[Spoilers Extended] Why did Brandon Stark Ride to KL

Brandon Stark riding to King’s Landing after hearing about Lyanna, isnt a big heroic moment I see it as a complete idiotic and dumb way to go about it, mostly because of he's competely aware of who Aerys is or atleast has an idea

People rarely talk about Brandon, and on one level, sure, the anger makes sense. If he believed Rhaegar had taken Lyanna, then obviously he was going to be furious. No one is denying that part. But fury is not the same thing as judgment it doesnt equal he was justified to do that, and that is where the situation completely falls apart. Because Brandon was not riding into a court ruled by a stern but sane king. He was riding into the hands of Aerys Targaryen, and by that point Aerys was not just cruel or harsh or prideful. He was completely deranged.

That is the part that makes Brandon’s decision feel so unbelievably stupid to me.

Aerys was not a man who could be reasoned with. He was not a king who would hear a grievance at the point in his life, actually thinking rationally, and try to calm the realm. He was paranoid, unstable, and basically controlled essentially by delusion.

And Brandon rode right into that.

That is what makes it so hard for me to say hes completely fine in doing this. Brandon may have been brave, but bravery means nothing when it is pointed straight at a wall of madness even if Aerys were comptent a king , maybe in an ideal confrontation still ends badly thats compelete treason and he has all right to imprison him and is aceeptable of the death penalty. Under Aerys, everything becomes worse.That is why Brandon’s decision feels less like boldness and more like a total failure to understand the reality of the court he was entering.

Because what exactly did he think was going to happen?

Did he think Rhaegar would just come out and fight him like this was some northern blood feud espically if he "kidnapped lyanna" why would he be at kings landing? Did he think he could threaten the crown prince in the capital and somehow walk away alive? None of that works once you remember who Aerys He was too far gone.

So yes, Brandon’s anger is understandable. Yes, his love for Lyanna is understandable. But none of that changes the fact that the decision itself was horribly stupid. He hears that Lyanna has been taken (unconfirmed who it was that gave him that information) instead of slowing down, gathering facts, speaking to his Father, involving The important people like Jon Arryn and Robert , or building actual political pressure, he goes straight to the capital and makes a suicidal challenge. mind you he had time he was initially heading to riverrun from the north to wed catelyn and instead he went changed course to KL they would have been travelling for a good amount of time and it never once crossed his mind that what he was doing was foolish That is not justice. The man is straight up just asking to be killed.