New Crackpot Theory

[thatollie]

I've just reread the scene and something jumped out at me.

He doesn't ask for Joffrey to be his executioner.

 

[The Imp]

I've just reread the scene and something jumped out at me.

He doesn't ask for Joffrey to be his executioner.

That's an interesting observation, although I'm not sure that Ned would ask this of someone in the south.

 

[Boaz]

Ollie, that is a great observation. I do remember Rickard Karstark challenging Robb to do the deed himself. I have two guesses as to why this did not happen. First, Eddard was so stunned by Joffrey's announcement that he could not think rationally. Second, Eddard's death happened in Arya's POV. She was not close enough to make out anything Eddard said after the crowd erupted upon Joffrey's announcement.

And if Eddard did ask, I think Ilyn Payne was under orders from Littlefinger to proceed without delay. I just made that connection... Payne was paid by Littlefinger. Jaime discovered this in AFFC while talking to Rennifer Longwaters. When Joffrey called for Eddard's head, Cersei, the High Septon, and Varys all immediately protested but Payne and the Hound ignored them and carried out the deed. Littlefinger was not on the podium, as far as I know. But I would not put it past Littlefinger to have persuaded Payne to ingratiate himself with Joffrey and to take Littlefinger's money, if by some chance Joffrey reneged upon the deal.

 

[Ursa major]

Given Joffrey's skill with a sword, would you ask him to chop your head off?

 

[thatollie]

Given Joffrey's skill with a sword, would you ask him to chop your head off?

Give his penchant for having other people dole out his cruelty and not taking the responsibility, I don't think he'd have gone through with it.

EDIT: but more importantly, it was a vital part of Ned's code. He would surely request the same treatment that he would give to someone he condemned.

 

[The Imp]

Give his penchant for having other people dole out his cruelty and not taking the responsibility, I don't think he'd have gone through with it.

EDIT: but more importantly, it was a vital part of Ned's code. He would surely request the same treatment that he would give to someone he condemned.

1- As Boaz pointed out, we have no idea what Ned may or may not have said.

2- I don't think we can catagorically state what Ned would have asked for, especially in the south

3- As ursa said, he'd have to be insane to ask Joffrey the incompetent to sever his head, given that he'd want someone who would have a chance to do the deed cleanly with one cut

4- It wasn't Ned who got beheaded

 

[Boaz]

Given Joffrey's skill with a sword, would you ask him to chop your head off?

Point taken.

It wasn't Ned who got beheaded

And denial is not just a river in Egypt. If they were going to kille Eddard, it could have been handled with much more tact and much less blame. I believe Tyrion had Allar Deem tossed overboard on his way to take the Black. They could have claimed Eddard took a chill on the journey and never recovered. Even Jaime knew that... he told Catelyn, "Death by poison can seem natural. Harder to claim that my head simply fell off."

 

[juleska]

Yeah not trying to be a naysayer, Ollie, but I don't think that means anything. Ned was not expecting to have his head chopped off. Everything happened very fast, much faster than Karstark and Robb. It was really seconds from the time Joffrey screamed the order to the time his head was rolling....Payne was definitely expecting those instructions because he showed not a second of hesitation. And in any case, I don't think it has much to do with Ned being in the South as much as it does Joffrey being so young. Naive as it was, Ned tried to protect that heinous little *******, and in his own way felt sorry for Joff.