First it was the mysterious casting call for a "legendary fighter." Then it was confirmation that Bran would be returning for season six, and with him "interesting visions" into past events.
Now this latest piece of evidence seems to all but confirm that a major flashback scene will be coming to Game of Thrones season six, one that longtime readers of George R.R. Martin's fantasy series have long theorized about.
We are of course speaking of none other than the Tower of Joy, a lonely tower near the Dornish border that plays host to some huge events. It is there that Eddard Stark and a band of four other warriors confronted the three remaining knights of the Kingsguard, each who had sworn to defend the tower with their last breath. Inside the tower is a dying Lyanna Stark, Ned's sister. Her "kidnapping" at the hands of Rhaegar Targaryen is what plunged the realm into Robert's Rebellion.
The confrontation at the tower is the last event of the war. Afterwards Ned returns home with Jon Snow, reluctant to ever again speak of the events that transpired there.
So how do we know the Tower of Joy will be on the show? Location, location, location. The show will be filming at the Castillo de Zafra in Spain, and it bears a striking resemblance to how many fans (and even official art) have imagined the Tower of Joy.
As one member of the fansite Winteriscoming.net has pointed out via Twitter, the two locations bear a striking resemblance to one another.
First pic: official Tower of Joy art. Second pic: a S6 filming location. Coincidence? #GameofThrones pic.twitter.com/RI2eeexleM
— Phil Bicking (@p_Red) July 10, 2015
If the Tower of Joy is indeed going to be in season six (which seems a given at this point) it means several things. One is that Sean Bean is likely to reprise his role as the beloved and gone too soon Eddard Stark. Two, fans are going to witness what will likely be one of the most intense battles of the show yet, as three of the best swordsmen in the Seven Kingdom battle against Eddard and his band to the death. Three, we may finally learn more about the origins of Jon Snow, and if the long held fan theories are correct, it's a doozy.
Spoilers below!
Turn back now!
Last chance!
Fans have long believed Jon to be the child of Lyanna and Rhaegar Targaryen. We know Lyanna is dying at the time Ned arrives at the tower. Many fans speculate she is in childbirth. The other major piece of evidence is the fact that the Kingsguard are on hand to defend the tower. Why would knights sworn to protect the Targaryens, and specifically the king, be guarding this solitary tower in the middle of nowhere? That's because Lyanna was pregnant with the heir to the throne, a.k.a. Jon.
There is also the fact that Ned never speaks of Jon's mother. We know Ned to be the most honorable man in the realm, so honorable that it cost him his head. It would be out of character for him to cheat on Catelyn and knock up a random woman during the war. The idea that Jon is a Targaryen seems the most logical conclusion.
As for what that means for Jon's fate at the end of season five is still unknown. Many fans believe that if the Tower of Joy flashback will be shown on the show that it is almost a certainty that Jon isn't dead. He will survive his wounds, warg into Ghost for the time being or be resurrected by Melisandre in some way. What happens next is anybody's guess. One thing is for certain: season six is going to be one heck of a ride.
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