#rhaegar is composed of like.. opposites that another reason why he can be tricky

[rhaegxr]

𝙷𝙴𝙰𝙳𝙲𝙰𝙽𝙾𝙽: 𝐎𝐧 𝐑𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐄 was known to be a great knight, by all accounts. Even though he had no true love for lance or sword, he was skilled in their use, and this is another testament to how he “excelled at everything he put his mind into”. 

We know Rhaegar started training in his teenage years, when he discovered a scroll ( likely with more information on the prophecy, and who the prince that was promised was ). His words were, “I will require sword and armor. It seems I must be a warrior.” Despite starting training later than some other noble boys might do, with absolutely no prior experience or love for it, he became one of the most respected warriors of his time. But it’s important to point out that unlike some of those other boys, he did have access to some of the best training, including members of the Kingsguard. I’ve no doubt he trained mostly with Ser Arthur Dayne ( who was the same age or a year younger than him ), who would become his closest friend in time.

“Prince Rhaegar’s prowess was unquestioned, but he seldom entered the lists. He never loved the song of swords the way that Robert did, or Jaime Lannister. It was something he had to do, a task the world had set him. He did it well, for he did everything well. That was his nature. But he took no joy in it. Men said that he loved his harp much better than his lance.” “He won some tourneys, surely,” said Dany, disappointed. “When he was young, His Grace rode brilliantly in a tourney at Storm’s End, defeating Lord Steffon Baratheon, Lord Jason Mallister, the Red Viper of Dorne, and a mystery knight who proved to be the infamous Simon Toyne, chief of the kingswood outlaws. He broke twelve lances against Ser Arthur Dayne that day.” 

We don’t know when Arthur joined the Kingsguard exactly, but the earliest recount of him being a member is the Lannisport tourney in 276 AC, where Rhaegar would’ve been newly knighted at 17 and Arthur either older, the same age or 16 at youngest ( I do think he was older, but not too much ). Ser Arthur was well renowned as one of the best, not only as a tourney knight but with battle experience as well, something he likely imparted on the prince during lessons. Arthur defeated him in that tourney, but then during the tourney at Storm’s End at least a year or two later, Rhaegar bested him, and then we have Harrenhal, where the prince emerged the champion. For this, I headcanon that he had the intent to win, because he had a purpose in doing so: to crown Lyanna. So he put his mind into it, and he achieved his purpose.

It’s also important to note that being a tourney knight is not the same as a battle experienced knight, and we have no canon knowledge that he did participate in actual battles. Viserys in the show said Rhaegar was ‘good at killing’ according to Dany, but these are words that I don’t think can be taken for granted. If I were to apply them, it would be in the sense that he probably executed those sentenced to die himself, especially when he ruled in Dragonstone. I actually do go with this, in the few instances that I’ve written similar plots. 

“Ser Jorah named Rhaegar the last dragon once. He had to have been a peerless warrior to be called that, surely?” “Go on,” she urged. “You may speak freely to me.” “As you command.” The old man leaned upon his hardwood staff, his brow furrowed. “A warrior without peer … those are fine words, Your Grace, but words win no battles.” “Swords win battles,” Ser Jorah said bluntly. “And Prince Rhaegar knew how to use one.”

That Rhaegar was so skilled in jousts with lance also entails that he was an excellent horse rider. This is something he probably learned to do before taking up arms to become a knight, because it seems he did like to wander; for example, his lone travels to Summerhall. I don’t think he was Lyanna level at all, of course, but he was good. Being a jousting and/or tourney knight means he wasn’t that good as a swordsman? Not at all true either. Again, he trained with some of the best, he wanted to become a warrior, and as it was so said, he excelled at everything he put his mind into. And I doubt it was any different for that. I think the one testament we have for this is the one canon battle we have: the Battle of the Trident. 

His opponent was Robert Baratheon, who had monstrous strength and skill, he was the representation of Thor in GoT/ASOIAF swinging his war hammer around. Robert, unlike Rhaegar, delighted in battle and he loved to fight, and it was likely he began his training earlier ( yes, Rhaegar was older than Robert, but am sure he had at least 2 years or so earlier in training than Rhaegar ). Also unlike Rhaegar, Robert had every intention of killing in that battle, whereas it was very possible that such was not the case for the prince. Despite this, Rhaegar still managed to wound Robert badly enough for him to not be able to continue the war until he recovered. 

There’s also the variables of armor, and their choices in weapons. With one powerful blow, Robert killed Rhaegar, it was all it took to break that armor and cave his chest in. Rhaegar, on the other hand, fought with sword against armor and a man with brutal strength and angry, killing intent, it would take much more than a single strike ( because he probably did not want to kill Robert ), to incapacitate him. Most likely, the best blows he landed on Robert were on horseback, considering that Rhaegar ( for what we have seen in tourney performance ) was a better horse rider, and he might’ve had some edge then. But once the battle was on foot, that’s when things probably turned ugly for the prince. 

I do like to headcanon that Rhaegar maybe let his guard down because of that lack of killing intent. Maybe he believed Robert was weak enough to try and stop the fight, completely underestimating his cousin’s hate towards him, and Robert exploited that, landing the fatal blow while the prince was trying to be ‘noble, honorable, valiant’. Not to mention the heir also very possibly believed that ‘fate’ was by his side. But the fact remains that Robert was the better fighter, not only in intention but brute strength. Would Rhaegar have been able to win if he had that intent, as he was said to excel at whatever he put his mind into? I can’t really say because it would’ve depended on other factors too that can’t really be predicted, such as something as simple as random luck. 

This is on headcanon grounds, but Robert loved that fight not only for the glory and victory ( it didn't feel like a victory to him ), but because Rhaegar gave him a worthy challenge, he put up a fight. The prince that had less training years, no battle experience, no love for fighting, no killing intent; wounded Robert enough for him to pull away from the war in order to recover.

I think this ( Robert needing to recover from the battle ) as the only canon information we have, is more than enough to tell us of Rhaegar’s swordsmanship and ability in battle, outside of tournaments and jousting. And it’s knowledge I use and apply to his character as well, so I thought it would be good to share in how I come to this conclusion, that it’s not just because people said Rhaegar was skilled. He was an excellent jouster as much as he was a great swordsman. In survival AUs, specifically in those where he’s saved and taken to Essos and he eventually becomes a sellsword, his skills would undoubtedly be even better.

But anyway, I hope this post helped give some more insight into my portrayal of Rhaegar ( because that is really the reason why I do these, to help current and potential RP partners learn more of my take on him ), and thank you for taking the time to read!

#it's long so under read more it goes #had this written out a while ago but ofc kept forgetting to post it here #he an emo prince but he a warrior emo prince #friendly reminder that i have always seen rhaegar and aegon (the conqueror) as sort of parallels in how they were both enigmatic #aegon was a great warrior but didn't fight/rhaegar a skilled knight but didn't like jousting #aegon was charismatic but secluded with 1 close friend/rhaegar was loved by all but had the one close friend #rhaegar is composed of like.. opposites that another reason why he can be tricky #[ s i l v e r p r i n c e ] #headcanons #hc #headcanon #rhae headcanons