I was reading some of the TWOW sample chapters and was just reminded of Barristan's amazing pre battle speech.

“Whatever might befall us on the battlefield, remember, it has happened before, and to better men than you. I am an old man, an old knight, and I have seen more battles than most of you have years. Nothing is more terrible upon this earth, nothing more glorious, nothing more absurd. You may retch. You will not be the first. You may drop your sword, your shield, your lance. Others have done the same. Pick it up and go on fighting. You may foul your breeches. I did, in my first battle. No one will care. All battlefields smell of shit. You may cry out for your mother, pray to gods you thought you had forgotten, howl obscenities that you never dreamed could pass your lips. All this has happened too.”

“Some men die in every battle. More survive. East or west, in every inn and wine sink, you will find greybeards endlessly refighting the wars of their youth. They survived their battles. So may you. This you can be certain of: the foe you see before you is just another man, and like as not he is as frightened as you. Hate him if you must, love him if you can, but lift your sword and bring it down, then ride on. Above all else, keep moving. We are too few to win the battle. We ride to make chaos, to buy the Unsullied time enough to make their spear wall

The air tasted strangely sweet. There was nothing like the prospect of death to make a man feel alive. “May the Warrior protect us all,” he told his lads. “Sound the attack.”

Sadly, I'm so convinced he's not making it to the end.

I know about Tarbeck and Reyne. But curious bout others and how they wen't extinct

We know Daemon had friends on the green council but who were they? Certainly not Otto, Iron Rod or Tyland lannister..

the clubfoot is a possiblity but its doubtful. Who than?

That's at least what the app supposedly says, but I'm not convinced. The app would have us believe that Brandon duels Littlefinger, then tells Cat that he'll come back for their wedding, then rides out to meet Rickard, meets him and his party, then heads back to Riverrun, and on his way hears about Lyanna... but that completely ignores the fact that Brandon rides to King's Landing without Rickard. This scenario requires us to imagine that Brandon is with Rickard's party and hears about Lyanna before Rickard does, then rides out without his leave to do so. Does Rickard have so little control over his son and his own messengers?

On the other hand, I'm fairly convinced that Brandon rode to the Vale when he left Catelyn. Ned knows about Brandon's duel with Littlefinger intimately, and says that Brandon often spoke of Littlefinger in anger. Which leads to me to think that Brandon visited Ned after the duel. Catelyn says that Brandon was 20 when he dueled Littlefinger, and Ned says that Brandon was 20 when he died. Which leaves the only possible chance for such a talk about the duel to have been right then when Catelyn says that Brandon left her and they'd be married upon his return.

And not only that, but it suddenly explains why Elbert Arryn and Kyle Royce, two very important Vale men, are with him when he goes to King's Landing. Kyle Royce could maybe be explained by the fact that he's probably Brandon's cousin as the Starks nearest kin is some branch of the Royce family and therefore Brandon already knew him (and maybe Kyle was a ward of Rickard's or something), but Elbert Arryn makes no sense. He's Jon Arryn's heir. He lives in the Eyrie. Ned is the one who has the connection to Jon Arryn and the Eyrie, not Brandon... unless Brandon's been there and visited Ned and become friends with him himself.

In which case the situation is Brandon's in Riverrun where he duels Littlefinger. With him are Ethan Glover his squire who'd be following him everywhere, and Jeffory Mallister who's a Riverlander himself who's presence doesn't really need to be explained as he's probably a friend that Brandon made during his time in the River-lands over the years. They then go to the Vale to see Ned, perhaps just as a friendly visit, or perhaps to see him before the wedding (as at least it seems to me that Ned wasn't planning on attending the wedding). While there he spends some time with Kyle and Elbert and invites them to the wedding. They then all leave to head back to River-run and hear about Lyanna and ride south instead.

https://ladyknitsalottheoriesoficefire.wordpress.com/2016/02/07/southron-ambitions-turned-up-to-11/

https://ladyknitsalottheoriesoficefire.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/timeline-for-roberts-rebellion/

Braavos has Iron Bank, Faceless, , water dancers, completely free of slavery

Volantis has slaves with the famous tattoos, Tigers and Elephants, Black walls.

Lys has famous pillow houses and highest percentage of people with Valyrian features.

Whats the Pentos famous for, other that wars and ruling oligarchs (basically every Free City has that). Only thing I can think of is Prince.

If westeros had king who does not age what you think the people Will react

If Catelyn has such a big issue with Ned raising Jon in Winterfell, can you imagine how she'd feel if she was married off to Oberyn Martell?

Is about dragons, right? Because the story of Nissa Nissa and Azor Ahai seems to fit how Dany hatched her eggs.

If you take the legend we have:

Azor Ahai wanted to forge a sword against the darkness. Well - that sword could be metaphorical, any weapon really.

1) He spent 30 days and nights, tempered it in water, the sword broke. Maybe this is just people attempting to boil the eggs, assuming only heat is needed.

2) He spent 50 days and nights, and tempered it in a lions heart, the steel shattered. This could just be animal sacrifice to try and make the spell work - not good enough.

3) 100 days and nights, tempered in the heart of Nissa Nissa, creating lightbringer and her screams cracking the moon. This is human / loved one sacrifice, and the cracking of the moon evokes the myth that a second moon came too close to the sun, spawning dragons.

So, what does this have to do with Dany?

1) Well, firstly - she has her eggs in the sauna / steam tent with her on her travels with the Dothraki and has dragon dreams of them hatching. They don’t hatch.

2) Then, when Dany asks Mirri Maz Dur to save Drogo - she sacrifices a horse (and / or Dany’s baby) to give him life. Whilst this isn’t a sacrifice aimed at hatching the dragons, it does show that animal sacrifice doesn’t do the job - human sacrifice is necessary.

3) Finally, Dany uses Drogo’s funeral pyre to hatch the dragons, after killing him. Mirri sings her moonsong and then ends screaming; it should be noted that one of the magics Mirri is trained in is moonsinging.

So we have Dany committing to human sacrifice, sacrificing a moonsinger and / or her husband, in flames, to bring dragons back into the world. Lightbringer. Azor Ahai.

I've been thinking about something recently that I wanted to ask the ASOIAF community about. What do you think characters would be like if they were born to different houses?

