#SheRuuulz

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“The great lords would have given us another two years of war,” the fool declares in his Testimony, “it was the women who made the peace. Black Aly, the Maiden of the Vale, the Three Widows, the Dragon Twins, ’twas them who brought the bloodshed to an end, and not with swords or poison, but with ravens, words, and kisses.”

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: Aftermath: The Hour of the Wolf #Alysanne Blackwood #Jeyne Arryn #Johanna Lannister Westerling #Elenda Caron #Samantha Tarly #Baela Targaryen #Rhaena Targaryen (twin) #SheRuuulz #Dance of the Dragons #V #GRRM #books #quotes

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With Lord Corlys came his wife, Princess Rhaenys, five-and-fifty, her face lean and lined, her black hair streaked with white, yet fierce and fearless as she had been at two-and-twenty. “The Queen Who Never Was,” Mushroom calls her.

The Princess and the Queen × Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

Tiny detail, but once again, I prefer the line from novella:

... a woman sometimes known among the smallfolk as “The Queen Who Never Was.”

#ASoIaF #The Princess and the Queen #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: The Dying of the Dragons: The Blacks and the Greens #Rhaenys Targaryen #SheRuuulz #V #GRRM #books #quotes #Also known as: #Objectively the coolest woman in Westeros.

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A handful of the braver maidens made so bold as to address the king, in an attempt to make themselves more memorable. ... A northern maid named Barba Bolton, daughter of the Dreadfort, said, “If you send me home, Your Grace, send me home with food, for the snows are deep and your people are starving.”.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

Northerners...

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: Under the Regents: War and Peace and Cattle Shows #Maiden's Day Ball #Aegon III Targaryen #Barba Bolton #SheRuuulz #North #V #GRRM #books #quotes

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Drums beat out a command, and archers rushed forward, longbowmen and crossbowmen both, filling the air with arrows and quarrels. Scorpions were cranked upwards to loose iron bolts of the sort that had once felled Meraxes in Dorne. Meleys suffered a score of hits, but the arrows only served to make her angry. She swept down, spitting fire to right and left. Knights burned in their saddles as the hair and hide and harness of their horses went up in flames. Men-at-arms dropped their spears and scattered. Some tried to hide behind their shields, but neither oak nor iron could withstand dragon’s breath. Ser Criston sat on his white horse shouting, “Aim for the rider,” through the smoke and flame. Meleys roared, smoke swirling from her nostrils, a stallion kicking in her jaws as tongues of fire engulfed him. Then came an answering roar. Two more winged shapes appeared: the king astride Sunfyre the Golden, and his brother Aemond upon Vhagar. Criston Cole had sprung his trap, and Rhaenys had come snatching at the bait. Now the teeth closed round her. Princess Rhaenys made no attempt to flee. With a glad cry and a crack of her whip, she turned Meleys toward the foe. Against Vhagar alone she might have had some chance, for the Red Queen was old and cunning, and no stranger to battle. Against Vhagar and Sunfyre together, doom was certain. The dragons met violently a thousand feet above the field of battle, as balls of fire burst and blossomed, so bright that men swore later that the sky was full of suns. The crimson jaws of Meleys closed round Sunfyre’s golden neck for a moment, till Vhagar fell upon them from above. All three beasts went spinning toward the ground. They struck so hard that stones fell from the battlements of Rook’s Rest half a league away. Those closest to the dragons did not live to tell the tale. Those farther off could not see, for the flame and smoke. It was hours before the fires guttered out. But from those ashes, only Vhagar rose unharmed. Meleys was dead, broken by the fall and ripped to pieces upon the ground. And Sunfyre, that splendid golden beast, had one wing half torn from his body, whilst his royal rider had suffered broken ribs, a broken hip, and burns that covered half his body. His left arm was the worst. The dragonflame had burned so hot that the king’s armor had melted into his flesh. A body believed to be Rhaenys Targaryen was later found beside the carcass of her dragon, but so blackened that no one could be sure it was her. Beloved daughter of Lady Jocelyn Baratheon and Prince Aemon Targaryen, faithful wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, mother and grandmother, the Queen Who Never Was lived fearlessly, and died amidst blood and fire. She was fifty-five years old.

