[Gorefest]

Well, most of book 6 was already written ages ago, so I don't think developments in the TV show influence GRR Martin's choices on book character developments. It's more the other way around, in that the tv show makers now only have Martin's information to go on, and he will only tell them the core basics to make them reach the series finale with all the crucial characters and events still intact.

[Andorion]

It would be a bit of a letdown to kill off book Stannis right now. Frankly I think the division and the tension between the Frey and the Northmen back at Winterfell will be crucial in their defeat.

[Gorefest]

My personal favourite theory is that Stannis wins the battle, then sends a raven with the pink letter to the Wall with the hope of luring Jon Snow south to Winterfell. There are some really intriguing hints dropped in the books to this effect. Stannis is faffing about with ravens and asking about how they get trained etc. The usage of certain terms in the pink letter also very much hints to Stannis trying to mimic Ramsay's style by using information he receives from Theon (my Reek, etc), but failing in some obvious areas (wildling princess, black crows, etc).

[worry]

Yah. I'm pretty sure Stannis's show death ONLY means he won't win the game of thrones. All else up to that point is up for grabs, and will be frankly more interesting if he's around a while.

[Werthead]

Regarding Stannis's fate and the battles:

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SEASON 6

Spoiler

Some sources have said that Stannis's march on Winterfell in S5 and the massive "Battle of the North" that we know has been filmed for Season 6 are actually the same "Battle of Ice" from The Winds of Winter. They've been split into two separate battles for the TV show to give more of a feeling of tension and jeopardy. What that means for the book could be anything: Stannis's forces winning the battle and defeating the Boltons only for Stannis to die is one suggestion, and fairly plausible as it does at least explain how Stannis would otherwise spare Theon (if we assume Theon survives) from what seems like certain execution. Stannis's death in the book, whether as part of a victory or defeat, would also free Melisandre to burn Shireen, which otherwise the book version of the character would not do.

How this plays into the fact that Jon Snow fights in the Battle of the North in S6 is unclear.

[Gorefest]

LiIfting one aspect out of your spoiler section that in itself I don't think contains a spoiler, so I'll leave the spoiler brackets aside: book Melissandre and Shireen never went with Stannis to Winterfell but stayed at the Wall, so whether Stannis lives or dies does not necessarily have any impact on Shireen's fate. Mel could burn her at the Wall at any time, regardless of whether Stannis lives or dies.

[Werthead]

Gorefest, on 05 December 2015 - 05:25 PM, said:

LiIfting one aspect out of your spoiler section that in itself I don't think contains a spoiler, so I'll leave the spoiler brackets aside: book Melissandre and Shireen never went with Stannis to Winterfell but stayed at the Wall, so whether Stannis lives or dies does not necessarily have any impact on Shireen's fate. Mel could burn her at the Wall at any time, regardless of whether Stannis lives or dies.

When Mel suggests it in the books, Stannis slaps the idea down pretty hard. He also gets his bannermen to acknowledge Shireen as his heir, and promise that they will carry on the war in her name should he fall. On that basis, it's highly improbable that Melisandre would burn Shireen without Stannis being out of the picture.

[Andorion]

I think Mel would turn on Shireen only when she is absolutely sure that there is another AA option and Stannis may not after all be the chosen one. I think this is all going to depend on how the Jon situation is handled.

In other news, Cersei with a pixie-cut is seen hugging Tommen in a HBO year end video. Speculation is that this is probably before her trial