#(so not robert or rhaegar probably baby jon)

[throwawayasoiafaccount]

god tywin lannister deserved worse

just remembering elias death and i wanna puke and the way tywin talks about elia and what happened is so damn gross

but rip tommen and myrcella we all know what’s about to happen in the next book :/

the cycle of violence just keeps spinning and damn you tywin for beginning it

(i got a bit crazy in the tags 💀)

[syndrossi]

Oh my god, the au where Daemon and the boys end up in Winterfell has hilarious potential.Ned is frantically looking for a way to hide 2 kids and 2 dragons, Cat is first furious because of suspicions of repeated treason and then terrified because it looks like they're about to commit treason.Robb, Jon, Bran and Theon are dying to find out what these strange children they met on the way back from the execution are.Robert if he finds out about the boy who looks like Rhaegar will be furious, Cersei is absolutely thrilled (she's willing to wait). Daemon who was "thrown" further away from Winterfell goes after his children, which horrifies half the North.I'm especially curious how Viserys and Dany will react to the new Targaryens. Jon Connington better not be told about Rhaegar, he'll have a heart attack.

Any time you throw a bunch of Targaryens and dragons into a world that has zero-to-few of either, it's gonna be a mess. And holy shit, Cersei being "willing to wait" is so horrific but also so in character. 😱 (OTOH, Daemon is also a very handsome man and not dissimilar to Rhaegar, and he's about to be seizing power. In the brief window before Daemon learns about the Lannister treachery and how it killed OG!Rhaegar's children, she might have some ambitions there.)

I hadn't thought about them encountering Jon and Rhaegar on the way back from the execution. That's probably too early, since that's when they get the dire wolves, which is roughly two months before Robert arrives. Daemon would surely have found the twins by then and/or wreaked enough havoc with Caraxes in search of them to change the course of Robert feeling safe enough to travel North. But perhaps Daemon is displaced slightly in time as well? That gives Jon and Rhaegar time to settle in, grief-stricken at losing Daemon and the world they'd grown to regard as their own, and vulnerable with their young dragons. Oh, but the heartache of Jon seeing the other Jon with baby!Ghost and feeling the loss of his own Ghost.

Viserys's instability is pretty set at this point, so I suspect he doesn't survive long once he and Dany join Daemon's growing gaggle of Targaryens. (He might even make an attempt on one of the boys to steal one of their dragons.). Since Dany is pregnant and with Drogo at this point, it might be more of a struggle to extract them unless we handwave the book timeline a bit to have Dany's marriage happen not when she's thirteen ffs.

I do think that bb!Rhaegar will be regarded as Daemon's son and not the original Rhaegar because no timeline makes sense there; he can't be Rhaegar's dead son Aegon because the ages don't match up and obviously he's not Rhaegar himself. Even DAEMON being around makes no sense, but people are slightly more willing to accept that he's himself, given Caraxes and Dark Sister. And sure, okay, he has two other sons that history doesn't know about by his first wife. But anyone who knew Rhaegar before and sees him is gonna be making those comparisons, in the same way that Resonant!Jon and Ned's Jon are gonna be compared. Eerily similar, but also noticeably different in ways where their relation to Daemon is clear.

Politically, I think it's a terrible decision for Ned to shelter the boys and their dragons, but given how alike this Jon looks to his own, and Jon himself saying things that only his Jon would know to convince him to protect them--he's going to be torn.

[blissfulphilospher]

if they adapt Robert's Rebellion

I don't want to give anyone ideas but if they ever make Robert Rebellion's tv or movie version then Robert Baratheon is going to be portrayed as the worst man ever who raped woman here and there and probably assaulted Lyanna.

And that's why she ran away with the tragic melancholic godly prince who was so noble and good but trapped in a marriage with either an unstable chronically ill brown woman or a scheming ambitious brown woman who doesn't love him at all and maybe cheats on him.

Tragic King Aerys who loves his family and wants to burn the whole city because he has a good cause!! Sacrifices will wake dragons! Dragons eggs could have hatched before Dany! Aerys' was a genius. And yes Rhaella supported him and Rhaegar with everything.

It was House Targaryen against the world.

Also, Tywin Lannister was best buddy of Aerys. He sent the Mountain and Amory Lorch to protect the royal family! Those noble knights who accidentally killed the little girl maybe because he couldn't identify whether the Princess was Targaryen or not? Maybe she wasn't.

The Mountain too had similar accidents because Aegon isn't the ptwp or he doesn't exist at all. Problem solved! Rhaegar had no son! This is true! Jon is his only son!!

And let's not forget how hard it was for the Mountain and other guy to climb the building, their struggle to get in Maegor's Holdfast!! They will show us that, than the Princess who is trapped helplessly in a tower with a drawbridge, drawn up and no way to escape with her children.

But no problem that those children died, they were nothing special no one mourns them or their mother. They deserved to be killed and forgotten. House Martell supports Targaryens! They will rise for Jon if they knew! True love of the prince Rhaegar already gave him the only son. Aegon 6th!!

And see a noble honourable Stark lord will raise because 'song ice and fire!' 'prophecy baby' and not because he is the last piece of his sister and that's what any uncle will do.

And… Jon Arryn? Who is Jon Arryn? Why does he want to rebel? He has no reason! (His heir was also murdered idk why people forget that!)

And yes the war was started by Littlefinger if you didn't know before he hyped up Brandon to march to KL. 😄

[agentrouka-blog]

Regarding Ned and Jon’s lucky non-Valyrian looks:

Book canon is Ned was so consumed by grief he could barely function. He had no initial plan and acted rashly, destroying the Tower of Joy in rage.

Afterwards, when he had time to reflect, he came up with the bastardy story thinking not only people wouldn’t dare to ask about it (even Catelyn’s informant was silenced), but that Robert would not often venture North, and he wouldn’t be around to ask questions about the curious baby with silver hair.

Ned probably didn’t even think about Jon’s hair color until later, when the baby actually started to grow hair.

It was a big gamble and put everyone at risk, but he had to be loyal to his sister and protect his own blood, even if he had to commit treason against the crown. That’s the whole point of the Starks, love over duty, the pack survives.

(post referenced)

But that would have been kind of careless with his promise, not taking Jon's appearance into account. A kid with a frequently remarked upon resemblance to Ned was very probably born looking that way. Every newborn I have ever seen had recognizable family features, and most had hair.

