Rhaenys_Targaryen Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Maybe it's more simple. Maybe he saw Lyanna leaving with Rhaegar and she made him promise not to tell. And he didn't. Which has haunted him because she, Rickard and Brandon all died as a result. That is also possible, though I have to admit, I am convinced that Benjen was at Winterfell at that time, and Lyanna wasn't, so that scenario wouldn't work ;) Actually, Benjen was 15-16 when he joined the Watch, if you believe he did that just after the RR. Benjen joined within a few month after Ned returned (and Ned would have returned a few months after war's end), that is a known fact ;) I quoted the SSM earlier. Benjen would have been about 15 years old, perhap just turned 16, at the oldest. We have no idea whether he was only one year younger than Lyanna, or two, or three... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RainGhost Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Benjen should never have joined the NW before Robb came of age in case Ned died, which is exactly what happened and we see how that ended. Think how different things would have been if Benjen had never joined the NW. So I think he must have had a very good reason for joining. The only reason I can think of is that he had to join because he had done something: committed some crime, done something dishonourable, kept certain information secret, whatever. The fact that GRRM has refused to say supports this theory. Hopefully we'll find out in the next two books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poppa Chase Posted September 24, 2014 Author Share Posted September 24, 2014 That is also possible, though I have to admit, I am convinced that Benjen was at Winterfell at that time, and Lyanna wasn't, so that scenario wouldn't work ;) Benjen joined within a few month after Ned returned (and Ned would have returned a few months after war's end), that is a known fact ;) I quoted the SSM earlier.Benjen would have been about 15 years old, perhap just turned 16, at the oldest. We have no idea whether he was only one year younger than Lyanna, or two, or three...Where was she? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhaenys_Targaryen Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Where was she? That is, as of yet, still unknown, but I personally doubt that she was at Winterfell.. travelling from Winterfell to KL would mean Rhaegar passed Brandon and Rickard on the road at least once, as they were travelling from Winterfell to Riverrun, and the kingsroad takes a while before it splits into different directions. Also, the fact that Brandon went south, not north, could support that theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minsc Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 robb was in winterfell before ned came back from KL so when he saw that ned now also had a bastard that he could legitimize he probably got sad and went to the wall Actually, it was the other way around. Catelyn and Robb arrive at Winterfell after Ned and Jon, which is just insult on injury, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhaenys_Targaryen Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Actually, it was the other way around. Catelyn and Robb arrive at Winterfell after Ned and Jon, which is just insult on injury, Was Ned there as well? Jon and his wetnurse were at Winterfell, definitly. But didn't Ned go to get Catelyn (either directly from KL, thereby sending Jon ahead, or from Winterfell, having dropped Jon off, and then went south again to Riverrun)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuem Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Ill say between 10-15 years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ingelheim Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Ill say between 10-15 years It's confirmed he's been in the NW for more than 16 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falstaff_Stark Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 high rank in the Night's Watch is a birthright for younger sons and Stark bastards. Remember when Sam recounts the list of LCs and all the ones young as or younger than Jon were Starks or stark by-blows. If you think about it in a feudal sense, 14-15 is the age for high ranking nobles to receive knighthood and a living from land, I.e., holdfast, castle, or garrison command. If a plum spot isn't open, and Benjen expressed interest I. The NW, it would be consented to and probably blest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Mountain That Flies Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 high rank in the Night's Watch is a birthright for younger sons and Stark bastards. Remember when Sam recounts the list of LCs and all the ones young as or younger than Jon were Starks or stark by-blows. If you think about it in a feudal sense, 14-15 is the age for high ranking nobles to receive knighthood and a living from land, I.e., holdfast, castle, or garrison command. If a plum spot isn't open, and Benjen expressed interest I. The NW, it would be consented to and probably blest. I've no doubts Benjen was interested in the Watch from before partially because of the long Stark affiliation with the Wall. That said, his family had just gone through major upheaval and were not in the same political position as before. There had to have been an impetus that prevented him from waiting a few years until Robb lived past infancy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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