R+L=J v.51

[Alia of the knife]

Before this degenerates into a ToJ thread, I want to toss something new-ish out there.

I proposed something in a thread about Arthurian parallels that might have some traction here. As part of a discussion about the shifting nature of the Arthurian parallels, I made a case that on some levels you can see a Gwenhyfar-Lancelot parallel with R+L. (Rather than explain the entire thing, here is the link http://asoiaf.wester...t/#entry4423029)

The key bit that I think transfers over here is the Lyanna as Gwenhyfar the captive queen analogy. In many versions of that particular story, Lancelot's "kidnapping" of Gwenhyfar is actually a rescue. The king (Arthur) has discovered their affair and condemned Gwenhyfar to death by fire. What I suggested is that in this case the King (Aerys) may have actually discovered Lyanna's KotLT deception (did it take him months of "investigating" to figure it out, or perhaps months or arguing with his eldest son?) and sent soldiers to bring her to face the King's "Justice" We know from Jaime that by this stage, Aerys' idea of justice was fire. Rhaegar's "kidnapping" may have been an actual rescue of a highborn maiden condemned to death by the Mad King.

Aside from the continuation of a great number of parallels that I mention in the other thread, what I like about this is what it explains:

- Lyanna taken at "sword point." Aerys' soldiers indeed attempt take her at sword point, and state their intention of taking her to KL, only to be foiled by the dramatic "rescue" by Rhaegar, Ser Arthur and Ser Oswell

- Brandon galloping to KL. Smallfolk "witnesses" have no idea what is happening except that men with swords are shouting about King's Landing and the Crown Prince and 2 KG take off with Lyanna Stark. Brandon the hothead hears the confused tale and gallops off to "rescue" his sister

- Stark family reaction. Rhaegar has the foresight to notify Lord Rickard. Brandon, being absent, does not get the memo. Rickard knows his daughter is safe, alerts his second son of that fact, and goes to try to save his heir from the Mad King

- Rhaegar's abandonment of Elia. Not necessarily premeditated in this case. All the other factors would still apply- Elia's inability to have another child, Rhaegar's obsession with having three heirs and his fascination with the young Miss Stark. But the actual kidnapping would originate as something more honorable, and the affair would happen more organically

Finally, and for me the single thing that set me on this train of thought- when Lancelot rescues Gwenhyfar, he flees with her to his castle Joyous Gard, where they remain for a year before Lancelot perishes in a battle fought in her name.

As always, good stuff, :bowdown: and it would definitely explain many things.

[Jory Cassel]

Well, there's neither factual evidence that L+R were married, nor is there clear evidence against it.

The fact that there were three of the Kingsguard at the ToJ strongly implies that they were married

and Jon thus is the legitimate heir.

Leaving the problem of convincing all the lords/the public, if this were to be true

[FrozenFire3]

snip

This. Is. Intriguing. It would cast a much darker shadow on the relation between father and son. Deepen their drift. Would in such scenario Aerys discover Rhaegar deliberately hid the identity of the KotLT? With what consequences? Could the long seclusion be explained not only as 'idle hedonism' but also a necessity to bargain from a higher ground? From a safer position? What about Hightower? Simple messanger or appointed envoy with a dealing mandate?

The theory would also fit with the much discussed theme of fate following non linear paths and being set in motion by incidental/tangential events...

Btw this tower of joy seems to have quite a lot historical and/or legendary precedents (Joyous Gard castle, the tower of Joy of the Hill etc.) LOL

[FrozenFire3]

I KNOW, and I usually bow out of those discussions, because I really don't have much to contribute considering I think it's pretty obvious why they are there regardless of the nature of the KG.

That was the reason I started a TOJ/KG thread of it's own some time back.

That image is so haunting, :crying:

There is an actual photo of a wolf mother touching noses with her pup I'll have to find that reminds me so much of this, or at least conjures up the image of Lyannas few precious moments with Jon

Edit: Wolf Mother and Pup:

http://www.zooborns....76955970c-800wi

Aww :crying:

The 'wolfish' gesture is in stark - no pun intended - contrast with the Targaryen cloth/blanket... Makes me think of a certain bridal cloak possibly hidden in the crypts ;)

[finger]

Well. It seems we have to come back to ToJ.

I've liked the parallel with Gwenhyfar and Lancelot, and it might be more precise that you say.

