"... and he would have killed me but for Howland Reed."

[The Answer]

Is the consensus here that Howland used some sort of Crannog magic to either distract or injure Arthur Dayne prior to Ned finishing him off? Or simply that Ned & Howland fought 2v1 and Ned would have been hopeless in single combat?

I saw a wonderful post a couple years ago by maidenandwarrior that theorized Howland saved Ned with words, having possibly been in a romantic relationship with Ashara - all very interesting. But if that were the case, what the hell is Arthur up to now?

[aryagonnakill#2]

My assumption has always simply been the net that Meera uses very effectively snaring summer. It is an unusual tactic that Arthur would not have been used to and would have taken a couple of seconds to get out of and Ned could easily have struck a deadly blow in that time. I think this is 1 of the situations people over think.

[Ser Hightower]

As much as is made about how phenomenal of a knight AD is, I doubt he'd lay down his sword and betray his oath as a KG because it is possible Ashara loved Ned, or vice-versa. Half of Westeros was infatuated with Ashara. I know AD very much respected Ned, and Ned the same of AD - hence why he returned Dawn to Starfall.

So most likely Howland was just hiding the whole fight as some sort of Guerrilla tactic or out of fear, and it became Ned vs. AD in 1v1 combat. Then he just came out of no where and threw a net on AD. Ned stands up, offers AD to yield one last time and AD declines.

Ned kills AD.

Just speculation, but it's how I see it in my imagination.

[Lady Blackmont]

I don't think Ned would think very highly of Howland the coward.

[Ferocious Veldt Roarer]

No, we don't have any kind of consensus. It could be magical, I personally think it was something quite mundane, like tripping Arthur with a spear or something. I don't think that Howland saved Ned's life by talking, either.

[Ser Hightower]

I don't think Ned would think very highly of Howland the coward.

Perhaps it wasn't out of fear and in fact some sort of Guerrilla tactic. Crannogmen aren't exactly your typical knights of the realm. He probably was just maneuvering around and was a giant mismatch for a great-sword. In single 'gentlemen' combat, Ned would have been toast vs. Dayne.

[Gibzit]

I don't think Ned would think very highly of Howland the coward.

What? Howland saved his life, why wouldn't he think highly of him?

[Balerion the kitten]

Magic. Only because Bran noted that ned paused for a moment after saying that.

[Lady Blackmont]

If someone hides in the bushes, just to throw a net on someone near the end, I doubt I would be very pleased.

More likely I would be infuriated because five of my other friends died while he hid, his valor might have changed the course of battle.

[Kingmonkey]

Howland intervened at a critical moment, hurling his pet frog Kekex into Dayne's face. It was Kekex, not Ned, who defeated Dayne in single combat.

[Gibzit]

If someone hides in the bushes, just to throw a net on someone near the end, I doubt I would be very pleased.

More likely I would be infuriated because five of my other friends died while he hid, his valor might have changed the course of battle.

We don't know that Howland hid during the battle, for all we know he killed Hightower and Whent himself.

[Lady Blackmont]

Perhaps it wasn't out of fear and in fact some sort of Guerrilla tactic. Crannogmen aren't exactly your typical knights of the realm. He probably was just maneuvering around and was a giant mismatch for a great-sword. In single 'gentlemen' combat, Ned would have been toast vs. Dayne.

Yes, but maneuvering wouldn't have made him a coward, so your argument is pointless.

[Gibzit]

If someone hides in the bushes, just to throw a net on someone near the end, I doubt I would be very pleased.

More likely I would be infuriated because five of my other friends died while he hid, his valor might have changed the course of battle.

We don't know that Howland hid during the battle, for all we know he killed Hightower and Whent himself.

[Lady Blackmont]

Has nobody read the other responses?

Someone suggested that Howland may have hid in the bushes in fear, and jumped out, throwing a net at Dayne, at the last moment.

I'm not saying this happened, in fact, I am attempting to refute it.

[Visenya Stark]

I always thought it was magic. Howland spent a year on the Isle of Faces, didn't he? Perhaps he learned something there.

[Ser Hightower]

Yes, but maneuvering wouldn't have made him a coward, so your argument is pointless.

In my OP I said it's possible that either Howland used some sort of guerrilla warfare out of either strategy or fear. I never argued anything, it was just speculation as to how Howland managed to best the best knight in Westoros.

[Mitbert Strangejoy]

He probably used blood magic to resurrect Ned at the cost of Willam Dustin's life. Barbrey knows.

[Lady Blackmont]

Yes, and I am refuting your speculation, it's really not that difficult.

[Balerion the kitten]

Has nobody read the other responses?Someone suggested that Howland may have hid in the bushes in fear, and jumped out, throwing a net at Dayne, at the last moment.I'm not saying this happened, in fact, I am attempting to refute it.

My assumption has always simply been the net that Meera uses very effectively snaring summer. It is an unusual tactic that Arthur would not have been used to and would have taken a couple of seconds to get out of and Ned could easily have struck a deadly blow in that time. I think this is 1 of the situations people over think.

aryagonnakill#2 didn't say such a thing.

[Balerion's Whiskers]

I think GRRM gave us the key right here in Bran's chapter where Meera nets Summer.

"I never knew anyone who fought with a net before," he told Meera while he scratched the direwolf between the ears. "Did your master-at-arms teach you net-fighting?"

"My father taught me."