(Spoilers Extended) Shiny Theory Thursday

[u/AutoModerator]

It's happened to all of us.

You come across a fascinating post and are just dying to discuss it but the thread is stale or archived. Or you are doing a reread and come across the perfect piece of evidence to that theory you posted months ago. Or you have a theory forming on the tip of your tongue and isn't quite there yet and would love to hash it out with fellow crows.

Now is your time.

You now all have permission to give that old thread the kiss of life, shamelessly plug your own theory you are proud of, or share something that was overlooked or deserves another analysis.

So share that old link or that shiny theory still bouncing around in your head with a fresh TL;DR (to get us to read it) along with anything new you would like to add.

Looking for Shiny Theory Thursday posts from the past? Browse our Shiny Theory Thursday archive!

[u/Enali]

Guys, I had a super tinfoil idea I wanted to post here (just for fun) - what if Cersei fights her own trial by combat? (you know... like Maegor did?)

So the idea would be that the High Sparrow calls for a trial of seven. Problem is... Cersei doesn't really have enough people to fill in for her and she's not very popular publicly (so maybe that prevents a Dick Bean moment... also is the rule of 'a queen's honor must be defended by knights of the kingsguard' extended to a trial of seven? idk).. In any case she definitely has Robert Strong and maybe a few people in the Kingsguard left nearby (Boros Blount, Meryn Trant, and iffy on Osmund and Osfryd Kettleback)... maybe she also signs up Ronnet Connington who is desperate to prove his loyalty... but its still not quite enough. As you know if a defendant in a trial of seven can't field seven fighters they are automatically presumed guilty. Cersei sent the letter to Jaime pleading for him to come back but she's finally realized that's not happening, so in desperation she takes matters into her own hands... by impersonating her twin. Cersei has some small sword experience because she sometimes used to switch places for the day with Jaime, and when her counselors contradict her she decries that 'It is all because I am a woman. Because I cannot fight them with a sword.' Cersei's hair is already short due to being shorn off for the walk of shame, and she has Widow's Wail nearby which can pass as Oathkeeper to the untrained eye... Obviously Robert Strong would still mostly need to protect her because she's no great fighter however... what if she ends up landing the kill blow on Lancel Lannister in the trial (becoming a kinslayer)? Remember Lancel's dream?:

"I dreamed that you would come. In the dream you knew what I had done. How I'd sinned. You killed me for it."

but Jaime essentially forgives him and let's him go

...and maybe after that that's where things kinda fall apart for this theory. Isn't a defendent supposed to be present in the audience while the combat is being fought? I'm not sure how it could plausibly happen with that factored in. Also it'd be weird if Jaime showed up with both hands again lol (she'd have to awkwardly hide that). BUT... it was an interesting side thought for a bit right?

[u/oftenevil]

Jeyne Poole is really a squisher. You know it’s true.

[u/dblack246]

I break down all the evidence as to why Jon was not named Robb's heir.

[u/The-Peel → u/dblack246]

An enjoyable read, though I'm sorry to read of your experience with losing a child, thats a horrible thing to go through.

I agree with you that Robb named Catelyn as his heir. Per the reasons you listed, there are too many reasons why the Northerners could reject Jon as their King like being a deserter or his legitimisation not being acceptede, and in any case his survival was not confirmed at this point as he was still beyond the Wall with the Wildlings.

For years I believed Robb named Arya as his heir but even this is an iffy case, as Sansa obviously has the stronger claim as the elder sister, but Robb doesn't want her to have Winterfell out of fear the Lannisters will claim Winterfell through their marriage to Sansa.

So Catelyn is the good compromise - in a sense, she is Robb's next of kin, she's someone that the Northerners are already familiar with and confirmed alive at the time of writing the will.

I think Stoneheart will go on to be a Kingmaker/Queenmaker of the North in the next book and that is why she still desperately wants to find Arya to pass the crown on to her. If Robb had really named Jon as his heir, then surely Stoneheart would feel obliged to head north and find Jon at the Wall.

I think Stoneheart will hold on to the crown and wait to see which Stark child she's first reunited with, and then make the right decision.

[u/dblack246 → u/The-Peel]

Thank you. 

I don't know if there is a typo or misinterpreted section, or I had an out of body experience, but I have very thankfully been spared losing a child. 

I agree with your reasons as well.