the future of gendry

[baxter]

I always assumed he would some how come across the two swords from Ice and reforge it for Jon. I assumed that Jorah would return with Dany and Jon would return Longclaw to Jorah as a forgiveness. It may not be called Ice anymore though, perhaps they call it Fire and its the red sword of AA? For that to happen though, Gendry would have to some how come across both swords and take it up the Wall somehow (Or the wall falls and Jon+wildlings haul it back to the south. Perhaps Stannis takes the throne and acquires Goff's sword, learns of how it happened and sends it to Winterfell?

Too many moving parts though, I suspect Gendry will just happily end up as a smith but Arya falls in love with him and marries him because she's Arya "the honey badger" Stark. She don't care.

[NotSoSilentSister]

I think the main point of Gendry is to be cute with Arya (Robert/Joanna gone right) and be reunited with her in time for the final battle with the Others in the Riverlands, so that we start imagining a really happy ending for her, to make it extra tragic when she's killed.

I also like the theories that involve him playing a part in the creation of Lightbringer, but I don't think that this will make him AA, or a head of the dragon or a candidate for the Iron Throne. I suspect fullfilling the entire AA prophecy will be a team effort. In the original legend there were several attempts to forge the hero's sword and only the third succeeded - the first time it was tempered in water, the second time in a lion's heart, the third time in Nissa Nissa. I take this to mean that there have to be 3 sacrifices and 3 itinerations of the sword. The first was Ice and the sacrifice was Ned. The second is Oathkeeper and the sacrifice will be Jaime (killed by the woman who loves him for utilitarian purposes - would neatly match the lion in the orginal legend) - the third will be Lightbringer 2.0 and the sacrifice might well be Arya, but I don't think it has to be Gendry who kills her (I think he will be just responsible for the pragmatic aspect of the reforging). In fact it would be even more devasting if it were Jon, who,let's face it, is probably going to wield it in the final battle.

I can't see how Gendry would end as a Stormlord or on the Iron Thrones. Either things like lordships and thrones and bloodlines still matter when all is done - and then I don't see a way for Gendry to prove his parentage, so he's out - or they don't, in that case, Gendry might well end up in a position of power accidentially, because there won't be much other people left (I agree, he's a surviver, he will be one of the last ones standing), but again , I think it's unlikely, because he's simply never shown that kind of amibition to rule over others.

What I can see even less is why people who profess to like Gendry would _want_ him to end up as Lord or on the Throne. Gendry on the Iron Throne would be a sad waste of a good blacksmith! The books highlight on several occasion how much Gendry likes his job. It's was he can do best and it's what makes him proud and happy. The Iron Throne however is designed to be uncomfortable and the series shows us again and again how difficult ruling is for people who have a conscience and a sense of responsibility. Jon and Dany struggle with this a lot and might be slowly learning to cope with this (or not, let's not argue about this now), but Gendry has never had to entertain these concerns and I think they would hopelessly overwhelm him and make him utterly miserable.

I want a happy ending for Gendry, but one that invovles him remaining a commoner. I think for the last book to deserve the name "A Dream of Spring" it also has to show us glimpses of hope for the smallfoll - we need to see that lowborn will be fine - and Gendry's story could do that. Apart from him there are few other commoners we are encouraged to get emotionally invested in (Osha maybe, but that's about it.)

[whitters23]

George R.R Martin said it will be a bittersweet ending.whenever i think of the bitter ending,I always is reminded of Sansa and she will be forever in hiding.I think I can see Sansa and Gendry together in the future like Jaime said and eventually really fulfilling the Baratheon-Stark promise that Eddard and Robbert made.

Although I hope this doesnt happen as i kinda like Arya with Gendry and want Sansa to be out of hiding and be active Stark ,we have to admit that Arya and Gendry are so alike ,you need yin and yang to make it work.

The interesting thing about Jaime's quote though is that while he was referring to Arya being married and Sansa as the one missing and who will hopefully forget she is a Stark and wed some burly blacksmith... the roles were actually reversed. It is actually Sansa that is married and Arya who is truly missing and currently trying to forget she is a Stark, while Sansa is only pretending to be a bastard until the time comes to claim Winterfell.

