Promise Me, Ned

Given that all of us are probably R+L=J believers, if not zealots, I feel safe in saying that, re-reading this chapter, we probably fixated on the characters' implied relationship to Lyanna.

So what do we have? To see her crypt is Robert's first wish, and it inspires in Cersei what might be seen as jealousy (though I doubt this, given the insight we get later into her feelings about Robert - perhaps she is trying to control his foolish behavior here? It is a pretty absurd thing for a king to do in this public occasion).

"Ned loved him for that." So whatever else Ned thinks about Robert's obsession with his sister, he appreciates it as something genuine and doesn't scorn it. But Ned is reticent in the rest of the conversation, or silent. He certainly doesn't openly share in Robert's continued hatred of Rhaegar, one hint that he knows more about that dead prince than he's letting on. And this chapter is the first appearance of "promise me" - here it implies she was begging to buried at Winterfell, though it's perfectly plausible to doubt this. I don't think this chapter is heavy with foreshadowing of Lyanna's story, and certainly not with clues, but it's the first thing that came to my attention while reading.

There's more going on than just clues for a theory, though. Throughout the chapter, Ned notes, and Robert demonstrates, the degree to which the king has gone to seed; it's a sign of the state of the kingdom: In thrall to Lannister wealth; grown weak and sloppy and corrupt; incapable of withstanding the pressures on it.

This being an epic fantasy novel, it would be too much to expect political strife or civil war not to be looming, but here there are only signs of it - Ned's mistrust of Tywin; the mention of a rebellion nine years previous, from which Ned still holds a hostage; the surprise offers-that-can't-be-refused of a promotion to king's regent and of a Baratheon-Stark marriage alliance; the tension between Cersei and Robert (and by extension, their houses); and Robert's total disinclination to deal with the demands of ruling a fragile new dynasty. Having read the series, I know how ominous each of these mentions are, but none of the characters seem to have any notion of how badly things are about to go wrong.

The characters of Ned and Robert seem incompatible as close friends, as well. Ned is solemn and stark, if you will; Robert is sanguine and apparently a buffoon. Both, we'll learn, are completely unprepared for the game of thrones, though for wholly different reasons. I wonder if their youthful friendship did not resemble Robert's character more than Ned's current one - behind the rigid, honorable face of Lord Stark could be a well-hidden past full of drinking, whoring and carefree hedonism. It's certainly conceivable, but it's also possible their differing personalities have always been so. If Ned was more like Robert in his younger days, it's easier to imagine him fathering a bastard. Although I believe R+L=J, I never bought the argument that said Ned's current emphasis on honor means it's too hard to believe Jon would be his son - it could just as well be that Jon's existence led him to become so conspicuously scrupulous.