Would Ned have actually taken the Black?

[theblackdragonI]

Basically what the title says. If he confessed his "sins" and Jofferey didn't cut off his head, would Ned have actually taken the Black? Or would he have raised the North, Riverlands and possibly the Vale in rebellion like Robb did. Also, do you think if it had been Ned who led the armies of the North and Trident, would he have won?

[Nocturne]

He would have raised his army, i'm sure about it. Ned is as honourable as they come, he wouldn't forgive the death of his men, and the shaming of his house.

I know some will argue that because of his honour he would have taken the black, but i really don't think that would be the case here. This wasn't a royal command by somebody that had any right to give it.

[The North Forgot]

If Joff didn't have Ser Ilyn lop his head off, Ned would still have to confess to his crimes in front of the royal court and most of King's Landing, and then be taken to the wall probably with an "honour guard" to make sure he gets there with no chance of raising any banners. Also, with Ned's sense of honour, I don't see him saying he'll take the black and then start a rebellion.

[theblackdragonI]

5 minutes ago, Nocturne said:

He would have raised his army, i'm sure about it. Ned is as honourable as they come, he wouldn't forgive the death of his men, and the shaming of his house.

I know some will argue that because of his honour he would have taken the black, but i really don't think that would be the case here. This wasn't a royal command by somebody that had any right to give it.

Yeah he might not recognise Joff's authority to issue commands as he is a bastard? 

2 minutes ago, The North Forgot said:

If Joff didn't have Ser Ilyn lop his head off, Ned would still have to confess to his crimes in front of the royal court and most of King's Landing, and then be taken to the wall probably with an "honour guard" to make sure he gets there with no chance of raising any banners. Also, with Ned's sense of honour, I don't see him saying he'll take the black and then start a rebellion.

How much of an honour guard would they send? Especially with the Lannisters invading the Riverlands. If they sent an escort by land, he would be set free immediately by the Tullys or BWB. If by sea, then maybe be Stannis or if not, definitely White Harbour.

I'm torn. I can see Ned feeling bound by duty to both join the Watch as he'd given his word regardless to who he gave it to. But, he might get Robb to swear to support Stannis?

[The North Forgot]

1 minute ago, theblackdragonI said:

How much of an honour guard would they send? Especially with the Lannisters invading the Riverlands. If they sent an escort by land, he would be set free immediately by the Tullys or BWB. If by sea, then maybe be Stannis or if not, definitely White Harbour.

I'm torn. I can see Ned feeling bound by duty to both join the Watch as he'd given his word regardless to who he gave it to. But, he might get Robb to swear to support Stannis?

I'd imagine Ned would be forced to write Robb, telling him to stand down and bend the knee. Remember, Sansa is still supposed to marry Joff at this time, and part of the deal could be Robb acknowledges Joff as the rightful King, Ned goes to the Wall, Robb is new Lord Paramount, Sansa still marries Joff to make sure the North doesn't have second thoughts.

Then again, that would be (IMO) the best political solution, and there's no way Joff would agree to that, regency or not, he is the king, no matter what Cersei says. Only way I could see that as a possibility considering the characters involved is Tywin takes control of it.

[theblackdragonI]

Do you think Ned would put more importance on Stannis' claim and Robert's legacy than his daughter's life? Just curious.  

[The North Forgot]

Quote

"I want you to serve the realm," Varys said. "Tell the queen that you will confess your vile treason, command your son to lay down his sword, and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir. Offer to denounce Stannis and Renly as faithless usurpers. Our green-eyed lioness knows you are a man of honor. If you will give her the peace she needs and the time to deal with Stannis, and pledge to carry her secret to your grave, I believe she will allow you to take the black and live out the rest of your days on the Wall, with your brother and that baseborn son of yours."

Quote

"No," Ned pleaded, his voice cracking. "Varys, gods have mercy, do as you like with me, but leave my daughter out of your schemes. Sansa's no more than a child."

"Rhaenys was a child too. Prince Rhaegar's daughter. A precious little thing, younger than your girls. She had a small black kitten she called Balerion, did you know? I always wondered what happened to him. Rhaenys liked to pretend he was the true Balerion, the Black Dread of old, but I imagine the Lannisters taught her the difference between a kitten and a dragon quick enough, the day they broke down her door." Varys gave a long weary sigh, the sigh of a man who carried all the sadness of the world in a sack upon his shoulders. "The High Septon once told me that as we sin, so do we suffer. If that's true, Lord Eddard, tell me … why is it always the innocents who suffer most, when you high lords play your game of thrones? Ponder it, if you would, while you wait upon the queen. And spare a thought for this as well: The next visitor who calls on you could bring you bread and cheese and the milk of the poppy for your pain … or he could bring you Sansa's head.

"The choice, my dear lord Hand, is entirely yours."

Both these quotes are from Eddard XV AGOT

Considering how we've seen earlier the the book how much he cares for his children, I don't doubt for a second Ned would take the deal. Remember even while he's in the Black Cells, Ned is still the Lord Paramount of the North, if he tells his bannermen to stand down and accept Joffrey as their King it doesn't matter what Robb thinks, he's not lord of anything until Ned's either dead or has taken the black.

Of course Robb might rebel afterwards, but by then Ned would have taken the black.

