More time has been spent theorizing the possible conclusion of Game of Thrones than George R.R. Martin has spent writing the books, themselves. There are theories about pregnant Sansa, about curses, about Tyrion's parents, about various relationships, about the mysterious Benjen Stark. 

But one fan question stands above the rest: Who are Jon Snow's real parents?

In the season six finale tonight, Game of Thrones inched ever closer to answering that with a flashback to Ned Stark.

If you recall, back in Episode 3, we saw Ned kill Ser Arthur Dayne outside of the Tower of Joy in Dorne, where Lyanna Stark was being held by Daenerys' brother Rhaegar Targaryen. But before Bran (visiting the memory using his newfound powers) could see what was inside the tower, he was pulled away by that aggravating Three-Eyed Raven.

We returned to that scene tonight, where Bran watched Lyanna give birth to a baby boy. This is the baby with whom Ned Stark returned to Winterfell, claiming to be his own bastard son. This baby is Jon Snow.

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But what did she whisper to Ned just before she died? If the R+L=J theory is correct, she told Ned that this baby's father was Rhaegar, meaning that Jon Snow's true blood is a mix of Targaryen and Stark. You hear her tell Ned, "They'll kill him." Had King Robert Baratheon found out that this baby had Targaryen blood, he would have killed him, because this would have given Jon Snow claim to the Iron Throne.

As such, Ned said the child was his own, protecting Jon from Robert. And while the show hasn't yet officially confirmed this, the theory seems pretty sound in light of this scene.

Of course, like Jon Snow coming back to life, everyone kind of predicted this would happen—including showrunners D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, who correctly guessed who Snow's parents were to convince George R.R. Martin to let them make the TV series.

From: Esquire US