#i think he’s like viserys in that he wanted a son because you’re supposed to do that. and then he had them and it was like well youre here

[visenyaism]

if rhaenyra had succeeded in ascending the iron throne, do you think daemon would have somehow found a way to secretly have the strong boys killed so his sons would be the heirs?

So Daemon is not a long-term planner. His whole thing is that he is extremely impulsive. I think it’s a pretty good indicator that when Rhaenyra DID succeed in ascending the iron throne Daemon was not planning and plotting to dispose of Joffrey to put Aegon on the throne but instead decided to abandon all of them to go on his suicidal riverlands bender with the sixteen year old dragon rider he met like 4 months prior. ​

like. sure naming a kid 4th in line aegon is suspicious as hell but was DAEMON machinating? no the only thing he ever fully calculated in his life was the angle of his final 720 helix spin eye sword dragon jump trickshot. which is why daemonomics was such a disaster when he was master of coin.

#asoiaf #i think he’s like viserys in that he wanted a son because you’re supposed to do that. and then he had them and it was like well youre here #i do think baela was his favorite #the bigger question is if there is no war how long does daemon make it without spinning out

[starogeorgina]

𝐆𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲

Paring: Aegon II Targaryen x Targaryen OC

Warnings: None

Chapter: 1.01

“Rhaenyra!” You continue to rapidly bang your fist against the door leading into your elder sister's bedroom. "Rhaenyra, open this door right now!”

You hated her.

“You’re a fucking coward to hide from me!” You didn’t care that your language was unfit for a young lady, a princess; Rhaenyra had cut you deeply, and you wanted to make sure she knew it. “Unlock this door at once!”

You hated her.

“I would have never done this to you,” you sob. “I loved you, Rhaenyra, my big sister. We’re supposed to look out for each other, not... I would never do this. Not to you, never.”

You only stop banging on the door when your fist is pulled back by Ser Criston. “You need to stop before you hurt yourself, princess.”

You knew he was right, but it didn’t stop the anger that was radiating through you. Not only has Rhaenyra humiliated you by sleeping with your husband, she has also given birth to his sons. Three of them. Something you were never even given the chance to do. Your brain comes to a heartbreaking realization, one that makes you want to scream as soon as you think about it. Rhaenyra doesn’t care about you and never did. You feel your knees start to weaken, and your stomach drops. The knight whispers, “I know you’re hurting, princess, but they aren’t worthy of your tears.”

You take a deep breath and wipe your fallen tears away, knowing that he was right. “Thank you, Ser Criston.”

“The queen heard about what happened and would like for you to join her in her quarters. She wishes to offer you her comfort.”

You blink away the tears, your vision becoming more clear, and when it does, you see your husband standing down at the opposite end of the hallway. No doubt he was coming to see her. He was staring at you, looking worried. You feel your heart harden, not wanting to give him or her the satisfaction of seeing you hurt. You push back the sob, desperately wanting to escape your throat. “Ser Criston, do you mind escorting me to the queen's chambers?”

“Of course, princess.”

—

“How could she betray me in such a way?”

Alicent wraps her around your shoulder; she seems genuinely concerned about you. You had managed to maintain a smidgen of your dignity by holding your head high as you walked through the castle, ignoring all the side-eye glances and whispers going on around you. One of Alicent’s ladies-in-waiting brings in a tray of tea that’s supposed to help calm nerves.

“Prin-”

“Ivory,” you correct with a weak smile.

Lord Strong nods, “Ivory, I am ashamed to admit that rumors of my brother's betrayal had reached me long ago, but I assumed there was no truth to it. It wasn’t until I learned about the incident in the training yard this morning that I came to realize it was true.”

You had spent the last year defending Rhaenyra and Harwin, insisting that Jacaerys and Lucerys weren’t fathered by your husband before you were married. Because of your age, you had yet to lay with Harwin, and you thought if he was going to stray, it would be in the streets of silk, not with your own flesh and blood.

“She swore to me in our mothers names that they were Ser Lenors true-born sons. How could I have been so foolish?”

“You aren’t foolish, my sweet.” Alicent picks up a cup of tea and hands it to you, giving you a sympathetic look as she notices your hands trembling. “You have been deceived, and I can only imagine what Viserys will have to say when he finds out.”

You shake your head. It was widely known that Rhaenyra was your father's favorite, and learning what she was really like could be the thing that breaks him. “My love for my father is the only thing keeping me quiet. He is sick; finding out the truth about what Rhaenyra has done might be the thing that kills him, and we do not want him to suffer. If I’m being honest, I don’t know what to do.”

“I find that praying helps me find clarity and reassurance. I pray to the mother nightly; you can join me if you wish.”

“Perhaps I should pray to the warrior as well as the mother.” You chuckle lightly. “I could really use the gods' strength and courage."

—

After visiting the sept the night previously, the queen had arranged for you to stay in a separate bedchamber for the night since your quarter was beside Rhaenyra’s.

In the morning, Ser Criston escorted you back to your quarters; with him by your side, nobody dared approach you. The knight made pleasant small talk and even managed to make you laugh. When you reach your quarters, you thank him before walking into your bedchamber. You sit down at your vanity and begin to unbraid your hair, only stopping when you hear the door opening.

“Flora?” You call out, hoping to see your lady in waiting, who has become a close friend over the years. “Flora, is that you?”

When you turn around, you’re stunned to see Rhaenyra and Harwin. At first, you were afraid that the sight of them would upset you, but now, as you sit in front of them, all you feel is anger.

You say nothing; you turn your back on them and shift your attention to taking the remainder of your braids out. You push down the lump forming in your throat when Rhaenyra kneels down beside you with tears in her eyes. You pretend she isn’t even there and get up to go pick a dress to wear once you are bathed.

“Ivory! Ivory, please,” Rhaenyra begs. “It happened before you were betrothed! I never wanted you to find out like this. Sister, please! Just let me explain!”

You had fully intended to continue giving her the cold shoulder, but hearing the word sister caused you to snap. You can’t believe she had the nerve to call you that. You spin around fast, and your expression pulls into one of anger and hurt as you snap, “Don’t call me that again.”

Rhaenyra steps back as if you’d struck her.

Harwin says, “I am sincerely sorry for betraying your trust.”

You scoff, annoyed that he seems upset when it’s you that should be hurt by his dishonorable actions. “Until such a time that I am of age to perform my duty as princess and your wife, I don’t think we need to speak again.”

“Ivory…”

“You may leave, Ser Harwin.”

When the knight leaves, you turn to face your sister, whose eyes were bloodshot from crying, which angers you further. “Since the day Jace was born, I have loved him; the same is true of Luke. You’ve watched me play with them and sing to them. I’ve basically grown up with them, and not once did you ever think to tell me they were fathered by Harwin.”

“I tried to spare you the pain of knowing the truth.”

You can’t help the laugh that slips past your lips. “You must really hate me.”

She squeezes her eyes shut as more tears roll down her cheeks. “I love you.”

“No, you don’t. I’ve always looked up to you; I wanted to be just like you. My perfect big sister.” You shake your head, backing away from her slightly when she reaches for you. “Do not touch me.”

"When my father told me about his plans for you and Harwin to wed, I tried to stop the betrothal; I really did.”

“I believe you,” you say, wiping away more fallen tears. You hardly knew Harwin; he would occasionally accompany you on walks around the garden, and nothing more than a kiss on the back of the hand was shared between you, but he was still your husband. “Both Jacaerys and Lucerys were born before the betrothal; I would have easily looked past that and done everything I could to help protect them. But Joffrey, he’s only a few days old. Even after I married Harwin, you continued to have an affair with him.”

You see guilt pass over her features before she drops her gaze to the floor and says, “I’m sorry.”

“I still love my nephews; that will never change, but I can’t be around them right now. Not after knowing what I know, it will just be a constant reminder."

“Of my betrayal.” Rhaenyra takes a deep breath; red patches have appeared across her neck and chest. “I hope one day you can forgive me.”

When Rhaenyra leaves the room, you throw yourself onto your bed, pull your pillow to your face, and sob into it. This was too much pressure for a girl of one and five to bear.

When someone knocks at your door, you groan a little, assuming Harwin or Rhaenyra had come back. “Go away,” you mumble into your pillow. You lift your head to tell them to go away, but change your mind when you see who it is “Aegon, what are you doing here?”

He avoids looking you in the eye and shrugs. “My mother said you were upset.”

“So you came to check on me?”

You weren’t much older than Aegon; before you had even celebrated your first name day, your father had remarried, and Queen Alicent was pregnant. You were surprised to see Aegon, considering he didn’t spend much time with any of your siblings.

He rolls his eyes and says, “No.”

“Oh, then what are you doing here?”

“Wanted to know if you’d like to go dragon riding together.”

You smile and say, “Sure, that sounds like fun.”

Aegon on Sunfyre and you on Ghost were exactly what you needed to take your mind off everything else that was going on.

#house of the dragon #aegon ii targaryen x female reader #aegon ii targaryen #aegon ii targaryen x you #aegon ii targaryen fanfiction #Aegon II Targaryen/you #house of the dragon fanfiction #house of the dragon fanfic #aegon targaryen fanfic #aegon targaryen x you #aegon ii fic #ghosts in the sky #aegon ii targaryen x oc #Aegon II Targaryen/oc #Aegon II Targaryen x fem oc #aegon ii x oc #aegon targaryen x oc #Aegon Targaryen x fem oc

[frankcastleonlyfans]

part three of dad!daemon headcanon pleaseeee🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐃𝐀𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐃𝐄, 𝐏𝐓𝟑:

pairing: dad!daemon targaryen x mom!reader

author's note: last episode, aemond beat the shit out of baela and rhaena, and daemon didn't gave a single shit about his daughters being blooded and bruised. i thought i should rewrite that, specially because the day aemond lost his eye is a thing in our dad!daemon au. also, i'll make aemond a little bit ooc because he needs to be an asshole, AND, I changed the way aemond loses his eye.

reblogs, feedbacks and likes are appreciated. i hope you like it!

warnings: mentions of animal cruelty, descriptions of children getting harmed, aemond is his own warning, children cussing, this headcanon is pure chaos so be prepared.

· ┈┈┈┈┈┈ · ୨♡୧ · ┈┈┈┈┈┈ ·

this takes places months before part 1.

Daemon hated Aemond.

At first you thought it was funny that a grown ass man had such hatred towards a little boy, but then, you saw it with your own eyes.

You and Daemon once watched the kids' dragon training lessons, and you noticed how Aemond's eyes squinted once your son commanded Araxes to dracarys.

So it started there. Your son had his own dragon — and so did your daughter — , and prince Aemond had none.

Daemon would always complain to you how Aemond was picking on Rhaegon during sword fighting training.

"He should be more violent, I don't want Rhaegon to let that prick hurt him."

"Now, you're the one who's picking battles with Alicent." You warned.

Aemond never liked the fact that Alyssa could watch their fighting training. She was a girl, and wasn't supposed to be there.

He couldn't hurt Rhaegon outside the training camp, so he discovered that it was easier to mess with the Targaryen girl.

When Alyssa found her pet cat beheaded under her covers on her blood stained bed, she left her shared room crying, not even answering to Helaena's questions.

She went to the boys’ chambers, where she found her brothers, and Jacaerys and Lucerys sleeping.

Alyssa woke them up and went downstairs to find their parents, hoping they could do something to punish Aemond for his actions. But unfortunately, they found the boy first.

