Game Of Thrones: 13 Crazy Fan Theories That Could Actually Be True

One of the most important events to take place in Westeros before the present day storyline was the Tourney at Harrenhal. Held by Lord Walter Whent to celebrate his daughter's name day, it was regarded the greatest tourney of the age, featuring notable persons such as Barristan Selmy, Arthur Dayne, and the eventual winner Rhaegar Targaryen.

A crannogman, believed to be Howland Reed, was bullied by three squires at the outset of the tourney. He was comforted by Lyanna Stark, who took him back to her tent and introduced him to her brothers, who offered him the chance to avenge himself in the tournament, although he refused, not wanting to be further humiliated.

When the tourney began, the three knights whose squires had bullied him were all taking part. Later, a mystery knight entered the competition, with mismatched armour, and a shield featuring a white weirwood tree with a red laughing face. The Knight of the Laughing Tree went on to defeat the three knights, taking their horses as a prize, and in exchange for their return demanded they chastise their squires for bullying the crannogman. However, when men were sent to unmask the knight, they found 'he' had simply vanished, only discovering his shield.

The knight had to have been someone who knew what happened to the crannogman, and was also short in stature, not necessarily hugely skilled at jousting, either had no regular armour or armour that would've given his/her identity away, and is connected to the Old Gods and the North.

It's unlikely to have been Howland himself, since it would rather ruin the point of someone defending his honour, and one of the Starks doing this for him helps explain his loyalty to them. Benjen was probably too young at this point, and while it feasibly could've been Brandon or more likely Ned (though neither are noted for being small), the most fitting is Lyanna Stark. Ok, the booming voice the knight is said to have had is difficult to explain, but she was a good rider, and the one most fiercely defending the crannogman.

After the tourney, Rhaegar caused huge controversy by anointing Lyanna as Queen of Beauty. Of course, this is a crucial event in setting forth the events that would ultimately lead to Robert's Rebellion and R+L=J, but it may also have been his way of letting her know he was aware she was indeed the Knight of the Laughing Tree.