After the "Golden hand" hypothesis, a new "Game of Thrones" theory has emerged. As Lauren Sarner wrote on Inverse, a few pictures from the first and the second season 7 trailer apparently suggest that Jon Snow's expedition beyond The Wall match the legendary journey of the Last Hero.
Who is the Last Hero?
According to the Westerosi legends, the Last Hero fought the darkness during the Long Night. His character looks similar to Azor Ahai, but we don't know for sure if they're the same person.
A long time ago, the Last Hero went in search of the Children of the Forest in the northern lands.
His companions died after Giants and White Walkers attacked them, but the Last Hero eventually survived and found the Children of the Forest. Shortly after, the Night's Watch was created and its men won the Battle of the Dawn, forcing the Others to retreat.
Old Nan's tale
In "A Game of Thrones" Old Nan told the hero's tale to Bran. After describing the horror of the Long Night (how the Others were butchering men, women, and children) she told him of the hero who decided to seek out the Children of the Forest, hoping that their magic could win back what the men had lost. "He set out into the dead lands with a sword, a horse, a dog, and a dozen companions." For years he searched while "his friends died, and his horse, and finally even his dog, and his sword froze." We don't know what happens next as Old Nan's tale was interrupted.
The only thing we know is that the Others, smelling the blood in the Last Hero, "came silent on his trail."
The fate of the hero is unknown, but after his search, The Night's Watch was formed and the Others were defeated in the Battle of the Dawn. Moreover, in "A Feast for Crows" Sam tells Jon that he found one account that spoke of the Last Hero killing White Walkers with a blade of dragonsteel (which could be Valyrian steel).
Jon's expedition looks similar to the legendary one
In the "Game of Thrones" season 7 trailers, a few pictures depict Jon's expedition beyond The Wall. In the first picture of our photo gallery (click on the camera icon above to enter it) you can see exactly twelve men in the snow. A similar group of people is also present in a picture from the Greek "Game of Thrones" season 7 trailer recently released by HBO.
Are they Jon's twelve companions? In the second picture of the gallery, you can see Jon riding alone in the snow. Although we have no real proof, it looks plausible that Jon's twelve companions are going to be killed by the Others, leaving Jon the only survivor.
Jon's horse may die as well, just like the Last Hero's horse.
The dog
What if the dog from the Last Hero's legend is Ghost? Just like every other fan, we hate the idea of Jon's direwolf's death, but it would match what was recounted by Old Nan to Bran.
A lot of fans already think that Jon is Azor Ahai. If Azor Ahai and the Last Hero are the same person, this theory supports pretty well the Azor Ahai's one. The bad thing is, Jon may lose people and Ghost on the way to become the Last Hero.
Don't forget: the long-awaited "Game of Thrones" Season 7 will premiere on July 16 on HBO.