‘Game of Thrones’ Episode Two Revealed a Major Theory from the Books to Be True

If you had told me a month ago that the war in the North could be entirely traced back to the actions of Theon Greyjoy, I probably would have laughed. But after last night’s episode, I’m not laughing. All I’m hearing in my head as I sit here writing are the ominous and foreboding words of House Greyjoy: “What is dead, may never die.”

You may not even remember the subtle moment from last night’s episode when it all became crystal clear, because it was presented in such a throwaway fashion, but in my mind it was perhaps the most significant moment of the episode. All of the main players were gathered in a room looking over the battle plans for the impending “Battle of Winterfell.” After Bran throws out the proposal to use himself as bait to lure the Night King in, Theon offers up his services to protect Bran. Theon says, “I took this castle from you, now allow me to protect you.”

Since the first season of Game of Thrones, the Starks have uttered the words “there must always be a Stark in Winterfell.” We never really knew what they meant by this. Was it a metaphorical statement, meaning that a Stark must always be home to rule? That’s what we all assumed, but now more than ever I think the phrase was meant literally: “There must always be a Stark in Winterfell, or else we’ll be in violation of a pact we made thousands of years ago.”

If you look closely at the past seasons, the first time we ever saw the White Walkers marching as one army, coincided with the first time we ever saw Winterfell without a Stark in it, after Theon took the castle in season two and Bran and Rickon escaped and started their journey to the Wall. Eight thousand years ago, House Stark was first created, after a war between the White Walkers and men. In the books, it is implied that there was a peace treaty of some sort brokered, and perhaps part of that treaty was where the phrase “there must always be a Stark in Winterfell” came from. A magical bond between the White Walkers and the diplomatic leaders of the North who vouched to always be in the North to honor the agreements reached.

This could be the entire reason the White Walkers began their march south, and an explanation that answers the long asked question: “Why now?”

The irony here is that the reason Theon came to Winterfell, and the reason the White Walkers are coming to Winterfell is actually one and the same: Both have come back, because of what Theon did in season two, when he took this sacred castle from the family sworn to protect it.

You may have overlooked the song that Podrick sang, while that merry band of misfits was gathered around the fire, but it actually holds great significance in possibly foreshadowing what’s to come. The song is about a woman named Jenny from Oldstones, who a Targaryen Prince fell in love with. His family wouldn’t allow him to marry her, and thus he cast aside his claim to the Iron Throne. He chose love over his claim to the throne, something it seems Jon may be forced to do if he does truly love Daenerys.

But as the story of Jenny from Oldstones and Duncan Targaryen go, it was all for naught as Duncan died tragically in an explosion, where it is thought he and other Targaryens were experimenting with wildfire in an attempt to hatch a stone dragon egg. Could this mean Jon is destined to die in a tragic explosion of wildfire?

As we continue discussing prophecies fulfilled, one quick note here is that Arya and Gendry finally giving in to the sexual tension does in a way fulfill a prophecy all the way back from the first episode of the series. In the crypts of Winterfell, King Robert said to Ned Stark: “I have a son. You have a daughter. We’ll join our houses.” The long anticipated Stark-Baratheon marriage may finally come to pass.