Jon Snow's Lineage *POTENTIAL SPOILERS*

Whoa...Michael throws out a brutally plausible theory. So do you think Dany and Jon will be coupling up a la Targaryen inter-marrying? Will Dany's dragons ever encounter Jon Snow and if/when they do will they "recognize" him for who he is (if indeed Targaryen blood courses through his veins)?

Makes me want to reread the books with this theory in mind (so I can look for additional details). I wonder if Aegon had any hunch/inkling? Does Jon bear any Targaryen traits that might have raised suspicion?

Brilliant, Michael, just brilliant. I like the additional observation about the title of the series, and I like your idea, too, greedo, about the dragons. It's all very tidy.

I've just started the series, and only on book 2, but I've thought that all along. I'd be surprised if that's not the way it all went down. My only problem with your theory is with Rhaegar Raping her, I think they were in love. From all accounts Rhaegar was quite the catch, and Lyanna probably fell for him, so they ran off together and hooked up.

Also remember Dany in the Tower of the Undying, A Dragon has three heads, Jon is the third.

I've been thinking in that direction as well. Eddard Stark was honorable to a fault, and the exact circumstances of his sister's death are unknown. PLUS, the first four books actually build up an interesting picture of Rhaegar Targaryen as an extremely honorable and upright prince! I'd always wondered about how he was capable of kidnap and rape. The only question is, if Lyanna (betrothed to Robert Baratheon) decided to elope with Rhaegar, why did everyone seem to unanimously think of it as kidnap? And what sort of lord's daughter was she, exactly??

If it's true, then Jon Snow himself stands in danger now, what with Stannis and Melisandre being at the Wall with him...

Also, what of this young Quentyn Martell? As of the end of the fourth, he's en route to try and woo Daenerys. Will there be a potential for confrontation between him and Jon??

I think this is very plausible in fact I would say its downright likely that some comingling between Stark and Targaryen has to occur, but the one question I have that kinda diminishes this theory is the fact that there is woman that Eddard would never let Catelyn mention and I would like to know how that would work within this premise

After reading all four existing books twice I came to the same conclusion before reading your thoughts Michael. Unfortunately there is only one character in the story still alive who would know the truth. That character is Howland Reed, lord of the crannogmen. We have yet to meet him though. Hopefully Jon will meet him in the next book and we will learn if our theory is sound.

the whole name of the series is "ice and fire". ice is stark fire is tararyen.. so one who joins them together is the protagonist..

I was heading down a similar road with my theories, but the theories presented make more sense. I was thinking that Jon was in fact Ned's son but that it was him that went with a Targaryen. Right idea i guess, Stark and Targaryen. I'm positive he has Targaryen blood in him. Why else would his dire wolf be the only one with RED eyes? The dire wolf pups and the dead mother killed by the stag was an omen imo. Pretty sure that Dany and Jon are going to get together somehow as is the Targaryen fashion.

While reading "A Song of Ice & Fire" I very quickly thought Jon & Daenerys
Targaryen would some how find each other. Probably when she decides it is
time to come back to Westeros. But I must admit, I was muddle-headed and
never saw an actual connection between Rhaegar & Lyanna. I'm still not sure
I do, because Jon does not betray any Targaryen features whatever. He is all
Stark, but I think, if he does belong to Rhaegar & Lyanna, Rhaegar surely did
rape her. As Ned said to Robert, "Remember what he did to her Robert." Although he could have just been speaking out of bitterness.

I hadn't thought about this before, but it certainly is plausable. It also fits the mold for some of Eddard's actions. When there are rumors being spread around Winterfell about Jon's mom, Eddard stops them, not because they are true, but because he won't have his sister talked about like that, even if people don't know it's her.

Two other possiblities exist:

Ser Arthur Daynes sister, Ashara Dayne. Eddard brought her the sword Dawn, something could have happened, but the timeframe and circumstances are suspect. Eddard doesn't stirke me as a man to sleep with a woman in a short affair, let alone the grieving sister of a man he killed. It is possible though.

The second is a story told by the Reed's in the 3rd book. In the story of the Knight of the Laughing Tree, there's a vague reference to Eddard as the "quiet wolf", at the tourney at Harrenhall, when Jaime was knighted. In the story, the wild wolf (Brandon), asked a dancing girl to dance with the quiet wolf (Eddard). I'm not sure who she is, but she is a second possibility. Though I find it unlikely, she could be Ashara. Either way, a couple years later, during the war, if Eddard happened across her again, something could have happened.

The more I think about this new theory, that he is Lyanna's son, the more I like it. Jon is already a huge part of the story, but this would make his parentage even more important. What we know of Rhaegar, his honor and valor make sense as passed down traits, brought forth even more by his mothers side of the family and being raised by Eddard.

No matter what though, Howland Reed is probably the only person alive who knows the truth.

I am under the belief that Jon is Lyanna's son. But im surprised that alot of what i found to be evidence to this wasnt brought up in anyones comments.

KINGSGUARD
The major proof to me lies with the 7 Kingsguard! Now when Rhaegar died on the Trident he had 3 Kingsguard with him. Prince Lewyn Martell and Jon Darry died and Barristan Selmy was severly wounded by arrow, spear and sword.

