Game of Thrones: Unanswered Questions, Solved Mysteries

This page outlines the biggest unanswered questions and mysteries in Game of Thrones Season 7.

What originally appeared to be a small MacGuffin in season one has returned in a big way. The mystery surrounding the Valyrian steel blade that an assassin wielded against Bran Stark (often referred to as the "Catspaw Dagger") can be credited as one of the major causes of the War of the Five Kings. It passed through several hands before disappearing completely towards the end of that original season.

In season seven, the dagger reemerged as an illustration in a book that Samwell Tarly was studying at the Citadel.

Outside of the episodes themselves, the dagger has been featured prominently in promotional material for season seven, likely indicating a much grander purpose for the weapon.

What could the end-game be here, and who will be the unfortunate recipient of the pointy end of that very sharp blade?

Arguably the biggest mystery in Game of Thrones revolves around the prophesied return of a heroic warrior who will battle a great darkness.

According to the prophecy of "The Prince That Was Promised," this warrior will be reborn amidst "salt and smoke," and will wield a magical sword known as Lightbringer.

Melisandre previously believed that Stannis Baratheon was this "prince." However, following his defeat and apparent death, she now claims that Jon Snow is. It is worth noting that Rhaegar Targaryen believed that his firstborn son Aegon was the "Prince." While Aegon was killed as an infant, Rhaegar does have a second son in Jon Snow.

Meanwhile, across the Narrow Sea, the Red Priests of Volantis (including their High Priestess Kinvara) believe that that Daenerys Targaryen is the prophesied one.

In episode two, Missandei reveals that in Valyrian, its original language, the prophecy could be referring to a "prince" or a "princess."

Samwell Tarly traveled from the Wall to Oldtown in order for him to train to become a maester, in the hopes of learning something that Jon Snow can use to combat the impending White Walker invasion.

As Sam himself has said, the Maester library at the Citadel is likely the single greatest collection of knowledge anywhere in the world, so it's no surprise that Sam believes it may could contain forgotten knowledge about the White Walkers.

In season seven, it is revealed that there is a gated and locked portion of the library reserved only for Maesters, which Sam breaks into to steal several books. In one of those volumes, he is reminded that a large quantity of dragonglass exists below Dragonstone. It remains to be seen if there are any further revelations to be found within the library.

The 300-mile long Wall that borders the northern tip of the Seven Kingdoms was built 8,000 years ago for one purpose: to defend the lands to the south from another invasion by the White Walkers.

Apparently, magic woven into the wall itself has prevented White Walkers and their minions from crossing it for thousands of years. However, as we saw in Season 6, after Bran Stark was marked by the Night King, the protective magic of the Three-Eyed Raven's home was lost. Now that Bran has crossed through the Wall, does this mean that its magic has also been tainted or even broken?

We saw a brief glimpse of the man who would become the leader of the White Walkers in a flashback set thousands of years before the start of Game of Thrones, and his subsequent transformation. However, we still do not know who he was exactly, why he was turned into a White Walker, or what his motivations are for re-emerging in recent years.

Additionally, we still do not know if the Night King is the same character as the Night's King from the books, the 13th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch who infamously renounced his vows to marry a woman with "bright blue eyes." He was later brought down by an alliance between the King-Beyond-the-Wall and House Stark.

EditHow will Melisandre and Arya meet again?

When Melisandre and Arya Stark first met in season three, Melisandre told Arya that she saw a "darkness" in her, and that the two will meet again.

Shortly thereafter, Arya set sail to Essos, while Melisandre journeyed north with Stannis Baratheon. Now that Arya has returned to Westeros, and Melisandre has been banished from Winterfell, there is a good chance that the two will soon reunite; but under what circumstances?

EditWhere is Howland Reed?

Howland Reed was a minor figure in the story until very recently, simply known as the father of Bran Stark's companions: Meera and Jojen Reed.

