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Sandor Clegane — The Hound — Is The Gravedigger. TL;DR: Sandor Clegane — the Hound — is still alive, living as a novice on the Quiet Isle. This theory about Sandor Clegane is among the most popular Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice And Fire theories out there. The site awoiaf.westeros.org rounds up the key points of the theory, which, if true.

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Salladhor Saan

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Salladhor Saan is a pirate-lord and sellsail, commanding a fleet of thirty ships.

He was recruited to King Stannis Baratheon's cause but Salladhor abandoned him after the Battle of the Blackwater. Salladhor re-entered Stannis's service, however, after Stannis secured a loan from the Iron Bank of Braavos, enabling him to pay Salladhor's fee.

Biography

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Background

Salladhor Saan is a pirate-lord from Lys, though a native of the Summer Isles. He commands a fleet of thirty ships that frequently prey on merchant ships traveling between Westeros and the Free Cities to the east. Sometimes in pursuit of extra wealth, he shifts from pure piracy to being a sellsail: hiring out the services of his ships and crews to the highest bidder, to act as mercenaries in various conflicts.

Season 1

Doreah, while pleasuring Viserys, tells him that she once saw a pirate covered in gold who flew colorful sails.^[1]

Season 2

Davos Seaworth and his son Matthos meet Saan on a beach nearby Dragonstone. Davos promises the pirate he will be paid a fortune in gold when they take King's Landing. Salladhor is dubious of Stannis Baratheon's chances as he has the smallest army of all the claimants to the Iron Throne, to which Davos answers that Stannis is a proven battle commander unlike the inexperienced Renly or Joffrey, adding that Stannis has just begun the fight and expects more of his bannerman to join his cause because he is the most honorable man in the Seven Kingdoms. Salladhor notes the irony of a smuggler vouching for the honor of a king. Matthos warns Salladhor to mind his words, calling him a pirate. Davos silences his son and Salladhor points out he is not insulted, asserting being not only a pirate but an excellent one and that he does not sail for promises. Davos challenges this, explaining that Salladhor sails on a promise of ships to plunder every time he leaves port. Salladhor says that promise always comes true and Davos says that his promise is the same. Davos points out that Salladhor is not a young man and that pirate's lives are short. Salladhor jokes that only the clever pirates grow old. Davos suggests that Salladhor could continue to steal from cargo ships and live an easy life while it lasts but that he is offering a harder alternative with greater rewards. He promises riches and fame.

Salladhor says that he has a good name for songs and then tells Davos that he wants Queen Cersei. He says that he will lend his thirty ships provided he can get Cersei when they take King's Landing. Matthos is annoyed by Salladhor's selfishness and says they are not fighting for Salladhor to rape the Queen. Salladhor makes the distinction that he does not intend to rape her and jokes that Matthos has not experienced his persuasiveness. Matthos insists that Stannis has a divine right to rule and that the Lord of Light is the only god. However, Salladhor is dismissive of religion. Matthos turns away and Davos says that he cannot promise the Queen, only the gold and glory. Salladhor asks if Davos believes that Stannis can win and Davos replies that Stannis is the 'one true king.' Salladhor contrasts Davos's loyalty to Stannis against their history together; Stannis chopped off Davos's fingers for smuggling. Salladhor says that he will sail with Davos because Davos is the most honest smuggler he has ever met and asks Davos to make him rich. They shake hands and Salladhor leaves.

Later that night Davos informs Stannis that Salladhor has agreed to join his forces. Stannis asks Davos if they can trust Salladhor, and he responds that he has known Salladhor for thirty years but has never 'trusted' him. However, Davos is certain that Salladhor has been tantalized by his promise of vast wealth.^[2]

Season 3

Salladhor's ship rescues Davos, who was thrown overboard by the wildfire blast in the Battle of Blackwater, from the sea. Salladhor, who abandoned Stannis' cause after the battle, offers Davos his hospitality but is very reluctant to take Davos to Dragonstone. He tries to dissuade Davos from trying to kill the red priestess Melisandre since she has sacrificed any man who speaks against her since the Battle of the Blackwater. He says she accuses those who are against her of being servants of darkness, and since they're both criminals they should stay well away. Davos insists on being taken back to Stannis's castle, and Salladhor eventually agrees to stay just long enough to see Davos ashore.^[3]

Season 4

Having returned to Braavos after his failed exploits off the coasts of Westeros, Salladhor spends his time with a couple of whores in a bathhouse. He tells them a joke about a brave ship captain facing pirate ships, but is not amused when the whores reveal they know the punchline just before he delivers it. He is surprised when Ser Davos appears and tells him they will sail for Castle Black at sunrise. The pirate begins to complain, but Davos throws him a package of gold coins from the Iron Bank, noting that more money waits at his home – with his wife. Salladhor sarcastically declares that contrary to popular opinion, Davos is not his friend.^[4]

Appearances

Image gallery

Quotes

In the books

In the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Salladhor Saan is a flamboyant and colorful figure, a respected ship captain and leader of men. While he sells his skills to the highest bidder, he has some genuine loyalty to his friends and allies. His personal flagship is the Valyrian, a great war galley that dips three hundred oars and is a famous - and sometimes feared - sight on the Narrow Sea.

