Bran Will Make it Back to the Wall… Maybe With an Old Friend
I think we can all agree that at some point, be it next episode or the end of the season and beyond, Bran will make it back to the Wall and then maybe make his way to Jon and Sansa in Winterfell. But the big question following last night’s episode is the immediate fate of Bran and Meera as they flee from Bloodraven’s tree hut. Hodor was surely able to hold the door long enough for their escape, but the White Walkers and their army could still be after them. Will they be able to outrun them on their own, or will a certain Benjen Stark come to their rescue?
Benjen Stark, if you reasonably don’t remember, is the brother of Ned Stark (Bran’s uncle). He was the one who placed the twinkle of the Night’s Watch into Jon Snow’s eyes back in season 1. Early in the show he went beyond the wall on a scouting mission, never to return. His death was never confirmed, and he hasn’t even been mentioned since Jon’s early goals of finding him that never panned out. In the books, it’s widely believed that the character Cold Hands (a rider in Night’s Watch clothing that resembles a White Walker) is Benjen Stark, so it’s not a huge jump to think something similar to his might happen. Maybe Benjen simply shows up to help Bran sans mystical Cold Hands abilities.