I think Ned would have been less worried about Robert venturing North than information venturing South. Ned doesn't live in an isolated farmstead. Winterfell is the biggest population center in the North, outside perhaps White Harbor, and his family is the center of attention. If that kid looked like Rhaegar, it would go well beyond simply shutting down speculation about the mother of his bastard, which is mere gossip. It would be so much easier to put the pieces together for literally every one who ever saw that kid. Rumors would be flying wildly, and they would fly to Robert. And that does endanger everyone's life, and render his promise pointless.

Ned was a bad liar and the bastard lie was a big gamble, even with a Stark-looking child. But taking a Targaryen-looking baby North would have been downright irresponsible. So I don't think Ned would have done it.

[atopvisenyashill]

Considering that Steffon Baratheon was the son of a Targaryen princess and was first cousins with Aerys it is very likely that if he had a daughter she would've married Rhaegar instead of Elia. So let's say he did, let's say Robert had a twin sister (let's call her Maris) and once it becomes clear that Rhaella isn't going to have a daughter for Rhaegar to marry Aerys betroths Maris to him and they marry once she comes of age which butterflys away Steffon's trip to Essos so he and Cassana are still alive. What happens? How do things change with the Baratheon's having a daughter married to the crown prince?

so first i do think it’s super likely that renly was in fact steffon and cassana attempting to get rhaegar a bride (he is WAY YOUNGER than the other two, which leads me to believe that once cassana had two boys steffon was like “i’m good we don’t have to have any more kids if you don’t want to” but once the bride search starts, they get the idea to have a daughter), so yes, i find it very likely and bordering on a guarantee that if robert had a sister she would marry rhaegar.

so let’s go with “robert has a twin sister” as an au over “renly is a girl.” firstly, i actually think this could also butterfly away renly’s birth haha, like i said i don’t think they planned to have another son OR nor do i think he was an oops baby, they wanted a DAUGHTER for Rhaegar, and if they already have one, I don’t see putting yourself through another birth if you don’t want to.

I think a lot of how this shakes out stems from what Steffon actually feels for his cousin! He fosters Robert at the Vale with Ned, but he’s working at court with Aerys so a lot of the question is - was Steffon involved in “southron ambitions” or not? How involved was the plot? I mean were Rickard (and his maester), Hoster, and Jon Arryn actively politicking to undercut the Targaryens from the jump or was it a natural consequence of all these different cultures living on the continent long enough that they just decided “fuck guess we should start marrying each other huh”? Barbrey clearly doesn’t know and George isn’t telling! So if Steffon agrees that the Targs are getting out of control, he would probably attempt to distance Rhaegar from Aerys. Maybe he’s a good influence, raises Rhaegar and Robert to be close, and Rhaegar thinks twice about doing stupid shit like making off with someone else’s fianc��.

OR maybe Steffon plays the Dornish role - beholden to the crown despite his issues with it because Aerys has his daughter hostage. This would make rebellion harder but not unwinnable - there’s no Dornish army to contend with, with the trade off being there’s like a half hearted attempt at mustering some Stormlanders together.

[irlplasticlamb]

now we need to know your book asoiaf ships omg

OH MY GOD THERE’S SO MANY LET’S GO LET’S GO

let’s start with ones that make a bit more sense/have some book evidence, in no particular order: jaime/brienne (okay this one IS my favourite asoiaf ship…… you can’t even imagine how hard i cried over the “i dreamed of you” scene OKAY), ned/cat, theon/jeyne (jeyne poole is my BABY btw!!! need to draw her at some point!), stannis/davos, jon/satin, jon/val (jon IS bisexual, grrm told me himself), roose/barbrey (coming out as a house bolton stan. so sorry, their pink murderous charm bewitched me. also barbrey dustin is so 💘💞💝💕💖💓💝💕💝), robb/theon, jon con/rhaegar (i am a rhaegar HATER but i also cannot get over sad pining and the inherent tragedy of this ship…… i love being a hypocrite hehe), renly/loras (they’re so slay in the books), ashara/ned, robert b./ned

and NOW for the ones that simply exist in my head because i am UNWELL: sansa/aegon “young griff” (they’re my RIDE OR DIE!!!! RIDE OR DIEEEEEE!! also there IS a very compelling theory about the possibility of aegonsa becoming canon so i shall remain delulu forever), jaime/elia (i once read a fic in which jaime helped elia and her children escape and rhaenys kept calling him “sir lion” and oh my god… oh my GOD), jon/satin/val (jon and the two bad bitches he pulled by being a good boy), arya/myrcella (I JUST WANT ARYA TO KISS GIRLS, honestly this ship mostly applies to the insane modern au i have in my head but shh), sansa/dany, cersei/melisandre (when they’re evil and they’re sapphics….. also the fire motif……….)

and honestly…… there’s probably more and i just DON’T REMEMBER

[jonsnowunemploymentera]

One of the things that seems so small but needs to be resolved in Winds and Dream imo is Jon’s connections to House Dayne. Like Arthur Dayne, the very last Sword of the Morning, died protecting him at the Tower of Joy. And Arthur was probably in on whatever was going on between Rhaegar and Lyanna. His sister, Ashara Dayne, in turn became one of Jon’s rumored birth mothers in-universe; Catelyn and Cersei both identify her as such at various points. Then Arya meets Ned Dayne, the current Lord of Starfall, and the kid immediately goes “hey I totes know about your bastard brother, how is he doing?” Plus Jon and Ned have Wylla, a servant of House Dayne, as a connection point; Wylla was Jon’s wetnurse and is believed to be Jon’s mother according to King Robert and Ned Dayne. Who knows what Ned was told of Jon and Wylla but he must have heard some rumors, right? Which means that people at or around Starfall at the very least know about Ned Stark’s bastard and are talking about him. The timeline is a bit wonky but we know that Ned Stark returned Dawn back to the Daynes after Arthur’s death and I’m assuming that he had to have had Jon in tow, because it’s not like he can leave the baby at an army camp (and the Tower of Joy was destroyed some point after Lyanna’s death). Given the amount of distance travelled, I think it’s possible that Ned might have stayed at or near Starfall before making his way back to Winterfell. And if he stayed there then Jon did too; which might explain the rumors regarding Wylla. Plus Ned thinks about “they” finding him as he held Lyanna’s body and it could be that “they” were servants of House Dayne. I really need this to be explored in the next two books because the constant references to Jon, Ned, and the Daynes has to be deliberate. As it stands, it seems that the Daynes are just as entwined in the matter of Jon’s parentage as Howland Reed is.

