“The Queen’s Justice,” the third episode of Game of Thrones’ seventh season, could just as easily be called “A Song of Ice and Fire,” given that its central development is the long-awaited first meeting of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. Right now, the King in the North and the (hopeful) Queen of the Seven Kingdoms are uneasy allies but while they bickered about who should bend the knee and whether White Walkers really exist or not, a whole lot of other stuff happened outside of Dragonstone that will make Jon and Dany’s lives much more difficult from here on out.
Cersei is making quick work of Dany’s forces and Euron Greyjoy is a force of nature that seemingly can’t be stopped. Will the rest of the season see the Lannister/Greyjoy coalition continue to repel the “foreign invaders” or are Dany and Jon’s fortunes about to change? Here are the biggest questions raised by “The Queen’s Justice.’
11. What Was Melisandre Referring to in Her Speech to Varys?
We didn’t get a reunion between Melisandre and Jon/Davos — the Red Lady wisely kept her distance — but we did see her have an interesting conversation with Varys! Ever the inquisitive fellow, Varys is quick to note how peculiar it is that Melisandre was so enthusiastic about getting Jon Snow to come to Dragonstone, yet is doing her best to avoid any interaction with him. Melisandre replies that she’s played her part: “I’ve brought ice and fire together,” and that she’ll be sailing for Volantis in the near future. This is where things really start to get weird.
Varys tells Melisandre that she would be wise to never return to Westeros (a possible threat?) but she assures him that she will return, stating,”I have to die in this strange country, just like you.” Whether or not he knows what Melisandre is talking about, Varys looks suitably freaked out by this statement and it’s unclear what the Red Priestess is referring to. Did she see Varys’ death in the flames? Or is there something else going on here? As we know, Varys detests magic, having been castrated by a cruel sorcerer as a young boy, so could Melisandre’s death omen be related to this event somehow? Or is Melisandre simply a nihilist who realizes that the Night’s King will be victorious and everyone in Westeros, herself and Varys included, will be killed in the coming storm? Whatever the case, Varys would probably do best not to take Melisandre’s words lightly.
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