"Cousin Alyssa! I see you’re crying... What's wrong? Didn't like my present?"

Alyssa ran to punch him in the face, but he punched her first.

It started a huge fight, where Rhaegon, Luke, Jace and Alyssa were against Aemond.

Aemond threatened to kill Luke and Alyssa, and Jace tried to stab him with a knife.

Aemond was the most gifted in body combat, so he quickly dodged the Velaryon boy's attack, and kicked him away.

Luke threw sand in Aemond's eyes while he held Rhaegon by the neck, and Jace threw Alyssa the knife.

"Take your fucking hand out of my brother!"

Alyssa wasted no time to cut Aemond's eye.

Aemond fell to the ground screaming, but it was too late when the guards finally came to his rescue.

"What's the meaning of this!?" Daemon stormed into the throne room where everyone was reunited.

"Alyssa! Rhaegon!" You cried out, taking your beated children in your arms.

"What did you do to them, you freak!?" Daemon hissed towards the sewed-eyed boy.

"You're seeing this, Viserys!?" Alicent yelled, "Where do you think your brother's children learned to bully our son?"

"His own brother bullies him!" Rhaegon pointed out.

Aegon was just as unbearable as his brother, but at least he wasted his time drinking instead of making your children's life a living hell.

"Aemond killed Alyssa's cat and punched her in the face!" Lucerys told his uncle, and Daemon groaned in anger.

"That bitch cut my eye!" Aemond uttered.

"You were suffocating my brother!" Alyssa remarked.

"That is enough!" King Viserys yelled, "I want you all to make up and forget this all happened."

"That is insufficient. Aemond has been damaged permanently, my king." Alicent stated.

"I know, Alicent, but I cannot restore his eye. What would you have me do?"

"There is a debt to be paid. I shall have one of Daemon's daughter eyes in return. Ser Criston, bring me the eye of Alyssa Targaryen."

Your eyes opened wide in horror as your daughter ran out of your embrace to hide herself behind Daemon.

"You will do no such thing!" You warned the queen.

Ser Criston stayed in his position while Viserys warned, again, that the matter was finished.

Alicent took the dagger that the king carried around, and came towards the girl, that was still being protected by her father's body.

Daemon acted quickly and unsheathed Dark Sister, pointing the blade to the Queen. All the guards took off their swords.

"Father!" Alyssa cried out.

"Give one more step and both of us will die." Daemon warned, "I'll cut your throat open like a piece of ham, and the King shall have my head. I don't mind dying for my family, your Grace."

Alicent threw the dagger to the floor and left.

Daemon gave you an apologizing look after putting himself in such danger.

You both took care of your children’s wounds, and find out that Maegon stayed in his room after Rhaegon ordered him to.

You took the boys to their room with Rhaenyra and her kids, while Daemon took Alyssa to hers.

"You acted bravely tonight." Daemon whispered against your little girl's silver locks, and gave her forehead a kiss, "I'm proud of you, my little stormfire."

#daemon targaryen x reader #daemon targaryen imagines #daemon targaryen x oc #daemon targaryen #house of the dragon imagines #aemond targaryen x reader #house of the dragon #dad!daemon targaryen x mom!reader au #dad!daemon targaryen au

[asharaxofstarfall]

do you think jonsa will happen in the books?

maybe. game of thrones and house of the dragon potray incest in a far more romantic light than the books do. we're not supposed to think that the targaryens practices are normal or acceptable, and it's clear that their inbreeding is a large part of why they are the way that they are. that being said, cousin incest is a normal thing in westeros and cousin marriages are shown positively a few times, examples being: joanna and tywin lannister, viserys i targaryen and aemma arryn and lyrra and rickard stark. jon and sansa's case is interesting. they were raised as daughter of a highborn lord and a highborn lords bastard, as siblings. they don't have a close bond, despite caring for each other. sansa also isn't close to arya but in a vastly different way. they're still trueborn while jon is a bastard and therfore doesn't have the same relationship with sansa. they parallel each other in ways that could hint at their endgame as a couple, both believing that no one will marry them for love because of their claims, or in jon's case, lack thereof.

here are some jonsa parallels

She pictured the two of them sitting together in a garden with puppies in their laps, or listening to a singer strum upon a lute while they floated down the Mander on a pleasure barge. “If I give him Sons, he may come to love me. She would name them Eddard and Brandon and Rickon, and raise them all to be as Valiant as Ser Loras. And to hate Lannisters, too. In Sansa’s dreams, her children looked just like the brothers she had lost. Sometimes there was even a girl who looked like Arya

sansa/ a storm of swords

“I would need to steal her if I wanted her love, but she might give me children. I might someday hold a son of my own blood in my arms. A son was something Jon Snow had never dared dream of, since he decide to live his life on the wall. I could name him Robb

jon/ a storm of swords

sansa talks of falling deeply in love with ser waymar royce, and then dismissing her feelings for him as dreams of a “silly little girl”.

Ser Waymar Royce was the youngest son of an ancient house with too many heirs. He was a handsome youth of eighteen, grey-eyed and graceful and slender as a knife. Mounted on his huge black destrier, the knight towered above Will and Gared on their smaller garrons. He wore black leather boots, black woolen pants, black moleskin gloves, and a fine supple coat of gleaming black ringmail over layers of black wool and boiled leather

sansa/ a storm of swords

wyman's description matches jon's

Jon’s eyes were a grey so dark they seemed almost black, but there was little they did not see. He was of an age with Robb, but they did not look alike. Jon was slender where Robb was muscular, dark where Robb was fair, graceful and quick where his half brother was strong and fast.

jon/ a storm of swords

sansa thinks of both robb and jon here

She shouted for Ser Dontos, for her brothers, for her dead father and her dead wolf, for gallant Ser Loras who had given her a red rose once, but none of them came. She called for the heroes from the songs, for Florian and Ser Ryam Redwyne and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, but no one heard.

jon plays as both aemon the dragonknight and ser ryam redwyne when training with robb

They were not little boys when they fought, but knights and mighty heroes. “I’m Prince Aemon the Dragonknight,” Jon would call out, and Robb would shout back, “Well, I’m Florian the Fool.” Or Robb would say, “I’m the Young Dragon,” and Jon would reply, “I’m Ser Ryam Redwyne

even ned unknowingly hints at a relationship between the two

Sweet one,” her father said gently, “listen to me. When you’re old enough, I will make you a match with a high lord who’s worthy of you, someone brave and gentle and strong. This match with Joffrey was a terrible mistake. That boy is no Prince Aemon, you must believe me.”

sansa/ a game of thrones

their story also links to jonnel “one eye” stark and his first wife, who happens to be named sansa.

more jonsa parallels

Now as it happened the winter roses had only then come into bloom, and no flower is so rare nor precious. So the Stark sent to his glass gardens and commanded that the most beautiful o’ the winter roses be plucked for the singer’s payment. And so it was done. But when morning come, the singer had vanished … and so had Lord Brandon’s maiden daughter. Her bed they found empty, but for the pale blue rose that Bael had left on the pillow where her head had lain

“North or south, singers always find a ready welcome, so Bael ate at Lord Stark’s own table, and played for the lord in his high seat until half the night was gone. The old songs he played, and new ones he’d made himself, and he played and sang so well that when he was done, the lord offered to let him name his own reward. ‘All I ask is a flower,’ Bael answered, ’the fairest flower that blooms in the gardens o’ Winterfell

jon/ a storm of swords

sansa's story of a northern beauty stolen away to the south is similar to that of her late aunt lyanna, who happened to love winter roses. sansa also loves songs and one of her fondest childhood memories is of a singer coming to winterfell. she describes crying and begging her father to let him stay because she loved him so much. lyanna sobs when listening to rhaegar play the harp at a feast in harrenhal

i think that jonsa could happen in the books, 100%.

both are characters that suffer greatly as children and long for a home that's been destroyed. jon and sansa marrying and rebuilding winterfell would work perfectly with grrm's themes about optimism and spring after a long winter.

#asks ♡♡ #meta #asoiaf #a song of ice and fire #jonsa meta #jonsa #this is all over the place and not good in the slightest but i'm tired

[horizon-verizon]

Rhaenys killing smallfolk is so…. Like wtf, and then people be like “Kinslaying is the worst crime there is! She’d be stupid to do it!”, first HOTD never introduces the notion of kinslaying, and killing hundreds of people is a crime too! She is already a criminal for what she did, why stop halfway if you’re going full murderer ? If you’re gonna commit a decapitation worthy offence, then you might as well kill the people who are a legitimate threat to your future great grandchildren and granddaughters themselves.

Them coming out saying that Rhaenys didn’t kill them because it’s not her war…. Lol, it was her war the moment she agreed to betroth her granddaughters to Rhaenyra’s sons. Her family (the little that is left of it) is in legitimate danger and she passed up the opportunity to kill people who WERE ACTIVELY PLANNING ON KILLING HER FAMILY ANYWAYS. (Yes, I know it was mostly Rhaenyra and Daemon but Jace and Luke and Joff would have to go too and Daemon is the father of Rhaena and Baela, the twins have legal claim to the throne, so no ways they letting that slide either).

Yeah, this has been my argument as well. I will never not be angry about this damned episode, esp this scene.

My biggest gripe about this fool of an episode is that if Rhaenys says she doesn't want to "be involved" in "their" war is that in ANY iteration of these events where Baela & Rhaena exist without turning this into a full-fledged AU like sweetestpopcorn's "The Black and the Greens", Rhaenys will ALWAYS be "involved"...

because those girls are DAEMON'S DAUGHTERS and ONE OF THEM LIVES WITH DAEMON AND RHAENYRA!!! And this Rhaenys constantly has said she primarily cares about her own kids and grandchildren, not Viserys, Daemon, or Rhaenyra...so what gives?!

In a world where these strategy-minded people would, you know, think strategy...Rhaenys practically spoon-fed them a public reason to go to war and assume a protective-justice persona!!!

To further paint the blacks as violence mongerers or even just shit-starters, even with those killed being peasants, bc the sheer number of people killed simultaneously who live around you & around your castle who have historically been a part of some Faith-led attacks against the crown (Aenys, Maegor, Rhaena & her brother Aegon--the Poor Fellows) is astronomical. Killing that many smallfolk doesn't pay and rather makes for a larger number of angrier smallfolk with a reason to be angrier than average. You'd think she'd realize that and idk, maybe not kill dozens if not thousands of smallfolk.

Otto will always look to them as possible rivals because of that connection to the person he thinks will likely always contend with him/anyone for power, espe after he includes the younger boys' hostage-taking in his terms in episode 10. Aside from Otto--who had a grip on Alicent's decision-making until it came to Rhaenyra (as if Rhaenyra doesn't come with her kids, who Alicent has accepted the risk of exile or total ruination for 10 years, but I digress).

And Alicent--by the next season's 2 trailers--appears to go back to Otto as a consultant and guide as to how the greens will face the blacks, so we can't argue that she will not escape his influence even with her allowing herself to understand his manipulativeness. She obviously didn't want a war and has tried to stave it off by holding Rhaenys hostage and sending that damned page to Rhaenyra with Otto's terms--that is if she actually sent it--she also sets up a possible war through usurping Rhaenyra in the first place! And Alicent isn't actually fighting against Rhaenyra for the sake of "the realm" but for for her own position as the mother to a possible king/wife of a past king and the lives of her kids.