[goodqueenaly]

Do you think Eddard Stark was in Starfall when Ashara Dayne committed suicide? If so, how do you think was the general "atmosphere" between Ned and the Daynes, given all that happened (the feeling between the two at Harrenal, the thing with Brandon [?], the stillborn child, the war, the death of Arthur)? It seems that the relationship was quite good, in spite of everything (Wylla, the secret of Jon parentage kept...).

This is a very good question, and one which I think is at least for now unanswerable. There is still a considerable amount of mystery - to some extent intentionally so, of course - surrounding the relationship between Daynes and Starks immediately before and during Robert's Rebellion, and that level of mystery naturally obfuscates the details of the timeline around and immediately after the final fight at the tower of joy. We know that Ned buried Arthur, as well as the other Kingsguard and his own slain companions, using the stones of the tower; we know he took Dawn back to Starfall to return Dawn to Ashara (who was specifically alive at that point), we know that Ned obviously left and that Ashara obviously died ... but that's it.

I think the answer, to the extent we will ever get one, probably depends on how Ashara felt about the situation, especially after Ned returned with Dawn. What did Ashara know at that point, what did Ned tell her, and how might any of that knowledge have impacted her feelings - did she know by then, for example, that Brandon Stark had been murdered, or that Rhaegar had been killed in battle, or that Elia and her children had been murdered, or that the Targaryens had definitively lost the war, and which if any of these informed her emotional state (and how)? How did she react to the outcome of the fight at the tower of joy, to the news of her brother's death, to the revelation of baby Jon? To what extent if any did Ashara and Ned had a romantic attraction/relationship, and if there were one, to what extent did Ned's return with Dawn post-tower of joy affect Ashara's feelings? Was Ned coming to Starfall - to give back the sword, to bring her news of her brother's death, to inform her of whatever else he might have told her about - the last tragedy in a likely very painful last few years for Ashara, or was it only Ned's departure from Starfall - permanently leaving Ashara's life to become Lord of Winterfell, Catelyn's husband, and (though he might not have known it yet) Robb's father - that added a final layer of grief to Ashara's life?

In sum, to understand Ashara's death we have to understand Ashara and her mindset at that moment. Accordingly, so long as Ashara is left an enigma, her death will be so as well.

All of these questions aside (and left open for the moment), I think you are right to note the generally not-antagonistic treatment Ned (and baby Jon) appear to have received from the Daynes. Ned is not a villainous figure in the eyes of young Lord Edric, but a character from a romantic past, engaged in doomed and unfulfilled love with the family's own lost daughter Ashara. Likewise, whatever anyone at Starfall knew about the tower of joy - I would bet Wylla the wet nurse knew quite a lot, though I'm less certain how much the information was distributed and to whom - they've certainly kept pretty mum so far as we know, with Wylla's cover story apparently convincing Edric. I think the Daynes at the very least might have recognized Ned's honor and tact - giving Arthur the same burial he gave his own companions, returning the sword instead of Unwin Peake-like keeping it as a prize of war - and perhaps sympathized with the shared tragedy of the situation. Both Ned and Ashara had lost a brother in the course of this war; both Ned and the Daynes had found nothing but grief at the tower of joy. Where Ashara had lost her stillborn daughter (perhaps fathered by one of the Stark brothers), Ned had been unable to save his sister; now there was only the child not of Ned's body but Lyanna's, the orphaned boy Ned had determined to raised as his own. Having shared Ned's losses and losses like his, the Daynes were, perhaps, more willing to not hate Ned afterward and to some extent help with baby Jon.

[lovelyladyabsinthewrites]

From the Ashes Pt.5

Pairing(s): Rhaegar Targaryen x Lannister!Reader

Warnings: battle, canon character death, Rhaegar POV

Words: 2695

Summary: Rhaegar and Robert Baratheon fight side by side

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 3.5  Part 4  Part 6  Part 7  Part 8  Part 9  Part 10  Part 11  Part 12  Part 13  Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18  Part 19  Part 20  Part 21  Part 22 Part 23  Part 24  Part 25  Part 26 Part 27  Part 28  Part 29  Part 30  Part 31  Part 32  Part 33  Part 34  Part 35  Part 36  Part 37  Part 38  Part 39

Book Two of Heir of Ash and Fire

Book One of Heir of Ash and Fire

“I’m sorry, Your Grace. . . Your mother has died. . .”

His ears had become numb. White noise was all he heard, sweeping him up just as it did when the news of (y/n) had been brought to him not too long ago. He was forced to lose another important person in his life.

A deep pain made its home in Rhaegar’s chest as he reached out for something to steady him. Jon Connington had been right beside him, catching him by the arm.

Rhaegar closed his eyes, trying to collect himself. It wouldn’t do for his men to see him in this state. “What of the baby?”

The messenger who was holding onto the note that had been delivered by raven, clutches it tightly. “She lives.”

Hope. A small mustard seed of hope, but hope nonetheless. “A girl? I have a sister?”

“Yes. Rhaella named her before she passed from this world. Your sister’s name is Daenerys.”

Letting out a shaky breath, Rhaegar smiled. “Daenerys.”

Jon took it upon himself to ask the next few questions. “Is she still on Dragonstone?”

The messenger nods. “Yes Ser.”

“Does Aerys yet know of the child’s birth?”

That made the young boy paused, looking from the silver haired Rhaegar to the fiery locks of Jon. He lowers his eyes, fearing both of the great men’s gazes. “Yes. . . He has instructed that no one be allowed to dock on Dragonstone and that the young Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys be kept there until further notice.”

Rhaegar clenches his jaw. “Glad to know my father hasn’t changed a bit. And I bet he didn’t grieve the loss of his wife?”

“That I do not know, Your Grace. It was risky enough sending along the message to you.”

He already knew that Aerys didn’t grieve the death of Rhaella. Neither of them had loved the other. It wouldn’t be such a devastating blow to Aerys as it had been to Rhaegar losing (y/n).

“It’s probably best for them to stay on Dragonstone. Safer. As long as Aerys doesn’t try and bring them to King’s Landing. They should be fine.” Rhaegar whispered more so to himself. No one could hurt his younger siblings there on the remote island. He just regretted that they were by themselves. No mother or father, not even their big brother, there to guide them. They were alone, far from any family.

Dismissing the messenger, Rhaegar sighs and sits down at his small table. Sprawled out across the wood surface was his battle plan. A map of all of Westeros with small pieces made of stone, those that were painted red were symbolic of his father’s army, the small stone dragon pieces that were white were for Rhaegar’s troops. They were scattered all throughout the map, many of the red pieces being clustered near King’s Landing and along the Kingsroad. One positive thing that Aerys actually had going for him was his paranoia. It made him act fast in setting up clusters of troops near King’s Landing and any other major road that led to it which in turn proved to make the march more difficult for Rhaegar and his men. Robert Baratheon wasn’t one to be discouraged as he boasted that he would tear down each and everyone of the men that were sent their way. Oberyn liked the storm lord’s enthusiasm as he was ready for the battles to come. Jon, Rhaegar and Arthur were of a more cautious constitution.

