Knight of the Laughing Tree v. 2.0

[Bran's Tourney]

I expect this to get a few groans, as it is admittedly a bit out there. Hey, its my first post, give me a break :)

To me, Lyanna being the Knight of the Laughing Tree doesn't quite feel right. She is already the hero of the story... and its too obvious... and something about the way they treat Bran in the telling suggests more than simply "its a Stark story."

So my suggestion:

Bran wargs back in time, taking Howland's body with his permission, to become the Knight of the Laughing Tree.

What we know:

-Bran's dreams of participating in all things knightly are set up basically from his first POV paragraph, and alluded to constantly after his fall throughout his chapters.

-Bran can warg humans. (In the HBO they play this up more than in the books. "No one can do that, not even north of the Wall," says Meera and Jojen, when Bran first wargs Hodor.)

-Bran exceeds expectations again when he views the past through weirdwoods. "They can't hear you," says Bloodraven, but in fact two characters hear Bran talk to them through the trees (Theon and.... ?). Could this skill be developed? Or perhaps he just needs someone who is more attuned to listning to trees talk to them?

-When Meera describes Howland's magic repertoire, she says "he can talk to trees."

-Howland spend the winter before the Tourney of Harrenhal on the Isle of Faces, perhaps the ideal place for communion through time and tree.

-Howland spends the night before the joust "looking across the lake at the Isle of Faces and praying to the old gods"

So then is it too much of a stretch?

Even if warging back in time doesn't work, I would feel confident saying that Bran is able to commune with Howland through the trees. That may be how we first are introduced to Howland... hopefully in Winds!

"Are you sure you haven't heard this story before, Bran?" - Jojen

[Obebb]

At first thought, I'd say it's too much of a stretch. Mostly because if Bran could travel back in time I would suddenly feel like everything is ten times more complicated :lol:

But that quote "Are you sure you haven't heard this story before, Bran?" is freaking me out a bit :uhoh: And some of those other points are kind of convincing. But in the end, I don't really know.

I've always liked theories on the the KotLT is because I myself honestly have no idea who it could be :dunno: And this one is really quite interesting.

Not a very believable theory for me though, but totally worth the thought

[Daniel Snow]

I hope this is true. I'm currently working on a theory that although bran cannot change the past he has already been there. basically he is bran the builder, brandon snow ect. old nan is said to think of all the brandons as the one person and if this is true i will have no doubts. Also the shield is a wierwood right? and the isle of faces is really something i need info on. oh and that "are you sure you haven't heard this story before" is something il kick myself for eternity for not picking up p.s my keyboard is wrecked i can't press enter to space my sentences :?

[Russellstiltskin]

I like your points...I am re-reading and will be there before too long...My only thought would be that Bran seems to be able to transcend time through his "communion" so I don't see a problem with that...I really originally thought that they were telling Bran a story about Benjen or Eddard and for some reason didn't want to tell him that his kin was the Smiling Knight. This fits with the quote...Mayhap they are prodding him for a response, trying to determine if he knows more so they can enlighten him further?

[Shebara]

I would like this!

I have a theory that each of the Starkies corresponds to one of the holy 7 in character/position...and fails/will fail with that as the story develops (Catelyn/Mother loses her children, Ned/Father his family, Robb/Warrior loses his war, Sansa/Maiden will lose her maidenhood etc.). I think Bran stands for the Crone (wisdom, greenseeing, knowledge) and I have the theory that he will fail to interpret some vision, knowledge and be mislead or mislead someone onto some darker way, take some false direction.

When reading this theory here about the KotLT I thought well, could be that the mystery of the Tourney at Harrenhall is, that mayhaps, if WargBran-HowlandReed was the KotLT his actions could have resulted in Rhaegar meeting and falling in love with Lyanna and this could have been Brans terrible mistake leading in fact to the War of the 5 kings and the downfall of the Starkies and of Winterfell.

[maiden of tarth]

I expect this to get a few groans, as it is admittedly a bit out there. Hey, its my first post, give me a break :)

To me, Lyanna being the Knight of the Laughing Tree doesn't quite feel right. She is already the hero of the story... and its too obvious... and something about the way they treat Bran in the telling suggests more than simply "its a Stark story."

So my suggestion:

Bran wargs back in time, taking Howland's body with his permission, to become the Knight of the Laughing Tree.

What we know:

-Bran's dreams of participating in all things knightly are set up basically from his first POV paragraph, and alluded to constantly after his fall throughout his chapters.

-Bran can warg humans. (In the HBO they play this up more than in the books. "No one can do that, not even north of the Wall," says Meera and Jojen, when Bran first wargs Hodor.)

