#;; empress as mirrors . . . usurpation of women as the harbinger of *doom* . . . dany becoming the new amethyst empress to set things back

[kaerinio]

That night she dreamt that she was Rhaegar, riding to the Trident. But she was mounted on a dragon, not a horse. When she saw the Usurper's rebel host across the river they were armored all in ice, but she bathed them in dragonfire and they melted away like dew and turned the Trident into a torrent. Some small part of her knew that she was dreaming, but another part exulted. This is how it was meant to be. The other was a nightmare, and I have only now awakened. She woke suddenly in the darkness of her cabin, still flush with triumph. Balerion seemed to wake with her, and she heard the faint creak of wood, water lapping against the hull, a football on the deck above her head. And something else.

no, because the whole this is how it was meant to be. The other was a nightmare, and I have only now awakened is giving some serious reincarnation vibes??? like, what do you mean the other was a nightmare, when you hadn't even been born yet?? what do you mean you've only now awakened???? it's not dany saying that her life has been a nightmare up to that point (it has). it's her distinctly reflecting on the fact that what happened at the trident shouldn't have happened (and though she doesn't know it yet . . . in so many ways, the outcome had cosmic influences!). it's something akin to aemon saying that stannis' fake light sword is only going to lead people further into darkness. robert's rebellion and the events it sets off tear the targs further away from their destiny, as alluded to in the whole ice armor imagery. but also, ofc, this is directly pointing toward dany's destiny as the prince that was promised, azor ahai reborn, stallion who mounts the world, etc.