I think that’s a load of crap. Not only would the politics change irrevocably if the crown princess runs away and gets impregnated by someone (in which case she’d be executed for treason the second she is found btw, and we’d probably see a major debate over the legitimacy of the Martell-looking Rhaenys. No civil war or as severe repercussions to the realm), but I guarantee that fandom would be coming down hard on her for abandoning (and endangering) her children and chasing her personal pleasure to the detriment of others (and you know that the reaction to a mother abandoning her children is far harsher than to a father). That whole schtick creates a false equivalence and it’s really transparent. It’s also entirely dismissive of the power dynamics of the marriage. Like I said, a load of crap.
We don’t really know what kind of relationship Elia had with either Ashara or Arthur so any speculation of a friendship is more of a headcanon at this point, albeit one that I find very likely based on what information we do know. Ashara was one of Elia’s ladies and Arthur was her husband’s confidante so that earned them access that could easily be cultivated into a friendship, that is if one did not exist before Elia was ever engaged to Rhaegar, which is a very possible prospect. The Daynes are one of the Martells’ principal bannermen after all, so it’s not unlikely that the ruling Dayne parent would take little Ashara and/or Arthur on their travels to Sunspear either in hopes of catching princely eye
and securing a betrothal à
la Rickard Karstark, or of installing them as companions to Elia or Oberyn (possibly still as a prelude to a betrothal or alternatively simply to cultivate a valuable relationship with the Martells). I reckon that the Water Gardens’ accessibility would encourage any noble with children of age with the Martell children to send them to play and build early friendships with the Martells. As we’ve seen with Arianne and her childhood friends, Ned and Robert, Catelyn, Lysa and Petyr, and others, these early childhood bonds can be of immense political value so I don’t think a Dornish noble would pass on that opportunity.
To a more concrete clue,
House Dayne was one of the houses that the Princess of Dorne, Elia and
Oberyn visited during their tour for suitable suitors, the only Dornish
house mentioned at that, and the Dayne siblings would have been encouraged to befriend the visiting prince and princess during the visit. We also know that Oberyn was fostered with House Qorgyle at Sandstone, not very far from Starfall so it’s possible that he would make the trip to Starfall, home of the legendary Dawn and the Sword of the Morning so that’s another possible connection right there. In that context, it’s entirely possible that Ashara being picked for Elia’s lady was the result of personal preference and not just a political choice, which is possibly supported by Oberyn and Ashara sharing a dance at Harrenhal. I think there’s enough basis in the text to suggest a Martell-Dayne relationship but I suppose any more info would have to wait till when we hopefully see Starfall in the hunt for Darkstar.
But his loudest fans will scream loudly that all that what you’ve said here @moonlitgleek
is irrelevant because he was birthing saviors for the War for the Dawn,
or that he was so in love with Lyanna that it was his RIGHT to leave
Elia, because he shouldn’t be forced to be in a loveless marriage.
Whatever the case, Rhaegar does not come across as justified for several reasons, not least of which is the fact that he did not need to make things so public or so audacious. He could have accomplished either goal relatively safely without throwing so many people under the bus. So in either case, his behavior is still callous and careless. In the first scenario he believes that a magical prophecy would pick up his political slack and prevent a crisis. In the second he decides that his personal happiness takes precedence over the stability and security of the realm.
Either way he abandons his immediate duties to the realm. Either way he proves he does not deserve the mantle of king.
Yeah, that would assume that the staff’s actual job is to make the site easier to navigate and enable social interactions between its users instead of hindering it. My mistake for making such a wild assumption.
Perhaps instead of grouping the notifications which makes it harder to keep up with your notes, staff could have figured out a way to solve whatever keeps other people’s additions on your posts from showing up in your activity. Since the point of the activity page is to keep you up with notes and comments in the first place, you know. Just a thought.
Sam speaks 