ASOIAF: As the last Baratheon, will Gendry play an important role in the rest of the story?

I think he will play an important role.

But in the books he's nowhere near the last Baratheon bastard; and even in the show it's implied that there are several bastards of Robert scattered throughout Westeros.

The known Baratheon bastards in the books are:

1. Mya Stone, who serves the cadet branch of  House Royce and seems to be the chief keeper of the mules used to make the arduous climb to the Eyrie. Later becomes a close friend to Alayne Stone, aka Sansa Stark.

art by Jorge Barrero

• 2. Bella, a whore and the daughter of a whore, working at a brothel called the Peach in Stoney Sept--almost sleeps with her half-brother Gendry until he's cock-blocked by the pre-pubescent Arya Stark. (Ah, yes, A Song of Ice and Fire.) Incidentally, ti's interesting that Gendry rejects this 'peach' at the Peach--who else rejects peaches? (As a side note I've just seen some creepy Arya/Gendry artwork on the net--not as creepy as the San-San porn, though.)

art by Belen Jenas

• 3. Edric Storm: conceived on Stannis'  wedding bed on his wedding day by his brother Robert with his wife Selyse's cousin Delena, Edric is the only high-bornBaratheon bastard we know of. Unless you count Jon Snow. (just kidding, just kidding, put away the pitchforks! I know the seed is strong.) A playmate of Shireen Baratheon, a headstrong, rambunctious boy's boy, Edric is sent away by Lord Davos to prevent his being sacrificed the Melisandre's fires for his precious King's Blood. Currently hiding in Lys with his protectors and guardians. My guess is Edric Storm will be THE Baratheon at the end of the novels, seated at Storm's End.

art by Amok

• 4. Ser Gendry Waters of King's Landing: our stubborn hero, the Young Bull, the smith with the pith. Currently working with Lady Stoneheart's BWB, he seems certain to reenter the story in the next book--I like the popular theory that he will forge(or reforge) the sword that will become Lightbringer.

art by succinctity

Robert is predicted to  father 16 children by the maegi Maggy the Frog. If that's so, then there are other Baratheon bastards out there.

Though at least three(twins born at Casterly Rock and a baby born in a King's Landing whorehouse) have been murdered by Cersei.

Note: of all these bastards, only Edric Storm and Mya Stone know of their royal parentage.

But it's comforting to know that the Baratheon line is virtually guaranteed to live on, if not in name, at least in DNA.

Written Mar 7