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The world of Game of Thrones is riddled with compelling, unsolved mysteries, and there are several I'm hoping George R.R. Martin answers. Martin's A Song of Ice & Fire book series and companion texts like Fire & Blood and The World of Ice & Fire offer dense world-building, and though they're often considered "low-magic" fantasy, there's a sense of mysticism and grander intrigue that comes from the way the author sprinkles around mysteries and clues. While I love the ambiguities of Martin's world, there are also some questions I'm dying to know the answers to.
Now, we can talk about things like R+L=J or the Pink Letter forever, but there are also less prevalent mysteries that don't necessarily need to be answered for the plot to ensue. Some pertain to events surrounding A Song of Ice & Fire and its characters, while others, which are less likely to be answered, relate to the lore in Fire & Blood. House Targaryen's history in Westeros alone leaves numerous unanswered questions, and while I love some of the answers provided by House of the Dragon, it doesn't satisfy the same desire as seeing what George R.R. Martin thinks.
10 What Happened To Ashara Dayne?
What Exactly Led To Ashara's Death?
Ashara Dayne was the sister of Ser Arthur Dayne during Robert's Rebellion, and the story claims that she took her own life after the war ended. Ashara is a character we learn about in the books from other characters sharing their opinions about her, and there are some who believe she may have been Jon Snow's mother. That theory has largely been disproven by the TV series confirming R+L=J, but it's still worth noting since even Catelyn Stark wonders about the possibility of it in A Game of Thrones.
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As for what precisely led to Ashara Dayne's suicide, the details are foggy. There's reason to believe Ashara was "dishonored" at some point before her death and that she was pregnant at some point during the war, but there's not enough information to make clear assertions about either. This is one mystery that seems important for Martin to clear up, especially as it pertains to Ned Stark's past.
9 Where Is Tysha?
Tyrion's First Love Is Out There Somewhere
One of the biggest differences about Tyrion Lannister in the books is that, in A Storm of Swords, he discovers that the woman he was once married to is still alive. For show fans, this is the girl that he found assaulted by bandits, whom Tywin told him was planted by Jaime to fall in love with him. Well, it turns out she wasn't planted, and she actually did fall in love with Tyrion. She also wasn't killed and is still alive somewhere in the world.
Tyrion spends a portion of A Dance with Dragons wondering about her, hoping he'll find her as he travels Essos. Some have theorized about Sailor's Wife, a prostitute in Braavos who only beds those who marry her. She also has a daughter named Lanna (Lannister?), who has golden hair and is the right age to be Tyrion's daughter. It's an exciting idea, and I'm not sure if I'd like Tyrion to reunite with her, but I'm curious to know for certain if this is actually her.
8 What Happened At The Tragedy Of Summerhall?
What Killed Dunk & Egg?
Artwork by Marc Simonetti. During the reign of the Targaryen dynasty, Summerhall was a castle used as a summer castle and one of the royal family's secondary fortresses after the Red Keep and Dragonstone. In 259 AC, roughly 30 years before the events of A Song of Ice & Fire, a mysterious fire happened at the castle, causing the deaths of King Aegon V Targaryen, Ser Duncan the Tall, Prince Duncan Targaryen, and more.
In Westeros, the dates use "AC," which refers to the number of years "After Conquest." Any dates before Aegon's Conquest count in the opposite direction, using "BC."
Given that this event killed off some of the most beloved characters in George R.R. Martin's world, it's one that I'm hoping he'll explain in future Dunk & Egg novellas. Or, at the least, maybe the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show will provide a speculative answer. Apparently, Aegon V sought to bring back dragons, and Barristan Selmy inferred that dark magic might have been involved. Perhaps it was simply an experiment gone wrong, but I'd like to know for sure.
7 What Happened At Hardhome? (Before ADWD)
Hardhome Was Destroyed Without Explanation
TV fans will remember Hardhome as the site of one of the best battles in the Game of Thrones franchise, but there's more lore to the location that the show leaves out. Long before the events of A Song of Ice & Fire, Hardhome was on its way to being the first proper town north of the Wall. Roughly six centuries before the books, the town was abruptly destroyed under vague circumstances.
The town's people were either killed or taken into slavery, mysterious screams were heard coming from caves, and all that remained were burnt bones and trees.
According to the lore, homes in the town were randomly set ablaze to the extent that the Night's Watch was able to see glimpses of it from atop the Wall, miles away, believing that the sun was rising from the north. The town's people were either killed or taken into slavery, mysterious screams were heard coming from caves, and all that remained were burnt bones and trees. It's unknown whether this was caused by some natural event, mystical creatures, White Walkers, dragons, or something else entirely.
6 Where Did Aerea Targaryen Go With Balerion?
Aerea Stole The World's Largest Dragon For Over A Year
It's hard to beat the mystique of dragons, and one of my favorite mysteries ties directly to Balerion the Black Dread. During the reign of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, a princess named Aerea claimed Balerion without anyone's permission and disappeared with him for over a year. She eventually returned to King's Landing severely ill, with horrible creatures living inside her body, causing smoke to come from her mouth.
