Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
Cersei Lannister's prophecy from Maggy the Frog predicts everything that happens to her in Game of Thrones, and this makes it one of the most interesting elements of the HBO series and the books it's based on. Cersei's prophecy is pulled from George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series, though the adaptation changes her conversation with Maggy slightly. The circumstances that lead to her meeting with Maggy are the same, however: a young Cersei visits the witch with a friend, hoping to learn more about their futures.
While tracking down Maggy originally seems like fun for the girls, their visit with the witch turns out to be darker than they expected. When Cersei recalls their meeting in A Feast for Crows, it's revealed that her friend drowned not long after Maggy told her "Worms will have your maidenhead. Your death is here tonight, little one." Although Cersei's life isn't cut short after her time with Maggy, the witch delivers worrisome predictions for her as well. It's no surprise that Cersei remembers Maggy's words with fear, as they actually inform what happens in the books and show.
Maggy The Frog Predicts That Cersei Will Be Queen (& Knows How It Will Happen)
She Tells Cersei That She Won't Become Queen By Marrying Rhaegar
Cersei asks Maggy the Frog three questions when she meets her, and the first is whether she'll "wed the prince." It's clear Cersei is interested in the Iron Throne even at a young age, but the prince she's referring to is Rhaegar Targaryen. Cersei wants to marry Rhaegar as a girl, and her father suggests that the two of them be wed. King Aerys II Targaryen turns down this offer, but Cersei is hopeful about becoming Rhaegar's betrothed when she meets with Maggy. Maggy the Frog knows it won't happen — and that Cersei will marry someone else to become queen.
This is probably the most uplifting part of Maggy's prophecy, and it still has a bleak outcome for Cersei.
Maggy the Frog answers her question about whether she'll wed the prince by saying, "Never. You will wed the king." She's, of course, referring to Robert Baratheon, though Cersei doesn't know it at the time. Robert becomes the king after Robert's Rebellion, and Tywin Lannister convinces him to marry Cersei in order to obtain influence and power. Cersei's relationship with Robert isn't what her younger self envisioned for her future, even if it secures her a position of power. This is probably the most uplifting part of Maggy's prophecy, and it still has a bleak outcome for Cersei.
The Prophecy States A Younger, More Beautiful Queen Will Take Cersei's Throne
Maggy The Frog Could Be Referring To Daenerys Targaryen Or Margaery Tyrell
After Maggy the Frog confirms that Cersei will marry the king, Cersei clarifies, "I will be queen, though?" The witch reaffirms this before delivering bad news for Cersei's reign: that it's destined to end when another queen rises to power. This is a detail that sticks with Cersei well into A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones. Maggy's warning about the queen that takes Cersei's place informs many of her interactions with other women. It reads as follows:
"Aye. Queen you shall be... until there comes another, younger and more beautiful, to cast you down and take all that you hold dear. "
It's not entirely clear who Maggy is referring to in Martin's books, as Cersei's story isn't complete. Cersei does become queen when she marries Robert, and Margaery Tyrell takes that title when Joffrey and then Tommen are crowned — both of whom she marries, though neither marriage is consummated. In the show, Margaery also becomes queen in place of Cersei, but Cersei reclaims the throne once her children (and Margaery) are dead. Daenerys Targaryen casts her down in Game of Thrones season 8, so the prophecy could also refer to her.
Related
Cersei Lannister Became Jaime's Replacement After George R.R. Martin Scrapped The Original Plan To Make Him Westeros' King In Game Of Thrones
George R.R. Martin's original outline for A Song of Ice and Fire included King Jaime Lannister, and it can be seen in Cersei's Game of Thrones story.
Regardless of who the younger queen is, Cersei seems to be on edge around every woman who poses a threat to her position. Maggy the Frog's words make sense of the way she treats Sansa Stark and Margaery, as she believes either of them could be the woman she was warned about. Cersei does everything in her power to ensure they don't have an advantage over her, but she might be looking for threats in the wrong places.
