Game of Thrones Season 5 Discussion [SPOILERS WITHIN]

[Jericho]

I will preface this spoiler warning with this: everything that I will discuss in this spoiler is stuff left out of the series, but if you've read the books up to the point that the series is at, you have enough information to have dug this out yourself. This is a prediction, and could spoil the books if you plan on reading, but this prediction is based on the history of Westeros and also what you learn in the books to this point.

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Cersei Lannister was promised to Rhaegar Targaryen. Tywin was the Hand of King Aerys, and as such Cersei was a perfect match. Tywin was rebuked by Aerys, who said something along the lines of "Tywin, you are my most capable servant. Why would I wed my son and heir to a servant's daughter?" Instead, Aerys married Rhaegar to Elia Martell of Sunspear, which was a spurn to Tywin, and was a large reason for his betrayal and the sack of King's Landing by the Lannister led forces in Robert's Rebellion. What was the reason for Robert's Rebellion? Rhaegar abducted Ned's sister and Robert's betrothed and beloved Lyanna Stark and took her to the Tower of Joy on the edge of the Red Mountains of Dorne. He left her there to go fight and die on the Trident. When Ned gets to the Tower of Joy, he is met by three Kingsguard, including the Lord Commander of Aerys' Kingsguard. Ned slays all three, and goes inside to see Lyanna laying in a "bed of blood," this is a dream that haunts Ned many times throughout the first book.

So---what were the Kingsguard doing guarding Lyanna Stark and leaving their crown prince to fight at the Trident less three of his companions? They are sworn to defend the King and the royal blood. Lyanna Stark had a baby, and that baby is the heir to the Iron Throne. Lyanna Stark died as a result of complications of childbirth, and she knew at this point that Rhaegar was slain, and that Robert would sit the Iron Throne, and that any spawn of Rhaegar would be killed. This is why she made Ned swear to keep her secret. The secret was the baby, and the baby was Jon Snow, a Targaryen heir and the direct heir to the Iron Throne. This was Ned's "bastard." It's why he never revealed who the mother was. His honor required that he didn't say. But he knew Robert would have Jon killed (not only because he is a Targaryen, but also because he is Lyanna's son by another man), and he promised his sister. Jon has an even better claim to the Iron Throne than Daenerys.

And Targaryens have a long tradition of wedding brother and sister. Technically Jon is Daenarys' nephew.

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I love it when someone else knows these things. Always more interesting than talking to the people who have only watched the show.