#J J Connington

[frimleyblogger]

Truth Comes Limping

My thoughts on Truth Comes Limping by #JJConnington #CrimeFiction #BookReview

A review of Truth Comes Limping by J J Connington – 240204 It is a while since I have read anything by J J Connington, the pen name of Alfred Stewart, a distinguished Chemistry professor in his day. Thirteen, they say, is lucky for some and unlucky for others and Truth Comes Limping, the thirteenth in his Sir Clinton Driffield series, is somewhat below the standard of some of his earlier novels.…

[weirdlookindog]

"I cannot shake myself free from the impression made by that uncanny shadow-show" - J. J. Connington

Virgil Finlay - Nordenholt's Million

(Famous Fantastic Mysteries - December 1948)

[millennial-crone-ao3]

🚿💭, because fuck prophecy.

AU where Rhaegar slew Robert at the Trident but Kingslanding was still conquered by the Lannisters, with Tywin Lannister claiming the throne for himself.

Queen Elia and the little Princess were killed, Aegon was swapped and brought to Essos.

Ned went to the tower of Joy to retrieve his sister, but has to conspire with Ser Arthur Dayne to get her newborn son to safety after she dies in childbed, as the boy is thought to be the crown prince now.

Rhaegar, now twice widowed, meets again with his siblings Daenerys and Viserys in Essos, eventually being joined by Jon Connington and Prince Aegon.

Ser Arthur Dayne takes his sister and Jahaerys, to Essos to reunite him with his father.

Ashara, who lost Brandon's child, nurses J(on)ahaerys and comforts Rhaegar, eventually becoming his mistress and then his wife. They have a son called Baelor.

Jaime Lannister is relieved of his duties as a Kingsguard by his father and becomes the crown prince and Cersei has been married to Willas Tyrell.

A marriage is arranged between House Stark and House Targaryen in secret to join their forces. Sansa is to meet her groom in Essos.

When Robb Stark marries Margaery Tyrell and Cersei Lannister is accused of incest and foisting Jaime's children on Willas, an opportunity reveals itself for the Targaryen King in exile to regain his throne.

Did you see that before? Would you read it?

[vivacissimx]

vivacissimx meta masterpost ✧˖°

We're about at the time where a post like this makes sense. If you see any missing metas it's likely because I no longer (entirely) agree with either a premise or phrasing and I'd like to rework it at some point—or I forgot. Feel free to ask!

I've bolded metas which I believe to be the most sound or that highlight a critical point which is overlooked by most ASOIAF analysis I have read. I also use the tags #text and #gender-in-asoiaf.

The Starks and the North

how jon being a bastard shaped the relationships between ALL members of house stark

on the abuse debate

how jon snow internalized catelyn tully stark's ideals

jon snow's heroes: an evolution from AGOT to ADWD

on jon snow and the R+L=J reveal

on jon snow's attraction to men

on jon snow forgiving theon greyjoy

on jon snow weaponizing his own competence

jon snow & women at the Wall: the question of rape

sansa stark & foreshadowed false testimony

sansa and ned have a foil relationship to lyanna and rickard

arya IS like other girls

arya stark: death and balance

arya & jon underrated parallels

the textual significance of the arya/lyanna parallels

the importance of lyanna stark's crypt statue

how lyanna influenced ned's acts of love for his daughters

how ned stark would perceive daenerys targaryen

what would happen to ned if robert discovered R+L=J?

Daenerys Targaryen

every daenerys ever: how dany's claim of a throne is foreshadowed throughout house targaryen's history

on the healing power of fire

on the myth that daenerys targaryen ruined meereen's economy

on the myth of a diplomatic solution in meereen

daenerys & ser barristan selmy: found family!

daenerys & bran: putting the first/last chapters of AGOT in conversation

daenerys & tyrion: how their TWOW alliance may come about

House Targaryen

visenya the conqueror & the evolution of usurpation in house T

on rhaegar targaryen and the prophecy of TPTWP

on alysanne targaryen, and how viserra's betrothal/the aftermath unfolded

viserra, alysanne, & baelon: a web weaving

viserra & saera

Theon Greyjoy

theon's gender: always broken, always under construction

[NOTE: this is the meta on which all my other theon meta relies. If you read nothing else I have ever said about theon, please read this.]

roose bolton as (another) father figure to theon

why theon greyjoy did not go visit his mother

theon greyjoy and the myth of return

theon greyjoy and winterfell's mirroring in ADWD

House Lannister

jaime & tyrion's awareness of cersei being abused

cersei lannister's brothers rationalization of cersei as being complicit in her abusive relationship

on cersei lannister's idealization of rhaegar, & also her dysphoria

ASOIAF Misc

breakdown of the grand maester conspiracy

unreliable narrators (and why we NEED arianne martell POV)

jon connington's memory

Dance of the Dragons Era

rhaenyra targaryen's maladaptive relationships due to abuse

rhaenyra & daemon's gender troubles

on viserys naming (and keeping) rhaenyra as his heir

on the legality of claims of bastardry

alicent, criston, & daemon as rhaenyra's formative (abusive) influences

[ao3feed-tywin]

Wolf of the Hightower

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/gjoLzAa

by Louen_Leoncoeur

Jon Hightower, the son of the Eddard Stark and Lynesse Hightower for some three years, he has tarried in the eastern lands learning all that could be learned from the mysterious people, yet for all his adventures in him is a yearning for hearth and home, alas even he could not imagine what awaited him after so long away but it shall be an adventure to remember.

