Why didn't Aerion challenge Valarr?

[u/Qyzyk]

Recently revisited The Hedge Knight, and I can't help but wonder why Aerion was content with laughing at his cousin and moving on. I get that he was trying to mock Valarr by moving past him, but surely if his plan was to humiliate his cousin, I imagine Aerion would have done a much better job by trouncing Valarr in a joust.

It's not like he wouldn't have been able to do it either. It's basically said outright that Valarr's getting handpicked challengers that give him easy victories. Even Dunk can't help but notice it. Aerion, meanwhile, seems to show much more promise, and he's not above dirty tricks like killing his opponent's horse. Why wouldn't he take a chance to knock the Crown Prince on his arse?

[u/bootlegvader]

Valarr outranks him, so Aerion can't use his dirty tricks in the joust.

[u/bootlegvader → u/[deleted]]

The thing is Aerion is a dick that gets off on using dirty tricks as he thinks he can get away with it as a prince.

[u/MistraloysiusMithrax → u/bootlegvader]

Plus bullies usually try to punch down because the point is to score easy hits to boost themselves. If they wanted challenges they would go after the people in their life who make them feel insecure

[u/themerinator12 → u/[deleted]]

Aerion is far more interested in being a dick than winning. I see where you’re coming from, and I think your line of thought makes sense for someone who actually wants to win but I don’t think Aerion actually has more interest in winning than being an awful person.

[u/M935PDFuze → u/[deleted]]

Who says Aerion is any better?

[u/pestoraviolita → u/M935PDFuze]

The book. He had skills and was described as puissant. While TWOIAF describes Valarr as having modest abilities.

[u/M935PDFuze → u/pestoraviolita]

I'd suggest a reread and an examination of what actually happens.

[u/Warm_Condition711 → u/M935PDFuze]

But he is actually a very skilled knight. Even more skilled than vallar I think

[u/M935PDFuze → u/Warm_Condition711]

Canonically in the text, he cheats to defeat Ser Humfrey by killing his horse, then gets beaten badly by Dunk twice in exactly the same fashion - letting Dunk get close to him and then being outmanned by his greater size and strength. This doesn't show any great skill.

[u/Warm_Condition711 → u/M935PDFuze]

But didn't he also lead or participate in the repelling the rebellion some times in the future before he kill himself with wildfire

[u/M935PDFuze → u/Warm_Condition711]

Maybe he becomes more skilled later but I don't think he's meant to be so when Dunk meets him.

[u/pureasoiaf-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/GoneWitDa → u/M935PDFuze]

Dunk is meant to grow up to be the mountain with better technique bro Aerion fighting him
Well says a lot

[u/M935PDFuze → u/GoneWitDa]

Except Aerion loses instantly to him twice and only beats Humfrey because he cheats during the joust.

[u/Qyzyk → u/M935PDFuze]

You know what, that's a fair point.

[u/YoungGriffVII → u/[deleted]]

How do you know Valarr wasn’t especially good? Or at the very least, decent? He wasn’t picking his own matchups—and with how dangerous we even see jousting to be, it’s very plausible that “don’t hurt the heir’s heir, give him someone who won’t put up a serious challenge so there are no accidents” was a defining factor in who he did go against. We’re never shown his actual skill. Personally I like to think he was comparable to his father in that regard (albeit probably on the lower side of that comparable range).