The only hope for a Stark restoration is...

[TheTowerOfJoy]

So, um, how exactly does Jon leave the Wall to become regent/king/whatever?

And how exactly does he win the Iron Throne? Through his constant brooding?

What if there is no Wall left?

And his path to the Iron Throne involves R+L=J, so through Targaryen rights, perhaps even married to his aunt Dany (as Targaryens are known to interbreed).

[WhiteWalder]

I agree with the OP.

Rickon is a child, and Winter is coming. Children can not lead no matter what happened on Skaagos.

Like Dr. Emmet Brown said, "You're just not thinking 4th dimensionally!"

Rickon will not stay a child forever. Mayhaps he will be a leader as he grows up.

[TheTowerOfJoy]

Like Dr. Emmet Brown said, "You're just not thinking 4th dimensionally!"

Rickon will not stay a child forever. Mayhaps he will be a leader as he grows up.

Right, but for now, he can't lead on his own. He's basically a banner that Manderly and Stannis can carry around, representing the true Warden of the North.

You could even revoke Bolton's claim to the Wardenship as it was appointed by the Hand of an illegitimate king.

As for Sansa, I think she becomes the Lady of the Vale.

So in the end, we get Jon Targaryen as King, Rickon with Uncle Benjen as his Regent as Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North (if there's no wall and no Night's Watch, then Benjen is free from his vows as well as Jon if he's alive), Sansa as Lady of the Vale, Bran as The Last Greenseer, Arya as a Faceless Man, and uncle Edmure as Lord of Riverrun.

[Addam of Hull]

Like Dr. Emmet Brown said, "You're just not thinking 4th dimensionally!"

Rickon will not stay a child forever. Mayhaps he will be a leader as he grows up.

But he's a child now and now is what matters. The North is about to face one of the most devastating winters they've faced in hundreds -- if not thousands -- of years and people want the Lord of Winterfell/King in the North to be a five year old little boy? I'll grant that a regency would certainly be possible, and Rickon could grow up to be an awesome leader, but the ideal situation is to have an actual leader as Lord/King and not have someone who is Lord/King in name only.

[Errant Bard]

But he's a child now and now is what matters.

Really now? Dany was not even born when Robert stepped up to the plate. She's now House Targaryen chance at restoration. Same can probably be said of "aegon", who stayed hidden for decades, until he was of age.

Now is not what matters.

[Addam of Hull]

Really now? Dany was not even born when Robert stepped up to the plate. She's now House Targaryen chance at restoration. Same can probably be said of "aegon", who stayed hidden for decades, until he was of age.

Now is not what matters.

Now is exactly what matters. It's true that the future is definitely looming, but look at the situation in the North: a good portion of their healthy, working men are dead, they've missed numerous harvests, Winter is coming, there's still political unrest, and the chances of the Others breaching the Wall is so high, it's ridiculous. Any one of these situations would be trouble on its own, but they have to deal with all of them. In ten years, Rickon could be an excellent lord... but that's only if there's still a North to rule. The future is important, but what's going on now and dealing with that successfully is more important.

[TheTowerOfJoy]

Really now? Dany was not even born when Robert stepped up to the plate. She's now House Targaryen chance at restoration. Same can probably be said of "aegon", who stayed hidden for decades, until he was of age.

Now is not what matters.

There are immediate and imminent problems which a 6 year old child could not possibly be expected to resolve was the person's point. They would need someone to step in and be regent until Rickon was capable of leading...

[analeigh]

There are immediate and imminent problems which a 6 year old child could not possibly be expected to resolve was the person's point. They would need someone to step in and be regent until Rickon was capable of leading...

And that person could be Jon, since it's pretty much confirmed that Robb named him the heir in the will. Jon assumes the responsibility that Robb intended to pass along to him, all the while accepting that it will pass to Rickon when he comes of age as the true heir. If not Jon, even Stannis, Sansa if she comes North, or a council of the loyal Northern lords is capable of handling these problems for Rickon. I think ADWD showed that some of the Northern lords are capable of acting in the best interests for the North/the Starks and not for their own personal interests.

It might not be the ideal situation, but Rickon as a boy lord for the North isn't as bad as people seem to think. He's not meant to rule, he's going to be a figurehead, a representation of the power that the North can still muster despite its losses. Rickon is likely to have most of the Northern houses supporting him, including the clans of Skagos, and Stannis is on route to eliminate the few houses that stand to oppose him. Consolidate the North behind Rickon while the Southern lords are busy tackling the Aegon invasion and the Ironborn invasion in the Reach. Eventually, Sansa will likely align the North and the Vale in an alliance and as the South falls apart in Winter, the North behind Rickon is suddenly looking like a powerful force to reckoned with again.

Power resides where men believe it resides. And of the current boy lords in Westeros, the North might count their blessings that get to have a willful and tough boy like Rickon who has a ferocious direwolf to represent them, rather than a sick boy like Robert Arryn or a good-natured but weak boy like Tommen.

[TheTowerOfJoy]

And that person could be Jon, since it's pretty much confirmed that Robb named him the heir in the will. Jon assumes the responsibility that Robb intended to pass along to him, all the while accepting that it will pass to Rickon when he comes of age as the true heir. If not Jon, even Stannis, Sansa if she comes North, or a council of the loyal Northern lords is capable of handling these problems for Rickon. I think ADWD showed that some of the Northern lords are capable of acting in the best interests for the North/the Starks and not for their own personal interests.

It might not be the ideal situation, but Rickon as a boy lord for the North isn't as bad as people seem to think. He's not meant to rule, he's going to be a figurehead, a representation of the power that the North can still muster despite its losses. Rickon is likely to have most of the Northern houses supporting him, including the clans of Skagos, and Stannis is on route to eliminate the few houses that stand to oppose him. Consolidate the North behind Rickon while the Southern lords are busy tackling the Aegon invasion and the Ironborn invasion in the Reach. Eventually, Sansa will likely align the North and the Vale in an alliance and as the South falls apart in Winter, the North behind Rickon is suddenly looking like a powerful force to reckoned with again.

Power resides where men believe it resides. And of the current boy lords in Westeros, the North might count their blessings that get to have a willful and tough boy like Rickon who has a ferocious direwolf to represent them, rather than a sick boy like Robert Arryn or a good-natured but weak boy like Tommen.

Agreed, and I think that Jon, Stannis, Manderly, Howland Reed (my personal first choice) and heck, even Benjen Stark (if he ever shows back up) are all possibilities for regents. I'm not sure Sansa is ready for that responsibility herself yet, though by the time this next bit with the Vale unfolds she might be.