Words: 4467, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Game of Thrones (TV), A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con

Categories: F/M

Characters: Jon Snow, Ghost | Jon Snow's Direwolf, Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Jaime Lannister, Arianne Martell, Tywin Lannister, Robert Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Stannis Baratheon, Robb Stark, Catelyn Tully Stark, Ned Stark, Lysa Tully Arryn, Sansa Stark, Arya Stark, Bloodstone Emperor (A Song of Ice and Fire), Myrcella Baratheon, Loras Tyrell, Garlan Tyrell, Mace Tyrell, Olenna Tyrell, Tommen Baratheon, Joffrey Baratheon, Theon Greyjoy, Gregor Clegane, Sandor Clegane, Doran Martell, Brienne of Tarth, Davos Seaworth, Samwell Tarly, Randyll Tarly, Melisandre (A Song of Ice and Fire), Asha Greyjoy | Yara Greyjoy, Euron Greyjoy, Jon Connington, Young Griff (ASoIaF), Harry Strickland, Shiera Seastar, Ashara Dayne, Alerie Tyrell, Desmera Redwyne, Rhaenys Targaryen Velaryon, Sand Snakes (ASoIaF), Oberyn Martell, Baelor Hightower, Leyton Hightower, Garth Hightower, Paxter Redwyne, Mina Tyrell

Relationships: Jon Snow/Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow/Margaery Tyrell, Shiera Seastar/Jon Snow, Arianne Martell/Jon Snow, Desmera Redwyne/Jon Snow, Jon Snow/Sansa Stark, Ashara Dayne/Jon Snow, Jon Snow/Rhaenys Targaryen Velaryon, Myrcella Baratheon/Jon Snow, Jon Snow/Alerie Tyrell

Additional Tags: N Plus L Equals J, Jon Snow Deserves Better, Daenerys Targaryen Deserves Better, Incest, Drama, Betrayal, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Dragons, R Plus L Does Not Equal J | Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen are Not Jon Snow's Parents, Canon Divergence - War of The Five Kings, Aged-Up Character(s)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/gjoLzAa

[g0lightly]

I find ASOIAF to be a fascinating bellwether of queer representation bc it was a part of the series long before it was a buzzword and in a much more subtle way than straight audiences have come to expect in a post-glee, post-modern family world.

This “praying” wordplay with Renly and Loras is so subtle in the books — y’all, i don’t think they were praying lol. Yet on the show they still have Renly refer to prayer in this scene but not in a way that makes any kind of innuendo as it does in the book. Instead, they hit you over the head with a sex scene between Renly and Loras in the show.

Like, the fact that GRRM had to come out and say that Renly, Loras, and Jon Connington are all gay is wild. Y’all can figure out R+L=J but not this? The fact that there are people who think Queen Rhaena married Andrew Farman because she loved him is wild tbh.

meanwhile on reddit

[wolfqueen-is-here]

JonCon vs. R+L=J

Ok but like... imagine JonCon learning about Jon’s true identity. 

IMAGINE.

Everyone is like: Yeah, dude, we know it sounds like a lot of bullshit, we understand if you don’t believe us...

Meanwhile JonCon, sobbing uncontrollably & in the midst of a nervous breakdown:

“He named... his son... after ME?!”

[janiedean]

Someone: oh my gods do you remember Jon Connington? Turns out he’s still alive! Jaime: (suddenly remembers the time they had a drunken one night stand where Jon called him Rhaegar and jaime called him Arthur) uh. Sure I do

man never forget that when jaime tells brienne about aerys he calls jon c. DANCING GRIFFINS I MEAN if anyone tells me that’s bros being bros or THAT IT’S 100% ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING YOU’D CALL SOMEONE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW LIKE.... I’ll respect their right to say it but I’ll judge the fuck out of them because come on no fucking way DANCING GRIFFINS is the least heterosexual thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life and I said what I said

[books0977]

The Dangerfield Talisman. J. J. Connington. Boston: Little, Brown and Co., (1927). First edition. Original dust jacket.

The talisman was an ancient golden armlet set with diamonds and valued at $50,000 - an unguarded treasure, which, although stolen more than once, always came back. The last thief of the talisman has been found on the lawn of Old Rollo Dangerfield's home, dead of a heart attack. And in unearthing the mystery a whole series of bewildering complications unfolds...

[frimleyblogger]

Murder Will Speak

Murder Will Speak by #JJConnington #CrimeFiction #BookReview

A review of Murder Will Speak by J J Connington – 231019 Some contend that an average J J Connington murder mystery is superior to any of the output of many of his contemporaries and, by his standards, Murder Will Speak, originally published in 1938 and going by the alternative title of For Murder Will Speak, is distinctly average fare. It is the twelfth to feature his main series detective, Sir…

[weirdlookindog]

"Still reading, you see,” said Clendyne." - J. J. Connington

Virgil Finlay - Nordenholt's Million

(Famous Fantastic Mysteries - December 1948)

[jackoshadows]

TWoW speculation..

I mentioned this GRRM SSM the other day in one of my posts and completely missed a key name in his answer!

GRRM SSM, 2000

Q: I have a question, since Robb actually  legitimized Jon and named him his heir for Winterfell and the North  before the Red Wedding (granted no one knows about this and is still  alive or free, the Greatjon knows as does Edmure, but I dont see them  getting out of the Twins any time soon and Catelyn would probably die  before telling anyone) does this make Jon’s rejection of Stannis’ offer  moot?

A: Edmure and the Greatjon are prisoners, true… but you are forgetting  the envoys that Robb sent to Howland Reed… Galbart Glover, Maege  Mormont, Jason Mallister… they are all alive and free… As to what is and is not moot… the key point is, only a =king= can legitimize a bastard……

Now, GRRM has to resolve the Northern plot in TWoW considering the final book will be mostly about the Long Night. If the Northern politics plot involves Robb’s will, there is a good chance that Howland Reed is going to be making an appearance!

