[MagicHef]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Spoiler!

Note the colossal joke on the Seven Kingdoms if Lyanna ran off with Rhaegar willingly, instead of her being kidnapped, as Robert (and perhaps Ned) assumed.

The "kidnapping" of Lyanna is the root cause of Robert's rebellion, which leads to war, the ouster of the Targaryens and Robert becoming King. Because he is king, he is betrothed to Cercei Lannister, and on and on it goes.

All because of a mistake. Lyanna was Robert's love, but she didn't love him back. On the mistaken belief that she was kidnapped, Robert goes into full rebellion, topples a dynasty, has a traitorous, cheating wife who bears incestuous, illegitimate children to succeed him on the throne and ultimately arranges for his death after too many people start getting too close to the truth.

Spoiler!

Given Ned's reaction to Robert's yelling about Rheagar, it's pretty questionable that he thought Rheagar kidnapped Lyanna.

In reality, Brandon (with a notoriously hot temper) got second-hand information about Lyanna's "abduction" and demanded a duel with Rheagar. Everything went downhill from there.

It's also a little funny that you list 'cheating' as a negative aspect of ROBERT'S wife.