I'm still reading but wanted to quickly say I love the humor in your essay Wolfmaid! And you've laid out some great arguments. The quote above is the furthest I've read, but now I have to head out for class. I'll read the rest tonight.
Regarding the quote above, I thought you were going to propose Robert Baratheon as the KotLT. Wouldn't that make more sense? He was laughed a lot, had a booming voice, and kicked some serious ass. The tourney could have been before his growth spurt... He took the Heart Tree as his coat of arms because of his love for Lyanna...
No?
Initially i did think it might be so.The thing with that though is I could not determine from the description of "ill fitting clothes" if it was to tight or too loose.Robert was always big and strong.I think the KOTLT was seen as small of stature.
True, but that might have been the kotl's very intent with that ill-fitting attire...
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
Initially i did think it might be so.The thing with that though is I could not determine from the description of "ill fitting clothes" if it was to tight or too loose.Robert was always big and strong.I think the KOTLT was seen as small of stature.
True, but that might have been the kotl's very intent with that ill-fitting attire...
Oh i don't know if Robert could pull off being "small" He would just look look like an even bigger person in oversized clothing.It would be cool if it was him,it might even work better,but i could wing a girl that roared puling of a booming voice but i can't pull off a 6 ft muscular dude as small in stature.
"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes"--Sherlock Holmes"
So this is all the relevant info we have to look at with regards to Dany:
Viserys had been a boy of eight when they fled King's Landing to escape the advancing armies of the Usurper, but Daenerys had been only a quickening in their mother's womb.Yet sometimes Dany would picture the way it had been, so often had her brother told her the stories. The midnight flight to Dragonstone, moonlight shimmering on the ship's black sails..............
The day he burned his mace-and-dagger Hand, Jaime and Jon Darry had stood at guard outside her bedchamber whilst the king took his pleasure. "You're hurting me," they had heard Rhaella cry through the oaken door. "You're hurting me." In some queer way, that had been worse than Lord Chelsted's screaming. "We are sworn to protect her as well," Jaime had finally been driven to say. "We are," Darry allowed, "but not from him."
Jaime had only seen Rhaella once after that, the morning of the day she left for Dragonstone. The queen had been cloaked and hooded as she climbed inside the royal wheelhouse that would take her down Aegon's High Hill to the waiting ship, but he heard her maids whispering after she was gone. They said the queen looked as if some beast had savaged her, clawing at her thighs and chewing on her breasts. A crowned beast, Jaime knew.
So here we have some very interesting details King monkey to consider.Viserys account to Dany was that they had fled at night to Dragonstone from Kings landing on supposedly a ship with black sails.Even looking at the tone of Dany's story evokes a sense that they had to get out now.But look at Jamie's account and his tone not only was it day time but there is in that retelling a lack of urgency as with Visery's telling.According to him "they fled" according to Jamie the queen "left" for Dragonstone.More telling is Jamie witnesses who he thinks was Rhaegella absent Viserys.You brought up a point that she was cloaked and hooded to hide her bruises.I'm afraid not my friend whoever was under there normal medieval attire would cover her/Lets not forget how people dressed and the fact that her boobs and thighs were said to be the parts bruised. Another issue ofcourse is the assertion that Rhaegella left the morning AFTER Aery's burnt Chelly.No Jamie only said he saw "the queen" once after Chelly was burnt.
She had been born on Dragonstone nine moons after their flight, while a raging summer storm threatened to rip the island fastness apart. They said that storm was terrible. The Targaryen fleet was smashed while it lay at anchor, and huge stone blocks were ripped from the parapets and sent hurtling into the wild waters of the narrow sea. Her mother had died birthing her, and for that her brother Viserys had never forgiven her.
So Dany could have been born 9moons after their flight,but a couple of things.Which one,which flight? More on that below.
She did not remember Dragonstone either. They had run again, just before the Usurper's brother set sail with his new-built fleet. By then only Dragonstone itself, the ancient seat of their House, had remained of the Seven Kingdoms that had once been theirs. It would not remain for long. The garrison had been prepared to sell them to the Usurper, but one night Ser Willem Darry and four loyal men had broken into the nursery and stolen them both, along with her wet nurse, and set sail under cover of darkness for the safety of the Braavosian coast.
Here's an interesting tidbit overseen.Just before Stannis set sail they had run again TO dragonstone from somewhere else.Sooooooo Dany didn't start off in Dragnstone,she ended up there yes its a possibility.Or she may not have been on DS at all.But that was not her origin and that's important.
