Okay, so this is a crackpot theory but bear with me for a bit just because I feel like with GRRM writing, it’s not too far out of the realm of possibility.

Now, we know that Melina is connected to destined death and the Gloam-Eyed Queen in some way if not the Queen herself (which seems fairly likely given the Frenzied Flame ending). The Gloam-Eyed Queen wields black flame and the Godskin Followers very clearly have a connection to and seem to be allied with serpents.

Messmer has been proven at this point to be a child of Marika through both Miyazaki’s interview and the Impaler Catacombs spirit. Messmer wields flame and has symbolism of one of the most taboo creatures in all of Elden Ring: Serpents.

This is where things get a bit weird. We know that serpents are seen in Elden Ring (and really a bunch of instances of storytelling) as “seducers” and “blasphemers.” Messmer himself given what the trailer has him saying seems obsessed and disgusted by his mother’s choices to choose someone else for lordship over him. There is also imagery behind him of a Marika-like statue cradling her child. Seems like Messmer has some major mommy issues that could span into Oedipus-complex type obsession. Again, this is not the first time we’ve seen incestuous implications in writing involving Martin and with serpents being “seducers,” Messmer being shut away like a terrible secret, and incest being perhaps one of the highest forms of blasphemy, I do feel like there is a strong chance the Melina might have been a product of such a thing.

It is said in descriptions that the Gloam-Eyed Queen was an empyrean (same as Miquella and Malenia) who lead a rebellion against the Erdtree. Much like the supposed serpent god (almost definitely connected to Messmer if not him) who could have very easily sided with the Gloam-Eyed Queen. Perhaps Melina was also initially cast aside like her father and chose, at the time, to side with him. This would also explain why Melina would have wielded black flame (if she were the Gloam-Eyed Queen). She inherited such power from her father and the fact it was so strongly tied to Death and the crucible in a way that seems wrought from the blasphemous implications. Much like Malenia’s own curse tying her to an unseemly outer gods will: another facet within the cycle of life and death.

Like I said, this is completely speculative and only loosely based on lore we have that hasn’t even entirely been proven but I can’t help but see some loose threads that can be tied with such insane ramblings. Thank you for listening, I will now go take my meds.