Is Tyrion Lannister Playing A Dangerous Game By Leaving An Important Detail From His Letter To Jon Snow?

The meeting between Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow has been highly anticipated ever since Daenerys first set sail for Westeros. Yet it's also a great deal more complicated that we all thought, considering the potential familial bonds that the two may have if the speculation about Jon's lineage is true. Then to make it all even more complicated it seems that Tyrion Lannister may be keeping a secret from each of the powerful leaders.

Note: This article contains mild spoilers and speculation for Game of Thrones

In last Sunday's episode, "Stormborn," Daenerys directs Tyrion Lannister to send a message to Jon Snow in an effort to bring them together against Cersei Lannister. The idea is great, and it's one that many fans have been calling for, yet Daenerys has no desire to let Jon retain his title of King in the North. Her request for their meeting is that Jon bend the knee to her, which is not an unusual ask considering Cersei's recent letter demanding the same thing.

Jon Snow faces a difficult decision as he will be unwilling to surrender the newly re-established Northern Kingdom, as it would be equally hard to justify his actions to the North if he were to swear fealty to a queen, especially when that queen is a Targaryen. Yet, if the image of the prop letter released by HBO is to believed, it seems as though Jon may not realize just how difficult this meeting with Queen Daenerys could truly be.

The letter seems to be requesting exactly what Jon wants — a powerful alliance. Through the conversations that Jon has had with the Lords of the North, we know that Jon has no desire to abdicate his Kingship. Yet it seems that Tyrion's letter inviting Jon, one bastard to another, is missing the most important detail that Daenerys has demanded, a bowed knee:

Queen Daenerys Targaryen, First of Her Name, invites you to Dragonstone. My queen commands the combined forces of Dorne and the Reach, an Ironborn fleet, legions of Unsullied, a Dothraki horde and three dragons. The Seven Kingdoms will bleed as long as Cersei sits on the Iron Throne. Join us. Together we can end her tyranny. I appeal to you, one bastard to another — for all dwarves are bastards in their fathers’ eyes.Tyrion Lannister Hand of the Queen

This letter suggests that the Queen wishes an alliance, but based on the conversation between Daenerys and Tyrion, we know that she wants absolute fealty - so it's an interesting move by Tyrion to leave that out completely.

Why did Tyrion leave out such an important detail?

Likely Tyrion is weighing the cost of his actions, as he always does, and believes that by leaving this detail out of his letter, he can bring both together to negotiate. Although the two leaders would arrive with different terms, it's very possible that Tyrion has the intentions of bringing Snow and Targaryen together on an even playing field, which could not have happened had he written the letter as Daenerys had instructed. Yet, this is a very dangerous game to play with Jon and Daenerys, as he seeks an alliance and she expects him to surrender his kingdom.

Given that Tyrion is already in a bad spot after his Dorne mission failed, and that Daenerys seems to be channeling Olenna Tyrell's advice to "be a dragon," this could be the final deception that he makes from a seat of power. Daenerys could see this action as defiance and treason if she learns that Tyrion did not make her expectations clear.

Likely this weekend we will have an answer through Game of Thrones Episode 3, "The Queen's Justice" since the teaser trailer shows a meeting between the two. The question truly then becomes: Will Jon meet Daenerys' demands, even though he doesn't know that she has her eye on his kingdom?

(Source: Making Game of Thrones)