The latest episode of “Game of Thrones” was emotionally packed. From Viserion’s death to the growing division between Arya and Sansa, and the fight against the White Walkers. But in “Beyond the Wall”, there was a running theme throughout the episode: children.
In the North, Jon Snow returned Longclaw to Jorah Mormont, as it rightfully belongs to his family. Jorah didn’t accept the sword and said that he forfeited his right to claim to the sword a long time ago and that his father, Jeor, gave it to him. He also noted that Longclaw can be something Jon can pass down to his Children.
Meanwhile, in Dragonstone, Tyrion was discussing the long-term reign of House Targaryen with Daenerys. Tyrion is planning who Daenerys’ successor will be since she won’t have any more children, he suggested other ways of choosing a successor. This poses a question: Can Daenerys still bear children?
Since Khal Drogo died, Daenerys considered her dragons – Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion, as her children and the children she’ll ever have. She has repeatedly reminded the people around her that. Is the Mother of Dragons infertile or barren?
The prophecy
Back in Season 1, when Drogo was badly wounded, Daenerys ordered the witch, Mirri Maz Duur, to use dark magic to save him. It resulted in a chain of events: Rhaego was stillborn, Drogo was in a catatonic state and the dragons were born from Drogo’s funeral pyre.
In the books, the witch told Daenerys: “When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before.” But the show skipped the “when your womb quickens again” part.
This led Daenerys to believe, both in the show and the books that she cannot have any more children and that’s why Viserion’s death affected her greatly.
After Jon apologized for Viserion’s death, she promised Jon that they will defeat the Night King together.
An Interpretation
A Reddit user, kaiokenx4, interpreted the prophecy and laid down a theory. According to kaiokenx4, the “When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east” pertains to when the Long Night ends and when the sun rises in Westeros again.
“When the seas go dry and mountain blow in the wind like leaves” pertains to when the seas turn to ice at the arrival of the winter, strong blizzards and the White Walkers. “Your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before” could mean that Daenerys could get pregnant when the Long Night and the war against the Undead are over and when summer returns. The “he” could actually refer to Azor Ahai.
Like many other prophecies, it's tricky. And so far, Daenerys believes that she will never have another child and that she is the last Targaryen (so does everyone in Westeros, except for Bran). She’s wrong about her being the last Targaryen, and she could be wrong about this too.
