George R.R. Martin’s latest book confirms a popular theory about Gendry’s character arc

December 18th, 1:43am December 18th, 1:43am Abhinav Pathak22, Game of Thrones geek, Passionate Fiction Writer and the author of ‘Gopalkant’s Wife’.

Gendry – the last living heir of Robert Baratheon in the TV series (apart from Edric Storm in the books) has a lot ahead in his character arc. A popular theory about his end-game suggests a lot for him, which has almost been confirmed by George R.R. Martin’s latest book – ‘Fire and Blood’.

We will talk about how the popular theory is confirmed but let’s first discuss the theory itself and its chances of being true if not for the new book, following Gendry’s journey so far. Nope, we are not talking about the theory of Arya Stark and Gendry ending up together in the end. That may be true but this theory is entirely different and suggests that Gendry, being the last and sole heir of House Baratheon may be legitimized and doing something epic in the Final Season like slaying the Ice Dragon. Many fans and popular YouTubers have long theorized this.

Gendry’s Journey So Far…

Gendry is first introduced to us in the TV show indirectly by the late Petyr ‘Littlefinger’ Baelish – when he suggests Eddard Stark to visit Tobho Mott’s shop in Flea Bottom. When Ned follows and visits the blacksmith’s shop, he meets Gendry for the first time and immediately realizes that he is Robert Baratheon’s bastard son.

The scene ends with Ned saying to Tobho Mott, “If the day ever comes when that boy would rather wield a sword than forge one, send him to me.”  We ultimately got a big callback from this important scene in the seventh season, when Gendry ultimately returned after rowing for three seasons in season 7. He also made a war hammer for himself just like his father once wielded and had used in the Battle of the Trident.

Gendry then ends up becoming a travelling companion for Arya but the group is taken prisoner by the Lannisters and taken to Harrenhal. The two along with Hot Pie, break out of Harrenhal with the help of Jaqen H’ghar and come across the Brotherhood without Banners. Hot Pie later finds a life serving as a baker at and an inn, while the other two continue their journey with the brotherhood.

Gendry is then taken captive by the Red Priestess – Melisandre, who performs some bizarre blood magic rituals using him. Yet, jokes aside Mel has told Gendry a few important lines which definitely have to pay off in the coming events of the Final Season. Two of them are:

“You are more than they can ever be… They are just foot soldiers in the Great War… You will make Kings rise and fall.”

“[You’re] the Bastard of Robert of the House Baratheon, the first of his name, King of the Andals and the First Men.”

After Mel’s ritual on him, Ser Davos Seaworth frees Gendry, making him escape on a boat from Dragonstone. The fans including me wondered where the character had been for complete three seasons, yet he returned in the Seventh Season slaying all those ‘boat-rowing’ jokes. He has returned and will also play a huge role in the Final Season, as confirmed by the actor himself.

Gendry is found by Davos while on a secret mission to King’s Landing, who joins him on his way back to Dragonstone. He then goes on the wight hunting venture with Jon Snow and party beyond-the-Wall but has to take a marathon back to Eastwatch in order to send a raven to Daenerys Targaryen, informing her about the White Walker ambush. We don’t get see any more of him in the last season.

But, the scripts of the last season have confirmed that he is with team Jon and Daenerys and is most probably travelling to Winterfell with them. And, we can’t hold our grudges for awaiting reunion of Arya and Gendry.

What did ‘Fire and Blood’ confirm?

George R.R. Martin’s latest book ‘Fire and Blood’ confirms a lot of things – at least the binge-readers say so. Like for example, the origin of the dragons of Daenerys in the first place and even an exciting parallel between Aegon the Conquerer and the current Aegon – Jon Snow.

‘The World of Ice and Fire’ – an account of Westerosi history has already given the link of Orys Baratheon – the founder of House Baratheon with the Targaryens. But, the latest book gives us more insight on how Gendry of House Baratheon may be legitimized by a Targaryen (Jon or Dany, if they survive the Great War). Quoting the two passages here:

“The son of a common blacksmith, Hammer was a huge man, with hands so strong that he was said to be able to twist steel bars into torcs. Though largely untrained in the art of war, his size and strength made him a fearsome foe. His weapon of choice was the Warhammer, with which he delivered crushing, killing blows.”

“In battle he rode Vermithor, once the mount of the Old King himself; of all the dragons in Westeros, only Vhagar was older or larger. For all these reasons, Lord Hammer (as he now styled himself) began to dream of crowns. “Why be a lord when you can be a king?” he told the men who began to gather round him”

“And talk was heard in camp of a prophecy of ancient days that said, “When the hammer shall fall upon the dragon, a new king shall arise, and none shall stand before him.” Whence came these words remains a mystery (not from Hammer himself, who could neither read nor write), but within a few days every man at Tumbleton had heard them.”

“Though Hammer’s ambition was unseemly in one born so low, the bastard undeniably possessed some Targaryen blood and had proved himself fierce in battle and open-handed to those who followed him, displaying the sort of largesse that draws men to leaders as a corpse draws flies.”

“They were the worst sort of men, to be sure: sellswords, robber knights, and like rabble, men of tainted blood and uncertain birth who loved battle for its own sake and lived for rapine and plunder. Many had heard the prophecy that the hammer would smash the dragon, and took it to mean that Hard Hugh’s triumph was foreordained.”

Two interesting parallels between Hugh the Hammer and Gendry here – both are blacksmiths and high-born bastards. If the prophecy is to be believed can Gendry hammer down the Wight Viserion controlled by the Night King? And, will he be legitimized after the Great War to become King Gendry Baratheon of Storm’s End?

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