The Princess and the Queen × Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

#ASoIaF #The Princess and the Queen #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: The Dying of the Dragons: The Red Dragon and the Gold #Rhaenys Targaryen #Meleys #SheRuuulz #Dance of the Dragons #Aegon II Targaryen #Sunfyre #Aemond Targaryen #Vhagar #V #GRRM #books #quotes #Cooowaaards!!! #Girls fucked them up good!

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Duskendale fell easily, taken by surprise by the King’s forces, the town sacked, the ships in the harbor set afire, Lord Darklyn beheaded. Rook’s Rest was Ser Criston’s next objective. Forewarned of their coming, Lord Staunton closed his gates and defied the attackers. Behind his walls, his lordship could only watch as his fields and woods and villages were burned, his sheep and cattle and smallfolk put to the sword. When provisions inside the castle began to run low, he dispatched a raven to Dragonstone, pleading for succor. Nine days after Lord Staunton dispatched his plea for help, the sound of leathern wings was heard across the sea, and the dragon Meleys appeared above Rook’s Rest. The Red Queen, she was called, for the scarlet scales that covered her. The membranes of her wings were pink, her crest, horns, and claws bright as copper. And on her back, in steel and copper armor that flashed in the sun, rode Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was.

The Princess and the Queen (George R. R. Martin)

#ASoIaF #The Princess and the Queen #valyrianscrolls #Criston Cole #Rhaenys Targaryen #Meleys #SheRuuulz #Dance of the Dragons #Blacks #Fire & Blood #ch: The Dying of the Dragons: The Red Dragon and the Gold #V #GRRM #books #quotes

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His Grace [Aenys] was trading Visenya’s Hill for Visenya herself. On Dragonstone the Queen Dowager famously greeted him with, “You are a fool and a weakling, nephew. Do you think any man would ever have dared speak so to your father? You have a dragon. Use him. Fly to Oldtown and make this Starry Sept another Harrenhal. Or give me leave, and let me roast this pious fool for you.”

...

King Aenys’s widow, Queen Alyssa, was present as well, with her younger sons, Viserys and Jaehaerys, and her daughter Alysanne. A visit from the Dowager Queen and Vhagar had persuaded her to leave her sanctuary on Driftmark and return to court, where Alyssa and her brothers and cousins of House Velaryon did homage to Maegor as the true king.

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #ch: The Sons of the Dragon #Visenya Targaryen #SheRuuulz #Vhagar #valyrianscrolls #meme #Aenys Targaryen #Alyssa Velaryon #Maegor Targaryen #books #quotes #GRRM #V

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Visenya twice wielded Dark Sister in Aegon’s defense when he was set upon by Dornish cutthroats. Suspicious and ferocious by turns, she trusted no one but her brother. During the Dornish War, she took to wearing a shirt of mail night and day, even under her court clothes, and urged the king to do the same. When Aegon refused, Visenya grew furious. “Even with Blackfyre in your hand, you are only one man,” she told him, “and I cannot always be with you.” When the king pointed out that he had guardsmen around him, Visenya drew Dark Sister and slashed him across the cheek so quickly the guards had no time to react. “Your guards are slow and lazy,” she said. “I could have killed you as easily as I cut you. You require better protection.” King Aegon, bleeding, had no choice but to agree.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

Peak older sibling energy. She even has “I’ll do it myself!” attitude.

So many knights came forward to offer themselves as candidates for the Kingsguard that King Aegon considered holding a great tourney to determine which of them was the most worthy. Visenya would not hear of it, however. To be a Kingsguard knight required more than just skill at arms, she pointed out. She would not risk placing men of uncertain loyalty about the king, regardless of how well they performed in a melee. She would choose the knights herself.

The champions she selected were young and old, tall and short, dark and fair. They came from every corner of the realm. Some were younger sons, others the heirs of ancient houses who gave up their inheritances to serve the king. One was a hedge knight, another bastard born. All of them were quick, strong, observant, skilled with sword and shield, and devoted to the king.

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #ch: Three Heads Had the Dragon: Governance under King Aegon I #Visenya Targaryen #Aegon I Targaryen #First Dornish War #Kingsguard #valyrianscrolls #books #quotes #GRRM #V #SheRuuulz

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Princess Saera herself was still alive and well in Volantis, and only thirty-four years of age; her own claim was clearly superior to those of any of her bastard sons, but she did not choose to press it. “I have my own kingdom here,” she said, when asked if she meant to return to Westeros.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #ch: Heirs of the Dragon: A Question of Succession #Great Council of 101 AC #Saera Targaryen #SheRuuulz #V #books #quotes #GRRM #valyrianscrolls #The only one who managed to get away.