In the books, the inhabitants of Lys distinctively have bronze skin. Salladhor himself is not said to be an exception, and possesses long white hair. Some of the other Free Cities have populations that have distinctive dark features, such as the olive-skinned inhabitants of Myr, Lys's great rival. The TV series changed this, as Salladhor is played by a dark-skinned actor of Tanzanian descent. However, it actually isn't that unusual to encounter dark-skinned people throughout the continent of Essos. The cities of Slaver's Bay routinely conduct slaving raids on the coast of Sothoryos, the continent south of Essos. Sothoryos is loosely analogous to Africa, as Essos is loosely analogous to Eurasia, and the inhabitants of Sothoryos are distinctively dark-skinned.

Writer Bryan Cogman later confirmed that, within the TV series continuity, Salladhor Saan is actually from the Summer Islands (whose inhabitants are notably dark-skinned), and apparently moved to Lys (similar to how Xaro Xhoan Daxos was changed to also originally be from the Summer Islands, but moved to Qarth years ago, and considers himself to be 'from' Qarth). In Cogman's words, they chose Msamati based on the strength of the actor's performance. At any rate, this means that TV-series Salladhor is originally from the Summer Islands, but he has been based out of Lys for many years (which actually isn't very far from the Summer Islands, located to the southwest) - and thus Salladhor considers himself to be 'from Lys'.^[5]

In the books, Salladhor Saan is actually related to Samarro Saan, a pirate who became one of the infamous 'Band of Nine' during the War of the Ninepenny Kings, fought about forty years before the War of the Five Kings. An assorted band of mercenaries, pirates, and adventurers, the Band of Nine conquered the Disputed Lands, then Tyrosh, and were conquering the Stepstones to use as a base for a future conquest of Westeros itself when the Targaryens pre-emptively attacked. Samarro was also a Lysene and known as the 'Last Valyrian'. It isn't clear how exactly Samarro was related to Salladhor. Moreover, if Salladhor's backstory was significantly changed within the TV series, it isn't clear if they could still share the same relationship in the TV continuity - though it's entirely possible that one of Samarro's descendants simply moved to the Summer Islands (or perhaps fled, after the Band of Nine were deposed) and intermarried there. Moreover, The World Of Ice and Fire reveals that the Saans have a long and illustrious history in piracy, stretching back at least three centuries. Samarro was himself a descendant of Sargoso Saan, a famous pirate-lord who conquered most of the Stepstones island chain in the Narrow Sea late in the reign of Aegon the Conqueror, requiring military intervention by Prince Maegor.

During the Battle of the Blackwater, Imry Florent places Salladhor and his crew at the rear of the fleet. Davos thinks it is a mistake, for Salladhor and his men are experienced sailors and warriors, and were wasted at the rear. Salladhor and his fleet stay outside of Blackwater Bay to keep watch for any hidden fleets that may sneak up from behind. This snub turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because as a result Salladhor's sellsail ships were so far behind that they were the only part of Stannis's fleet that was not caught in the wildfire trap and destroyed. After Stannis's army is smashed by the combined Lannister-Tyrell force, Saan orders his ships to pick up the remnants along the shore, and transports them back to Dragonstone.

Following the battle, Lord Alester Florent, acting as Stannis's Hand, grants Salladhor the title 'Lord of Blackwater Bay'. He sets his fleet to intercepting any trade ships crossing Blackwater Bay and taxing them on their goods; if any outlaws try to sneak past him without paying, he seizes their ships and cargos, similarly to his past occupation as a pirate, but this time lawfully.

While returning Davos to Dragonstone, Salladhor tells him that Stannis has been acting strangely ever since the battle, secluding himself from everyone except Melisandre, watching flames in the mountain's heart. Davos, consumed by grief over his dead sons, states that he will kill Melisandre. Salladhor tries to dissuade his friend, but in vain. He chides Davos angrily that such talking will get him burned, like Lord Sunglass.

