#(can you tell i have never seen an episode of got or hotd)

[userjohndeacon]

what's the opposite of a glup shitto. because that's what's going on in the hotd universe

[bl00dlight]

SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 8 LEAKS. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU WANT MAJOR HELAEMOND SPOILERS.

I just wanna say. Once again the Helaegons prove their media illiteracy if they think that Aemond literally going to make amends with his sister, with TEARS IN HIS EYES... reaching for her ARM.... and him speaking so... softly.... when he says "come with me." AND HE SAYS IT LIKE THAT? PLEADING SOFTLY? AND HE ABOUT TO CRY? AND HE IS SO ANGRY AND VUNERABLE AND GUILT RIDDEN BUT IS SO HURT BY HER VISION THAT HE RESORTS TO WHAT HE ALWAYS DOES. AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN AEMOND ACT THIS WAY TO ANYONE. YALL SAYING HELAEGON WON?

When he reaches for her and GRAZES HER WRIST AND THEN STOPS HIMSELF AND PUTS HIS HEAD DOWN. BECAUSE HE CLEARLY FEELS SOME LEVEL OF GUILT FOR HIS ACTIONS???

Helaemond got the complicated tension simmering arc of misunderstanding helaegons wanted. If this was a Helaegon scene they'd be over the moon. Its only because mfs lack the understanding that Helaemond was never about soft squishy love and was always about yearning. And look at AEMOND YALL CANT SAY THEY DIDNT DO IT FOR HELAEMOND!!!! THE YEARNING!!! And I'm living for it. There is clearly context missing in those scenes, possibly that we might get Aemond and Helaena sort of teaming up in a scene or him pursuing her dreams/taking comfort in her like leaks said. Because when he comes into her room she sort of looks up at him softly and she doesn't seem angry or uncomfortable until he asks her to ride. + There is an established idea that Aemond requires her service again. And then in the balcony scene when she tells him the prophecy, it seems like he already knows about her dreams. So I suspect it's established earlier in the episode that Aemond and Hel have been having some sort of interaction about them.

Which I think is what makes the balcony scene so heartbreaking. We can see there is a connection that Aemond has, that when Helaena assumes he will hurt her, he visibly gets upset and goes into that defence mode again. He comes to her... with tears in his eyes... saying they SHARE THE SAME BLOOD AND THEIR MOTHER CAN'T UNDERSTAND AND... AND... THAT THEY SHARE A TRUER CALL TOGETHER?????? And helaegons are claiming they've won... why because she tells him the ending of the war? Because she refuses to fight?

The way she speaks so softly and gently and despondently about him dying.... I think we've got it Helaemonds. It's heartbreaking. And the idea of Aemond wanting Hel to join him at Harrenhal???? To bring Daemon down together???

Again I'm hoping those aren't the only scenes we are getting cause that would legitmately not make fucking sense but you never know with HOTD.

But still the fact we got Aemond going up with tears in his eye... and his FACEEE and the way the tear goes away at the end when she walks away and instantly he goes back to hardening up. I'm SORRY BUT OHHHH GODDDD THE PAIN!! The way he begins to tear up exactly when he asks her for help too... when he asks her to come with him... I'M DYING....

And then HOW HIS FACE CHANGES WHEN HE GETS HURT BY WHAT SHE SAYS.

And HER FACE.... WHEN SHE TELLS HIM HE IS GOING TO DIE... and HE VOICE... HOW SHE SAYS IT SUPER SOFTLY AND HER VOICE BREAKS.

And then when she says that her death won't change anything...

And that's what Hel meant by was it worth the price? Yall notice how the entire scene is about Helaena telling him his pursuit of power is his downfall...

Notice how she didn't really care about Aegon nearly dying, it was the fact AEMOND did it. The fact AEMOND is losing himself, and she asks "will you do the same to me?"

And you can see how vunerable he is and hurt and how his defences are all the way down and all he can do is whisper out that she is speaking treason. And when he threatens her... he doesn't do it harshly or in the same way he did to Aegon. He says it as if it's hurting him. He's got a tear in his eye as he says he could have her killed.

Which he clearly would never do. But he says it. Why? Because he is struggling to maintain his defence around her. Struggling to cope with the fact he hurt her to the point of her rejecting HELPING HIM. OH MY GODDDD.

I don't know what else yall were expecting, but uh in my opinion we've won. We hit all the points

Yearning

Aemond being vulnerable

Begging

Misunderstanding

Targcest vibes with the whole Valryian supremacy lines

Helaena telling him about his own death

The hesitancy towards physical touch

[littleandless]

MY THOUGHTS ON SEASON 2 EPISODE 6: “SMALLFOLK”

viserys being the focus of daemon’s visions this episode was sooooo delectable. say what you will about daemon being power-hungry and craving glory, but he has sought his big brother’s love & approval most of all. when rhaenyra said that she, with her father’s adoration, made daemon whole, boy was that so fucking true. daemon had some affection for and attraction to her of course, but she was mostly an extension of her father, same as all other females in a patriarchal system. at least until they come under the guardianship of a husband.

it’s sad that alicent was fired from the small council, but i was expecting it to happen a lot sooner tbh.

alicent had so many Mother moments this episode. caressing aemond’s face, pleading with him on an emotional level to give up this hardened persona that hides his childhood wounds. sitting vigil at aegon’s bedside. protecting helaena bodily. inquiring about daeron, the one she had to send away. openly questioning whether it was the environment or her own parenting that caused her eldest sons to go astray, and seeking some level of comfort or validation from her brother, the only relative she doesn’t have a complete wreck of a bond with.

ser steffon darklyn became a bit too confident and then BOOM dragonfire. rest in peace, king.

also…why are we pretending that no one else could possibly be persuaded to attempt claiming a dragon? so many people would jump at the opportunity, let’s be real. tell everyone you’re holding auditions for the role of dragonrider and they will be on your doorstep in 2 seconds.

“YOU TOAD” aemond i kind of love you. also i’m glad he’s not as susceptible to larys’ manipulation. and now that he’s called otto back as hand, maybe cole will get a dressing down as well.

we all knew, or at least suspected, that nettles was cut from the show. you may also have heard that rhaena would take on her storyline instead. and i guess it’s true! i mean, i’m happy for rhaena. she deserves something beyond familial duty to occupy her time. she’s tried and failed to claim a dragon, and now she will finally find success. i just wonder how it will affect the plot in regards to babies joffrey, aegon, and viserys.

also we got to see a baby dragon! i forget, have we seen any others in hotd? i can only recall drogon, viserion, and rhaegal in the main series.

QUEEN RHAENYRA SLAPPING OLD MEN AND KISSING WOMEN!!!! WE USED TO PRAY FOR TIMES LIKE THIS

ulf, regardless of whether he’s actually baelor’s bastard, was cast so well. i can totally see the resemblance…or maybe it’s just the stupid half up-half down hairdo that daemon & viserys love so damn much.

i appreciate the larys/aegon heart-to-heart, even if it was mostly for personal gain, because there’s a whole wad of truth behind his words. it’s a bond they now share.

disability in westeros is such a loaded topic, and one that comes up often in grrm’s work. i’m not expecting anything groundbreaking but it is cool to see it acknowledged.

seasmoke chasing down addam was lowkey funny. did he do that in fire & blood? i can’t remember. that damn dragon circled back like three times to terrorize some random hunk and i’m all for it.

also it never occurred to me that alyn was bald on purpose. i thought he was just middle-aged😭 but yeah the white hair makes sense.

the food boats were a great PR move. it’s too bad about hugh punching that guy though. i’d be so pissed if i ran through an entire mob for some carrots and lettuce and then got robbed.

so far we’ve got dyana & sylvie involved in team black’s schemes. gaemon palehair when???? and with ulf and hugh soon joining the fold, we’re getting set up for rhaenyra’s takeover woohoo

but we’re also getting closer to the end😔🫡

[duchess-of-oldtown]

HotD Thoughts Season 2, Episode 4 "The Red Dragon and the Gold"

Just clarifying, these are my own thoughts, you don't like them, don't bother telling me so. Also, I'm not a book purist, I like adaptions taking putting their own spin on things - if it makes sense to do so. So, here were my thoughts. Obvs, this post is dark and full of spoilers.

Daemon's nightmare sequences are top notch for ambience but can we dispense with the whole Daemon vs Rhaenyra?