“I’m sorry to hear about Queen Rhaella.” Arthur whispered, taking the opposite seat. “She was a good woman.”

“Good women hardly make it in this world.” Commented Jon who was pouring himself a generous glass of wine.

“It seems like I never have time to mourn.” Rhaegar reclines, staring at the red and white that was on the table. “I’ll weep for her when the war is won. . . Are you sure these were all the troops that were planted along the Kingsroad?”

Swirling the dark liquid around, Jon nods. “According to the Spider. Who knows if we can truly trust him though.”

“We can’t. We just have to gamble that he’s an ally.” Arthur replied, playing with an extra white dragon. His fingers rolled around the tiny details, running along the spine that possessed small bumps and along the wings that were curled in.

Rhaegar heaves out a sigh, betraying how weary he was of this whole war. “We have many questionable people on our side. Oberyn believes that we must take everyone who offers us a hand.”

That made Jon chuckle snidely. “He shouldn’t talk. Accepting a marriage proposal to Cersei Lannister. . .” He shakes his head. “Beyond stupid.”

“He has a point though.” The Sword of the Morning admitted, albeit grudgingly. “The only reason Aerys still has the major lords in his hand is due to everyone fearing him and his madness. There are a great many that believe it was him that. . . that set fire to (y/n)’s room. . .” Even Jon winced at the mention of Rhaegar’s late wife. Even a year after her passing and the wound had not yet healed for their prince. It grew infected and worse by the day as he carried her death with him. They saw the damage it had done from his eyes.

Half lidded eyes look up at his friends, those he would trust with his life. They were frozen, waiting for what Rhaegar’s reaction would be. Truth be told he no longer possessed any energy to cry for her even though when he was alone at night, memories of her would dance in his mind. The feeling of how she felt pressed up against him as they slept together in the safety of his bed. . . He longed for those days.

Wetting his lips, Arthur sets down the map piece and looks away. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. I didn’t mean to bring up something so painful. . .”

He shook his head. “Please don’t apologize. Not to me.” Wanting to change the subject, Rhaegar switches his attention back to the matter at hand. “Knowing my father, he probably has men waiting for our army in the Kingswood. As easy as it would be going through there we can’t risk it. The Kingswood is no place for a full on battle. The forces from King’s Landing will know that place like the back of their hand. We have no choice but to cross through the territories of the Reach.”

“That land is rich with those who are leal to Aerys.” Warned Arthur.

“We’ll have more open space if there’s a battle.” The prince counter argued. “We have a large battalion, thanks to the newly added men from Tywin Lannister and Dornishmen that are itching for the sight of blood. It would be an utter blood bath if we were to go through the Kingswood. The Reach offers a nice open battlefield. And who knows, maybe we could win over some of the smaller lords of the Reach.”

Jon finally settles into a seat. “We can only hope so.”

Shouts and screams from outside make the three men rise from their seats, alert and poised; ready for another battle. Rhaegar, closer to the tent’s exit, pulls back the flap and gazes outside to a multitude of knights hastily putting their armor on and climbing onto their horses. Chaos weaves between tents as Jon and Arthur gaze at their army, a frenzied mess.

One knight spots Rhaegar and immediately dashes toward him. The stag of Baratheon emblazoned on his chest. “Your Grace, it’s an ambush on one of our camps.”

“Has anyone caught sight of our enemies’ sigil?” Arthur is quick to ask before the knight runs off to join the battle. Already there is the clashing of swords in the distance that echoed in the once quiet clearing that they had made their camp in.

He shakes his head before hiking his leg over his horse’s back. The war horse gallops away to the source of battle.

Young Bors is already running toward Rhaegar, cheeks ablaze from running. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. I’m sorry that I’m late.”

“Don’t waste your breath on unnecessary apologies.” Rhaegar retreats back into his tent to get ready for another battle.

The fighting was in his northernmost camp where most of the Dornish army resided. Not taking too long to join the fight, a knight wearing the sigil of House Ashford immediately swung his blade at the Silver Prince who had just dismounted his horse. Rhaegar quickly deflected the blow with his own sword, making it sing along the length of his foes’ steal and making a quick jab to the Ashford knight’s throat. He fell off to the side and in came another to claim the glory of killing the would-be king. This time it was by a knight of House Merryweather. Noble houses of the Reach, loyal to Aerys, must have already gotten word of Rhaegar’s victory at Summerhall and prepared for his move through their rich lands. Those loyal to the Mad King were scared of his army as they should be. Spread the word to his father that he was coming for the throne. Rhaegar posed an actual threat with his own troops and forces. Aerys should not take him lightly.

Amidst the battle, Rhaegar caught sight of Robert’s horned helm as he was slaughtering foes left to right with such force that Rhaegar would have mistaken him for the Warrior himself. The young Baratheon bull fought with such force and fury that it was almost terrifying. Rhaegar would not want to be the one fighting against him in combat. There was something off though in Robert’s movement. Despite him seemingly slaying the enemy with ease, he was staggering. Reach knights noticed this as well and took advantage as they swarmed in on him like a bunch of ravenous locusts. Even for Robert, it was too much for him as he was starting to drown among them. Ned was deep in his own fight as was his brother; leaving Robert completely to his own.

Gritting his teeth, Rhaegar made the journey over to the young Baratheon lord to help him. Many got in the way, each one cut down by Rhaegar’s sword. Suns, direwolves, dragons, and stags alike blurred with the banners of the opposition as the frenzied dance continued all around him. This wasn’t like Summerhall which had been an easy victory. It was complete madness. Troops of the Reach were dwindling though, unable to withstand the might of Rhaegar’s army.

Robert met Rhaegar’s gaze, blue against lavender, as Rhaegar hacked away at the throng that had clustered around Robert. The two men fought back to back, defending one another as they thinned out those of House Merryweather and Ashford. Someone knocked off Rhaegar’s helm; who, he could not say as he wasn’t paying attention to sigils anymore. Both men were focused on keeping the other alive.