Salladhor hears that Melisandre promised Stannis he could wake dragons out of stone. Thinking that Melisandre refers to the stone carvings in the walls of Dragonstone, Salladhor finds the whole idea ridiculous 'What kind of dragons are full of rooms and stairs and furniture? And windows. And chimneys. And privy shafts'.

In the fifth novel, Salladhor is assigned to bring Davos to the White Harbor. However, after most of his fleet is destroyed by storms, Salladhor decides to abandon Stannis, sick of waiting for payment from him. Ironically, he does that shortly before Stannis is finally able to pay him, having granted a loan from the Iron Bank of Braavos.

In the fourth novel, while Arya works as a peddlar in Braavos, a mate from a galley up from Old Volantis tells her his captain has been killed by Lysene pirates, led by 'that bastard Saan', who have tried to board them near the Stepstones, and they barely got away. Apparently, after Sallador abandoned Stannis, he has resumed piracy.

In 'Valar Dohaeris', Salladhor says that he has been married four times, and that he had a son who died. The books do not reveal whether he has any wives and children.

See also

• Salladhor Saan on A Wiki of Ice and Fire (MAJOR spoilers from the books)

References

1. ↑'Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things'
2. ↑'The Night Lands'
3. ↑'Valar Dohaeris'
4. ↑'The Laws of Gods and Men'
5. ↑ThinkProgress.org, Bryan Cogman interview], June 2012.

George R. R. Martin's new book, Fire and Blood, recounts the 300 years of Targaryen history before the events of Game of Thrones. But it also has plenty of potential fodder for theories directly tied to the time period we know and love on the show.

But they're also very well hidden.

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'There are a few that are definitely important, but I’m not going to flag them,' Martin told EW in regards to whether the book contained connections. 'Readers will have to find them and puzzle out whether they’re hints or red herrings.'

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SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the 'Game of Thrones' prequel series

As an in-universe textbook by an Archmaester named Gyldayn, we can't take everything in Fire and Blood as fact. He's writing down history that happened centuries before he was alive, and a lot of accurate information has been lost to time.

But here are some of the most likely Fire and Blood will play into the Song of Ice and Fire books the final season of the HBO phenomenon.

Gendry's dragon blood, and his potential destiny to kill a dragon

Fire and Blood confirms a long-held rumor that Baratheon House was founded by Orys, a half-brother and Hand to the legendary Conqueror Aegon I Targaryen. This means that, though he may not look it, Gendry has blood of the dragon in him — which could have all sorts of implications. Targaryen blood is required for magic like riding or even hatching dragons.

So if anyone's going to be raising new dragons, it could very well be Gendry. There is a lot of prophecy around 'the three heads of the dragon' (Targaryen sigil), so we know that at least one more secret Targaryen will emerge to take a significant role in the end game beside Daenerys and Jon.

From what we've heard about the actor who plays Gendry, Joe Dempsie, it sounds like he'll for sure be in the final battle to come in Season 8. Why else bring him back from all that rowing?

But dragon riding or hatching isn't the only way his destiny could be tied to House Targaryen's future. At two different points, Fire and Blood mentions a mysterious and ancient prophecy that sounds a whole lot like it's about either Gendry, or his father Robert Baratheon:

'When the hammer shall fall upon the dragon, a new king shall arise, and none shall stand before him.'

While mistakenly attributed to a different character in history, it reads like a prophecy of Roberts Rebellion, when he cut down Rhaegar in battle and all of House Targayen from the throne. That only accounts for the 'new king' that rises, though, with no clear connection to the ominous second part of the prophecy.

Martin likes to purposefully phrase his prophecies as red herrings with multiple possible interpretations. So who else could it be about instead?

Perhaps another Baratheon with a hammer, and a dragon to kill: our blacksmith bastard Gendry. I mean, the show couldn't have a whole hammer-making montage in Season 7 without bringing it back later, right? Gendry is also the only living person who knows how to smelt Valyrian steel, the weapon that kills White Walkers and (most likely) White Walker dragons.

If Gendry brings down undead Viserion, then that would make way for a new king (Jon), reigning over the wasteland of Westeros ravaged by the army of the dead.

There are more dragons, potentially even in Winterfell

Speculation over the birth of new dragons has been swirling around the fandom for ages.

Before they were generally confined to prophecies and visions about Dragonstone and the Wall. Chiefly, the Azor Ahai prophecy about a legendary Prince that was Promised who would 'wake dragons out of stone' to save the day from the White Walkers.