I urge a reading of FFR theory on the pole boats and even the Lemon tree thread.
Lastly,i think GRRM gave us the answer to Dany,he "6th sensed us" Dany was said to have grown up in the Sealord's Palace right? You remember that story about the Sealord's Cat?.........Dany is the sealord's cat.
Lots lots to consider.We can't rest our hat on Dany's supposed origin as told by an 8yr old's memory.
So what does this all mean? That's why we are here.I know for me it causes me to consider many possibilities.
Robert was much like King Aegon the Unworthy, reborn. One of his sons, fathered on a flower of First Men descent, was born with white hair, and red eyes.
Might King Robert the Unworthy have sired a similar pup?
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
Robert was much like King Aegon the Unworthy, reborn. One of his sons, fathered on a flower of First Men descent, was born with white hair, and red eyes.
Might King Robert the Unworthy have sired a similar pup?
Ha while i might call Robert a little more decent that Aegon the Unworthy.He had a lot of his tendencies.Cudoes on that catch.
"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes"--Sherlock Holmes"
"You need to come south," Robert told him. "You need a taste of summer before it flees. In Highgarden there are fields of golden roses that stretch away as far as the eye can see. The fruits are so ripe they explode in your mouth—melons, peaches, fireplums, you've never tasted such sweetness. You'll see, I brought you some. Even at Storm's End, with that good wind off the bay, the days are so hot you can barely move. And you ought to see the towns, Ned! Flowers everywhere, the markets bursting with food, the summerwines so cheap and so good that you can get drunk just breathing the air. Everyone is fat and drunk and rich." He laughed and slapped his own ample stomach a thump. "And the girls, Ned!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. "I swear, women lose all modesty in the heat. They swim naked in the river, right beneath the castle. Even in the streets, it's too damn hot for wool or fur, so they go around in these short gowns, silk if they have the silver and cotton if not, but it's all the same when they start sweating and the cloth sticks to their skin, they might as well be naked." The king laughed happily.
AGoT Jon I:
There were times - not many, but a few - when Jon Snow was glad he was a bastard. As he filled his wine cup once more from a passing flagon, it struck him that this might be one of them.
He settled back in his place on the bench among the younger squires and drank. The sweet, fruity taste of summerwine filled his mouth and brought a smile to his lips.
The Great Hall of Winterfell was hazy with smoke and heavy with the smell of roasted meat and fresh-baked bread. Its grey stone walls were draped with banners. White, gold, crimson: the direwolf of Stark, Baratheon's crowned stag, the lion of Lannister. A singer was playing the high harp and reciting a ballad, but down at this end of the hall his voice could scarcely be heard above the roar of the fire, the clangor of pewter plates and cups, and the low mutter of a hundred drunken conversations.
It was the fourth hour of the welcoming feast laid for the king. Jon's brothers and sisters had been seated with the royal children, beneath the raised platform where Lord and Lady Stark hosted the king and queen. In honor of the occasion, his lord father would doubtless permit each child a glass of wine, but no more than that. Down here on the benches, there was no one to stop Jon drinking as much as he had a thirst for.
And he was finding that he had a man's thirst, to the raucous delight of the youths around him, who urged him on every time he drained a glass. They were fine company, and Jon relished the stories they were telling, tales of battle and bedding and the hunt. He was certain that his companions were more entertaining than the king's offspring. He had sated his curiosity about the visitors when they made their entrance. The procession had passed not a foot from the place he had been given on the bench, and Jon had gotten a good long look at them all.
His lord father had come first, escorting the queen. She was as beautiful as men said. A jeweled tiara gleamed amidst her long golden hair, its emeralds a perfect match for the green of her eyes. His father helped her up the steps to the dais and led her to her seat, but the queen never so much as looked at him. Even at fourteen, Jon could see through her smile.
Next had come King Robert himself, with Lady Stark on his arm. The king was a great disappointment to Jon. His father had talked of him often: the peerless Robert Baratheon, demon of the Trident, the fiercest warrior of the realm, a giant among princes. Jon saw only a fat man, red-faced under his beard, sweating through his silks. He walked like a man half in his cups.
