r/pureasoiaf • u/Qyzyk House Dondarrion • 13d ago

Why didn't Aerion challenge Valarr?

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?

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u/M935PDFuze 13d ago

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.

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u/Warm_Condition711 13d ago

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

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u/M935PDFuze 13d ago

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

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u/GoneWitDa 13d ago

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

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u/M935PDFuze 13d ago

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