G+L had an affair and it was by not means legal. They didn't have an intent of producing any offspring, either, They just loved each other.

R might have rescued L, but from Robert, not Aerys. It is apparent that L dind't love Robert; hers was a political marriage, framed into his father's southron ambitions.

Highborn people were used to move around with an escort. No wonder R went with a couple KG with him. I don't find it strange they started by showing off their steel, in order to discourage any opposition. Of course, L was waiting for them to arrive at any moment; it was she who called on R.

It doesn't make much sense that L was Aerys' captive. I guess Aerys had other issues to worry about, rather than some fake knight in a tourney. And it would be an act of open rebellion from R to Aerys, all that with the help of two KG.... It doesn't work, imo.

Another detail is about Hightower. He's said to be sent by Aerys to look for R, so that he commands the host. He delivers the message and stays in ToJ, while R sets out to eventually be killed on the Trident. Doubts arise:

First. The LC used as a common courier? Isn't it vastly queer? All but anyone is good enough to deliver a message, as we can see through the series.

Second. Even though ToJ was supposed to be a secret place, Hightower doesn't seem to have much problem in finding it. Was it not so secret?

Third. Hightower must have been sent by Aerys, who would give him instructions. Did he have to stay at R's orders? Or was he commanded to stay at ToJ by Aerys? If the latter, what for?

All this points to a hidden purpose. What was it?

[Alia of the knife]

Aww :crying:

The 'wolfish' gesture is in stark - no pun intended - contrast with the Targaryen cloth/blanket... Makes me think of a certain bridal cloak possibly hidden in the crypts ;)

Absolutely my suspicions. :)

Also, referencing the animal projects thread, Ned as a Beta wolf fits perfectly the protector and teacher of "pups,' and not just his own, but we see that same concern mirrored in his outrage over the slaughter of Elias children and the suggestion of killing Dany and her child. In retrospect, though Jons fate is a big part of it, it may be a critical factor in the Beta nature of Ned to nurture the offspring.

Though just as fierce and lethal as the Alpha, the Beta is more patient, and kinder. We see two events that cause a rift between himself and Robert, his adopted pack brother, and it's the slaughter, or the suggested slaughter of the "pups," which is very different from the "lions."

Well. It seems we have to come back to ToJ.

I've liked the parallel with Gwenhyfar and Lancelot, and it might be more precise that you say.

G+L had an affair and it was by not means legal. They didn't have an intent of producing any offspring, either, They just loved each other.

R might have rescued L, but from Robert, not Aerys. It is apparent that L dind't love Robert; hers was a political marriage, framed into his father's southron ambitions.

Highborn people were used to move around with an escort. No wonder R went with a couple KG with him. I don't find it strange they started by showing off their steel, in order to discourage any opposition. Of course, L was waiting for them to arrive at any moment; it was she who called on R.

It doesn't make much sense that L was Aerys' captive. I guess Aerys had other issues to worry about, rather than some fake knight in a tourney. And it would be an act of open rebellion from R to Aerys, all that with the help of two KG.... It doesn't work, imo.

Another detail is about Hightower. He's said to be sent by Aerys to look for R, so that he commands the host. He delivers the message and stays in ToJ, while R sets out to eventually be killed on the Trident. Doubts arise:

First. The LC used as a common courier? Isn't it vastly queer? All but anyone is good enough to deliver a message, as we can see through the series.

Second. Even though ToJ was supposed to be a secret place, Hightower doesn't seem to have much problem in finding it. Was it not so secret?

Third. Hightower must have been sent by Aerys, who would give him instructions. Did he have to stay at R's orders? Or was he commanded to stay at ToJ by Aerys? If the latter, what for?

All this points to a hidden purpose. What was it?

Martin did say that there was a lot of tension between Rhaegar and Aerys, even prior to the Harrenhal events, so choosing his heart may be a big part of that.

In terms of Hightower, the App. stated that Aerys ordered HIghtower to find Rhaegar and bring him back. I assume that he went there to escort him back to KL, but then Rhaegar ordered Hightower to stay and "guard" Lyanna along with Whent and Dayne.

I suppose one might conclude that perhaps someone knew where the TOJ was.

[MtnLion]

Spending a couple of months in the Dornish sun knowing things are getting rough in KL and at the trident is the same thing for me, regardless of the information problem. But you can reread my argumentation there as well.

I am sure that had he had his twitter feed running he would have been back in time to save both. But, unfortunately the raven mail and messenger advised him that things had happened, rather than were about to happen.