Before Rhaegar could react, a knight came swinging at his face. As Rhaegar was engaged in another sword fight, he was unable to block the attack. . . * “Your hair is so pretty.” (y/n) chirps happily from behind him. Rhaegar could only chuckle as he sat patiently as the young Lannister girl braided his hair. He looked out across the water that surrounded Dragonstone. A lovely day as a nice breeze makes the grass sway gently against them. Rhaegar’s harp sat across his legs, forgotten as he continued to smile at (y/n) braiding his hair. Little fingers that were clumsy at the harp were working so diligently at braiding his hair.

“Aaaand done!” She proclaims proudly, scooching away from Rhaegar to let him assess her work.

He moves his hand behind his head to feel several thick braids meticulously weaved into his hair. “That’s incredible.” And he meant it. “Where did you learn to do that?”

(y/n) moves back so that she’s facing him. Her own pale blonde hair was pulled back into braids. A pinkish-red ribbon finished off the end of her hair. “Thalina taught me. I used to practice on her hair before Viserys stuck molasses into it. Honestly she looks better with short hair though.”

That made Rhaegar frown. So young and his little brother was already acting up. A few months ago, Rhaella had came for a visit and brought Viserys with her as he was still needing his mother. He wreaked havoc on Dragonstone, as Rhaegar read from letters that (y/n) had sent him. A ‘cute little terror’ as (y/n) had called him. Already becoming entitled, Viserys had not let any of the maesters or septas have any peace when he was there. Especially (y/n). Even though she was older and held authority, Viserys walked all over her and treated her like any other house servant. He pulled her hair, broke her belongings, threw her jewelry into the sea and even set fire to a beautiful doll that Rhaegar had gotten her for her name day. He was surprised that all (y/n) had to say about Viserys was that he was a ‘troublesome child’. Any other girl of her status would have been furious and thrown a tantrum. Not gentle hearted (y/n). She took everything in stride, reminding everyone that he was just a child and didn’t know any better. The truth was that Viserys was being spoiled by their father. Aerys was already putting ideas of entitlement into the little prince’s mind; that everything belonged to him and no one could say no to him. Rhaella could do nothing about it as Aerys always had the last word in how his children were raised.

Rhaegar watches (y/n) as she goes on to make a crown composed of the small white flowers that were strewn all over the hill. She hummed to herself happily as she did so. There was such an improvement in her demeanor that Rhaegar couldn’t help the warmth that permeated in his chest.

“Are you happy here, (y/n)?”

She turns up her soft, green eyes. “Very much! I like to play in the room where the big table is. You can see all the mountains and rivers. It helps me when the maester teaches me geography.”

“Good. I’m glad.” * Rhaegar held up the hand mirror to examine his face.

“Can you still see out of your right eye?” Jon fretted behind him.

“Truth be told, I can’t see anything. My vision is all foggy.”

Robert, mending from his own wounds, gives out a hearty chuckle. “That’s what milk of the poppy will do to you.”

Even though he couldn’t see much, Rhaegar could still make out the vicious red line that went diagonally across his face. Pieces of his silver hair had been slashed off, making the maester cut off his long hair. Apparently it wouldn’t do to have the future king with a shabby haircut. Rhaegar thought it the least of his worries as he tried to force his vision to clear.

In a more serious tone, Robert continues. “You saved my life. I’m in your debt now.”

Gingerly, Rhaegar prodes at his face. It stung only a little bit, the milk of the poppy doing it’s job in numbing the pain. A scar, it would leave a nasty scar. He remembered (y/n)’s scars that were on her back. Long and jagged, now they matched. Rhaegar could still remember running his lips and tongue over her scars, how she would twitch as his motions tickled her slightly. A giggle would escape her and he would do it again out of playfulness instead of lust. There was no sound sweeter in the world than that of (y/n)’s uncontrollable giggles.

He set down the mirror and turned his attention to Robert. “Consider the debt repaid once I have my throne.”

He wouldn’t play games with his father anymore. Aerys had done too much damage. Killing (y/n) and continuously harming the gentle Rhaella. . .

Gone was the boy who loved to play his harp to delight his little fiancee.

Rhaegar would go after him with fire and blood.

[sansacherie]

Lyanna of Winterfell

Lyanna was named for a Stark, Lord Eddard’s sister. Father had given her the name, as a way of honoring the Lord of Winterfell, who died fighting in the rebellion three years before her birth. Not the rebellion that killed Lady Lyanna, but a different one, the one with the wicked Ironborn.

But she will never be a Stark, as she is often reminded, and it’s not as though there is a possibility of marrying into their family one day either. That was a bit difficult when all the Starks were her siblings.

Although that never stopped the Targaryens, of course, but look where they ended up. Lyanna’s not too sorry for them, though. Robb and Sansa and Arya weren’t the only ones to lose kin to Mad Aerys and Prince Rhaegar, who must have been as mad as his sire, for all he was lauded as the noblest prince during his time. Lyanna’s uncle Ethan fell at the Trident, the same battle where Robert Baratheon rose as king.

Father said Uncle Ethan was very brave. There was nothing to discredit him on this. Men had to be brave if they fought in battle all the time, but then they were often the ones making the battles happen in the first place, so maybe it wasn’t really bravery. Maybe bravery was just something you got more of, the older you got. You could be born craven, but your heart could become courageous if you wanted it badly enough.

Mother is different. She was born with a courageous heart. Lyanna cannot imagine Mother weeping when word of Brandon Stark’s murder reached Riverrun that black day, all those years ago. She cannot imagine Catelyn Tully indulging in tears when she wed Eddard Stark in his place, or when she sent him off to his war and his uncertain fate afterward, Robb already in her belly. They say she did weep during Lord Eddard’s vigil, held not even a decade after they became husband and wife, and that it would have broken one’s heart to see her, and the little children too.

But Mother was strong and did not allow grief to become her. She was strong and ruled capably as Robb’s regent, which made sense because she had been raised as Pa’s heir until Uncle Edmure. She was strong and probably would have been strong enough to fight off proposals forever, but eventually, Pa convinced her that it might be best for her to take another husband. Someone would be a worthy consort to the Lady Regent of Winterfell.

Mother had been reluctant, Lyanna knew, but Lady Catelyn was ever a dutiful daughter, and she did have a few suitable options in mind.

Not Roose Bolton, recently widowed around that time, with a young son of his own. One day, while playing, Lyanna overheard one of Mother’s ladies-in-waiting say that she did not trust him. Lyanna didn’t blame her. She had seen Bolton a couple of times when he came to visit his son at Winterfell, and she did not care to see him more. Domeric was nice enough, though. Maybe that was why Mother chose him to be one of Robb’s foster brothers. He would never have real brothers unless you count Jon Snow. That was Lyanna’s fault. Mother couldn’t have any more babies after her.

