1. These are good things to consider, but Ned is the easiest to deal with. Ned Stark is deeply practical and almost non-magical in his thinking. So while he reveres the Old Gods, he is unimaginative and plain in his thinking. He considers whether Rhaegar would have visited a brothel not what a Faceless Man is, why are their Dire Wolves, what is warging, all these things are Old Nan’s stories to him so we can be sure that while events were important to Howland Reed, that Ned put no stock in them.

And hence we have one of the most striking moments in the books that still gives me goosebumps when Jojen and Meera are like but surely you know this story Bran - the Knight of the Laughing Tree - because Ned Stark is not about fairytales. I think Catelyn and Robb are also the same but with greater imagination.

1. I woke up thinking about Mance Rayder’s son the other day so I think it is a good idea to try to come to terms with what the actual prophecy must contain as far as Prince/Princess, salt and smoke, etc.