LONDON -- After many years of tense speculation and ???? ??? ???????? ???????theorising, Game of Thronesessentially confirmed the R + L = J theory -- the biggest fan theory about Jon Snow's true parentage -- at the close of Season 6.

Which is sort of exciting, except when you find out that none other than George R. R. Martin himself was basically confirming that thing back in 2002.

Eagle-eyed redditor DeadHopesAndDreams shared the discovery -- which was found in an old Q & A between George R. R. Maritn and fans on the westeros.org website -- on the Game of Thrones subreddit on Wednesday.

Here's a screengrab from Martin's Q & A.

George R. R. Martin is a sneaky one. Obviously he doesn't explicitly give anything away in that highlighted answer, but the bit about mothers and birth is heavy foreshadowing for the Tower of Joy scene with Lyanna.

And, of course, there's this small detail in the wording:

The truth was right in front of our noses the whole time.

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