Theory Corner: What does Cersei’s new neckpiece have to do with the prophecy of the valonqar?

In the Game of Thrones season 5 premiere, “The Wars to Come,” we see a young Cersei Lannister visit a fortune teller by the name of Maggy the Frog. In this flashback (still the only proper flashback on the show), Maggy gives Cersei a dire prediction:

"CERSEI: “I’ve been promised to the Prince. When will we marry?”MAGGY: “You’ll never wed the prince; you’ll wed the king.”CERSEI: “But I will be queen?”MAGGY: “Oh yes, you’ll be queen…for a time. Then comes another. Younger, more beautiful, to cast you down and take all you hold dear.”CERSEI: “Will the King and I have children?”MAGGY: “The King will have 20 children, and you will have three…Gold will be their crowns; gold their shrouds.”"

This scene is adapted from one of Cersei’s memories in A Feast for Crows, the fourth of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels. Now that we’ve watched through the end of Game of Thrones season 6, much of it has been borne out, particularly the bit implying that all of Cersei’s children will die — “Gold will be their crowns; gold their shrouds.” But the show leaves one part out. In the books, Maggy also tells Cersei that, “when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.”

In High Valyrian, the word “valonqar” means “little brother,” and fans of the novels have wondered for years to whom the prophecy refers. Is it Tyrion, who is both younger than Cersei and literally little? Is it Jamie, who was born mere minutes after her? Or is someone else’s little brother?

For the show’s purposes, it doesn’t really matter, because this line was omitted. Still, we couldn’t help but notice Cersei’s spiked neckpiece in the newest promo for Game of Thrones season 7, “Long Walk.” The valonqar may have been cut from the show, but it looks like Cersei is preparing for him anyway. Anyone who tries to wrap their hands around her pale white throat while she’s wearing that will get a surprise.

This may be a deliberate nod from a writer or producer — just because the valonqar part of the prophecy was cut from the show doesn’t mean HBO can’t acknowledge it. That’s actually something the show does often. Consider the title of season 6, episode 7: “The Broken Man.” That title is taken from a speech in A Feast for Crows. The speech itself didn’t make it into the show, but the writers were aware of it, and tipped their hats to it with that title. Something similar may be happening here.

Or it could just be a cool neckpiece. Costume designer Michelle Clapton is well within her rights to put badass spikes on Cersei’s outfit without trying to deliver secret messages to viewers.

Also, just because the show hasn’t mentioned the valonqar doesn’t mean one of Cersei’s little brothers can’t do her in. With Tyrion returning to Westeros with dragons in tow and Jaime not fully on board with her new brand of pyromaniacal mass murder, the chances of the valonqar choking the life from her have risen, whether it’s prophesied or not.