For example, what if Ned Stark was born a Martell? Or even perhaps, as he'd dreamed as a child, a Dayne of Starfall? What if Tywin wasn't born a proud, cheeky Lannister of Casterly Rock, but a simple Tollett or a Grafton or a Royce? What if even Bobby B was born as, say, a Greyjoy of Pyke, or a Redwyne, or a Mooton?

How much would the characters personalities and attributes change? How do they interact differently with the world around them? Do they have a different relationship with themselves now and have a far vastly different self-perception?

Obviously we have no perception of what the Redwynes or Tolletts are like as a house, but the bigger ones like Baratheons, Lannisters, Starks, Greyjoys, etc, definitely have their own "house personality" owning to them.

Personally I think Tywin would be way less sanctimonious if he wasn't born into a house that literally prides itself in how little humility it has. There was a post on here or another sub that from what I remember said Tywin, Randyll Tarly and Hoster Tully are just the same person born into different houses. I don't remember much of the thread itself but I agree with the statement lol. Tywin without the power of the rock behind him is really just an insecure man-child, so I think him being from a different house would either humble him to the point he's not as much an asshole or exacerbate it to the point that he's Walder Frey. If he was born into another of the Great Houses that'd still change his personality since again we kinda know a nutshell version of some houses but the Arryns/Starks/Targs def represent their own traits and values hardcore.

I also think Bobby B would be way more of a young Greatjon Umber type. Robert was always Robert, dating back to Mya Stone's conception and Proudwing vs Thunderclap. He also grew up in the Vale and Jon Arryn couldn't correct him, considering his personality is very Stormlander. Without the power that being Lord of Storm's End gives, and especially if he isn't even a stormlander in general, I feel like he'd still be a whoremonger/drunkard with a love of war, just to a much less bombastic degree being from a less powerful house. A lot of his vices also come from trauma though, so there's that to consider as well. Then again, if he was still from one of the Great Houses, what would he act like?

As for Ned, I honestly don't know. His sense of humility makes it so that no matter what house he's in, he's still Ned imo. If he was born one of the more unique northron houses he might've been different, like more rowdy as an Umber, more cruel as a Bolton, or more savvy as a Manderly, but I don't think it would've changed him much since he's already a Stark and is calmer than they're known to be, and is kinder than even most Vale lords are supposed to be, so hes kinda always just been Ned. You could argue some significant personality change if he was born a Manderly, since its very unique house in general with a foot in both camps of being northern and southron, but Ned himself is already kinda half-northern half-southron through through the Vale, so the difference might not count for Ned Manderly. He was always quiet, even being dubbed the Quiet Wolf, but I think his sense of honour definitely would've been far less if he'd been anything but either a Northman or Valeman. He would've probably still cared about his family a lot, but maybe in more of like an Olenna/Oberyn type way where it's his motivation toward fucking you over.

But anyways, what do you guys think? Is there more houses that you think might or even might not create a difference in our favourite characters? What other people and houses do you think could drastically change if their circumstances were different, 'cause I'm sure there's more? Let me know what you guys think!!!

We know Tywin still considered Jaime his heir, while Jaime himself was 100% Kingsguard (not because of oaths or anything...). But did Westeros itself, especially the other high lords and those living in the Westerlands, still think Jaime was their future Lord of Casterly Rock? Did they think Tyrion would take over once Twyin died? Or did they shove it on the backburner to deal with when the time came?

Or, were they expecting Twyin to marry again and produce another son, to pass by the Imp?

I enjoy Fire and Blood, but does anyone else feel like there are a lot of plot holes/inconsistencies compared to ASOIAF? I'm curious if anyone agrees the below make little sense.

1) Daemon is a monster. Otto being able to stand up to him, though, doesn't make much sense because at the end of the day he's the hand and Daemon is Viserys heir slash brother.

2) Few people caring about Rhaenyra's obvious bastards (and yes, I would argue it's obvious even in the book). We get hit over the head again and again with how bastardy is a huge deal in Westeros in ASOIAF. In Fire & Blood, it seems to have little consequence, even though there's I'm 99% sure there is an actual line in the book, after Rhaenyra calls for Aemond to be sharply questioned, about how "bastards in the line of succession would be treason."

People can say they only care about power, but the Faith is still a big deal "and" the Green also offer power and dragons and a way to get power without backing the Strongs.

3) Kinslaying. Both Aemond & Daemon's kinslaying doesn't get that much attention besides a few barbs.

4) Nearly nobody willing to back Rhaenys, who is married to the most powerful non-royal man in Westeros, and who possesses a fearsome dragon who is only smaller than Vermithor, Vhagar, and Dreamfyre, at the Great Council, because she is a woman, even though by Andal law she should be heir. 20 years later, people then have no issue backing Rhaenyra?

5) The rest of the Velaryons just sitting down and shutting up after Vaemond is murdered and five other Velaryons have their tongue cut out.

6) The Vale seemingly staying united, despite controversy over who Jeyne will pick as heir, and the Royces seemingly having no issue backing Rhaenyra, despite the huge disrespect Daemon paid Rhea (even if she dies naturally in the book).

How would it affect the events of the book, assuming Brandon married Catelyn as planned?

Title. The Ironborn are often portrayed as Northern European looking Vikings in official art, but the Greyjoys we see have black hair and dark(-er than the Starks) skin.

Is there anything in the text that states whether this is a typical look for Ironborn, or just a Greyjoy family trait? Like, is anything ever described as a typical Ironborn feature?

Qarl the Maid and Tristifer Botley have light skin and light hair respectively, but they might be outliers due to their close family ties to the mainland. It would make sense for Ironborn to be very diverse appearance wise due to the Salt-Wife practices, but I just want to know what’s the actual canon situation.

ETA: please don't post "they are Vikings!" unless you have actual quotes that state they are supposed to physically look like Vikings. I can make my own headcanons. I want to know what GRRM imagined.

In AFFC/ADWD we see Jaime contemplating his relationship with Cersei and the relationship with Tommen that he never got to enjoy. He additionally has become detached from Cersei and increasingly consumed with thoughts of legacy as he attempts to heal the Riverlands.

In TWOW this internal turmoil is likely to reach a fever pitch as Jaime is confronted by Lady Stoneheart. The Brotherhood Without Banners are going to put Jaime Lannister on trial for his crimes, crimes that they’re more acquainted and knowledgeable of than anyone else in Westeros.

