As House of the Dragon season 3 heads toward its final episodes, the latest installment appears to have heavily foreshadowed Ser Criston Cole's fate. A heartfelt conversation in Episode 5 left many viewers wondering whether the HBO series is about to adapt one of Fire & Blood's most memorable moments.

During the episode, Criston speaks about wanting people to remember him through songs celebrating his bravery. The dialogue immediately stood out to readers of George R.R. Martin's book, where those very words carry a much darker meaning.

While HBO could still alter events for television, the source material already reveals exactly how the King's Hand meets his end. Here's what happens in the books.

In Fire & Blood, Ser Criston Cole dies during the Battle of the Butcher's Ball after the Greens suffer a series of setbacks in the Dance of the Dragons.

Following Rhaenyra Targaryen's capture of King's Landing, Criston and Prince Aemond split up in an effort to reclaim the Iron Throne. Left with an outnumbered army, Criston marches through the Riverlands before being surrounded by forces from the Riverlands and the North.

Realizing the battle is lost, Criston reportedly tells one of his squires, "Our death." He offers to surrender in exchange for the lives of his remaining soldiers, but the request is rejected. When he asks for a trial by combat, his enemies refuse again, denying him the heroic ending he hoped for.

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Instead, Criston is struck down by three arrows before he can draw his sword, ending the life of one of the Dance's most controversial figures. The massacre that follows becomes known as the Butcher's Ball, a name meant to reflect the one-sided slaughter rather than an honorable battle.

Although Episode 5 of House of the Dragon strongly hints that Criston's end is approaching, HBO has not confirmed when or how it will happen. The series has already expanded his story beyond the books, including his relationship with Alicent Hightower and several original battle sequences, meaning the adaptation could change the details of his final moments.

Still, Criston's remarks about wanting songs written in his honor closely mirror the irony of his death in Fire & Blood, making many fans believe the Butcher's Ball could arrive before the end of season 3. If the show follows the source material, one of Westeros' most divisive knights may not have much time left.

Whether House of the Dragon recreates Criston Cole's death exactly as it appears in Fire & Blood or introduces changes, Episode 5 has made it clear that his story is approaching a turning point. With the Butcher's Ball looming large in the books, fans won't have to wait much longer to find out how HBO chooses to bring one of the Dance of the Dragons' most controversial figures to his end.

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Should House of the Dragon stay faithful to Criston Cole's fate in Fire & Blood, or would you prefer HBO to change his ending? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!