The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

[Koopa]

Thx boaz for crediting me with xLordSnowx's list .

As for the other part.
I've always figured the head of the golden company (its motto: beneath the gold the bitter steel) was a descendant of either Bittersteel or Daemon Blackfyre. More like a descendant of Bittersteel since the last Blackfyre pretender seems to have been killed by BFS.

I've also always believed that Bittersteel took the ancestral sword (Blackfyre) with him, and that its been passed down to the leaders of the golden company (aka his sons, grandsons, ...)

Thatswhy i found it so interesting when Aurane waters said that the golden company for the first time in it's existance has broken it's contract. And that the review mentioned something about them disputing Danaerys claim to Westeros.

As for my own two cents about the actual topic:
King: Tyrion Lannister
(Strangely i'd never want Petyr on the throne, since i'm not sure he'd know what to do with it, his goal seem to be more the collecting of power, then sollidifying or doing something constructive for the realm (instead of just himself) with that power.
Hand: Tywin (perfect hand), if he's disqualified either the Reader, samwell tarly, or Doran Martell.

best combo's in exitance:
1) Stannis + Davos
2) Jon+ Samwell (this combo still has some growing up to do)

 

[Boaz]

xLSx, my apologies.

Kiwi, there are so many details that I cannot remember... How does Martin do it?

 

[Boogz]

Though we don't get too much info on these characters in the book, I'd say Blackfish or Roose Bolton would make great leaders (although Blackfish only seems to care about war, maybe he can be Boltons military commander )..

these 2 guys seem to just go around kicking ass.. though Bolton lost his battle vs Tywin in GoT, he was only trying to distract him so Robb could surprise Jaime

also swimming away from riverrun is manly to say the least ..

Most of the other characters in the book seem like they will either fail at ruling/exploit their power

Khal drogo would also be a mad(good) king, damn that Miri Maz Duur I was totally looking forward to a 100 000 strong mounted barbarian army wreaking havoc all over westeros, but alas...

 

[Lyanna Stark]

Of the front runners still alive (as of AFFC) the most capable candidate to Rule AND LEAD the Seven Kingdoms (As painful as it is to admit), would almost certainly be Jon Snow. He does have all of Ned's flaws (the honour thing in particular), but Ned would have been a great king. Even Robert acknowledged he would have been a better king than him.

I fully agree with this. Jon Snow would be an excellent leader. He was Ned Stark's blood, raised by him with his values. But Jon is far more adaptable than Ned was. While Ned would never compromise his values or honor for anything (with the exception being the lie he told for his daughters' sakes, which didn't work out anyway), Jon does what needs to be done. The example of this being that he breaks his vows with Ygritte in order to maintain his cover, to stay in his position as a spy, to ultimately protect the Night's Watch. He adheres to a strict sense of honor, as he demonstrates time and again, and would do what was necessary for the sake of the realm, thus making him, imho, the perfect candidate.

Stannis might have had my vote back at the time when Davos first knew him, when he was fair and just, but his whole R'hllor deal... not so much. The fact that Melisandre has him doing things to serve this god, literally trampling on the beliefs and faiths of the vast majority of Westeros, leaves me cold. Forcing one's ideologies on others harkens to many a dark period in human history, the Spanish Inquisition and the Third Reich being examples.

I feel Dany would also be a solid contender, but she still as yet has a lot to learn. Yes, she has made mistakes, and yes, rarely the same mistake, but her approach is still, at least at this point, somewhat naive. She's working on that, and has demonstrated a remarkable aptitude to lead with the modicum of experience she's had. But while she's rocking it in the Free Cities, her approach is going to have to alter drastically if she hopes to be a viable contender and subsequent ruler of the Iron Throne.