We are getting The Lads.

Just Oscar being Oscar. Simon patting his lil shoulder.

I love Rhaenys hair this season.

Also her interaction with Alyn was excellent. There's so much unsaid but relayed and it's masterful.

The Grand Maester being slick af.

But Alicent firing off loaded questions, girl why are you trying to get the man beheaded??

Baela and Jace, serving face and the country.

BAELA READ THAT OLD MAN

Did we really need Corlys stepping into the Council just when Rhaenys was about to headbutt that old man?

I would have really liked to have seen Duskendale.

Lord Darklyn, reading that Cole Bitch, is top short king behaviour

Gwayne still being a lil bitch is iconic

Aegon throwing a tantrum at the Small Council, you kinda have to feel sorry for him, he is trying his best.

Aemond and Aegon fighting over the pins was peak sibling behaviour.

Aegon not knowing better Valyrian just makes me sad.

The Small Council watching them fight was hilarious, it's like Judgement Wimbledon

Alicent making ye olde heating pad

Larys "Feet Finder" Strong is really giving "m'lady" vibes today and it's giving me the eugh.

I did not care for the "Daemon-Aemond".

I just got to say it, Alys is too funny to end up with Aemond.

The Small Council are hilarious, they just don't give a fuck

Aegon vs Alicent was cruel because on one hand, he's really trying to do his best but he doesn't know how to do better and then he tells his mom and she just reads him, because she's hurting. It's giving Nero and Agrippina.

Criston Cole is that one manager who sees you finishing up early and decides to do a deep clean

Rhaenys, the Queen who never Was but Stood on Business.

Rhaenyra telling Jace about the Song of Ice and Fire is just *chef kiss*

This is why we needed more dragon time. Meleys and Rhaenys bonding, Sunfyre and Aegon bonding, it makes us care about the dragons too. We need more time with them.

Vhagar just needs naps, let her sleep. But the scene of her waking just reminds me of Jurassic Park.

Sunfyre is so pretty.

Rhaenys deciding to fucking end Aegon

ACTUAL DRAGON FIGHTING

The size difference of the three dragons, it just shows how terrifying they all are.

RHAENYS, I know how this ends but still, you're throwing fucking down, Visenya, Rhaenys, Rhaena and Alysanne would be proud of you

The little belt thing, FORESHADOWING

Meleys looking at her Rhaenys and Rhaenys looking at her 😔😔😔

FUCKING AEMOND AND HIS STEALTH ATTACKS

RHAENYS YOU DIED ADMIST FIRE AND BLOOD AND WE NEVER COULD REPLACE YOU

A thousand arrows, a hundred fleeing soldiers, two dropped dragons, a decimated field and CRISTON COLE IS STILL FUCKING ALIVE

Sunfyre protecting Aegon 🥺🥺🥺

Rating: 9.8/10

[bonesandthebees]

rhaenicent! rhaenicent! rhaenicent! One of the very few things that kept me engaged with the 5 episodes of house of Dragon I did watch (the combination of Cole being like THAT and the very sudden time skip threw me off so badly I stopped watching during ep 6 (but my mom still gave me all the plot updates).

Anyway, I love this au! I love when people really dig into the worldbuilding and figure out what would be affected by the changes. Having no Targaryens means Otto can’t work his way up to the right hand of the king as easily (or does not deem it worth the effort since it’s way smaller a country). But he still tries to get his daughter married to a royal anyway. (And it’s really fucked up that he tells her this her entire live, like she’s not even officially engaged, there’s no signed contract, he’s just that confident in his own ability to marry off his daughter.)

But it makes sense that Alicent is so brainwashed that it’s not only normal to her, she’s comforted by it. As long as she knows she’ll marry someone her own age, she’s fine with being married off. The prospects are good after all. And she feels no attraction to either of them, so she does not care which son it ends up being.

The thing that throws her off, isn’t having to marry, it’s the combination of her secure future being changed so easily without her having any control over it as well as the fact that this king is very old (which poor canon Alicent btw). Tbf, I think the age throws her more since she can kinda see the logic of why he is the ‘best’ option (essentially, her father could get his blood on the throne a generation earlier, provided that both other sons die before being crowned). It gives her immediate sway over the crown.

But while bearing the children of the younger man didn’t bother her, she knows bearing the king’s children would be an actively unpleasant experience. Thus she is incredibly stressed about the very idea of it (mainly because she knows her father is considering it, and while he has yet to confirm or arrange anything, she has clearly already figured out the advantages on her own and knows it to be something her father would take).

And yet, when Rhaynyra points out that she could refuse, Alicent insists that she is bound by duty (and the sexism). Again, my girl is brainwashed. She has to do this, no matter how unenjoyable it would be, for her family, to protect her family, to empower her family because her father said so who said that? Not me.

Anyway, this is getting long, so moving on to another ask.

(1/?)

-🌲

spruce do you know how excited I got when this popped in my inbox I forgot you've seen some hotd so I wasn't expecting to hear from just about any of my regulars about the fic but I'm !!! rn (also that's very fair for dropping off, I am waiting with bated breath every episode hoping crispin cole dies in horrible agony I hate him so much)

honestly a big reason why I wanted to write this was because of all the changes to the world I'd get dig into if the targaryens never went on their conquest. Otto is in a very different position in this world since he's not the Hand of the King, and instead just kind of helps his brother run things in Oldtown. but also because the Reach is a much smaller kingdom and the Hightowers have such a close relationship with the Gardeners, as a family they have a higher standing. that's why Otto already knows he'll be able to arrange a marriage for Alicent from the day she's born. the Hightowers themselves are practically Reach royalty in this world. not to mention, the Hightowers are the lords of Oldtown, which in the canon asoiaf universe is the largest and richest city in all the Seven Kingdoms. so in this au where the Reach is it's own kingdom, Oldtown is a huge center of power and influence.

the thing about Alicent is that although she is much more okay with the idea of marrying someone her own age, I think if she ever had actually gotten to her wedding day with one of the princes then she would've started feeling similar anxiety and dread. not as much as she's feeling over the idea of marrying the King, but she wouldn't be as calm having to actually confront the idea of having a husband and all the duties that come with that (I am a lesbian Alicent truther I will die on that hill). however, this fear was greatly sped up and multiplied with the knowledge that instead of marrying a handsome boy her own age who she would at least have some things in common with, instead she is going to marry a man more than twice her age. and like you pointed out, there's also the aspect that her future has changed so suddenly without her having even the slightest bit of agency over it. she's always known she doesn't have any control of her own life, but this is a really stark reminder of that fact.

and Alicent is smart. she's Otto Hightower's daughter for a reason. she can immediately see and understand the political implications and what her father's strategy is. there is no reason for her father not to make the switch and marry Alicent to the king, except if he were to consider Alicent's feelings on the matter. which Alicent already knows he will never do. and Alicent has been raised to believe this is normal. this is how the world should work. this is what her duty is as a daughter. poor girl :(

[where-theres-smoak-2]

HOTD 2X05 Review/Thoughts (SPOILERS)

After last episode I do think that this episode was slower in pace, we're back to it mostly being people sitting and talking. That being said I do think there were some really great scenes in this episode, there is definitely plenty to talk about. Once again, as I say every week, I have not read the books, my thoughts and opinions are based purely on the show and there will be spoilers. This week I am going to break the review up by character, so lets talk hotd.

Rhaenys

Whilst I do wish we had spent a bit more time showing the characters grief over Rhaenys death, I think the scenes we did get were really moving and sad. It definitely pulled at my heartstrings seeing Corlys cry on his throne. I also thought that shot of Rhaenyra looking out across the sea with tears in her eyes was beautiful but sad, it looked to me like she was almost searching the skies waiting for Rhaenys and Meleys to return but knowing they never will. I also felt really bad for Rhaena as she is having to grieve her grandmother alone. One scene I did really love though was the one between Rhaenyra and Baela where they talked about how Rhaenys claimed Meleys and how fierce she was, I really loved that line about her being fierce in both anger and love. It was just a really sweet yet sorrowful scene between the two.