Even in the book--if you are inclined to believe that she believes this and/or has sincerely taken Otto's fear of Daemon as her own maybe bc similarly to the show he instilled in her that fear of him--Alicent brings up Daemon's supposed bloodthirstiness and inevitable murder of her kids as reason to usurp Rhaenyra ("The Blacks and the Greens"):

As for the kinslaying part, they refused to insert Rhaenyra's lines of that, instead making her grab Otto's pendant and throwing it off the bridge in a much more flaccid version of what she does with Orwyle's chains in the book. Without the context of her giving Aegon that chance to withdraw AND criticizing Orwyle taking the green side and basically going against his own maester code of following traditions and laws, show!Rhaenyra's protests against Otto is more losing the desired cool & careful, wise reservedness that HotD already favors over original "proud" book!Rhaenyra. And I think that it's to give the Dance story this faux measure of "balance" that ozymalek talks about HERE:

People often argue whether HOTD showrunners are biased in favor of Team Black or Team Green. I think the answer to this question can't be encapsulated within the context of "bias", at least not fully. They are biased for both and neither at the same time and it's difficult to explain, but I will try to articulate how I see it. The Dance era in "Fire and Blood" is something that will fundamentally cause the feelings of cognitive dissonance. I think this is why people initially disliked this book when it first came out. It did not provide easy answers, it was written as a historical account, the in-universe historians were clearly biased. People, however, had trouble realizing who the historians are biased for and against. Team Green would have you think that "F&B" is biased against the Greens, because their allegiance as maesters clearly being to Hightowers notwithstanding, they could not evade simple historical facts: that most of the kingdom supported Rhaenyra, that Greens were horrendously misogynistic and that her usurpation was clearly wrong. That's why, approaching it from the "choose your favorite war criminal" point of view, it was difficult for Greens to accept that their preferred side is so cartoonishly evil - obviously bias must have been involved, even though the only pro-Black narrator of F&B is Mushroom, the rest are Greens. The maester's anti-Targaryen bias, however, manages to sneak in and mess with the reader's balance, causing said cognitive dissonance. It's hard to deal with it as a reader, let alone as a showrunner who's trying to adapt a story in which not everything is set in stone. They incorrectly assumed that, because they are constantly forced to question what is happening in the story, the bias is with the underlying idea that there was a correct side. As such, they assumed that all the inconsistencies result from maesters not choosing to view it that way. Ryan Condal repeatedly stated that he does not want watchers to pick sides, while George RR Martin embraces it and even encourages it (and I think that he himself has picked the Blacks). Such is our nature as human beings. So they decided that they have to balance the scales. Because Greens are poorly developed, they added more characterization for them that contradicts their book personas (abused child bride meow meow Alicent who is clueless about the plans that in the books she herself set in motion, for example) while simultaneously taking the characterization AWAY from team Black members. Rhaena and Baela barely have any lines, and though this may be the case of simple racism, it's pretty telling that they ignored the fact that Baela is tomboyish and has short hair. Rheanyra herself is so toned down that she does not resemble her book counterpart in the slightest, making her seem weak, stupid and undecided. Daemon straight up becomes a villain and a wife murderer rather than a throughoutly gray character (book!Rhea Royce unambiguously dies after a hawking accident while Daemon is still fighting in the Stepstones); that's because Team Black was in a desperate need for a corrupting influence in order to balance the scales. But some Greens aren't spared from this treatment either. Otto is made much worse than he was in the books, he straight up pimps out his teenage daughter so that he can elevate House Hightower. While Aegon is also a sex pest in the books, showing him openly rape a lowborn woman was a risky decision (as was the not very subtle implication that he rapes Helaena as well); not to mention that the child fighting pits come from Mushroom, whose entire gimmick is making shit up. So neither side is really spared from being villified and whitewashed, depending on whom we look. The showrunners were fully committed to making choosing sides a confusing process, making the cognitive dissonance of this story to be even stronger. This is why they aren't really biased for or against anyone.

#asoiaf asks to me #hotd characterization #rhaenys targaryen #rhaenys targaryen (aemon's daughter) #rhaenys targaryen's characterization (meleys' rider) #hotd episode 9 #hotd inconsistencies #alicent's characterization #alicent hightower #the greens #hotd #hotd critical #hotd writing #hotd comment

[atopvisenyashill]

No okay bc i was thinking about Rhea Royce and Daemon too, right, bc she’s an heiress so like-

I’ve mentioned this before but Lady Waynwood rules in her own right and all of her sons have her name. We know nothing about her husband, perhaps he was some wealthy Essosi noble and thus there was no family on the continent to be affronted at his children not having his name, maybe he was like second born and no one gave a shit, but regardless, she and Jacaerys (who was meant to take the name Targaryen once he was prince of dragonstone) are our only real examples here for ruling women who actually have children outside of dorne - because jeyne arryn never has children of her own so she never deals with the problem of “how do i navigate naming my kids as an heiress?”

DOES THIS MEAN DAEMON’S KIDS WOULDNT EVEN BE CALLED TARGARYENS❓

or does this mean Rhea is supposed to just be okay with the name Royce disappearing??? I do not fucking think so, so they’d likely do the split name thing like with Rhaenyra’s kids, although (and this is assuming Daemon manages to have even one let one two kids with her lmao) I do imagine Daemon having a single child out there that doesn’t have the name Targaryen really pisses him off.

The first names in this situation intrigue me. When Valyrians marry outside the family, their children tend to get at least some Valyrian names - Laena Penrose, Aemma Arryn, Viserys Plumm tho u could argue that was a purposeful insult too, Rhaego to some extent - and they usually marry back into the main branch - Jocelyn Baratheon, Laena & Laenor Velaryon, all the cousin swapping going on with Daeron’s grandkids, Elia Nymeros Martell (ish), potentially Aelinor Penrose as well - but at the same time, this house will descend from RHEA not Daemon, so the Valyrian name is likely to kinda die out after a generation or two for the main line, while the second born probably marries back into the main line. Like, the Penroses are named Phillip now, not Baelor or Laena, bc they don’t descend from Elaena on paper, they descend from her HUSBAND, from Ronnel. And while it’s likely Rhaenyra’s grandkids by Jacaerys would have Targaryen names, her grandkids by Lucerys would have Velaryon names, and crucially, all of Rhaenyra’s kids by Laenor have names Laenor picks because the husband picks. So Rhea’s son? gonna have a whack ass name like Baelon Royce. But Baelon Royce may want to pick a more Royce-ish name for his own heir, instead of a Targaryen one, and that’s gonna be. a conversation.

i think daemon is going to insist on his royce child marrying another valyrian and choosing another targaryen first name (even if they still keep the name royce). like, he is going to be the bitchiest sort of grandparent who just straight up won’t acknowledge the child’s real name if he doesn’t get his way here, at least while he’s alive.

IN THAT SAME VEIN, daemon is super valyria brained. if he has two girls or two boys with rhea it’s whatever but if he has a boy and a girl. i think this man is going to want his kids to marry. we are just going to have random royces fucking in the vale.

(i think he can be talked out of it easily enough if viserys just like, idk, promises the daughter to his eventual son or promises daemon’s son to rhaenyra AND LETS TALK ABOUT THAT SITUATION PLEASE).

and rhea in all this is like. fine you can name our kid baelon royce. fine our daughter can be named baela targaryen too. fine baelon can have personal arms that have a dragon on them. fine they can-no fuck you baelon and baela are not getting married i’m sending a raven to the king as we speak you fucking freak. what do you mean you’re sending rhaenyra to runestone viserys??

this woman’s life is a nightmare omg

but also THIS COULD HAVE HELPED SO MUCH AFTER SUMMERHALL. this is what these bitches get for incest marrying so much, no cousins to turn to when your main house dies. that’s called bad dynastic planning, read a history book daemon!!!!!

#daemon targaryen #rhea royce #gender politics in asoiaf #getting on my soap box

[dreamcatcher2113]

The Dragon Dance

Summary: What if Rhaenyra had another child? What if Rhaenyra had a daughter with white hair and purple eyes? What if she was betrothed to Aemond as an alliance with Greens? 

You are the daughter of Rhaenyra Targaryen, unlike your brothers you have white hair and purple eyes. You are the twin sister of Jacaerys. You were close with Aemond when you were kids, you two attached to the hip. Ten years later after your family left to Dragonstone, your family reunites with the Greens. You see a familiar face, Aemond Targaryen. Even though it's been years since you last saw him, let's just say you are not the same little girl you were once before. 

Warnings: The reader and Jacaerys are aged up, they would be eighteen. Uncle/niece insect. 18+ smut(eventually). Language. Mentions of assault(mainly from Aegon). Violence. And possible other warnings that I can’t think of. There is a happy ending.

Part 08

Masterlist

Author note: This part is going to seemed rushed, and that is because I had a little hard time trying to write out what I was thinking. I was seeing the scene that I wanted, I just didn't know how to put it into words. I do apologized if it seemed rushed or if it feels like it was all over the place.

________________________________________

The Dragon Dance Part 09:

It was a few days after King Viserys death, it was a sad and yet beautiful funeral for him. Your mother Rhaenyra gave the command to her dragon Syrax to fire. Just the way he wanted it, to go has a dragon rider. For once The Greens and The Blacks were wearing the same color. At least your grandfather was at peace now, and at least he saw his family as one for one last time.

Alicent and her father started to talk. Alicent was in a diploma, she thought she heard her late husband say Aegon’s name. She wasn’t so sure though, she didn’t know what she heard. Her and Rhaenyra just made amends, and now her son and Rhaenyra’s daughter are betrothed. Was she willing to break the alliance she just made with her old best friend? 

“Are you sure that’s what he said?” Otto Hightower asked Alicent.

“I don’t know what he said father. He was literally dying on his deathbed. Who knows why he said Aegon’s name. Maybe he was saying his children's names but only can let out Aegon’s name.” Alicent replied honestly.

“But he did say his name though. Maybe he wants Aegon to be king.” Otto tried to make a point with his daughter.

“Why does it matter, father? Me and Rhaenyra just made the alliance” She tried to reason with her father. “After her, Aemond will take the throne with Y/N by his side.”

Alicent takes a breath, “besides, Aegon doesn’t want to be king. He never wanted it. My husband always wanted Rhaenyra to take the throne.”

“It matters because Aegon is supposed to be king!” Otto hissed.

Alicent gave her father a look, she knew her father always wanted the power of the Seven Kingdoms. Since he is not a Targaryen, he can not sit on the iron throne, but her sons can. Now it started to make sense to her. He never wanted Alicent and Rhaenyra to be allies, because Rhaenyra is a threat to him. However her dearest friend isn’t to her, one of things Alicent learned about Rhaenyra is that she is very loyal. Once Alicent and Rhaenyra made the agreement, she pledged loyalty to Alicent.

“You’re afraid father.” Alicent pointed out. “You are afraid of Rhaenyra.”

“Don’t be ridiculous Alicent.” Otto replied. 

“You want the power of the Seven Kingdoms. That's why you made me wed Viserys, so that way my children will have the throne. That way you can have some type of power.” Alicent said.

“Alicent. I did it for you.”

“You did it for yourself! Rhaenyra is the true queen to rule. She was meant to sit on that throne.” Alicent spoke. 

“Alicent!”