[Lady Gwynhyfvar]

This. Is. Intriguing. It would cast a much darker shadow on the relation between father and son. Deepen their drift. Would in such scenario Aerys discover Rhaegar deliberately hid the identity of the KotLT? With what consequences? Could the long seclusion be explained not only as 'idle hedonism' but also a necessity to bargain from a higher ground? From a safer position? What about Hightower? Simple messanger or appointed envoy with a dealing mandate?

The theory would also fit with the much discussed theme of fate following non linear paths and being set in motion by incidental/tangential events...

Btw this tower of joy seems to have quite a lot historical and/or legendary precedents (Joyous Gard castle, the tower of Joy of the Hill etc.) LOL

I imagine as a paranoid madman, Aerys may have obsessed about tKotLT. If he discovered by chance, or by interrogation of the three knights and/or their squires, that his son- the very person he was deeply suspicious of- had known the truth all along and that it was none other than the girl he singled out at the Tourney, wouldn't Aerys' paranoia have led him to see conspiracies blooming? Ordering the seizure of the girl may have been only the beginning of a crackdown and his deep suspicions being now focused on the Starks would explain his irrational slaughter of Lord Rickard, his heir and his bannermen.

The interlude at the Tower may have been a safe house for Lyanna, and perhaps Rhaegar felt his father would "cool down" after a time. Of course, a downward spiral of events prevented that happening. Maybe Hightower was sent by Aerys to find Rhaegar, but the real message may have been- "you've got to help us, your father's come unmoored!"

Tragedy upon tragedy :(

[The guy from the Vale]

@Lady G:

Definitely an interesting theory. Not the only way I can see things shaking out, but still one to keep in mind. I've long held that Rhaegar as a political agent is underestimated by the fandom.

However, I admit I have a harder time than in other such theories to find a way how these two got married - it is really much less necessary in this scenario than in others.

That is no real counterevidence, of course, just a thought on the issues this one has with the standard parameters of R+L=J.

[Lady Gwynhyfvar]

@Lady G:

Definitely an interesting theory. Not the only way I can see things shaking out, but still one to keep in mind. I've long held that Rhaegar as a political agent is underestimated by the fandom.

However, I admit I have a harder time than in other such theories to find a way how these two got married - it is really much less necessary in this scenario than in others.

That is no real counterevidence, of course, just a thought on the issues this one has with the standard parameters of R+L=J.

That's a very good point and one I'm conscious of. The problem is that we can never seem to come up with a scenario that resolves all of the issues at once, obviously because there is a key link missing in the chain of evidence.

/sigh/

Still, more fun (IMO) to think about things like this than other slightly more /ahem/ well worn topics ;)

[Ser Creighton]

I imagine as a paranoid madman, Aerys may have obsessed about tKotLT. If he discovered by chance, or by interrogation of the three knights and/or their squires, that his son- the very person he was deeply suspicious of- had known the truth all along and that it was none other than the girl he singled out at the Tourney, wouldn't Aerys' paranoia have led him to see conspiracies blooming? Ordering the seizure of the girl may have been only the beginning of a crackdown and his deep suspicions being now focused on the Starks would explain his irrational slaughter of Lord Rickard, his heir and his bannermen.

The interlude at the Tower may have been a safe house for Lyanna, and perhaps Rhaegar felt his father would "cool down" after a time. Of course, a downward spiral of events prevented that happening. Maybe Hightower was sent by Aerys to find Rhaegar, but the real message may have been- "you've got to help us, your father's come unmoored!"

Tragedy upon tragedy :(

Well a few problems.

Rhaegar already new his dad was nuts, he wanted to remove him. It's not like it was a surprise for his dad to kill people or be crazy.

Not all that sure the Kotlt is Lyanna and if she was was I am not sure how Rhaegar put those two together as he did not seek the KotLT till after he vanished the next day. The story is a big point of pride for Howland Reed, not a lot of pride in being saved twice and not doing anything to defend yourself. The Helmet Meera is carrying when she first meets Bran seems a rather tell tale sign that it was her father. Although he may have used her horse and that could of led to the mistake.

I don't doubt Aerys would want to kill someone, but Rhaegar had better options. Like just informing Rickard his daughter was in danger.