Daemon

So Daemon still can't catch a break, especially it seems when it comes to giving instructions to others. In this episode he wants to win the Brackens to their side, his first tactic being one that has served him well in the past, which is threaten them with his dragon. But the Brackens don't fold which I actually think impresses Daemon and it only makes him want them on his side more. There is that really awesome shot of the Bracken lord after he says they chose fire and turns away on his horse and you can see Caraxes' face in the background, it was just a very cool shot. I also thought Daemon's line about not thinking they would be that eager to die really funny, his delivery was gold. Daemon choosing not to go through with his threat does make sense to me, he knows that the death of Jaehaerys did some damage to Rhaenyra's claim and so he knows he has to be careful with his actions going forward, but he still needs to get the Brackens to bend the knee. In theory him instructing Blackwell to 'do his worse' in order to bring the Brackens in line, is a smart one, as he says the crown can't be seen to be acting in certain ways, by sending the Blackwells to essentially do the dirty work he can ensure that Rhaenyra/the crowns name stays clean as most will just see it as another altercation between two houses that have been warring for generations. It also seemed at the time that Daemon gave the instruction that Blackwell understood this. For a moment it seems like Daemon gets a win when he is informed that the Brackens have indeed bent the knee after the Blackwells attack. It all comes crumbling down though when the lords show up complaining about how the Blackwells robbed and burned sacred monuments and farmers fields and killed children and women and did so whilst carrying the targaryen banner. I mean how dumb could Blackwell get, Daemon made it clear to him that the crown's hand could not be seen in these actions, Blackwell says yup sure got it and then precedes to fly the targaryen banner announcing to all of the riverlands that he is acting on behalf of the crown. Needless to say not a great day for Daemon because whilst he gained the Brackens he has now potentially lost the rest of the Riverland Lords.

To top all of this off, Daemon is still being plagued by visions. During the confrontation with the lords he again sees Laena. This time she speaks to him telling him that a terrible war is plaguing the land before asking if he has taken care of their daughters. It's interesting to me that it is during a scene where he is being told about children being killed and where he is accused of ordering the murder of a child himself that he sees this vision of Laena asking after their own children. Its again, like most of his visions, playing into his guilt suggesting that maybe he feels he hasn't done enough to protect and care for his girls. It could also suggest that he fears for his daughters during this time of war, that they too could face the same fate as those children killed by the Blackwoods and like Aegon's son was slain.

Then there was that other vision. With his mum. Yeah I really don't have many words for this, my initial reaction being something along the lines of wtf is this shit. I'll be honest I really don't know what the writers were trying to achieve with this scene other than a cheap attempt at shock value. This vision is a bit different than the others as in the others it seems to be things that are tearing him down but here Daemon is seeing the mother he never really knew telling him what he wanted to hear, that he is better than viserys, that he should have been king etc, and I can understand the need for that part of the scene but I really don't get why they felt the need to add in that sexual element to it. If I try to make an attempt at interpretating it maybe its supposed to be a commentary on how never knowing his mother means he's never experienced a motherly love and the only love he's experienced with women is a sexual/romantic one. But I still stand by my opinion that this scene as it was played with that sexual element was not necessary in the slightest and I wish I had never had the misfortune of seeing it.

Alys

Alys has got to be manipulating Daemon's visions right? I mean that line about his mother made it seem that at the very least she is aware of what is happening in his visions. If she is messing with him though, I can't quite figure out what her motives are. Is she just trying to control him and manipulate him into doing what she wants? Or is her goal to turn him against rhaenyra? My best theory here is that she used most of the visions, like the ones of young rhaenyra and Laena to wear him down, to break him, then she has used the one of his mother to kind of build him back up in a way and to place the seeds of you should be king over Rhaenyra in his head. As to why Alys would want Daemon to turn on Rhaenyra I don't know, maybe she thinks if she can make Daemon her puppet and then have him become King in place of Rhaenyra, she will gain immense power herself, basically she would be ruler herself as she would be the one in control. This is all purely speculation on my part though.

Jace

Jace was a standout for me in this episode, I really loved his storyline. As the season has gone on we've seen Jace become more and more frustrated at the inaction of himself and Rhaenyra and honestly I can understand why he was so frustrated. His brother was killed so there is a part of him that will want some kind of retribution for that, but also I think Jace is very similar to both Rhaenyra and Daemon in that in times of crisis he wants to be proactive. He's very protective of his family and he wants to fight for them and his mother and her claim.

I really loved the scene between him and Baela where she catches him on his way out. I find mysefl shipping these two more and more with each passing episode. I just love how supportive they are of each other and I think the actors have great chemistry. I love that Jace was able to confide his frustrations in Baela and she didn't judge him or berate him for it, she just calmly explained Rhaneyra's reasoning, Jace is the succession and that is why Rhaenyra is coddling him. But I also like that she didn't try to stop him from leaving. She listened to his plan, she pointed out that Rhaenyra wouldn't like it but ultimately she understood Jace's need to act. Honestly the plan also is a pretty sound one, it never hurts to make sure there is another army available if Daemon is unsuccessful or something else goes wrong with him, so ensuring the crossing for the stark grey beards is a good move.

Which brings me to the scene where Jace treaties with the Freys. This scene might be one of my favourite Jace scenes so far, it really was such a great scene for him. I loved how it showed his political skills, he played this situation so well, it really was a perfect negoiation. When the Freys mentioned their fear of Vhagar Jace points out that they are fearing a dragon that is leagues away when his own is right outside their gates. Its just the right level of threatening, a polite reminder that his side too has dragons that can be used either for the Freys protection or for their destruction. Another thing that he does that is very good is he openly listens to their concerns and addresses them, they are worried for their safety, he assures them of the crowns protection etc. But he also listens to their requests. They want Harrenhall when the war is over. I lover that moment when Jace holds his cup out to be refilled, not answering right away, before telling them for that price his mother will want more than just a crossing. But my favourite moment has to be when Frey asks what the price will be and Jace just replies 'bent knees'. His delivery was chef kiss perfect. I assuming what will happen now is that the Freys are going to have to use their influence to convince the other houses of the riverlands to bend the knee to Rhaenyra, I'm pretty sure that was what Jace was asking for, if so then after the blunder with the Blackwoods, the Freys have got quite the task on their hands, they will defnintely have to put in the work to get that castle.

Another great scene was the one at the end between Jace and Rhaenyra. I liked how Jace smirked when Rhaenyra asked how it went at the twins, he knew he did good. One thing I do love about Rhaenyra and Jace's relationship is how they have an open and honest communication with each other, even when they are upset with each other. I think this scene also showed just how similar they are to each other, just like Jace, Rhaenyra is feeling frustrated at being unable to act. Its kind of amusing because last episode you had Jace wagging his finger at Rhaenyra telling her that she shouldn't have left without telling anyone and must stay safe at dragonstone and then this episode you've got Rhaenyra wagging her finger at Jace for the same thing.

I think this episode really showed how intelligent and politically savvy Jace really is. It's shown again when he comes up with another plan to help their cause. When Rhaenyra laments about how she needs more dragons, Jace points out that she has enough dragons, there are two, Vermithor and Silverwing there at dragonstone both who are big enough to challenge Vhagar. The problem isn't a lack of dragons but a lack of riders. This is when Jace suggests looking for others who have targaryen blood that have fallen out of their line, those who married and now carry different names. It's a ballsy move, and a risky one, the targaryen image is built on this idea of them being closer to gods than men because they can control the dragons, having others from different houses, with different names claim dragons will break that illusion. There is also no guarantee it will work as they don't know if the targaryen blood in these others is strong enough for a dragon to accept. But as Jace said putting someone who isn't a targaryen on a dragon is a better outcome then death and destruction. It a gamble but its a smart one, if they have the dragons there then they might as well give it a shot. As for who these potential riders could be, I am thinking this might be why we've been introduced to a few bastards that may carry targaryen blood. There is that guy from ep 3 or 4 who claimed to be the half brother of Daemon and Viserys, then there are Corlys' potential bastard sons, it did seem like last episode they were hinting that Alyn was Corlys bastard, the Velaryons have been crossing with the targaryens for generations so they would have targaryen blood. Also if Alyn's brother is also Corlys' son then that scene with him on the beach where he sees Seasmoke could be a hint that he will go on and claim that dragon.