/quotes
Do you see what I see? Jon sees a great disappointment when he sees Robert for the first time, in spite of he himself being in a very similar state. Jon, at this very moment, is looking like a man half in his cups. Jon is also peerless at this very moment, the best sword in Winterfell, and nearly a man-grown, among the younger squires at the table. His wolf trumps the dogs a demon of the Trident in his own right, as the lesser curs search for ruby-colored meat. Jon is also fierce, and is somewhat a giant among the Lannister children, save Joff of course.
Both Jon and Robert see through Cersei's beauty and her smile. Both enjoy tales of battle and bedding and the hunt. And both have an excessive thirst for wine, as the overripe Great Hall swells to bursting. Mayhaps King Robert did at one time come with Lady Lyanna Stark on his arm?
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
Hahaha we of the same mind.I did make note of that and was wondering where to put it.In the identify which is and which isn't "Ghost Grass section" or put it in the Jon/Robert parallel section.Its like looking at the a mirror reflection from across the hall which is what i thing Grrm was going for by having them on opposite side doing,behaving and enjoying the same thing.
"The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes"--Sherlock Holmes"
”Ned thought of pale blue roses, and for a moment he wanted to weep.—Ned,GoT, pg. 480
I swear, wolfmaid7, over and over again, for me, it just keeps coming back to this statement. What in the world could be so upsetting about all of this to Bed that he would actually want to weep. Yes, in the circumstances as described, everything is sad and it might be a bit upsetting that this all happened years later. But, WEEPING? From a stoic man like Ned? To me , it makes me wonder what exactly happened that Ned feels the need to be guilty over, to the point of wanting to weep all of these years later. Hiding Jon from Robert, his best friend, would certainly add some guilt to the situation.
And Cersei... I have Jon Arryn to thank for her. I had no wish to marry after Lyanna was taken from me, but Jon said the realm needed an heir.”
Especially if his best friend wound up in a disastrous marriage for the sole purpose of creating an heir, which it ended up not doing, and he actually already had one.
The other was specifically general “raise my son as your own, which required Ned to lie to loved ones, dishonor himself and accrue a measure of risk. Sadly, I believe Robert would be a danger to Jon .Had Robert known about Jon he would want him at court, would acknowledge and legitimize him. A son by the woman he loved…..Hell yeah, but to any lord with ambition for a daughter, Jon would be a threat. Same for any woman Robert married, and her children he would be a threat. In this case it would be Cersei and the Lannisters
Not only that. Is it possible that Lyanna requested specifically that Robert not be told in hopes that it would force him to move on with a life without her. That she wanted him to be happy? Maybe realizing that he would be reluctant to marry knowing that he already had an heir? Not only that, what if it wasn't the Targaryans that were responsible for her disappearance and death? What if it was actually, say, the Lannisters, but she didn't want more death and destruction caused in order to avenge her? And Ned agreed both to appease Lyanna and to hold the realm together?
“I failed you, Robert, Ned thought. He could not say the words. I lied to you, hid the truth. I let them kill you.”AGOT,Ned Chpt 58.
The above scenario would certainly explain this sentiment. If he lied to Robert about both Jon and the Lannisters, and it led to the eventuality of Robert's death, could you imagine the guilt that Ned must feel? It would also go a long way in explaining his distrust and hatred of the Lannisters.
His companion was a man near twenty whose armor was steel plate of a deep forest-green. He was the handsomest man Sansa had ever set eyes upon; tall and powerfully made, with jet-black hair that fell to his shoulders and framed a clean-shaven face, and laughing green eyes to match his armor. Cradled under one arm was an antlered helm, its magnificent rack shimmering in gold.
Not to mention this quote from GoT from the first time that Sansa meets Renly. Sansa has already been set up in her blue dress to echo Lyanna in this chapter. Renly is supposed to be the spitting image of a young Robert. And Sansa appears to quite taken with him.
This is all that's coming to mind at the moment, but I still need to reread some of the comments. Lately, I'm finding this conclusion more and more likely.
Why must I always be the isle of crazy alone in an ocean of sensibility? The should to everybody else’s shouldn’t? The I-will to their better-nots?
Sansa has already been set up in her blue dress to echo Lyanna in this chapter. Renly is supposed to be the spitting image of a young Robert. And Sansa appears to quite taken with him.
I've always hated the argument that Lyanna (partially) fell for Rhaegar because he happened to be good looking. I swear it's like I read a completely different book than some people, because we're told that Renly, who's universally acclaimed to be gorgeous, looks just like a young Robert. We're told that Robert was muscled like a maiden's fantasy. We're told that Robert legendarily attracted women from every corner of the kingdom, highborn and low. We're told that Robert looked every inch a king when won his crown. We're told that the stuck up cunt Cersei who hates his guts even thought that Robert was handsome and went to their wedding bed wet.
