Daenerys Targaryen and Robb Stark led similar journeys throughout Game of Thrones, despite never meeting during the series. The Mother of Dragons spent the majority of her time traveling across Essos and liberating the people of Slaver's Bay; the Young Wolf inherited his father's responsibilities earlier than he expected, waging war against the Lannisters as the first King in the North in over three centuries.
Robb and Daenerys could have been Westeros' true power couple if the Khaleesi had sailed home sooner. But she might not have shared the same chemistry with the show's original Northern king,. Despite the tragic culmination of their romance, Jon Snow was Dany's soulmate in many ways. Which King in the North would ultimately have won the Dragon Queen's heart?
Robb: Both Of Them Struggled With Being Monarchs At A Young Age
Robb and Daenerys both bore immense responsibilities early in their lives. Robb is crowned King in the North in the season 1 finale and forced into war with the Lannisters. After the deaths of Viserys and Drogo, Daenerys becomes a queen in her own right, reigning from Meereen before sailing to Westeros.
The young monarchs understood the heavy pressures of leadership, as well as the difficult choices that came with their crowns. During the early days of their reigns, Robb and Dany exemplified similar philosophies when explaining what sort of king/queen they wanted to be.
Jon: They're The Song Of Ice And Fire
If any romance in Game of Thrones could be described as star-crossed, it is Jon and Dany's. Melisandre urges Daenerys to meet with Jon Snow and later informs Varys that she has "brought ice and fire together," highlighting the mystical nature surrounding the last Targaryens' relationship.
With her fiery dragons and experiences in Essos, Daenerys could be considered the titular fire of the book series, whereas Jon's Stark blood and snowy adventures qualify him as her icy counterpart. Together, the two share an almost magical connection.
Robb: They Could Have United House Stark And House Targaryen
After Ned's death, Robb became the patriarch of House Stark, whereas the death of Viserys made Dany the last known scion of House Targaryen. A marriage between the young monarchs could have united their two Great Houses following the bloody rift caused by Robert's Rebellion.
Few characters suited each other's status as well as Daenerys and Robb. They could have fulfilled the pact of ice and fire created by their ancestors by wedding their families and combining their power.
Jon: They Were The Last Targaryens
Daenerys and Jon were connected by more than marriage. As Rhaegar's son, Jon shared a family tree with the Mother of Dragons, as well as a claim to the Targaryen dynasty. Both were the last survivors of their Great House and the only Valyrians remaining in the Seven Kingdoms.
The Targaryens were no strangers to incest; the dragonlords married their family for years to preserve their dragon-riding abilities. Jon and Daenerys could have restored their family's legacy and solidified Westeros under the dragon's rule once more.
Robb: They Could Have Teamed Up Against The Lannisters
The Starks and Targaryens share a bitter history, but ultimately, House Stark's biggest enemy during the series was the Lannisters of Casterly Rock. Joffrey's arrest of Ned causes Robb and the Northerners to march south, where they go to war against Tywin and the Lannister forces.
Robb and Daenerys shared a common enemy in House Lannister; Tywin betrayed Dany's father, the Mad King, and called for the deaths of her niece and nephew, Rhaenys and Aegon. A shared desire for revenge could have united the Young Wolf and Mother of Dragons against their foes on the Iron Throne.
Jon: Daenerys Loved Jon's Selfless Nature
Jon's honor gets him into trouble more often than not, though it was enough to win Daenerys' heart. The Targaryen queen is drawn to the King in the North throughout season 7. On the voyage from Eastwatch in "Beyond The Wall," Dany sees Jon's scars for the first time and realizes the truth behind his resurrection.
This knowledge is what truly brings them together. Daenerys is moved by the depths of Jon's self-sacrificial nature, and the two finally act on their feelings for each other in the following episode.
Robb: King Robb Could Have Ruled The North, Queen Daenerys Could Have Ruled The South
Robb understood the importance of Northern independence more than Jon, whose priority was always the war against the dead. If Daenerys had sailed for Westeros sooner and crossed paths with the Young Wolf, the two could have brokered an alliance that saw them combine their dominion over the country.
Daenerys could have ruled from the south and Robb from the North. Marriage would have united their sovereignty over each of the Seven Kingdoms, with them potentially becoming King/Queen Consort of the south and North respectively.
Jon: They Fought The Night King Together
Jon and Dany's union placed them in the center of the battle against the dead. The last Targaryens take to the skies on Drogon and Rhaegal during "The Long Night," breathing fiery doom on the wights below, before sharing a brutal confrontation with the Night King and Viserion.
Daenerys and Jon fought side by side against an otherworldly threat, and Dany saves his life for a second time when Jon falls from his dragon. Their relationship, while ill-fated in the show, held a predestined feel that ed them together as dragon-riding warriors.
Robb: They Needed Powerful Allies
Daenerys and Robb proved to be powerful battle commanders early in the series, yet they were in need of Westerosi allies throughout their respective conquests. Robb is forced to ally with House Frey, sealing his doom; Dany's Dornish and Tyrell allies are taken out early during an ambush orchestrated by Cersei and Euron.
An earlier arrival in the Seven Kingdoms for Daenerys could have made all the difference for both characters. Instead of perishing at the hands of Roose Bolton and Jon Snow respectively, Robb and Dany could have worked together to conquer the country.
Jon: Their Journeys Throughout The Series Paralleled Each Other
Another facet in the last Targaryens' forbidden love is their parallel journeys throughout the series. Both of them are mostly separated from the political drama in Westeros: Jon at the Wall, Daenerys in Essos. The young leaders soon grow into positions of power, uniting the nomadic wildlings and Dothraki respectively.
Daenerys shared more in common with Jon than she did with Robb. The Young Wolf was dashing and honorable, though viewers never saw them interact like Daenerys and Jon. But the last Targaryens did meet a tragic end. Maybe Daenerys would have been happier with Robb after all.