-Bran exceeds expectations again when he views the past through weirdwoods. "They can't hear you," says Bloodraven, but in fact two characters hear Bran talk to them through the trees (Theon and.... ?). Could this skill be developed? Or perhaps he just needs someone who is more attuned to listning to trees talk to them?

-When Meera describes Howland's magic repertoire, she says "he can talk to trees."

-Howland spend the winter before the Tourney of Harrenhal on the Isle of Faces, perhaps the ideal place for communion through time and tree.

-Howland spends the night before the joust "looking across the lake at the Isle of Faces and praying to the old gods"

So then is it too much of a stretch?

Even if warging back in time doesn't work, I would feel confident saying that Bran is able to commune with Howland through the trees. That may be how we first are introduced to Howland... hopefully in Winds!

"Are you sure you haven't heard this story before, Bran?" - Jojen

Oh wow thank you for that. That would be a great twist.

[Petyr Patter]

Fun theory.

Though it runs into the same objection I have with Lyanna being the mystery knight: Bran has no jousting experience. I guess we could always say "magic" and be done with it, but I don't see how Howland having a boy from the future makes him a better jouster.

[maiden of tarth]

I would like this!

I have a theory that each of the Starkies corresponds to one of the holy 7 in character/position...and fails/will fail with that as the story develops (Catelyn/Mother loses her children, Ned/Father his family, Robb/Warrior loses his war, Sansa/Maiden will lose her maidenhood etc.). I think Bran stands for the Crone (wisdom, greenseeing, knowledge) and I have the theory that he will fail to interpret some vision, knowledge and be mislead or mislead someone onto some darker way, take some false direction.

When reading this theory here about the KotLT I thought well, could be that the mystery of the Tourney at Harrenhall is, that mayhaps, if WargBran-HowlandReed was the KotLT his actions could have resulted in Rhaegar meeting and falling in love with Lyanna and this could have been Brans terrible mistake leading in fact to the War of the 5 kings and the downfall of the Starkies and of Winterfell.

Oooh yes. That's great. Arya would make the perfect Stranger as she's becoming a faceless no-one and isn't The Stranger usually depicted without facial features? It's a great theory of yours.

[The guy from the Vale]

Fun theory.

Though it runs into the same objection I have with Lyanna being the mystery knight: Bran has no jousting experience. I guess we could always say "magic" and be done with it, but I don't see how Howland having a boy from the future makes him a better jouster.

Because Lyanna totally did not ride at rings (which is, basically, jousting training).

Hint: we are told she did.

ETA: as for Lyanna being the obvious hero. Funny thing. The impression I got was that Howland was considered the obvious hero, by Bran even.

[Arianne_Targaryen]

Oooh yes. That's great. Arya would make the perfect Stranger as she's becoming a faceless no-one and isn't The Stranger usually depicted without facial features? It's a great theory of yours.

That's very interesting! But it leaves Rickon to be the Smith. I wonder if Rickon has a significant role in the next books? He is rather young to do something important, isn't he?

[Ygrain]

Because Lyanna totally did not ride at rings (which is, basically, jousting training).

Hint: we are told she did.

ETA: as for Lyanna being the obvious hero. Funny thing. The impression I got was that Howland was considered the obvious hero, by Bran even.

And we totally

never see a young girl good at jousting... oh, wait, young Elia Sand aka Lady Lance

[DurararaFTW]

I expect this to get a few groans, as it is admittedly a bit out there. Hey, its my first post, give me a break :)

To me, Lyanna being the Knight of the Laughing Tree doesn't quite feel right. She is already the hero of the story... and its too obvious... and something about the way they treat Bran in the telling suggests more than simply "its a Stark story."

So my suggestion:

Bran wargs back in time, taking Howland's body with his permission, to become the Knight of the Laughing Tree.

What we know:

-Bran's dreams of participating in all things knightly are set up basically from his first POV paragraph, and alluded to constantly after his fall throughout his chapters.

-Bran can warg humans. (In the HBO they play this up more than in the books. "No one can do that, not even north of the Wall," says Meera and Jojen, when Bran first wargs Hodor.)

-Bran exceeds expectations again when he views the past through weirdwoods. "They can't hear you," says Bloodraven, but in fact two characters hear Bran talk to them through the trees (Theon and.... ?). Could this skill be developed? Or perhaps he just needs someone who is more attuned to listning to trees talk to them?

-When Meera describes Howland's magic repertoire, she says "he can talk to trees."

