What if Benjen had never joined the Night's Watch ?

[Terrorthatflapsinthenight9]

What would have possibly happened in the story if Benjen Stark had never left his family and Winterfell to join the Night's Watch and had instead stayed at Ned's side ? How much do you think that this change in history would have affected the greater plot of ASOIAF ?

What position Benjen may have gotten by staying with his family ? If he was married with who do you think that he could have married amongst the North families ?

Also where would he have been and what could have his actions and importance during the events of AGOT, ACOK, ASOS and possibly during the books after ?

Would Jon Snow have still joined the Night's Watch if his uncle hadn't joined in the first place ?

[Canon Claude]

1 hour ago, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said:

What position Benjen may have gotten by staying with his family ?

Presumably some sort of position in Ned’s household, and when the Gift was repopulated, Benjen would certainly have gotten his own keep and plot of land.

2 hours ago, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said:

If he was married with who do you think that he could have married amongst the North families ?

My guess is he’d have married Jonelle Cerwyn. 
 

 

2 hours ago, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said:

Also where would he have been and what could have his actions and importance during the events of AGOT, ACOK, ASOS and possibly during the books after ?

Presumably he’d be the Stark in Winterfell while Robb was still under age. That means he’d be the one in charge, and since we don’t know as much about Benjen, we don’t know how he’d have reacted to Ned’s arrest. Everything is up in the air.

2 hours ago, Terrorthatflapsinthenight9 said:

Would Jon Snow have still joined the Night's Watch if his uncle hadn't joined in the first place ?

Probably. The Starks have a long history with the Nights Watch, and Catelyn despised Jon. 

[Rondo]

Ben's prospects were few.  Is Ned okay with having to support his brother beneath his roof?  Ned Stark is not rich like Walder Frey.  Supporting Ben would tax his household.  Ben would have kids eventually and they too will be extra mouths to feed.  

[Minsc]

Ned should have given Benjen an empty holdfast and had it so Benjen fostered Jon away from Winterfell.

[Nathan Stark]

One probable change is that House Stark becomes a lot more difficult to wipe out. If Benjen has legitimate children, there's another line of Stark heirs other than Ned's. That being the case, and all other things staying the same, I doubt something like the Red Wedding is likely. The Freys only made that move because they believed there weren't any Starks left to retaliate. Also, would the Ironborn have been as unexpectedly succesful if Benjen or his children were around to rally the North?

[WhatAnArtist!]

On 11/25/2021 at 4:50 AM, Rondo said:

Ben's prospects were few.  Is Ned okay with having to support his brother beneath his roof?  Ned Stark is not rich like Walder Frey.  Supporting Ben would tax his household.  Ben would have kids eventually and they too will be extra mouths to feed.  

Ned Stark is like.... the last lord that would ever kick out family from his home so long as he was there. 

[Lord Lannister]

It's possible Robb might have ended up going with Ned to King's Landing if Benjen was around to rule in the North. Perhaps Ned's whole household since Benjen would be around to hold the Fort.

[Willam Stark]

He would have founded a new cadet branch of House Stark by marrying a Northern lady (Jonelle Cerwynn is a good match) and fathering children. 

[James Steller]

On 11/24/2021 at 12:27 PM, Canon Claude said:

My guess is he’d have married Jonelle Cerwyn. 

 

3 hours ago, Willam Stark said:

He would have founded a new cadet branch of House Stark by marrying a Northern lady (Jonelle Cerwynn is a good match) and fathering children. 

Come to think of it, if Benjen had married Jonelle Cerwyn back then, it would have been over a decade before Cley was born. So Benjen might have changed his surname to Cerwyn as the presumed successor to Medger. He wouldn't be living at Winterfell.

[Canon Claude]

1 hour ago, James Steller said:

 

Come to think of it, if Benjen had married Jonelle Cerwyn back then, it would have been over a decade before Cley was born. So Benjen might have changed his surname to Cerwyn as the presumed successor to Medger. He wouldn't be living at Winterfell.

That does raise a question; in that scenario, what would happen when Clay was born? Benjen and Jonelle would have been assumed heirs, and would likely have children by then. Does Cley have to find something else to do, or does Benjen get sent back to Winterfell with his disinherited family in tow? 

[Floki of the Ironborn]

10 minutes ago, Canon Claude said:

That does raise a question; in that scenario, what would happen when Clay was born? Benjen and Jonelle would have been assumed heirs, and would likely have children by then. Does Cley have to find something else to do, or does Benjen get sent back to Winterfell with his disinherited family in tow? 

Cley would probably have been encouraged to join the Nights Watch. Eventually, he'd become Lord Commander if he lived long enough.

[EggBlue]

10 hours ago, Canon Claude said:

That does raise a question; in that scenario, what would happen when Clay was born? Benjen and Jonelle would have been assumed heirs, and would likely have children by then. Does Cley have to find something else to do, or does Benjen get sent back to Winterfell with his disinherited family in tow? 