Lyanna wondered sometimes if that made Mother sad. If she still got sad for Lord Eddard sometimes and missed him. The North did, and so did the king, away in Kingslanding. The poor man didn’t have any children to take comfort in either. If he did, maybe it would be Sansa promised to Steffon Baratheon, and not Margaery Tyrell.

Lyanna wondered if her sister thought the same and if she cared. Maybe she didn’t. When you were unbetrothed, there were so many possibilities. Lyanna and her sisters could go anywhere.

But today they are here, embroidering kerchiefs for Lady Alys. Sansa smiled serenely over her work, Arya scowling as if it had just offended her. Although Arya’s work used to be just naturally offensive. Lyanna said that once to her, teasing, and Arya screwed up her long face something horrid and told her to shut up. In response, Lyanna taunted her about being a baby, even though she was the youngest. Arya retorted that actually, if you only counted full siblings, then it was Arya was the youngest. Lyanna would have hit her, if Sansa ever the graceful lady, intervened. She did that often.

She did it often because she and Arya were good at fighting.

Like now.

“I can’t wait for Robb’s wedding,” Sansa was gushing. “It’ll be so lovely, getting to dance.” Her blue eyes shone. “I wonder who the best dancer will be?”

Arya shrugged. “Probably better than Cley or Domeric.” She wrinkled her nose. “They danced horribly at the Harvest Feast!”

Lyanna found herself speaking up. “Jon Snow danced well, though.” She turned back to her work. “For a bastard.”

“Half-brother,” Sansa gently corrects, soft and precise.

“Jon’s wonderful,” Arya hissed. Did Lyanna say he wasn’t? “He-he’s not like a real bastard-,”

“Arya,” Sansa begins, a warning in her voice to both of them, but her sisters both ignore her.

“Not like a real bastard. What, did his name melt or something?” Lyanna giggled.

“I wish you were the bastard! You would deserve it!”

“ARYA!”

Lyanna feels her face grow hot. She wants to burst into tears, but then Arya would win.

“Well, I’m not,” She huffed. “I’m a trueborn Glover of Deepwood Motte.”

“Yes, a Glover, but never a Stark.” Arya’s voice was cold. “Jon might be a bastard, but he’ll always be more of a Stark than you’ll ever be.”

At that, the tears came. She hears Sansa calling after her, but the words do not reach her.

She just wants to be alone, for now. She did not hate Jon Snow. He hadn’t done anything to her. It was just…. Arya was right in a way, even though Lyanna would rather die than admit it to her.

Lyanna was born at Winterfell, the daughter of the Lady Regent. Her brother is Robb Stark. The castle is in her bones. But she will never be a Stark of Winterfell.

She is a Glover of Deepwood Motte, but she does not truly feel like a Glover either. She has only visited the castle a couple of times, where she played with her cousins. Her last name-day, when she turned eight, had even been there. She wears the colors of a castle that is just a memory to her now. It does not feel like it is enough for her to be a Glover, but she can never be a Stark either.

At that moment, she wished Father had named her something else.

[a-libra-writes]

Me Coming over here to share my angst with your followers because doing it to you isn’t enough 😇

I present this song and the following scenario; Ned during Robert’s Rebellion having to lead men and also saving Lyanna from the Tower (when the singer calls upon his generals I imagine that as the knights who came Ned), looking down at baby Jon knowing whose son this is. Yes it’s his sisters, but also it’s Rhaegar’s….but it’s…a child and he made a promise to his sister. He knows the potential trouble that would be caused if the truth came out and the blood that would be on his hands, but (as we know) he takes Jon home.

(Idiot should’ve said it was Benjen’s and then no one would’ve cared and Jon probably would’ve been less traumatized but whatever.)

just so EEEEVERYONE KNOWS this chick was in my DMs giving me pain at work and THEN SHE COMES HERE, IN MY BLOG, to spread it to everyone else smh smh

[romanyeva]

#this is exactly it  

#everyone gets so caught up in what r+l=j means for 'the realm' and 'jon's claim' and 'the prince who was promised' that they forget this 

#its IRRELEVANT who jon is in some fucking ancient prophecy. that boy is never going anywhere near the IT even if he was legitimate  

#which is a BIG if considering rhaegar was already fucking married. 'targaryens can have two wives' yeah if they had a DRAGON to back it up  

#wheres rhaegar's dragon huh. where thee fuck IS it. im sorry but lyanna was his side piece  

#what MATTERS is that ned does not kill children. he tells robert no. hes the only one to say no to daenerys' murder. he gives cersei the  

#chance to run when renly is CHOMPING AT THE BIT to round up kids he probably still honestly thinks are robert's just to get margaery a shot  

#at cersei's seat. it matters he said no. it matters that he made a promise to his sister and he kept it. it fucking matters  

#asoiaf  #ned stark  

#i dont know if r+l=j will ever become common knowledge - even if jon finds out in twow/ados i doubt he'll be adveritising it - but i must  

#admit that i really really really REALLY want to see the realm at large's reaction to honourable ned stark outsnaking everybodg  

#especially littlefinger. god i would kill to see littlefinger's immediate unfiltered reaction

#varys would shrug and go 'well i have aegon (who is definitely not a blackfyre i prommy) but good for ned'  

#littlefinger would lose his fucking mind. NED STARK. NED STARK who fucking MARRIED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE and was LORD OF A GREAT HOUSE and  

#THE KING'S BFF. who littlefinger considers himself to have BEATEN bc he got him killed despite (because of) all that  

#finding out that ned stark hid a BABY TARGARYEN and littlefinger himself missed it UTTERLY.... he would be screaming crying throwing up  

#i just know it  

#bb littlefinger: okay im no good at swords but ill find my own niche!! like secret schemes!! ned stark cant do that!!  

#adult littlefinger: what the fuck

tags via @mayfriend​ 

the main value of r+l=j is actually that it makes ned hot. like if jon was really just his kid he would be such a nothing man like this man doesn't look like anything to me. but if he's lyanna's kid ned is suddenly THE KING OF SECRETS and the most audacious man on earth. a secret targaryen baby? in your house?? your best bud is king bob noted targ baby killer? secret targaryen baby IN YOUR HOUSE? and you PULL IT OFF and no one ever finds out and the kid makes it to adulthood and NO ONE EVER FINDS OUT and you just take it to your fucking grave? insane! very sexy! like he and howland reed were like lets never tell anyone 👍 and then they just didn't. LF and varys GAGGED

[freefiregame1421]

A Song of Ice and Fire - Game of Thrones - Conspiracy Theories

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin has gained bunches of fans from the time the primary book in the series, A Game of Thrones, has been distributed in 1998. In the last two years, after the Game of Thrones series was released, that fan base developed considerably larger. Despite the fact that there are many fans of the series who will not be irritated by reading the books, there are a lot of the people who wanted to see more details and learn more about the universe of Westeros, and it's aristocracy - House Lannister, House Stark, House Targaryen, and others, and those enjoyed the books.

