Wandering the Riverlands

[Ser Leftwich]

From AWoIaF:

"As cold winds hammered the city, King Aerys II turned to his pyromancers, charging them to drive the winter off with their magics. Huge green fires burned along the walls of the Red Keep for a moon’s turn. Prince Rhaegar was not in the city to observe them, however. Nor could he be found in Dragonstone with Princess Elia and their young son, Aegon. With the coming of the new year, the crown prince had taken to the road with half a dozen of his closest friends and confidants, on a journey that would ultimately lead him back to the riverlands, not ten leagues from Harrenhal . . . where Rhaegar would once again come face-to-face with Lyanna Stark of Winterfell, and with her light a fire that would consume his house and kin and all those he loved—and half the realm besides."

From a Clash of Kings:

Jaime poured the last half cup of wine. “He rode into the Red Keep with a few companions, shouting for Prince Rhaegar to come out and die. But Rhaegar wasn’t there. Aerys sent his guards to arrest them all for plotting his son’s murder. The others were lords’ sons too, it seems to me.” “Ethan Glover was Brandon’s squire,” Catelyn said. “He was the only one to survive. The others were Jeffory Mallister, Kyle Royce, and Elbert Arryn, Jon Arryn’s nephew and heir.” - ACoK p. 797

Also something to consider is, what is the errand that Brandon was running after the duel with Petyr.

Interesting that we have two parties of young men riding around the Riverlands, after the return of the winter. What are they up to? Are they working towards different goals? Or the same?

[Father of Hosts]

Now this could be way out of left field but:

Suppose Rhaegar was succeeded in his recruitment of the high lords to a Great council. Two highborn heirs riding around with his not so highborn *single* friends (Arryn being the exception). They might have been shoring up alliances with other minor lords. Marrying off his friends so that when the Council was called, almost the entirety of the realm is being influenced in some way.

This also implies that Rickard told Brandon and that means Brandon was way more hot-headed and dumb than had previously been speculated.

ETA: Rhaegar too.