‘The Winds Of Winter’ Plot Spoilers: Will Cersei Lannister Die? Plus Will The Lannisters Lose The Iron Throne?

“The Winds of Winter” is the forthcoming sixth installment in George R.R. Martin’s famed “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. Despite the enthusiastic fan fare behind the series, George R.R. Martin has been in the process of writing the book for more than 3 years, and there is no confirmed release date in sight. When fans last had a glimpse inside the world of Westeros, Cersei’s position in Kings Landing had changed dramatically from when we first met her as the reigning Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, alongside her brutish husband King Robert Baratheon.

In the fifth book “A Dance of Dragons” Cersei power and position started to slip from her grasp, her scheming against Margeary Tyrell backfired. In her attempt to have the new, younger and perhaps even more beautiful Queen framed for adultery and high treason, she is in turn arrested by the High Septon and jailed. Most fans agree that “The Winds of Winter” will complete the demise of Cersei Lannister, despite her lioness pride and prowess, she has too many impending threats and not nearly enough allies. At this point in the series, Cersei must contend with threats from the Tyrells, Aegon VI, the High Septon and of course the outcome of her trial by combat seriously determines whether she lives or dies.

Fans agree that the trial by combat will be the most likely be the end to Cersei, and not because they think her mysterious champion Ser Robert Strong will lose, in fact, he will most likely win, but not before being unmasked. Ser Robert Strong is an unknown knight added to the Kingsguard by King Tommen under the advisement of Cersei’s only ally Qyburn. In the epilogue of “A Dance of Dragons” Kevan Lannister remembers that Meryn Trant claimed that Ser Robert Strong never ate or drank, and Boros Blount said he had never seen him use the privy.

Most theories claim that Strong is in fact a re-animated undead Mountain, who has now loyally served the Lannisters both in life and in death. Fans have seen the inclusion supernatural beings in the “Game of Thrones” series before, and despite having varying origins, these creatures all share one important quality in common—they are all extremely difficult to kill. So like Beric Dondarrion, Lady Stoneheart, and White Walkers, Ser Robert Strong will be difficult to complete in this trial by combat. But the problem still remains that if Ser Robert Strong is exposed as being undead, the whole trial will be invalid.

If his undead origins were exposed during or after the trial, Cersei would be facing even more serious charges in the laws of the Faith. The former Queen regent would face accusations of breaking sacred laws against necromancy from The Faith, meaning her position and more over the Lannisters rule in Kings Landing would come to an end. The continually growing militant of the Faith would revolt against the Lannisters, rendering their control of the Capital useless. The fall of the Lannisters will most likely lead to the rise of the Tyrells, who have always been viewed in a favorable light by those of the Faith and the common folk. After Cersei’s fall and their relinquishment of the crown, Cersei’s children will most likely not fair well in the Capital under the Tyrell’s rule. Cersei will witness the death of all three of her children,