In 2000, when GRRM was writing his fourth book he said this:

November 16, 2000

SENTRY BOX BOOKS SIGNING (CALGARY, CANADA)

We will meet Howland Reed, but not in the next book... he(Howland) knows just too much about the central mystery of the book...

We  will learn lots about the Harrenhall tourney in the next three books,  so, any prequel work he is considering will strictly be the continuation  of the Dunk and Egg stories...

At the Berkeley meeting, I asked if we'd be able to meet Howland Reed and while he said that there wouldn't be a POV most likely, we would get to know more about the man and his connection/knowledge to the Tower of Joy and Ned at Starfall. Well, I asked about his connection with Ned and at Starfall so he just said yes, we would, basically. - SSM, 11/11/2000

It had been stated that Howland Reed would come out in The Winds of Winter, which is the 5th book. Will he still come in the 5th book (A Dance with Dragon)?

GRRM: He will appear eventually. - SSM, 9/1/2001

Will there be any further explanation of the skirmish at the "Tower of Joy", by Howland Reed or whomever?

GRRM: Yes, in later volumes. - SSM, 12/28/1998

I think TWoW is when we will get the important revelations that will set the stage for the final book. 

There’s a good chance that some keys facts about what actually happened with Lyanna will be revealed. The aftermath of her elopement - why things spiraled out of control so badly. What actually went on in the rebellion and Rhaegar’s motivations. After Ned in book one, book 6 is going to be where GRRM gives us the R+L=J goodies and why R+L=J actually matters.

And the POVs in the next book - Jon Connington, Barristan Selmy, Bran Stark through Weirwood.net, Jon Snow hanging around in Ghost and possibly having dreams/visions.

And then Howland Reed finally making his long awaited appearance. Chances are that we will get to know about the Tower of Joy, Why Lyanna eloped, Tourney at Harrenhal/Knight of laughing tree, Starfall and Ashara Daye, Ned’s journey back to the North. 

I was already looking forward to the Northern plot the most in the next book, but with Howland Reed most probably making an appearance and all the important revelations, doubly so now.

[ao3feed-tywin]

A Song of Ashes and Bones

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/6vVSc1w

by fvckinaphrodite

When King Aerys II dreams about a maid of winter with snow on her hair and the sun shines upon her head, about beasts of fire that rule the sky and land from the sand of Sunspear to the ice of the Wall, he knows that he has found a perfect bride for his son.

And rue the day the House of the Dragons is denied its mother! Mariah Stark shall be cloaked with black and red, under the Targaryen's banner of the three headed dragon of the Conqueror and his sister-wives. From her womb shall be borne the Prince That Was Promised, and his will be the Song of Ice and Fire.

-------

"He told me about this prophecy... About a song of ice and fire and a prince that was promised."

"More like a song of ashes and bones, it seems. Thousands will die for it."

"Will? 'Tis already happening, Princess."

-------

In which Rhaegar Targaryen annuls his marriage to Mariah Stark and bastardizes their children, for he loves her sister more he tears the realm apart.

Words: 6579, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Second Dance of the Dragons

Fandoms: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones (TV), A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-Con, Underage

Categories: Multi

Characters: Mariah Stark (OC), Rhaegar Targaryen, Robert Baratheon, Lyanna Stark, Ned Stark, Brandon Stark, Elia Martell, Oberyn Martell, Ashara Dayne, Arthur Dayne, Jaime Lannister, Cersei Lannister, Catelyn Tully Stark, Janna Tyrell, Elbert Arryn, Original Characters, Aerys II Targaryen, Rhaella Targaryen (Wife of Aerys II), Rickard Stark, Doran and Elia and Oberyn Martell's Mother, Tywin Lannister, Jon Arryn, Stannis Baratheon, Renly Baratheon, Viserys Targaryen (Brother of Daenerys), Benjen Stark, Branda Stark, Rhaelle Targaryen Baratheon, Jon Connington, Varys (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Relationships: Rhaegar Targaryen/Original Female Character(s), Robert Baratheon/Original Female Character(s), Lyanna Stark/Rhaegar Targaryen, Ashara Dayne/Original Female Character(s), Jaime Lannister/Elia Martell, Catelyn Tully Stark/Ned Stark, Brandon Stark/Catelyn Tully Stark, Stannis Baratheon/Ashara Dayne, Benjen Stark/Original Female Character(s)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Period-Typical Sexism, Westerosi Politics, Tourney at Harrenhal, Canon Divergence - Robert's Rebellion, Infidelity, R Plus L Equals J | Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen are Jon Snow's Parents, Morally Ambiguous Character, King Rhaegar Targaryen, Rhaegar Targaryen Annulled His First Marriage, Married Lyanna Stark/Rhaegar Targaryen, BAMF Women, Family Drama, No beta - we die like Hodor, Lyanna Stark Lives, Rhaegar Targaryen Lives, Rhaella Targaryen (Wife of Aerys II) Lives, Even If Only For A Few Years, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, underage marriage

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/6vVSc1w

[teiasviago]

Are you worried about Jaime dying in TWOW or ADOS?

Well, worry no more worry significantly less! I’m here to prove to you that him dying does not, in fact, make sense.

As I summarized on Twitter:

both j & b’s character arcs involve living to complete them in a satisfying way. it involves having the happily ever after (or at least their version) they were always denied; re: roelle, roncon, & cers. pod is literally b’s son. AND j literally started to b a dad to Tommen like !!! narratively, grrm is legit showing us that they both work as parents!! like he’s not gonna go ‘oh yes batb dynamics + parenting = dead jaime’ like nuh-uh. no way in HELL is j gonna die.

What is a satisfying conclusion to Jaime and Brienne’s arcs?