I'm a believer of the Arya/Gendry possible romance in the future. They have a history and a friendship. We know that they work well together. It seems like Gendry likes Arya as she is, a badass warrior woman. And Arya doesn't care about status or lordships or what is proper. In fact I think she likes that he's a blacksmith. I could be wrong but I believe on various occasions she just sits and watches him at the forge. Arya's always liked the lives of commoners. She loves to talk to them and finds their lives interesting, and perhaps even wishes that she could have a life like theirs, with more 'freedoms' and less rules. I really can't see why people like the idea of Sansa with him instead... unless it is solely because they are a bit closer in age. Personally I don't think Sansa would be interested in him at all. She wouldn't want to marry a blacksmith, and a bastard at that! Even with all she's been through I think her ideals are still very much the same. I just can't see Sansa ever enjoying the life of a commoner. I think she will marry a lord, make a good match for the family, BUT I'm really hoping that she gets the nice knight that she's always dreamed of. She deserves something beautiful out of all of the crap she's been through. I just don't think Gendry is the one to give her that. Perhaps this Harry the Heir is actually a decent fellow.

Isn't everyone forgetting Edric Storm? Of Roberts bastards, he is the oldest male with the best education, and most natural to rule Storm's End. Everyone knows who he is, and he seems well liked at Storm's End. He also has good repport with Shireen, and they seem like a natural marriage to consolidate Baratheon power.

I like Gendry and all, but unless Edric somehow comes up as dead in the next little while, I wouldn't count Gendry as a contender for Storm's End's seat.

Edric Storm is actually much younger than Gendry. He's supposed to be around Bran's age whereas Gendry is about Robb's age. As far as we know Gendry is the oldest of Robert's bastard sons. We've only been introduced to two of his bastards that are older than Gendry and both of them are girls.

I feel like this will end up being important somehow. Especially since Varys seems to have plans for him, maybe? I believe that it was confirmed that it was Varys that got him the apprenticeship with Mott (paying double the fee even!). Perhaps he wanted to get him aquainted with the use of a hammer? Also he was the one who saved Gendry by sending him to the Watch when Cersei went on her bastard killing spree. Why was he important to save? Varys does nothing that does not help his cause in some way or another.

A lot of people think that he might have claim to the throne but I can't see that happening. I don't see him even wanting the throne. However I could see him inheriting Storms End. I believe I read on ASOIAF wiki that a bastard CAN inherit if there are no surviving relatives. I don't even believe that they have to be legitimized, because it went on to further say that if legitimized they can inherit once there are no trueborn children left, sons or daughters. So legitimizing moves you up in the succession line, skipping over uncles or cousins. So if this is true, even though he is a bastard, the only ones standing in his way are Stannis and Shireen. I don't think Stannis is going to live and Val seems to think Shireen is marked for death due to the greyscale.

Now Gendry has no idea who his father is now, but look at all of the people that do. Cersei, Varys, Stannis, Brienne, and likely Littlefinger (because he knew of Robert's other bastards and helped Ned in his search). Also personally I think Davos could have some role in this discovery. He knew Edric well and is a smart man. I think if he met him he would piece it together as fast as Brienne. I don't think it will remain a secret for much longer.

Personally I don't think Gendry will want the life of a lord. I think he's content being a smith and now as a knight, protecting the weak and innocent. That's what he's made for and I like the idea that that's the kind of life that Arya wants too.

[panther]

Gendry on the Iron Throne would be a sad waste of a good blacksmith! ... The Iron Throne however is designed to be uncomfortable and the series shows us again and again how difficult ruling is for people who have a conscience and a sense of responsibility.

In the end, Gendry reforges the Iron Throne, as an allegory of reforming the seven kingdoms from a monarchy that oppresses the common man to a democracy ruled by the common man.

[LordDolorousEdd]

just an idea, as a bastard Baratheon he has some 'blood of the dragon' in him similar to how Stannis is able to have the 'light' part of light-bringer. This could have meaning in relation to forging light-bringer.....

[BrojenReed]

Maybe Gendry will reappear in some capacity, maybe he won't. Any one theory is just as valid as another at this point-- but I wouldn't be surprised if he just stayed out of the picture from here on out. I mean, he's already helped along three major POV storylines (Ned, Arya, and Brienne), and maybe that was his purpose in the story. Just because he isn't dead doesn't mean he's coming back. And of course it seems like his being Robert's bastard is significant enough to bring him back in the picture, but perhaps GRRM wanted to create some room for fan speculation with Edric, Gendry, and Mya, and only one or none will actually end up being of much consequence. And I get the argument of "then why is he such a big character in the show?", but it's totally possible that's just for now and they will phase him out like George did. Not saying that I think this is the case, just kinda throwing it out there.

