Post by danl on Apr 29, 2019 20:24:41 GMT
Maybe he was relieved on some level. But even years later, when Robert felt like Dany had to die, Ned did not seem to recognize that potential truth, that as long as a Targaryen lived, then Robert's throne was not secure. Now, it's possible that Ned's hesitation will lie with the truth of Dany and whom she might really be, but he would have no ties to Viserys, and Viserys was a child at the end of the rebellion. And part of me just can't shake the idea that Ned might have been in some way responsible for getting Viserys (and Dany) out of Westeros.
I have always suspected that Ned's much accepted love of children is less than it seems. I think he cares about specific children for particular reasons. That said, I think any honorable person would cringe at the slaughter of infants, even if it is politically necessary.
So I think Ned might understand the danger of leaving Dany alive to produce a male heir. But Ned is somehow connected to Dany. But I also wonder if there is an aversion to assassination in general. The dispute over the morality (or necessity) of the red wedding is similar to a dispute over an assassination of someone who is a problem only because of the identity of her ancestors.
We never get inside Robb's head, but did the bloody bodies of Willem Lannister and Tion Frey haunt him, disturb him? It certainly caused him to execute Rickard Karstark, which cost him the Karstark men and maybe some loyalty from some other people in the north.
I have taken it at face value, that the murder of prisoners (under the protection of one's lord) is a capital offense. But, yes, the sight of butchered boys could have strengthened Robb's resolve
Yes, I guess if you don't have hope, what is the point of going through the motions. Yet what was Rhaegar's council for. Of course, it's implied that he wanted to remove Aerys from the throne and place himself there, but is that really what he meant to do?
Beware of implications. Just because the implication is obvious, I have wondered if Rhaegar's intention was very different; maybe he had no intention of removing Aerys from Power. I don't have a better theory, but I haven't worked at it too much.