7 intriguing mysteries from A Song of Ice and Fire

Is Gerion Lannister alive in Valyria?

Gerion Lannister was the brother of Lord Tywin Lannister, although he was of a much more fun-loving disposition. The two brother’s relationship was notoriously stormy, as Gerion was overshadowed by his older brother and Tywin was not amused by his brother’s antics. Gerion reminded Tywin of their father Tytos Lannister, who nearly brought their house to ruin.

"“That shadow Tywin cast was long and black, and each of them had to struggle to find a little sun. Tygett tried to be his own man, but he could never match your father, and that just made him angrier as the years went by. Gerion made japes. Better to mock the game than to play and lose. But Kevan saw how things stood early on, so he made himself a place by your father’s side.” – Genna Lannister, A Feast for Crows"

Whatever his brother thought, Gerion continued to live his best life. At 16, he visited the Free Cities, and he once gifted King Robert I Baratheon with a gilded dagger, complete with ivory grip and sapphire on the pommel. Gerion was also close to Tyrion. He gifted him with the books and taught him tumbling tricks, much to Tywin’s disapproval.

Some years before the start of A Game of Thrones, Gerion went on a quest to find House Lannister’s ancestral Valyrian steel greatsword Brightroar, which Tommen II Lannister had taken to the ruins of Valyria long ago, intending to plunder the accused city’s long-abandoned wealth. Gerion never returned. Lord Tywin sent men to look for his lost brother and they traced him as far as Volantis, where half his crew had deserted him because of his intent to sail into the Smoking Sea around Valyria, the last place he was seen.

What happened to him? Did he die as others who had ventured to Old Valyria before him had died, victims of whatever ghosts haunt that place? Did he decide to live a life away from Westeros, or is he in Valyria to this day?