What Is Gilly Reading In ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 7 Photos And What Does It Mean?

Fifteen new “Game of Thrones” photos hit the web on Thursday, revealing details about what’s to come when the show returns to HBO. Among the most interesting was a picture of Gilly sitting with Sam in the Citadel.

In the Season 7 still, Gilly’s (Hannah Murray) reading something. The text is not easily read, but dedicated “Game of Thrones” fans were able to decipher it and share it on Reddit. According to a post from itsjayrr, the page she’s glancing at in shock has to do with the Azor Ahai prophecy — something the show’s been ignoring for several seasons.

“It is also written that there are annals in Asshai of such a darkness, and of a hero who fought against it with a red sword. His deeds are said to have been performed before the rise of Valyria, in the earliest age when Old Ghis was first forming its empire. This legend has spread west from Asshai, and the followers of R’hllor claim that this hero was named Azor Ahai, and prophesy his return. In the Jade Compendium, Colloquo Votar recounts a curious legend from Yi Ti, which states that the sun hid its face from the earth for a lifetime, ashamed at something none could discover, and that disaster was averted only by the deeds of a woman with a monkey’s tail,” the passage reads.

What exactly does that mean? The Azor Ahai prophecy is one of the more complex “Game of Thrones” ideologies. It essentially promises that an infamous and unstoppable hero will be reborn, saving the Seven Kingdoms from the Lord of Light’s enemies. Those foes may or may not be the Night King (Vladimir Furdik) and his army of white walkers.

It’s widely believed that Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is the second coming of Azor Ahai. A Reddit theory posted on the site years ago suggests that Brandon Stark is the original. User OneEyedCheshire speculates that when “Game of Thrones” comes to an end, one corner of the Seven Kingdoms will be overrun by white walkers and require the saving of the chosen one.

That special person, also dubbed the Prince that was Promised, will forge a special sword called the Lightbringer. He’ll have to drive it through the heart of his one true love for the greater good of humanity. The weapon must be forged several times: once by water, once by driving it into the lion’s heart, breaking both times, but the third way remains a mystery.

This particular Reddit theory suggests that this prophecy is a metaphor. Winterfell is lightbringer, as it was tempered by water when the Greyjoys took it over. The lion’s heart symbolizes Jon and Sansa’s (Sophie Turner) defeat of the Boltons, ruled by the Lannisters.

“Now the third forging. I think this leads to the ‘bittersweet’ ending GRRM [George R.R. Martin] has promised, and Dany’s [Daenerys Targaryen] third betrayal. After Dany makes it to Westeros, I believe J = R + L will be revealed, and Jon and Dany will fall in love. This will be in the middle of the fight against the others,” the Reddit theorist wrote. “I believe two of Dany’s dragons will have died by this point of the invasion and she will be left with only the last child she will ever have (since she is barren). Drogon = her soul. Dany will be Nissa Nissa [Azor Ahai’s beloved] and Jon Snow must bind her soul (Drogon) to Lightbringer (Winterfell) in order to fight back the Others.”

Whether that’s what Gilly was reading or where “Game of Thrones” is going in Season 7, it’s clear the Wildling will play a major role. An alleged leaked plot for the upcoming season suggests that her quest for knowledge will lead her to important information about Jon’s lineage. The information suggested that Gilly will stumble upon a book in the Citadel that reveals the truth about the R + L = J theory.

Tune in to “Game of Thrones” Season 7 July 16 on HBO.