Baela

Baela was another star of this episode. I am glad that we are getting to see more of both her and jace. Again in this episode we saw that fire that Baela has. I already talked about her scenes with Jace and Rhaenyra but another really great scene was the one between her and Corlys. I love how fiercely Baela talked about Rhaenys and how in a way she was calling Corlys out too. She pointed out when he said he basically wanted to sail away that he had already done that in the past and it had dire consequences on those that loved him. I love that she did call him out here but that she didn't do it in a way that was nasty or hateful, she was just telling him the truth he needed to hear. I also love how she reminded him that Rhaenys went to Rook's Rest by her own choice and that she died how she wished, a dragon riders death. That was who Rhaenys was, someone who fights fiercely for those she loves and for what she believes in and I think Corlys needed that reminder. I also loved Baela's response when Corlys offers to make her heir, that she is fire and blood and that driftmark should pass to salt and sea. I think it was such a good line but it was also interesting, Baela could have grabbed for power here but instead she recognised that she wasn't the best suited to the role, that maybe even that she wouldn't have been happy in that role, which I think takes alot of self perception. I think Baela definitely comes across as someone who is mature and wise beyond her years.

Corlys

While we are on the subject we might as well talk about Corlys next. It was obvious that he was grieving and feeling a bit lost without Rhaenys in this episode. I also do kind of understand why Corlys partly blamed Rhaenyra for Rhaenys death, it was for Rhaenyra's claim that Rhaenys went to fight, but I don't think he truly does blame her it is more the anger of grief coming through. As I mentioned above Baela does kind of set him straight on that one. I do think that part of the reason that Corlys decided to name Baela heir was not just because he saw Baela's fire and passion but also because he knew that was what Rhaenys wanted, she had brought it up to him a couple of times. Maybe he saw it as a way of honouring Rhaenys. I also think that he would be a good choice as hand of the queen, I really hope he accepts it as I think it would give him direction and a purpose.

Rhaenyra

Rhaenyra seemed a bit lost and frustrated this episode. Like Jace it is clear that she wants to act and she is also getting frustrated with her small council who only seem to undermine and talk around her. She is frustrated because her father taught her how to rule but didn't teach her how to fight and that has left her second guessing herself. I really like that scene between her and Mysaria where Mysaria points out that there is more than one way to fight a war and that rumours are like food to the discontented. It seems like their plan in to spread rumours through Kings Landing through Elinda and Dyana in order to turn the people away from the greens and to support Rhaenyra instead, it also seems they are going to use Cole's blunder with Meleys head parade to help fuel this fire. I am very interested to see exactly how this is going to play out. I am hoping that Rhaenyra begins to gain some confidence and she does seem to be beginning to take some action and try to get a hand on things. She is sending one of her lords to Harrenhall to test Daemon's loyalty and find out what exactly he is doing. She has a plan to gain more dragon riders, she's named Corlys hand and she has a plan to turn support her way in Kings Landing by spreading rumours so it does seem like things may be coming together.

Rhaena

We only see Rhaena really briefly but I still really liked that scene between her and Jeyne Arryn, I think her name was Jeyne anyway. It was an interesting conversation and I liked seeing Rhaena show some grit and backbone, she stood her ground against Jeyne when Jeyne was complaining about the lack of a fighting dragon to protect the Vale. I mean I don't know what Jeyne expected, obviously during a war Rhaenyra is going to need all the fighting dragons for you know fighting. She can't afford to spare one just to protect the Eyrie. Another thing we learned about Rhaena this episode though is that in the past she has attempted to claim and dragon and it seems she nearly lost her life in the process leading to Rhaenyra not wanting to risk her again by allowing her to claim another dragon. I can see why they would be really frustrating to Rhaena who has wrapped her self worth up in not having a dragon. All this talk of not having a big enough dragon and the Eyrie and of claiming dragons does make me wonder though if Rhaena will claim an adult dragon. I am hoping we see more of her in the next few episodes.

Aegon

Boy his injuries really are horrific, that scene where the maesters were treating him and as they were removing his armour you could see how it had melted to him was really gruesome. Also where you could see his leg was broken and the bone had to be reset, honestly I am amazed the guy is still alive, the fact that his brother did this to him makes it even more horrifying. I am curious as to whether he is going to survive or whether he will pass away in the next episode or two. Still that mommy he whispered out as Alicent was leaving was sad, at that moment he was just a young kid who was hurt and wanted his mother. Sadly we also learned that Sunfyre did eventually die at Rook's Rest which I am really upset about because she really was a gorgeous dragon and so loyal and didn't deserve to die like that.

Cole

Cole's decision to march the head of Meleys through the streets was a misfire. The smallfolk's reaction was interesting but I think it stems from the fact that they viewed the dragons as kind of gods, these invincible beings, so naturally seeing one dead and dragged through the streets is obviously going to be a shock. I think its natural that they would also see this as a bad omen. Also it just isn't a good idea to parade the symbol of the ruling house through the streets like that. The dragon is a symbol of targaryen power, by displaying it in this way you are essentially reducing that power and showing that they can be defeated, that as the blacksmith guy said, they are just meat. I just think this was a really bad idea and that its going to have bad consequences further down the line.

What was interesting to me this episode was the way Cole seemed to be protecting Aemond in a way. I think he was unnerved by what Aemond did but I think he was more disturbed by what he saw on the ground, the men with armour melted to them, walking around in flames. I think he understood just what kind of horrors they had unleashed and in a way I think he believes in order to win the war they need to do monstrous things and so who better to have leading that task then someone who has shown themselves to be monstruous. He wants to distance Alicent, and maybe even himself, from these acts so that he can continue to see her and them in a pure and righteous light, something he wouldn't be able to do if Alicent and he were the ones calling the shots in the war, in a way he is using Aemond as a scapegoat so that he can continue with this chivalrous knight act and so he can continue to see Alicent as this pure, righteous woman. Of course that's all already an illusion.

Aemond

Aemond is ice cold in this episode. It was clear that he wasn't at all concerned with Aegon's injuries, his eyes were set on his goal, him being the regent, he is the first one to bring it up. When it comes to his suitability in the role I am not sure how well suited he will be. On the one hand his decision to cut down the rat catchers was good. He was able to recognise that was an error on his brother's part. But then he makes the decision to close the gates and lock the people of Kings Landing in to stop the spread of rumours. I understand the logic behind it, people leaving the citry and talking about how they are starving in the city, how the blockade is effecting the city and how they are afraid could lead to more support being swayed in Rhaenyra's direction as it seems she and Mysaria are planning. However I still think this was a bad move. The smallfolk are already scared and desperate and now they feel trapped as well. One thing scared and desperate people don't like is to feel caged and I suspect from shots of the trailer before the season aired that this is going to lead to the small folk rioting. What really worries me is that line the blacksmith said about how the dragon was just meat and how the smallfolk were then yelling out we want meat as the gates were locked as now I am worried that they are going to do something to the dragons in the dragon pit. I hope I am wrong though.

Another interesting scene was the brief one between him and Helaena in the throne room where she asks him if it was worth the price. I can't help but think this is more than just what Aemond did to Aegon, more than just asking if hurting his brother was worth the throne. It kind of reminds me of her line in season 1 when Alicent says Aemond will have a dragon one day and Helaena says it will cost him an eye. This idea of cost and price makes me wonder if what she is really asking is whether claiming Vhagar, losing his eye in the process and that leading to Luke's death which in turn lead to Jaehaerys death, and how Vhagar has now also killed Meleys and Rhaenys and burned Sunfyre and Aegon and how Aemond now has the power of the crown and is seen as this powerful weapon and great threat to be taken out, is worth it. I think the question is really what is the cost of a dragon and is that cost worth it?

Honestly whilst we did get a bit more of Aemond this episode overall this season I am surprised by how little screen time Aemond has had. It's mostly been very small scenes here and there, which surprised me because after the events of 1x10 with Luke I really thought Aemond would be much more prominent this season. I do wonder if it was because they wanted to focus more on Aegon in the first half and show how he is as King before he has this injury so that we can compare how Aemond is as acting king in the second half of the season.

Alicent

So wrapping this up with Alicent's role in this episode. I'm going to be honest I don't know why Alicent was surprised when the small council chose Aemond as regent over her. I can understand why she is frustrated by it, she is right in that she is the more experienced in ruling and if we are being honest when it comes to everyone in team green she probably is the most suited to act as regent and rule in Aegon's stead. That being said the entirety of Aegon's claim to the throne is based on the fact that he is the eldest male heir and by tradition and precedence the eldest male heir inherits. If they now name a female as regent over a male heir then they are basically admitting that Aegon's claim is a farce and holds no weight. They can't do that and Alicent really should have realised this. That shot of her sitting at the table as the sound muffles and her breathing gets heavy was really realistic though. As someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder and has suffered multiple panic and anxiety attacks this scene hit really close to home.

