Game Of Thrones: 10 Theories That Turned Out To Be Bulls*it

8. Ned Stark In A Dance With Dragons

One of the most outrageous fan-theories is that Ned Stark - who had his head chopped off way back in Season 1, setting the tone for the rest of the saga and establishing that just about anyone could and indeed will die - is actually still alive. It states that Varys was involved in his saving, with someone else being switched in his place. This was either because Ned was such an honourable man that the Spider wanted to save him, or instead send him to Daenerys to aid her quest for the Throne. It's backed up by Sansa thinking the head above King's Landing doesn't look like her father, and Catelyn rejecting Ned's bones. While it is still technically possible that this could be true (except, of course, it clearly isn't), another part of the theory stated that he'd be returning as a point of view character in A Dance With Dragons, because of a comment from Martin about a 'retired' character making a return with their own chapter in the novel. While it can't yet be proved that Ned Stark is indeed dead and staying that way forever, it's very clear by reading the fifth book that he makes absolutely no appearance, either in a POV chapter or any other form.