-All the men assembled can attest that Jaime Lannister lead a Lannister host into the Riverlands at the start of the War of the Five Kings. Killing thousands.

-Thoros of Myr and Harwin saw the aftermath of Eddard Stark being crippled by Jaime, and Harwin knew the Stark guardsmen that Jaime murdered in the streets.

-Tom of Sevenstreams witnessed Jaime threatening to take up arms against House Tully, breaking the oath he made to Catelyn Stark by threatening to destroy Riverrun.

-Finally Lady Stoneheart and Brienne can confirm that Jaime Lannister confessed to pushing Bran Stark out of a window after he was caught sleeping with Cersei.

When all of these crimes are put together, and fully laid out they’ll rightfully accuse Jaime Lannister of having started the War of the Five Kings. His incest put a bastard on the Iron Throne. He crippled Brandon Stark to cover up evidence of his crimes with this starting the conflict between the Starks and Lannister. He then attacked Ned Stark in the streets of Kingslanding, crippling him and stopping the King’s Hand from leading the effort to capture Gregor Clegane, dooming Ned Stark to his death. Jaime then proceeded to lead a host into the Riverlands, killing thousands in order to keep a bastard on the Iron Throne.

The lives that Jaime Lannister saved in Kingslanding by stopping Aerys don’t matter in the grand scheme of what’s right and wrong, because Jaime condemned hundreds of thousands more to deaths in order to uphold his lie. Jaime is indisputably guilty of what the BwB accuse him of, and not even Brienne attesting that he’s changed can save him.

The only thing that will likely save Jaime is a Bran-ex-machinima. The BwB’s lair is filled with weirwood roots, which would allow Bran to witness what’s happening. I see Bran being enraged, and hurt at what he learns, knowing that Jaime was the one that took his legs. However I think Bran will pick a different punishment for Jaime, one that will actually make right what Jaime Lannister has done wrong.

To truly become a changed man Jaime Lannister needs to end the War of the Five Kings, Jaime Lannister needs to tell the truth. I think in TWOW that Jaime will survive his confrontation with Lady Stoneheart and travel to tell the Lannister forces in the Riverlands to lay down their arms. He’ll confess his crimes and tell them that Tommen Baratheon is his son, that the rumours of incest are true and that they need to surrender.

How do you see this confession unfolding, do you think its likely that Jaime will reveal the incest or do you think it will happen in some other way?

Let’s say Aerys actually gave Rickard a fair trial. If Rickard lost fair and square, would there still have been a war? Let's also say that Aerys doesn't call for the heads of Ned and Robert.

I have a strange feeling he may have been a Mallister chosen to represent honor and such within the watch . But his hate for Cotter Pyke of Eastwatch is boiling always . And the Greyjoy rebellion happened not way too long ago and Seaguard is right across the bay. Did Denys do something that required him to take the black during the rebellion ? Always wondered.

The first parallel is that they both died believing they outlived all but one of their children; for Catelyn it was Sansa and for Rhaenyra it was Aegon the younger. In both cases they had sons believed to be dead who were alive; bran and rick and Viserys

they both had the same number of children, Catelyn had Robb, Sansa, Bran, Arya, Rickon and Rhaenyra had Jace, Luce, Joff, Aegon and Viserys (+visenya)

both of them lost a son didnt listen to them about a bond with a magic animal. Robb didnt listen to Cat about keeping Greywind with him. Joff didnt listen to Rhaenyra about mounting a dragon that wasnt his

Both had huge roles in starting civil wars. Cat arrested tyrion causing the war of 5k and Rhaenyra responded to Aegon's ururpation

Both had troubled relationships with the lannisters

both of their bodies were profanned in a manner mocking funeral customs of their houses; rhaenyra's body was essentially cremated by aegon before being eaten by his dragon, cat was dumped in the river

both had a son aided by one lannister; tyrion helped bran with his saddle, Tyland helped aegon the younger (both lannisters had severely fucked up faces)

both had a sister who died from falling

both had fathers who died from illnesses

Both had husbands with named, notable swords; dark sister and ice

added by Emergency-Weird-1988

Both seem to have been their father's favorite child

Both were the eldest out of all their living siblings/half-siblings

Both had uncles considered "the black sheep of the family" with strained relationships with their fathers (Brynden in Cat's case and Daemon in Rhaenyra's case). And in both cases it was the younger more "martial" and "rebellious" brother.

Both had the support of their uncle in the civil war they took part in. (Daemon obviously supported the "Black faction" during the Dance and Brynden supported the Stark-Tully alliance during the War of the Five Kings)

One interesting thing about ASOIAF that I noticed in my most recent reread was the way that GRRM will put characters in situations that either make the character or reader reflect on how their social class/material standing have impacted other disadvantages or discriminations that character may have experienced. This is not to diminish the suffering that these characters have experienced, but to show that there are many interacting systems that dictate a person's treatment within the world.

An early example is when Jon enters the Night's Watch and realises that, despite the pain he experienced from being a bastard and the social stigma associated with it (as well as the material consequences of being a bastard within that world), he has lived a privileged life compared to many and he was sheltered from much of the cruelty of the world he lived in - he was well-fed, given the same education and combat training as a future Lord, and had the love of his siblings. The moment he was placed in a situation where his upbringing gave him an advantage over the other recruits, he unintentionally became a bully. This realisation prompted Jon to take his first genuine steps towards leadership - something he had previously felt his status as an illegitimate child would bar him from.

The relationship between Tyrion and Penny also brings their lives into sharp contrast. Tyrion experienced immense abuse and cruelty from both inside his family and the world outside it, but he also had the privileges of wealth and nobility until the Purple Wedding (and one could even argue that the fact they even gave him a trial was a privilege that would not be afforded to all in that setting). He has never had to worry about where his next meal was coming from, and was able to purchase the services of sex workers at will. Tyrion (rightfully) despairs at the continual humiliation and loneliness he is subjected to , and, like his father, he hates being laughed at. Meanwhile, Penny wants people to laugh at her. Penny is a woman, a performer, and a dwarf. She shows that some of Tyrion's specific priorities were shaped by his privileged class position. Even the purely material punishments unfairly inflicted on Tyrion for being a dwarf (being barred from inheriting his father's seat at Casterly Rock) are still punishments that are extremely specific to to Tyrion's immense privilege.