Still I can also see how she feels betrayed by cole and larys, she saw these two as loyal to her and on her side and yet in that moment neither one supported her. I think Alicent is feeling more and more alone and also more and more like she has lost any sense of control or purpose, she went from ruling in Viserys stead to now barely even having a voice at the table.

Alicent also is preoccupied this episode by the fact that her son is gravely injured and I think she had figured out pretty quick that it was her other son that was responsible. I do think Alicent loves Aegon and we see some of that care come through as she worries for him and as she sits at his bedside. The tragedy of their relationship can be seen in their last scene together though, we see Alicent care for him but ultimately when he calls out for her it is when she is walking away, as in the past we've seen that she has love for him but in every moment that he has truly needed her she has failed to be there in the way he has needed.

As a last little side note I just need to say that I need someone to adopt Cheese's dog and give them lots of pets and bones because that is one loyal and good puppa. So that's everything for this episode, overall I thought it was an ok episode that had some great character moments, as I said Jace and Baela were standouts. I am hoping that at some point this season the pace is going to pick up a bit because it has felt a bit slow and repetitive so far. So until next episode.

[galacticwildfire]

Sad, Beautiful, Tragic | Alicent Hightower

One

Alicent Hightower x Targaryen!oc

Their fathers sworn enemies, Viserra and Alicent should never have been as close as they were, yet it was a connection neither could fight. What began as an innocent girlhood companionship becomes something scandalous, with the bastard daughter of Daemon Targaryen showing her true colours. As the dance begins she finds herself torn between her loyalty to her house and her love for her father. Yet neither hold a candle to her forbidden love for the new queen, a love which threatens to destroy them both.

Word count : 6600

A/N: this chapter is set during episode one, setting up the tone for the rest of the story. For hotd/got stories I do not typically use tags unless it is for severe content warnings, all violence and themes will align with that in canon.

~

~

~

A year it's been since I've stepped foot in Kings Landing. So long has passed since my father decided to take me on one of his adventures to Dorne and then across the narrow sea, to show me the ruins of old Valyria with my own eyes, only to return for the heir's tournament. 

Except despite his insistence, it is not his tournament, but that of the king's unborn child. I can only imagine how Rhaenyra must feel as the king's daughter, because gods do I know how my father is taking it as the king's brother. If he were to be disinherited by a baby boy he may just kill it himself.

"Now," Father begins as we walk through the gates of the Red Keep, our dragons returning to the Dragonpit for the first time in so long. "If that cunt of Hightower makes even a single comment I want to know."

"It's Otto Hightower, of course he will," I reply, knowing the reason he decided to take me and leave. Otto Hightower made the mistake of complaining to the king that I am of too low a status to be seen with his daughter. Something my father did not take well to. "He's a cunt by nature, you can't win them all over."

"I don't have any desire to win him over, what I desire is to cut his tongue out for calling my only daughter a bastard."

"Except I am a bastard," I remind him, the very words Viserys told him. "His tongue cannot be cut out for speaking the truth."

"A legitimised bastard, I made sure of that," he reminds me in return. "My brother knew he'd have hell to pay if he didn't give you the Targaryen name and legitimise you, especially after I named you in his honour. Don't forget that when you walk through the Red Keep you are my heir and a fucking dragon rider. You are above the likes of Otto Hightower."

"It's not hard to be above him," I remark and say "I'll just be glad to see Rhaenyra and Alicent."

He groans. "You truly wish to run around with that girl knowing who her father is?"

"Alicent is sweet," I dismiss, immediately protective. "It's hardly her fault who her father is."

"That may be true but she is utterly boring," he remarks and I roll my eyes. "Rhaenyra is the one you ought to be close with." 

"If I recall I was inseparable with both before the kingsguard had to stop you from cutting Otto's tongue out in the small council chamber."

"And I'd do it again."

"In that case I'll happily run around with Alicent and Rhaenyra," I tell him. "They are the closest thing I have to sisters, I will not let insults take that from me."

"Yes well, as long as Otto doesn't like it I'm fine with it," he allows and reminds me. "Now don't let them keep Darkfyre in the pits for too long, she's growing fast out of captivity. I give it only a few years and she'll be as large as Caraxes." He looks towards the throne room. "You go settle in, I'll see you after."

He leaves me to my own devices, and the first place I go is to the queens chambers to see her, it's only by chance they are both there as well.

"Your grace, the Lady Viserra."

As I'm announced they all look to me in surprise, but it is a happy one.

Rhaenyra immediately jumps up to hug me, followed by Alicent, and I look over their shoulders to Aemma, sitting up with a hand resting on her belly.

"I was starting to worry your father would never bring you back," she says and reaches out her hand. "Come here child, let me see you." She smiles as I come over. "You look like Jeyne more every day."

Jeyne. My mother. A lady in waiting to Aemma when she was first brought to court from the Vale. I know well enough it was not love what happened between her and my father, for he left her at the first mention of pregnancy and returned for me after she had died in the childbed. But before then Aemma had promised my mother she would care for me, and she has. 

"How are you faring?" I ask her, noticing her discomfort. 

"I could be better, but as I was just telling Rhaenyra, you three girls will soon be in this bed and you must learn to face it with a stiff lip."

For Rhaenyra and Alicent an arranged marriage to a great house is a certainty, for me it is an impossibility. "I think my father would sooner send any suitor to the sword than have me wed."

She chuckles. "That is true." She looks past me to Rhaenyra and Alicent and says "Now you girls go and have fun, I have no doubt there is much to catch up on."

~

The three of us walk arm in arm through the Red Keep, the two of them asking eagerly of tales from across the narrow sea which I give vividly. When Rhaenyra is called away to serve as her fathers cupbearer on the council, I take Alicent to the dragon pit. 

Come," I say, holding her hand. "Come see how Darkfyre's grown."

Darkfyre, named to honour my fathers sword Darksister. The keepers are still coaxing her into the pit since it's been so long since she's been in captivity.

"Lykiri," I tell her, since the keepers struggle to tame her. Alicent stands behind me as I put a hand on her black scales to ease her. "Lykiri."

"She's larger than Syrax," Alicent comments in surprise. "Far larger."

"Keeping them captive in the dragon pit is hindering their growth," I tell her. "Since travelling around Dorne and the free cities with father she's been free to grow."

"It's been so long since a Targaryen's stepped foot in Dorne," she says, knowing her histories. "What was your father doing there?"

"Well, he decided to go remind the Dornish we have dragons," I put it simply. "Parading himself trying to gather favour. We were guests of the prince of the Dorne for a while, it truly is beautiful in Sunspear."

"I can imagine," she says. "So what's brought your father back?"

"Gods know, he's likely grown bored and has decided to give his brother and your father hell again."

We're both able to laugh despite how our fathers despise one another. While my father is content to burn his bridges, I don't have that luxury. As a bastard my standing is fragile enough, I need all the friends at court I can have.

"I'm glad to be back," I tell her. "I've missed home. As much as I love my father I have no desire to spend my time in Dornish brothels as he does."

She raises an eyebrow. "Then what is it you desire?"

"To be the greatest dragon rider there is," I tell her, flashing a smile as I take her hand, coaxing her towards Darkfyre. "Here, don't be afraid."

She's too stunned to refuse as I bring her hand to Darkfyre and she gasps at the touch. "I've never-"

"Touched a dragon?" I finish, knowing how she's always refused to. "See, there's no reason to fear them. They're loyal to their riders."

"Except I'm not her rider."

"Yet," I tease, knowing she's large enough to saddle two. "My father took me up on Caraxes when I was just a week old, as his mother did with him."

"My father would kill me if I even considered it."

That makes me smile. "It would be a bit hard for him to kill you if you were on dragonback."

She shakes her head, smiling. "You have not changed a bit."

~

The three of us lay beneath the Weirwood tree in the garden. Alicent testing me on my studies which have been truly neglected this past year, except I've gained a knowledge that is truly invaluable. Experience. Seeing the places we read of, being part of their living history instead of flipping through books.

"It doesn't matter what lord married what lady fifty years ago," I lecture. "What matters is the state of everything today, and unless it's Valyrian history what's the point?"

