A wild wolf and a mad king...

[nyser1]

We all know that Brandon Stark rode to the Red Keep to demand that Rhaegar "come out and die". While Aerys obviously saw this as an affront to himself and his house, let's entertain two work streams:

 

1). Let's take into account recent events.

• Aerys and Rhaegar had a stormy relationship.
• Aerys was not kind to Rhaegar, Elia, or their daughter.
• Aerys considered making Viserys his heir
• Pycelle's description of the state of affairs + the circumstances around the tourney of Harrenhal make a break seem feasible.
• Throw in Tywin Lannister's words at Duskendale and his relationship with Aerys and a civil war seems even more feasible. 

With that said, what if the Stark incident + his own paranoia incited him to start a war? Baratheon/Stark/Targ/?? Versus Rhaegar/Lannister/???

 

 

2). What could Aerys have done differently (realistically) here? How does he satisfy the Starks yet still punish Brandon for threatening his heir?

[Impbread]

22 minutes ago, nyser1 said:

We all know that Brandon Stark rode to the Red Keep to demand that Rhaegar "come out and die". While Aerys obviously saw this as an affront to himself and his house, let's entertain two work streams:

 

1). Let's take into account recent events.

• Aerys and Rhaegar had a stormy relationship.
• Aerys was not kind to Rhaegar, Elia, or their daughter.
• Aerys considered making Viserys his heir
• Pycelle's description of the state of affairs + the circumstances around the tourney of Harrenhal make a break seem feasible.
• Throw in Tywin Lannister's words at Duskendale and his relationship with Aerys and a civil war seems even more feasible. 

With that said, what if the Stark incident + his own paranoia incited him to start a war? Baratheon/Stark/Targ/?? Versus Rhaegar/Lannister/???

 

 

2). What could Aerys have done differently (realistically) here? How does he satisfy the Starks yet still punish Brandon for threatening his heir?

Make him take the black.

[Saer]

He could attaint Rhaegar as a traitor. That might prevent a civil war, if he didn't disinherit Elia's children.

[Corvo the Crow]

There are also things Rhaegar could have done after Brandon, his companions and Rickard were dead;

He was, up until then, popular, or at least not unpopular among lords. He has the loyalty of at least 3 of the 7 kg, rest would follow suit. He sends ravens to the lords and takes down his father, sending  him to NW. With some compensation, he could come to terms with most of the affected parties. With Lyanna’s help, Eddard would be prevented from going into battle and can perhaps arrenged a marriage with Ashara, Benjen can always be married to Catelyn. Only real problem would be Robert but he can always be replaced with Stannis. If Necessary, Elia can be sent to the Silent Sisters so Rhaegar can marry Lyanna.

 

[nyser1]

5 hours ago, Corvo the Crow said:

There are also things Rhaegar could have done after Brandon, his companions and Rickard were dead;

He was, up until then, popular, or at least not unpopular among lords. He has the loyalty of at least 3 of the 7 kg, rest would follow suit. He sends ravens to the lords and takes down his father, sending  him to NW. With some compensation, he could come to terms with most of the affected parties. With Lyanna’s help, Eddard would be prevented from going into battle and can perhaps arrenged a marriage with Ashara, Benjen can always be married to Catelyn. Only real problem would be Robert but he can always be replaced with Stannis. If Necessary, Elia can be sent to the Silent Sisters so Rhaegar can marry Lyanna.

 

Fair points, but it does not even need to get to that. It would have taken quite a bit of a time for word to get to Rickard and Rickard to get to KL. There's plenty of room for action.