GoT Fan Theory Of The Day: Why Now? Why This Sperm? (A + W = C)
Hello, definitely spoilers in this one!!!!
So I asked on Twitter what theory you wanted to read about and you guys picked this one. So let’s get into it!!
Today’s theory comes from 23423423423451 on Reddit, and it’s a deep one. You can read the whole thing here.
Basically, it’s a theory about the creation of white walkers. Let’s roll back to Jon Snow’s first expedition beyond the wall when they go off ranging to find Benjen Stark. They stay at a place called Craster’s keep, and meet Craster, who is a wildling who sleeps with his daughters to create more daughters (sup Gilly!). We also learn that when a baby is born male, Craster gives the baby to the Night King in order to presumably create more white walkers.
(Note: lots of people call the army of the dead “White Walkers”. They’re not. Those are “wights”, confusing, but the White Walkers are the big scary blue guys, NOT the zombie army. There’s only like 9 or so true White Walkers, and they have the power to create wights. Got it? Cool)
The question is, why do they take Craster’s baby boys only? Why not use random wildling babies? Well, that’s where this theory comes in.
According to our reddit thread, Craster is the child of Maester Aemon Targaryen and a wildling woman. A + W = C!!
Maester Aemon tells Jon in the first season that his vows have been tested before:
“Three times the gods saw fit to test my vows. Once when I was a boy, once in the fullness of my manhood, and once when I had grown old.
He also talks a lot about love and duty. Consider these two Aemon quotes:
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“Jon, did you ever wonder why the men of the Night’s Watch take no wives and father no children?… …So they will not love,” the old man answered, “for love is the bane of honor, the death of duty.”
“Then Lord Eddard is a man in ten thousand. Most of us are not so strong. What is honor compared to a woman’s love? What is duty against the feel of a newborn son in your arms . . . or the memory of a brother’s smile? Wind and words. Wind and words. We are only human, and the gods have fashioned us for love. That is our great glory, and our great tragedy.”
Is it possible that what tested Aemon in the “fullness of (his) manhood” might have been a woman? A wildling woman, and a son? Yes, definitely possible. But why would Craster be his son? Well, apparently Craster’s father was a man of the Night’s Watch, according to Tormund in the books:
“Craster’s more your kind than ours. His father was a crow who stole a woman out of Whitetree village, but after he had her he flew back t’ his Wall. She went t’ Castle Black once t’ show the crow his son, but the brothers blew their horns and run her off. Craster’s blood is black, and he bears a heavy curse.”
So why does this matter? Well, let’s talk a little bit about Aemon’s lineage. He was a Targaryen, one of the remaining few, but if you remember, he was supposed to be King. He chose not to forsake his maester’s vows and instead take the black and let his brother become King (which might not have been the best call of all time, but whatever). So if Craster is the son of someone who should have been King, then he would have King’s blood, and so would all his sons:
They use those boys to create more white walkers, and presumably only the night king has the power to do this since the son we saw picked up got taken to the Night King for transformation. Furthermore, why are there so few white walkers if they could transform just anyone or just any baby? Perhaps they needed Craster’s sons specifically.
There is magic in King’s blood. We’ve seen this demonstrated. The Night King may have needed that to make other white walkers. He himself might have had king’s blood when the children changed him, who knows. But given the content of my post, Craster’s children might have had King’s blood.
Maybe the only babies strong enough to survive turning into a white walker are ones with extra special blood. AND if this theory is true, it could be part of why the walkers decided to march south: they NEED Gilly’s son Sam.
I’m very into this theory. Does it mean Daenerys and Jon’s kid (if it’s real) is in danger of being taken by the White Walkers? Would they offer it up as a sacrifice to placate the walkers? Idk, the implications with this one run deeeeeep.
The plausibility is 7/10, the spiciness is 7/10 as well. I for one… would like to see it.
Overall 7/10