When Benjen Stark reappeared in this week's Game of Thrones episode, our jaws dropped. We hadn't seen Ned Stark's brother since season one. The Night's Watch presumed he was dead and so did we.

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But it turns out we shouldn't have been surprised by his reappearance because it was actually hinted at in the very first of George RR Martin's novels.

In a prophetic paragraph, Bran predicted that his uncle, who was reported missing North of the Wall, would be saved by the Children of the Forest...

Redditor nihaghorps remembered the reference, posting on the site: "When there was a letter sent to winter fell saying Benjen was missing ... Bran got to know and said "they will help him?" .. I think Maester Luwin asks him who .. he says the "children"!!!"

Here's the exact passage as posted:

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"All Bran could think of was Old Nan's story of the Others and the last hero, hounded through the white woods by dead men and spiders big as hounds. He was afraid for a moment, until he remembered how that story ended. "The children will help him," he blurted, "the children of the forest!"

Interesting, huh? Looks like it's time to start frantically re-reading the novels for more clues...

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Game of Thrones season six continues on Mondays at 2am and 9pm on Sky Atlantic

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