“I want you gone, father! I want you out of this castle. I want you nowhere near my children or this family!” Alicent yelled.

“You’re making a big mistake, Alicent.” Otto said.

“No. My mistake was listening to you.” Alicent spat, she already made the mistake causing a feud between her and Rhaenyra. She was not going to make that mistake again.

After their argument, Otto left King's Landing the next day. Rhaenyra asked Alicent why her father left, Alicent only answered they fought because they couldn’t agree. Rhaenyra didn’t want to push her further, instead held her hand like what they did when they were younger.

The day after that, Rhaenyra was crown queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Everyone cheered for her name. Rhaenyra made Daemon her right hand, Aemond and Alicent became her advisors. The celebration was big and everyone was having fun, even Aegon was having fun. The day after the celebration, they had a family meeting to discuss what plans they have. Of course Aemond and Y/N have a wedding to plan, they both want to do it in the Old Valyrian way to keep the tradition alive. 

“After the wedding I’m staying here in King's Landing.” Luce replied after you and Aemond talked about the wedding.

Everyone turned to Luce, surprised by what he just said. “But Lucerys you are the next Lord of Driftmark.” Rhaenyra said.

“I’m giving the title to Jacaerys, only for temporary though.” Luce replied.

“Is there a reason why you want to stay here in King’s Landing Luce?” Daemon asked his son, knowing Luce there is a reason for his decision.

“There is a debt I need to pay.” Luce answered.

“What debt little brother?” You asked.

“Aemond’s eye.” He answered.

Aemond looked confused, there was no debt to pay. Luce apologized and Aemond forgave him. “But nephew, I forgiven you. There is no debt to pay.”

“I know you did uncle, but I haven’t forgiven myself. How can I be the Lord of Driftmark, when I know I need to make it up to you.” Luce explained.

“So please.” Luce pleaded. “Please let me make it up to you uncle.”

Aemond was shocked that Luce was willing to give up his title of Lord of Driftmark, even if it is temporarily. All to make it up to him, he looks at you and you nod your head yes. Telling Aemond to accept Luce’s proposal, once Luce has his mind set on something it’s hard to change his mind.

“Alright nephew, you shall stay here until I tell you, your debt has been paid.” Aemond approved the proposal. 

“Thank you uncle.” Luce thanked him.

Rhaenyra dismissed everyone and everyone went their separate ways. You and Aemond planned on walking in the gardens, to spend some time together. With all the chaos and the loss of the king, you two didn’t get to spend some time alone together. The both of you thought after the meeting, it was a perfect opportunity to spend some time together. You and Aemond want to catch up from the time that you two spend apart from each other. Both of you wanted to make up the time that was lost from each other.

__________________________________________

Taglist: @rosaryos @whitejuliana1204 @jeyramarie @darylandbethfanforever9 @erylilly @schniiipsel @angel6776 @mingiholic

P.s. If I missed anyone, please let me know. I get a lot of love from guys; I sadly can't see all the request.

#the dragon dance #aemond targaryen #aemond x reader #aemond x you #aemond x y/n #aemond imagine #aemond fanfiction #aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x you #aemond one eye #aemond the kinslayer #house of the dragon #house of the dragon fic #house of the dragon fanfiction #house of the dragon imagine #aemond fic #aemond fanfic #hotd imagine #hotd fanfic #hotd fic #targaryen reader #velaryon reader #reader #reader insert

[alicentes]

it’s interesting how the only person to show remorse after the altercation is alicent. don’t get me wrong i like rhaenyra, but we don’t hear about her feeling bad for implying she wants aemond tortured nor does viserys seem to regret insinuating that he would cut out his own children’s tongues meanwhile alicent very clearly felt guilty for the way she behaved and that she harmed rhaenyra. if the show wants me to root for team black they are doing a poor job because ever other character is more sympathetic than they are in my opinion.

I never thought of it like that but you’re right. Alicent was in the wrong trying to cut out a little boys eye and accidentally injuring Rhaenyra in her rage but she obviously felt genuine remorse even though her father praised her for it and framed it as some great thing she did (and we know she craves her fathers love and approval).

Viserys made me sick when he said he would cut out the tongues of anyone who doubted the legitimacy of his grandchildren. I get wanting to defend his family but he said it in response to his YOUNG CHILDREN calling them bastards in a typical child argument way and it should of been clear to him that they heard rumours growing up and wouldn’t understand that calling another child a bastard would be treason. He only cares about Rhaenyra and her children not the kids he made Alicent birth for him and it shows. He didn’t show any concern over what happened to aegon, he only got angry. Those poor kids never experienced love from their own father.

Rhaenyra has been one of my favourites in this show and I know she is supposed to get more harsh and ruthless but insisting that a child, let alone her own brother, should be tortured to find out where he overheard a true rumour about her children’s parentage is still gross. Like you said, she doesn’t feel remorseful about this from what we see. She also doesn’t seem to feel bad that her son has permanently mutilated and blinded another child in one eye. Even if it is in self defense it is not good that the fight escalated to that point. You’d think she would have spoken to Luke about it, Luke seems like a good boy and could be traumatised by the fact that he caused an injury that severe. Given how we’ve seen Rhaenyra be a good mother you’d think she would also talk to her boys, who by the way are still grieving Harwin, not to let violence escalate that far or talk to them about maybe practicing self defence that won’t cause severe injury.

Anyways this is going off topic but although I thought the knife scene was well written and showed us spilled truth tea on who the adult caharacters really are. I was ultimately disappointed in the way Nyra was written in this episode overall. I felt like a lot of her character revolves around her relationship with demon here. From talking about how he left her alone and she needed him with her (she had other people who loved her and was strong and capable in her own right) and I mean you could argue that this is to show how the relationship isn’t healthy and young Rhaenyra has been groomed into an unhealthy attachment but the scene was written as romantic and followed with a sex scene (which went on the same time their kids were sneaking out and getting into a pretty dangerous fight) and then after the events of that night her next priority is figuring out a way to marry demon and create some true targaryen legitimate heirs. She is okay with faking Laenors death and marrying daemon right after without considering how it will impact all four kids and how faking laenors death means the boys will lose another father a couple of weeks after they lost Harwin and be re-traumatised. Even if they’ve been told he is alive they’d be feeling so betrayed by both parents for doing such a thing. Demon is gonna be her downfall, he has a hold on her and brings out her worse and I hope the show doesn���t try to #powercouple them.

I agree about team black and I’m hoping that the reason we don’t find them rootable is because we aren’t supposed to. I like and hate certain members of both teams but I think they’re both bad and I am hoping the show makes both teams morally grey instead of going with the whole good guys vs bad guys because this is an asoiaf story not a marvel movie.

#house of the dragon #alicent hightower #hotd #anti daemon targaryen #anti daemyra #anti viserys i targaryen #anti daemon x rhaenyra #rhaenyra targaryen #the writers favour the blacks but also they are making alicent more likeable and complex and made criston a dornish commoner which is good #and i dont like criston but i connect with him more knowing he bas come from nothing and faces prejudice most likelg

[dulcewrites]

Hope you’re having a great Sunday, I was just thinking about how cool it would be if later on in fcc or in the Aemond/Cassandra au we’d get a moment where ten year old Bealor/Alaric is hurt during training and has to be taken to the maesters to get some stitches or something and Aemond being there with his son the entire time, comforting him, telling him how brave he’s been and just being there for him in a fatherly manner because it would be such a stark parallel/ contrast to the way Viserys treated him when he had a much more serious injury.

Thank you, I hope your Sunday goes well too!

I decided to just write this bc I’m procrastinating things I need to do for work 💀. So Baelor is 10, the saera and Alyssane would be 7, and Aerion is around 4/5. Not set in stone but I could see Aemond maybe being hand of the king at this time. If not he is in Aegon’s council as master of laws.

I can do one for cass, Aemond, and alaric later as well

Apple of My Eye

The day starts in the most mundane way possible. Nothing out of the ordinary… until Aemond gets a tap on the shoulder during a council meeting.

The young squire could barely meet his gaze.

“There was an incident in the yard, my prince,” he lowers his voice almost to a mumble. “With young Baelor.”

His anxiousness only spikes walking to hall when he can hear Myrah’s voice all the way from down the walkway. Dripping with venom and worry.

“And as his teacher, are you not supposed to be watching him? Making sure nothing happens while he is training?”

“I am, but - “

“But what,” she screeches in question. “My son has been cut on your watch!”

Baelor is sitting in a chair, arm getting stitched up by one of the maesters. Face tinged pink with pain and eyes screwed shut as the maester needles through the skin on his arm.

“What in seven hells happened,” Aemond walks over to Myrah.

"I want his training stopped," Myrah chin wobbles a bit, ignoring his question. "And I want this imbecile out of the castle."

"My lady, he was not supposed - "

Turning from Myrah, Aemond's gaze zeros in on Ser Roland. "If you plan on blaming this on my son. I would choose your next words very wisely." The knight swallows hard. "We will discuss this later. Go, give us the room."

Ser Roland mumbles an apology before leaving the hall.

"I should have never allowed him to start training, not now," Myrah mutters, shaking her head. "Who in their right mind walks around with a blade attached to them?"

"I do," Aemond grabs her face.

"Exactly."

They look at each other for a moment before laughing. Myrah's chuckle coming out watery and soft. I shed tears stuck to her lashes.

"He is going to fight you on stopping the training."

"His arm was gashed open," she sighs. "It could have been worse. It may be worse in the future."

"Not if he trains properly."

Myrah face downturns in thought.

"Let's just see where his head," Aemond kisses her on the forehead. The break apart to turn to see the maester finishing up stitching Baelor.

"It should heal nicely," the maester dabs some of the blood off before getting up. "The cut was clean. He did good letting me do my work.”

"My brave, brave boy," Myrah leans down and peppers Baelor's face with kisses.

"Mother, I’m fine,” Baelor whines in embarrassment, pulling away. His eyes drift to Aemond. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better at the next session.”

Aemond brushes curls from his face. “There’s no need to apologize. I’d rather you be safe than worried above anything else.”

“We are pausing the training,” Baelor opens his mouth to protest, but Myrah stops him. “Not long, just until you heal properly.”

“But I’ll be behind,” Baelor frowns.

“And you’ll catch up in due time,” Aemond reassures. “Set backs happen to the best of swordsman.”

Baelor looks sad before his face brightens a bit. “Ser Cole said if I don’t like the blade, I could switch to the morning star like him.”

Aemond and Myrah exchange a look.

Gods help them.

