A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
Spoiler alert: This article contains Game of Thrones season final spoilers.
As viewers mentally prepare themselves for the final episode of Game of Thrones Season 5 there's a dozen burning questions going through their minds (pardon the pun).
Last Monday night saw one of the worst Game of Thrones moments yet - the burning at the stake of Stannis Baratheon's daughter Princess Shireen. This season has seen more shocks than any other and it's likely that the final will be no different.
Here's what every Game of Thrones fan wants to know ahead of tonight's epic episode.
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
Encouraged by the red witch Melisandre, Stannis Baratheon burned his only child Shireen at the stake. His hope is that it will give him the power to take the Iron Throne. But will it work? And at what cost? Even if he does take the throne, he now has no heirs to pass it on to.
2. Has Cersei's downfall finally come?
We know that sometime during this season Cersei Lannister will do a naked walk of shame. Photos leaked from the set of GoT showed Cersei shaved, naked and covered in blood forced to walk in front of jeering crowds. The nudie run hit the headlines after the Church of Saint Nicholas in Dubrovnik, Croatia objected to filming - delaying Game of Thrones production. They later had a change of heart - on the condition that Cersei did not enter the church. With only one episode left, it looks certain that we will see this scene in the finale.
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
But does this mean that Cersei is finally going to loose her grip on the Iron Throne? Will the Faith Militant take over Kings Landing? Could Cersei's admission undermine Tommen's claim to the throne? Or could that be the justification that Stannis needs for his evil act?
3. Where did Daenerys go?
At the end of Episode 9 Daenerys Targaryen climbs up onto her dragon and flies away. But where is she going? Will she come back with the other dragons and burn the city down?
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
Dragon riding is an extremely effective method of warfare which was used by the Targaryens to unite the seven kingdoms. It's also the only hope men have against the Night's King who is making his way towards the Wall with his army of the dead. A hint of a bigger plot came as Jon Snow's Valyrian Steel sword defeated one of the White Walkers in the last episode. Dragons defeat White Walkers.
Tyrion finally hooked up with Daenerys only to have her ride off on a dragon and leave him facing and angry mob of Sons of the Harpy. Not only do fans believe that Tyrion will somehow make it out alive - but that he is destined to ride a dragon himself.
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
In the books there's a dream sequence in which Daenerys' dead brother Rhaegar says "the dragon has three heads". It's commonly thought that means three dragon riders who would be at least part Targaryen. According to fan theory - one of those is Jon Snow and the other could be Tyrion since his father always claimed "you're no son of mine."
5. Will Benjen Stark return?
The appearance of a leaked (maybe fake) preview clip for Game of Thrones shows Benjen Stark - Jon Snow's uncle. Benjen is the Night's Watch First Ranger who headed North of the Wall in the third episode of the first season to investigate disturbing reports. His horse returned to the wall without him and he hasn't been seen since. But before he left he told Jon Snow that one day he would tell him about his mother.
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
His re-appearance has fans asking whether it will be finally revealed that the fan theory R+L=J is true. According to the theory, Jon Snow is not the bastard son of Ned Stark but rather the secret child of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen - meaning he has a claim to the Iron Throne.
6. Will Sansa Stark escape?
When we last saw Sansa Stark she was being tortured by her husband Ramsay Bolton. In the preview clip we see Sansa saying: "If I'm going to die, let it happen while there is still some of me left."
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
Clearly something is going to go down in Episode 10 with Sansa. We saw her hide away a shank from the courtyard a few episodes ago - will she use it? Will Stannis get to Ramsay before her?
7. Will Margaery Tyrell be freed?
Queen Margaery Tyrell is still in the dungeon in Kings Landing for having knowledge that her brother Loral was homosexual. But a meeting between LittleFinger and Olenna Tyrell could prove crucial to the plot of the finale.
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
LittleFinger traded information with Olenna and it's widely believed that information was about how to murder Olyvar, the squire who testified against Loras Tyrell. Without Olyvar's testimony, however, there is no evidence of Loras and Margaery's crime to take it to trial.
8. Will Arya kill Meryn Trant?
In Episode 9 Arya Stark catches up with Meryn Trant - one of the many people on her kill list.
A scene from the TV show Game of Thrones. Photo / HBO
Ser Meryn, who has a taste for little girls, asks the brothel owner for "someone younger" as Sansa peeps through the cracks in the wall. He asks for "a fresh one" each day. Will Arya attempt to seduce Meryn in order to kill him? If so, will she get to him before he gets to her?
Season 5 has seen most of the major characters moving away from Kings Landing and the Iron Throne. This last episode could see the beginning of them all coming back. But who has the strongest claim to the throne? And who will die in the process?
