai. He dies in the show, sure, but also in Martin's novels (where he is still alive) it is noted that Stannis' flaming sword is a trick and not truly magical. Who, then, might Azor Ahai be?
The most popular theory is Jon Snow, though we will likely have to wait until season six to learn if this is the case. As the prophecy according to Melisandre goes, "When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons out of stone." It's clear that darkness is gathering, and we've already seen the red star streak across the sky. In the books, Martin draws attention to the fact that many of Jon's Night's Watch brothers are crying, even as they twist their daggers into him. Steam then appears to come off of Jon's body, as his blood pools beneath him in the snow. Some believe this may qualify as the "salt and smoke" portion of the prophecy, and that Jon will be reborn. However, there is also Beric Dondarrion to consider. The character has come back to life numerous times and has wielded a true flaming sword. Though the character appears to be dead for good after granting his magic-life-returning powers to a slain Catelyn Stark, we simply don't yet know who the true chosen one is.
R+L=J
This particular fan theory is essentially treated as fact, but until Martin's next book or season six of the show proves it, it will remain in theory territory. If you haven't yet heard, the theory is this: Jon Snow is a Targaryen. Specifically, he is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. You might remember that Rhaegar (supposedly) kidnapped Lyanna against her will during the Mad King's reign, causing her betrothed, Robert Baratheon, to start a rebellion.
Turns out that may not entirely be true. The other side of the story is that Rhaegar and Lyanna were truly in love, so much so that Lyanna was pregnant with Rhaegar's child. While Rhaegar went off to fight in the war, he housed Lyanna within the secluded Tower of Joy, protected by three loyal Kingsguard. After Rhaegar's death and the end of the war, Eddard Stark and four other men journeyed to the Tower to free Lyanna, where they were forced to kill the three Kingsguard defending it. Nobody knows exactly what Ned found inside the tower. We only know that Lyanna was dying and her last words were "Promise me, Ned." Most assume that Ned promised to keep Jon's parentage a secret. When Ned returned home from the war with a young boy, he said it was his bastard son. It's a little out of character for Ned Stark, who is viewed as the most honorable man in all the Seven Kingdoms, to have a bastard, and when combined with the fact that he also makes a point to never speak of Jon's mother it definitely seems like Ned was hiding something. Expect this theory to be proven true (or debunked) very soon.
R+L=J+M
This is one of the newest fan theories to sweep the web, and it builds off the solid foundation laid out by R+L=J. Only this time there is an extra letter, with the theory being that not only is Jon Snow a secret Targaryen, but so is Meera Reed. Remember when Ned and four other men journeyed to the Tower of Joy to "rescue" Lyanna? One of those men was Howland Reed, and he and Ned happen to be the only two to survive the fight with Rhaegar's kingsguard.
Much of this theory revolves around Meera looking similar to Jon on the show and that both characters were born in the same year. The theory came about due to the fact that the "three-headed dragon" theory requires one more Targaryen, if we are assuming Jon is one alongside Dany. Tyrion could be another candidate, or now as some fans believe, Meera. There is a third possiblity as well. In A Dance with Dragons it is revealed that Rhaegar's legitimate son, Aegon, survived the sacking of King's Landing and has been in hiding for decades. The verdict is still out on whether or not Aegon is truly what some of the characters claim him to be, but if he truly is a Targaryen, then that only leaves one spot open. If that's the case, don't expect it to be Meera.
Maybe all these fan theories will turn out to be true. Or maybe none will. That's part of the fun of Game of Thrones. There is so much depth and hidden meaning within every episode and chapter that fans can't help but obsess over what the future might have in store. Expect some answers upon the release of The Winds of Winter or Game of Thrones season six, whichever comes first.
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