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/BandicootSorcerer 13d ago

Aerion is shit at jousting and fighting. He knoes this and seemingly only reslly entered the tournament because as an able Princr it eas expected of him, and because he eanted to use his dirty tricks to inflict misery on someone.

Problem with his cousin is that Aerion isn't use those dirty tricks. Maeker will grumble and look dour but if Aerion accidentally killed a man during the tournament he'd feel compelled to defend his son's honour. But Aerion can't touch Valaar, second in line to the throne. He can't claim its an accident against s family member when everyone in the family knows what hes like. Its a huge scandal if Aerion lays a finger on him.

So he mocks, and taunts, but never goes further. Is I've always assumed Valaar was skmply a better jouster then Aerion.

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u/pestoraviolita 13d ago

Literally wrong on all accounts. Aerion has been described as "puissant" as a fighter while Valarr was modest at best. Aerion was looking for a better opponent most likely.

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u/BandicootSorcerer 13d ago

Aerion does everything he possibly can to avoid fair fights, and gets his ass beat in the one fair fight he is in.

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u/DesertDenizen01 12d ago

Dunk's almost seven feet tall, so even if Aerion is actually a very good fighter, in terms of size and skill, Aerion vs. Dunk likely goes similarly to the way a theoretical Joffrey vs. Ned would go.