‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 7 Spoilers: Peter Dinklage Shares The Key To Tyrion’s Survival

As “Game of Thrones” winds down, survival’s becoming paramount. No one on the cast of the HBO original series is safe and they’re well aware.

Peter Dinklage, who’s been playing Tyrion Lannister on “Game of Thrones” for several seasons, knows the odds aren’t stacked in his favor. He’s had a price on his head for some time and his stature doesn’t exactly make things any easier on him. Tyrion doesn’t let any of that hold him back — he’s a serious contender on the battlefield and he can outwit the best of them.

“He’s still alive,” Dinklage told Time. “Anyone who’s still alive on our show is pretty smart.”

Read: Theories About The Lannisters Demise On ‘Game Of Thrones’

Still, the actor’s aware of he and his co-star’s mortality on “Game of Thrones.” As the series’ end draws near, Dinklage is more prepared than ever to accept his fate, whatever it may be. In fact, it’s become routine for him to read scripts backward, and for good reason.

“Every season I got to the last page of the last episode and go backward,” he revealed. “I don’t do that with books,but I can’t crack open page one of Episode 1 not knowing if I’m dead or not.”

Tyrion’s fate in the final two seasons of “Game of Thrones” remains unclear. One thing, though, is certain — he’ll be more important than ever in Daenerys’ quest to take back the Iron Throne. Rumors have been swirling about the role he’ll play in both Cersei (Lena Headey) and, potentially, Jaime Lannister’s (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) demise.

One theory suggests he’ll be assisting Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), whom he’s been working alongside, to infiltrate Casterly Rock from below. Having spent much of his childhood there, Tyrion has extensive knowledge of the tunnel system beneath the walled city. Footage aired during an event in Spain showed Daenerys and her inner circle standing before the opening gates of a familiar city have given way to theories she’ll use Tyrion to get to Cersei and/or Jaime through there.

Whether it’s via Tyrion or someone else, thronies are pretty sure the end is near for Cersei. Another popular theory among “Game of Thrones” fans suggests that she’ll be killed by a Valonqar, or little brother in High Valyrian. Viewers have different thoughts about who the sibling in question may be, if it’s truly her sibling at all.

One theory suggests that Jaime will turn on his sister/lover and kill her, while other “Game of Thrones” fans have a different idea. Another popular theory is that there will be a trial by combat between The Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) and The Hound (Rory McCann) to determine whether Cersei will live or die. The Hound, the younger of the two Clegane brothers, will emerge victorious. He’ll kill his brother, thus sealing Cercei’s fate.

Read: New ‘Game Of Thrones’ Photos Hint At Valonqar Theory

“I’m convinced that there will be a trial by combat to determine if Cersei will be put to death and it will be a fight between the Cleganes and the Hound will win,” Reddit user BertMacGyver writes. “Meaning that the prophecy that Cersei will be killed by the ‘little brother’ will come true.”

Other theories suggest any number of members of the “Game of Thrones” cast could be the one to do her in. According to The Independent, the term Valonqar could be unisex. As such, some Thronies believe it’ll be Arya, who’s been eyeing Cersei for her kill list for several seasons, while other fans have Jon Snow (Kit Harington) pegged as the one to kill her.

For more on the valonqar theory, click HERE. “Game of Thrones” returns to HBO for Season 7 July 16 at 9 p.m. EDT.