In order to determine that, we have to look at what GRRM’s told us about their (suppressed) desires. Jaime does want to have a family—he only gave up being a true dad to any children he sired because Cersei manipulated him into joining Aerys’s kingsguard. Brienne also wants a family, but Septa Roelle deleted and weeded out any self-confidence when Brienne was a girl, as well as Ronnet Connington solidifying the fact that no one would ever let her be herself and love her, let alone have children with her with his rose. They both want to be respected for who they truly are instead of what people think they are.

Naturally, a satisfying conclusion to their stories would be to overcome both of those obstacles by starting a relationship and having kids. They’re already on the edge of falling in love! Now, I don’t know how we’re gonna get there or if that happily ever after is gonna be at the Rock or Evenfall, but that doesn’t matter so much as having a child together does.

How has GRRM had Jaime be a father to Tommen?

We all know that Jaime is set on being the father Tommen never had before based on his and Cersei’s chapters in AFFC. If you take a look at the prominent examples, we see how much importance Jaime places on being there for Tommen.

In this passage from Jaime I that we’re all familiar with, GRRM highlights several things: how young Tommen is, the fact that Jaime’s his dad, how important Tommen is to Jaime, and how Jaime’s gentleness & Cersei’s cruelty contrasts:

Red-eyed and pale, Cersei climbed the steps to kneel above their father, drawing Tommen down beside her. The boy recoiled at the sight, but his mother seized his wrist before he could pull away. “Pray,” she whispered, and Tommen tried. But he was only eight and Lord Tywin was a horror. One desperate breath of air, then the king began to sob. “Stop that!” Cersei said. Tommen turned his head and doubled over, retching. His crown fell off and rolled across the marble floor. His mother pulled back in disgust, and all at once the king was running for the doors, as fast as his eight-year-old legs could carry him.

“Ser Osmund, relieve me,” Jaime said sharply, as Kettleblack turned to chase the crown. He handed the man the golden sword and went after his king. In the Hall of Lamps he caught him, beneath the eyes of two dozen startled septas. “I’m sorry,” Tommen wept. “I will do better on the morrow. Mother says a king must show the way, but the smell made me sick.”

This will not do. Too many eager ears and watching eyes. “Best we go outside, Your Grace.” Jaime led the boy out to where the air was as fresh and clean as King’s Landing ever got. Twoscore gold cloaks had been posted around the plaza to guard the horses and the litters. He took the king off to the side, well away from everyone, and sat him down upon the marble steps. “I wasn’t scared,” the boy insisted. “The smell made me sick. Didn’t it make you sick? How could you bear it, Uncle, ser?”

I have smelled my own hand rotting, when Vargo Hoat made me wear it for a pendant. “A man can bear most anything, if he must,” Jaime told his son. I have smelled a man roasting, as King Aerys cooked him in his own armor. “The world is full of horrors, Tommen. You can fight them, or laugh at them, or look without seeing…go away inside.”

Tommen considered that. “I…I used to go away inside sometimes,” he confessed, “when Joffy…”

“Joffrey.” Cersei stood over them, the wind whipping her skirts around her legs. “Your brother’s name was Joffrey. He would never have shamed me so.”

We’re swiftly shown that the purpose of this scene is to foster a father-son connection between Jaime and Tommen. Earlier in this chapter, Jaime established that he intended to stand vigil over Tywin for a week straight, but as soon as he saw Tommen in distress he basically went fuck it my son needs me. This moment is very important concerning their relationship because, symbolically, Jaime is walking away from the relationship he had with his own father to make a better one with his son.

Jaime sits Tommen down on some somewhat secluded steps, reminiscent of the traditional father-son conversation in media, which we know Robert was not inclined to do. Jaime listens to Tommen’s concerns, something Cersei has never done—not once in any of her chapters. He wants to go out for a ride with Margaery? Not allowed. He wants to visit the people of King’s Landing? Not allowed. As soon as he speaks up for himself Cersei shuts him down. Jaime listens to Tommen and allows him to speak his mind, offering his son a gentleness he’s likely never known before.

Everything concerning Tommen in this scene highlights how young he is:

recoiling from the sight of Tywin’s decomposing body and the stench of it

trying and failing not to cry

vomiting, and his crown falling off, which tells us that Tommen’s not ready to be king, nor is he meant to be

running away from the sept to cry

Jaime sitting him down

repeating what his mother told him, since children are dependent on their parents

calling Joffrey “Joffy”

GRRM allows Jaime to be a father figure to Tommen, and he does it because Jaime’s meant to be a dad in every sense of the word—not because he’s meant to die.

How has GRRM had Brienne be a mother to Podrick?

If we now take a look at Brienne’s relationship with Pod, we’re shown a different one. Jaime’s relationship with Tommen is filled with gentleness, which is something Brienne and Pod’s relationship doesn’t have. Why? Because that’s not what Pod needs. He doesn’t need some perfectly maternal figure to coddle him, he needs someone who’s willing to knock him into the dirt so he can learn how to fight.

Pod wants to become a knight, and that happens by squiring for one or performing a feat in battle, not by being coddled. He’s also had several “father figures” in his life since his own dad died and his mother abandoned him.

She had gotten his story out of him in fits and starts on the road from Duskendale. His was a lesser branch of House Payne, an impoverished offshoot sprouted from the loins of a younger son. His father had spent his life squiring for richer cousins and had sired Podrick upon a chandler’s daughter he’d wed before going off to die in the Greyjoy Rebellion. His mother had abandoned him with one of those cousins when he was four, so she could run after a wandering singer who had put another baby in her belly. Podrick did not remember what she looked like. Ser Cedric Payne had been the nearest thing to a parent the boy had ever known, though from his stammered stories it seemed to Brienne that cousin Cedric had treated Podrick more like a servant than a son. When Casterly Rock called its banners, the knight had taken him along to tend his horse and clean his mail. Then Ser Cedric had been slain in the riverlands whilst fighting in Lord Tywin’s host.