A Song of Ice and Fire is far from over

Unfortunately, just five of the planned seven have been distributed up to this point. George R. R. Martin is known for not being a savant who has no life outside his composition, such countless fans at times feel outraged when he decides to visit a comicon rather than sit in his room and compose the books all day lengthy. It required 6 years between the distributing of A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons.

Presently, the hardcore fans had nothing better to do while expecting the following installment in the series to emerge than to re-read the books that were already out. At the point when you previously read a story, it's easy to hurry forward to see what happened, so you could miss a ton of details that are important. George R.R. Martin is a master of such details. While re-reading the books, you go over many details that make sense solely after you realize what happens in the accompanying books.

Since there are as yet two books to emerge, The Breezes of Winter, and A Dream of Spring, we are left with many cliffhangers. It doesn't matter on the off chance that you are a fan of the series, or the books, or both, you ought to know that George takes a ton of time to create the believable and realistic characters and story that we like so a lot, yet in addition that he is coming to an age now, and that he cherishes his fast food. The most terrible nightmare of the fans is that he will kick the bucket before he completes the story. We trust that won't happen.

However, regardless of whether it (God prohibit) does, there are so many fan made theories that another person could easily complete the story for him. We question it would be as brilliant, yet it certainly would intrigue.

Popular fan made theories

On the off chance that you are a fan of the Game of Thrones series who has no plan on reading the books, and doesn't want to hear any spoilers, you ought to quit reading. Try not to say you weren't warned!

Now that we are passed the warning, we can start with the first, and generally intriguing, hypothesis. Jon Snow, a favorite character of many fans, is known as the bastard child of the respectable Ned Stark. This is where the issue starts. Loads of fans can't help thinking about how somebody as honorable and similarly as Ned Stark would cheat on his lady so not long after the wedding. Also, no place in the book does Ned say that Jon Snow is his child - he always says that Jon is of his blood.

In A Game of Thrones, when Ned is left in the dark of the prison, he thinks about the past, he dreams, and eventually he hallucinates. Thus, we figure out how the defiance that made Robert Baratheon a ruler was made because Ned's sister and Robert's fiance, Lyanna, was probably kidnapped by Rhaegar Targaryen, Mad Lord Aerys II's child. She passed on in the bed of blood, making Ned swear something to her.

Thus, the hypothesis is that Lyanna was not kidnapped, yet rather fell head over heels for Sovereign Rhaegar, and they had a baby. Since Robert Baratheon hated Rhaegar, Lyanna made Ned vow to safeguard the kid realizing she will pass on after giving the labor. Ned Stark, being an honorable man and a decent sibling, raised that youngster, Jon Snow, as his own child.

The subsequent hypothesis concerns Ser Sandor Clegane, Joffrey Baratheon's Dog. After the Battle of the Blackwater, the Dog escaped. During his wanderings across the Westeros, he meets Arya and takes her so he could ransom her from her mom Catelyn Stark, and sibling Robb Stark. After that attempt fails, he attempts to take her to Riverrun. He gets injured in a battle, however instead of killing him, Arya simply leaves him lying close to a tree. Everybody trusts him dead.

Presently, Brienne of Tarth is also wandering the Westeros, attempting to track down Sansa and Arya Stark. She comes to a little island where quiet priests reside. She sees a tall man in a hood who digs graves for all the survivors of the war, and she also sees Dog's wild pony in the stables held by those priests. The main priest tells her how he found the Dog kicking the bucket, and Dog recounted to him the narrative of his life.The fans believe that Sandor Clegane managed to tell a lot of his story before he passed on, so they imagine that he's not dead at all. He may be that quiet priest who was digging graves, and he will in any case have a ton to do until the tale of A Song of Ice and Fire is told. Click site Free Fire Game

One more hypothesis concerns Sandor Clegane's sibling, Ser Gregor Clegane, The Mountain that Rides. He was killed in a battle with Ruler Oberon of Dorne. Notwithstanding, many fans question that this is totally obvious. It is realized that Maester Qyburn, Cersei Lannister's man, was deprived of the Maester's title for dealing with dark magic and performing probes individuals who were as yet alive to research death. Fans accept he utilized his fascination with death and dark magic to utilize Gregor's body to create an undead, similar to wights created by the Others. After Cersei's walk of shame, she is taken by a colossal knight in armor. No one sees his face, and that is dubious, since Gregor Clegane's skull was evidently shipped off Dorne.

[atopvisenyashill]

What happens if Rhaegar is sterile?

well. so the plot doesn’t happen because jon doesn’t exist and his attempts at the wall, though deeply flawed and deserving of every dunk on him he gets, is still the only treason the north isn’t completely fucked.

rhaegar and elia are only married for about three years which isn’t a long time to figure out you’re sterile. probably by harrenhal, he’s feeling super antsy and his passing over her for lyanna is taken way worse by everyone - not just an insult to his wife & a precursor to madness, but a potential declaration to take a mistress. with the blackfyres on everyone’s mind, i think people are VERY willing to assume the worst when lyanna disappears.

however. rhaegar gets to the tower of joy and lyanna doesn’t get pregnant. months pass and nothing is happening. the kingsguard come to get him to say aerys has lost his mind and elia is basically a prisoner in king’s landing. i feel af this point rhaegar is having a breakdown - he thought the prophecied child would come from him but he’s fucked two women and neither have gotten pregnant. he’s going to suspect the problem is him even if he doesn’t want to admit it. I think he probably still dies on the Trident but I don’t think the kingsguard would be left at the Tower bc Lyanna isn’t pregnant. That might make the battle of the trident a bit more difficult. I kinda wonder if he doesn’t just abandon her there and Lyanna makes her way to Starfall, where Ashara sends a message to Ned to let him know Lyanna is safe (he makes sure to send Elia and the kids to Dragonstone instead of leaving them with his father in canon, so maybe he takes her Starfall himself and then leaves?).

