Lyanna Stark was the sister of Brandon Stark, Eddard Stark, and Benjen Stark. She was fair and beautiful, and crowned the Queen of Love and Beauty by Rhaegar Targaryen after he won a tourney in Harrenhal. Rhaegar kidnapped her (or ran off with her). Afterwards Brandon Stark along with several companions of his went to King's Landing to demand her release and Rhaegar's head, leading the Mad King to order his deaths, as well as the death of Brandon's father, for his actions. She was betrothed to Robert Baratheon, who never accepted her death and mourned her for the rest of his life. Her passing was hard on Ned, as well. In his fever dreams, Ned remembers promising Lyanna something, and seeing her on "her bed of blood" surrounded by blue flowers. She was an important cause of Robert's Rebellion, which led to the destruction of the Targaryens and brought the Baratheons and Lannisters to the Iron Throne.
Notes
- It is widely believed by fans of the books that Lyanna Stark was in love with Rhaegar and that they had a child together--many fans believe that their child was Jon Snow.