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... Oldtown had the power to renew the war; all that was lacking was the will. Lord Ormund had only recently taken a second wife when the Dance began, ... Upon his death at Tumbleton, his lands and title passed to his eldest son, Lyonel, a youth of fifteen on the cusp of manhood. ... When Lord Velaryon’s terms were put to Lyonel Hightower, it is said, the young lord ripped the parchment from his maester’s hand and tore it into shreds, swearing to write his reply in the Sea Snake’s blood. His lord father’s young widow had other notions, however. Lady Samantha was the daughter of Lord Donald Tarly of Horn Hill and Lady Jeyne Rowan of Goldengrove, both houses that had taken up arms for the queen during the Dance. Fierce and fiery and beautiful, this strong-willed girl had no intention of giving up her place as the Lady of Oldtown and mistress of the Hightower. Lyonel was but two years her junior, and ... had been infatuated with her since first she came to Oldtown to wed his father. Whereas previously she had fended off the boy’s halting advances, now Lady Sam ... yielded to them, allowing him to seduce her, and afterward promising to marry him… but only if he would make peace, “for I would surely die of grief should I lose another husband”. Faced with a choice between “a dead father, cold in the ground, and a living woman, warm and willing in his arms, the boy showed surprising sense for one so highborn, and chose love over honor”, says Mushroom. Lyonel Hightower capitulated, agreeing to all the terms put forth by Lord Corlys, including the return of the Crown’s gold ... A great scandal ensued when the young lord then announced his intention to marry his father’s widow, and the reigning High Septon ultimately forbade the marriage as a form of incest, but even that could not keep these young lovers apart. Thereafter refusing to wed, the Lord of the Hightower and Defender of Oldtown kept the Lady Sam by his side as his paramour for the next thirteen years, fathering six children on her, and finally taking her as his wife when a new High Septon came to power in the Starry Sept and reversed the ruling of his predecessor.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

It's refreshing to read about a man, who remained faithful to a woman and married her as soon as he could, even if it took over a decade.

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: Aftermath: The Hour of the Wolf #Samantha Tarly #Lyonel Hightower #OTP #SheRuuulz #Dance of the Dragons #Gems of Ice&Fire history #V #GRRM #books #quotes

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In Oldtown, relations between the High Septon and Lord Ormund’s widow, the Lady Sam, continued to worsen when she ignored His High Holiness’s command to remove herself from her stepson’s bed and take vows as a silent sister as penace for her sins. Righteous in his wroth, the High Septon condemned the Dowager Lady of Oldtown as a shameless fornicator and forbade her to set foot in the Starry Sept until she had repented and sought forgiveness. Instead Lady Samantha mounted a warhorse and burst into the sept as His High Holiness was leading a prayer. When he demanded to know her purpose, Lady Sam replied that whilst he had forbidden her to set foot in the sept, he had said naught about her horse’s hooves. Then she commanded her knights to bar the doors; if the sept was closed to her, it would be closed to all. Though he quaked and thundered and called down maledictions upon “this harlot on a horse”, in the end the High Septon had no choice but to relent.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: Under the Regents: The Hooded Hand #Samantha Tarly #Faith of the Seven #SheRuuulz #V #GRRM #books #quotes

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Aemond x Alys

what I expected: Short, but intense romance between two young outcasts. Shunned bastard girl suspected of witchcraft and always second second son.

what I got: Illegitimate MILF with decent living manages to survive slaughter of all her relatives- likely including some milk children of hers- by pussy blinding their murderer. Then she proceeds to manipulate him away from violence on several occasions, leads him to his death and uses her offspring by him to spend the rest of her life in comfort.

