The one to potentially slay Cersei (played by Lena Headey) in season eight of Game of Thrones could have prematurely been revealed.
In the original A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R. R. Martin on which the HBO drama is based, it is told that when Cersei she a child, she went along with her friends Jayne Farman and Melara Hetherspoon to find a witch, Maggy the Frog, in the forest.
Cersei had three questions for the mysterious woman and in the last one she asked whether or not she would have children with her husband, the king.
Maggy replied: “Oh, aye. Six-and-ten for him, and three for you. Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds, she said. And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.”
The “valonqar” is said to mean little brother in High Valyrian according to Septa Saranella and naturally, Cersei was terrified.
Popular suspects have included Cersei’s literal younger brothers, but some fans think it could mean the phrase in a different sense and so other names have also been thrown into the ring.
But in a poll run by Express.co.uk, readers voted overwhelming for Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) as he won 56 per cent of the vote.
Although the incestuous siblings are twins, Jaime is a fraction younger than Cersei meaning he fits the description.
Their relationship was last seen to be wearing thin as Jaime strode off northward with a view to helping the cause against the White Walkers.
Could he be the valonqar?
In second place sits Arya Stark (Maisie Williams) on 33 per cent as being the one to finish Cersei off.
Although the prophecy describes the valonqar as wrapping “his” hands around her throat, Arya cannot be ruled out.
When it’s considered that Arya has the skills of a Faceless Man, male pronouns could apply to the girl, especially as she has had Cersei on her kill list since the very beginning.
Meanwhile, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage) has been a longstanding contender for the title as he and his elder sister have always endured a bad relationship.
As the family outcast, Tyrion has continually rebelled against his sister and their disdain for each other is well known. However, only eight per cent of readers plumped for him as the valonqar.
Another “little brother” in the fantasy epic is the Hound, whose elder sibling is Lannister guard dog the Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson).
Having fled the Lannister’s service, the Hound has come a long way in terms of character development and considering his hatred for both Cersei and his brother, will he attack them both?
However, there could be a spanner in the works as when the programme depicted the events of the book, the last part of the prophecy was omitted.
It is not known why the show didn’t not include the line, but that doesn’t mean the “valonqar” won’t be the one to take down Cersei, if she does die.
The rest of the prophecy has since come true and with the White Walkers looming and the fight for the Iron Throne heating up, Cersei’s days may be numbered.
Game of Thrones season 8 will return to HBO and Sky Atlantic in 2019. Seasons 1-7 are currently streaming on NOW TV.
