How Much Does Benjen Know?

[FranklynFowler]

In Jon's first POV chapter when he's talking to Benjen, Jon said "I'm not your son!" and Benjen said "More's the pity"

This got me thinking, When Ned returned to the North to Rule Winterfell with his Sister's bones and a Bastard son, would he have lied to his brother and told some fake story about both of them. Or would he have told Benjen the truth about either Jon or Lyanna.

If he told him the truth (depending on which theory you subscribe to) would that have contributed to Benjen joining the Night's Watch as way to keep Ned's secret and therefore making sure someone knows the truth who's not in a dangerous position aka, warden of the north or hand of king and someone who isn't too far away like Howland Reed to tell Jon in case something goes wrong (like ned losing his head).

If this is true, i'm hoping that means Benjen will return in shape or form to tell Jon in the next 2 books.

[Sansa_Stark]

I hope he does. But I don't think there is definitive proof.

I think he deserved to know(but not Cat :cool4: )

[Northbound2.0]

If there is one person that the Ned; would have told, it would be Benjen. It was very clear Lyanna and Benjen, we're the closest of all the siblings. However, I just think this is one secret that Ned, Reed and whoever else was there, had to burden on their own.

[Gertrude]

I've always liked the theory that Benjen knows. There is no proof, just wishful thinking.

[Mourneblade]

That is a strong line OP. Good Catch Bravo.

No proof but If anyone else would know it certainly would be him.

[FranklynFowler]

Thanks Mourn blade, yeah GRRM isn't known give proof right until it happens

[stark bannerman from Mich]

Total crackpottery but what if the TOJ went like this..."Promise me Ned... you wont tell anyone that Benjen is Jon's father. We love each other and plus that the Targarians have been marrying siblings for generations." Hense why Benjen joins the NW!!!

[Tony Stark of Winterfell]

I think that Benjen was in on it right from the start (when lyanna 'disappeared')

[Florent Vixen]

I definitely believe Benjen knows who Jon's parents are.

I also think its very possible he knew what his sister was going to do.

Hopefully, he'll get to talk to Jon someday and tell him what he knows.

[Westeros Luftwaffe]

In Jon's first POV chapter when he's talking to Benjen, Jon said "I'm not your son!" and Benjen said "More's the pity"

This got me thinking, When Ned returned to the North to Rule Winterfell with his Sister's bones and a Bastard son, would he have lied to his brother and told some fake story about both of them. Or would he have told Benjen the truth about either Jon or Lyanna.

If he told him the truth (depending on which theory you subscribe to) would that have contributed to Benjen joining the Night's Watch as way to keep Ned's secret and therefore making sure someone knows the truth who's not in a dangerous position aka, warden of the north or hand of king and someone who isn't too far away like Howland Reed to tell Jon in case something goes wrong (like ned losing his head).

If this is true, i'm hoping that means Benjen will return in shape or form to tell Jon in the next 2 books.

I've always assumed Benjen knew from the time Lyanna disappeared that it was a consensual choice with Rhaegar and his inability to prevent Brandon from charging off after her or something along those lines is why he ultimately joined the NW.

But I had noticed that line and I figured it was Benjen perhaps wishing he had been with The Ned in the south so he could have claimed Jon as his bastard instead of Ned. In a way that would have been his own way of redeeming himself perhaps.

[Night'sQueen]

I think Benjen knew and didn't need Ned to tell him anything. I thought this thread was going to be about how much Benjen knows about the Others, with whom he is parleying in the LoAW right now. :leaving:

[grand old duke of stark]

I've always theorised that Benjen knew before Ned. In fact, he and Lyanna were close enough that he may have been her confidant or at least turned a blind eye when she ran off. If that is so, he must bear a great burden because it not only led to Rickon and Brandon's death, and ruined Ned's life and peace of mind, but also caused a war. If any of this is true, then it is no wonder that Benjen went into the NW. He probably could not face Ned or Jon without expiating himself.

I hope Benjen is alive and has been off doing something brave, interesting, and helpful to the effort beyond the wall. But I wish it were him who was gone and Ned was alive. Oh well.

[Winterfell Resident]

That's a great catch.

It does sound believable that Ned told Benjen.

I always wondered why Benjen decided to join the Night's Watch especially when he knows all that he would be giving up.

It's not as if he was a bastard like Jon. He was born from the same mother and father as Ned.

This could lead to the reason why he went.

Also, aside from Howland Reed, I am quite sure Ned had to tell someone from within the family just in case if something ever happened to him.

The more I think about it, the more it sounds like it's possible.

[Muggle]

I like to think Ned told Ben everything. Ben and Lyanna were extremely close. It would be a cruel thing for ned to hide the truth and let him think she was kidnapped and raped repeatably.

[Martini Sigil]

If Benjen does ever turn up alive.... I would be shocked if he didn't know. I understand why Ned never told Caetlyn.. I wouldn't confide in someone that hormonal either... But Benjen is pure Stark

[Fire Eater]

I don't think Ned told Benjen for the same reason hen never told he Cat what he was doing was treason, and if Benjen was in on it, it would mean his head along with Ned's.

However, I think Benjen is shrewd enough to know that if his brother was too shy to ask a girl to dance at Harrenhal then it would be unlikely that he fathered a bastard, along with that he knew his brother to be an honorable man, and not like to dishonor his wife just for a quick fling. He was likely charged by Lyanna to tell everyone what happened when she ran off with Rhaegar, but when Brandon did come by, Benjen was drunk for the first time, an experience he mentions to Jon in this same scene, and Brandon only got some garbled info that led him to go to KL. He also knew Ned came back with Jon from Dorne right after his journey to Lyanna.

I think Ned didn't tell him, Benjen just figured it out for himself.

[idler]

Benjen knew the Rhaegar & Lyanna story from the start; he may well have been involved in Lyanna's disappearance.

I take it he had some questions when Ned returned with Jon and Lyanna's bones, and he was 2nd in line of succession at that time, so Ned couldn't turn him down "That's all you need to know!" style.

[Tywin Smokin a Blunt]

What's the old saying? Two men can keep a secret if one of them is dead? I doubt Ned told anyone the truth because the more people you tell, the more chance there is for the truth to come out.

[House Lemongrab]

I believe 100% Ned told Benjen.

As it's been pointed out, Benjen and Lyanna were apparently very close. When Ned rocked back up to Winterfell, I'm sure the first thing Ben would have asked is "WTF happened down there, where's Lyanna?". He had every right to know the truth, and every reason to keep the secret just like Ned, as they are family. I think it's very likely that secret is his reason for joining the NW, and the "more's the pity" comment we get in GoT is a nice hint that he does know.

[Reek Da Villain]

Benjen knows for sure. Benjen would have been closer to Lyanna than he was to Brandon or Ned.

If Jon returned to Winterfell with Arya's bones and a bastard baby do you think he would tell Bran that the baby was Arya's?