Game Of Thrones: 5 Major Book Changes From "In The Wars To Come"

5. An Incomplete Prophecy

On The Show: “The Wars To Come” opens with young Cersei and her frightened friend paying a visit to a witch to learn their fortunes. With a quick taste of Cersei’s blood, the witch allows her to ask three questions about her future. The witch tells Cersei that she will marry a king, live as a queen until she is displaced by one younger and more beautiful, and outlive her children.

In The Books: The fourth book sees Cersei remembering a visit to a Lannisport maegi known as Maggy the Frog. The encounter proceeds much like as presented on the show…until the very end. After delivering the prophecy that Cersei’s children would receive golden shrouds as well as crowns in her lifetime, Maggy delivers a final blow that would haunt Cersei for years. “And when you tears have drowned you,” warns Maggy the Frog, “the valonqar shall wrap his hands around your pale white throat and choke the life from you.”

What It Could Mean: With “valonqar” translating from the High Valyrian for “little brother,” Cersei unravels in King’s Landing as she begins to see the threat of a murderous Tyrion in every corner. The absence of the word from the otherwise nearly verbatim adaptation for the screen could mean that neither Tyrion nor Jaime will have a hand in Cersei’s demise.