However, a flashback in season six set at the Tower of Joy revealed Jon Snow's true parentage. Of the nine men who fought each other at the tower that day, there were only two survivors: Ned Stark and Howland Reed. This potentially makes Reed the last person alive who can verify Jon Snow's true heritage.

The enigmatic Quaithe of the Shadow is one of Game of Thrones most long-running mysteries. First appearing in season two, Quaithe confronts Jorah Mormont, warning him of a plot being hatched by the warlocks of Qarth. She appears once more later in the season, and we have not heard from her since.

In the books, Quaithe plays a larger role. A magic-user hailing from the Shadow Lands, she appears to Daenerys Targaryen several times in Qarth, Astapor, and Meereen, providing her with cryptic riddles and prophecies.

This section details unanswered questions that were addressed in season seven.

Despite featuring prominently in the first three seasons, Gendry disapeared for a long stretch of time after Davos Seaworth saved him from being scarified by Melisandre, and set him free in a rowboat.

Gendry has become increasingly important in light of recent events. Not only does he have king's blood in him, but he is also the last known survivor of House Baratheon.

In episode five, he makes his long-awaited return, after Ser Davos finds him in King's Landing.

In the time that has passed, Gendry returned to blacksmithing, although he was eagerly awaiting a chance to leave, and heads north to accompany Jon Snow beyond The Wall.

In a bid for marriage with Cersei Lannister, Euron Greyjoy has promised her a gift that will prove his value. Some fans theorized that it will be the Dragonbinder, an object from the books that Euron claims can control dragons. Others believed it may be Gendry, who is possibly the last living Baratheon, and may have a stronger claim to the throne that Cersei herself.

By episode three, it is apparent that Euron's gift is the destruction of Daenerys Targaryen's fleet, and the capture of Yara Greyjoy, Ellaria Sand, and one of the Sand Snakes.

The last time we saw Jorah Mormont, he had been tasked by Daenerys Targaryen to find a cure for the disease he had been afflicted with: greyscale. It appears that he may be currently imprisoned in the Citadel in Oldtown.

In the books, there is no known cure for the disease. Some believe its progress can be slowed by applying substances like boiling water, vinegar, and limes, or through amputation of affected limbs. However, there is no proof that these methods are even somewhat effective.

In episode one though, a book Sam steals from the citadel library reveals that some believe ingesting dragonglass can cure someone of greyscale.

In episode two of season seven, Sam further researches a method of curing greyscale developed by a man named Archmaester Pylos (likely not the same character as the books). Pylos' method was apprently effective in at least one case, but it was deemed too dangerous and was forbidden. Ironically, Pylos himself also died of greyscale.

He also mentions that Shireen Baratheon survived greyscale as a child. In the books, it is implied that it is not incredibly uncommon for children to survive greyscale naturally, although it leaves them permanently disfigured. In the show though, it sounds like Shireen may have been saved by some kind of treatment, perhaps lending credence to the idea that dragonglass could be a cure.

Later, Sam conspires to try and save Jorah by peeling back the top layer of infected skin, and applying some kind of ointment to his body, using the research that Archmaester Pylos assembled. This method proved to be extremely effective, and Jorah has seemingly made a full recovery, albeit with some serious scarring.

In season one, each of the Stark children received a pet direwolf. Four of those wolves are now dead, and Ghost is currently with Jon Snow in the north.. Arya Stark's wolf Nymeria meanwhile has not been seen since being set free in that first season.

In the second episode of season seven, Nymeria finally returns, now leading a pack of wolves in the Riverlands. While it seems like Nymeria does still recognize Arya, the animal chooses not to return to its former companion. Arya seems to recognize and respect this decision, telling the wolf, "that's not you." This is a call-back to the first season, when Arya told her father the same thing as she rejected the lifestyle of a lady of the court.

It is yet to be seen if Nymeria has a bigger role to play, but for now, it is clear that the wolf is still very much alive.

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