Was Ned's act of mercy towards Cersei smarter than we give it credit for?

[Mladen]

Zunni

I think the whole statues and direwolves thing, like the swords and the idea that the MUST be a stark at Winterfell, is old, old magic. Quite HOW it woorks is no known but the fact that it exists seems to be a given in the series.

Therefore Ned, by cutting of the head of a direowolf, probably unwittingly broke the pact with the Old Gods. Remember poor Ned had been raised in the South and returned home AFTER his father and presumably mother were gone. There was NO ONE to tell him in detail of the Stark obligations and legends.

Old Nan knew a lt but the things she DID NOT know or feared related to warging etc, including direwolves.

I wish this has any sort of textual evidence but alas it doesn't. Therefore we can't discuss something that is someone's impression of possibility that there is some sort of pact Ned broke. Ned died because of Joffrey (or whomever talked the boy into killing him), he wasn't killed by Old Gods, he wasn't killed by any God... As we were told by GRRM, no God will have its deus ex machina moment...

[Ludd]

Zunni

In Ygrittes' tale the Stark who killed his dad was flayed by a Bolton

Sorry where did Sansa show ANY kindness or even thought about Jon. Did she farewell him or he her. No! Jon said goodby to Bran, Arya and Robb, Ned (and probably little Rickon) but NOT Sansa.

She DID NOT EVEN THINK OF HIM for years until reminded of him by Myranda Royce. Hardly the actions of a loving sister.

Actually I agree Sansa did not mock Arya and seemed to feel for her when she was told off by Septa Mordane. These are all VERY POSITIVE traits and show probably her basically good inner self,. However true to her personality we watched passively while Jeyne Poole and others did mock her. Of course Sansa was arrogant (as was Robb). They were the little Lords and Ladies. The two eldest. Sansa was favoured by her mother and the Septa - naturally makes a kid arrogant, although I think as she grew older Sansa would have grown out of this.

I rather think that in some ways (for the era) Ned and Cat were overprotective of their kids, raising them without a good understanding of the harsh realities of life. Robb and Jon still using wooden swords etc. Once again perfectly undertandable.

[juanml82]

Well, given the bond the Stark kids develop with their wolves (Jon thinks Ghost is part of him) and the fact Sansa had already begun to form such a bond (Lady's unwolfish behavior pretty much proves this), it could be argued that Ned, unwittingly, became a sort of kinslayer by killing part of Sansa. Mutilating or maiming her sounds like a more accurate description, though.

Westerosi people think the kinslayer is cursed. Whether this is real in-universe or not is unknown. Kinslayers die, and some do it in violent and often horrific ways. But, then again, valar morghulis.

[Angalin]

I am really not clear as to why Sansa and Jon's relationship is being discussed in this thread. Back on track, please.

[Mladen]

Zunni

In Ygrittes' tale the Stark who killed his dad was flayed by a Bolton

He was flayed because he killed Bael, right? Oh, wait, no, he was flayed because Bolton rebelled... So, we can't argue that Old Gods are punishing anyone for their crimes...

[Ludd]

Lunni

It is GRRm's story not mine. He has chosen to give us mystery about the direwolves and Stark at Winterfell so I go along with it. Why have Ygritte imply he was flayed because the gods hate kinslayers if it is not relevant.

I stick to my view that killing Lady set in train a course of events with bad consequences for the Starks

I also have a crackpot idea that the deliberate destruction of the Reynes of Castermere may also have triggered some imbalance etc. perhaps leading to the rise of the others - it is just a wacky thought - but the song comes up just a bit TOO often to be meaningless. Perhaps the wiping out completely of any family that formed part of the pact may trigger an imbalance? Just a thought.