[EVERYTHING] Yohn Royce's power play?

Of all of the 'background' characters still alive and active on the show, Yohn Royce strikes me as one who could potentially be among the most consequential.

Let's review: we first meet Yohn Royce midway through Season 4, when Petyr Baelish arrives at the Eyrie ahead of his scheduled marriage to Lysa Arryn, Sansa Stark in tow. From the beginning, Royce makes no secret of his distaste for Littlefinger, regarding him an untrustworthy character. While never explicitly stated, Royce also seems to think that Littlefinger's relatively humble origins render him an unworthy suitor for the Lady of the Vale. Following Lysa's death, Royce openly (and accurately) theorizes that Baelish killed her, but following Sansa's (false) testimony, Royce grudgingly accepts that Littlefinger probably isn't going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

Shortly thereafter, Littlefinger arranges for the now-motherless SweetRobin to be fostered by Lord Royce. Again, just a hunch, but my sense is that Littlefinger did this to appease Royce, allowing him to believe that taking SweetRobin under his wing would eventually increase his influence over the boy, though Littlefinger knew that he had so endeared himself to SweetRobin by then that he was unlikely to go against his advice.

We next see Royce in mid-Season 6, when Littlefinger arrives to visit with SweetRobin. Royce is at the ready with information he seems to think could sink Littlefinger once and for all--correctly asserting (once again) that Littlefinger had gone back on his pledge to bring Sansa Stark to safety by helping to arrange a political marriage between she and Ramsay Bolton. The Boltons are, of course, bitter enemies of House Stark, and Royce's sympathy/admiration for the Starks dates back to his youthful acquaintance with Ned Stark, who spent much of his early life being fostered at the Eyrie.

Littlefinger successfully turns this around on Royce, however, alleging that his knowledge of he and Sansa's travel plans was known to few other than Royce himself, and it was either Royce's carelessness or treachery which led them to be ambushed by Bolton forces.

This is, of course, a complete lie, and both Littlefinger and Royce know it. It's enough for SweetRobin, however, who considers executing Royce based on what Littlefinger told him. With his life quite literally hanging in the balance, Royce is forced to stand down. Baelish, now de facto Lord of the Vale, orders Royce to mobilize the Knights of the Vale and prepare to march north.

At the Battle of the Bastards, Royce proves himself a capable military commander, making short work of the Bolton infantry surrounding what was left of Jon's army, and effectively securing their victory over Ramsay Bolton.

As major political/military forces convene at Winterfell some time later, Royce loudly objects to the idea of the Vale joining a formal alliance with an army partially made up of Wildlings. By the end of said meeting, however, Royce joins the chorus of those declaring Jon Snow the new King in the North.

We the audience know that Jon as king is not the outcome Littlefinger was hoping for. While it's unclear if Royce realizes this as well, his decision to join the Northern lords in rallying behind Jon strikes me as being quite calculated. So long as Littlefinger maintains political control of the Vale, Royce's influence will be limited.

By contrast, Jon has yet to establish a new military/political hierarchy in his kingdom. Royce's experience and record would theoretically leave him well-positioned to assume a civilian and/or military leadership role in Jon's new government. Thereby leaving him better able to combat Baelish and his influence.

Submitted February 25, 2017 at 04:49PM by FewerMoonves http://ift.tt/2mpYhoc