Then you get into his personality and what not. We're told that Robert was the fiercest warrior in the realm. We're told that Robert had legendary charm, able to make the staunchest allies of even his bitterest enemies. We're told that Robert loves horseback riding, hunting, and a carefree life. We're told that Robert loves a good time, ale, mead, wine, bawdy songs, but was always still clear eyed. Etc.
Like let's be honest here: Young Robert was like a 15/10.
He turned into a sloppy brute AFTER he lost Lyanna, and AFTER he'd been married to a woman who hates his guts. BEFORE this there's really nothing in Robert that's not appealing. Hence why you know, he always got the girl. They all loved him. They still even love the slob for god's sake, after he's lost almost 90% of what made him once so attractive.
Is it still possible that despite all that, that Lyanna didn't like him because she just couldn't get past the fact that he MIGHT cheat on her? And again it's might, because Robert simply having a daughter from a previous relationship proves nothing at all in regards to whether or not he can be faithful. Of course. I always still can't see them being anything other than at worst that couple that just keeps going back to each other every time. That they get in huge fights, break up, then passionately make back up with each other. And at best I can't see them as anything other than that they'd love the hell out of each other, both seeing the one person in the world who is just like themselves in almost every way and who they can let go in front of.
I've never once believed that Lyanna eloped and just ran off. She questioned his possible fidelity issues, and she did it some 3-4 years before she finally goes missing, and in a period where guess what, there's no bastard to be had. She never once said that she didn't find him attractive, that his personality and interests weren't everything she enjoyed also, or anything at all that indicated that she didn't like Robert the man, just like everybody else liked him.
Your lordship lost a son at the Red Wedding. I lost four upon the Blackwater. And why? Because the Lannisters stole the throne. Go to King’s Landing and look on Tommen with your own eyes, if you doubt me. A blind man could see it. What does Stannis offer you? Vengeance. Vengeance for my sons and yours, for your husbands and your fathers and your brothers. Vengeance for your murdered lord, your murdered king, your butchered princes. Vengeance!
Then you get into his personality and what not. We're told that Robert was the fiercest warrior in the realm. We're told that Robert had legendary charm, able to make the staunchest allies of even his bitterest enemies. We're told that Robert loves horseback riding, hunting, and a carefree life. We're told that Robert loves a good time, ale, mead, wine, bawdy songs, but was always still clear eyed. Etc.
It's like reading a story about Me! LOL
I've always identified with Robert a little too much though, for all of these reasons. It's the way to live. Anything else is misery, imo. Robert never took himself too seriously. Great perspective. He only ever showed anger when it came to someone disrespecting him, Lyanna, or Ned.
That's fucking loyalty. Not a loose canon.
Anyway, while I've always liked the Robert + Lyanna theory, I could never tell how much of it was due to seeing myself in him, and how much was due to seeing actual clues. I've tossed out a bunch up above for wolfmaid7 and I'd love to hear your guys' thoughts.
Jon is a lot like Robert, and nothing like Rhaegar.
I've never once believed that Lyanna eloped and just ran off. She questioned his possible fidelity issues, and she did it some 3-4 years before she finally goes missing, and in a period where guess what, there's no bastard to be had. She never once said that she didn't find him attractive, that his personality and interests weren't everything she enjoyed also, or anything at all that indicated that she didn't like Robert the man, just like everybody else liked him.
Yup. And the whole "love is sweet" thing could've been a huge misdirect anyway.
And immediately after telling us he would not lie to Lyanna, he told her Robert was a good man and true, and that marrying her would change everything. Ned certainly believed that when he said it.
Not only that. Is it possible that Lyanna requested specifically that Robert not be told in hopes that it would force him to move on with a life without her. That she wanted him to be happy? Maybe realizing that he would be reluctant to marry knowing that he already had an heir? Not only that, what if it wasn't the Targaryans that were responsible for her disappearance and death? What if it was actually, say, the Lannisters, but she didn't want more death and destruction caused in order to avenge her? And Ned agreed both to appease Lyanna and to hold the realm together?
Okay, I'm liking all of this, but I have a darker scenario in mind for the promise.