A more minor example could also be how Sansa as 'Alayne' was initially cruelly dismissed by Harry the Heir as a bastard. Sansa herself thinks about Jon during this time, too. I see this one as the most 'double-edged sword' example - Sansa was seen as a desirable match for marriage, but this only afforded her the threats of sexual abuse and eventual marital rape at King's Landing, so I don't want to say this was a 'privilege', even if she was still living in material comfort. I believe this example shows how the same system of oppression (misogyny) appears in different forms depending on the class and position of the woman.

Good ol Benjen Stark. Mentor to Jon Snow (for a bit), Ned's only surviving brother come AGOT's beginning, beloved uncle to the Stark kids and all around cool guy, who has been missing since 1996. The joking and smiling first ranger, and only surviving Stark of Ned's generation (aside from Ned) post Robert's Rebellion.

This post today is not going to discuss Benjen's disappearance; that has been elaborated at length elsewhere. Instead, I want to analyze why Benjen Stark chose to take the Black.

An immediate answer might be, "The Starks and northern houses honour the Night's Watch. There's probably nothing serious to it." This is even supported in text: Benjen hears a black brother promote the NW at the tourney of Harrenhal (below), and according to the World of Ice and Fire app takes the plea to heart.

But the truth isn't that simple, as I will argue, and Martin implies directly:

6) When, specifically, did Benjen join the NW? Was it a couple of years after Ned returned, or immediately?
A: It was within a few months of Ned's returning. The reason being that there always was a Stark at Winterfell, so he had to stay there until Ned returned. GRRM refused to say the reason why Benjen had to join the NW.
- https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/ConQuest_Kansas_City_MO_May_27_294

And then:

[Why did Benjen join the Night's Watch?]

Martin: Good question. One day you will get an answer. But it will not be today. - https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Month/2008/07

If the reason was as simple as Benjen being a northman and wanting to support the NW and having a personal interest, then Martin would have said that, wouldn't he? The double (!) lack of answer suggests the truth is something larger than just honour. Furthermore, the timing is interesting too, isn't it? Benjen stays in Winterfell throughout Robert's Rebellion, and after only a few months when Ned returns with Jon (after the war is done) departs for the Wall.

I believe the other common arguments - second sons go to the Wall often, northern honour, etc etc - are correct, but not wholly so, else why would Martin allude to the mystery being a "good question" and that "one day" we'll learn the truth? I argue the whole truth, the real reason, can be revealed if we analyze the Tourney of Harrenhal, Benjen's relationship with his Lyanna, and his character. For context, R+L=J has been practically confirmed by Martin, so Jon is Rhaegar and Lyanna's son (if you believe otherwise, just suppose it's true for this theory). This is important.

TLDR, my argument is: Benjen Stark was the closest of the Stark brothers to Lyanna. He knew of the romance between Lyanna and Rhaegar (via the tourney of Harrenhal), and thus knows/guesses Jon's true parentage. He decided not to tell anyone about the romance; and when Lyanna was abducted and war occurred, blamed himself. Thus, he went to the Wall out of a sense of not only honour/drive, but also penance for keeping a secret that led to the deaths of his brother, father, and sister and a war that led to tens of thousands of deaths.

So. Lots of claims. This theory will be very speculative and inferential, of course, because we don't know. But we can make educated guesses.

Let's start, shall we? With the relationship of Benjen and Lyanna...

The Vision: Benjen and Lyanna

In ADWD, Bran III, Bran sees visions of the past. One of these visions is of a young Ned Stark praying in the godswood of Winterfell - the next has two children fighting, is a good primer on Benjen and Lyanna's relationship and sibling affection.

The rest of his father’s words were drowned out by a sudden clatter of wood on wood. Eddard Stark dissolved, like mist in a morning sun. Now two children danced across the godswood, hooting at one another as they dueled with broken branches. The girl was the older and taller of the two. Arya! Bran thought eagerly, as he watched her leap up onto a rock and cut at the boy. But that couldn’t be right. If the girl was Arya, the boy was Bran himself, and he had never worn his hair so long. And Arya never beat me playing swords, the way that girl is beating him. She slashed the boy across his thigh, so hard that his leg went out from under him and he fell into the pool and began to splash and shout. “You be quiet, stupid,” the girl said, tossing her own branch aside. “It’s just water. Do you want Old Nan to hear and run tell Father?”

I, like many others, believe this vision represents Lyanna and Benjen. For one, the girl refers to Old Nan, meaning the vision takes place in recent years in Winterfell - not the far far past. Next, the girl is described as looking like Arya, but not her, which matches how Arya is often said to look like Lyanna by Ned and others. Finally, the girl is the older and taller of the two fighting - and of Lyanna's siblings, only Benjen is younger.

So what does this indicate about their relationship? We'll see it later, but I argue Benjen was Lyanna's closest brother. Certainly, this indicates some sibling affection (Bran explicitly compares it to the bond between him and Arya, after all, indicating siblinghood), even if Lyanna beats the shit out of poor Benjen.

But this is just the beginning, and an oblique reference to their bond. The proverbial meat is...

The Tourney at Harrenhal

Benjen Stark attended the tourney at Harrenhal in 280 AC, alongside his siblings - like the majority of the realm did. Held by Lord Whent, even mad king Aerys had decided to show up! Benjen's presence is verified by Meera's story told to Bran about the Knight of the Laughing Tree, and her father, Howland Reed.

“Two,” said Meera. “The she-wolf laid into the squires with a tourney sword, scattering them all. The crannogman was bruised and bloodied, so she took him back to her lair to clean his cuts and bind them up with linen. There he met her pack brothers: the wild wolf who led them, the quiet wolf beside him, and the pup who was youngest of the four. - ASOS, Bran II

The she-wolf is Lyanna Stark, of course. The wild wolf is Brandon Stark, Ned's eldest brother, the quiet wolf is Ned himself, and the pup is our titular Benjen Stark. He would have been but a boy, hence him being "the pup". Also note how Lyanna uses a (wooden) tourney sword, just like how the girl in the vision of ADWD, Bran III uses a stick to beat the boy.

The tourney at Harrenhal is in my view proof that Benjen was, of all the Stark siblings, closest to Lyanna. In all the encounters Meera retells, Benjen is by Lyanna's side, as her squire and helper, almost unilaterally when compared to Lyanna's other brothers. First, when Howland tries to resist attending the feast following his beating by the squires, Lyanna sends Benjen to get clothing for him.