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #Aemond Targaryen #Alys Rivers #Alys Rivers x Aemond Targaryen #SheRuuulz #V

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... Lady Johanna, the widow of Casterly Rock, who ruled the domains of House Lannister for her young son, Lord Loreon. She had appealed time and time again to Aegon III’s Hand, her late lord husband’s twin, for aid against the reavers, but none had been forthcoming. Desperate to protect her people, Lady Johanna at last donned a man’s mail to lead the men of Lannisport and Casterly Rock against the foe. The songs tell of how she slew a dozen ironmen beneath the walls of Kayce, but those may be safely put aside as the work of drunken singers (Johanna carried a banner into battle, not a sword). Her courage did help inspire her westermen, however, for the raiders were soon routed and Kayce was saved. Amongst the dead was the Red Kraken’s favorite uncle.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: Under the Regents: The Hooded Hand #Johanna Lannister Westerling #Loreon Lannister #Dalton Greyjoy #SheRuuulz #V #GRRM #books #quotes

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The Hand sent her [Baela] back to her rooms, posting guards at her door to make certain she remained there until the regents could convene. Yet a day later, he discovered to his dismay that Baela had fled the castle by some secret means (later it was found she had climbed out a window, swapped clothes with a washerwoman, and walked out the front gate). By the time the hue and cry went up, she was halfway across Blackwater Bay, having hired a fisherman to carry her to Driftmark. There she sought out her cousin, the Lord of the Tides, and poured out her woes to him. A fortnight later, Alyn Velaryon and Baela Targaryen were married in the sept on Dragonstone. The bride was sixteen, the groom nearly seventeen. ... Thaddeus Rowan’s wounded pride was appeased by a betrothal to Floris Baratheon, a maid of fourteen years widely considered to be the prettiest of the “Four Storms,” as Lord Borros’s four daughters had become known. In her case, it was a misnomer. ... The stormy marriage would prove to be the one made on Dragonstone, as the years would prove.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

Now I want to read all about those marital storms!

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #valyrianscrolls #ch: Under the Regents: The Hooded Hand #Baela Targaryen #Alyn Velaryon #Thaddeus Rowan #Baela x Alyn #SheRuuulz #V #GRRM #books #quotes

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A ruler needs a good head and a true heart. A cock is not essential. If Your Grace truly believes that women lack the wit to rule, plainly you have no further need of me.

Alysanne Targaryen after Jaehaerys intentionally skips his granddaughter and her line in succession; Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

And thus Queen Alysanne departed King’s Landing and flew to Dragonstone on her dragon Silverwing. She and King Jaehaerys remained apart for two years, the period of estrangement recorded in the histories as the Second Quarrel. ... The queen died of a wasting illness in 100 AC, at the age of four-and-sixty, still insisting that her granddaughter Rhaenys and her children had been unfairly cheated of their rights.

#ASoIaF #valyrianscrolls #Fire & Blood #ch: Heirs of the Dragon: A Question of Succession #Alysanne Targaryen #SheRuuulz #Jaehaerys I Targaryen #Rhaenys Targaryen #books #quotes #GRRM #V #Fuck you #Jaehaesshole!

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Even as a little girl, Viserra had been the most beautiful of the queen’s daughters. Great lords, famous knights, and callow boys had danced attendance on her all her life, feeding her vanity until it became a raging fire. Her great delight in life was playing one boy off against the other, goading them into foolish quests and contests. To win her favor for a joust, she made admiring squires swim the Blackwater Rush, climb the Tower of the Hand, or set free all the ravens in the rookery. Once she took six boys to the Dragonpit and told them she would give her maidenhead to whoever put his head in a dragon’s mouth, but the gods were good that day and the Dragonkeepers put an end to that. No squire was ever going to win Viserra, Queen Alysanne knew; not her heart, and certainly not her maidenhead. She was far too sly a child to go down the same path as her sister Saera. “She has no interest in kissing games, nor boys,” the queen told Jaehaerys. “She plays with them as she used to play with her puppies, but she would no more lie with one than with a dog. She aims much higher, our Viserra. I have seen the way she preens and prances around Baelon. That is the husband she desires, and not for love of him. She wants to be the queen.”

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

#ASoIaF #Fire & Blood #ch: The Long Reign Jaehaerys and Alysanne: Policy Progeny and Pain #Viserra Targaryen #SheRuuulz #Alysanne Targaryen #V #books #quotes #GRRM

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The first recorded perfumer is a woman named Tapputi who lived in Mesopotamia in the second century BC. A cuneiform tablet records that Tapputi made scented oils from flowers, calamus and aromatic spices.

A Curious History of Sex (Kate Lister)

And her work’s being reconstructed.

#A Curious History of Sex #Kate Lister #ch: Don’t Hold Your Breath: Sex and Smells in the Middle Ages #perfumery #women #SheRuuulz #Mesopotamia #Tapputi #archaeology #books #quotes #V