I would look more at relationships like the Great Gatsby in the case of this story. The unreliable POV suggests we are missing a lot. I note that Rhaegar, Lyanna, Ashara, and Elia all have these perfect reputations, they were all so wonderful. But aristocratic society at any level is usually a lot more messed up than what we are given and I know Martin knows this and I know he uses these themes. For all we know Lyanna may have been shallow and self absorbed, Ashara may have slept around and been a gossip and Elia may have been territorial and manipulative . Not meaning to just point out the women but we all know the flaws of Robert and Brandon. I would not really trust what you have been told about any of them because you have not really been told much and you can't exactly trust the sources in this story as we have seen over and over again.

I do wonder though if whoever told Brandon about Lyanna was meant to give Robert that message, or if someone in fact was setting Brandon up. I would guess we are missing one or two parties involved in this. I wouldn't fully trust the story about Brandon and the Red keep. I doubt he was stupid enough to walk into the Red Keep screaming for Rhaegars head, as Ned pointed out he was groomed to be a lord from birth, that doesn't mean he didn't have a temper, but it also doesn't mean he was insane.

I mean who knows, maybe Ashara slept with Brandon, got pregnant and he ignored her. Maybe she told Brandon about the abduction, maybe she was at Harrenhal with Lyanna at some point and maybe she was pissed at him and took advantage of a situation, not knowing the full outcome. Or maybe Elia told her to get close to Lyanna after the Tourney inncident, and when Brandon came along and his sister leaves with Rhaegar she takes advantage of the situation. Or maybe Ashara wanted revenge on Rhaegar, maybe he slept with her, she got close to Lyanna after the tourney and set them up.

You know Ned never said anything good about Ashara, he just said don't ever mention that name again. Just because Selmy thought she was pretty doesn't make her a good person.

[ioang]

[how do I delete?]

[The guy from the Vale]

That's a very good point and one I'm conscious of. The problem is that we can never seem to come up with a scenario that resolves all of the issues at once, obviously because there is a key link missing in the chain of evidence.

/sigh/

Still, more fun (IMO) to think about things like this than other slightly more /ahem/ well worn topics ;)

Oh, I totally agree. We had a number of crackpots on why Rhaegar actually kidnapped Lyanna (and why Rickard seemed so unconcerned about it) in the past. One of those even got its own spinoff thread - the idea that Rhaegar and Rickard were actually co-conspirators. It's similarly unsubstantiated, but it also explains a number of issues relatively well.

[Jon Icefyre]

Snip..

This is great stuff that as others have mentioned sheds a much darker light on the relationship between Aerys and Rhaegar. I also absolutely love the Lancelot parallels! :bowdown:

[Jon Icefyre]

Well. It seems we have to come back to ToJ.

No we really don't, but it's clear you're trying to..... :P

[MtnLion]

Ser Creighton, take a pause and try to assimilate this bit of the story. Howland is made for sitting a boat and holding oars, not sitting a horse and holding a lance, by his own words. Lyanna is known to be skilled with sword, and lance (via the app), and a remarkable horse-woman. Jousting is more about horsemanship than anything else, according to the story. The KotLT was short in stature, had a "booming voice", and wore ill-fitting unmatched armor. There was some significant motivating factor for Rhaegar to award the crown to Lyanna.

It is almost a certainty that Lyanna was the KotLT, and did so to defend Howland's honor when he could not do it himself. That Rhaegar somehow discovered this secret is the significant reason for his awarding the crown to Lyanna.

[Ser Creighton]

Ser Creighton, take a pause and try to assimilate this bit of the story. Howland is made for sitting a boat and holding oars, not sitting a horse and holding a lance, by his own words. Lyanna is known to be skilled with sword, and lance (via the app), and a remarkable horse-woman. Jousting is more about horsemanship than anything else, according to the story. The KotLT was short in stature, had a "booming voice", and wore ill-fitting unmatched armor. There was some significant motivating factor for Rhaegar to award the crown to Lyanna.

It is almost a certainty that Lyanna was the KotLT, and did so to defend Howland's honor when he could not do it himself. That Rhaegar somehow discovered this secret is the significant reason for his awarding the crown to Lyanna.

Howland never said Lyanna was a skilled sword or Lance, that's never been mentioned, why people use that app. Lyanna beat an 8 year old with a stick, and chased off a few squires, it's never said they fought back. Do you think there is a squire alive that would strike Lyanna Stark, not just because she is a lady, but what the hell is the repercussion for attacking her? Aside from every Knight at the tourney wanting to end them. She is the daughter of Rickard Stark one of the seven great lords, and her Brothers are Brandon and Eddard, not to mention Robert would probably kill anyone that touched her. She ran up and hit some squires with a tourney sword while yelling at them and started swinging. They ran away.