Maggy Knows How Many Children Cersei Will Have & What Happens To Them
Her Perplexing Sentiment Makes Sense Knowing How Things Turn Out
The final question that Cersei asks Maggy is "Will the king and I have children?" And although her cryptic answer is puzzling to Cersei as a child, it makes a lot of sense knowing how things turned out for Cersei and Robert. Maggy states, "Six-and-ten for him, and three for you." She differentiates between the two of them because Robert and Cersei never actually have children together. Robert fathers 16 bastards, something that comes up throughout Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire. Meanwhile, all three of Cersei's children are actually Jaime's.
She knows that Cersei's children will be fathered by Jaime, and their golden crowns highlight that.
Maggy knows this, too, since she tells Cersei, "Gold shall be their crowns, and gold their shrouds." The crowns part has a double meaning, as two of Cersei's children wear golden crowns during their time as king. However, given Maggy's distinction between Cersei's children and Robert's, it's more likely she's referring to their golden Lannister hair. She knows that Cersei's children will be fathered by Jaime, and their golden crowns highlight that. After all, this is how Ned Stark comes to the realization that none of Cersei's children are Baratheons.
Related
This 3-Minute Game Of Thrones Scene Perfectly Changed The Books & Made Cersei Lannister Much Better
Game of Thrones season 1 closely followed George R.R. Martin's firstly book, but one scene showed it could brilliant add to A Song of Ice and Fire.
The shrouds part is more intriguing — and concerning for Cersei — as Maggy the Frog is seemingly referring to funeral shrouds. The prophecy indicates that Cersei's children will all die prematurely, and judging by Game of Thrones, this prediction will also come true. As of this writing, only Joffrey is dead in both the books and the show. However, Myrcella is traveling home on a ship from Dorne at the end of A Dance With Dragons, and that's precisely where she dies in Game of Thrones. The Winds of Winter could give her a similar fate.
It's also likely that Tommen will perish at some point during the next two Song of Ice and Fire books, even though he's currently still alive. He dies by jumping from a window of the Red Keep in Game of Thrones, and Maggy's predictions indicate he'll meet a tragic end in Martin's novels as well. It's hard to see how Tommen could survive, especially with so many more mature and ruthless enemies vying for his throne.
Maggy The Frog Predicted Cersei's Death In The Books
Although this part of Cersei's prophecy is cut from Game of Thrones, Maggy the Frog predicts Cersei's death in Martin's books. After the line about Cersei's children and their golden shrouds, she reveals that Cersei will meet a seemingly violent end. Maggy claims it will happen after she's lost everything, stating:
" And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you. "
This prediction is especially interesting because "valonqar" means "younger brother" in High Valyrian. Cersei is the eldest of the three Lannister siblings, so Maggy could be referring to either Tyrion or Jaime. Cersei clearly believes Tyrion will be the one to kill her, and that's why she treats him so dreadfully in the books and the show. While she doesn't think Jaime would ever hurt her, she's convinced Tyrion is hateful enough to do so. She could be right, as Tyrion's book arc is leading him to Daenerys, which will pit him against Cersei in the end.
Related
Jaime Lannister Being King In George R.R. Martin's Original Game Of Thrones Plan Makes Me Love His Story Way More
"King Jaime Lannister" may have a nice ring to it but, while that was George R.R. Martin's initial plan, Game of Thrones was better off without it.
However, there are also theories that Jaime could be the brother Maggy is referring to. This would put an interesting spin on Cersei's prophecy, upending her expectations and those of the readers. Jaime has no reason to "choke the life" from Cersei currently, but that could change in The Winds of Winter or A Dream of Spring. If his Song of Ice and Fire journey mirrors his Game of Thrones one, Jaime will begin to redeem himself as the series nears its end. Perhaps he won't regress and return to Cersei in the books, with Martin making him the one to end her instead.
Your changes have been saved
Game of Thrones
$45 $85 Save $40
Game of Thrones is a multimedia franchise created by George R.R. Martin. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire is the basis for the award-winning HBO series Game of Thrones, which lasted for eight seasons. After the incredibly divisive final season of Game of Thrones, the series was followed up by the prequel series House of the Dragon, which also received critical acclaim.
English (US) ·