Far from home, alone, and penniless, the boy had attached himself to a fat hedge knight named Ser Lorimer the Belly, who was part of Lord Lefford’s contingent, charged with protecting the baggage train. “The boys who guard the foodstuffs always eat the best,” Ser Lorimer liked to say, until he was discovered with a salted ham he’d stolen from Lord Tywin’s personal stores. Tywin Lannister chose to hang him as a lesson to other looters. Podrick had shared the ham and might have shared the rope as well, but his name had saved him. Ser Kevan Lannister took charge of him, and sometime later sent the boy to squire for his nephew Tyrion.

— Brienne III, A Feast for Crows

We already know that the bond between knight and squire is often of a father-son nature, which only heightens the way that Pod has essentially floated from one father figure to another until Brienne. But she’s not the next in a line of pseudo-fathers, she’s a mother figure. What did Podrick’s mother do?

His mother had abandoned him with one of those cousins when he was four, so she could run after a wandering singer who had put another baby in her belly.

Abandon him.

What does Brienne not do?

Brienne felt the hemp constricting, digging into her skin, jerking her chin upward. Ser Hyle was cursing them eloquently, but not the boy. Podrick never lifted his eyes, not even when his feet were jerked up off the ground. If this is another dream, it is time for me to awaken. If this is real, it is time for me to die. All she could see was Podrick, the noose around his thin neck, his legs twitching. Her mouth opened. Pod was kicking, choking, dying. Brienne sucked the air in desperately, even as the rope was strangling her. Nothing had ever hurt so much.

She screamed a word.

Abandon him. (Brienne VIII, A Feast for Crows.)

Brienne and Pod’s scenes together exhibit how much trust he puts in her, and how much he looks up to her. (He’s arguably one of the few people that knows Brienne as both a naturally feminine person, with the maternal instincts women are expected to have, as well as an exceptional fighter and leader—which speaks to how close they are.)

GRRM wouldn’t write all that if it wasn’t going to lead to something else in Jaime and Brienne’s stories.

[a-secret-bolton-vampire]

Young Griff, Part 1: The Pisswater Prince

So, I know I haven't done a super deep dive in a while. I kinda got stuck, then binged Sense8, The OA, The Americans, and Dark. It just got hard to write, and I feel into a bit of depression. But I finally managed to complete this, something I've wanted to write about for a very long time. This is part of the Daenerys essays, but the main focus is not on her, but rather the enigmatic Young Griff who appears in ADWD. As he was never seen on the TV show, we have little to no idea of what his future holds. Personally, of all the characters cut from the show, I most wish they kept Young Griff, because his presence is quite interesting. The fandom (and the in-world characters) are highly skeptical of his identity, and think he is destined for major things in the future of the story.

There is no doubt his existence is tied heavily to Daenerys's storyline, although perhaps not the way that is often recognized. This was originally going to just be one long essay, but I uncovered more and more that I found compelling enough to write, and so it became split into two parts. The first part will be about Aegon's role in the story; his identity, what he represents, why he is here. The second part will be about Aegon's future; his next moves in the Stormlands, possible allies, and how he might meet his end.

The Dubious Prince

What's curious is that apparently, Aegon's return has been considered by GRRM for quite a while. A mere 2 days before the publishing of ASOS, in 2000, GRRM was asked a question by a fan:

Fan: I was wondering if you could answer (or take the "fifth") one teeny little question I've been dying to ask for the past year: Are Aegon and Rhaenys, Elia's children, well and truly dead? GRRM: All I have to say is that there is absolutely no doubt that little Princess Rhaenys was dragged from beneath her father's bed and slain.

And then when ADWD is published in 2011, it is revealed that in fact, Aegon isn't dead, but secretly alive. This is something that was actually rumoured in Westeros, according to this entry of Aegon VI in A World of Ice and Fire app:

Rumors persist, however, that it was not truly Aegon who was killed, but some other infant, and that Aegon has been taken away to safety.

Aegon literally tells Tyrion the story of how he was whisked away to safety:

"That was not me. I told you. That was some tanner's son from Pisswater Bend whose mother died birthing him. His father sold him to Lord Varys for a jug of Arbor gold. He had other sons but had never tasted Arbor gold. Varys gave the Pisswater boy to my lady mother and carried me away."

It's certainly a great story, that Aegon return from the dead, living in Essos waiting for the chance to take back his birthright. The fact Aegon is still alive is truly a miracle... but is he? Is this young boy who purports to be Aegon really Prince Aegon, son of Prince Rhaegar and Princess Elia? One of the most pervasive fan theories is that Aegon isn't a Targaryen at all, but secretly a Blackfyre, descended from the Targaryen bastard Daemon Blackfyre who rebelled and tried to become king (the Blackfyres are still Targaryens but don't tell them that).

It's such a popular theory that it is considered all but canon, as much as R+L=J is. Now, time for me to commit heresy: I do not buy this theory at all.

For those not in the know, some have pointed out potential circumstantial evidence of Aegon being a Blackfyre; he's supported by the Golden Company, a sellsword company that was made for the Blackfyres and ruled by them until Maelys died on the Stepstones. Dany sees a vision of a cloth dragon swaying on a pole in the House of the Undying, as the Undying call her the "slayer of lies". There is mention of Maelys being the end of male line of House Blackfyre, but no mention of what happened to the female line. There is a story about an inn that had a black dragon made of iron symbolizing the Blackfyres, and after Lord Darry (a Targaryen supporter in the Blackfyre rebellions) took it off, cut it apart, and threw it into the river, one piece showed up years later on the Quiet Isle, having reddened with rust (potentially symbolizing a Blackfyre returning disguised as a Targaryen). Illyrio is oddly emotional when talking about Aegon. Plus the entirety of the Pisswater Prince story sounds really out there and unlikely.

