Long before it became a hit series on HBO, George R.R. Martin's book series, 'A Song of Ice and Fire' began in 1996.

He has yet to finish this and is currently working diligently to finish the next book in the series, 'The Winds of Winter.'

Longtime fans of the books are patiently awaiting the next installment, yet they are all still skeptical on how the author plans to end it all. As per Martin's general writing style, fans can rule out the happy ending, but the question still remains as to how bad could it be.

In an interview with The Observer, Martin gives some insight on his intentions for the climactic ending:

"I haven't written the ending yet, so I don't know, but no. That's certainly not my intent. I've said before that the tone of the ending that I'm going for is bittersweet. I mean, it's no secret that Tolkien has been a huge influence on me, and I love the way he ended Lord of the Rings. It ends with victory, but it's a bittersweet victory. Frodo is never whole again, and he goes away to the Undying Lands, and the other people live their lives. And the scouring of the Shire-brilliant piece of work, which I didn't understand when I was 13 years old: "Why is this here? The story's over?" But every time I read it I understand the brilliance of that segment more and more. All I can say is that's the kind of tone I will be aiming for. Whether I achieve it or not, that will be up to people like you and my readers to judge."

Seeing as the show and books will depart from each other next season, what Martin plans to do in the books will no way ruin 'Game of Thrones.' Fans can actually expect the show to end long before he finishes the last book.