#they are fortunately and unfortunately the parents that defend their child in the parent teacher conference #Aemond being the ‘babe calm down this isn’t you’ person of the relationship 😭 #myrah def is the one that will fight other parents if she needs to 😭 #that’s MOTHA! #fcc asks

[em-writes-stuff-sometimes]

Daemon is needy for attention and he needs to feel needed. When he doesn’t get that, ie being named hand, he acts out. He’s not super happy with the other roles Viserys gives him because in his mind, maybe other people can take those roles but only he can be the Hand that his brother needs. He thinks that he should be needed but he isn’t and he reacts by making his presence impossible to ignore like a cry for attention. Even though he is often thought of with dislike, there isn’t a noble who does not know of the name the Rogue Prince. I think he did so well with the Gold Cloaks because before him, they were very messy, unorganized, and no one really cared for them or cared to shape them up. He inspired their loyalty because he’s good at that but why is he good at it? He had to be because he’s a second son and not automatically born with as much prestige as his brother. As a Targaryen prince he still is very on top of the world and extremely privileged but when his mother dies, he wouldn’t feel like that. Maybe that caused him to want to feel needed because he felt alone and being needed=not feeling lonely? So he developed a bad case of second son syndrome that never went away. Ergo, Daemon is a needy attention whore *my phone autocorrected that word thrice lol*

And yess I just saw the ask about how babey is going to be woken up and I am hyperventilating what the heckk. So squicky and ughhh it’s amazing how your mind can create these ideas. Also have you tried the HOTD ai yet? It’s so fun to bully the characters tbh. I got into an argument with the Aemond ai about how Targaryens are not gods with him taking the no side. Like bro why are you against ur family history when you’re supposed to be the most into it. I kinda wanna recreate the argument with Daemon and see if I can take the opposite side

-💎

YES to ALL OF THAT CHARACTER ANALYSIS, and he absolutely is a needy attention whore - what an apt and hilarious descriptor, haha!

The smut scene is shaping up excellently, though the overall chapter’s been going a bit slow - hope to remedy that ASAP! I’m so excited to give this grotty idea the spotlight it honestly needs, it gripped me and would not let me go and it is AWFUL, I promise that!

I have been trying out the AIs, haha - Daemon was a bit meh, not quite feeling it, but the Aemond one is sooo fun to torment! I ended up murdering him in one scenario (literally typed *I murder you*) and he went “Noooooooo-“

It was. HILARIOUS. Will forever be trying to break the bot, haha! Thanks so much for the response, 💎 - always great to hear from you! 😘

#fanfiction comments

[kiefbowl]

What do you think about how Alicent handled the situation with the maid Aegon assaulted? I've seen some ppl saying it proves she only cares about her own family etc. and how Rhaenyra would have handled that situation differently but honestly like... I don't know what else she could have done? She's (basically) a medieval woman living under patriarchy, she couldn't have Aegon punished for it because the men around would have been like 'lol so what?'... so I think she did the best she could tbh?

I think we’re supposed to feel complicated about it, I think Alicent had few choices, and I think you can see she had a lot of frustration and pain on her face as she “dealt” with Dyana. I think the take away from this scene should be about how women in power are often put in positions of choosing between female solidarity and their power due to the choices of men around them, and in order to keep their power (which can also mean keeping their life in this system of government), they can’t really choose female solidarity. She could have made even worse choices in those scenes honestly, she could have “done away with her.”

That doesn’t mean Alicent didn’t have more choices, but she had to think fast. She also could have, and probably would have in other circumstances, just “let it slide” and let Aegon do what he wants to serving women and instruct her family to ignore rumors. One can only imagine Aegon isn’t the first rapist in the Targaryen family. But she can’t because she is well aware the line of succession is not secure, and that when Viserys dies, war is likely coming. She needs her family to be beloved (the show hasn’t really addressed what the public thinks yet), or at the very least unmarked by any scandal.

I don’t think ignoring your son’s victims would be the better choice morally. I don’t think what Alicent did was morally good either. I have sympathy for her, and I have seen people make atrocious suggestions that how she acted is on par or worse than Aegon’s actions, which is absurd and misogynist. I also see people suggest she “enables” him…which I haven’t seen anything in the show suggesting that. I think the system enables him.

So in the end, I think it’s meant to be complicated and you’re not meant to like what she did, and I do think her actions were self serving. That doesn’t mean I think it was her best course of action or her worse either, or that it wasn’t painful for her. And it was Aegon that put her in that position. It is men who do these things to women. Not even being Queen stops you from having to deal with the burden of men.

[bogusavathepit]

House of the Dragon: Episode 10 “War, ‘Restraint’, and Disillusionment”

!!!SPOILER ALERT!!!

Quotes from the Post-Episode Interviews

Emma D’Arcy on Rhaenyra and motherhood (first part direct quote; second & third parts paraphrasing): 

It think it’s quite heartrending for Rhaenyra because she had to look at her boys and she has to start seeing them as men for the first time. I think despite her questions about motherhood, what she discovers in having children is that she gets to build a tribe of her own and actually finds a space she feels free to be herself....sending her sons away is the start of the end of that stability. 

Rhaeynra becoming the “feted mother” and “house-ridden” while the most important decisions of her life are happening around her without her being there when most of her life she’s waited for a letter saying she will become the next ruler since her father will have died. A deep sense of injustice. 

Rhaenyra finds out she knows nothing about grief until she’s lost a child and it completely changes her outlook on things.

Greg Yaitanes (on Rhaenyra and motherhood versus waging war): This is really the theme that Miguel wanted, was war, battlefield. And so she’s at war with herself, with her own body. There’s a lot of emotional complexity in terms of this war that’s starting without her. And it’s tearing her apart, literally tearing her apart.

Greg Yaitanes ( co-executive producer and the main director, on Daemon & Rhaenyra): Really, once the war is coming, you see Daemon preparing for war. And this is really where the domestic split in ten is, is that Daemon wants war and Rhaenyra wants to hold the realm together art whatever cost. That is what she was charged with. That power struggle is alive and well, all inside of a marriage.

What Ryan Condal says of this episode concerning Daemyra (as some call the ship): This episode is largely about Matt and Emma and their performances and bringing Daemon and Rhaenyra to life. The crux of this argument here is the different way in which Daemon sees the world from other people in his family. and Rhaenyra is very much her father’s daughter. She has a bit of the punk rock of Daemon Targaryen, but the way she approaches her duty as sovereign I think is much more in line with Viserys....I think he’s willing to go through a good bit of bloodshed to see the Hightower’s line probably ended and them removed from power.

Ewan Mitchell (actor for Aemond Targaryen): I think anyone who was wronged like Aemond was and had his eye taken out, you’re gonna feel some sort of hatred, whether it’s subconciously or conciously, towards the person who did it. But what Aemond ends up doing in the skies above Storm’s End ultimatle starts the domino effect of the Dance of the Dragons.

My [Current] Issues with the Episode. Subject to Change

A)

Daemon and Rhaenyra, rather than being in more or less perfect harmony in the plans for how they shall proceed in Fire and Blood with full-on dialogue proving it during the discussion they have with their councillers, have now literally become a picture of domestic abuse. How the heck are they okay after that chokehold, when Daemon delivers the news of Lucerys’ death?! We’re just skipping that?

Daemon is a person more resentful and guilty for not being in the loop for the dragon dream, and thus having less “restraint“ because his poor feelings were hurt. 

Daemon may be more tempermental, but I don’t know if he’s supposed to be stupid and adolescent-like (or what older people think adolescents are like)?

Rhaenyra also constantly gives him orders that he willingly follows, never tries to ignore, or express disagreement with....Daemon actually agreed with Rhaenyra to not use the dragons at least until there was no other choice in Fire and Blood (406):

Rhaenyra agreed to use the dragons in general, but she protests against to Lord Celtigar’s, one of the council members,  suggestion to fly to King’s Landing herself with all the other dragonriders on deck at that very moment to intimidate and/or kill the greens.

The words: 

“At what cost?“ Princess Rhaenyra wondered. “My sons would be riding three of those dragons, I remind you. and it would not be nine against four. I will not be strong enough to fly for some time yet. And who is to ride Silverwing, Vermithor, and Seasmoke? You, my lord? I hardly think so. It will be five against four, and one of their four will be Vhagar. That is no advantage.”

Surprisingly, Prince Daemon agreed with his wife. “In the Stepstones, my enemies learned to run and hide when they saw Caraxes’ wings or heard his roar...but they had no dragons of their own. It is no easy thing for a man to be a dragonslayer. But dragons can kill dragons, and have. Any maester who has ever studied the history of Valyria can tell you that. I will not throw our dragons against the usurper’s unless I have no other choice. There are other ways to use them, better ways.” Then the prince laid his own strategies before the black council (406).

TV Daemon, unlike the Book Daemon, is making imperative moves without Rhaenyra’s lease, coming off of his own hatred and suspicion of Viserys’ death. And it stems from the major plot change of Rhaenyra and Alicent aged closer and being close friends before Alicent marries Viserys and Aemma dies, which really determined everything’s tone, meaning and allowed the creators to create an entirely new story from George R.R. Martin’s original one. Because, again, Alicent and Rhaenyra were never friends in the original lore.

Some will claim that:

he’s running on the love/guilt he has displayed toward Viserys in episode 8

that the writers wanted to have Daemon display a more emotional motivation to destroy the greens and be eager for a “senseless war”

he wants war not due to his verbal claims of taking back what is Rhenayra’s, or for him being angry at the fact that he’d be the farthest from the throne than ever 

his way to it (Rhaenyra) is no longer serving that main interest

Daemon proved how unfit he was as a potential King through all of this

Daemon already showed violence against women through his killing of Rhea Royce, his first wife, and some may refer to how they see his ignoring Laena in Pentos for his disregard

So all this is why he suggests violence and lashes out against Rhaenyra in that chokehold. I say that the writers are pushing a story where the gender politics are portrayed so simplistically that the characters might as well be cousins of CW characters. 

Another example of where Daemon does an act by Rhaenyra’s orders and not deciding things for her in open ways is when Rhaneyra ordered him to kill Vaemond Velayron (in the books, a more distant relative of Corlys) for calling Lucerys, Jace, and Joffrey bastards (Fire and Blood, 386). . Coming after Rhaenyra encourages the feverish Corlys to name Lucerys as his heir, since Viserys actually never made that term before he betrothed Rhaenyra to Laenor. Daemon never approached Vaemond until Rhaenyra said to do so, and there’s no indication he definitely wanted to before then.

It’s like the writers wish to over-moralize every character there is here, and....that’s not the point! It’s not just, oh this person acted out and mocked his brother during a feast meant to assuage the rift between two former childhood friends. Everyone is snide and performative while praing for each other’s downfall with fervent enthusiasm, but they are also level-headed enough (excpet maybe Criston Cole) enough to not sound or look helpless while they scheme & calculate.

B)

Corlys somehow has decided to no longer pursue the Iron Throne and blames Rhaneyra for his house burning down after hearing of Vaemond’s death. That V’s actions were of Velayrons reaching too far for power (not meant to be). Meanwhile Corlys never lets go of his ambitions until arguably the very end, and was very willing to be at Rhaenyra’s side.

Other than that, Corlys also swore to her, and oathbreaking is a taboo with just as much capacity for inducing anger and hatred as killing a guest/host in this society, so why would he, seemingly so easily, even consider not declaring for Rhaenyra? Shows a lack of committment in light of how gun-ho he was about furthering his house. 

It also seemed like him deciding to abandon the blacks’ “cause” was to highlight Rhaenyra’s isolated philiosphical state of being the peacekeeper above all. Again, mirroring how every one’s own portrayals and development only developed so far as to highlight Viserys’ ascendant one before he finally dies. 

C) 

Rhaneyra says to her sons to not fight based on the reasoning of the Targaryens having to “answer” to the gods of Westeros and not just because she wanted them out of harm’s way, like in the books. Suddenly makes her a conformist rather than an ambitious woman who also happens to love her kids while also believing in their capability to step up. SMDH.

D)

The black council actually had the participants all sharing what each could do and what they all might be able to do together as a collective...yet we see three gatherings where there’s more discord and emphasis on the men wanting to go to war and Rhaenyra, again, overburdened with the weight of this conflict. A picture of someone helpless, it’s too woe-is-me to even function.