I'm wondering if Lyanna was murdered after Robert betrothed/married Cersei. I think the impending marriage is what made Ned decide to go find Lyanna. And, I think Jon Arryn and Tywin would have both not wanted Ned to succeed. Lyanna is worthless, politically. Sure Robert loves her, but she's useless for the realm post-civil war.
And yes, I think Lyanna was murdered. I think Ned put her out of her misery. The only thing we actually know Ned agreed to do for Lyanna was to put her body in the crypts beside "Brandon and father." That is not what a sixteen year girl old talks about unless she is dying.
So Lyanna was already attacked/poisoned/sick, and Ned gave her the coup de grace and laid her beside Brandon and father.
How could Ned ever tell Robert he killed Lyanna? How could he ever tell Jon? How could he ever tell Benjen?
That is how you tally up some prices paid to keep a secret.
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
Jon is a lot like Robert, and nothing like Rhaegar.
While I agree with many of the things that you and others have said upthread about Jon, Robert, and Rheagar, I completely disagree with this. I think you've done a really good job with text, but have ignored the story. Jon is actually not much like Robert, he is not larger than life, an open book, or blindly loyal. He is not an extrovert and deeply cares about duty. He is not romantic (he loved and deeply but nothing like Robert's obsession with Lyanna). None of which is Robert. I know that he was raised by Ned and in the north, that can account for these characteristics, but Rheagar was neither and still had similarities with Jon. He was an introvert, did not inspire people due to his greatness but his personality. Even women who crushed on him, did it so for his enigmatic nature not his looks. Which is so Jon!
Also, I really have trouble believing that Ned would keep Robert's and Lyanna's son from him all those years, expose him to all sorts of pettiness from Cateyn, sentence the kid to the wall, and ruin his best friend's life all the while. Promise or no promise, that makes zero sense. Ned was as loyal to Robert as Robert was to him. This is what he says to Cat about Robert:
We were closer than brothers. He loves me. (aGoT, Cat II)
I do not see why that would be any different about his sister.
He is not an extrovert and deeply cares about duty.
This is rather subjective. We are privy to Jon's inner thoughts, and so, we know he thinks. But if we did not, would he really seem like an introvert? Samwell was an introvert, and Jon was the social butterfly that got Sam to come out of his shell. Jon was the center of his group of friends, and was even elected class president.
Robert cared deeply about duty as well. Well, maybe not economic duties, but he did care about his men and honor - hence his absolution of Barristan Selmy. Like Jon, he turned foes into allies.
He is not romantic (he loved and deeply but nothing like Robert's obsession with Lyanna).
This is also rather subjective. They have both had romantic feelings for one woman, and one woman only.
Just look at the similar way they view their political betrothals. Robert balks at Cersei. Jon balks at Val. Robert went to his grave thinking about Lyanna. Jon constantly thinks about Ygritte.
None of which is Robert. I know that he was raised by Ned and in the north, that can account for these characteristics, but Rheagar was neither and still had similarities with Jon. He was an introvert, did not inspire people due to his greatness but his personality.
All of which is Robert, imo. Don't get me wrong. I'd rather Jon be a Dayne, myself, but the continuity is certainly there for Robert.
Plus, beyond being raised in WF, Jon (in this scenario) is also the son of Lyanna. No doubt he'd inherit some of her traits as well.
Jon does not seem like an introvert to me at all, particularly if we're speaking about book-Jon alone. Rhaegar was certainly an introvert as a young man, but even he did come out of his shell eventually.
Also, I really have trouble believing that Ned would keep Robert's and Lyanna's son from him all those years, expose him to all sorts of pettiness from Cateyn, sentence the kid to the wall, and ruin his best friend's life all the while. Promise or no promise, that makes zero sense. Ned was as loyal to Robert as Robert was to him. This is what he says to Cat about Robert:
We were closer than brothers. He loves me. (aGoT, Cat II)
I do not see why that would be any different about his sister
I don't see how raising Jon would have ruined Robert's life. It actually makes a lot of sense for Ned, as Robert's bff, to raise his bestie's son (not to mention his own nephew). Robert could not have a bastard at court, and the Starks are not like other men.
I can see Ned's adoption of Jon as a service to both sister and friend. Not disloyalty.
"I can see it. You have more of the north in you than your brothers."
Well, I might have used the phrase ("larger than life") wrongly, since that is not related to achievement in my mind, in my mind it has to do with desires and exercise of will. Also, I am not sure how that deters from Rheagar (or Ned or Arthur, everyone we know the name of is an overachiever). He was also very accomplished for his age.