Cerwyns would have let Ben and his family stay a part of their household and live as heirs and eventually probably castellans. it is also possible that Cerwyn and Ned would give them a piece of land or keep; though I imagine if Clay and his children take Cerwyn lands, Ben keeps his Stark name and make a cadet branch of house Stark instead of Cerwyn. 

[Arthur Peres]

Benjen would be a lord in his own name with kids and a castle.

I don't see why Benjen would that the name of a lesser house, Lancel didn't took the name of Darry when he was to became lord neither Ramsey took the name of Stark. The few times we know it happened was when a lesser lord took over a bigger house like Lyden taking the Lannister name. 

[Arthur Peres]

On 11/26/2021 at 11:12 AM, Lord Lannister said:

It's possible Robb might have ended up going with Ned to King's Landing if Benjen was around to rule in the North. Perhaps Ned's whole household since Benjen would be around to hold the Fort.

I doubt it.

Ned would still use it as oportunity for Robb to learn how to rule. The biggest change is that Benjen reaction to Ned imprison might be diferent, and the northem army does not march south. I remember that Catelyn though of it as a foolish and imature decision, but she couldn't overule it without destroying Robb's reputation with the bannerman.

If Robb still overrule Benjen and march, or Benjen just agree with his decision, then is more then likely that Benjen would be the one leading the infatry instead of Roose.

[Here's Looking At You, Kid]

Shortage of leadership doomed the Starks.  The north was left in the hands of Robb and Bran.  Boys.  Benjen would stay behind when Ned took Robert's offer and rule the north on his behalf.  Good for the Starks with no chance for Theon to betray them.  

[Hazel-rah]

Betcha Ned would have him bethrothed to Barbrey Dustin pretty quickly

[Daeron the Daring]

On 11/24/2021 at 7:50 PM, Rondo said:

Ned Stark is not rich like Walder Frey.

The wealth of House Stark and House Frey are probably incomparable. One rules a kingdom where around 5 million people live, the other one a crossing, with possibly a few hundred thousand people living on their lands. Walder Frey is 'rich' in the sense that their house was able to quickly amass a larger wealth than other bannermen of house Tully around themselves. Ice alone is probably worth more than the lands of House Frey. Not to mention the difference in the position of power they have.

On 11/24/2021 at 7:50 PM, Rondo said:

Supporting Ben would tax his household.  Ben would have kids eventually and they too will be extra mouths to feed.  

This is just nonsense. If Eddard was to mistreat Benjen, he would be a much much bigger competition to his and his descendant's rule. Historycally, figures like Benjen should be the second most powerful men of the North, right after Ned, so long as Robb is young and all. And when he joined the NW, he was. 

And on the other hand, this is something Ned Stark would never do, especially not for the expenses, since those would be, well, not worth to ever mention.

[Loose Bolt]

7 hours ago, Hazel-rah said:

Betcha Ned would have him bethrothed to Barbrey Dustin pretty quickly

I agree. After all it is very odd that Ned allowed Barbrey run House Dustin without making sure that she would marry someone who is loyal to him.

[BlackLightning]

On 11/24/2021 at 11:50 AM, Rondo said:

Ben's prospects were few.  Is Ned okay with having to support his brother beneath his roof?  Ned Stark is not rich like Walder Frey.  Supporting Ben would tax his household.  Ben would have kids eventually and they too will be extra mouths to feed.  

I completely disagree.

There's more than enough room in Winterfell. And if a lord like Ned can afford to have a bunch of lemons and other citrus fruits shipped from Dorne frequently enough for Sansa to develop a deep love for the dessert then he can afford to feed Benjen, his wife and kids.

16 hours ago, Hazel-rah said:

Betcha Ned would have him bethrothed to Barbrey Dustin pretty quickly

Yeah it would've gotten her off of his back a little.

Barbrey Dustin is, in fact, a good match for Benjen.

On 11/27/2021 at 1:03 PM, Arthur Peres said:

I doubt it.

Ned would still use it as oportunity for Robb to learn how to rule. The biggest change is that Benjen reaction to Ned imprison might be diferent, and the northem army does not march south. I remember that Catelyn though of it as a foolish and imature decision, but she couldn't overule it without destroying Robb's reputation with the bannerman.

If Robb still overrule Benjen and march, or Benjen just agree with his decision, then is more then likely that Benjen would be the one leading the infatry instead of Roose.

Oh, so you really think Bran would have been left to oversee affairs at Winterfell if Benjen were around?

[Angel Eyes]

13 hours ago, Loose Bolt said:

I agree. After all it is very odd that Ned allowed Barbrey run House Dustin without making sure that she would marry someone who is loyal to him.

Contrast with the Northern lords lining up at the door when Donella Hornwood was widowed.