E) 

Alicent daring to send Rhaenys a page from their youth expecting anyone to call off antagonism based on one night of superficial reconciliation after years of enmity. And we can't even believe in those years because of the time jumps, so is there a true political conflict between the greens and the black s at all, when everything is about how everyone hurts someone else’s feelings more than everyone having ambitions?!!!!

F) 

Rhaenyra tells Lucerys that going to Borros Baratheon is because he would be very proud to have a prince, rather than allowing us to know that she only sent him because she thought it was the safer option (Fire and Blood, 408)...boy were they all wrong.

G)

Borros Baratheon is actually a vacillating bitch who would have just picked someone who presented themselves as the better option for his personal needs. Wish the episode did more of that instead of the unvacillating look-alike we got. Could be nitpicking, but my disappointment with these last 5 episodes knows no bounds. 

H)

Aemond was a lot more talkative and mocking during Lucerys’ address to Borros Baratheon, too. We also don’t get to see him talk to Borros and become compelled to goad Lucerys when one of Borros’ less pretty daughters essentially goads him into showing how powerful he is in front of everyone. So now Aemond is obviously going to decide to “own it'', as Condal says, because we all know that even if he tried to say it no one would believe that he didn’t fly into the sky to kill his own nephew when his nephew is a contender against Aegon II. This event really flattens implication and makes it more emotive than political.

I)

Why would Rhaenyra, or anyone, believe that Viserys told Daemon about the dragon dream and only bring it up during a possible crisis. Of all the time they have spent together as a married couple, now Rhaenyra brings it up for the first time?

Aside from that, why would she ever assume that Daemon did have that information? While she was a child to 18 years old and more focused on her own stuff, she had years to think about how Daemon being literally barred for being Hand by Viserys would let her know that Viserys had no notion to give Daemon that information. And its not entirely because he didn't think Daemon wasup to he task of being one of the few who knows about this prophecy, eve after Rhaenyra becomes the official heir. Because Viserys definitely could have told Daemon...except the show has us think that kings only pass on Argon's dream to the one who is definitely the heir. Daemon was never the official heir, only the expected heir and the placeholder for Viserys' never-to-exist son. So no, Viserys would never tell Daemon this dream and Rhaenyra should have been able to logically assume as such with these reasons after all these years.

I)

Why didn’t Otto ever mention that Viserys supposedly chose to name Aegon as heir on his deathbed? I would imagine that Otto would have loved to rub that in Rhaenyra’s face, even in the most subtlest of ways. Why didn’t Alicent’s note do something similar?

J) 

Aemond losing control of Vhagar because Arrax (Luke’s dragon) spit a tongue of flame at Vhagar’s cheek and Vhagar got mad and went munch, munch, crunch, crunch.

That he only wanted to scare Lucerys and bully him. Dude, he pursued Lucerys into stormy-assed weather on a big ass dragon and made the kid think he was about to die. And if he and other riders know that dragons tend to try to kill each other (which why put them in separate rooms in the Dragonpit otherwise), the would he not realize that danger?

Aemond already showed how little he actually cared about any of his nephews and nieces long ago when he beat them up and claimed Vhagar. Older now, we see him in episodes 8 and 9 not even liking his older brother and willing to incitr violence against the Lucerys and Jace. He’s been surrounded by his grandfather and mother’s, maybe even Criston’s constant dismissals of Rhaenyra and her little group of “illegitimate” kids. The show itself set it up that way.

Yes, he absolutely should have felt bloodthirsty and irreverent of their familial bond to want to and go through with killing Luke when he had the chance. And Luke had every reason to believe that he’d kill him.

It would serve the story more to have Aemond just want to kill Luke in revenge, especially after he has grown up riding the biggest and most fearsome dragon existing. If he’s taking the incoming war, or prospect of it seriously, would he not consider all this and still pursue to kill, even though it’s kinslaying?

The stakes are simply way too high and the relations are just so void of actual regard for there not be intentional murder. 

On the whole though much of episode 10′s issues comes from how the entire show was written as well as from the events from the 8th episode, it was still shot better and held more tension than the 8th. 

In these specific ways (rather than its lack of logic and consistency even within its own lore different from the books), it was “better” than the 8th episode as I hoped. 

#house of the dragon #house of dragon #HotD #HoD #house of dragon episode 10 #house of the dragon episode 10 #hod epi 10 #hotd epi 10 #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon targaryen #not twilight

[astradrifting]

GRRM really created so many parallels and foreshadow using the DoD characters that honestly we could just figure the asoiaf ending by analyzing it. My favorite is the Aegon III-D@ny parallels, the fact that one of his closest allies was a face-scarred Master of coin Lannister who ended as Hand to Bran' parallel character just make it so obvious its funny.

Oh my god I didn’t even realise Tyland Lannister was initially on the greens’ side! I’m not super fond of Tyrion ending up as Hand, but you’re right that it’s so obviously meant to reference him. There’s so many parallels that it’s a little crazy. I don’t want to say that the second Dance will end exactly as the first did, it’d be a little too neat if history repeated entirely, but you can see so many echoes of it even in the show’s bastardised ending.

“The broken, shattered realm suffered for a while yet, but the Dance of the Dragons was done. Now what awaited the realm was the False Dawn, the Hour of the Wolf, the rule of the regents, and the Broken King.”

(TWOIAF, Aegon II)

I’m not sure what the False Dawn is going to parallel to, it refers to the period of time after Aegon II’s death but before Lord Stark got to King’s Landing, when people thought that peace had finally come. It kind of brings to mind the War for the Dawn, though personally I think that the threat of the Others will be resolved before the Dance is over. The Hour of the Wolf is obviously about House Stark’s rise back to power, and the Broken King is Bran - though if he actually becomes known as Bran the Broken I might end up committing violence ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. 

The parts about Lord Corlys Velaryon are why I’m so hopeful that Jon’s book ending will be completely different from the show’s. He’s arrested for Aegon II’s death by Cregan Stark, even though Cregan had previously declared for Rhaenyra, because as TWOIAF puts it, “to kill a cruel and unjust king in lawful battle was one thing. But foul murder, and the use of poison, was a betrayal against the very gods who had anointed him.”

Corlys didn’t deny his guilt, and expressed no regret. “What I did, I did for the good of the realm. I would do the same again. The madness had to end.”

Cregan Stark declared him to be guilty of murder, regicide, and high treason, and he was sentenced to execution. But many spoke in his defence, even people who had fought against him in the Dance. Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, Corlys’ granddaughters and Aegon III’s half-sisters, convinced Aegon to issue an edict pardoning Lord Velaryon, which Alysanne Blackwood then convinced Cregan to let stand. Lord Velaryon was pardoned and even restored to his offices and honours, made one of the king’s regents and given a place on the small council.

Corlys’ words definitely could be Jon’s as well, a much more in-character declaration post-D@ny’s death than the drivel GoT tried to feed us. I was worried for a bit that this would be how Tyrion is let off scot-free, but Baela and Rhaena, who were vital to his release, are such obvious Arya and Sansa stand-ins, and they’re certainly not going to expend any effort in helping Tyrion. So Corlys’ circumstances more likely lays the groundwork for how Jon will be freed and remain in political power, while Tyland frankly inexplicably becoming Aegon III’s Hand after he was in favour of brutally killing him parallels Tyrion managing to fail up, as a way of reconciling the old regime with the new one.

This makes Tyrion becoming Hand more palatable IMO. Either Jon and Tyrion both should have been punished or neither should have been punished, not the travesty where Tyrion gets everything he’s ever wanted while Jon is exiled to a Watch with no purpose and a Wall that’s already half-collapsed, so what exactly can it protect against? I suppose they were afraid of seemingly rewarding Jon for killing d@ny, especially if pol!Jon had been revealed, but most people noticed how nonsensical his ending was, and it just led to ‘Bloodraven/Bran is the real villain’ takes anyway.

(Side note: Asha/Yara basically still being loyal to D at the end annoys me so much, and made no sense. Jon did more to help save her by giving Theon that pep talk than D@ny did. Maybe it was a leftover from her taking Victarion’s role in the story, but in no reasonable world is anyone going to listen to the Ironborn who brought the Fire threat over in the first place.)

Of course Tyland Lannister isn’t actually Hand for long, given that he dies barely two years later from Winter Fever, feared and hated, alone except for a maester and King Aegon. It might be an indication that Tyrion will face a similar fate, that he’ll die after he’s seemingly won, exactly what he threatened Cersei with:

“A day will come when you think yourself safe and happy, and suddenly your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth, and you'll know the debt is paid."

(ACOK, Tyrion XII)

So that I can stop talking about Tyrion, here’s some facts about Rhaena and Baela that are obviously meant to reference Sansa and Arya, so much so that it feels a little bit like GRRM is winking and going “See what I did there? Huh? Huh? Did you see??”:

- their descriptions: “Rhaena was slender and graceful; Baela was lean and quick; Rhaena loved to dance; Baela lived to ride...” + “Baela was wild and willful”, “more boyish than ladylike”, and kept her hair cropped short as a boy’s

- Rhaena spent most of the Dance in the Vale, where she lived in relative comfort as the ward of Lady Jeyne Arryn. Baela was a dragonrider and so moved between Dragonstone and Driftmark, but was captured on Dragonstone when Aegon II descended upon it

- Rhaena was favoured to be queen after her brother, considered more qualified than her wild sister

- Baela liked to spend time with “unsuitable companions” she would bring to the Red Keep - including a comely juggler, a blacksmith’s apprentice whose muscles she admired (!!!), a legless beggar, a pair of twin girls from a brothel, an entire troupe of mummers once

- After her brother’s regents tried to marry her to a lord 40 years older than her, Baela escaped the Red Keep by climbing out of a window, trading clothes with a washerwoman, then walking right out of the front gate. She ran away to Driftmark and married her supposed cousin (though more likely he was her half-uncle), the legitimised bastard Alyn Velaryon, which might have had me worried about j0nrya if Alyn weren’t best known for being a daring sailor who went on many voyages, including sailing the Sunset Sea, until he was finally lost at sea during Aegon IV’s reign. Alyn’s mother was also called Mouse, for being “small, quick, and always underfoot.”

- another fun fact about Alyn: he’s a bad haggler, and had to agree to a high ransom and many concessions in order to get Prince Viserys returned to Westeros. This automatically disqualifies him as a Jon stand-in, because as we all know, Jon Snow can haggle like the best of fishwives.

- My absolutely favourite detail that has my jonsa heart singing - Rhaena was more dutiful than her sister and would have married a man that the king and council chose, saying that as long as he was “kind and gentle and noble, I know that I shall love him.” She was able to marry her first choice, whom the regents didn’t immediately approve of but that they ultimately accepted  - Ser Corwyn Corbray, the brother of the Lord Protector of the Realm, a second son (!) whose late father had gifted him the Valyrian steel sword Lady Forlorn (!!!)

And as a treat for @istumpysk, some similarities between Rickon and Viserys II!

- the youngest child of their family

- separated from their older brother after they were forced to flee their home, trying to get to safety while their other brothers and mother were at war

- worshipped their oldest (half-)brothers, but were closer to the brother nearest their age

- spends the war stuck on an island, populated by people closely linked to their family’s origins - Skagosi are descended mostly from the First Men, while Viserys was on Lys, where the blood of Old Valyria still runs strong

- sought by/held hostage by a powerful and wealthy family, who will treat them well but whose intentions are dubious

- will be brought back from exile by an upjumped bastard/commoner from a port town who was raised to lordship and became their monarch’s chief admiral

- after they are returned, long after the wars and crises, is happily welcomed as the heir to their older brother’s throne (shhhhh just let me have this, let the baby live)

Thanks for the ask!

