Cersei's Prophecy: What the 'Game of Thrones' Prediction Implies About the Final Season

Game of Thrones Season 8 rumors are running wild on the internet ahead of Sunday's premiere, but none can predict exactly what will happen in the long-awaited final season. However, one critical scene in a past episode could fortell how a lead character meets their fate: Cersei Lannister's prophecy.

In a rare flashback scene, we see young Cersei visit a fortune teller called Maggy the Frog in in Season 5, episode 1. The prophecy made the following points:

  • Cersei would not marry a prince, but would marry a king
  • Cersei would be queen for a long time
  • A younger, more beautiful queen would eventually take Cersei's place on the throne
  • Cersei would have three children, all of whom would die

While that's all featured in the HBO series, the Game of Thrones books series gives a bit more insight into how Cersei may die. The prophecy continues in the book, reading: "And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you."

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Actress Lena Headey attends the premiere of HBO's 'Game Of Thrones' Season 6 at TCL Chinese Theatre on April 10, 2016, in Hollywood, California. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

In High Valyrian, a leading Game of Thrones language, "valonqar" means "little brother." This line, while never uttered in the television series, may be a significant clue to Cersei's final fate.

Viewers of the fantasy series already know that spects of Maggy's prophecy have already come true. She married King Robert Baratheon, and had three children fathered by her brother, Jaime Lannister, all of whom died by the end of Season 6. What the prophecy didn't seem to predict is Cersei's fourth pregnancy, revealed in Season 7.

The concept of the "little brother," if played out in the series, may be revealing, considering the recent pregnancy. Many fans of the show have predicted Jaime will be the one to kill Cersei, as he is her lover and the consequences of his betrayal would be devastating. (Yes, Jaime and Cersei are twins, but she was born a few minutes earlier, making Jaime just a smidge younger.) Others have suggested Tyrion Lannister may be the one to do it. Both would fit the prophecy.

Another theory suggests Arya Stark may kill Cersei, as the sitting queen is perched atop her kill list, and will do so while wearing the face of one of Cersei's brothers.

Few fans online seem to know what to make of the role of Cersei's fourth child in all this. It's possible this little Lannister could result in Cersei's demise by childbirth. It seems necessary to note the prophecy specified Cersei would have three children, not four. So will the child be born alive? Or will both Cersei and the child meet their ends before her pregnancy is over?

Well find out what lies ahead for Cersei and the rest of House Lannister when Game of Thrones kicks off its final season on April 14 at 9 p.m.

Uncommon Knowledge

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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