The Game of Thrones season 6 finale is almost certainly going to bring with it one of the pivotal moments in the entire series: The revelation of Jon Snow’s true parentage. The season has already set up the big reveal, which will take place at the Tower of Joy, in Bran’s visions, at the time of Robert’s Rebellion. It’s where the young version of Ned Stark cut down those knights earlier in the season. But here’s the big thing: The really big consequences of the reveal, which will change the series forever, won’t come from the flashback. They’ll come from a man named Howland Reed.

Howland Reed And The Truth About Jon Snow

So here’s the deal about R+L=J. Jon Snow is secretly the son not of Ned Stark and some mysterious woman, but the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, Ned’s sister. There is huge, huge evidence pointing to this; it’s not really in doubt. The setup when the Three-Eyed Raven took Bran to the Tower of Joy to see his father fight the Kingsguard laid the groundworks for the reveal. But now Bran has to go back there and see the truth—Lyanna’s death as Jon is born in blood.

But that’s just for Bran. Bran is north of the Wall and even when he returns, many won’t believe him. The revelation of R+L=J in flashback is mostly for the readers. The revelation that really matters comes from Howland Reed—the only other man who was with Ned Stark at the Tower of Joy and survived. We believe that Howland saw Jon’s birth with his own eyes. He knows that Jon is Rhaegar and Lyanna’s son, and he can tell the world. More importantly, he can tell Jon himself. And Howland is still very much alive and available—he is one of House Stark’s bannermen, and now that Winterfell is back in Stark hands, he can go there and tell Jon his secret.

Will it happen in the Game of Thrones season 6 finale? Maybe, but probably not. It seems like a lot for one episode, a double revelation—and yet, if it happens, Jon’s whole life and trajectory changes. He is no longer Ned’s bastard. He is ice and fire as one, and his role at Sansa’s side will be at an end.