Game of Thrones Alternate Universe: What if…Ned Stark was never killed?

One of the most exciting new upcoming Marvel projects is a series called What if…? True to its name, the show will explore how the Marvel Cinematic Universe would change if things had gone differently. What if Tony Stark became Captain America and Steve Rogers became Iron Man? What if Wanda Maximoff had never gotten her powers? And so on.

With a whole bunch of spin-off series on the way, HBO is currently building out its own Game of Thrones cinematic universe, which could give it the chance to explore some “what if” scenarios of their own. (For all we know, that’s the idea behind the mysterious animated Game of Thrones series in development.) For Game of Thrones Month, I wanted to explore a few different “what if” storylines and see how they might shake it. Let’s start with one we all desperately wish could come true…

What if…Ned Stark survives?

In this “what if” scenario, Eddard Stark is much more aware of the acute danger to his life and the lives of his children that arises after he discovers the true parentage of Joffrey Baratheon. Instead  of openly telling Queen Cersei of his discovery and trusting Littlefinger (c’mon, Ned) to back him up, he sends his daughters away from King’s Landing in secret and sneaks away to Dragonstone to deliver his findings to Stannis Baratheon personally.

After discovering his defection, the Lannisters would declare Ned Stark and his house traitors to the crown and condemn Stannis’ claim to the throne as a baseless lie. Here’s where things would get interesting. Ned would need to send word to Robb and his bannermen to support Stannis’ claim to the throne, but the Northerners would not have rallied behind this as fervently as they do when their beloved leader is beheaded. Thus, the Lannister forces, led by Tywin and Jaime, have a head start in their attack on the North. Robb Stark would be forced into action by the capture of his two sisters by Lannister forces and the war would continue as usual.

The War of Five kings would, instead, become one of four, and be even bloodier than the one that actually takes place. The Northern armies would be in league with Stannis, but Renly would make his own claim (with Tyrell support) as he does in the show. Also, the Greyjoys, seeing no weakness to the North, would instead turn their sights on Casterly Rock. The Lannisters would be surrounded on all sides, but still possess the largest army and the authority of King’s Landing.

Eddard would quickly become disillusioned with the idea of Stannis as king after seeing the blood magic and witchcraft he practices in league with Melisandre. Upon learning of Renly’s assasination, Eddard would denounce Stannis and be thrown into a dungeon on Dragonstone. The Battle of Blackwater Bay would have the same end result: Stannis would lose and the Lannisters would remain on the Iron Throne.

After losing the battle, Stannis would turn on Melisandre for convincing him to throw Eddard in a dungeon and cost them their Northern alliance. Stannis would strike a deal with the North to return their leader in exchange for their continued support in his quest for the crown. In order to appease the invading Ironmen, the Lannisters would marry Sansa Stark to the old Greyjoy king and forge an alliance against the North. Arya would find a way to escape and continue her journey as she does in the original show.

Eddard would prevent the Red Wedding from happening and lead his forces into battle against the Greyjoys to rescue his daughter. Westeros would fall into a bloody civil war between North and South that would last for years. Eventually, Stannis would grow more crazy and desperate and Eddard would increasingly worry over what would become if he were crowned king. He would still support Stannis’ claim but declare the North an independent nation. Ned would be declared King in the North and Stannis would be forced to face the Lannisters on his own.

Around this time, Jon Snow would bring word of the White Walker threat to Ned, and the Northern forces would be directed to begin preparing for the long winter to come. The drama in King’s Landing would remain much the same: Joffrey would be poisoned, Tyrion blamed, and then Tywin killed on the toilet. With Tywin gone and Stannis’ forces positioned much further south than they are in the original story, he would be able to conquer the city. However, Cersei would blow up King’s Landing with wildfire before Stannis could fully take control. In the end, he would sit upon the Iron Throne in a city covered in ash and with very little support.

Dany would arrive in Westeros and find a wasteland ripe for the conquering. She would easily take the city from Stannis and execute him as a usurper. Upon hearing of the Dragon Queen’s arrival, Eddard would travel to King’s Landing and look for aid against the White Walkers. Eddard would not be too proud to bend the knee in order to save his people, and their combined forces would save the country from the Long Knight.

Eddard would be killed in the battle at Winterfell, but not before revealing Jon Snow’s true parentage. Robb would raise Jon as the rightful King in the North and of the Seven Kingdoms and Dany would unleash her surviving dragons on the Northern forces. In the end, either she or Jon would rule over a wasteland of ice and fire.

All in all, if Eddard were to survive the first season of the show, there would be the potential for even more bloodshed. Game of Thrones builds to the same messy conclusion, with far more casualties along the way as the war for the throne gets ever more vicious.

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