I will say this- if he does come back, I hope there's a little Westerosi bromance between him and Jon.

[xRobbStarkx]

I can't see Gendry taking on any role other than forging a major sword, maybe he might eventually take over Mikken's vacant role in Winterfell as well. He has endeared himself to Arya, so it would fit to have him take up residence in Winterfell when all is said and done. His claim is less than that of Edric Storm IIRC, so I can't see him making any play for the throne.

*Not positive on Edric Storm's age vs. Gendry

[HouseLancaster]

Gendry is the oldest. But his claim to anything (Iron Thone, Storms End, Aryas end), like every other character depends on others dying first, powers changing hands and him being excepted. Jon, Dany, Stannis, everyone, are all reliant on these variables. In this capacity, he's as likely as Edric Storm in becoming a person of note.

I can't see him forging anything important though, there has been no real implication for that. It's more likely his path will lead him to be a warrior like his father. If he is to BE anything in future novels its likely going to be as a result of Brienne or a Brotherhood revolt. I doubt Ayra will be a BIG player in later books - she'll have a role 'behind the scenes' but her thing will be he connection, or lack there of, to those she loves.

[LordDolorousEdd]

gendry in the king or queens guard

[xRobbStarkx]

I can't see him forging anything important though, there has been no real implication for that.

Did he not apprentice for Tobho Mott, the only character we have been introduced to who claims to know how to forge/split Valyrian Steel (also the person who split Ice into Oathkeeper and Widow's Wail)? I figured that as this man's apprentice he may have picked up secrets behind forging valyrian steel. That was my basis behind the "forging a sword" comment I made.

[mediterraneo]

So why tell his story then? What would the point be? Did GRRM put him in there just for fun? For shits and giggles?

A good point taken in this thread is that Gendry story could even have been told to show the number of things that happen in a 'realistic' fantasy world, and to hide between multiple inproductive actions the decisive ones for the story. GRRM said a lot of time that he writes planting seeds, not projecting architecture. All of the pilars of a building do have a purpose, while not all of the seeds end up in a great tree.

I hope Gendry will have a role in somehow preventing Arya from going too far in her assassin path. But that's a hope.

One thing I'm sure Gendry will not do is to forge Lightbringer. Lightbringer is not a phisical sword. It probably is the Night's Watch, and Jon Snow already had to kill his Nissa Nissa in order to make it true.

Bye!

[The Snowman]

If George was an author that liked happy endings and good people got the happily ever aGoT wouldve ended with Ned Stark ruling the Iron Throne as regent or Robb wouldve crushed the lannsiters (even more than he did) and Renly or Stannis wouldve taken the Iron Throne but....thats obviously not what happened. I think its a good thing that Gendry is out of the way for now. Arya is not in Westeros and I just feel that his path will be tied to hers. That would mean Arya would need to get back to Westeros. Also I could see him teaming up with Brienne and Jaime (if those two happen to survive...please george haha)

I dont think the final stand of the series against the others will be at the wall. It seems to easy, I think it will be at Winterfell and most of the big characters will find themselves around there. It would also be cool if Jon and Gendry met up, Jon the only 'Stark' child besides Arya to look like Ned while Gendry is the spitting image of Renly whom was described as what Robert looked like when he was younger. It just seems fitting but then again Jon might be a Stark/Targ.

Anyway George could just leave Jon dead, kill Brienne, Jaime and Gendry could die cus he like's to shit on our dreams as readers :'(

[TheeMikeHoncho]

*Not positive on Edric Storm's age vs. Gendry

Yeah i always assumed that Edric and Jon were at least close to the same age because they shared the same nanny.

[whitters23]

Yeah i always assumed that Edric and Jon were at least close to the same age because they shared the same nanny.

I believe when Edric Dayne meets up with Arya he is 12 years old (or around that), and at that point Jon is 16 or close to it (because Robb was 16 when he got married). They shared the same wet nurse but that doesn't mean at the same time. A woman will continue to produce milk as long as she has a child feed, so often a wet nurse would feed several children over the years, usually one after the other.

