stdaga , do you have a theory on who set up Brandon with the fake news about the kidnapping of Lyanna? I am leaning toward Walys or Tywin .
It could be a lot of people who sent Brandon a message, and we are not even sure what that messages said. Only that it seemed to rile Brandon up quite a bit.
Walys? As in to you mean Maester Walys/Walys Flowers? I have honestly never considered him. Possible, I suppose.
Tywin? Perhaps, he certainly seems to be able to manipulate people.
Varys was also operating at this time, and has his little birds to gather information. In our story, birds relay information too, in the form of ravens. But perhaps Varys' little birds carried some information to Brandon Stark.
My gut instinct tells me it was Petyr Baelish. I know he was young at this time, 15 or so, but I don't think youth has any bearing on his ability to want revenge and to be able to play certain sides against one another. He has every reason to want to make Brandon pay after their battle, and it's possible he used Cat or Lysa to deliver that message. We see him flat out lying to Ned and Cat about the dagger belonging to Tyrion, so I think it could be a hint to us that he did the very same thing in the past, perhaps with Brandon or even Lyanna. He seems to have it out for House Stark, and probably House Tully, too!
Their father understood as well. "You want no pup for yourself, Jon?" he asked softly.
I don't know. Maybe? I do see the kingsgaurd as a fairly formal position, and no matter who you figuratively support, you still are sworn to the crowned monarchs! Unless we are missing a formal crowning? The only other time I think we see a split kingsguard is when Aegon II and Rhaenyra both were declared monarch. So, I do wonder about a situation such as that playing out again since this story does seem to have echos of the past coming back into play. Now, this might relate to our next Dance of the Dragon's, but the story seems to be setting each ruler up with their own kingsguard, not a split kingsguard.
Possibly there is an echo of the Dance between Aerys and Rhaegar. Even if there wasn't an actual crowning, some of the Kingsguards might have been working toward one. That would mean a split in my mind. Though it could be argued who were possibly loyal to whom of the seven.
Not sure I'd count a possibly upcoming Dance related to a Kingsguard, as there wouldn't be one group splitting but two. Unless Barristan survives Essos and then betray Dany. But as I've said before, I spend very little energy on what's to come in the story, so I wouldn't have much basis for a discussion.
For me, I would call it hints, or implication. Since we have no scenes with Aerys or Rhaegar together, we can't really know if the implications are true. A lot of what we have is memories or idea's twenty years in the past, and half of those told by the side that brought the Targaryen's down. There is every reason to paint them in a bad light, individually and as a unit, to help promote the idea that the realm is better of without them. In the end, we might find out that Aerys and Rhaegar were good buddies, although I find I expect them to have more of a Tywin/Jaime vibe, or even Tywin/Tyrion vibe.
The world book is hard to pin down in sincerity in regards to many things, including the rebellion and the reasons for it. As to Rhaegar and Aerys themselves, I always wonder about Jon Connington's role. He was supposedly a good friend to Rhaegar, but Aerys appoints him Hand. Now, is Aerys trying to steal JonCon's loyalty from Rhaegar, or drive a wedge between them? If so, why does JonCon take the position? Maybe it's to smooth over a situation? Maybe because Rhaegar, his friend, and Aerys, his freinds father, really were not as opposed to each other as it seems? After JonCon's failure as hand, he isn't killed as many of the people who disappointed Aerys were. He is stripped of his title and lands and goes into exile, but that much better than being burned alive. Why did Aerys make this decision? Perhaps because JonCon was Rhaegar's friend? We just need more information on all of this and won't get it until GRRM get's us the next book. Otherwise, we have stories that Rhaegar was probably a part of the plot at Duskendale and supported his father's death, but then we have Harrenhal, where Rhaegar apparently did at least some of Aerys's bidding. It's all conflicting, second or third hand information, and if this story tells us anything, it's how quickly a truth can be skewed with every telling.
I guess that would depend on which words one chooses. To me the story is quite clear that the most prevalent opinion is that they were at odds, and possibly for quite some time. The hints of the opposite are more obscure, like JonCon. Another hint we get from him is one of the more interesting, I think!
