Stannis Baratheon suffered an unfortunate fate in Game of Thrones after receiving his comeuppance from Brienne of Tarth. While the character was never resurrected in the show, he’s still alive in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, and we’ll definitely meet him in The Winds of Winter.
That being said, there have been many speculations as to what his deal would be in the upcoming book, and perhaps the most intriguing—and the one we need answers to—was his possible connection with the Night King.
Stannis Baratheon’s possible link with the Night King in The Winds of Winter
This theory goes back to Daenerys Targaryen’s visit to the House of the Undying in George R.R. Martin’s A Clash of Kings. In one of her many prophetic visions, she saw a blue-eyed king who raises a red sword in his hand and casts no shadow.
Many fans believe this was Stannis Baratheon on the account of Melisandre using him to make a shadow assassin, as well as the reference to the glowing sword. Based on these descriptions, it’s easy to assume that Dany’s vision points to Stannis, but Martin might have a reason for mentioning his eye color.
As the author previously revealed in a comment on his blog that Stannis is still very much alive and kicking, we know that he’s going to be a major player in The Winds of Winter. There are guesses that the blue eyes might refer to him becoming a White Walker and getting reborn as a new version of the Night’s King, but of course, prophetic imagery in fantasy novels could be misleading.
What this implies, however, is that Stannis’ relationship with Melisandre possibly mirrors that of the Night’s King’s story. It was implicit in the books that the Red Priestess shared an intimate relationship with Stannis, which is reminiscent of how the Night’s King met his tragic fate.
There is a popular legend that the 13th commander of the Night’s Watch fell in love with a mysterious woman known as Corpse Queen whom he spotted at the top of the Wall. When he surrendered his seed to her, he also gave her his soul, and from here, he became known as the Night’s King.
Since Stannis’ story is not yet over in the books, there is a possibility that Martin might be leading him in this direction. This particular story of the Night’s King was not told in the show, anyway.
Stannis Baratheon and the Night’s King’s transformation
Another evident parallel between Stannis and the Night’s King was how they changed after engaging with these mysterious women. Once an honorable lord commander, the Night’s King started making sacrifices to the Others and even bound his brothers in the Night’s Watch to his will. Stannis, well—we know what he did to his daughter Shireen and his brother Renly.
It remains to be seen what plans Martin has for Stannis in The Winds of Winter, although fans may have to wait a bit longer as it doesn’t look like we’re getting the sixth novel very soon.
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