Game of Thrones begins....

[viper37]

The answer to the problem of "annulling the marriage will create chaos!" is not annul the marriage, not to do so in secret as if a secret annulment can ever be kept secret anyway.

Well, that's what I said.   The annulment does not really make sense, but once it's done, screaming about it will not help either, it might make things worst at this point.

I suppose from the High Septon's view, Rhaegar will prevail, and once the dust is settled, he will settle his affairs, and despite the annulment, might even recognize his children with Elya as legitimate and provide her with a comfortable retreat or even keep her as concubine.

I just don't think he imagines the loyalist camp losing to the rebel, and he wants to do a favor for his friend after he convinces him of his reason.

[grumbler]

Well, that's what I said.   The annulment does not really make sense, but once it's done, screaming about it will not help either, it might make things worst at this point.

Screaming about how it might make things worse doesn't equal an argument about how it would make things worse.  In fact, I don't see how it could make matters worse, other than Dorne not making the tiny contribution to the loyalist army that they eventually did make.   It would make a number of things better:
(1) Lords who had reservations about supporting the rebellion would have had more ammunition to avoid the rebel cause, since its basis was a falsehood.
(2) The Lannisters would have had no motive to murder Elia and her children, thus avoiding a great deal of future violence
(3) The issue of the rebellion would have devolved to the murders of the Starks.  That issue could be resolved by deposing the king and replacing him with Rhaegar, followed by a general amnesty.  None of the rebels was intending at the time to extinguish the Targaryn dynasty.

Clearly, secrecy served no one's interests except GRR Martin's.

[The Minsky Moment]

Granting that it's very hard to take to take seriously a Wiki of a fictional story, the Battle of the Trident entry in "AWOAIF" lists the Dornish contingent at 10,000 of a total of 40,000, making it one of if not the largest elements of the loyalist force.  It also lists a Martell as the second most senior commander after Rhaegar.  That seems like a very material contribution, not tiny.

[viper37]

One question left wondering.

If White Walkers can not cross the Wall, because of the magic, like Cold Hands, how are they going to cross the Wall with a captured one?  What will happen?  Will it act like some kind of anchor for the Night King to destroy the wall?  Or does he have that magical horn the Wildlings were searching for?

[Habbaku]

One question left wondering.

If White Walkers can not cross the Wall, because of the magic, like Cold Hands, how are they going to cross the Wall with a captured one?  What will happen?  Will it act like some kind of anchor for the Night King to destroy the wall?  Or does he have that magical horn the Wildlings were searching for?

I suspect this will be what brings the Wall down, yes. It strikes me as convenient, at least, and would help to give some plot punch behind the silly quest to go capture a wight.

[viper37]

One question left wondering.

If White Walkers can not cross the Wall, because of the magic, like Cold Hands, how are they going to cross the Wall with a captured one?  What will happen?  Will it act like some kind of anchor for the Night King to destroy the wall?  Or does he have that magical horn the Wildlings were searching for?

I suspect this will be what brings the Wall down, yes. It strikes me as convenient, at least, and would help to give some plot punch behind the silly quest to go capture a wight.

Something else, too, that I just read. Old Nan tells a story to Bran about the Last hero who went North with 12 companions, his dog and his horse, they died one by one, until his horse too and finally his dog...
If Tormund is strong as a horse and the Hound is a dog...

[Habbaku]

Certainly would be a way to sweep aside a lot of the cast. I have no doubts that Thoros and Beric are goners, along with the extra Wildlings that have been brought along as cannon fodder. Jon obviously has plot armor, and I think Tormund and the Hound make it, but I am rather skeptical they'd bring Gendry back just to off him an episode later.

[Josquius]

Yeah, it would be really dumb to bother bringing back Gendry like so just to kill him.

If White Walkers can not cross the Wall, because of the magic, like Cold Hands, how are they going to cross the Wall with a captured one?  What will happen?  Will it act like some kind of anchor for the Night King to destroy the wall?  Or does he have that magical horn the Wildlings were searching for?

White walkers can't cross. Zombies can.

[Admiral Yi]

along with the extra Wildlings that have been brought along as cannon fodder

Poor schmucks might as well be wearing red shirts.

[viper37]

White walkers can't cross. Zombies can.

ah, I thought the same magic covered them both.

[grumbler]

Granting that it's very hard to take to take seriously a Wiki of a fictional story, the Battle of the Trident entry in "AWOAIF" lists the Dornish contingent at 10,000 of a total of 40,000, making it one of if not the largest elements of the loyalist force.  It also lists a Martell as the second most senior commander after Rhaegar.  That seems like a very material contribution, not tiny.

Ten thousand men sent late from an entire kingdom is a tiny contribution.  Walder Frey has 4,000 men at the Twins, and that's even after some of his army takes the side of the Lannisters.  And he's hardly the most powerful lord in the Riverlands.

Yes, the Dornish made up a full quarter of the tattered remnants of an army that Rhaegar led to the Trident, but that's because of all the previous loyalist losses, not because Dorne sent so many men.  I cannot imagine that Rhaegar or the High Septon thought prolonging the war was an acceptable price for the tardy services of ten thousand Dornishmen.

[grumbler]

Something else, too, that I just read. Old Nan tells a story to Bran about the Last hero who went North with 12 companions, his dog and his horse, they died one by one, until his horse too and finally his dog...
If Tormund is strong as a horse and the Hound is a dog...

Yep.  See post #8020. 

[grumbler]

Yeah, it would be really dumb to bother bringing back Gendry like so just to kill him.

If White Walkers can not cross the Wall, because of the magic, like Cold Hands, how are they going to cross the Wall with a captured one?  What will happen?  Will it act like some kind of anchor for the Night King to destroy the wall?  Or does he have that magical horn the Wildlings were searching for?

White walkers can't cross. Zombies can.

Yes.  We saw one that was on the south side of the wall when he attacked Jon and Lord Mormont.

[Habbaku]

[viper37]

Something else, too, that I just read. Old Nan tells a story to Bran about the Last hero who went North with 12 companions, his dog and his horse, they died one by one, until his horse too and finally his dog...
If Tormund is strong as a horse and the Hound is a dog...

Yep.  See post #8020. 

sorry, I totally missed it.