This turns into a "what does Ned do with Lyanna" thing and also a "what do the rebels do with Elia" thing. Neither have had a child by Rhaegar which means they're not a political liability. Tywin isn't going to order an attack on Elia, so she lives, and is probably kept under some sort of guard until they can be sure she isn't pregnant, then likely she is able to go home to Dorne. Lyanna likely has a minor breakdown in front of Ned, he tells Robert she's too fragile to be married and also "clearly" barren, and Lyanna goes home with Ned instead of baby Jon Snow. NedCat is probably way less stressed out because no Ned bastard, but having Lyanna there is going to be a stressor. Robert is probably losing his absolute mind - he won, they saved Lyanna even, and he still can't marry her. Arya is probably much more lonely. Elia is likely allowed to remarry after two ish years but Lyanna cannot nor can she have a bastard - that's going to piss Robert the fuck off.

[ddagent]

Any headcanons for Jaime being smitten with sworn sword Brienne?

Of course! 

Lady Brienne is present during the King’s arrival at Winterfell. She is at the back of the greeting party; not quite family, not quite household staff. She is disappointed that Lord Renly has not joined his brother North, although secretly does share the opinion that Ser Jaime is the most beautiful man in all of Westeros. 

At the feast, Brienne is seated in her house colours. Unfortunately, she is humiliated by the King, who talks about her father’s continual failures at finding her a match. The Queen is equally cruel. With her lady’s permission, Brienne leaves the feast early, bumping into Jaime upon her departure. He barely gives her a second look. 

The following morning, Brienne is training with some of the Winterfell squires and releasing some of her anger over the previous night. Jaime, on his way to a rendezvous with Cersei, finds himself intrigued by the knight demolishing so many Northern men. He is even more intrigued to discover that she is a woman. 

After some back and forth, Brienne challenges Jaime to a fight. He dithers, knowing Cersei is waiting, but is taunted into taking part in the bout. Brienne is good, but ultimately Jaime snatches a narrow victory. With the other Kingsguard refusing to spar with him, Jaime suggests they practice together. After all, their status cannot drop much lower. 

With Cersei upset that he abandoned her in favour of sparring with Brienne, Jaime ends up spending most of the King’s visit at Winterfell with the Maid of Tarth. They spar in the morning, both verbally and physically, and he often catches her eye during dinner. Tyrion makes a comment about Jaime finally making a friend; Lady Stark is less pleased with the company her sworn sword has been keeping. 

The night before the King’s departure, Brienne avoids the feast and bathes in the hot springs. Jaime tracks her down; reminding her of his vow of celibacy when she complains about his joining her. As they both soak in the springs, Jaime realises he has made a friend and makes the bold choice to tell her of Aerys, thinking he will never see the Maid of Tarth again. 

Of course, the Starks still suspect the Lannisters of murdering Jon Arryn. Lady Catelyn asks Brienne to travel south with her daughters to protect them and Ned. Brienne is not entirely pleased to be going to King’s Landing, although she will get to see Lord Renly. Jaime is...surprisingly pleased. After all, there’s no one decent to spar with in the capital.  

[centrally-unplanned]

OP is 95% correct (GRRM is a very good plotter guys) but I do thing there is still some wonkiness. The numbers at the Battle of Ashford are never specified, but in the War of the Five Kings the Reach mobilizes at least 75k men, and probably more. They should absolutely have had the largest army on the field, even if it wasn't that large. Even after the Battle of the Trident their army likely outnumbered the rebel forces (~30k). So its weird that they don't send more forces to fight at the Trident ("some' is a think all we get), or do nothing afterwards while King's Landing is sieged. Its really a wider problem with numbers, the numbers in Robert's Rebellion are shockingly tiny compared to the War of Five Kings. If the Reach had an army of only 10k this all makes sense, but that seems crazy if they had an army of 100k 20 years later.

Though also a good time to beat my classic drum - occam's razor tells us that the "Loyalist" forces were some combination of just sheer inertia, sure, but additionally we know Rhaegar was going to do something about his father post-war, probably deposing him. He didn't actually 'hide out for a year', like maybe that is what the numbers will say but that is just timeline wonkiness - GRRM Martin needed Roberts Rebellion to last 9~ months so a baby could be born. Rhaegar did not run off with Lyanna, hear about the war, then just go "eh" for months, that will never be in the text and no one treats Rhaegar like he did that. Both logic and the text suggest he moved to be involved upon learning of the conflict, met up with Dornish forces, and coordinated the mobilization effort. The text suggests that Rhaegar was discussing changes before Robert's Rebellion even, likely at the Tourney at Harrenhal, so this concept wouldn't be brand new, just accelerating an existing timeline.

The way you square the circle of "Why did the Tyrells support Aerys" and "Why did Doran support Rhaegar *at all*" is that "Both of them knew Rhaegar was going to depose Aerys and that was good enough for them". Yes its only hinted in the text but us getting more info on Robert's Rebellion is being deliberately held back for the grand Jon Snow reveal. The details likely wont ever be confirmed but I think that is where the smart money is. You can otherwise pretend the Tyrells are dumb dumbs, but I don't see any reason to, way easier to assume they exchanged ravens with Rhaegar (Or Doran, who already knew, etc).

You rightly have pointed out how Rhaegar, by fighting for his father, was condoning his actions and indicating that it was fine for the king to murder Lords and their sons with no trial and to advocate for the Guests Right to be violated. But this got me thinking, doesn't that mean the Lords that fought for the Targs agreed as well? It's an aspect of the Rebellion I've always had a problem with, as I struggle to believe any major House would be cool with the idea the King can just kill them for any reason, yet fighting for the King meant you supported such powers, albeit not directly stating it.

It actually is a problem: no rational actor should have sided with the Targaryens in Robert's Rebellion. Aerys's conduct means that anyone, no matter their status, can be marked for death at any time, for any reason, without any recourse. Anyone sensible would be trying to escape to a safe location and plan their next move, either searching for Rhaegar to offer him support or joining the rebels. This is a set of circumstances which there is no happy ending if you support Aerys - you can fall out of favor at any time. If there's one thing aristocrats could be counted on in the Middle Ages, it was defending their traditional rights and privileges, and Aerys violates almost all of them when he burns Rickard alive and laughs while he does it; not only is Rickard denied his right to trial, his rights are openly mocked in front of witnesses. This is such a flagrant display of tyranny that no one should have ever accepted it. Even grasping grubbers like Mace Tyrell would see that the personal gain is not secure, since Aerys dismissed Tywin after all that loyal service.

The problem with this is Doylistic, it's a background event that was conceived of relatively early on which doesn't really pass the smell test. However, unlike say, Tyrion's tumbling ability, there's no real walking it back given how largely it factors into the characterization.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King