Game of Thrones: What Does Melisandre’s ‘Death Prophecy’ Mean For Varys?

Melisandre sure has a lot going on with her character, especially for the latest episode of “Game of Thrones.” “I have to die in this strange country. Just like you,” she says to Varys. Knowing Melisandre, her death prophecies are bound to happen at some point (with a little bit of modification from outside forces), making it no fun to her unless she shares it with the world.

Though a lot of things happened on the recent “Game of Thrones” episode titled “The Queen’s Justice,” it’s the Red Priestess who definitely gave us some things to think about. First and foremost, she successfully brought together Ice and Fire. She also just laid the launch pad for what could be this season’s major twists. Melisandre may not be one of the show’s beloved characters, but she definitely takes credit for being genuine, especially when she gambles her own life just to make things work.

Conleth Hill and Carice Van Houten in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

In a conversation with Varys on the cliff, she revealed to him that her time is short in Westeros. Varys was asking her about why she was hiding from Jon Snow when he arrived in Dragonstone. She told him about how Jon banished her for sacrificing Stannis Baratheon’s daughter (who also became close to Ser Davos Seaworth).

Melisandre is desperate to carry out the Lord of Light’s plans, even going as far as messing up her own prophecy by prematurely anointing Stannis Baratheon as the Azor Ahai or “Prince That Was Promised.” She’s been at it for a while now, and it looks like she’s willing to let her thousand-year life come to an end just to see the Lord of Light’s wishes be fulfilled. It’s a dark gamble, but must Varys also suffer the same fate as hers? Why should Varys die in Westeros too?

Lord Varys’ Dark Origin in Game of Thrones

Varys has come a long way since his beginnings in “Game of Thrones.” He’s slithered all over King’s Landing, argued with Lord Baelish, and crawled into Daenerys’ court unscathed. Throughout these bouncing tactics though, we have only ever seen him panic twice. On both instances, he is always with a Red Priestess.

It’s also worth noting that before these events, Varys has openly mocked the ambassadors of R’hllor, their religion and rejected whatever they offered. During a run-in in Mereen, the Red Priestess Kinvara talked about Varys’ humbling origin: his castration by a “second-rate sorcerer.” As Varys was forced to remember the horrific event, Kinvara hurts him even more by asking about what he heard when a voice called out in the fire, just as the sorcerer tossed his parts in it. She went further by taunting him that she knows who spoke to him.

Peter Dinklage and Conleth Hill in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo via HBO

In “A Clash of Kings,” George R.R. Martin’s second book of the “Song of Ice and Fire” series, Varys shared more details on his castration. As the sorcerer performed the act, he chanted as Varys watched him burn his parts in the fire. The flames then turned blue and he heard a particular voice call out to him, though he didn’t understand the words that were said.

However, those words were no secret to the Red Priestess.

Melisandre’s Final Task From The Lord of Light

It’s clear that Varys has since been on the run from his unfortunate childhood. In “Game of Thrones” Season 3, it was revealed that the sorcerer is literally living in a box. Apparently, Varys built himself up after that horrific event, tracked down the Sorcerer and imprisoned him inside that box. For Varys, the box is a symbol of his ambition and unflagging spirit.

After the encounter with Kinvara, Varys stayed clear of any encounter with a Red Priestess—until Melisandre arrived at Dragonstone. She didn’t bugger Varys, brought Jon to Daenerys, and watched as they finally interacted. Once this was done, she told Varys about her next plan. She said that she was heading to Volantis, where the Temple of the Lord of Light is located.

Carice van Houten in Game of Thrones (2011). Photo by Helen Sloan/HBO

Now, Melisandre is dead set on carrying out the Lord of Light’s plans. She knows that she’ll eventually die, and she seems to be at peace with this thought. Without any distractions, she tells Varys the cold truth. Melisandre knows that this prophecy will indeed happen. Now that her work is done in Dragonstone, she is ready to move on and carry out the last few tasks that she needs to finish for the Lord of Light.

Upon hearing about Melisandre’s prophecy, Varys falters as if he’s already heard of this before. If we would go back to the encounter with the sorcerer, he might have. Kinvara knows who the voice belonged to, including what the voice said.

Could that voice be what Melisandre is echoing? So far, Varys has had a very good standing in the Seven Kingdoms. However, it almost looks as if his days are numbered. After turning over a new leaf, pledging to serve the “good of the realm,” and proclaiming his allegiance to Daenerys, it seems like Varys will ultimately meet his end, no matter how the war for the throne and Great War turns out to be.