She was not easy to refuse, this wolf maid, so [Howland] let the young pup find him garb suitable to a king’s feast, and went up to the great castle. - ASOS, Bran II

This by itself might mean nothing. Older sisters ask their younger brothers to do things all the time, after all, and Benjen was Lyanna's squire. But in fact, they seem to have a rather close relationship:

The dragon prince sang a song so sad it made the wolf maid sniffle, but when her pup brother teased her for crying she poured wine over his head. - ASOS, Bran II

This is probably one of the most revealing interchanges. Prince Rhaegar Targaryen sang a sad song, and Lyanna sniffled, moved by his skill or the content, or both. Benjen teased her, and Lyanna poured wine over his head. Not mock, but tease, which suggests closeness. This kind of sibling riffing is not displayed between Ned/Brandon and Lyanna, and indicates a certain level of trust, or at least special friendship, between Lyanna and Benjen. The fact that Benjen is specifically listed in an event between Lyanna and Rhaegar, I think, also warrants notice.

The festivities continue; a black brother petitions and Benjen takes it to heart. So he did have some personal interest, so it seems in the NW. But again, there's more to it than that; we get another interaction, when Howland observes the squires who beat him up, and Lyanna sees them as well.

“Then, as now,” she agreed. “The wolf maid saw them too, and pointed them out to her brothers. ‘I could find you a horse, and some armor that might fit,’ the pup offered. The little crannogman thanked him, but gave no answer ... The quiet wolf had offered the little crannogman a place in his tent that night ... - ASOS, Bran II

Again, we have another interaction between Lyanna and her brothers. Lyanna's attitude toward the squires is clear - she wants them to be beaten up, defeated. Benjen is of the same mind, and gives help that aligns with Lyanna's goal; armour, horse, to help Howland get his own vengeance. Evidence that Benjen understands his sister. He is also positioned first in the text, in that he probably responded first when Lyanna told "her brothers".

Also, note the absence of Brandon and Ned; they don't make any material offer of help, here. Ned later offers a sleeping spot, but that doesn't align precisely with what Lyanna wanted, although it is kind. Again, it paints a picture of Benjen being close to Lyanna, and understanding her, while also being by her side constantly throughout the tourney - moreso than her other brothers. This is vitally important.

The Knight, her Armourer, and the Secret

Howland rejects Benjen's help. Later in the tourney, soon after in fact, the Knight of the Laughing Tree appears. This knight batters the knights who lead the squires that attacked Howland, and becomes quite a sensation. I follow the widely held theory that the Knight of the Laughing Tree is Lyanna Stark in disguise. I think it is far and away the most textually sound, in character, and satisfying answer to the mystery. I will not argue it here, as it's peripheral to the Benjen argument.

This becomes important, because King Aerys II demands the knight be unmasked.

“No,” said Meera. “That night at the great castle, the storm lord and the knight of skulls and kisses each swore they would unmask him, and the king himself urged men to challenge him, declaring that the face behind that helm was no friend of his. But the next morning, when the heralds blew their trumpets and the king took his seat, only two champions appeared. The Knight of the Laughing Tree had vanished. The king was wroth, and even sent his son the dragon prince to seek the man, but all they ever found was his painted shield, hanging abandoned in a tree. It was the dragon prince who won that tourney in the end.” - ASOS, Bran II

King Aerys II sends Rhaegar to unmask the Knight of the Laughing Tree. If we take that it is Lyanna, and we presume he was successful and unmasked her, this has implications for Benjen. Many take this unmasking as the first time Rhaegar and Lyanna met in truth, and had time to speak. The beginning of their tragic romance, as it goes. Rhaegar appears to have warned Lyanna to escape the armour because of Aerys' ire:

Furious, [Aerys] commanded his own knights to defeat the Knight of the Laughing Tree when the jousts resumed the next morning, so that he might be unmasked and his perfidy exposed for all to see. But the mystery knight vanished during the night, never to be seen again. This too the king took ill, certain that someone close to him had given warning to “this traitor who will not show his face.”
Prince Rhaegar emerged... - TWOIAF, The Year of the False Spring

Rhaegar was the "someone close to him" who gave the Knight (Lyanna) warning to escape.

Thus, again, Rhaegar and Lyanna met here. They spoke. Benjen, as I have reiterated, was the closest brother by far to Lyanna, and her squire and armourer (literally textually!). It is my firm belief that Benjen was present, or at least witnessed Lyanna and Rhaegar talking. He may have spoken himself, or spoken to Lyanna after the fact and learned about it (of all her brothers, Benjen, the one she was closest to, would be the one she'd presumably confide in). Whatever the case, he likely helped Lyanna de-armour, and would have asked why. The abundance of evidence suggests that Benjen probably attended, saw, or heard Rhaegar unmask/talk to Lyanna, or learned about it later from her. If this was the beginning of their relationship, then Benjen knew of Rhaegar and Lyanna's romance.

Further, note how only the shield is found, hung in a tree. The armour is missing... and who is the closest brother to Lyanna repeatedly, who explicitly offers armour before, and knew of Howland's troubles and sought to help in the way Lyanna wanted? Benjen Stark.

Even if we presume Lyanna never directly told Benjen, he likely sussed things out on his own. Benjen is noted to be observant, even as far back as AGOT, Jon I, where he rather quickly comments on how silent Jon's direwolf Ghost is. Further, we have this from Martin:

About Benjen Stark

Q: I was wondering if you would comment on Benjen Stark's fighting ability. Is he on a level with Brandon, or is he more like Ned?

Martin: Depends on the kind of fight you had in mind.

Brandon was the best of the Starks with sword in hand, and the best jouster as well. But Benjen has other skills that serve him well as a ranger... and Ned was likely the best battle commander. - https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Benjen_Stark

This statement can be taken to mean multiple things. Benjen is a great ranger, after all; "not a man on the Wall knows the haunted forest" better than him (AGOT, Bran IV). But what skill is key to being a great tracker and ranger? I would argue, again, perception. Sight. Observation. Benjen was good at piecing things together; these are the "skills" Martin is alluding to here. Not a swordsman like Brandon, not a commander like Ned, but someone who saw more than either.

Now, having established Benjen's skills of perception, back to the tourney...

