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There is no way in Seven Hells that Jon Snow is dead. Not only has Melisandre realized that she tied her horse to the wrong "King," but it's not even entirely certain that he actually dies from the wounds he received at the Wall. GRRM has repeatedly said that when a main character dies, you will know it. Snow's death was very uncertain. He's just in a really bad state.

In response to Pocaracas, that milk maid in White Harbor was Robert Baratheon's guess. He actually said it to Ned Stark at one point, and Ned didn't confirm or deny. He (Ned) wanted people to think it was just some wench. The problem is that not only does this fly in the face of what Ned's character would do, but then why did Robert's Rebellion start? It started because Prince Rhaegar eloped with Lyanna Stark, his (Robert's) love, to the Tower of Joy. Where they had a baby, otherwise why did Rhaegar leave his Kingsguard there went he went to fight(and die) at the Trident?

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From what I remember from the last book - which was a while ago now - JS had been stabbed by all and sundry with multiple, fatal wounds. Whilst it isn't 100% certain it also wasn't for the big fighting woman whose name escapes me. Seems that was Martin's M.O. in the last book.

Personally I have given up on us ever getting that final one. How long has it been now?

MY guess is that it will be the series that finishes the story - without a book to base it on.

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Well GRRM has told the producers of the HBO series how the story ends, in case he (Martin) dies. So at least we'll know. I don't think Brienne is dead either, the last time we see her POV she is screaming something right before getting hanged, but Martin never showed the actual hanging. Later, we hear from Jamie's POV (I think) that a message from Brienne got to him that he should come alone to help her find Sansa in the Riverlands, which seems to be a trap to lure him out.

Like I said before, GRRM has said that it will be abundantly clear any time a character is dead, like a beheading or a funeral or someone else's POV dealing with the body. If it is open ended, it's still fair game. I really think Jon Snow's character is integral to the overarching plot of the story, A Song of Ice and Fire.

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