"There is wisdom in that," Griff admitted. It might have been different if Blackheart still commanded, but Myles Toyne was four years dead, and Homeless Harry Strickland was a different sort of man. He would not say that to the boy, however. That dwarf had already planted enough doubts in his young head. "Not every man is what he seems, and a prince especially has good cause to be wary … but go too far down that road, and the mistrust can poison you, make you sour and fearful." King Aerys was one such. By the end, even Rhaegar saw that plain enough. "You would do best to walk a middle course. Let men earn your trust with leal service … but when they do, be generous and openhearted."
The Lost Lord
So, JonCon notes Rhaegar saw that plain at the END. Question is, at what time does he count as "the end"? As a confidant of Rhaegar, he could be in the know of what Rhaegar thought. At least he's the closest person we have met so far. And I meant that in every possible clever implication!
But perhaps I should save this for my (possibly) upcoming Rhaegar analysis!
stdaga, someone on this site said someone took advantage of Brandon's temper and aerys' paranoia to set a flame the conspiracy set . do you know who said it ? maybe Voice or KING littlefinger?
Another hint we get from him is one of the more interesting, I think!
"There is wisdom in that," Griff admitted. It might have been different if Blackheart still commanded, but Myles Toyne was four years dead, and Homeless Harry Strickland was a different sort of man. He would not say that to the boy, however. That dwarf had already planted enough doubts in his young head. "Not every man is what he seems, and a prince especially has good cause to be wary … but go too far down that road, and the mistrust can poison you, make you sour and fearful." King Aerys was one such. By the end, even Rhaegar saw that plain enough. "You would do best to walk a middle course. Let men earn your trust with leal service … but when they do, be generous and openhearted."
The Lost Lord
So, JonCon notes Rhaegar saw that plain at the END. Question is, at what time does he count as "the end"? As a confidant of Rhaegar, he could be in the know of what Rhaegar thought. At least he's the closest person we have met so far. And I meant that in every possible clever implication!
Hmmm! Mistrust leading to poison, sour and fearful, is something JonCon feels Rhaegar seen in the end! Is this in regards to Aerys? Aerys was "one such", so this could mean it was someone besides Aerys that Rhaegar "seen in the end". It could very well be about Aerys, as well.
What I don't trust necessarily about JonCon's views on Rhaegar, since he see's him as a paragon, is if statements such as this are a true representation of Rhaegar. After all, JonCon seem's to "love" Prince Silverstring, and so might be blinded to any of his faults, or even give him the benefit of the doubt when it might not be correct. I'm sure Rhaegar was neither saint nor sinner, but fell somewhere in between, like most people do!
Their father understood as well. "You want no pup for yourself, Jon?" he asked softly.
stdaga , someone on this site said someone took advantage of Brandon's temper and aerys' paranoia to set a flame the conspiracy set . do you know who said it ? maybe Voice or KING littlefinger?
I am not sure who might have posted that. I will try to look, however.
Wraith ? Does this seem familiar to you? You seem to have a great memory for stuff like this.
Their father understood as well. "You want no pup for yourself, Jon?" he asked softly.
stdaga , someone on this site said someone took advantage of Brandon's temper and aerys' paranoia to set a flame the conspiracy set . do you know who said it ? maybe Voice or KING littlefinger?
stdaga, someone on this site said someone took advantage of Brandon's temper and aerys' paranoia to set a flame the conspiracy set . do you know who said it ? maybe Voice or KING littlefinger?
A lot of people seem to think Baelish could have had a hand or at least a littlefinger in possibly misleading. Its hard to say on the timelines or geographic locations of all the players are suspect at best. However it would have certainly been possible for interested parties to use Brandon's temper and/or Aery's paranoia to there own ends.
I am not sure who might have posted that. I will try to look, however.
Wraith ? Does this seem familiar to you? You seem to have a great memory for stuff like this.
There are plenty of theories on the Great Southern Ambitions. I certainly think there was conspiracies between several factions. I can provide links to some of my favs if you are interested.
Darkstar will be the next Vulture King.
Craster has 19 daughters and there are 19 castles on the Wall, coincidence I think not!