At first glance, I found this theory really compelling. There is all this subtext and reading behind the lines that you didn't see before, and on some level it makes some sense. Why introduce another secret Targaryen in book 5 out of 7 (8)? It also fits neatly with another theory I will talk about more in depth later. However, while it isn't a theory I think is necessarily 100% inaccurate and completely out there, I think it doesn't account for alternatives, and ultimately is an unnecessary plot twist.

The support of the Golden Company isn't all that suspect when you consider just what's been happening since Maelys died. The male line of House Blackfyre is over (who knows what happened to the female line), the Blackfyres no longer rule the Golden Company, they are gone. The Golden Company was also founded by Westerosi exiles who fled Westeros and supported the Blackfyres. The fact the Golden Company broke its contract with Myr and that "some contracts are writ in blood" more has to do with the fact that these people are mostly descendants of Westerosi exiles and want to return home. The idea of the Golden Company wasn't really to be a permanent thing, it was meant to be a means through which the Blackfyres had support when they invaded again, and when the Blackfyres were installed, those exiled lords would get their lost lands back.

With the Blackfyre cause gone, the only thing left for the Golden Company is home. And that's exactly what Aegon is giving them, regardless of him being Targaryen. The slayer of lies visions are implying Daenerys is going to be confronting people who are in some way not true. Stannis (who is the first vision) is not Azor Ahai. This probably means that the cloth dragon represents a fake Targaryen, and in comes Aegon, out of nowhere! The first issue I have is that the vision has to be literal. Prophecies are very tricky, and the House of the Undying prophecies are extremely finicky. What does slayer of lies mean? Does it mean she literally kills the lies? Is it more metaphorical that she exposes people to the truth? And if Aegon really is a true Targaryen, then why is he the mummer's dragon and considered a lie to slay?

Disregarding the fact Varys was a mummer and he is working for Aegon, even if Aegon is a Targaryen, it's very obvious that they need to do a lot to convince people he is one. He has to play the part of Rhaegar's son, because everyone thinks he is dead. Meanwhile, Daenerys has to do literally nothing of the sort, because she has dragons. She embodies what it means to be a Targaryen, she is about to embrace her house words. As Illyrio tells Tyrion, Daenerys is a true Targaryen. But Aegon doesn't have dragons, so he needs to play up his Targness in some other way. Rhaegar was called the Last Dragon. Viserys called himself a Dragon. Aegon is about to try to take Rhaegar's place. But neither Rhaegar, Viserys, or Aegon are the Last Dragon; Daenerys is, and the lie is that he is the last dragon, and that Dany's existence itself is the way she slays the lie. As Dany thinks to herself after Viserys dies, "fire cannot kill a dragon".

Look at Aegon being someone piggybacking off words and looks for his claims. Meanwhile, Daenerys has all the proof one needs. I think the vision is much more esoteric than literal. While Varys's story is suspect and even Tyrion finds it unbelievable, it's not entirely impossible. Hell, Mance Rayder climbed the Wall and went to Winterfell in disguise as a bard twice. It makes sense for Varys to take away Aegon and replace him with another child during Robert's rebellion, when things were going badly for the Targaryens and plans had to be made in case the worst came to worst.

Another popular interpretation is that Illyrio and his wife Serra are Aegon's real son, but I find this to be incredibly flawed. Not only does Serra not really look much like a Targaryen (blue eyes instead of purple), but Illyrio's somewhat emotional confession that he can't see Aegon before he drops Tyrion off doesn't mean he is the boys father. The idea that you need to be someones parent in order to have a strong connection completely holds disregard for other kinds of relationships. Aegon is implied to have been raised for at least a bit in Pentos. Illyrio probably felt some affection for him and genuinely enjoyed his company.

To me, however, it's not really the alternative explanations for the evidence of a Blackfyre conspiracy that convince me Aegon is in fact Rhaegar's son. It's rather simple; what's the point of yet another secret identity plot twist? Consider how we meet Aegon. We meet him through Tyrion's POV in his third chapter, under the guise of the son of a sellsword named Griff, called Young Griff, his hair dyed blue in honour of his dead Tyroshi mother. Tyrion is immediately suspicious, but he's not entirely sure what's going on. We then get two more chapters of him aboard the Shy Maid, and during that time we are meant to be a little confused and unsure what is going on. It's a mystery of why Tyrion is on this boat and who these people are.

By the third chapter of Tyrion on the Shy Maid, the mystery is finally lifted, and all is revealed; Griff isn't Griff, he's Jon Connington, an exiled lord thought to have drunken himself to death. And Young Griff isn't his son; he's Prince Rhaegar's son Aegon, who was thought to have been killed by the Mountain in Robert's Rebellion. I think it's important to remember that it isn't just Aegon who is thought to be dead. JonCon is considered dead too! Two dead people aboard a boat plotting to retake Westeros. We already had a mystery handed to us, and the plot twist was already revealed. Another thing to consider is how thematically and symbolically important the journey down the Rhoyne is for Aegon. To me I think it makes a lot of sense for Rhaegar and Elia's son to be on the Rhoyne, especially since there is a lot of evidence that he and Dorne will eventually ally.

It's also important to remember that apart from a very few sly people, Aegon being secretly alive wasn't even a possibility on most peoples radar. It truly was something that came out of nowhere. While that can be used as a marker against him being Rhaegar's son, with the complaints of such a large character being revealed so late with seemingly no forewarning, I think that's honestly sort of the point.