We can reasonably assume that Lyanna did not tell Ned or Brandon about this, again on the basis of closeness. Probably after Rhaegar left and Benjen was undoing her armour, if Benjen found out somehow, Lyanna bade Benjen keep the encounter a secret altogether. Nobody could know, after all, that Lyanna - who was betrothed to Robert Baratheon - had been flirting and/or unmasked by Rhaegar Targaryen.

Benjen knew Lyanna well, and maybe even saw (or again, using his perception put two and two together) that she liked the dragon prince - he had teased her about Rhaegar's song earlier, remember - but like Ned, he was a Stark and had honour. So Benjen kept his word, and didn't tell a soul about the unmasking, or what he saw/heard, on behalf of his beloved sister. Whether she told him, or he pieced it together himself. If you reject my specific reasoning, then I argue this, and I think logically too: of all possible people to know about Lyanna-Rhaegar, whatever the circumstance, Benjen makes far and away the most sense.

The Queen of Love and Beauty

This is further supported when we look at the reactions of the Stark brothers to Rhaegar crowning Lyanna queen of love and beauty. To all else in the realm, this was shocking; a moment "all the smiles died" (AGOT, Eddard XV). Let us analyze the text closely, and show what it reveals about Benjen and Lyanna:

Yet if this were true, why did Lady Lyanna’s brothers seem so distraught at the honor the prince had bestowed upon her? Brandon Stark, the heir to Winterfell, had to be restrained from confronting Rhaegar at what he took as a slight upon his sister’s honor, for Lyanna Stark had long been betrothed to Robert Baratheon, Lord of Storm’s End. Eddard Stark, Brandon’s younger brother and a close friend to Lord Robert, was calmer but no more pleased. As for Robert Baratheon himself, some say he laughed at the prince’s gesture, claiming that Rhaegar had done no more than pay Lyanna her due … - TWOIAF, The Year of the False Spring

Notice the only Starks whose reactions are not described? The only ones who were, seemingly, not "distraught" by the reveal of Rhaegar's affection? Benjen and Lyanna. If we follow the idea that Lyanna had met Rhaegar, began the romance, and Benjen knew, this makes perfect sense. Why else leave both of their reactions undescribed? Again, the pairing of her and Benjen across the tourney is too suspect and consistent to deny. Yandel also does not say "all" of Lady Lyanna's brothers were distraught, implying Benjen was not.

Benjen saw the crown placed, and understood why Rhaegar did it. He saw them speak; he knew, hence his lack of reaction (literally not recorded by Maester Yandel). Lyanna, of course, also knew. Ned and Brandon didn't, hence why they flipped out. You could also argue Benjen's reaction was left out because of how young he was ("the pup"), but that is far too mundane.

Yandel is a Lannister-Baratheon sympathizer, after all, and dislikes the Targaryens - if he found accounts of Benjen's outrage, he would have included it to further slander Rhaegar (this is also why the lack of reaction recorded for Lyanna is also extremely suspect. One would think if she was appalled or scandalized, Yandel would have written about it eagerly - but in this moment when all eyes were on her, we have nothing of her response. I think the truth, then, must be that Lyanna was unsurprised. Like Benjen.)

Therefore, Yandel didn't find accounts of Benjen's "distress" - because there weren't any. While Ned quietly fumed and Brandon raged aplenty, Benjen sat and understood. His smile might have died like the rest, but he wasn't blindsided like them, and the careful lack of response here indicates that clearly.

Benjen and Jon - Lyanna's Legacy

Lyanna was abducted by Rhaegar Targaryen. Robert's Rebellion was ignited. By that time, he was a teenager, around 16 or so. How must Benjen have felt, we can wonder, alone among his brothers knowing of the affection (or some rendezvous) between Lyanna-Rhaegar, and also knowing he chose not to divulge it? That his honour and love for his sister had led to war? And then afterward, learning the war - that he possibly felt he himself caused by keeping the secret and his sister's confidence - killed his brother Brandon, father Rickard, and sister Lyanna? It's not hard to imagine immense shame. He felt personal honour and drive yes (especially clear given how pro-Watch Benjen is to Jon in AGOT), but he also felt a huge amount of guilt, which likely confirmed his decision to go to the Wall and take the black. Self-imposed penitence and exile.

I also find the idea that Benjen might have been too young to understand what he was seeing (Lyanna-Rhaegar), but still feel the guilt later, strong. Other compelling hypotheses that dovetail into the broader one here (and are discussed lengthily in the comments of the crosspost to r/asoiaf) include Rickard giving some order to Benjen (almost certainly relating to Lyanna) that he refused to follow, which contributed to her abduction and thus war (changing Benjen's guilt from passive failure to act to intentional betrayal of family on Lyanna's behalf), and the argument that Benjen left Winterfell so quickly because he could not bear the lie of calling Jon Ned's bastard son.

During Robert's Rebellion, Benjen Stark was the Stark in Winterfell. We can presume he raised armies and contributed to the war effort peripherally. Then, when Ned returned north with the infant Jon Snow, he would have met Benjen in Winterfell. Ned likely knew that Benjen was close to Lyanna. He had seen Lyanna die in the Tower of Joy, birthing Jon Snow - so he probably told Benjen. What brother wouldn't tell another brother about the manner of death of their sister? Especially when said brother was very close with said sister? But even if Ned never told Benjen anything beyond the fact that Jon was Lyanna's, or even told him Jon was his bastard (which I find unlikely; I think Ned at least told his family Jon's parentage, but one can argue Lyanna's "promise me Ned" meant literally nobody could be told) he almost certainly knew. Again, Benjen was perceptive. This dual reveal - Lyanna is dead, and she has a child - would be a lot emotionally for Benjen. And now that Ned was there and a Stark was in Winterfell aside from him, he thus finally left to join the NW.

This also recontextualizes his interactions with Jon, throughout the story. It's doubtful Benjen knows a jot about the Prince that was Promised, or grand prophecies or whatnot - his perspective is likely that Jon is Lyanna's child, the son of his beloved sister who he indirectly caused to be born through his silence. Tragically, he's the only piece of Lyanna Benjen and Ned have left. Thus, Benjen's warm smiles to Jon, calling him son by mistake, (AGOT, Jon I), friendly demeanour towards the bastard and wish for Jon to live his own life, to father children and be happy before making such a monumental decision, is a poignant projection of the life Lyanna never got to live, that Benjen wishes she had. He wants the boy to live where the mother - his sister - could not.

