What would Ned have done if Jon looked like Rhaegar?
If Jon Snow had looked more like Rhaegar Targaryen, with features such as silver-blonde hair and purple eyes, it would have been significantly more challenging for Ned Stark to pass him off as his bastard son. Here are some possible scenarios:
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Passing Jon Off as Ashara Dayne's Child: Ned could have attempted to claim that Jon was the son of Ashara Dayne, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Elia Martell. Ashara had violet eyes, and if Jon had similar features, it might have been believable. However, this would still have been risky, as it would require convincing others of this story without raising suspicion3.
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Hiding Jon in Essos: Another option might have been to send Jon to Essos, where he could have grown up among Targaryen loyalists. This would have been extremely risky, as it would involve navigating complex alliances and ensuring Jon's safety in a foreign land3.
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Raising Jon in the North with the Reeds: Ned could have considered hiding Jon with the Reeds, a loyal family in the North. This would have allowed Jon to remain closer to home while minimizing the risk of discovery, though it would still be precarious due to potential betrayal from other Northerners3.
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Confronting Robert Baratheon: The most dangerous approach would have been for Ned to confront Robert with the truth. Given Robert's history of violence against Targaryens, this would likely have ended in disaster for both Ned and Jon3.
Ultimately, Ned's actions would have been driven by his desire to protect Jon from those who sought to harm him due to his true parentage. The fact that Jon resembled the Starks more than the Targaryens made it easier for Ned to keep his secret safe.