Rhaenyra laughs. "Did Daemon tell you that?"

"Well it's true," I say, him being my sole educator for the past year. "Across the narrow sea no one asks what lord married what lady fifty years ago, they want to hear of the dragons and the conqueror."

"Now that is something I can agree with," Rhaenyra says much to Alicent's annoyance, who's trying to get us up to scratch for the septa. 

"The Septa will be furious if you two insist on jesting."

"The Septa's funny when she's furious."

I laugh but Alicent senses something deeper. "You're always like this when you're worried."

"Like what?"

"Disagreeable."

There's something in the look the two share that makes my heart sink a little, that in my absence the two have become closer. It was always the three of us, and now it is them with me there as well.

"You're worried your father is about to overshadow you with a son."

"I only worry for my mother," Rhaenyra says, a sentiment I share. 

"She'll be alright," I try to assure her. "She's done this many times."

"And yet I'm the only one that lives."

Her reply is morbid enough to make Alicent quiet.

"Yes, but if you're mother has endured childbirth this many times over the odds are in her favour," I say, trying to put it logically. "Trust in the maesters."

I look to Alicent, who lost her own mother whilst I was in the free cities, and silently reach for her hand. It seems more has changed in my absence than I thought. 

~

That night my father requests I come with him to Fleabottom to witness his new force of Gold Cloaks. I stand by his side as he gives his speech to his men, listening as the men howl and the violence begins.

It's pure butchery unlike anything I've ever seen, but father watches me so I keep my horror buried deep, not letting it show. I don't understand the reason for me being hear until he puts Darksister in my hand and the goldcloaks bring forth a bloodied man.

"Now, you may have returned to the keep but I cannot allow you to get soft," he says as I stare numbly at the sight. "You must not be afraid of blood nor a blade, for one day it could be the only thing standing between you and death." The man writhes, begging for mercy. "This blade will be yours one day, Darksister, blade of Visenya. I intend to make you worthy of it."

And so I raise the blade and spill my first blood.

~

Alicent is with me the next morning, helping me alter a dress for the tournament since my bust has come in this past year and the clothes I left here in the keep are ill fitting as a result. 

"You're tired," she notices, and from the way her nose turns up I know she can smell Fleabottom on me. "Your father took you into the city?"

"Yes, he wanted me to be there as he showcased his Goldcloaks," I tell her, choosing not to elaborate much further. "An eventful night of the kings justice being showcased." But as I reach out to help her the red staining my hand matches the dress.

She's silent as she looks at me, knowing very well what I'm not telling her.

"It-" there's no point excusing it. "My father does not want me getting soft."

"So he has you spill blood in the city streets?"

There's a protective bite to her voice.

"He believes I should know how to handle a blade," I argue. "If I was a man you would see no issue with it."

"Well your father lets you behave as one," she mutters under her breath, going to push my hand aside but her eyes fall to the floor as I see the red of her nails, an old habit worsened.

"It seems my father isn't the only one with expectations," I say, knowing very well the words of me behaving as a man are from her fathers mouth, but that's not what I'm concerned about. "How long Alicent?"

She quickly hides her nails from me. "It's nothing."

I look at her and see a truly sad girl, as if it's so inherent it's as much a part of her as her own heart. "You do not need to lie to me for fear of shame, it's me." She always tries so hard to please her father, to be the good and chaste influence on Rhaenyra. But she needs not be anyone else for me. "How long?"

"It- it's always been a bad habit, but I'll admit the past months it's gotten worse," she tells me shyly. "I just get so nervous-"

I hold her hands gently, looking down at them, at something she is so ashamed of. "You may be the most beautiful girl in Kings Landing and have a reputation to keep, but you are allowed to not have to seem so perfect."

My point is lost on her, for she stammers "Do you truly mean that?"

I just laugh at her naivety. "Well, I cannot speak for men but I can say with certainty after travelling the free cities you are still the most beautiful girl I've seen." She's at a loss for words and I smile. "Come now, show me your dress for the tournament."

~

Alicent and I sit side by side at the tournament, Rhaenyra deciding to be fashionably late. It's a beautiful day, yet an anxious one as Aemma has begun her labors. We sit at the front with Princess Rhaenys' children Laena and Laenor. I'm showing Laena a golden ring from Lys when Rhaenyra joins us, sitting on the other side of Alicent. 

"Has it started yet?" Rhaenyra asks, flaunting some jewellery of her own that intrigues Laena.

"What metal is that?" she asks, not recognising it and I can't blame her, for I doubt the child has ever seen anything like it.

"Valyrian steel," Rhaenyra replies with a smile as she touches her necklace. "Daemon gifted it to me."

Now that surprises me and I can't help but exclaim "He did?"

"Yes," she says with that coy tone she uses. "When you returned to the city."

My father never mentioned it to me, he surely did waste no gold in acquiring all sorts of Valyrian artefacts, he had spent weeks seeking a Valyrian steel dagger for my nameday, yet he never once mentioned a gift like this for Rhaenyra.

Alicent much catch the confusion in my eye for she tilts her head at me, but just as quickly as she goes to inquire the events begin. Rhaenyra gleefully watches the lancing but I sit there in contemplation. Rhaenyra is his niece yes, but such a gift is strange, even for my father.

Finally he is announced.

"Prince Daemon, Prince of the City!"

He rides past in his armor, and I look to Rhaenyra, who is practically blushing, it's then it dawns on me the affection she has for my father. An innocent fancy perhaps, but not one I expected my father to encourage with gifts.

Except of course he would.

I watch as he taunts the line of knights for his choosing, until finally he makes his choice. Alicent's brother.

"For his first challenge Prince Daemon chooses Ser Gwayne Hightower of Oldtown, eldest son of the Hand of the King."

Alicent immediately becomes anxious beside me and I reach for her hand, our fingers laced together hidden between the folds of our dresses. She is afraid and rightly so, for we both know it will be my father that wins, and will likely do so taking any chance he can to spite Otto Hightower. Sure enough I watch him look up at Otto before charging.

I'm cringing as my father upon taking a hit decides to play dirty, using his lance to take down the horse and Alicent gasps loudly as her brother is thrown to the ground. I hold her hand tight as she peers over, trying to see if he's alright all while I just shake my head at my father who smirks proudly as he rides over.

While I'm focused on Alicent it's Rhaenyra who gets up to greet my father, something else that rubs me the wrong way, something Alicent notices as we follow.

"Nicely done uncle," Rhaenyra praises.

"Thank you princess."

"Is being underhanded the only way you can win?" I taunt my father, not as impressed as Rhaenyra is.

"No but it's more entertaining," he replies, looking around at the crowd and decides to aggravate Otto further. "Now I'm fairly sure I can win these games Lady Alicent, your favour would all but assure it."

I purse my lips unimpressed as Alicent goes to get her favour while Rhaenyra holds my fathers eye, the tension between them almost making me sick. 

"Good luck, my prince," Alicent says placing her favour on his lance, uncomfortable beside me for only a moment before wearing a pleasant smile, and the tournament continues.

It's bloody and beautiful, pageantry alongside brutality. Whilst Alicent watches on in horror, and Rhaenyra lets out a gasp or two I watch on nubmly after having experienced the pure butchery at my fathers hands down in Fleabottom. 

In the midst of it I notice Alicent, her eyes fixed on the violence whilst picking at her nails and I take her hands in mine, she almost jumps at the touch, having been pulled out of her daze and I just squeeze her hands, no more needing to be said as we watch on.

My attention is caught by the knight Ser Criston Cole going against my father. A handsome man from what we've seen, secretly I hope he puts my father in his place, and he does. Although I can't help the shriek that escapes me as my fathers horse drags him along the railing, the sound awful as he hits the ground and this time it's Alicent gripping my hand tight.

A man goes to help my father to his feet only to be pushed to the ground, and I run to the balcony's edge as my father gets to his feet, almost maddened with the shame of being dishorsed. I watch wide eyed as he calls for his sword and Alicent and Rhaenyra both jump up and come to my side.

"Prince Daemon wishes to continue in a contest of arms!"

I look behind me for the king but he's nowhere to be seen, no one to stop this madness if it gets out of hand, which it no doubt will. Ser Criston faces my fathers sword with a mace and chain, breathing through fathers shield, the fight becomes hands on, more kicking and shoving than anything else until Ser Criston is on the ground and my father looks up at me, smiling and cheering as he claims victory. Only to have made the mistake of turning his back on his opponent, for he's knocked to the ground and he does something that surprises me. He yields. Not out of weakness, but almost, almost, out of something resembling respect for a good fight. 

