Game Of Thrones: 7 Fan Theories About Jon Snow 's Parents (That Aren't R+L=J)

All of the talk around Rhaegar and Lyanna fathering Jon Snow, or just simply whoever Jon's parents are, centres very much on him being an only child. There isn't any talk of him having full brothers or sisters, which reflects his status as a bastard and an outsider. However, what if there were another child?

This theory isn't simply R+L=J, but R+L=J and M, with the 'M' in question being Meera Reed. It follows all of the same logical points that the original theory does, from the blue winter roses and Tourney at Harrenhal to the events at the Tower of Joy, but instead of one child being born, there were two.

Meera Reed is something of an unknown quantity, and based on appearances it's not out of the realms of possibility that her and Jon are related, and there's no timeline issues because R+L=J works so well. But why would Ned only take one child with him, if he'd promised Lyanna to protect her children? Enter Howland Reed. He is Meera's father, one of Ned's closest friends, and the only person living who was actually at the Tower of Joy.

Given the importance children of Rhaegar would have, Ned and Howland split them up - yes, Star Wars style - in order to better protect them. Howland Reed is yet to turn up in the series, but his arrival is eagerly anticipated, because based on what he knows, he is potentially one of the most important figures in the entire saga.