Melisandre claims to see fire visions of dragons rising from the literal stone of Dragonstone, and even from ice at the Wall. But what if the 'stone' the prophecy refers to is actually the fossilized dragon eggs that are apparently scattered all over the damn place, according to Fire and Blood?

Hatching dragons requires very specific and mysterious magic. But as Dany proved, petrified dragon eggs still carry the potential to birth more dragons centuries later if you add a Targaryen to the mix. Fire and Blood leaves the door open for eggs to be found everywhere, then hatched, and maybe even a repopulation of the creatures believed to have been extinct.

And when we say everywhere, we mean everywhere. The dragons got busy not only all over Westeros, but potentially even in Essos.

Most promisingly, the feral-turned-domestic dragon Sheepstealer was spotted last near the Vale, where a hill tribe began worshipping it and its rider as their 'Fire Witch.'

Many also speculate that, ultimately, that dragon ended up in Skagos. A magical island in the North populated by descendants of the First Men, its name translates to 'stone.' Some even believe the wild dragons mentioned in the book could've survived to this day, since they live for hundreds of years.

The most tantalizing possibility is the rumor that there are dragon eggs in Winterfell.

While the Grandmaester writing the book disregards the rumor, there's solid evidence to support .

Early into Targaryen rule, a Prince Jacaerys made a deal with Lord Cregan Stark for his support in battle. And while many presumed Jacaerys dragon, Vermax, was male, it is impossible to tell the sex of a dragon. Some maesters even think they can change their sex as needed.

Also wouldn't it be lovely if Jon, this other embodiment of a dragon bred in Winterfell, raised his own dragon hatchlings to join Dany's? Why else would they have had that very odd conversation about children in the dragon pit during Season 7's finale?

Varys might be a Targaryen descendent of Saera Targaryen

A joke in the Ice and Fire fandom is that everyone's a secret Targaryen.

But this theory is particularly well-founded for either Varys or even Tyrion Lannister. For our purposes though, let's focus on Varys' potential.

We don't have to get into the details of the Varys Targaryen theory. But do consider: He's teamed up with many people to protect the Targaryen house (Daenerys), and might keep his head shaved to hide the dead giveaway of Targaryen silver hair.

While some believe Varys to be a descendant of a famous Targaryen bastard line, the Blackfyres, one new story learned in Fire and Blood offers another possibility.

During the long reign of King Jaehaerys Targaryen, one of his daughters Princess Saera was embroiled in such scandal that she ran away to Essos. There, she became a coveted whore in Lys, supposedly making tons of Targayen bastards. Later in Fire and Blood, she's mentioned as still being alive and well in Volantis, after becoming wildly rich as the owner of a famous pleasure house.

Why does this matter to the Varys Targaryen theory?

Well, Varys says he was born a slave in Lys. While this would be centuries after Saera Targaryen, dragon blood would still run through his veins. And that matters for the same reasons it matters for Gendry: Because only the blood of old Valyria can ride or help hatch dragons.

As Melisandre told him cryptically in Season 7, Varys will have a big part to play in the endgame, before dying in this foreign land of Westeros.

We will probably go back to Valyria, where horror or salvation awaits

In Season 4, Tyrion and Ser Jorah rode through the ruins of Old Valyria. While this is damn near impossible in the books, the show's insistence on showing audiences the original, ancient, doomed homeland of the Targaryens and dragons felt like a clear signal that it would come back later.

Now Season 8 and winter is upon us, and uncovering the mysteries of Valyria has never been more pressing.

Fire and Blood gives one horrifying glimpse into what awaits people who venture into the dangerous and toxic ruins, though. And it's much worse than just greyscale.

One young and willful Targaryen Princess, Aerea, makes the terrible mistake of running away by stealing the biggest, baddest, oldest dragon of all time: Balerion the Black Dread. She disappears for a year, before returning to King's Landing dying from the most grotesque Aliens-esque horrors the Seven Kingdoms have ever seen.

Snake-like worm parasites are not only boiling her alive from the inside, but squirming under her skin — particularly her stomach — as if they had impregnated her.

Many interpreted these as an evolution of firewyrms. There are many tales of Valyrians doing monstrous hybrid human-beast experiments, specifically by impregnating slave women with firewyrms.

Most fascinatingly, Balerion the Black Dread — again, the fiercest dragon to ever grace Westeros — also came back severely wounded with claw marks. Not much in this world can harm a dragon, aside from other dragons and maybe fully grown firewyrms.

So what hurt Balerion? Are there other, even fiercer dragons left in Valyria, who could turn the tide in favor of the humans when they clash with the Night King, his White Walker army, and ice dragon?

Only time can tell how the blood of Valyria will play out in this song of ice and fire.