Told his men he was leaving his post to go march on Winterfell...
Never guessed they might stab him for it...
Why is that related to openbook-ness or blind loyalty? He is not an open book because we still do not know what he discussed with Tormund for few hours (neither do you!) not did anyone else on the wall knew about his dealdings with bank of braavos or his experiments on wights. We (as readers) do not know some, people on the wall know much less.
This is rather subjective. We are privy to Jon's inner thoughts, and so, we know he thinks. But if we did not, would he really seem like an introvert? Samwell was an introvert, and Jon was the social butterfly that got Sam to come out of his shell. Jon was the center of his group of friends, and was even elected class president.
Two things: - I am not sure why having a thought is mutually exclusive with being an extrovert. I am not sure we are using the terms the same. But yes, I think even if I did not have access to his mind, his discussion with Aemon, with Sam, with Mormontt, with Mance, and ..., would all show he has thoughts in his head. (I am not sure how serious this point was for you, but I answered anyways ) - Never in the whole story has Jon tried to solve something in public. He is almost always the listener, even in WF banquet where you had got all your quotes (and all of them were good catches), he is not the one who is talking. The whole night he is the listener. On the wall, he is the listener. Whenever possible he sits far from the hearth to be at the border of activity. He is not shy, he is an introvert! - He wasn't elected as the class president because everyone can have a good time with him (exactly like Ned and Rheagar and so unlike Robert) but because he can handle things far better than others. He is competent, that can be like any of his parents/guardians.
Robert cared deeply about duty as well. Well, maybe not economic duties, but he did care about his men and honor - hence his absolution of Barristan Selmy. Like Jon, he turned foes into allies.
He did not care about honor or his men, he cared about winning wars and having good times. He was great and this greatness inspired people. Duty would have been sitting in those halls caring about governance or making sure his marriage worked. MAking sure his son(s) where groomed for rule. Which one did he do? Seriously? Just so you know, I really like Robert, but definitely not because he is dutifull or honorable.
This is also rather subjective. They have both had romantic feelings for one woman, and one woman only.
Jon is 16 and he thinks about Val plenty. He always notices how attractive she is and it is personal. It is not adoration of beauty, it is feeling of it.
Just look at the similar way they view their political betrothals. Robert balks at Cersei. Jon balks at Val. Robert went to his grave thinking about Lyanna. Jon constantly thinks about Ygritte.
I do not agree Jon balks at Val. He is very obviously attracted. But he is a brother of the night's watch and he caused Ygritt to die for the watch. That is just dignity.
Jon does not seem like an introvert to me at all, particularly if we're speaking about book-Jon alone. Rhaegar was certainly an introvert as a young man, but even he did come out of his shell eventually.
Well, I said what I could above, maybe we have different understanding of introverts and extroverts. As for Rheagar, he was still quit solitary. People who knew him never fail to name his closest friends, and almost everyone else has minimal understanding of the guy: He was great, he was intellectual, he was super dutiful. Maybe he was politically active, no one knows what was happening in his marriage. Robert on the other hand is the exact opposite, other than Ned, everyone is a friend like everyone else. He hates Cersei, he does not care for his kids, he does not care for the realm. He hates all the Targaryans .... Which one of these two Jon is more alike? I am not saying Rheagar is Jon's father, I am saying based on temperaments alone Robert has a very little chance.
Is it? Wasn't Ygritte ready to jump his bones the first time she met him?
Doesn't seem like she waited to learn his enigmatic nature...
You are write to point out that Yggritt thought Jon was "pretty" but he was also very put together, observant, and a good fighter but kind and considerate at the same time. Ygritte liked the fact that he could be both at the same time!
I don't see how raising Jon would have ruined Robert's life. It actually makes a lot of sense for Ned, as Robert's bff, to raise his bestie's son (not to mention his own nephew). Robert could not have a bastard at court, and the Starks are not like other men.
I can see Ned's adoption of Jon as a service to both sister and friend. Not disloyalty.
It's not raising him, it is hiding him from Robert, never acknowledging the fact that his love with Lyanna had resulted in a kid, and memorizing that fact that ruined his Love. When he lost Lyanna, he lost all of Lyanna, there is nothing that connects him to her anymore. Apparently that affected him very negatively. Growing Jon after the acknowledgement is definitely a service.