Through out the story Jon and Dany's journeys seemed to have paralleled making them out to be the two epic characters (whether they turn out villains or heroes) in this fantasy adventure series. Both will definitely have a role in the war with the White Walkers but who's the Savior and who's the Conqueror?
When it comes to decoding prophecies it's basically a mine field of innuendos, misdirections, sometimes contradicting lines put in the form of pretty poetry. In the end they may not mean anything at all or they don't make sense until the actual event. The point is nothing is what it seems in a prophecy...
"There will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed and the cold breath of darkness falls heavy on the world. In this dread hour a warrior shall draw from the fire a burning sword. And that sword shall be Lightbringer, the Red Sword of Heroes, and he who clasps it shall be Azor Ahai come again, and the darkness shall flee before him."
~ Prophecy of Azor Ahai
Jon Snow (a.k.a. Jaehaerys Targaryen)
From humble beginnings to rising star, Jon is a reluctant leader that men would follow into the 7 hells. Some have tried to destroy him but it's clear that Fate has other plans for Jon in the wars to come. But could he be the Prince That Was Promised? Could he be Azor Ahai? Possibly...
A sword is never a sword in a prophecy. Sometimes it's an actual person. Prophecies are more often than not made up of lovely metaphors. Let's take a look at some of the lines from above. Remember in "The Winds of Winter" 6x10? The flash back in the Tower of Joy, Young Ned Stark places the bloodied sword of Ser Arthur Dayne right before Lyanna as she's bleeding out after giving birth. That was not an accident:
"There will come a day after a long summer when the stars bleed..."
The sigil of House Dayne features a shooting star. And Ser Arthur Dayne was known as The Sword of the Morning (a.k.a. the Morning Star). Ned delivered the killing blow to Ser Arthur Dayne with the knight's own sword (which was also called Morning). Essentially a bleeding star is at Jon Snow's birth but another line of the prophecy is interesting:
"...that sword shall be Lightbringer..."
It falls perfectly in line with the oath taken by the men of the Night's Watch:
"Night gathers and now my watch begins... I am the sword in the darkness... I am the shield that guards the realms of men... for this night and all the nights to come."
As I've said before, a sword doesn't have to be a sword. Jon pledged to be a sword in the darkness. A hero is someone who is the metaphorical light in the metaphorical darkness bringing men together under one banner to fight the great evil. In the books there's even another clue that Jon could be Azor Ahai. Melisandre is looking into the flames:
"I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R'hllor shows me only Snow."
Jon's last name is Snow. That feels obvious but the interpretation is lost on the Red Priestess (because she's unbelievably incompetent despite her advanced age; I guess for some wisdom doesn't come with age). However, that's still not a clear yes that Jon is Azor Ahai. Another prophecy has some of the same wording as the first one but slightly different:
"When the star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born amidst smoke and salt."
Season 2 is when we hear this version of the prophecy. This is by far the most ambiguous and can be applied to a few characters because there was a red comet streaking across the sky seen all over the world for a few episodes (a bleeding star). Daenerys stepped into the funeral pyre, but came out unharmed and with three newborn dragons. Some have suggested that this even applies to Jaime (see theory videos on YouTube). But it could also apply to Jon.
In Season 6 Episode 2, Melisandre and Davos prepare to bring Jon back to life. The smoke and salt are not obvious at first but if you analyze it then it makes perfect sense. Keep in mind prophecies are mostly metaphors: Melisandre is a fire priestess which is associated with smoke (obviously) and Ser Davos's last name is Seaworth and sea is salty (that required more thought). But who's the bleeding star? It could have been the red comet from season 2 or it could mean the House of Martell. The sun is classified as a star and many members of House Martell have bled.
But Bran is also a strong candidate for Azor Ahai given his ability to possess not only animals but humans as well, even in the past! Bloodraven told Brandon that he would never walk again but that he will fly. Most likely Bran will possess one of Dany's dragons but also I think he could use Jon in some way to fight the White Walkers making Jon his "sword".
Azor Ahai may not be just one person. It could be a collection of people. Oral history in Westeros tells of one great hero that united the living against the army of the dead but oral history is unreliable as certain facts change over time told from different mouths who add details or leave some out. Jon may very well turn out to be Azor Ahai but I do know one thing and that's Jon is a Savior-Archetype in this story. He makes mistakes and doubts because he's human but when the night is darkest he's the leader many turn to and that's what's most important.
Did not count on this blog being so long. Next blog will be about how Daenerys is the Conqueror of the story.
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