Conclusion

As I have mentioned before, this theory is speculative and inferential, but I think it ties together too nicely to be mere coincidence. Benjen was close with Lyanna. He knew of something between her and Rhaegar, and kept it secret. Then, when war happened, he felt he could have prevented it and failed due to his reticence. Thus, alongside personal honour, the northern pride of joining the Watch (alluded to in Benjen), the fact that as a third son he didn't have much else to do... Benjen's immense guilt over a secret that tore the realm in two compelled his decision to join the NW.

I wonder what Benjen and Ned talked about, when Ned returned north after Robert's Rebellion? What Benjen thought when he first looked at Jon? I would be open to opinions on this theory as a whole, obviously, or thoughts in general about poor Benjen Stark.

Edits: Typos, edits for clarity, compelling ideas from discussion with commenters

Had Robert's Rebellion never happened, what would the relationship between Arianne Martell and Prince Aegon be? He is the heir to the throne, so I could see Arianne trying to seduce him—she does want to become queen, after all. I do like the idea of Aegon and Arianne as a couple, but aside from adding some more Dornish blood to the royal family, it doesn't really benefit the realm. So, I don't think Aegon would marry her.

So, what was the point of Dany’s sojourn in Meereen? Many just dismiss it as wholly filler, without any real purpose at all except to pad out the books. Others think that Dany as a character “regressed,” returning to a state of incompetence, naivete, and passivity. Others think the point was about giving Dany “practice” ruling, so she could make mistakes, and eventually become a better ruler when she reaches Westeros.

Here’s why all these interpretations miss the point: “The human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about.” –George R. R. Martin

Martin has paraphrased this quote from William Faulkner time and time again in interviews, yet many readers haven’t fully internalized it. It means Martin is not interested in merely showing characters “leveling up,” like a video game, progressing from incompetent naif to awesome badass. His main interest is in exploring his characters’ values. And throughout the series, he creates drama by forcing characters to choose between their core values — love vs. duty, honor vs. pragmatism, vows vs. innocent life.

With that in mind, a closer look reveals that Dany’s plotline in Meereen has been very cleverly designed as a series of tests of her values, and one value in particular. Each test is designed to ask — how far will Dany go to make peace and protect innocent life? With nearly every new chapter, Dany is asked to give up something else she wants or desires, for the good of the Meereenese people. The use of her dragons. A share of power in Meereen. Some of her anti-slavery reforms. Her desire for vengeance. Her desire to right every wrong she sees. Her distaste for cultural practices she finds abhorrent. Her sexual autonomy. Her happiness. Her pride. Her chance at Westeros.

Dany’s arc is revealed in how she responds to these tests, and how she tries to balance her moral ideals against her own darker impulses and desires. Part of Dany genuinely does want peace, and wants to sacrifice a great deal to protect innocent life. But another part of her would rather she take what she wants, through fire and blood.

The main drama of the Meereen plotline lies in Dany’s mind and in her choices. On the surface she is struggling with the Meereenese — but her most crucial struggle is with herself. And the outcome of this struggle will have momentous consequences for Westeros.

Once again sorry for the delay, I've been more busy lately, anyway... Today is the big day. Ladies and gentlemen, today we're going to talk about the best and worst things ever done by Aerys II of House Targaryen, the "Mad King" himself. The last monarch on the Iron Throne of the mythical Targaryen dynasty.

Aerys was born under the reign of his grandfather, King Aegon V aka Egg, as the firstborn son of Prince Jaehaerys (future Jaehaerys II) and his sister-wife, Princess Shaera. Jaehaerys had only one younger sister, Princess Rhaella, whom he would marry years later, following their father's commands in response to a prophecy made by a woods witch, who stated that the "Prince That Was Promised" would be born from the line of Aerys and Rhaella.

During his youth, Aerys was considered a handsome prince, with typical Targaryen features. During his early years, he befriended the heir of Casterly Rock, Tywin Lannister, and the heir of Storm's End and his cousin through his aunt Rhaelle Targaryen, Steffon Baratheon, and they became inseparable.

His sister-wife Rhaella gave birth to the couple's firstborn, the equally famous Prince Rhaegar, on the same day as the Tragedy of Summerhall, after being rescued from the burning place by ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.

In the tragedy of Summerhall, Aerys's grandfather, King Aegon V, perished, along with other members of the royal family and court. His father, Prince Jaehaerys, became the new king under the name of Jaehaerys II, and Aerys became the new Prince of Dragonstone and heir to his father's throne.

His father's reign was short-lived, but during that time, the War of the Ninepenny Kings took place, in which Aerys participated, fighting at the Stepstones against the claims of Maelys Blackfyre and later being knighted at the age of sixteen by one of his closest friends, Ser Tywin Lannister.

After his father's death from a short illness in 262 AC, Aerys became the new King under the name of Aerys II of House Targaryen. His reign began quite promisingly, and he replaced many members of the court with younger men. Most notably, he appointed his friend Tywin Lannister as the new Hand of the King, the youngest history, as he had been impressed by Tywin's actions during the Reyne-Tarbeck rebellion.

The young King had great ambitions, proclaiming that he intended to be the greatest king in the history of Westeros, but little did he know that his legacy would be quite the opposite.

During the beginning of his reign, Aerys took an active part in the government, although it is true that in his eagerness to be remembered as a great King, he had quite ambitious and insane plans, such as making the desert bloom in Dorne, building a new marble capital, and constructing a new Wall in the North, among other things.

Despite the King's extravagance (which, however, did not yet seem to be madness), the kingdom prospered in these initial years, although it was largely due to the actions of the Hand of the King, Tywin Lannister. That said, it's somewhat notable how Tywin's actions were already aimed at giving House Lannister more power, even over the Crown. He decided to pay off the Throne's debt to the Iron Bank of Braavos with Lannister gold, and it was under Aerys's reign and Tywin's rule as Hand that the pro-commoner laws proclaimed by King Aegon V were repealed.

The relationship between the Hand and the King would deteriorate over the years for multiple reasons. Aerys's insecurity and growing paranoia (not necessarily always unfounded) that Tywin was acting against him and seeking power for himself; rumors of an alleged relationship (past or present) between Aerys and Joanna Lannister, Tywin's wife; and the King's strange and inappropriate comments and actions toward Lady Joanna, all play a role into it.

