First, I respect your opinion and how you preesnt the empirical way of sleuthing the truth. I suggest that it is not GRRM trolling fandom, but rather this is his world he created - with in mind that in 1990's those things popular in sci-fi were really twisted happenings -- all originating from books written by Vance, Heinlein, and several others. All of those books have really twisted mechanisms. If GRRm wants to write the APEX of all sci-fi fantasys - merely set in the world timeline he prefers and created (283AC), you can darn tootin' believe he is going to include alt-reality mechanisms -- he has no interest not too- his is the example for future generations of writers. ASOIAF is not a mystery novel where Chekov's gun was sittin gon the doorway entrance waiting to be picked up -- it is 100 times that; but beancounters tend to get stuck with the vastness of facts which in the end do give clues but later in the books events are going to define them as meaningless -- an ol timey fan of fiction like myself understands this -- heck, I've been awaiting years to identify what new device GRRM introduces with this book series -- there hasn't been one yet, not other than the 50+ already in the books. There are no new monster archtypes, no new plot twisty animals of sorts -- but I am anticipating this will happen. One reason he travels so much is not only to research and learn and gther new images about human interaction and physical descriptions of places, it is because he interacts within the sci-fi community itself--which truly for working paid writers is small as the et and tv has destroyed the industry. What he is doing is acting as a magnet -- the GoT work itself, to maybe pull people back into reading books again. So please don't think I am anit-GRRM as I am not, I am waiting for the next book like everyone else -- but even the most literally slowed individuals should be seeing all these plot devices making their way into the books. Not everyone has to take an approach to dissect every work-- but it is fun, it is enlightening to see mechanics at work. Heck ... even a . period .. and how it is used ... makes a difference to the acute eye. I don't mean to get on your tail end but plese don't think I am trolling -- I am exploring alt explanations -- from a top MACRO down approach -- that is what I do in life -- I'm not a little detail guy working up -- quite the contrary. Larger frameworks trickle down permitting smaller details.
What I infer is that timelines are all false. Lyanna could be 60 years old, she could be 36 or 34 or even 17 still -- time travel and adjusting the past throws all facts out of the window. We have seen Bran change the past in the show -- so the cat is out of the bag. Most likely Bran interfering with Ned cost Lyanna life -- but not her resurgence as the Waif -- and who would have better motivation to train Arya for revenge of her death and the destruction of the evil ways other than her own mother. I in no way mean to argue - I in all ways mean to not only stimulate my own thoughts and answrs, but maybe help others to understand that canon isn't canon -- things are going to change in ways in the books (and show) that throws years of bean counting work on hundres of websites out the window. The apex of 2016 sci-fi is not a mechanical "Who done it? 1920 Sherlock Holmes novel.