perhaps Melissandre's vision of that banner being victorious could somehow be true. She is annoyingly correct at times; it's her interpretations that are usually bunk.
I was having this very conversation today at work. She doesn't "know" the future, she sees pictures of it, images without context. There's a lot to be said for her powers. After all, those leeches. "The usurper, Joffrey Baratheon. The usurper, Balon Greyjoy. The usurper, Robb Stark."
Hey, I just remembered Dan and Dave forgot to tell us Balon Greyjoy is dead. They should have hammered that home LONG before now. All three leeches coming true convinces Stannis to believe in Mel, big time. And hey, so do I.
“It is always cold on the Wall.”
“You think so?”
“I know so, my lady.”
“Then you know nothing, *Jon* *Snow*,” she whispered.
I didn't read the books but that's what everyone says, that Ned never had an affair and he was saving Jon from being murdered when the Baratheon took over the throne and killed all of the Targaryans and his sister died after child birth.
It's made clear in the book that Lyanna's dying words were "Promise me, Ned." And yes, the theory is that the promise was to keep the baby from Robert's wrath. And the only way Ned could think of doing that was to pretend the child was his.
J.S.'s true parentage is obviously a key issue that is still not resolved and this what gives me pause.
I wouldn't worry about that. Benjen is still ranging, Gendry is still rowing, the Blackfish is still pissing.
Having said that, we are going to find out what happened to Benjen next series. There's no reason to mention him in 510 otherwise.