This probably should go without saying, but if you're not caught up to the latest episode of Game of Thrones (episode 8.02), what are you doing here? There are spoilers ahead so proceed with caution.
So the table is set in a big freaking way for a gigantic battle between the living and the dead all taking place in and around Winterfell. As episode 2 of season 8 ended on Sunday we heard the horn bellow and saw the generals from the White Walker army approaching Winterfell...but we never saw the Night King. Was that peculiar to you?
I mean the entirety of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen's plan was to lure the Night King out with Bran and then take him down. Take out the Night King and you take out the army of the dead. Seems simple enough, right? Wrong.
Remember back earlier in the episode when Bran reminded us that he had been "marked" by the Night King and he showed us those gnarly scars on his forearm? Well that situation also linked their minds and vision, another thing that Bran reminded us of. So in essence, the Night King could already know the plan that "The Living" army is hoping to unfurl upon him.
So he hatches a counter plan.
While the majority of the armies of the living are gathered in Winterfell, including Dani's dragons, what if the Night King opted to get out of dodge? He sends a serviceable battalion to Winterfell to keep them busy for a while and maybe provide some hope. Meanwhile, he's hopped on his dragon and headed south to King's Landing and took out Cersei and the million people that live in Westeros, turning them into a million man walking dead army while taking the iron throne for himself.
You can read more about this theory including some other details on the Night King's plans over at Mashable and listen to a breakdown of it in the player below from the boys of The Men of The North podcast!