King Gendry.

"Even a small man can cast a very large shadow." - Varys ("A Clash of Kings")


The theory that Gendry is Cersei's son is a theory that I've long-supported ever since the first season. Until proven otherwise by Martin himself in a future novel, it's a theory that I'll be continuing to support.

Here's the thing: Ned Stark discovers the illegitimacy of Cersei Lannister's three children - Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen - by researching the long genetic history of Baratheon features (routinely the genetic dominant) when mated with those from Houses of silver and blonde hair, akin to Houses Targaryen and Lannister (the genetic submissives).

Gendry, a young blacksmith discovered by Ned Stark during his investigation toward the end of book/season one, was described by Ned as striking an "unmistakable" resemblance to his best friend Robert. Later on in the television series, after Stannis Baratheon confirms the boy's resemblance to his brother Robert, Melisandre uses Gendry's blood in a spell - a spell of which could only be successful using the blood of a King. So, we know that Gendry is positively Robert's child. But what evidence is there to support the theory that Gendry is also the child of Cersei?

1. Cersei mentions a true-born infant with black hair, born from her union with Robert, that supposedly died of fever.

2. Gendry would be the age of Robert and Cersei's deceased child by the time Ned meets him in "A Game of Thrones".

3. When asked, Gendry describes the faint memory of his mother as having "hair the color of Gold", such as Cersei's could be described.

4. Perhaps a callback, Maester Pycelle instructs Cersei on the use of Essence of Nightshade before the Battle of Blackwater: Three drops of which could put a person into a "deep and dreamless" sleep.

Was Baby Gendry given Essense of Nightshade to appear dead before he was taken away and made a ward, perhaps by Varys and/or Littlefinger in a ruse to instigate the eventual War of the Five Kings by leveraging the illegitimacy of Cersei and her brother Jaime's children to Robert? It's a strong possibility and why I support the theory that Gendry is the child of both Robert Baratheon and Cersei Lannister.