why do you speak russian if you’re “not a homophobe”?
every day I get on this site and every day I think ‘maybe today will be the day that I don’t get a stupid ask’ but every day, every single day, people like you ruin that hope for me. you’ve disappointed me. you’ve disappointed your parents. you’ve disappointed your country. go away
Okay but really, why is Euron Greyjoy dressed like he is going to a punk rock concert?
You mentioned in your Rhaegar questions about concerns over him developing madness that Ned “kept of degree of respect and esteem for him.” Why do you think that? Why didn’t Ned develop negative feelings towards him? (I mean, the most negative thought Ned seems to have about him is liking the idea that Robert will smash the Lannisters like he did Rhaegar. Personally, I found Ned to be indifferent towards him.) Ned has more reasons than most to hate Rhaegar even if Lyanna went willingly.
Well, first of all let me clarify that “respect and esteem” was a bit of an overstatement on my part. Just because Ned doesn’t think Rhaegar would ever step foot in a brothel and doesn’t insult him 24/7 in in his internal monologue, it doesn’t mean he admires him. I suppose a better way to describe it is “lack of animosity”, which is still peculiar, considering the official narrative.
I can think of a few reasons for that.
I often thought that Ned’s lack of animosity might also be for Jon’s sake. Because if he ever entertained any thoughts of telling Jon the truth, he would not want to have Jon think of his father as this villainous evil figure and of himself as the result of his mother’s rape and dishonor. He’d want Jon to at least have some positive view of his biological father’s character. There is also the possibility that Ned suspected that Lyanna wasn’t unwilling to go with Rhaegar.
Yes to all of this. Ned knew his sister well enough to suspect her willingness (the iron underneath quote), and talking with Benjen later probably confirmed his suspicions (I believe Benjen knew at least in part of Lyanna’s plans, and after her death he joined the NW because he felt horribly guilty).
but also, Robert’s hatred for Rhaegar is for Ned a constant reminder of what Robert would do to Jon if he knew the truth. Rhaegar and Lyanna are forever linked in Jon, and that’s a reality. Holding on the same grudge that would make Robert go berserk on an innocent child felt probably very uncomfortable for Ned, and in the long run, he learned to distance himself from his own negative feelings for Rhaegar.
Sam speaks 