Original artwork, not a still
The night is dark and full of terrors.
— Game of Thrones · 2011
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is a prayer that sounds like a shrug at death: darkness and fear are the baseline, and her god's flame is the answer. In Melisandre's mouth it is both comfort and menace, because the fire that burns away terrors also burns people. It became a favourite fan mantra for any bad night, and Arya's "Not today" reply gave it a second life as a rallying line.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Game of ThronesShow the scene
Melisandre says it in the second-season premiere, "The North Remembers" (1 April 2012), on Dragonstone. Stannis Baratheon's red priestess leads a ceremony for her god, the Lord of Light, with statues of the Seven burning behind her as offerings. She intones the prayer and the onlookers repeat it back. The fan wiki also records her telling the old maester Cressen that the night is dark and full of terrors, but the fire burns them all away. The words return in the season eight battle episode "The Long Night", when she meets Arya Stark again and asks what we say to the god of death.
Sources (3)
- Game of Thrones wiki: The North RemembersInfobox and synopsis, On DragonstoneReference checked
- Game of Thrones wiki: MelisandreQuote box and story sectionReference checked
- Game of Thrones wiki: The Long NightSynopsisReference checked
Context reviewed
