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game of thrones - Why did Petyr Baelish want Ned to send Loras instead of Lord Beric?


In Chapter 43 of AGOT, Ned Stark sends Lord Beric Dondarrion to bring Ser Gregor Clegane to justice in the name of the King. In the next chapter, Petyr Baelish overhears Sansa say that Ned should have sent Ser Loras instead. This catches his attention:



The young lady is as wise as she is lovely




Then he asks her why, and Sansa reluctantly explains her "heroes and monsters" reasoning. Petyr responds:



Well, those are not the reasons I'd have given, but...



Why would Petyr have charged Ser Loras with this task?



Answer



At that point of time Petyr was still banking on Ned coming out triumphant with him riding on his coat tails. The Lannisters were a major House, and had immense amounts of power not only financially, but militarily and politically as well.


If Ned had sent Loras Tyrell instead of Beric Dondarrion, that would've meant that the Tyrells were (at least nominally) on the Stark side. The Mountain attacking a force lead by a beloved Tyrell son, would've been a grave insult to another major House that rivals the Lannisters in power. If something would've happened to Loras (as it did to Beric) the Tyrells would've become completely antagonistic to the Lannisters with very little chance of peace between them, let alone alliance.


Instead, Ned (who is incredibly naive when it comes to politics) sends a minor lord of small House, a smattering of knights of little influence, and most of the Stark household guards. Petyr knew this was a huge mistake, and tells Sansa as much.



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