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It's one of the most horrifying deaths in Martin's world, and that's saying something. While the septon attending her believed Balerion had taken her to the ruins of Valyria, there must be more to the story than that. She was gone for an entire year, somehow surviving with the largest dragon in the world. Valyria couldn't have been her only stop, but the fact that Balerion would even take her there raises fascinating questions about dragon autonomy.
5 What Has Howland Reed Been Up To?
Howland Reed Was At The Tower Of Joy
Howland Reed is one of those characters who exists in the periphery of A Song of Ice & Fire. He definitely has information that we want to hear, which is likely why George R.R. Martin hasn't brought him directly into the story yet. His castle, Greywater Watch, is known for moving, and though there's a practical reason for this, it still seems mystical in the sense that armies and ravens can't find it. Not to mention, he sends Jojen Reed to help Bran discover his greenseeing powers.
Perhaps the most important thing we want to know is related to Howland Reed being present at the Tower of Joy. After Ned Stark's death, he's the only person alive from the mysterious event, meaning he's probably aware of Jon Snow's parentage. I'd like to see him return and provide some answers, but I'd also like to know what else he's been up to this whole time, perhaps something related to the Others or Children of the Forest.
4 Who Are The Others? (& What Do They Want)
What Really Happened With The Children Of The Forest?
The biggest question in A Song of Ice & Fire certainly pertains to the central plot, but weirdly, it doesn't feel like an actively discussed subject. The Others are the first antagonist introduced in A Game of Thrones and arguably the biggest disappointment in the Game of Thrones TV series. There's got to be something different about how they're going to be handled in George R.R. Martin's books, making it a more worthwhile arc for the series.
We know that the First Men and the Children of the Forest defeated the Others in the first Long Night, thousands of years before the events of A Song of Ice & Fire. The biggest question regarding them seems to be their relationship with the Children, as there's probably more there than what we know from the legends. Game of Thrones showed the Children incidentally creating the Others, but I'd be interested to see this mythology expanded upon.
3 Where Did Daenerys' Dragon Eggs Come From?
Who's The Real Mother Of (Dany's) Dragons?
The mystery of Dany's dragon eggs is something that's inconsequential to the series but that I'd honestly just like to know. Illyrio Mopatis claims that they've come from Asshai, an area I'd be curious to know more about in general. This has led many to believe that Elissa Farman, the woman who stole dragon eggs during the reign of Jaehaerys I, stole the eggs that would eventually become Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal.
I certainly subscribe to the Elissa Farman theory, as I like the idea that Corlys Velaryon saw her ship in Asshai. That's a very compelling clue, combining different eras of history in Westeros to reveal something of an answer. I'd be satisfied if that was the last piece of information we got regarding the origin of those eggs, but I'd be curious to see for sure.
2 What Was In The Letter Aegon I Received From Dorne?
Aegon The Conqueror Ended A War Abruptly Due To A Single Mysterious Letter
Aegon the Conqueror read this letter, flew away from the scene, and then returned, announcing peace with Dorne.
In Aegon's conquest of Westeros, the only region he failed to control was Dorne, which resisted the Targaryen dynasty for nearly two centuries. Aegon's sister and wife, Rhaenys, was killed by a Dornish scorpion bolt while on dragonback, resulting in a two-year period known as the Dragon's Wroth, where Aegon set fire to Dorne on dragonback. Shortly after, Princess Deria Martell brought Aegon the skull of the dragon Meraxes, as well as a letter.
Aegon the Conqueror read this letter, flew away from the scene, and then returned, announcing peace with Dorne. The contents of this letter aren't revealed to the reader, but they must have been incredibly powerful to make Aegon announce immediate peace with his enemies and explain nothing about it.
1 What Happened To Blackfyre?
The Targaryen Ancestral Swords Are Missing
Blackfyre was the ancestral Valyrian steel sword of Aegon the Conqueror, passed down to various Targaryen kings for centuries. In 182 AC, Aegon IV legitimized his bastard son, Daemon, who formed a cadet house called House Blackfyre. Aegon IV also bestowed the family sword to Daemon despite having a legitimate son, Daeron II Targaryen. This eventually resulted in a conflict of succession called the First Blackfyre Rebellion.
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Daemon Blackfyre died in battle and his half-brother Aegor Rivers retrieved the blade, bringing it to Essos when he started the Golden Company. The blade hasn't been seen since. Similarly, the Valyrian steel sword Dark Sister was reportedly taken beyond the Wall by Brynden Rivers decades later. Game of Thrones didn't provide any answers, so I'm hoping George R.R. Martin will.
Based on George R.R. Martin's novels, this fantasy series follows the power struggles among noble families as they vie for control of the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. The series is known for its complex characters, political intrigue, and unexpected plot twists.
Release Date April 17, 2011
Seasons 8
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