'Game Of Thrones' Season 4 Spoilers: What Will Happen To 'The Red Viper' In Episode 8 'The Mountain And The Viper'?

“Game of Thrones” Season 4 will return this Sunday with episode 8, “The Mountain and the Viper.” Fans should prepare for a major character death. Admittedly, there are few and far between episodes of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” inspired series, in which a character doesn't die, but this week in particular fans should prepare to be shocked. Despite the two-week delay, episode 8 “The Mountain and the Viper” will most certainly be worth the wait, as will the subsequent final two episodes of Season 4 of “Game of Thrones.”

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Season 4 of “Game of Thrones.” If you do not want to know what will occur in forthcoming episodes do not read any further.

When fans were last in Westeros, we watched, as Tyrion Lannister vehemently demanded a trial by combat much to his father, Tywin’s dismay, only to have Oberyn Martell, aka the Red Viper surprisingly volunteers as his champion. The Red Viper is not defending Tyrion out of the goodness of his own heart, frankly if the Lannister’s champion was a different man, the vengeful Oberyn would most likely enjoy watching the Lannister imp die by beheading. However, the Lannister’s champion is the Mountain, the same “knight” who raped and killed Oberyn’s younger sister Elia, and brutally murdered his innocent niece and nephew, only to deliver their bodies to the then King of Westeros, Robert Baratheon in crimson cloaks.

Oberyn’s distrust and distaste of the Lannister’s stems from this one despicable action, and while Tywin Lannister most certainly gave the orders, The Mountain was the one to do the killing, meaning the Red Viper will strike at him first.

The Red Viper will entire into the trial by combat with the seemingly unbeatable Mountain, and despite the staggering size difference, Oberyn Martell didn’t get the nickname “The Red Viper” for nothing. In the trail by combat, Oberyn manages to wound the Mountain several time, by discovering chinks in the massive knight’s armor with his deadly spear.

The Red Viper out maneuvers the lumbering Mountain and is able to sever his hamstring, believing that he has won the fight; Oberyn prolongs the Mountain’s death and the trial by combat. His goal is to have the Lannister’s sworn knight confess to the murder of Elia, and her children. The Red Viper while fighting rightfully accuses the Mountain repeating, “Elia Martell, Princess of Dorne, you raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children.”

However, the Mountain begins to overpower the passionate and somewhat distracted Red Viper and manages to grab hold of him. The Mountain then punches his heavily armored fist into Oberyn’s face, killing him instantly. Oberyn’s death does come, but not without the vengeance he craved in life. True to his name, the Red Viper coated his spear in a special kind of poison, leaving The Mountain to die slowly and in tremendous agony, eventually avenging his dear sister Elia, and her two young Targaryen children.

Following the death of the Red Viper, Oberyn’s daughter, who he made reference to in a conversation with Cersei are enraged. Referred to as the “Sand Snakes” the older daughters seek vengeance for their father’s death. However the Red Viper’s older brother and ruling Prince of Dorne places them under arrest in an attempt to keep the peace with the Iron Throne and the Lannisters.