-Howland spend the winter before the Tourney of Harrenhal on the Isle of Faces, perhaps the ideal place for communion through time and tree.

-Howland spends the night before the joust "looking across the lake at the Isle of Faces and praying to the old gods"

So then is it too much of a stretch?

Even if warging back in time doesn't work, I would feel confident saying that Bran is able to commune with Howland through the trees. That may be how we first are introduced to Howland... hopefully in Winds!

"Are you sure you haven't heard this story before, Bran?" - Jojen

I would love for this to be true. I was kinda rooting for Eddard, just because of the irony of him choosing a Smiling Tree given his outwardly grim demeanor. (He's not ACTUALLY that grim, Catelyn explains this many times, but nobody seems to listen). But this is way better.

[Mithras]

No.

[MasterJack]

Long ago I posted a theory about BR being the KotLT after Howland asked him (oldgolds) for help in a prayer the night before. But I like yours, Bran could really be way stronger than BR who thinks it is impossible to communicate in the past. But really If bran has the choice to change anything from the past, I dont see why he would be that knight.

[Shebara]

That's very interesting! But it leaves Rickon to be the Smith. I wonder if Rickon has a significant role in the next books? He is rather young to do something important, isn't he?

yeah you are right: that leaves Rickon to be the Smith and I have not seen any hints for him to be a builder, crafter, worker or anything like that so far...not yet. But as you say, he still is a little boy and hopefully 2 more books to come :drunk: if the Gods be good!

[MasterJack]

yeah you are right: that leaves Rickon to be the Smith and I have not seen any hints for him to be a builder, crafter, worker or anything like that so far...not yet. But as you say, he still is a little boy and hopefully 2 more books to come :drunk: if the Gods be good!

if all the others stark die at the end he will be what is left to rebuilt his family?

[Hand to King Davos]

if all the others stark die at the end he will be what is left to rebuilt his family?

that would make sense, although I think winterfell might make more sense. Only downside to that is by his theory, Rickon would have to fail. :frown5:

[The Kinkslayer]

I would like this!

I have a theory that each of the Starkies corresponds to one of the holy 7 in character/position...and fails/will fail with that as the story develops (Catelyn/Mother loses her children, Ned/Father his family, Robb/Warrior loses his war, Sansa/Maiden will lose her maidenhood etc.). I think Bran stands for the Crone (wisdom, greenseeing, knowledge) and I have the theory that he will fail to interpret some vision, knowledge and be mislead or mislead someone onto some darker way, take some false direction.

When reading this theory here about the KotLT I thought well, could be that the mystery of the Tourney at Harrenhall is, that mayhaps, if WargBran-HowlandReed was the KotLT his actions could have resulted in Rhaegar meeting and falling in love with Lyanna and this could have been Brans terrible mistake leading in fact to the War of the 5 kings and the downfall of the Starkies and of Winterfell.

Oooh yes. That's great. Arya would make the perfect Stranger as she's becoming a faceless no-one and isn't The Stranger usually depicted without facial features? It's a great theory of yours.

That's very interesting! But it leaves Rickon to be the Smith. I wonder if Rickon has a significant role in the next books? He is rather young to do something important, isn't he?

This would make Theon the drowned god and Jon the Black Goat of Qohor. Old Nan was a children of the forest and Hodor half-giant half CotF

[~DarkHorse~]

Because Lyanna totally did not ride at rings (which is, basically, jousting training).

Hint: we are told she did.

ETA: as for Lyanna being the obvious hero. Funny thing. The impression I got was that Howland was considered the obvious hero, by Bran even.

:agree:

I also think Lyanna being the mystery Knight adds more depth to the Rhaegar/Lyanna romance. It suggests they had interactions during the tourney (Rhaegar sent to find mystery knight and discovers it to be Lyanna) and that's one of the reasons he gave her the crown of roses- recognition of her accomplishments. He was attracted to her personality and not just her appearance and prophecy potential.

[Bran's Tourney]

I also think Lyanna being the mystery Knight adds more depth to the Rhaegar/Lyanna romance. It suggests they had interactions during the tourney (Rhaegar sent to find mystery knight and discovers it to be Lyanna) and that's one of the reasons he gave her the crown of roses- recognition of her accomplishments. He was attracted to her personality and not just her appearance and prophecy potential.

This is great... using the ensuing drama with Rhaegar as a way to support Lyanna being the Knight. Thanks.

My Bran theory is mostly based on wishful thinking... Ever since 100 pages into AGOT I was thinking for some twist of fate to give him his jousting fix......

But then again... "Are you sure you haven't heard this story, Bran?"