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'Game of Thrones' just stunned fans with the reveal of a missing characters' fate

Benjen Stark and Jon Snow Game of Thrones
HBO

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for Sunday's "Game of Thrones" season six episode.

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"Game of Thrones" picked up Sunday evening with a dramatic scene in the north beyond the Wall. Meera was attempting to outrun an army of wights while carrying Bran. Just when things looked bleaker than ever, a man rode in on a black horse with a crazy fireball weapon, and rescued them both. 

In a surprising revelation, the person who saved them was none other than Benjen Stark — Bran's long lost uncle. People on Twitter went crazy when they realized who this character was.

Benjen Stark undead Game of Thrones
HBO

We last saw Benjen in season one episode three, "Lord Snow," when he left to go on a ranging mission beyond the Wall. Benjen was First Ranger of the Night's Watch when Jon first joined. His uncle was regarded as one of the most experienced and capable rangers in the Watch. 

Benjen left for his mission after hearing "disturbing reports" from other men. At the time Benjen left, many people in the Night's Watch and farther south did not know about the White Walkers or — if they did hear stories — believed it was just tall tales and rumors. 

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Benjen Stark Game of Thrones
HBO

Several months after Benjen's departure, his horse returned to Castle Black alone. There was no sign of Benjen or the men he had taken with him. Ever since, people have wondered exactly what happened to him. 

In the books, Benjen's disappearance plays out in the same way. But no book reader believed it was the last we would hear of him. Author George R.R. Martin has a distinctly detailed writing style, and its unlike him to leave a character's story so open-ended without closure. The mystery of Benjen is just one of many plot lines fans were eager to see resolved. 

With the sixth season now surpassing the written series, showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss took matters into their own hands. Benjen's reveal as a savior of Meera and Bran seems to be a hybrid storyline of sorts. There is a book-only character named Coldhands whose storyline is clearly merging with Benjen's on the show.

Benjen Stark Game of Thrones
HBO

In the books, Coldhands is the one who helps guide Meera, Bran, and company to Bloodraven's cave. He also meets and helps Gilly and Sam Tarly when they are trying to return to Castle Black. Coldhands is described as a sort of hybrid human/wight — both dead and undead at the same time. He wears all black (just like the men of the Night's Watch), and his hands are blackened as if the blood in his hands has congealed.

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When the show didn't include Coldhands as a character for both Sam and Bran's journeys back in seasons three and four, book readers assumed that was the end of things. But now the showrunners have decided to merge the characters of Coldhands and Benjen, despite Martin's denial they are the same person.

Benjen tells Meera and Bran that he was attacked by White Walkers and stabbed with one of their ice swords. But before he died, the Children of the Forest found him and saved his life. They managed to keep him half dead/half alive by stabbing him in the heart with a shard of dragonglass — the same thing they did to create the White Walkers in the first place.

Now Benjen knows all about the Three-Eyed Raven (Bloodraven), and tells Bran that he must now be the Three-Eyed Raven. When the war comes south of the Wall, Bran has to be with the people in order to fight against the White Walkers. 

We can't wait to see what comes from Bran's new seat of power as the Three-Eyed Raven and finally having Coldhands/Benjen in the fold is a thrilling new plotline.

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