Some ashrym thoughts + feelings from c3e40 before I go to bed:
I talk a lot about how the primary idea/basis/etc. of ashrym is Orym teaching Ashton how to be vulnerable and how to trust people after being burnt so many times, and Ashton teaching Orym how to keep his guard up but also to know that he’s got a steady support system around him and that he’s just as allowed to ask for help as the rest of the party
This episode really solidified that for me. Ashton willingly going to Orym and admitting that they were feeling a little more introspective and vulnerable than usual, and genuinely looking for someone they could confide in and feel safe doing so. This is not the same person we saw 10, 20, 30 episodes ago. This is someone who learnt that it’s okay to be open and honest and just generally wanting to have someone to rely on, and it took them a long time to learn that. Orym helped them learn that. And much like how Ashton learnt from Orym how to be okay with being vulnerable and emotional, Orym is learning that he doesn’t have to be the strong one all of the time. He admitted, point blank, to Ashton that sometimes it’s hard being the party’s “emotionally stable” member, or the one that’s “least likely to snap at other people”. Ashton is teaching him that he doesn’t have to be strong all of the time and that he’s allowed to lean on his party members when he needs the support
The fact that there’s so much these two can learn from each other and they are learning from each other and they will continue to learn from each other. It’s special and it’s wonderful and it’s lovely to watch these two help each other become their best selves as individuals and together
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The Bastards of Waters
a/n: this is inspired by a fic called watch the world burn by mylordstrong on ao3:)
Summary: Lucerys is bastardized by a king Aemond Targaryen to become Lucerys Waters, who births him bastard sons. Those sons are forced to journey to the Red Keep, away from their beloved mother and homely manse after the King demands them brought to him, as his Stag Queen has only ever birthed him girls in their 15 years of marriage. Luke, humiliated and angry, warns and prepares his children of the dangers they’ll be facing once they step foot within their hateful father’s castle.
a/n 2: uh, luke’s in his “alicent era with a hint of rhaenyra losing her mind era” is all I’m saying for this :)
•._•._•._•._•
•._•._•._•._•
“Keep your brothers in line, Daemon, never let them out of your sight, never let them be alone with anyone in the Keep,” Luke whispers to his eldest, as he clutches the teen’s face harshly. It was the first time Daemon had ever felt pain in his mother’s hold - it was always soft, warm and maternal. He couldn’t blame his faultless mother, he was worried for his children going into unknown and hostile territory after all.
Daemon’s hands shot up to grip his loving mother’s fingers gently, prying them from his face to hold within his own, “I will ensure my brothers never know pain in the Keep, and I promise they’ll be safe and protected as long as I’m still around, mother.”
He can feel his kind mother’s hands shaking, as his eyes stared back into his soft mother’s dark milky hues.
“…All right, I’ll be holding you to that promise,” Luke rasps out, as he frees himself from his son’s tight grip. He cups Daemon’s cheeks, gently this time, with enough warmth he could see his son physically melt in his palms. “Bring you brothers here, I need you all here to tell you of what to expect in that viper’s den.”
“Yes, mother.”
._._._._._.
After getting his brothers into the manse’s main room, all sitting on the sofa, Luke rants and warns his sons of the Red Keep’s dangers.
“You mustn’t be alone nor trust anyone in the Keep, everyone there’s no better than the people in Flea Bottom. They lie, kill, cheat, steal and brag - they will cause you harm and death and suffering. Trusting a person in the Keep, and being vulnerable with any of them is a death sentence in that wretched place,” he starts, pacing back and forth while biting his nails red. “You mustn’t make any mistake, if you do, they will pounce on you for it, humiliate you for it - be as perfect as you can be, and watch and protect each other’s backs. The only ones you can trust in the Keep are yourselves and each other, never forget that.”
Luke can see the fear and hate erupting in the eyes of his children. “Good,” he thought, “that hatred and fear shall keep them alive and protected within the Cursed King’s grasp.”
He knows what he’s doing is wrong, that installing more hate and fear to fester within his own sons might lead to drastic consequences, but he couldn’t careless.
He birthed his sons alone, he taught his sons alone, he entertained his sons alone, he raised his sons alone. If anyone had any problems with how he raised them, full of nothing but spiteful, bitter and frightful contempt for nearly everyone in Westeros - then they should’ve never left him alone to raise his own children as he sees fit.
Luke was quite glad. While he had few friends and loyal followers, he still had allies he knew he could trust.
The many former gold cloaks loyal to his step-father, Daemon Targaryen, trained his sons and vowed to protect both Luke and them - and to join their rebellion when the time comes to fruition. Two of his mother’s handmaidens, who were there for all of her births - and her death - had vowed to ardently stay beside Luke for when the Greens fall, and he or one of his sons takes the throne.
The White Worm - Lady Mysaria - and the whores of Westeros, whom never achieved the peace and equality they were promised by the Black Queen as a result of her death from the traitorous Greens. Nettles, whom seeks revenge for the death of Daemon Targaryen, vows to see the dragon Vhagar and her rider fall in disgrace and dishonor.
Rhaena and Baela, whom quietly gathered allies within the Free Cities, and raised Morning in secrecy away from prying eyes and ears. And the Starks and Arryns, disgraced Houses for their loyalty to the true Queen, Rhaenyra Targaryen, had vowed to see and support Lucerys Waters, the last living son of the rightful heir, sit on the Iron Throne - even if their devotion and fealty were done in secret codes and whispers.
Luke sighs as he halts his rants. Cupping his hands together, he raises them to his face to cover his vicious expression from his beloved sons. Turning his eyes to them, he gently brings his children together, and grips the hands of his youngest, staring in the eyes of all his sons. He finally lets out a final warning in a pale and muted voice; “When the King’s stag wife births the son of the blood of the dragon that he wants, flee as fast and as far away as you can - He will not hesitate to kill all of you, and he will not hesitate to kill me, your mother, either. That man is our family’s ruin and cause of suffering. Do you understand, my loves?”
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