On the subject of the blue roses and their imagry, the only thing that gives me pause about them is their reputed legend, which may also foreshadow the nature of R+L relationship, which I go back and forth about.
This:
" Blue roses symbolize mystery, or something desired, but unattainable. An individual experiencing un-requited love could present a blue rose to his/her object of affection."
"Can denote regal majesty."
"Something of a fairytale the meaning of this rose is unattainable and impossible. This is not a good gift to give somone you want a longterm relationship with."
I know the color blue is often associated with the imagry of ice, cold, winter, etc. but Martin also could be employing a double entendre here.
Certainly Lyanna, for all intents and purposes
is unattainable for Rhaegar given her high rank, (he could never take her as a mere mistress), and the fact she's betrothed to someone else, and whether she did actually love him is still speculation.
(She may not have loved either Robert, or Rhaegar).
And when Ned remembers the crowning he remembers the cruel thorns beneath those roses.
People can be kidnapped.
Tyrion was kidnapped by Caitlyn, and while he was a dwarf, he nonetheless was a fairly formiddable fighter when he had to.
Lyanna may have agreed to go "willingly" so as to spare the life of her men who may have tried to protect her, (it was said Rhaegar took her at swordpoint, and was probably not alone).
I think it's possible for Lyanna to have loved Rhaegar, but not want to compromise her honor, or her family's.
I think it is possible that Lyanna may have been Rhaegars madness in the way Johanna Lannister and impisonment was for Aerys, and thus it's possible Robert may have been closer to the truth than people give him credit for.
If Rhaegar loved her, then he most likely would not see what he was doing as rape, because, if he could justify taking her, whether it was a mutual elopement, or not, leaving Elia and his children behind, then he most likely could justify everything else that followed.
And if prophesy is a driving force, then it's all the more likely that perhaps taking her was not mutual, and the utter silence on anything about her, even from the likes of Caitlyn, makes me a little nervous, because there should at least be some condemnation, blaming her for everything, (as would likely happen in real history), from Rhaegars circle who would not believe ill of him.
Many people believe this is not consistent with Rhaegars honorable character, but there are many bad characters that have their moments of goodness, so it's not impossible to believe that a good person could have his moment of doing something bad.
Everyone remembers Rhaegar wanting the "wolf girl," ("Prince Rhaegar loved his Lady Lyanna, and thousands died for it,"- Selmy).
But, no one, even Selmy remembers her wanting him, and maybe that is because we haven't heard from the right people yet, but even in Neds private thoughts, he doesn't indicate anything pointing to her loving Rhaegar, and I think his silence on Rhaegar should not be misconstrued as a positive, because he also still loves Robert, which in his thoughts, he does declare.
I know thats not popular, and for myself, I personally believe they did love one another and leaving together was mutual, but there really is no way to make their story not a sad tale, no matter what the circumstances were, because it was so complicated, so I'm approaching it with caution.
Thoughts?
Edited by Alia of the knife, 12 April 2012 - 11:20 PM.
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