Warning...
If you've not read up through ADWD,
if you don't want to know anything besides what was in Eddard's POV regarding Jon,
if you don't want to waste your time reading my crackpot theory,
if you detest an argument full of "What ifs?", and
if you already are certain of the exact nature of Lyanna's relationship with Rhaegar, then please stop reading now.
In the discussion of
Who's your favourite non-POV character?, Tywin, Keebs, and I got into Howland Reed, Lyanna, Rhaegar, Robb, Aemon, Aerys II, plus Eddard and Jon and how they all fit into Jon's parentage. I had a thought and I thought I'd get it into a proper thread so that TK-421 will know where to find it later. (I dunno how I got the research monkey off of my back and on to TK's, but I'm grateful. TK, I'll buy you a beer next time you come through Denver.)
You've probably seen my thoughts that the Mad King is Jon's father. But I'd not thought of it from Lyanna's point of view. Lyanna was at court... presumably as a lady in waiting to either Queen Rhaella, Princess Elia, or the infant Princess Rhaenys. She was a daughter of one of the great houses, after all. My theory is that Aerys II, the Mad King, developed a lust for Lyanna and that he took her by force. Then Rhaegar and Lyanna both disappeared while Brandon and Rickard died and Jon Arryn raised his banners in rebellion.
Would Aerys really do that? Well, Jaime remembers, in his second AFFC chapter, that Aerys forced himself upon Rhaella the night that he burned Connington's successor, Lord Chelsted. Jaime and Jon Darry were the Kingsguard protecting Aerys that night and Jaime heard Rhaella cry for help, but Darry told Jaime that it was Aerys' right. Dany was conceived that night. Rhaella left for Dragonstone a few days later. Rhaella died from complications due to birthing Dany.
Barristan confessed to Dany, in ADWD, that Aerys had a passion for Joanna Lannister before she married Tywin, back when she was a young lady at court. By all accounts Tywin and Aerys disliked each other heartily. Why did Aerys name Tywin as Hand when Tywin was only twenty years old? I belive it was to get Joanna back to court. My theory is that Aerys took Joanna by force when Tywin was out of town on business. Knowing that House Lannister would be exterminated if she revealed the rape, Joanna kept silence. Nine months later, Joanna died birthing Tyrion.
We know that Rhaegar crowned Lyanna the Queen of Love and Beauty at Harrenhal. From Meera's story, we learn that Rhaegar respected Lyanna. But did he love her or lust after her? Barristan told Dany that Rhaegar was dutiful and diligent... and melancholy. Aemon told Sam that Rhaegar was studious and serious. Jaime remembered the last time he spoke with Rhaegar... Rhaegar told him to stay in KL and that Rhaegar would call a great council of nobles when Robert was defeated... in fact, Rhaegar conceded that he'd wanted to do it a long time ago, but had not. I suspect Rhaegar wanted to curb his father's power due to his paranoia, impetuousness, and predjudices. Knowing all this... Would Rhaegar have endangered the health of a fragile nation by raping or eloping to commit polygamy with the daughter of one of the great houses?
"Promise me, Ned." Lyanna died in a bed of blood and blue roses. Eddard returned north with her bones... and Jon.
Hey, Boaz! Get to the point already!
Ever since I read the R+L=J theory, back in 2004, I was convinced that the promise was to protect Jon. We know that Lyanna had a passion for defending the weak from their oppressors... remember Meera's story of the Crannogman at Harrenhal. Eddard told Arya that Lyanna had more than a touch of the wolfblood, a fearless spirit. But what if Aerys boasted to Lyanna of the other women who had been in his bed? What if he claimed to have fathered children upon other high born ladies? What if Lyanna drew the conclusion to include Tyrion? What if Lyanna drew the conclusion that baby Aegon was Aerys son and not his grandson? If Lyanna knew or surmised that there were other bastards of Aerys, would she not have asked Eddard to work to protect them from Robert's, Tywin's, Oberyn's, Randyll's, or others' wraths?
"
Dear Ned. The king has fathered many bastards. Cersei, Jaime, Tyrion, Aegon, Lollys, Shae, Sam, Lynesse, Ashara, Gerold, Jon... don't let them be murdered in vengeance. Help them. Help Jon. Promise me, Ned."
Eddard remembered that Howland found him some time later silently mourning Lyanna. But what if Howland overheard the total confession and not just Eddard's explanation of how he was claiming Jon? Howland doubles in importance.
