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Game Of Thrones: Why Ned Stark Didn't Demand A Trial By Combat
The death of Ned Stark was one of Game of Thrones' most shocking moments, but could it have been saved if he'd demanded a trial by combat? Debuting back in 2011, viewers of Game of Thrones who hadn't read George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire books expected Lord Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) to be the series' main protagonist for the long term. Instead, they were left stunned when in season 1, episode 9, "Baelor", Ned was executed on the orders of King Joffrey Baratheon.
As with first time book readers back in 1996, most viewers expected that there'd be some way out for Ned that would've meant he'd survive beyond the end of season 1. That was certainly setup as well, since Ned had agreed to take the black and join the Night's Watch, where he'd find his "son", Jon Snow, before Joffrey had a shocking change of heart. However, some Game of Thrones fans were left wondering in the wake of Ned's death whether he might've had another way out: a trial by combat. Introduced just a few episodes earlier when Tyrion demanded one while on trial by Lysa Arryn (which he, or rather Bronn, won), could Ned have demanded a trial by combat to save his life?
The first and most obvious reason as to why Ned didn't demand a trial by combat in Game of Thrones is that he didn't really face a trial in the first place. After his arrest, Ned was convinced by Varys to confess to the crimes he was charged with, admitting treason in exchange for being exiled to the Wall. Ned chose this option to help protect his family, with Sansa still under the hold of the Lannisters; had Ned refused to confess, then her life likely would've been made even worse and put at greater risk. Of course, this is also because of Ned's famous honor: he trusts Varys' word and that Cersei and Joffrey will stick to theirs, which Joffrey then doesn't (to the shock of even Cersei). A trial by combat, then, wasn't on the table because Ned didn't think he'd need to face a trial of any sort.
Had Ned refused to confess and instead opted to be tried, it's still unlikely that he would have demanded a trial by combat. While someone of a different faith can demand one, they are very traditionally a choice of those who practice the Faith of the Seven, while Ned kept the Old Gods. On top of that is Ned's weakened physical and mental state: with a badly injured leg, a feverish state, and having been locked in a cell with little food or water, he was in no condition to fight. He might have been able to elect someone else as his champion, but realistically the options were slim-to-none. The Crown would've had varying choices of great warriors - Ser Barristan Selmy, the Hound, the Mountain, etc - and while Ned was well-respected and liked, it'd be hard to find someone willing to go against the King and a likely death for him in this scenario. That would've put his family in an even more perilous situation, as well as costing him his life, so is another reason not to demand a trial by combat.
There's also the history of the Starks in Game of Thrones to consider when wondering why Ned didn't demand a trial by combat. Ned's lasting memory of trials by combat - and what happened the last time a Stark went to King's Landing - was his father's trial by combat against the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen. The Mad King chose fire as his champion, and Lord Rickard Stark was burned to death. At the same time, Brandon, Ned's brother, was chained by the neck and strangled himself trying to reach a sword to free his father. With that in mind, Ned Stark is hardly going to believe in the power of a trial by combat to deliver justice.