Aegon's existence is already so large of a twist that it feels awkward to then put in another plot twist that he's actually a Blackfyre, something that really only has significance to the people who have read the Dunk & Egg novellas and know the history of Westeros very well. Although not entirely the same, it reminds me of "the Others are actually morally grey/the good guys" theories, which are in a similar vein of "George is always subversive and this is classic George". However, while the text does sort of lend credence to this theory being at the very most plausible, I feel it's ultimately an unnecessary plot twist built upon another seemingly unnecessary plot twist to try to justify his late entry and/or his significance (as can be noted, I detest calling him fAegon). The plot for Aegon isn't to be uncovered as this secret conspiracy of another ultra-double secret identity, it's about what his existence does to change the story.

Young Griff, Daenerys Stormborn, and Jon Snow

A large part of why the Blackfyre conspiracy theory is so popular is that it actually does have a compelling narrative link to the series. It's a simple progression; there are hints at a second Dance of the Dragons, vision of a mummer's dragon, a fake Targaryen, boom, Dany and Aegon fight. Dany thinks her claim is the best, but then someone appears who has an even better claim, and she fights thinking there's no possible way he could be real. It's an easy to follow trajectory. As always, people are welcome to disagree with my interpretation, but I think there is a far better reason for Aegon's role in the story; he's more foreshadowing for R+L=J.

For certain, there's more to him than just that, but I think this is something that simply cannot be ignored. He's another Targaryen. Yeah, it's kind of a meme to say X is a secret Targaryen, but I actually see the logic in why GRRM did this. Jon Snow is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, and most likely is a trueborn prince. He is the one destined to have an extremely significant relationship with Daenerys. I plan to eventually write an essay on how R+L=J effects the characters and story by itself, but for preface; I don't buy that R+L=J is there just to make Jon have an identity crisis. Something as significant as that is going to have a lot of consequences and reasons to be around, some more than others. I do think there will be people who will learn the truth and at the very least, some people will believe it.

This is where Aegon's appearance becomes more significant. Here is a Targaryen people had no idea even existed, let alone was still alive. It kinda opens the floodgates for the world to question what is known about Robert's Rebellion. It also serves as precedent for the reveal that Jon Snow reveal. One Targaryen we didn't know existed is suddenly here. Is there another nearby? You can't simplify such a complex plot quite that easily of course, but I think it's significant to think about how the Young Griff twist applies to the story as a whole, and specifically RLJ. George maybe thought of this as the initial purpose for Young Griff, but as per usual, he definitely has other reasons to exist.

In fact, Aegon is a perfect foil for Jon Snow. Both are the son of Rhaegar, both are disguised as someone else, both are thrusted into a leadership position at a young age. However, Jon is unaware of his true parentage, while Aegon is. Jon is reluctant to embrace his identity in general (especially as lord commander) while Aegon is embracing his identity to his fullest extent. In a way, Aegon represents what Jon's life could have become in a parallel world. Instead of being taken as Ned's bastard to Winterfell, he is educated and taught his role and origin in Essos as plotting begins for retaking Westeros. Aegon is literally parallel universe Jon Snow.

Aegon is also a foil for Daenerys (who in turn is a parallel to Jon Snow). Daenerys grew up poor, constantly visiting nobles in the Free Cities but never getting anything in return. She was sold as a marital slave to Drogo. Her brother resented and abused her, and anything she learned she learned from Viserys, who was very unreliable. Yet she climbs up and becomes an incredibly powerful figure, and is now one of the most powerful people in the world. In contrast, Aegon was always protected, given safety, care, education, train at arms. In fact, it might be accurate to say that Aegon is actually spoiled. His interaction with Tyrion while playing cyvasse is a good indication of this. After Tyrion defeats Aegon when he follows the bad advice he gave him (making a point to not always trust people), this happens;

Young Griff jerked to his feet and kicked over the board. Cyvasse pieces flew in all directions, bouncing and rolling across the deck of the Shy Maid. "Pick those up," the boy commanded.

This is quite an extreme reaction. It even reminds Tyrion of Joffrey, and I have to agree this is a very petulant, Joffrey-like outburst. I don't believe Aegon is really anything like Joffrey, but both kids were pretty spoiled and given so much safety and care that when things don't go their way they get upset. Aegon is used to having everything given to him, and Tyrion is the first to show that he won't always win. In contrast, Daenerys has suffered some pretty severe losses; Rhaego, Drogo's khalasar, Drogo, Jorah's betrayal, etc. I have a hard time seeing Daenerys react so badly to this the way Aegon did. It also casts doubt on the speech Varys gave to Kevan as he dies that Aegon was molded to be this perfect king. He may have been raised to be that way, but the opposite might be true instead.

In fact, this might really be the true crux and core of Aegon's storyline. He's touted as the rightful king, this perfect prince who has been taught everything he needs, ready to be this hero who returns to Westeros to reclaim the throne. But Aegon is a deconstruction of that trope. He seems to have everything going for him, and is touted as this great king, but the truth is he remains relatively untested. All the privilege he has been given has only made him spoiled. The game of cyvasse he and Tyrion play is a lot more significant than I think it is given credit for, but that will be saved for part two when I go in depth about his future.

Of course, there has been a lot of pushback against the idea that Aegon is spoiled and that he's no different from Jon and Dany and that it should be expected he react like that to losing cyvasse at his age. While the cyvasse outburst doesn't mean he is going to be evil or anything, I think the context about this is important, and there is a lot more stuff I think hints that Aegon is not really the prince Varys believes him to be. Again, this will be saved for part two.

The Dragons Will Dance Again

In 2003, a fan asked George:

Hi, short question. Will we find out more about the Dance of the Dragons in future books? GRRM: The first dance or the second? The second will be the subject of a book. The first will be mentioned from time to time, I'm sure.

