Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

shawn703

(2,702 posts)
Wed Sep 12, 2012, 08:24 PM Sep 2012

A Song of Ice and Fire discussion (SPOILER WARNING)

I've read all of the books so far, and I wanted to float some theories out there and see what some fellow DUers think. Don't read any further if you haven't completed A Dance With Dragons, as a lot of this stuff would definitely spoil things for you.


Is Rhaego still alive? I've learned not to trust that anyone is truly dead in this series unless the character is described without a head. It was mentioned in AGOT how Drogo was nearly kidnapped by a rival of his father's. I could imagine how someone like Khal Jhoqo might want to keep The Stallion that Mounts the World in his khalasar since it would increase his own influence. Jorah would have a couple of reasons for not telling Dany the truth about Rhaego - one is he knows she would have went after him on a suicide mission, and another is Varys is fond of backup plans, so if Young Griff doesn't work out he still has another Targaryen somewhere.

Will Jon Snow be "reborn" as Azor Ahai? You also can't keep someone dead if one of R'hllor's followers is around, and Melisandre asked for a vision of Azor Ahai and in her own words she only saw "snow".

Is Young Griff really Aegon? I have my doubts since I would have thought since he had a better claim to the throne than Viserys he would be Varys's first choice and not a backup. However "the dragon has three heads" and Dany plus Aegon would make two out of the three.

And finally - is the third head Jon Snow, who could really be the promise Ned made to Lyanna? If Rhaegar had a son with Lyanna, I can't see how he could have survived Robert's hatred of Targaryens if Eddard didn't claim him as his bastard. I see Eddard as being too much a man of honor to really dishonor his marriage like that, but promised his sister he would protect Jon.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A Song of Ice and Fire discussion (SPOILER WARNING) (Original Post) shawn703 Sep 2012 OP
Note well that Tyrion is on record as a designer of saddles XemaSab Sep 2012 #1
That he does shawn703 Sep 2012 #2
I'm just going to say I really hope Jon Snow isn't Azor Ahai. white_wolf Oct 2012 #3
Perhaps they both are? shawn703 Oct 2012 #4
Wow your comment about Rhaego really blew my mind....... DebJ Jun 2013 #5
I caught a lot of things I missed the first time through after a reread shawn703 Jun 2013 #6

XemaSab

(60,212 posts)
1. Note well that Tyrion is on record as a designer of saddles
Thu Sep 13, 2012, 12:06 AM
Sep 2012

I would be *not shocked* if that factored back in.

Also Varys has a "Targaryan" name.

shawn703

(2,702 posts)
2. That he does
Thu Sep 13, 2012, 08:02 AM
Sep 2012

Varys is definitely pro-Targaryen, and I've wondered if he was the unnamed son of Aerion "Brightflame" Targaryen. Aerion's son was passed over for unknown reasons, although when you read about how Aerion threatened to geld his brother Aegon V, if he made a eunuch of his own son it would explain it since he wouldn't be able to produce an heir. Aerion was banished to Lys, which just so happens to be where Varys is from. Varys also said he was "cut" for a dark spell, and it's known that Aerion died drinking wildfire in his attempt to become a dragon. The biggest problem with that is Varys would need to be close to 70 for the math to work. It's possible, but he always seemed to be in his 40s or so.

Here's a wild theory - what if the three-eyed crow (now Bran) ends up being the Other that Azor Ahai needs to defeat? Coldhands seems to be a wight, and he seemed to be serving the three-eyed crow. It would explain how the happenings beyond the Wall fit into the larger narrative, and also fits into the theme of grey vs. grey rather than black vs. white.

white_wolf

(6,238 posts)
3. I'm just going to say I really hope Jon Snow isn't Azor Ahai.
Fri Oct 5, 2012, 01:21 AM
Oct 2012

I'm rooting for Dany to take that title and the Iron Throne. Jon Snow can stay on the Wall for all I care. Arya is the only one of the Starks left I really like. Bran is okay, but his chapters were really boring for awhile so I kind of got turned off on him.

shawn703

(2,702 posts)
4. Perhaps they both are?
Wed Oct 10, 2012, 10:07 AM
Oct 2012

And that's what Dany's vision of Rhaegar telling his wife "the dragon has three heads" meant? Rhaegar believed he was the Prince that was Promised (Azor Ahai) at one point and Maester Aemon believed he was too. Then Rhaegar believed his son Aegon was the Prince that was Promised because of the comet that appeared. Aemon later believed it was Dany when he heard about her and the dragons. When Rhaegar told his wife "the dragon has three heads", he could be trying to tell her how he had to have a child with Lyanna to save the world? I know it's a stretch, but possibly the three heads are Dany, Aegon and Jon?

DebJ

(7,699 posts)
5. Wow your comment about Rhaego really blew my mind.......
Sat Jun 8, 2013, 11:27 AM
Jun 2013

I just finished re-reading book 1 and began re-reading book 2.

shawn703

(2,702 posts)
6. I caught a lot of things I missed the first time through after a reread
Sun Jun 9, 2013, 12:53 AM
Jun 2013

Especially when it comes to prophecies and the other bits of foreshadowing.

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Fantasy Literature»A Song of Ice and Fire di...