It's then Ser Criston comes forward removing his helmet, the three of us share an exchange of pleasant surprise at the sight of him.

"Gods, he's Dornish," I hear Alicent exclaim while I can't help but appreciate the sight in front of us.

"I was hoping to ask for the favour of Lady Viserra," he says, not Rhaenyra's, but mine. "The daughter of the Prince."

Doing the same as my father, asking for the favour of his opponent's daughter. I can respect him for that. And so I'm smiling as I reach for my favour, my father watching on in amusement as I toss it down to Ser Criston. "Good fight Ser Criston, I wish you luck."

Rhaenyra can make eyes at my father all she likes, I'll give the Dornish knight my favour. But it's then I notice Otto Hightower returning and murmuring something to one of the council members. Alarm quickly spreads behind us, something Rhaenyra notices and I know it can only be one thing.

"Alicent," I say and she goes to her father who pulls her aside murmuring something to her, she looks back at us and there is no mistaking it.

The queen is dead.

"Rhaenyra," I immediately breathe, reaching for her, she's too shocked to cry but even so I take her in my arms, looking over her shoulder at Alicent in mutual horror. The two motherless girls have become three.

~

We sit together in Rhaenyra's room, Alicent and I sitting on the edge of her bed as she lies away from us, eyes wide open yet dead to the world.

"Baelor your father has named the boy," I tell her, treading gently. "Would you like to see him?"

She doesn't reply. Neither her or Viserys have seen the boy, he's in the care of wet nurses. I lost my mother the day I was born, I feel no pain for her, the pain I feel is for Aemma, the only mother I've ever had.

"We'll let you sleep," Alicent says gently, and we leave the room having done what we can for her, but she must mourn, there is no easy way to do so. When we're outside she asks me "Are you alright?"

I force myself to nod. "I loved the queen as my own mother, but it is Rhaenyra I worry for."

She nods in understanding, and reaches for me. "We have all lost a mother now. The pain... it does get easier."

I see the pain in her eyes, the loss of her own mother wounding her still, especially now. Silently I take her in my arms, needing someone to hold onto. In her embrace I feel safe enough to finally let the tears escape.

We stand there like that in silence until a guard comes.

"Lady Alicent, the hand has summoned you."

"Go," I tell her gently. "I'll be alright."

She nods, and is escorted by the guard to her fathers office.

In my loneliness I find myself walking to my fathers chambers, he will not be mourning, but I need him nonetheless. I need my father to hold me and tell me he understands, that it will be okay. He has never been affectionate in that manner, but he's always been there when I've needed him.

Yet when I come to his chambers he isn't there. 

And so in the shadow of mourning over the keep I find myself coming to the barracks of the Goldcloaks.

"My Lady," Ser Harwin says, recognising me. "Are you looking for the prince?" I nod meekly, like a child seeking out their parent after a bad dream. "He has taken to the Street of Silk."

"To the brothels," I correct, saying what we both know. "Thank you for your assistance."

"Would you like me to get him for you?" he offers and I shake my head, swallowing my bitterness.

"He is mourning in his own way."

~

Alicent and I stand side by side at the funeral, the babe having passed in the night after his birth.

My father stands separate from us, his eyes on Rhaenyra, as they should be since she has lost her mother, but I cannot forget the necklace, cannot forget the unspoken tension between them.

But today is not the day for that. Today we mourn.

Again after the funeral I seek out my father to find him missing, this time I don't bother searching for him, able to hear the ruckus of the Goldcloaks ascending on the Street of Silk.

So instead I go to Rhaenyra who stares numbly at a candle flame in her room, tears staining her cheeks.

"Come," I say, extending my hand to her. "Syrax and Darkfyre have not flown together in so long."

A shadow of a smile comes to her face as she nods and takes my hand, and together we find our way to the Dragonpit.

~

When we return the next morning with tired eyes and reeking of dragon as Aemma would say, I'm surprised to find Alicent waiting for me in my chambers.

Yet I'm more alarmed at her demeanour.

"Are you alright?" I ask, immediately jumping to the most likely reason. "Did you have a fight with your father?"

"Viserra," she says quietly, her voice a whisper. "There is something... I- I cannot confide it in anyone."

I look at her confused. "What of Rhaenyra?"

"Especially not Rhaenyra."

That's when my stomach drops at the guilt in her eyes, and so I reach out to take her hand with a promise "I'm not Rhaenyra."

When she looks back at me her brown eyes are filled with tears. "Promise me, promise you won't tell a soul."

I'd never considered myself to be one to take oaths seriously, but in this moment I know I'll take whatever she says to the grave. "I swear it."

And somehow, despite who my father is, despite who I am, she trusts me. 

"My father," she begins, voice weak. "He- he asked me to comfort the king."

A sentence that would sound so innocent if I did not know her, did not know her father. "Alicent-"

"I never touched him," she immediately insists, trying to defend herself even though there is nothing to defend. "I just read to him, I swear it, I would never-"

"Shhh," I say, pulling her in tight by her hands, trying to calm her. "I know, it is not me you need to defend yourself to."

That's when she breaks down "If Rhaenyra knew..."

She does not need to finish that sentence, for we both know well how she would react. She is rash, quick to temper, more my fathers daughter than I at times, she would take it as a betrayal and not let it go regardless of the truth.

"She doesn't need to know," I say, going against whatever morals Aemma tried to instil in me, honesty and integrity be damned. They are never things my father taught me. "Your father sent you to him, to his chambers?" She nods, not meeting my eye. "Nothing more happened, I believe that. You are not a seductress nor a mistress. You are a girl whose father is an ambitious man, this is his scheme not yours."

Her eyes are wide, afraid. "She won't believe that."

"But I do," I say, only then becoming aware of how close we are, and I take her face in my hands. "Our fathers despise one another for good reasons, my father is reckless and murderous and yours is calculating and starving for power, they are the second sons and always will be despite their best wishes. We do not need to be the pawns in their schemes."

She blinks at me confused. "Your father loves you, when has he ever used you?"

He hasn't. "You're right. My father merely wishes to rise me to his station, to Rhaenyra's, all he's done is try to make me a true Targaryen out of love. Your's would raise you to something far more dangerous, to be queen to further his own ambition."

She knows it, somewhere she must, but she sees little wrong. "What else is the purpose of a daughter?"

My heart breaks a little, breaks in realisation that my father may be the only one in Westeros who would never dream of marrying me off for his own standing, who would burn a man's city down before giving me as a bride. Then there's Otto Hightower.

It's then the door opens and there stands the bastard himself, the look on his face confuses me until I realise how he has caught us, in an embrace that would have me castrated if I was a man.

Alicent quickly drops my hands, lowering her head as her father enters and I stand there defiant at the man who would have his daughter, not even yet five and ten, a mistress for the king.

"Lord Hand," I say stiffly. "Is something the matter?"

If I was a man there certainly would be, but I am a girl, a girl found in an embrace with her companion. There is nothing wrong with it that he can justifiably make a fuss of.

But he seems not to mind, for there is already a smirk on his face. "Your father has been exiled."

I feel Alicents head whip around to me and I stand there, my blood turning cold as she grabs my arm and asks her father "What for?"

In Otto Hightower's eyes is the gleam of victory over my father, over me. He's basking in it.

"The heir for a day."

My head snaps up at those words, having heard my father remark them offhandedly after the funeral. "Where is the king?"

"You are not permitted to see him," he replies. "I have come to instruct you to pack your things, you may join your father or we can arrange for you to be taken to your stepmother in the Vale."

Alicent looks at her father in disbelief. "You can't mean-"

"I'm to be exiled as well?" I scoff, letting go of Alicent to confront her father. "Is this the king's order or yours?"

He pauses for just a moment too long and I'm pushing past him.

"Lady Viserra!"

I ignore him, running through the halls and attracting the attention of the Kingsguard who follow at the behest of Otto, yelling out orders from behind me, but it all stops the moment I enter the throne room and find Viserys sitting upon the throne.

"Uncle!" I cry out and he looks upon me in concern, out of breath and desperate as I come to my knees before the throne. "Uncle please, don't do this."