"There are no Knight's in the Neck "said Jojen"

"There was one Knight'" said Meera"

"He might of been a crannogmen that one"

"or not" said, Jojen

Just because they are having a little fun with Bran and the story, does not mean it is Lyanna. They are just making a little mystery out of it, that's why they never use names.

They assume Bran knows this story as well as he does, and that Ned would of told him. Why do you think Howland tells this story, about a Knight defending the Honor of his people? Because he got his ass kicked, saved and then some else fought his battle? Yes so many things to be proud of.

The Crannogman was small, but Brave, and smart and strong. Once again talking about Howland. Not to mention people always forget the Crannogmen use spears, a lance is just a long spear. It was hinted he was magical, perhaps even a Warg. Breathe mud and run on leaves.

This lad was bolder than most.

He wintered on the Isle of faces. Which could be several months to a year or two.

Bran new it was Harrenhal, "was it" keeping up the mystery.

Interesting note Bran asked about the Fair maids and The wife of the Dragon Prince was the one Howland told his kids about. The unreliable POV, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"Sometimes the knights are the monsters."

The squires appear and attack Howland snatching away his spear and knocking him to the ground.

"He marked there faces well so he could revenge himself upon them later"

The she wolf laid into them with a tourney sword scattering them all. They scattered after she attacked them, they didn't fight her. Had they, they would probably be dead within the hour.

That night at the party Lyanna Rhaegar performed, Lyanna cried and dumped win, and the Crannogman spied the three squires and found out who they served. The wolf maid saw them two and pointed them out to her brothers. The Pup offered to find horse and armor for him. The crannogman gave no answer. The crannogman was torn. He feared to make a fool out of his people because like most crannogs he doesn't know horse and lance all that well. He wished for vengeance but feared to make a fool out of himself and his people.

"he knelt on the lake shore, looking across the water to where the isle of faces would be, and said a prayer to the old gods of the north and neck."

"You never heard this tale asked Jojen" Now would this be the tale of how their father could not defend himself? Or the one where he pulled off an upset.

The three Knights of the squires made it to the champions circle on the first day and second day.

The Knight of the laughing tree appears, now why would Lyanna use a sigil of the laughing tree. Howland just left the isle of faces which is full of Wierwoods.

"Maybe he came from the Isle of faces" "I bet the old gods sent him"

"Perhaps they did"

"Whoever he was the old gods gave strength to his arm" "his arm" perhaps a slip of the tongue.

The knights were defeated and the squires publicly chastiesed. "And so the little crannogman's prayers were answered... by the green men, or the old gods or the children of the forest, who can say?" That night the Storm lord and the Knight of skulls and kisses swore to unmask him. And the king vowed the face behind that helm was no friend of his.

Meera showed up with and old Great Helm.

The next day the trumpets blew and the knight was knowhere to be seen. The king sent his son to find him but all they ever found was his shield in a tree.

"Are you sure you never heard this story?"

Why would not doing anyting and letting someone else fight your battles be a point of pride for Howland Reed? The guy fought at the tower of Joy and saved Neds life. Clealry he was capable of a lot of things. Maybe the green men gave him a little boost, maybe he played a little dirty, which is not unlike a crannogman.

Lyanna being a good rider does not make her an expert sword or lance. Neither does beating an 8 year old. It's never said she fought the squires. Only that she a attacked them and they scattered. What person in their right mind would have struck her or drawn on her?

Not to take away from Lyanna but that is Howlands story and a story about his people. They are looked down upon, yet when the time came he proved as good as them or better. How would Lyanna fighting his battle be a good thing for him and his people. We are smaller and strange to a lot of people but if we are attacked soemone will protect us?

I'll take any bets it was Howland and that Lyanna did meet Rhaeger, and I will even bet it was Ned or Robert that introduced her to him. Probably Robert because the Irony would be devine. It was a six day Tourney, they had plenty of time to meet and talk. And note the story is not really focusing on Lyanna but the Crannogman. Lyanna's story is a sad story as is pointed out at the very end, this wasn't part of her story. This was a happy story with pride for the Crannogmen.