[Weeping Sore]

Correct me if I'm wrong: rules of succession in Westeros put even a bastard son ahead of a brother, and clearly ahead of the twincest offspring. Since Robert Baratheon was the last king that all seven kingdoms bowed to and Gendry is his (eldest?) male offspring, then he is the legitimate heir.

My thinking is the High Septon might confer legitimacy on Gendry Baratheon while condemning Cersei. Would it be absurd to have Gendry on the Iron Throne? Absolutely, but no more absurd than Tommen. Varys might support it, thinking him weak and likely to be toppled by Aegon. If it looks like Dorne is backing Aegon, Highgarden might back the new Baratheon.

Would a promise to a dying Brienne be enough for Jamie to bring Gendry to King's Landing, admit to fathering Joff, Tommen & Myrcella and put Gendry on the Throne? I don't know. No matter how he's changed, Jamie still hated Robert. Maybe if Jamie could somehow be sure his remaining two children would be safe...

[Ser Pollo Loco]

Brother before bastard, Stannis is rightful king from the Baratheon line

[TheCube]

Correct me if I'm wrong: rules of succession in Westeros put even a bastard son ahead of a brother

You're wrong (sorry :P ).

A bastard son is behind everyone as they simply can't inherit. A legitimised bastard would be treated the same as a true born son, in fact (in the eyes of the law) they're not bastards at all.

[littleone]

There is an Old Nan story that talks about "apprentices" or "prentice boys" having something to do with the Battle for the Dawn. Perhaps Gendry has purpose there but I cannot find that specific Old Nan story at the moment.

[Weeping Sore]

You're wrong (sorry :P ).

A bastard son is behind everyone as they simply can't inherit. A legitimised bastard would be treated the same as a true born son, in fact (in the eyes of the law) they're not bastards at all.

Thank you for correcting me, it actually wasn't just a figure of speech:) Still, say you're the High Septon. You find out conclusively from Jamie that Tommen the product of incest. You declare for Stannis? A Sept burning worshipper of this Red demon god? Impossible. Maybe the simple Gendry has all of the sparrow like qualities you admire and you declare him legitimized and the true heir. Then all you have to deal with are the two living Targareyans...

[whitters23]

Correct me if I'm wrong: rules of succession in Westeros put even a bastard son ahead of a brother, and clearly ahead of the twincest offspring. Since Robert Baratheon was the last king that all seven kingdoms bowed to and Gendry is his (eldest?) male offspring, then he is the legitimate heir.

My thinking is the High Septon might confer legitimacy on Gendry Baratheon while condemning Cersei. Would it be absurd to have Gendry on the Iron Throne? Absolutely, but no more absurd than Tommen. Varys might support it, thinking him weak and likely to be toppled by Aegon. If it looks like Dorne is backing Aegon, Highgarden might back the new Baratheon.

Would a promise to a dying Brienne be enough for Jamie to bring Gendry to King's Landing, admit to fathering Joff, Tommen & Myrcella and put Gendry on the Throne? I don't know. No matter how he's changed, Jamie still hated Robert. Maybe if Jamie could somehow be sure his remaining two children would be safe...

If Gendry was legitimized he would skip over Stannis and Shireen. However as a bastard even if he's not legitimized he can inherit if there is no one left to do so. So if Stannis and Shireen were to die Gendry as the oldest bastard son would be the next in line, since the whole Baratheon line has been wiped out.

You're wrong (sorry :P ).

A bastard son is behind everyone as they simply can't inherit. A legitimised bastard would be treated the same as a true born son, in fact (in the eyes of the law) they're not bastards at all.

Actually a legimized bastard is not quite the same as a true born child. As far as I understand it (for example) if Jon were to be legitimized he would not jump ahead of any true born children even the girls. They all have claim to Winterfell first. But it would put him in place above any existing uncles, aunts or cousins. I guess that's why Robb was specifically putting it in his will that he wanted Jon to be legitimized AND for him to be the lord of Winterfell. Things are a bit different if a King wants it that way.

So if Gendry were legitimized he would have more of a claim to the throne than Stannis, but IF Robert had any true born children he would still be behind them.