Among the eunuch sex, the wolf reunions, and goth pirate battles, there was a brief, somewhat overlooked conversation between Varys and Daenerys on this week's Game of Thrones. During the conversation, the two outlined the TL;DR of their relationship. Essentially, Varys served Robert Baratheon after the murder of her father the Mad King, then did nothing as the new king hunted down and murdered the remaining Targaryen children. Eventually, Varys ended up on Daenerys's side—but for how long, given his ambiguous allegiances ? His defence is that "incompetence should not be rewarded with blind loyalty." But, when pressed by Daenerys, Varys says:
"You wish to know where my true loyalties lie? Not with any king or queen, but with the people … [and] I know the people have no better chance than you."
Varys has remained one of the most mysterious and powerful players in Game of Thrones. He plays all sides, working, as he puts it, for the realm rather than any particular person or faction. But at the end of the conversation, Daenerys makes it pretty clear what she wants from him:
"Swear this to me, Varys: If you ever think I'm failing the people, you won't conspire behind my back."
And if he does, she'll burn him alive.
In all these years, through the Baratheons and the Lannisters and Targaryens, Varys has used his influence and his network of spies to work toward putting the most worthy person in the Iron Throne. Right now, the person he believes is most fit for the job is Daenerys.
But what happens if he finds someone better for the job? One Redditor thinks Varys will meet that person in the next episode:
Dany would clearly be a better ruler than Cersei, and she has the stronger claim to the throne as well. But there are aspects of her character that can't sit well with Varys. Varys has a strong aversion to religious fanaticism and magic, as we have seen in past seasons. He was mutilated by a religious fanatic performing a magic ritual. In season 2, he strongly opposed Stannis' claim to the throne, in large part (as he explained to Tyrion) because the idea of Melisandre having so much power horrified him. Dany's dragons must similarly worry him. They are magical creatures, mythical WMDs, which, in the wrong hands, could prove to be disastrous for the realm and its people.
The Redditor points to one passage from the book in which Varys describes Aegon Targaryen's grooming to become king:
Aegon has been shaped for rule since before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows that kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them.
Hmmmm, this sounds a lot more like Jon Snow than Daenerys Targaryen.
Varys has proved repeatedly that his loyalties will shift with whomever is the person most fit to rule Westeros. So, what happens when he meets the King in the North? Jon's lineage—Stark and Targaryen—makes him an unbelievably attractive candidate for the job. He has the most rightful claim to the throne and he also comes from two powerful ancient houses. He's also proven to be a compassionate leader who has seen hardship and battle and learned the many lessons that Varys values. Daenerys has shown she punishes her enemies; Jon shows them forgiveness. Daenerys wants power; Jon hates it.
It's possible that Varys, who seems to know everything, has knowledge of Jon's true lineage. And seeing as it's clear he never stops scheming, it's likely Varys has one more huge betrayal up his sleeve.