I think it's intresting that people think the only way she could of met Rhaegar and liked him is if she was the KotLT. The two could of just been introduced and clicked, "or not said Jojen"

I mean if you support the Gay Rhaegar fanship maybe he did look for the Knight and found Lyanna and was like, noooooo, I was hoping you would be a hot dude.

Joking aside, it would not have been difficult to meet her and talk to her at the tourney. In fact she would of been introduced during the Kings reception, which they usually have at a tourney. We have one moment at the tourney told as a story about a little Crannogman, which the story is about. The other 140 hours or so still have to be filled in. 6 days, we have a brief look at the tourney and nothing more from one POV told as a tale.

[Ygrain]

/sigh/

Yet another wall of text, with so little to say.

A spear and a jousting lance are two different weapons, and mastering one means absolutely nothing in regards to the other. One is used on foot, the other on horseback, Totally different styles.

As for Lyanna's skills:

- an exceptional rider (Loras Tyrell: jousting is three quarters horsemanship - note that he wins tourneys very young, as a slender lad, so apparently, not much physical strength)

- trained with the rings (that's a tourney skill, trained with the lance)

- better at sworsmanship than Arya (because this is the meaning of Bran's vision - not that a girl beats her little brother, but that she is a tougher fighter than Arya, who is a badass)

Now, really, what could GRRM have had in mind to introduce these very elements into the story? Curiouser and curiouser. How would the old gods grant the little crannogman a skill that takes years to obtain? Why not send him a champion instead - one who would normally never get the chance to participate, or never had the gall to challenge the custom for her own sake, but would be more than willing to take up the excuse to do it for another?

- Oh, and please: would HAVE done. "Of" has no place in between verb forms.

[finger]

Absolutely my suspicions. :)

Also, referencing the animal projects thread, Ned as a Beta wolf fits perfectly the protector and teacher of "pups,' and not just his own, but we see that same concern mirrored in his outrage over the slaughter of Elias children and the suggestion of killing Dany and her child. In retrospect, though Jons fate is a big part of it, it may be a critical factor in the Beta nature of Ned to nurture the offspring.

Though just as fierce and lethal as the Alpha, the Beta is more patient, and kinder. We see two events that cause a rift between himself and Robert, his adopted pack brother, and it's the slaughter, or the suggested slaughter of the "pups," which is very different from the "lions."

Martin did say that there was a lot of tension between Rhaegar and Aerys, even prior to the Harrenhal events, so choosing his heart may be a big part of that.

In terms of Hightower, the App. stated that Aerys ordered HIghtower to find Rhaegar and bring him back. I assume that he went there to escort him back to KL, but then Rhaegar ordered Hightower to stay and "guard" Lyanna along with Whent and Dayne.

I suppose one might conclude that perhaps someone knew where the TOJ was.

Ta. for yout helpful piece of information, but still,...

R's move was bad enough, getting angry the North, the Dorne and Storm's End at the same time. An open rebellion against Aerys was too bad, it was treason. Do you remember the row when Catelyn freed Jaime? One thing brought another and it ended with Robb beheading Karstark.

And, can R revoke an Aerys' order? Besides, an order to the LC of the KG. How could the KG bloat of swearing oaths?

Could they participate in a plot aimed to depose Aerys? What about their stinky vows?

(Btw, I'm starting to get sick of oaths. Everybody swearing things that they after rue or betray)

Eta: It could work if R had put a condition of having Aegon brought to him and kept at ToJ. A kind of contract between Aerys and R, that the KG was in charge to make sure it was honoured. Could it make sense.

[Jory Cassel]

Howland never said Lyanna was a skilled sword or Lance, that's never been mentioned, why people use that app. Lyanna beat an 8 year old with a stick, (...)

The Crannogman was small, but Brave, and smart and strong. Once again talking about Howland. Not to mention people always forget the Crannogmen use spears, a lance is just a long spear. It was hinted he was magical, perhaps even a Warg. Breathe mud and run on leaves.

This lad was bolder than most. (...)

True, Benjen was younger when Bran saw Lyanna fight him, but a girl defeating the future First Ranger of the Night's Watch? Far from usual, especially considering that

girls normally didn't learn to fight at all.

And in one of his Pov's Ned compares Aria to Lyanna, saying that she, too, would've rather worn a sword.

Also, Howland couldn't defend himself from three squires but he has no problem facing trained knights in a joust? yeah, seems legit to me..