[EVERYTHING] Theory: Ser Davos Seaworth, the Prince that was Promised

TL;DR: Davos drew Lightbringer from the fire. Davos was reborn amidst salt and smoke under a bleeding star. Davos resurrected Jon Snow and woke the dragon from stone. Davos is the savior that will protect the world from darkness. Davos is the Prince that was Promised.

The prophecy of Azor Ahai reborn (or the Prince that was Promised, Warrior of Light, the Lord's Chosen, etc.) can be tied to several characters, including Jon, Dany, or even some combination of multiple people. Here I will lay out the case for Davos Seaworth, the Prince that was Promised.

Note that I am primarily a show watcher, and so this argument will be largely drawn from that perspective, with some quotes from the books and Wikis to fill gaps where needed. Show clips are linked throughout the post.

Season 2, Episode 1: Sword

In the ancient books it is written that a Warrior will draw a burning sword from the fire, and that sword shall be Lightbringer. Stannis Baratheon, Lord of Light, your sword awaits you. ~ Melisandre, S02E01

• As seen in this clip, this quote is spoken by Melisandre as she burns effigies of the "false gods," with Stannis and his followers in attendance. This is the first TV mention of the prophecy. Stannis walks forward, pulls the flaming sword from the fire, and sticks it in the sand as shown here. By now, obviously, we know Stannis was not the true Warrior as Melisandre had believed.

• However, sixty seconds after Stannis plants the burning sword among the pyres, when everyone has left the beach, Davos walks over to the sword and casually picks it up, then walks away with it, as seen here.

Season 2, Episode 9 & Season 3, Episode 1: Rebirth

When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers, Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt... ~ Melisandre, ADWD Jon X

Examining the heavier part of this quote first, "...Azor Ahai shall be born again amidst smoke and salt..."

• At the Battle of the Blackwater, Davos is blasted from his ship by wildfire:

Everyone thought you were dead. ~ Salladhor Saan, S03E01

I had heard you were dead. ~ Stannis Baratheon, S03E01

• Water is used pervasively in literature as a metaphoric mechanism of cleansing and rebirth. Davos "comes back to life" in the Season 3 premiere as he wakes up on an island, rescued by Salladhor Saan, who even says:

You've only just come back to life. Stay alive a little longer, my friend. ~ Salladhor Saan, S03E01

• Thus, Davos is reborn amidst smoke (wildfire) and salt (seawater). The metaphorical implications of Davos's rebirth can be thoroughly examined, but that's for another post.

As for the first part of the quote, "When the red star bleeds and the darkness gathers..."

• This is likely the most "on-the-nose" portion of the prophecy. The bleeding red star likely refers to the red comet shown in this screencap, which is noted and commented upon by several characters across Westeros and Essos, throughout Season 2.
• Darkness could literally refer to the nighttime Battle of the Blackwater, or metaphorically to impending winter, cold, death, doom, unknown and all the other symbolic interpretations of "darkness" that need no further explaining.

Season 6, Episode 2: Waking a Dragon

...shall be born again amidst smoke and salt to wake dragons from the stone. ~ Melisandre, ADWD Jon X

• By Season 6, Melisandre has become disillusioned with the Lord of Light and her powers. Empty, lost, and directionless, she loses faith until Davos convinces her to try and resurrect Jon Snow, as seen in this scene here.

I saw you drink poison that should have killed you. I saw you give birth to a demon made of shadows. Fuck [the Lord], then. Fuck all of them. I'm not a devout man, obviously. Seven gods, drowned gods, tree gods, it's all the same. I'm not asking the Lord of Light for help. I'm asking the woman who showed me that miracles exist. ~ Davos Seaworth, S06E02

• During the resurrection scene, Jon Snow is laid out on a stone slab. Melisandre performs the ritual and...nothing happens. Tormund leaves, Melisandre leaves, Edd leaves. Only Davos stays. He lingers, as seen from this clip here. He approaches Jon, internally begging, pleading, willing, praying for his return. Shortly after, Jon gasps his first breath.

• The delay between the ritual and first breath was not a dramatic pause. Melisandre did not resurrect Jon Snow. She never believed she could, nor did she have any faith left in the cause. Davos did. Davos, not Melisandre, brought Jon Snow back to life. Davos woke the dragon from stone.

Misc

• In this interview here with Conan, Liam Cunningham (who plays Davos) says that the first time he met GRRM, he was told a secret that he hadn't told anyone, and that he was excited about it. Could mean that Davos has a big part left to play in the story.

• In fantasy epics, the secondary character or companion is often the real hero of the story. Notably, in LOTR, from which GRRM takes much of his inspiration, Samwise Gamgee is the true savior of Middle Earth. Is Davos Seaworth the true savior of Westeros?

Submitted June 01, 2017 at 02:56PM by FollowTheBeard http://ift.tt/2sjog3q