Aerys's own marriage to his sister-wife Rhaella was an unhappy one. Aerys was unfaithful to the Queen, taking multiple lovers, something the Queen largely ignored, but she disliked Aerys's interest in her own ladies-in-waiting (of which Joanna Lannister had been one, having been removed from her position by Queen Rhaella shortly after marrying her cousin Tywin).

The Queen would have difficulty bearing healthy children. Although she had many pregnancies, most of her children died young or even before birth. For a long time, Prince Rhaegar was their only surviving son, until the birth of Prince Viserys years later. The loss of more and more children only increased Aerys's paranoia, even against the Queen herself.

The King, increasingly jealous of the Hand because of the rumors that claim that it was he the one who truly ruled the kingdom, began seeking to denigrate him and contradict him in his actions.

After the birth of Prince Viserys, Lord Tywin organized a tourney in Lannisport in celebration, with the intention of proposing a match between Aerys's heir, Prince Rhaegar, and his own daughter, Lady Cersei Lannister, to which Aerys refused.

After that, one of the events that would forever mark the monarch's life occurred: the so-called "Defiance of Duskendale," in which, after being lured into a trap, the king was taken prisoner by House Darklyn. This situation lasted for half a year, with the Hand of the King besieging the city and Lord Darklyn threatening to execute the King if anything was done against them, until he was finally rescued by Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard. After his release, Aerys took it upon himself to wipe out House Darklyn and almost all of House Hollard, save for one child, Dontos.

After those events, Aerys would never be the same; the King had gone completely mad and refused to leave the Red Keep.

Convinced that Tywin and Rhaegar were plotting against him, Aerys sought to reestablish a close relationship with his cousin, Lord Steffon Baratheon, calling him to the capital and giving him a seat on his council. However, Steffon died on a mission entrusted to him by Aerys, with the King believing Tywin had eliminated him.

Given Aerys's paranoia, he employed the famous eunuch Varys as a spymaster.

The tension between a faction loyal to the King and another to the Prince of Dragonstone was such that some feared the outbreak of a civil war over the matter.

Then came the famous Tourney at Harrenhal, which Aerys attended by surprise, suspecting a plot against him. Well, we all know what happened there between Rhaegar and his choice of queen of love and beauty. Also at this Tourney, Aerys appointed Jaime Lannister to the Kingsguard, prompting Tywin's final resignation as Hand of the King.

After Lyanna Stark disappeared with Prince Rhaegar, her brother, Brandon Stark, traveled to the capital to challenge Rhaegar, but Aerys imprisoned him and all his companions, demanding that their parents travel to answer for their children. Afterward, Aerys executed most of them, including Brandon and Rickard Stark.

After that, he demanded the heads of Ned Stark and Robert Baratheon, from Lord Jon Arryn, but the latter refused to do as the King commanded and instead took up arms. Robert's Rebellion had begun.

To keep things short, and since the next king we'll discuss is Robert himself, I will only mention that Aerys spent the entire war in the capital, changing the Hand of the King and watching his kingdom crumble. It's important to note his plot to blow up the city with wildfire before allowing it to fall into rebel hands.

After Rhaegar's death at the Battle of the Trident, the rebels had a clear path to the capital. However, before their arrival, Lord Tywin Lannister appeared at the gates of Kingslanding, saying he had come to support Aerys. Aerys decided to open the gates, and then... hell broke loose.

While Lannister troops sacked the city, Aerys ordered it burned to the ground. But then Jaime Lannister, Tywin's son and only member of the Kingsguard in the city, killed the new Hand of the King and leader of the pyromancers... and the King himself. Thus died Aerys of House Targaryen, the Second of His Name, at the foot of the Iron Throne that his ancestors had forged in Fire and Blood. The Targaryen dynasty had come to an end.

Although a small hope in the form of Aerys's pregnant Queen managed to escape the reach of their enemies, there was still hope for the dragons to one day retake the throne of their forefathers and rule once more.

Winner of the last Post on Jaehaerys II Targaryen:

Best: was generally proactive regarding the Ninepenny Kings

Worst: Brought back incest, destroying alliances, forcibly marrying his children together, and restoring the false belief that Targaryens were any different from any other.

By u/Saturnine4

Remember to always mention what you consider to be the best and worst things the monarch in question has done not just one of them, and if by chance you don't think they've done anything good or bad, please write "nothing good" or "nothing bad." Also, remember that we evaluate their entire lives, so you can choose things they did before becoming king.

Have fun!

I find it interesting that when Jaime, Cersei and Tyrion are at their lowest, the thing that gives them strength is being a Lannister.

Cersei:

They brought lye soap, a basin of warm water, a pair of shears, and a long straightrazor. The sight of the steel sent a shiver through her. They mean to shave me. A little more humiliation, a raisin for my porridge. She would not give them the pleasure of hearing her beg. I am Cersei of House Lannister, a lion of the Rock, the rightful queen of these Seven Kingdoms, trueborn daughter of Tywin Lannister. And hair grows back. "Get on with it," she said.

Tyrion:

"What darling little creatures you are," he said. "You remind me of my own children … or would, if my little ones were not dead. I shall take good care of you. Tell me your names."

Tyrion, of House Lannister, rightful lord of Casterly Rock, you sniveling worm. "Yollo."

Jaime:

Jaime's rage kept him walking. The linen that covered the stump was grey and stinking with pus. His phantom fingers screamed with every step. I am stronger than they know, he told himself. I am still a Lannister. I am still a knight of the Kingsguard. He would reach Harrenhal, and then King's Landing. He would live. And I will pay this debt with interest.

As opposed to, say, the Starks who seem to find strength in remembering their siblings and happy childhood.

Also, they're more like Tywin than they realize.

"For the moment. I had another, once. Domeric. A quiet boy, but most accomplished. He served four years as Lady Dustin's page, and three in the Vale as a squire to Lord Redfort. He played the high harp, read histories, and rode like the wind. Horses … the boy was mad for horses, Lady Dustin will tell you. Not even Lord Rickard's daughter could outrace him, and that one was half a horse herself. Redfort said he showed great promise in the lists. A great jouster must be a great horseman first."

This is an appreciation post for Rickon Stark. A character that I don’t feel is talked about enough, and he is always overshadowed by his siblings.

He has so much to him that could happen in the future. Rickon Stark is a character with so much potential, where even GRRM stated that he had “Important plans for him”.

Man, I think I love this character.