Jeyne Westerling/Theories

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  1. Stated as questions or possibilities.
  2. More appropriate for another article.
  3. Illogical or previously disproven.
  4. Proven by canon source, and moved to main page.
  5. Speculative and lacking any evidence to support arguments.
  6. Responding to another theory (use discussion page instead).
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Jeyne Westerling, the daughter of Lady Sybell Spicer and Lord Gawen Westerling, marries Robb Stark after he has been crowned King in the North.[1] They try to become pregnant, as Robb's younger brothers Bran and Rickon are believed to have been killed by Theon Greyjoy,[citation needed] his sister Sansa is in the custody of Robb's enemies[citation needed] and his sister Arya is missing and believed to be dead.[citation needed]

Jeyne does not conceive before Robb leaves for the Twins for the wedding of his uncle, Lord Edmure Tully. Robb is killed at the Twins during the Red Wedding, after which Ser Jaime Lannister travels to Riverrun to lift the siege of Riverrun. Inside the castle, he comes face to face with Jeyne and her mother, who declares to have worked together with Lord Tywin Lannister.[citation needed]

Discrepancies between descriptions of Jeyne have resulted in speculation among the fandom that Jeyne might not have been the girl who Jaime met at Riverrun. Further speculation covers the possible reasons for such a switch.

Identity

Supporting evidence

The following pieces of information can be considered evidence for this theory:

  • Upon first meeting Jeyne, Catelyn Stark describes her appearance: "She was pretty, undeniably, with her chestnut curls and heart-shaped face, and that shy smile. Slender, but with good hips, [...]".[1] The description of her hips does not match with Jaime Lannisters description of Jeyne following the capture of Riverrun by the Lannister forces: "Jeyne was a willowy girl, no more than fifteen or sixteen, more awkward than graceful. She had narrow hips, breasts the size of apples, a mop of chestnut curls, and the soft brown eyes of a doe. Pretty enough for a child [...]".[2] This difference in description has resulted in the suggestion in the fandom that the girl Jaime meets is not actually Jeyne.

Counter arguments

The following pieces of information can be considered counter-evidence for this theory:

  • Several indications have been made that the discrepancy in the description of Jeyne's hips was an accidental mistake:
    • At the Union Square Signing in July 2011, George R. R. Martin reportedly stated that "the hips were a mistake unfortunately".[3]
    • According to Linda Antonsson, "George has apparently told people that it's a mistake".[4]
    • Current editions of A Feast for Crows have removed the reference to Jeyne's hips when meeting Jaime entirely, instead changing the passage into "Jeyne was a willowy girl, no more than fifteen or sixteen, more awkward than graceful. She had breasts the size of apples, a mop of chestnut curls, and the soft brown eyes of a doe. Pretty enough for a child [...]". [5]

Motivation

The most frequently used argument for a motivation of switching Jeyne with an importer is the suggestion that she may have discovered she was pregnant after Robb's death.

Supporting evidence

The following pieces of information can be considered evidence for this theory:

  • According to Jeyne, her mother Sybell makes a posset for her, consisting of herbs, milk and ale, to help make her fertile.[6]

Counter arguments

The following pieces of information can be considered counter-evidence for this theory:

  • According to Lady Sybell, she made certain that Jeyne was not pregnant with Robb's child, on the orders of Lord Tywin Lannister.[2] The mobile application A World of Ice and Fire states that Sybell's posset prevented Jeyne from conceiving.[7][8]

Sybell's involvement

When exactly House Westerling's services against House Stark came to involve House Lannister is still unclear. The mobile application states that Sybell and her brother, Rolph Spicer, plot to trick Robb Stark into marrying Jeyne after he seizes the Crag,[8] by leaving Robb and Jeyne alone as much as possible, hoping "nature will take its course".[7] Whether this was done on the instructions of Lord Tywin Lannister, or whether Sybell and Rolph acted on their own and allied with Tywin later, is unknown.

Fans have further suggested an active involvement of Sybell by providing Robb Stark with a love potion. Sybell's grandmother was "Maggy", a priestess who used to be visited by half of Lannisport for "cures and love potions and the like", according to Kevan Lannister.[9] This background, in combination with her demonstrated knowledge of herbs and potions[6], make it plausible Sybell is aware of how to make a love potion and slipped one to Robb while he was recovering from his wounds at the Crag.

References