Jaime Lannister was at King's Landing guarding King Aerys, Queen Rhaella (Daenerys in womb), Prince Viserys, Elia (Rhaegar's wife)and 2 children Rhaenys and Aegon. So thats 1 Kingsguard to protect 7 members of the royal household.

The last 3 Kingsguard are left at the Tower of Joy to guard Lyanna Stark. The only information given that ive found as to where the tower is is that in Eddard's dream the red mountains of Dorne can be seen behind the tower. Something I found most interesting was who was left to guard Lyanna. Lord Commander Ser Gerold Hightower 'The White Bull', Ser Arthur Dayne the Sword of the Morning, and Ser Oswell Whent last of his house. Hightower and Dayne are set to almost legendary status by those who speak of them. So why would the 3 best Kingsguard be left to guard a captive?

In Eddard's dream the 3 Kingsguard confirm that the know Rhaegar is dead on the trident, Jaime killed Aerys, the Queen escaped to Dragonstone, and the lords of the south have bent the knee. Yet all 3 stayed at the tower and didnt come the the aid of any of the royal family whom they swore to protect. The only thing that makes since is if the were ordered to protect Lyanna because she is or is carring royalty. Rhaegar whouldnt be the first of his house to have 2 wives.

BLUE ROSE
The next thing that i noticed is how the blue winter rose keeps popping up. In Eddard's dream Lyanna screams his name and "A storm of rose petals blew across a blood-streaked sky, blue as the eyes of death." Next comes during Eddard's memory of the tournament outside of Harrenhal. Rhaegar wins and bestows the crown of love and beauty to Lyanna. The crown is made of blue winter roses. Theres also the story of Bael the Bard the Mance tells Jon. In the tale Bael steals King Starks daughter and leaves on her pillow a blue winter rose.

Now all this wasnt very good evidence until book 2 when Daenerys goes to the house of the Undying Ones. In this chapter there are alot of giveaways if u read carefully but the one that goes with this most is when she sees the images in indigo. The last image in that paragraph is "A blue flower grew from a chink in a wall of ice, and filled the air with sweetness...mother or dragons, bride of fire..." So my guess when i thought on that image was wall of ice = The Wall and blue flower would = Jon Snow.

But this is just my rambling thoughts. And im sure i missed some stuff as well...

In reading the books myself and my friends also came up with the above theory, and indeed it does look that way, ui can only hope it is not so as i am a big fan of The snow , while i only hold contempt for Daenerys, and the only reasons i can find that Jonh might well in fact be Eddards is that there are all the rumours of his involvment with some Dornish lady so perhaps the ever honourable to a fault Eddard did stary , after all Catlyn was to be his brothers, he might have been in love before he ended up with her. Also John does not resemble Rhaegar in looks or indeed actions , he is described as very Stark looking , but so was Lyanna, and John certainly does not look dornish. IM afraid that until Howland Reed is brouth into the story line nobody will know the truth, but the plain fact is Snow (much to my disappoinment that he cant reek vengenance on the Boltons and Freys) is stuck on his wall!!!

Yea, I came to this conclusion when I read the first book as well. Though now it seems that it may not have been a kidnap/rape but an elope. Rhaegar mentions in one of the books, that he plans on changing things when he gets back from the Trident. By this I'm guessing he was going to raise Lyanna Stark to High Queen and thier love child to his heir appearent, perhaps even usurp his father the Mad King. This wasn't too far a stretch considering Ned's uncompromising belief in honor and duty. Also, that Robert might want to kill any "dragon spawn" even if it was part of Lyanna. I started to think that what situation would make Ned Stark, lie and face dishonor and humilation that he would father a bastard to a random woman after he was married. It doesn't seem possible that he fathered it and was able to bring it back with the 9 months or so period inbetween while he was waring. Though there are some hidden truths I see. She was a beauty like no other, he loved her dearly, and that she died in child labor. He also doesn't want to talk about it at any lengths with King Robert, who would pose the most potential threat to Jon if it were true. Unfortunatly Jon Snow is bond by his word to The Wall now. Not that he can't become the King of Westeros, & or marry Daenerys, but it will take clever writing for him to be able to leave it with his honor in tact which is the only way I see it happening whether or not he's Ned's nephew or son he has too much of his stepfather/father in him though I can't stand Jon rotting on the Wall for the rest of his life.

when Jon Snow swore his oath he swore, with that name. in his Stark lineage there only seems to be one other with that name and he was jon stark the shipwright i think. I think lyanna would have given his true name as Aegon Targaryen, but shortened his name with a northen twist to Jon. i think Aegon as a name maybe because he was the first and the last of the Targaryen males. I think in the next book Jon will find out, who he is and decide to part with the night watch, in time i think he shall be king, rickon shall be the lord of winterfell, brandan shall go back beyond the wall when the war against the other is done for he is no longer a man. i think Tyrion will become the lord of Casterly rock and the Jon and Daenarys's hand. i also think that at some point Jon will come into direct contact with magic and it will awaken his Targaryen blood, he shall take on the colours of his ghost, ghost shall take on his.