"You've heard of what happened at the Tower of Joy, I take it?" At his nod, Howland continued slowly. "After all three members of the kingsguard lay dead, Ned and I rushed into the tower. At the top, Lyanna lay in a bed of blood, holding a babe in her arms. Before dying, she handed the babe to her brother and extracted a promise. A promise that he'll protect the child, no matter what."