The Tower of Joy in Game of Thrones Sixth Season was a glorious moment for most of us who’ve read the books and were anxiously anticipating the big reveal of whether one of the most accurate fan theories in the history of fandom was true.
But if you are just a show watcher, the reasons for Lyanna being in that tower in the first place may have you a bit confused. Yes, Game of Thrones has mentioned the events that put Lyanna in that tower. But remembering all those references over the course of six years can be difficult, especially when most of them happened in the first season.
So here a brief synopsis of the events that led to Ned Stark finding Lyanna and a baby Jon Snow at the Tower of Joy.
Rhaegar and Lyanna
The Tourney of Harrenhal
Prince Rhaegar was Daenarys brother and was married to Elia Martell (“you raped her, you murdered her, you killed her children”) when the Tourney of Harrenhal took place about a year before Robert’s Rebellion. Rhaegar successfully won the jousting tournament, defeating Barristen Selmy and three other knights of the king’s guard to claim the championship.
At the end of the tournament, the winner was given the duty of crowning a “queen of love and beauty.” Rhaegar put the crown (made of blue roses) on the head of Lyanna Stark instead of on the head of his wife.
Lyanna’s “Kidnapping”
A year later, Rhaegar “abducted” Lyanna and took her to the Tower of Joy, a tall tower in the mountains of Dorne. Lyanna may have been abucted. She may also have gone willingly. We still don’t know for sure. Ser Arthur Dayne was one of the Knight’s of the Kingsguard that assisted in taking Lyanna to the Tower. This event was the first of several that led to Robert Baratheon (the man betrothed to Lyanna), with the Starks, Arryns, and Tullys, rebelling against the Mad King.
The Trident
Robert’s forces scored numerous victories during the early part of the Rebellion. When word of Robert’s progress made it to Rhaegar, he decided he needed to take action. Leaving Dayne behind with orders to guard the Tower, Rhaegar left to lead the Targaryen forces in open combat at the Trident (where the Rivers in the Riverlands meet). It was there that Robert defeated Rhaegar, striking him down and killing him in single combat.
Ned Seeks His Sister
After King’s Landing was taken with the help of the Lannisters, Ned went to end the siege at Storm’s End and find his sister. But Arthur Dayne and the other King’s Guard who had been assigned to protect that tower stood true to their oaths and fought Ned to their deaths. Only Ned Stark and Howland Reed survived the fighting at the Tower, but Ned found he was too late to save his sister, who was already dying when he found her.
Lyanna’s last words to her brother were “Promise me Ned,” words thatd invoke the vow Ned would take from that day forward: to raise Jon Snow as his own son (Robert would likely have killed him if he’d known Jon was a Targaryen) and protect him.
The confirmation of Jon Snow’s true parentage is a wonderful moment for book readers and show watchers alike. But I think it’s pretty obvious this information will have a significant impact on events going forward.
Questions Going Forward
-Will Jon’s Targaryen blood give him a claim to the throne of Westeros? I doubt the current queen is beloved by many after blowing up so many in the Holy Sept. But discovering that “The White Wolf” has dragon blood and the support of the entire northern region could make him a popular choice to usurp the throne from Cersei.
-What will Daenarys think if/when she discovers another in Westeros has dragon blood? But there’s already a dragon queen on her way to take out the Green Queen. Does she voice support for her nephew (that’s right, Jon is technically Dany’s nephew) and look to unite Westeros together? Or does she see him as a threat to her claim to the throne of Westeros?
-What about Jon’s claim to the throne in the North? Lyanna Mormont’s fiery speech voiced her support for Jon because he had “The blood of Ned Stark in him.” Well, technically, that’s true. But everyone in the North assumes Jon’s a direct male heir to Lord Eddard. Do they question their allegiance if/when it’s revealed that Sansa actually has a more direct line? I suspect Littlefinger, who already has suspicions about Jon Snow’s true parentage, to use this very piece of information when attempting to drive a wedge between Sansa and Jon Snow.
-If it is revealed, who will be responsible for revealing it? As I mentioned earlier, only Howland Reed and Bran Stark know the truth. But one of those is crippled, will need to be carried to Winterfell, and brings the risk of a Whitewalker invasion with him if he’s to reveal that information. And the other has yet to appear on the show. There’s also Meera, who doesn’t know at the moment. But I don’t imagine Bran holding that juicy information from her for long. Maybe she finds a way to get the information to Jon Snow and the rest of Westeros.
So while we can’t be for sure the reveal of Jon Snow’s parentage will make it beyond Bran’s visions, I really don’t see how it doesn’t. It has to be used in some way to move us towards the end game. The question is how. Who delivers this information? Who do they deliver it to? And what will everyone’s response be once Jon’s Targaryen blood is revealed?
It should be a lot of fun to sort out in season seven. As far wrapping up season six, I’ve got two more articles until I disappear into my own personal Tower of Joy for awhile. Saturday, I’ll be ranking all six seasons of Game of Thrones from worst to best. Be preparing your list and see if you agree with me.
June 27th: Season Finale Recap
Yesterday: Season Six Obituaries Part One
Also Yesterday: Season Six Obituaries Part Two
Today: Why Was Lyanna in the Tower of Joy?
Saturday: Ranking the Seasons
Monday: Which is better: The Show or the Books?