Game Of Thrones: 10 Small Moments That Will Come Back In Big Ways

by Laura Hurley

1. Lyanna Stark Is Kidnapped

An even more pivotal incident from the past that has received even less attention on screen was the kidnapping and death of the teenage Lyanna Stark. Although her fate was probably less horrifying than that of Elia and her children, Lyanna's abduction was the catalyst without which Robert's Rebellion never would have happened. "Rhaegar Targaryen kidnapped her," exposits Bran, "Robert started a war to get her back, but she died anyway."

Surprisingly, Bran's speech in the crypts of Winterfell from Season 1 provides the most information that viewers have gleaned on Lyanna, and even the thousands of pages of the books don't yield much more. Considering that she was a key figure in the conflict that would destroy the ruling house of the Seven Kingdoms and alter the power structure of Westeros forever, the limited expansion on her character in canon is somewhat suspicious. Surely there is more to Lyanna Stark.

Why It Matters: Similar to the violation of guest right by the Freys, the married crown prince's abduction of a highborn young woman betrothed to a powerful young lord was a breach of etiquette with devastating consequences still felt two decades after her death. However, if one of the more popular and plausible theories is correct, Lyanna's time with Rhaegar may not have been so unwilling as the victors of the war would have future generations recall, and her significance may be contemporary as well as historical.

That theory is that Jon Snow's Stark heritage comes not from Eddard but from Lyanna, conceived of a consensual union with Rhaegar and claimed by Ned after her death to spare his sister's child Robert's wrath. If Jon is indeed the product of Targaryen and Stark rather than Stark and peasant, Jon will likely find himself involved in the politics of the game of thrones as well as in the battle against the White Walkers. The series is after all called "A Song of Ice and Fire." A Stark/Targaryen warg lord commander of the Night's Watch could prove the lynchpin to the entire saga.

So, yeah, the occasional passing mentions of Ned's dead sister may be just a smidge important.

Contributor
Contributor

Fiction buff and writer. If it's on Netflix, it's probably in my queue. I've bought DVDs for the special features and usually claim that the book is better than the movie or show (and can provide examples). I've never met a TV show that I won't marathon. Follow on Twitter @lah9891 .