The final season of the HBO fantasy epic Game of Thrones is set to return to our screens on April 14th, promising more bloodshed, betrayal, and tears than ever before. The famous tale of power is bowing out with six final episodes but before the premiere, there are several questions running through the fandom’s minds. Is there going to be enough time to wrap up the dozens of storylines? How many of our beloved characters who have made it this far will find their lifelines finally cut? And most importantly, how many costume changes will occur?

Here is our list of the 10 things to watch out for in Game of Thrones Season 8!

10. The Golden Company

The Golden Company is a famed and feared mercenary company from Essos. A much more integral part of the story in the books, the Golden Company has nevertheless been name dropped several times throughout the television show. For a while, however, it seemed that the Golden Company would remain a callback to the books but not make an actual appearance in the show.

As a pleasant surprise, however, the Golden Company will indeed be featured in the final season of the show. Ordered through Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbæk) by Queen Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), the Golden Company is meant to be a bulwark for the Lannisters to achieve victory, regardless of whoever wins in the North. The Golden Company is famous for never breaking its contract. Will their word hold true?

Prediction: Since this is Game of Thrones , I smell betrayal.

[nextpage title=”9. The Battle of Winterfell”]

Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie). Jon Snow (Kit Harrington). Arya Stark (Maisie Williams). Jaime “Fookin” Lannister (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). Jorah the Andal (Iain Glen). And they’re going to face off against the White Walkers at the ancestral Stark home. Need I say anything else?

Predictions: Death. And tons of it.

8. Hear Her Roar

Lena Headey’s acting is just as magical as any dragon (I’m looking at you with a sternly raised eyebrow, Emmys!) and the creative team behind the show knows it. That dramatic moment in the official Season 8 trailer pivots on Cersei drinking wine because quite frankly, what else do you need? There’s drama in that expression of course, but there is also a defiance, a reliance, and a sadness. Has Cersei lost her child? Has the loss of Jaime to his sense of honor finally gotten to her? How will her story end – and most importantly – how many more famous Cersei smirks will we receive before the finale wraps up?

Prediction: A dramatic death scene in the Red Keep with Ramin Djawadi’s stunning chorus music crescendoing in the background.

[nextpage title=”7. Missandei & Grey Worm”]

I know that not everyone in the fandom is on board with this romance, but it has become one of the most humane aspects of a show that has at times been accused of delving into sadism just for the sake of shock value. There is something additionally touching about two characters who have suffered tragedy that many people simply cannot know finding solace, understanding, and fortitude with each other. Call me optimistic, but I am rooting for these two.

Prediction: Please don’t let these two die! Thanks!

6. The Dragon Riders

It perhaps comes as little surprise that the first dragon to die is the one named after Daenerys Targaryen’s (Emilia Clarke) wretched brother, Viserys (Harry Lloyd). That she would ride the dragon named for her deceased husband Khal Drogo (Jason Mamoa) follows suit. That leaves poor Rhaegal, named for Daenerys’s older brother Rhaegar (Wilf Scolding). Will Jon, whose identity is likely to cause *quite the scandal*, be the next Thrones character to ride on the back of a dragon?

Prediction: Easy yes.

[nextpage title=”5. Jon’s Identity”]

Jon’s secret identity as the legitimate offspring of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark (Aisling Franciosi) was exposed in the Season 7 finale, “The Dragon and the Wolf.” That reveal, certain to be made known to everyone, is likely to create a significant number of problems. The relationship between Daenerys and Jon becomes immediately suspect to say the least, the Northern Lords might chafe yet further at being ruled by a Targaryen, and perhaps most importantly to Jon, how irrevocably it changes his relationships with the people he called family for his whole life.

Prediction: More brooding.

4. What Will Happen in King’s Landing?

At some point during the season, the Battle for the North will wrap and the attention will shift to the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei will be encased within the halls of the Red Keep with Qyburn (Anton Lesser) and the Mountain (Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson) by her side, but will she survive the series? Will she die at the hands of Jaime? Will Arya cross another name off of her list? Will Cersei somehow evade expectations and survive? I know the White Walkers will command a lot of attention this season but I can’t wait to see how the political machinations come to a head in the city Olenna Tyrell (Dame Diana Rigg) so notably decried.

Prediction: A historical repeat of the Mad King’s final wishes, even if I’m not sure in exactly what form.

[nextpage title=”3. Daenerys and Her Dream”]

Season 7 began with Daenerys arriving in Westeros to conquer the land. It ended with her losing one of her dragons and realizing that the War of the Seven Kingdoms was in many ways secondary to the threat the Night’s King and his army posed. One can safely assume that Daenerys is still determined to conquer the Seven Kingdoms for even if the Night’s King is defeated, there is still Cersei to deal with and the matter of Jon’s parentage. Will the Dragon sit on the Iron Throne, if there is still one left at the end of the series?

Prediction: I hope she survives, but I’m not sure where her story should end. Perhaps rebuilding Westeros? Valyria?

2. Arya’s Journey Comes to a Head

In the opening moments of the Season 8 trailer, we see Arya at her most terrified in quite some time. She is running frantically through the corridors of Winterfell for her life, presumable from the army of wights. Arya’s journey on Game of Thrones began with her desiring an escape from the trappings of nobility but became much more complicated and traumatic as the series moved forward. Some speculate that Arya’s journey that is so drenched in death will culminate in her death. But my mind always travels to her conversation with Lady Crane (Essie Davis) about the world that lies beyond the realms of Westeros and Braavos? Will that be the end to our young assassin’s journey?

Prediction: Arya sails off, leaving Westeros and her home behind.

[nextpage title=”1. Storming the Seas”]

The Greyjoy saga has slowly evolved into one of the deepest storylines in the show, tied together by the bonds of trauma and familial toxicity. It’s a twisted family, much like many of the others in the series, but there is a glimmer of hope in Theon (Alfie Allen) taking off with a crew to rescue his sister Yara (Gemma Whalen) from the clutches of Euron. It is a storyline destined to be one of the most complete in the show’s run, requisite with love and trauma. Regardless of how it ends, there is no doubt that it will warm and tear apart our hearts in equal measure.

Prediction: Theon dies saving Yara, although I would be thrilled if the two survive.

What do you think? Chime in on Twitter @ThatShelf with your own thoughts, hopes, and predictions!