#astra rambles #asks #its not quite 5000 words but i got it in under the deadline stumpy :P #half speculation half 'my wildest dreams and hopes' #anti tyrion lannister #kind of #rickon stark #jon snow #sansa stark #arya stark #anti got #speculation #meta #dod 2.0 #dod parallels

[chispas-and-broken-bindings]

When I was new to fandom I was bored by Dany and Jon story. Dany for me was typical fantasy heroine who was winning and getting everything and Jon has basically underdog story which wasn't that new. When I saw the so hyped boatsex I was like eh? I found Arya more interesting and Sansa started to grow on me. It's through jonsa I started admiring Jon and loving Sansa. Also through Sansa and jonsa fandom I realised Dany is a villain which is better than savior of world.

Hi nonny, well you were not alone in seeing Dany as a fantasy heroine (lots and lots and lots of people saw her this way). I suppose I’d disagree with the idea that she is typical...mainly because she isn’t the heroine, and her story is one fantastic inversion of the hero’s journey. I love Dany’s storyline for what it’s doing. Unfortunately, many people don’t see it. I also love Jon’s story, especially as this wonderful parallel to Dany’s, except where Dany’s experiences only heighten her sense of “specialness”, Jon’s experiences are constantly forcing him to see and even “live in” other people’s perspectives. Dany’s arc is about hubris and upholding this idea that she alone deserves unbridled power, while Jon’s is about humility and seeing the inherent value in other people’s lives. He pays dearly for his mistakes, especially when he tries to push his friends away and take on the burden of leadership alone (but that’s getting way ahead of what I want to talk about today). 

Almost immediately, Dany’s chapters are infused with the language of “specialness”. She is the “blood of the dragon”, she is the khaleesi, a princess, a queen...and almost immediately, Jon Snow is disabused about any such notions he may have had, even as a bastard. 

Jon stared sullenly at the smoke rising from the brazier, until Noye took him under the chin, thick fingers twisting his head around. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, boy."

Jon looked. The armorer had a chest like a keg of ale and a gut to match. His nose was flat and broad, and he always seemed in need of a shave. The left sleeve of his black wool tunic was fastened at the shoulder with a silver pin in the shape of a longsword. "Words won't make your mother a whore. She was what she was, and nothing Toad says can change that. You know, we have men on the Wall whose mothers were whores."

Not my mother, Jon thought stubbornly. He knew nothing of his mother; Eddard Stark would not talk of her. Yet he dreamed of her at times, so often that he could almost see her face. In his dreams, she was beautiful, and highborn, and her eyes were kind.

"You think you had it hard, being a high lord's bastard?" the armorer went on. "That boy Jeren is a septon's get, and Cotter Pyke is the baseborn son of a tavern wench. Now he commands Eastwatch by the Sea."

"I don't care," Jon said. "I don't care about them and I don't care about you or Thorne or Benjen Stark or any of it. I hate it here. It's too … it's cold."

"Yes. Cold and hard and mean, that's the Wall, and the men who walk it. Not like the stories your wet nurse told you. Well, piss on the stories and piss on your wet nurse. This is the way it is, and you're here for life, same as the rest of us." 

A Game of Thrones - Jon III

As soon as Jon arrives at the Wall, his uncle gives him the cold shoulder and goes so far as to verbally reprimand Jon for believing he’d get special favor for being Ned Stark’s son, and then Donal Noye also knocks him down a few more pegs, calling him boy and reminding him that he is no better than anyone else at the Wall. 

"Yes, life," Noye said. "A long life or a short one, it's up to you, Snow. The road you're walking, one of your brothers will slit your throat for you one night."

"They're not my brothers," Jon snapped. "They hate me because I'm better than they are."

"No. They hate you because you act like you're better than they are. They look at you and see a castle-bred bastard who thinks he's a lordling." The armorer leaned close. “You're no lordling. Remember that. You're a Snow, not a Stark. You're a bastard and a bully."

A Game of Thrones - Jon III

Two chapters later, Dany is a married woman and riding in Khal Drogo’s khalasar. While she is miserable at the start (and rightly so. She is sold and raped. I’m in no way pretending that Dany’s life doesn’t start out horrible. It’s far more horrible than Jon’s start to life), she is in a position of power for the first time ever, and lets just say she takes to it just fine. 

Jorah tells her about ghost grass (that passage deserves its own meta - the writing was on the wall from book one, people), and Dany doesn’t want to hear it: 

"I don't want to talk about that now," she said. "It's so beautiful here, I don't want to think about everything dying."

"As you will, Khaleesi," Ser Jorah said respectfully.

A Game of Thrones - Daenerys III

Jon doesn’t want to hear people calling his mother a whore = Tough luck kid, your mother was who she was. Face reality. 

Dany doesn’t want to hear about ghost grass murdering all life = conversation ends and Dany gets to enjoy the beautiful day without others spoiling it. 

"Wait here," Dany told Ser Jorah. "Tell them all to stay. Tell them I command it."

The knight smiled. Ser Jorah was not a handsome man. He had a neck and shoulders like a bull, and coarse black hair covered his arms and chest so thickly that there was none left for his head. Yet his smiles gave Dany comfort. "You are learning to talk like a queen, Daenerys."

"Not a queen," said Dany. "A khaleesi." She wheeled her horse about and galloped down the ridge alone.

The descent was steep and rocky, but Dany rode fearlessly, and the joy and the danger of it were a song in her heart. All her life Viserys had told her she was a princess, but not until she rode her silver had Daenerys Targaryen ever felt like one.

A Game of Thrones - Daenerys III

Their stories are inversions of each other from their very first pages in AGOT and it culminates in ADWD which is this wonderful deep dive into how these divergent viewpoints color their leadership styles. 

I don’t have time to go on and on about this, but I find Dany and Jon’s stories fascinating and I love them as foils. They just don’t make any sense from a shipping perspective. 

That being said, for the show, I totally bought into the pol!jon theory. That was the only thing that made season 7 fit any kind of narrative sense, and with that lens I didn’t mind the season or the boat sex scene, because I thought the lack of chemistry was the point. LOL. I’m a clown. 

However you came to Jonsa, I’m glad you did! I agree. Dany makes a much more interesting villain than she does a heroine. We don’t need any more white savior stories. Blech. 

#my asks #Jon and Dany are foils #inverse hero's journey #someone write a meta #I'm too lazy

[aegor-bamfsteel]

Hello! I’m a big fan of your blog and I’ve got a question for you. Consider an AU where Daemon Blackfyre is born from Aegon IV having an affair with Rhaena rather than Daena, how do you think he’d turn out? I’m curious on your thoughts as to how having a different parentage might change Daemon.

Hello! I’m glad you’re enjoying reading my blog :) 

The scenario you propose is one I haven’t thought of because Rhaena is far and away the least developed of the Targaryen characters of her generation. I’m not going to say “she would never have an affair” because as it stands most of the information on her is from semi- or non-canon sources: the 2006 SSM and the MUSH RPG tree that reveals she was the sister Daeron I betrothed to the Sealord of Braavos. She gets about one and a half sentences to herself in The World of Ice and Fire, which itself contradicts some of the information in the SSM: the SSM states that she never chafed at her confinement whereas twoiaf says she protested Baelor’s Maidenvault along with her sisters; depending on which one is true (for obvious reasons, I prefer the universe where she doesn’t agree with being imprisoned for a decade), leads to vastly different interpretations of the character. We know more about Rhaena’s breast size (that they were fuller than Daena’s at 14; thanks a lot, George) than her interactions with her siblings and cousins. All we know for sure is that she was pious and became a septa later in life.

The question is then whether Rhaena would still become a septa if she had a child, or be like Elaena and have to leave him behind (it’s nearly impossible from what we know about illegitimate children of noblewomen that Elaena brought Jon and Jeyne Waters with her to Plumm lands). If Rhaena did become a septa soon after Daemon’s birth and Aegon’s ascension, and left him as a baby to be raised by Daena (as I think might’ve happened with the Waters twins), then perhaps not much would change: Daemon is still raised mostly by the Targaryen-loving Daena, who probably encouraged his athletic pursuits, and spends time training with master-at-arms and Aegon IV’s ally, Quentyn Ball.

Daemon might’ve felt unloved by Rhaena in the “why didn’t she stay with me?” sense that some of the illegitimate children feel in asoiaf (thinking about Jon Snow’s fantasies of his “beautiful, highborn, kind-eyed” mother, and he had a decently happy childhood in Winterfell). Since in canon Baelor starved himself to death "in penance” for Daena’s child, switching the sister to Rhaena could have devastating psychological effects for the both of them, since the SSM implies she and Baelor were close (that her piety was influenced by Baelor, and even twoiaf compares her piety to his); a plausible scenario could be Rhaena joining a motherhouse and leaving her child as a form of penance, as she blames herself for Baelor’s death. 

Without Daena’s loving act of self-sacrifice by refusing to name the father at the cost of her reputation, and instead an absent mother mourning the death of her jailer “Baelor the Beloved”, Daemon might’ve even felt unwanted despite Daena’s best efforts (again, thinking of Jon Snow, who still internalized the “bastard prejudices” despite having a loving father and half-siblings). So perhaps a Daemon-son-of-absentee Rhaena is a little sadder, more jaded from early childhood, and less willing to get hurt reaching out to abrasive family members (by which I mean Aegor and Brynden Rivers).

But supposing Rhaena does put off becoming a septa to raise her son (and you could argue that sewing the Mother’s face on her clothing indicates that, like Aelinor Penrose, she did want children) and successfully opposes Viserys and Aegon’s attempts to marry her off (as Daena did. GRRM’s SSM says Rhaena was “meek and passive”, but I’m going with the twoiaf version that stands up for her freedom). Considering what happened to Falena Stokeworth at Viserys II’s hands for daring to have sex with Aegon IV, I’ll assume that she refuses to name Aegon IV as the father. 

A Daemon raised by Rhaena at King’s Landing would perhaps be more openly interested in fashion; Rhaena loved to sew and embroider, and I could see him taking an interest in this because his mother was and encouraged him. We’re not sure how pious Daemon was in canon (although according to his supporters, he was blessed by the Seven), but as Rhaena’s child he might be more so, and might’ve wanted to serve the Warrior’s Sons instead of the Kingsguard as a boy. It might even be possible that as in the real-life example of Princess Rotrude daughter of Charlemagne and her illegitimate son Louis, that he could’ve followed Rhaena into the Faith and become part of a guard for a particularly high-ranking Septon. 

However, I don’t think this Daemon’s new interests would have made Aegon stop being interested in him, especially after Aegor and Brynden proved to be “unsuitable heirs”; and I don’t think they would’ve endeared the grudge-prone Da3ron II to him either. So I don’t think their schemes regarding Daemon would’ve changed.