[theblackdragonI]

1 hour ago, The North Forgot said:

Both these quotes are from Eddard XV AGOT

Considering how we've seen earlier the the book how much he cares for his children, I don't doubt for a second Ned would take the deal. Remember even while he's in the Black Cells, Ned is still the Lord Paramount of the North, if he tells his bannermen to stand down and accept Joffrey as their King it doesn't matter what Robb thinks, he's not lord of anything until Ned's either dead or has taken the black.

Of course Robb might rebel afterwards, but by then Ned would have taken the black.

You're probably right. I mean the main driving force for Robb to rebel was that they had imprisoned Ned. If Ned was safely on the wall, there would be no reason to rebel for Robb. Bar Sansa, but I don't see the northern lords fully committing to get back Sansa, if Ned himself was on the Wall and wasn't going to war. It would be cool though if Ned was at the Wall with Jon, he would definitely become Lord Commander.

[delspark]

Ned and honor are two sides of the same coin. He will take the black because he is not smart enough to be a player to gather army on the way to the wall. No second guessing it.

[The Lord of the Crossing]

4 hours ago, theblackdragonI said:

Basically what the title says. If he confessed his "sins" and Jofferey didn't cut off his head, would Ned have actually taken the Black? Or would he have raised the North, Riverlands and possibly the Vale in rebellion like Robb did. Also, do you think if it had been Ned who led the armies of the North and Trident, would he have won?

• Yes, Eddard would do as he agreed to, but somewhere between King's Landing and the Wall, Varys would find a way to recruit him for Team Targaryen Restoration.  Eddard may or may not agree, but the bald one will give him a choice. 
• If Eddard had been in command instead of Robb?  They will still need to make a deal with the Lord of the Crossing.  I believe the deal would basically be the same, Robb marrying one of the Freys.  Eddard would keep Robb in line and force him to honor their oaths.  The Starks would behave honorably under Ned and keep their promise to Walder.  And that might just win them the war, if it came to it.  But, like I said, Ned would take the Black.

[Protagoras]

It is just because Ned IS honourable (compared with so many other Starks who are said to be) that makes me think that he actually will take the black - because he swore to do so (or would, in that case). Compare with the execution of Lady - Ned didn´t try to save or get her out of there, since Ned had promised he would deal with her personally. His word supercedes right, wrong or other factors. That is what honourable means (in part at least) - to keep your word regardless of your own personal feelings.

[Tonberry]

Not necessarily for the sake of his honor (Ned knows that oaths taken under threat are dubious), but he would have complied for the sake of Sansa for sure.

[Ser Frasier of House Crane]

I think he would've done so because his honor and Sansa's safety were paramount, but I think he nevertheless would've "pulled the strings" as it were to advise Robb on what to do.

[Trigger Warning]

Yes. 

He did it to save Sansa, he wouldn't confess his treason at all if he had no intention of going through with taking the black.

[YOVMO]

13 hours ago, theblackdragonI said:

Basically what the title says. If he confessed his "sins" and Jofferey didn't cut off his head, would Ned have actually taken the Black? Or would he have raised the North, Riverlands and possibly the Vale in rebellion like Robb did. Also, do you think if it had been Ned who led the armies of the North and Trident, would he have won?

No Jaquen would have killed him and stolen his face on the way to the wall and then taken power at the wall thanks to neds status as part of the FM plan to bring down the wall

[Lord Wraith]

14 hours ago, Lame Lothar Frey said:

• Yes, Eddard would do as he agreed to, but somewhere between King's Landing and the Wall, Varys would find a way to recruit him for Team Targaryen Restoration.  Eddard may or may not agree, but the bald one will give him a choice. 
• If Eddard had been in command instead of Robb?  They will still need to make a deal with the Lord of the Crossing.  I believe the deal would basically be the same, Robb marrying one of the Freys.  Eddard would keep Robb in line and force him to honor their oaths.  The Starks would behave honorably under Ned and keep their promise to Walder.  And that might just win them the war, if it came to it.  But, like I said, Ned would take the Black.

Yup Varys would have attempted to collect him if Eddard's infected leg didn't kill him first.

[Lurid Jester]

Yes he'd have taken the black for at least two reasons.  The first is that he said he would, and the second being that Sansa would basically be a hostage in KL. whether she remained betrothed to Joffrey nor not, Cersie would hold onto her to ensure Ned's compliance. 

 

[Neds Secret]

I doubt even GRRM knows what Ned would have done if Joffrey did not order his execution. Would LF even have allowed him to live with his Knowledge of LFs betrayal, Ned living on would be a very dangerous situation for Baelish!

[Duranaparthur]

In theory, Ned could have successfully taken the Black, Robb and the Northmen might have been brought back into an alliance with the Iron Throne, possibly even as allies (the Baratheon brothers are already making countermoves), and maybe Robb could have gotten his sister back in exchange for Jaime, since Eddard would likely have been given to Yoren's custody and may be able to smuggle Arya out of the city. It's not necessarily a stable situation (the Starks and Lannisters still despise each other) but it's possible...

...But not with Littlefinger and Joffrey.

[Chris Mormont]

Ned would have went to the Wall and taken the Black in order to save Sansa. If it weren't for Sansa, he would not have confessed and he would have happily died instead of forsaking his honor, which is what he did when he proclaimed Joff King.