He sighs. "Viserra, if you are here to plead on behalf of your father-"

"What he said was regrettable, but exile?"

"It was not a decision I made lightly," he tries to reason. "I know you love your father, but you and I know better than any what sort of man he is."

"One who loves his brother and his king!" I argue getting to my feet as I hear Otto and the rest storming the throne room and even Viserys is alarmed by the sight. "Unlike this cunt here, who's revelling in getting rid of my father and I both!"

The throne room is silent until Viserys speaks. "Otto, did you tell the princess she is to be exiled along with Daemon?"

"She is no princess," he replies now my father is not here to take his tongue. "She is a bastard just as heinous as her father who will corrupt your daughter and mine both. Look at her now, causing a scene after I simply asked her to stay with her stepmother in the Vale."

Before Viserys can speak I turn to look at him, my voice as dangerous as my fathers. "If he were here he'd take your tongue." It's only then I see Alicent in the shadows watching on and something in my voice changes. "But I suppose that's the curse of second sons isn't it? To always be scraping at whatever scraps of power they can get? Even if it is throwing the daughter of your rival out of her own home behind the back of your king."

Viserys stands, voice as harsh as I've ever heard it. "I have lost my wife, I have lost my son, and now my brother. You would have my niece removed from this keep without my knowing? Have her taken from Rhaenyra's side as she is in mourning? All for the spite you bear her father!"

Otto is silent, having been put in his place by his king and a girl of four and ten.

Viserys must see Alicent in the shadows for he asks her "Lady Alicent, escort my niece back to her chambers."

I can almost feel Otto's blood boiling at his daughter being asked to wait on a bastard, but she doesn't see it that way, for she steps out of the shadows to take my arm.

"Thank you uncle," I say, leaving him and Otto to their devices. "But may I see my father off?"

A risky request, but he permits it. "Of course Viserra."

~

And so I find my father readying Caraxes at the dragon pit with a whore at his side.

"Father."

He turns to me, unsurprised to see me. "Good you're here, I've had the dragon keepers ready Darkfyre."

I just shake my head in disgust. "The heir for a day."

He sighs. "Yes I'll admit, it was distasteful, but it's said and done now. We're leaving for Dragonstone."

Something in the casualness of his voice makes something snap inside me. "And you never thought to come and get your daughter when you were being exiled?"

He merely shrugs. "I knew you'd find me."

"Except it was Otto Hightower who found me!" I yell and that gets his attention as he finally turns to look at me properly. "Is that how you wanted me to find out, him coming to my chambers revelling as he tells me we've both been exiled."

That's when it hits him. "If my brother-"

"Viserys was the one who fought for me, who stood up for me when Otto tried to have me exiled without his knowledge," I argue and scoff "While I had to defend myself against Otto Hightower in the throne room you were getting your whore and leaving me to the rats!"

The whore looks away as my father comes up to me, using a tone he rarely does. "Have you ever thought that my treatment of you is not neglect but rather faith? Faith that you don't need to be babied and managed like a child but instead treating you as you are, a dragon rider."

But I just look up at him, almost laughing with anger. "He called me a bastard, used it as justification to be rid of me. That I'm as heinous as you."

The look in his eye changes and his hand is on his sword. "If I was there-"

"You would have taken his tongue?" I finish. "Except you weren't. You were off with your whore, just like you were when you should have been with your brother mourning."

"It wasn't my wife who died, if it was I would have rented out the entire street to celebrate instead of three brothels."

I look at her, deciding to hit him where it hurts. "Try not to father another bastard seeing as you're content to damn the one you already have to a life of exile for a joke and a whore."

He grabs me, fingers bruising my arm, I try to pull it free but he doesn't let go. "Everything I have ever done is for you, and you fucking know it. If you want to be cruel so can I." I hold his eye, defiant. "I could be like Otto Hightower and sell you off the first chance that comes by, I could discard you, I could sell you to the brothels like bastard girls are. But here you are, a dragonrider and a Targaryen by name. The only reason that is, is because of me."

Despite the anger in his voice I see the fear in his eyes, the fear of losing the last person he has, the one who should love him unconditionally despite his sins.

"I'm staying here in Kings Landing," I say quietly, the cruellest words I could say at this very moment. He stares at me in disbelief, expecting me to follow it up with some type of contradiction, but I don't, and it's then he lets me go. "Did you ever realise Aemma was the closest thing I ever had to a mother?" He's silent, not realising I was mourning her also. "I needed you, and you ran off to the brothel to mourn the fact you had been disinherited. It would have only been for a day as you'd put so vocally if not for your own selfish desire to usurp what is Rhaenyra's."

I hit him where it hurts without realising it. "Do you think it was selfish wanting you to be my heir?"

"It was never about me, only you," I say with sorrow. "You know damn well a bastard would never stand to inherit the Iron Throne, and yet you would take it regardless of the crisis that would follow."

"I would," he says, without taking a moment to hesitate. "I would-"

"Have your niece?" I retort and for the first time I've caught him off guard. "I'm not blind, just disgusted." I look to his whore. "Don't be surprised if he tosses you aside for someone blonder and younger since he seems to desire girls who are barely bleeders."

He scoffs. "You make me sound horrible, this has nothing to do with desire."

"So you seduce your niece for the throne," I realise. "Because how could you ever truly be disinherited with her by your side?"

He ignores me, instead justifying it. "I have raised the greatest dragonrider there is, raised a true Valyrian, and yet despite you having every symbol of legitimacy you are still denied, no one would dare utter the word bastard if I stood to inherit the throne."

I see his delusion so clearly, even if it is spurned by love rather than ambition, it is still delusion.

"I have come to terms with what I am, now you must also."

With those words I turn my back on my father, my face does not betray how my heart cries but Darkfyre does. Her cries echoing as I return to the Red Keep.

When I make it back to my chambers it is not Rhaenyra or Viserys who stand there to offer comfort, but Alicent.

"I'm sorry," she says, but I have no more words left, instead walking into her embrace and holding her tight. Both of us bound now as the motherless daughters of second sons maddened by their own wants and ambitions.

Yet somehow the prospect is easier knowing I am not alone.

~

Days later we stand side by side as Rhaenyra is sworn as heir to the Iron Throne. My father has seized Dragonstone, a seat that should be her's now by right. He's gone while I remain.

And so I make the decision that will enrage my father, but one that is right.

"Lady Viserra Targaryen, daughter of Daemon Targaryen."

I step forward and kneel before Rhaenyra as I make my oath to her.

"I, Viserra Targaryen, swear to be faithful to King Viserys and his named heir, the princess Rhaenyra. I pledge fealty to them and shall defend them against all enemies in good faith and without deceit." I look up, knowing my oath is the one that has gathered the most attention of all in this room, a daughter betraying her father. "I swear this by the old gods and the new."

I stand and look Rhaenyra in the eye, my friend, my sister in all but name, and pray I have made the right decision.

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[aella-targaryen]

I'm actually very sad to agree. I was expecting a lot more. The lighting is absolutely atrocious. Like there's no excuse for the professionals who are supposed to be working on a show of this magnitude. Horrible job. A film student could have done better. I think the biggest problem is, the director for one. And more than anything the fact they admitted they filmed this first. Matt did his best, but it was almost obvious that he didn't have the build of the previous 6 episodes here. It didn't feel like he had gone through that journey w Daemon. It felt like he knew what was meant to have happened, and did his best, which is admittedly amazing. And with Emma, you can really tell that she did not get the benefit of seeing a single one of the younger Rhaenyra scenes. They are both great actors. But hanging a massive episode on the first run out of the gate..for the main relationship of your entire show was a huge HUGE mistake. It was still better than a lot of other things GOT or otherwise...but this being THE Daemyra episode could have been epic. And I'm sorry to the workers, but it just wasn't compared to what we now know they are capable of.

Dear Anon

I am speechless. I can't believe the creators of the series allowed that to happen.

I have never studied cinematography and acting, but from what you have told me I imagine the following situation:

Imagine having only read the last chapter of a book. Naturally that chapter will not generate in you any emotional charge. Maybe that's what happened to the actors idk

Now I feel terrible for the actors, as you say they don't seem to fully understand the context of their characters yet.

I know Matt can do a better job with better direction, that's for sure.

I've only seen Emma in hotd but i was very impressed to see their performance in the ep. 6 especially their interpretation as a mother.