What I think the most important change in Daemon’s character would be having Rhaena as a mother is that he’s introduced earlier on to the Targaryen legacy is not a shining ideal to protect. Rhaena is the only known Targaryen to have abandoned their name for a higher calling by choice, rather than being given to the Faith or Citadel by her parents or married off (although they technically are still part of the Targaryen House) or forced to run away. Most of the Targaryen women are proud to be born of the house of “fire and blood” and dragons, but unlike Daena and even Elaena, Rhaena did not have any explicit connection to that legacy. Daemon knowing that his mother could’ve become a septa and give up her name, seeing her honoring the Mother and the Maiden over Rhaenys and Visenya, having her tell him tales of the Warriors’ Sons over those of brave Targaryen warriors, would have radically changed his idea of who the Targaryens are. With that he might be more open to criticism of Targaryen brutality and egotism, at least with regards to burning septs and trying to rewrite the laws of the Faith to suit their own ends (Jaehaerys and the Doctrine of Exceptionalism allowing incest, Baelor’s misogynist laws on chastity and moving the Faith’s capital to King’s Landing where they became a tool of the Targaryens). That might result in a Daemon that doesn’t hold onto Blackfyre and his sigil as symbols of identity and strength, but the chivalric code and Faith precepts. That might have serious political implications if the reason why he rebelled (if rebel he did, and wasn’t just arrested based on a rumor) had something to do with Aegon IV and Da3ron II making a mockery of the Targaryen legacy as related to him by Daena.

tl;dr depending on whether or not Rhaena was there to raise him, I think were she his mother Daemon may have been more wary of the Targaryens as a family and his place among them as an illegitimate prince. He may have cultivated different interests that Rhaena encouraged, and might have been more outwardly serious and guarded at court. Whether that meant he’d be less popular or less effective in combat is anyone’s guess, but I don’t think Aegon’s plans and Da3ron II’s counter-plans for him would’ve changed much.

#ask #what if #asoiaf #asoiaf headcanon #daemon blackfyre #Rhaena Targaryen #house targaryen

[daenerys-targaryen-moved]

viserys manipulated and abused book!dany and show!dany so either way he deserved his fate and the fact that she still named HER DRAGON after him and said ''he will do what my brother could not'' like..........how is that madness??? she had every right to say ''fuck you viserys i will never mourn for you or think of you again'' but she didn't because she is so compassionate and forgiving. she could've let the world forget him. i love dany so sorry for this ramble

She definitely mourned him. 

Here is the scene you’re talking about in A Clash of Kings

Dany hungered and thirsted with the rest of them. The milk in her breasts dried up, her nipples cracked and bled, and the flesh fell away from her day by day until she was lean and hard as a stick, yet it was her dragons she feared for. Her father had been slain before she was born, and her splendid brother Rhaegar as well. Her mother had died bringing her into the world while the storm screamed outside. Gentle Ser Willem Darry, who must have loved her after a fashion, had been taken by a wasting sickness when she was very young. Her brother Viserys, Khal Drogo who was her sun-and-stars, even her unborn son, the gods had claimed them all. They will not have my dragons, Dany vowed. They will not.

[....]   

“Aegon’s dragons were named for the gods of Old Valyria,” she told her bloodriders one morning after a long night’s journey. “Visenya’s dragon was Vhagar, Rhaenys had Meraxes, and Aegon rode Balerion, the Black Dread. It was said that Vhagar’s breath was so hot that it could melt a knight’s armor and cook the man inside, that Meraxes swallowed horses whole, and Balerion . . . his fire was as black as his scales, his wings so vast that whole towns were swallowed up in their shadow when he passed overhead.” The Dothraki looked at her hatchlings uneasily. The largest of her three was shiny black, his scales slashed with streaks of vivid scarlet to match his wings and horns. “Khaleesi,” Aggo murmured, “there sits Balerion, come again.” “It may be as you say, blood of my blood,” Dany replied gravely, “but he shall have a new name for this new life. I would name them all for those the gods have taken. The green 102 one shall be Rhaegal, for my valiant brother who died on the green banks of the Trident. The cream-and-gold I call Viserion. Viserys was cruel and weak and frightened, yet he was my brother still. His dragon will do what he could not.” - Daenerys ACOK

“We should rest here until we are stronger,” the knight urged. “The red lands are not kind to the weak.”

“My handmaids say there are ghosts here.”

“There are ghosts everywhere,” Ser Jorah said softly. “We carry them with us wherever we go.”

Yes, she thought. Viserys, Khal Drogo, my son Rhaego, they are with me always.

Viserys’ name is mentioned a total of 23 times in A Clash of Kings, 41 times in A Storm of Swords, 6 times in A Feast for Crows, and 29 times in A Dance with Dragons. More times that not, it’s Daenerys remembering when he was a good brother to her, when he would tell her stories or when they would sneak out in the dead of night, or when she’s thinking about how he died, or when she’s thinking about how he would react to certain situations. Here is a converstaion between Tyrion and Illyrio;

The fat man grew pensive. “Daenerys was half a child when she came to me, yet fairer even than my second wife, so lovely I was tempted to claim her for myself. Such a fearful, furtive thing, however, I knew I should get no joy from coupling with her. Instead I summoned a bedwarmer and fucked her vigorously until the madness passed. If truth be told, I did not think Daenerys would survive for long amongst the horselords.”

“That did not stop you selling her to Khal Drogo …”

“Dothraki neither buy nor sell. Say rather that her brother Viserys gave her to Drogo to win the khal’s friendship. A vain young man, and greedy. Viserys lusted for his father’s throne, but he lusted for Daenerys too, and was loath to give her up. The night before the princess wed he tried to steal into her bed, insisting that if he could not have her hand, he would claim her maidenhead. Had I not taken the precaution of posting guards upon her door, Viserys might have undone years of planning.”

“He sounds an utter fool.”

“Viserys was Mad Aerys’s son, just so. Daenerys … Daenerys is quite different.” He popped a roasted lark into his mouth and crunched it noisily, bones and all. “The frightened child who sheltered in my manse died on the Dothraki sea, and was reborn in blood and fire. This dragon queen who wears her name is a true Targaryen. When I sent ships to bring her home, she turned toward Slaver’s Bay. In a short span of days she conquered Astapor, made Yunkai bend the knee, and sacked Meereen. Mantarys will be next, if she marches west along the old Valyrian roads. If she comes by sea, well … her fleet must take on food and water at Volantis.” - Tyrion ADwD

The floppy ears she chose today were made of sheer white linen, with a fringe of golden tassels. With Jhiqui’s help, she wound the tokar about herself correctly on her third attempt. Irri fetched her crown, wrought in the shape of the three-headed dragon of her House. Its coils were gold, its wings silver, its three heads ivory, onyx, and jade. Dany’s neck and shoulders would be stiff and sore from the weight of it before the day was done. A crown should not sit easy on the head. One of her royal forebears had said that, once. Some Aegon, but which one? Five Aegons had ruled the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. There would have been a sixth, but the Usurper’s dogs had murdered her brother’s son when he was still a babe at the breast. If he had lived, I might have married him. Aegon would have been closer to my age than Viserys. Dany had only been conceived when Aegon and his sister were murdered. Their father, her brother Rhaegar, perished even earlier, slain by the Usurper on the Trident. Her brother Viserys had died screaming in Vaes Dothrak with a crown of molten gold upon his head. - Daenerys AdWd

Daario shrugged. “Most queens have no purpose but to warm some king’s bed and pop out sons for him. If that’s the sort of queen you mean to be, best marry Hizdahr.”

Her anger flashed. “Have you forgotten who I am?”

“No. Have you?” Viserys would have his head off for that insolence.

Dany wrapped her arms about the girl. “Tell me of him.”

“He taught me how to climb a tree when we were little. He could catch fish with his hands. Once I found him sleeping in our garden with a hundred butterflies crawling over him. He looked so beautiful that morning, this one … I mean, I loved him.”

“As he loved you.” Dany stroked the girl’s hair. “Say the word, my sweet, and I will send you from this awful place. I will find a ship somehow and send you home. To Naath.”

“I would sooner stay with you. On Naath I’d be afraid. What if the slavers came again? I feel safe when I’m with you.”

Safe. The word made Dany’s eyes fill up with tears. “I want to keep you safe.” Missandei was only a child. With her, she felt as if she could be a child too. “No one ever kept me safe when I was little. Well, Ser Willem did, but then he died, and Viserys … I want to protect you but �� it is so hard. To be strong. I don’t always know what I should do. I must know, though. I am all they have. I am the queen … the … the …”

“… mother,” whispered Missandei.

“Mother to dragons.” Dany shivered.

“No. Mother to us all.” Missandei hugged her tighter.

Here is another scene that I find particularly interesting from the books;

She dreamt of her dead brother.

Viserys looked just as he had the last time she’d seen him. His mouth was twisted in anguish, his hair was burnt, and his face was black and smoking where the molten gold had run down across his brow and cheeks and into his eyes.

“You are dead,” Dany said.

“Murdered.” Though his lips never moved, somehow she could hear his voice, whispering in her ear.

“You never mourned me, sister. It is hard to die unmourned. “I loved you once.” Once, he said, so bitterly it made her shudder. “You were supposed to be my wife, to bear me children with silver hair and purple eyes, to keep the blood of the dragon pure. I took care of you. I taught you who you were. I fed you. I sold our mother’s crown to keep you fed.”

“You hurt me. You frightened me.”

“Only when you woke the dragon. I loved you.”

“You sold me. You betrayed me.”

“No. You were the betrayer. You turned against me, against your own blood. They cheated me. Your horsey husband and his stinking savages. They were cheats and liars. They promised me a golden crown and gave me this.” He touched the molten gold that was creeping down his face, and smoke rose from his finger.

“You could have had your crown,” Dany told him. “My sun-and-stars would have won it for you if only you had waited.”

“I waited long enough. I waited my whole life. I was their king, their rightful king. They laughed at me.”

“You should have stayed in Pentos with Magister Illyrio. Khal Drogo had to present me to the dosh khaleen, but you did not have to ride with us. That was your choice. Your mistake.”

“Do you want to wake the dragon, you stupid little whore? Drogo’s khalasar was mine. I bought them from him, a hundred thousand screamers. I paid for them with your maidenhead.”

“You never understood. Dothraki do not buy and sell. They give gifts and receive them. If you had waited …”

“I did wait. For my crown, for my throne, for you. All those years, and all I ever got was a pot of molten gold. Why did they give the dragon’s eggs to you? They should have been mine. If I’d had a dragon, I would have taught the world the meaning of our words.” Viserys began to laugh, until his jaw fell away from his face, smoking, and blood and molten gold ran from his mouth. - Daenerys ADwD

It’s very safe to say that Daenerys mourned Viserys. She mourned the relationship they had as children, she mourned the potential future he would have had with her if he’d lived. Throughout her journey so far, she thinks back to those she’s lost, she thinks back to how it felt to be treated by him, abused emotionally, physically and psychologically, someone who would have raped her had he gotten the chance, someone who looked her in the eyes and told her that he would happily let thousands of men (and their horses) fuck her if it got him his crown. She thinks back to what he was to her, not a sister, but a piece of property, a bargaining chip to be sold off to the highest bidder.

She mourns him, but she mourns him because she loved what they once had and because he was her last family in the world (so she thinks). She could have let the world forget him, but she didn’t. She named her dragon after him, her fucking dragon. She loved him. She mourned him. But her showing no emotion when he died wasn’t a sign of “madness” lmao.

#leah has mail #Anonymous #viserys targaryen #daenerys targaryen #asoiaf #asoiaf meta