“When you prepare their first breath, also prepare for their last...”
These words had me thinking about my FFXIV characters, mostly Vala and Esme.
Vala: When I began to create her I wanted Vala to be full of wanderlust! Finding simple joy in exploring the world and ready to create her own stories, like the ones she heard growing up from her father. She never intended to be a hero, it just happened and she accepted her duty. A little too much, so much so that when tragedy did occur she felt utterly useless. Haurchefant was there to remind her that she’s still mortal! She can’t save everyone, and life isn’t like those fairy tales she grew up on. Yet, she rose from that tragedy and self doubt to save who she can until she no longer can.
To which, if Vala were ever to do it would likely be to saving someone she loves. Family, friends, perhaps even for a noble cause of a City State. Her last thoughts would lean towards her son and friends, the people she’s known for years. She’d have a fear that she didn’t do enough, but she would hear a familiar voice telling her otherwise.
Esme: Esme tale wasn’t set in stone from the get go. I wanted a laughable, mischevious fellow, whom hides is tragedy with a smile. His biggest regret is not having fought amongst those at Carteneu and forgetting them. For, how can one live on for someone you can’t remember? At least that’s what Esme tells himself. Yet, he like Vala has gotten out of his darkness and yet there are occasions where he falls back into it. He isn’t perfect and learns from his mistakes.
His death he would gladly accept. Yes, he’s been wanting it for a long time but this time - fighting for someone whom he cares for, or an ideal that he believes in has his heart at ease. “My story is done.”
This is only ideas, perhaps I’ll visit them again someday.
Did you see this: "An unnamed cast member is interviewed after just filming their death scene, after “several years” of involvement with the show. This character has not yet died in the books. The actor was surprised upon learning of the character’s death and limited screen time, as he/she has read the books and was expecting to have more material than usual to film this year." Interesting. Doesn't Barristan Selmy have a big part in ADWD? And I believe the actor has read the books :(
Yes, I’ve seen that spoiler, and there’s speculation that this “big death” is taking place in King’s Landing, as Jonathan Pryce (the High Sparrow) read about this death in one of his scripts before the “unnamed cast member” himself did:
Apparently, the actor playing that character was one of the last to know and was quite surprised, as revealed by Jonathan Pryce, who will join Game of Thrones this upcoming season as the High Sparrow. Pryce told the Sydney Morning Herald how he got the jump on the unnamed actor.“I read the script and some of the others had to, but I know one actor who hadn’t read the script and he didn’t know what was going to happen to him. He died and he wasn’t happy.” (x)
So if it happens in KL? My money is on Meryn Trant or Pycelle (who also dies in the books, but much later). Other candidates might be Bronn (assuming he gets back to KL before the end of the season), or even Loras. All of them can be reasonably placed in KL in a scene with the High Sparrow and have been in the show since season 1. None of them is a major major character though. (no, I don’t think Jaime bites the dust this season, and here’s why).
But they don’t have to be major characters for their death to be shocking to the cast crew or even to the audience. So far it’s not like d&d have axed really major characters that are still alive in the books. Tommen can’t be, because the actor hasn’t been a presence on the show for so long (although it’s possible that he dies this season). People are saying it might be Littlefinger, since he’s apparently traveling back to KL. It’s possible, I guess, but his death would kinda anticlimatic since I consider him one of the “big bads” of the series. I wouldn’t waste his death so easily especially in a scenario in which there are no Starks involved, tbh. Varys? hmmm. He’s a lot like Littlefinger, he is one of the puppeteers of this story, it’s too early for him to go.
Of course, it could also be that the High Sparrow gets scenes outside KL, or perhaps Jonathan Pryce just read a random script from a scene that didn’t involve his character, which would virtually extend our list of candidates ad infinitum. If that’s the case, then Barristan Selmy is a possible goner, yes, absolutely. He has been there since the start, he would make a rather shocking and heartbreaking death since he’s quite an important character, and his role in Meereen post-Dany’s disappearance could be replaced by Daario. Could also be Jorah, for the same reasons. Jorah is still alive in the books, it would be a super shocking plot twist even for the actor.
(there’s also Jon Snow of course, as I believe the stabbing scene happens in this season, but Kit Harington read the books and I don’t think he would be particularly surprised to shoot such a scene)
(or maybe it’s Sandor? I mean, we have no idea what happens to him in the show at this point of the story; technically, he should be in the Quiet Isle if the Gravedigger theory is right, but is the show doing the Quiet Isle at all? Does anyone know spoilers about Rory McCann? would he even be surprised to be axed since as far as we know, “the Hound” is dead in the books too?)
Every star is a possible death
We gave ‘em names we called ‘em cancers called ‘em accidents
The one that’s like a vulture circling my head
It burned out five hundred million years before I saw it
Count down the time that you have left
In a jar try to catch try to capture it
Count down the time that you have left
In the dark try to catch try to capture it
Count down the time that you have left
In a jar try to catch try to capture it
Count down the time
That you have left
