The Dragonstone Dilemma: Is Ser Loras Tyrell Truly Dead or Merely Injured?

The fate of Ser Loras Tyrell after the Siege of Dragonstone remains one of the most debated and enigmatic storylines in George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. The Game of Thrones series culminated with conflicting accounts of Loras's fate, leaving readers to question if he is truly dead or merely wounded.

The Evidence Against Loras's Death

According to in-canon evidence, Loras Tyrell may not have met his end after the siege. In Cersei's VIII in A Feast for Crows, Maester Pycelle is quoted as saying, "He will make a thousand and one. They carried him inside the castle after the battle but his wounds are grievous. He has lost so much blood that the maesters will not even leech him." This raises several questions:

Why would the maesters at Dragonstone insist on not leeching him, a procedure typically used to remove blood to treat injuries? Why is there no mention of Pylos, the only known maester at Dragonstone? Why is there a suspicious absence of news from Dragonstone during Alayne's chapters, which should have included significant developments like the fall of the castle? Loras's injuries seem exaggerated given the castle's fortifications and the Lannister force's numbers. The siege's outcome does not align with the expected losses and describes Dragonstone inaccurately.

The collective suspicion surrounding Loras's death is significant and aligns with the pattern of intrigue and manipulation in the series.

Assumptions and Theories

Given the information available, we can make several assumptions:

The 2,000 Lannister men-at-arms on Dragonstone were left alone while Loras and the Tyrell fleet retreated to defend the Reach from Euron. Aurane Quickhand's defection and the dire situation faced by the Lannister troops stranded on Dragonstone made their position untenable. The Redwynes and Loras may have left a force to besiege Dragonstone while the rest went to battle against Euron.

From this, a plausible scenario emerges:

The Golden Company, aligned with Aegon, transports a small contingent to Dragonstone, inspiring the garrison led by Rolland Storm to defect and attack the Lannisters. The Golden Company supports the garrison in its efforts to reclaim Dragonstone for Aegon. This event happens before the Battle of Steel and could explain the shift in power at Dragonstone.

George R.R. Martin's intent to leave the siege open-ended provides a window for such a major change of hands in the story. Salladhor Saan, aligning with Aegon, could have played a crucial role in this scenario.

Implications for the Story

The implications of Loras's survival are significant:

Cersei is unaware of the betrayal, suggesting that the showrunners have also misled viewers into believing she believes Loras's death. The Redwynes and Aurane's continued support of Loras indicates that neither is particularly loyal to him, given their potential allegiance with Aegon. Aurane's opportunism and lack of loyalty suggest he left King's Landing immediately after Cersei's arrest to avoid being caught.

The uncertainty surrounding Loras's fate adds depth to the storytelling, leaving room for unexpected twists and turns in the narrative.