‘Game Of Thrones’: The Case For Daenerys Targaryen Marrying Jon Snow
We’re nearing the end of Game of Thrones, and with the end in sight, and with no new episodes to watch at this time, we’re left to wonder how it may all end. Among the questions on the minds of viewers is the fate of two of the show’s biggest characters – Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow. When we last saw Khaleesi, she was on her way to King’s Landing with Tyrion Lannister, Theon and Yara Greyjoy, and the rest of her crew. Her goal, the one she’s had her eye on for many seasons of Game of Thrones now, is to take the Iron Throne. With Cersei Lannister currently on the throne and Jon Snow the new King of the North who shares the same goal as Daenerys, there will be battles to be had. The battle between the three for the Iron Throne is not the only one to be fought, however. Now that winter has arrived, the White Walkers will have to be dealt with. It’s this battle and some politics that may bring together Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow.
In Season 6 of Game of Thrones, just before leaving Meereen, Daenerys told Daario that he would not be coming with her. She told him that she needed to leave Meereen in the hands of someone she could trust to keep the city safe and free of slavery. Tyrion asked her who she would marry, and she said she may not marry anyone, but it’s likely she may change her mind once she arrives in Westeros. Part of the the strategy when it comes to playing the game of thrones is to form alliances that can improve your chances of success. A marriage to Jon Snow would do that since he is the new King of the North who has recently gained a great deal of support.
There are two problems with this possible union.
The first problem is an important piece of Game of Thrones history. The Mad King, King Aerys Targaryen, killed Ned Stark’s father and brother. There understandably has been bad blood between the families ever since. But Nerdist presents an ancient pact between the Targaryens and the Starks that existed before Aerys went mad.
This pact was formed during a civil war amongst the Targaryens. The war was known as The Dance of Dragons. The Stark family supported Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen on the condition that a Targaryen would marry a Stark, forming an alliance. Once Aerys went mad and blood was spilled, such an arrangement was off the table, so it has never been fulfilled. It’s possible that Game of Thrones could give us a Daenerys Targaryen marriage to Jon Snow as a fulfillment of that pact.
In addition, Game of Thrones fans expect to see a war with the White Walkers. Jon Snow is a reluctant king, but he accepts the position largely because he feels he is the only one who really understands the threat posed by the White Walkers. He has seen them and knows what they can do. Snow also felt very unprepared at the close of Season 6 of Game of Thrones. He needs a really powerful weapon for the coming battle, and he doesn’t have one right now. Dragons would be an amazing weapon in this epic fight. Jon may marry Daenerys to form an alliance so that her dragons can be used against the White Walkers. He can’t lose this battle and everything he cares about. He’s looking for an edge. And the dragons could be that edge.
Of course, there is the little detail that Daenerys is actually Jon Snow’s aunt. Neither of them know that yet, but they are related. Marrying and/or having sexual relations with a relative is certainly not unheard of in Game of Thrones. It is frowned upon, but it happens. We’ve seen it between Jaime and Cersei, and we know it has happened multiple times among the Targaryens. When Jon learns the true identity of his parents, how will he feel? He has always thought of himself as a Stark, but he’s actually a Targaryen. This will certainly not sit well. It’s something he will struggle with. But maybe eventually he would see a marriage to Daenerys as a way to bring an end to that historic Game of Thrones animosity. Snow is a peacemaker, and he may see this marriage as a way to both defeat the White Walkers and bring peace between the Starks and the Targaryens.
[Featured Image by HBO]
