A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Egg’s Prophecy Explained

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The show has now passed the halfway point of its season, and the tone of Game of Thrones is becoming more intense. The third episode, “The Squire,” explored this new period in Westeros’ history, revealing that dragons are gone, but the Targaryen family still exists—and isn’t very popular. Aerion Targaryen, in particular, proved to be volatile, intentionally injuring an opponent’s horse during a competition, even though the rules forbade it.

Throughout the series, the true identity of young Egg remained a mystery, but this episode confirmed what many viewers had guessed: he is one of the lost sons of Prince Maekar Targaryen I. He was forced to reveal himself when Aerion attempted to harm Dunk for protecting Tanselle the Tall. Before this reveal, Dunk and Egg encountered a mysterious fortune-teller whose words deeply disturbed Egg. Though A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has generally been seen as a story focused on action rather than magic, this prophecy suggests there’s more to the tale than meets the eye.

What Did Egg’s Prophecy Mean?

The fortune-teller gave Dunk a typical prediction: he would become very successful and wealthy. For Dunk, who had nothing at the time, it was just a bit of amusement for his money. But when the fortune-teller looked at Dunk’s small squire, who seemed weak and unremarkable, her predictions became much more detailed.

When Dunk asked her to foretell Egg’s destiny, she replied with a grim prophecy: he would become king, but meet a fiery death, leaving only ashes for worms to consume, and those who knew him would celebrate his end. Surprisingly, her words eventually came true, though much later in their lives. Readers unfamiliar with the history of the Targaryen family, especially the period between the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones, might not realize just how important Egg—or Aegon V—truly was.

Aegon was born into a family with little chance of ever ruling. However, a series of unexpected events led him to become king, confirming a fortune-teller’s prediction. When his father, Maekar I, died, the royal succession became unclear. A Great Council was called to decide who should be king, and they bypassed Prince Daeron’s children, ultimately choosing Aegon’s brother to take the throne.

Let me tell you about Aemon Targaryen – a fascinating figure I encountered while delving into Westeros’ history. He was actually in line to be king, but surprisingly, he turned it all down to become a maester! This opened the door for Aegon V, who unexpectedly became the next ruler – earning him the nickname ‘Aegon the Unlikely.’ What really struck me was that despite being a surprise pick, his reign was actually a really good one for the common people. Apparently, the nobles weren’t thrilled with a king who prioritized the smallfolk, but as a viewer, I found it refreshing to see a leader focused on genuine goodness.

Even The Darkest Part of the Prophecy Came True

Egg, having spent years among the common people of Westeros, remained sympathetic to their needs even after becoming King and attempted to pass laws to help them. Meanwhile, Ser Duncan rose to lead the Kingsguard and ultimately became more wealthy and renowned than even members of the powerful Lannister family, as a trusted advisor to the King. Unfortunately, Egg’s reign was marked by difficulties that eventually led to his demise.

Though many nobles disliked him for caring about the common people, King Aegon V – known as Egg – also felt insecure because he lacked the power of dragons to support his rule. Dragons were nearly extinct, but Egg desperately tried to revive them by building a huge fire at Summerhall. Sadly, the attempt failed, and the fire killed both Egg and his knight, Ser Duncan. The nobles of Westeros, who resented Egg’s kindness to the lower classes, were secretly pleased with their deaths.

This meant Jaehaerys II became king, and he was followed by others. The prophecy surrounding Aegon V was unsettling, suggesting he played a surprisingly crucial role in Westeros’s history, despite appearing unimportant in the tales of his youth.

The show probably won’t delve deeply into these characters’ personal histories. It will mainly focus on the adventures they share, as described in George R.R. Martin’s books. However, understanding their backgrounds is crucial for viewers to feel grounded in the world of Westeros with this new series.

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2026-02-08 03:09