This is further supported by a quote by Teora Toland in the first Arianne sample chapter for TWOW:

"It is dragons." "Dragons?" said her mother. "Teora, don't be mad." "I'm not. They're coming." "How could you possibly know that?" her sister asked, with a note of scorn in her voice. "One of your little dreams?" Teora gave a tiny nod, chin trembling. "They were dancing. In my dream. And everywhere the dragons danced the people died."

The use of the language of dragons dancing is very noteworthy, and when connected with the SSM show in-text hints that a second Dance is indeed going to happen. Various theories include that this refers to Jon vs. Dany, Dany vs. Euron, Dany vs. Aegon, or Jon vs. Aegon. The most common theory in the fandom is Dany vs. Aegon, with Dany believing Aegon to be a fake Targaryen and refusing to acknowledge his claim to the throne. Instead of facing Cersei as in the show, Daenerys will face Aegon.

The extension of this theory is that Dorne will ally with Aegon, with an ambitious Arianne marrying Aegon, and a burnt toast Quentyn showing Daenerys's rejection, turning Dorne against Daenerys. When Daenerys invades Westeros, Aegon is to be the perfect prince while Dany plays the role of the evil Mad King's daughter. In retaliation of Dorne siding with a false Targaryen instead of a true Targaryen, Dany will burn the Water Gardens. On a narrative level it kinda does make a lot of sense. In the first Areo chapter, Doran mentions that the blood oranges are well past ripe. He has waited for his vengeance for 17 years, because he's so careful about the cost, but in the end all that waiting will do him in and the second Daenerys will burn the Water Gardens that were built for the first Daenerys.

There is just a slight problem... someone talked about the theory that Daenerys will burn the Water Gardens in the comment section of a NotABlog post, and GRRM very quickly shut it down by saying "the Water Gardens bit... uh no". Not that we needed GRRM to debunk this tired theory, it didn't make much sense in the first place since the Water Gardens hold no strategic value and burning it would mean Daenerys has to do it for no reason other than needless cruelty.

The bigger issue I have is that of Dany and Aegon even fighting in the first place. Despite everything, what a "second Dance of the Dragons" even means is incredibly vague. A Targaryen succession crisis? A Targ succession crisis leading to war? A Targaryen man fighting a Targaryen woman? Does it need to be on the same scale as the original Dance? We have no context other than this and it could mean literally anything. What's more, there is a very often overlooked SSM that kinda puts the dampers on this theory a bit;

The second Dance of Dragons does not have to mean Dany's invasion. Geroge stopped himself short and said he shouldn't say anymore. The response came because of my question of whether the dance would take place in ADWD because AFFC and ADWD parallel.

We will definitely see more of Aegon in TWOW, and we'll probably get to know him better. I'm not going to argue that Aegon appearing in book 5 of 7 is bad writing, because I don't think it necessarily is. Perhaps he won't be as major a character as the fandom believes him to be. However, if Daenerys and Aegon are going to clash, there needs to be time for the characters to interact and establish any sort of relationship. I think the idea that Dany hears of Aegon's existence and immediately thinks he is a fake and goes to war with him completely disregards both Dany's character and how you establish a tragic event like this.

The first Dance of the Dragons was not something that happened on a whim. It was the result of decades of hatred built towards two factions. They weren't always antagonistic to each other, but as the years passed, the blacks and the greens grew to hate each other more and more and more until it took the death of the king that kept them at bay to start a devastating war. Dany declaring Aegon a fake without ever having met him and going to war with him is incredibly simplistic. Also, think about it from Dany's perspective.

Viserys was an abusive asshole to her, yet she still thinks about him and even feels lonely. It's natural to want to have a family and someone to feel close with. Dany is warned about the mummer's dragon, yes, but she is also lonely and thinks all her family is dead, that she is alone in the world. So what would really happen if she learned Aegon existed? For sure there would be intense skepticism, but I think there is a part of her that will at the very least want to believe it to be true. Daenerys is very ambitious yes, but I don't think she would simply refuse to believe someone is her nephew because that means he has a better claim to the throne.

Besides, kinslaying is a huge taboo, and killing someone who claims to be her nephew without being sure is definitely going to not be the best option in her mind. And also, Aegon hasn't done anything yet to earn Dany's resentment, unlike Viserys. There might be some anger at Illyrio, some serious shock, denial even, but at the end of the day, this is one more family member she didn't know she even had. The show portrayed Jon's parentage as being a bad thing for her since he would have a better claim, but I doubt that will be the first thing on Dany's mind. In fact, she thinks to herself what would happen if Aegon was alive:

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.

There is a good chance that the emotions she feels when learning about Aegon will be a precursor to the R+L=J reveal with Jon Snow. Just more reason Aegon is a big step towards R+L=J being confirmed.

Although Daenerys is quite ready to leave Slaver's Bay for Westeros at the end of ADWD, Aegon's existence might motivate her to leave even more quickly and solidify her goal to get the Iron Throne. However, I don't think that Aegon is going to become a new main character. His appearance and his actions I feel are more important than his actual character. And hey, maybe the second Dance will involved Daenerys and Aegon, but I think there is enough reason to doubt it.

Next up; the Golden Company landing, Dorne, and Aegon's game of cyvasse, detailed.

[janiedean]

jbweek number the seventh fic update: and give all the love that you have in your soul, chapter six

and give all the love that you have in your soul (6/8); jaime/brienne, jon connington/rhaegar, jon connington/omc, r (future chapters); time travel shenanigans plus actual warnings on ao3; written for day seven, valyrian steel;

chapter five: in which Jon makes an ally, has a job to do and has to admit things to himself that he wishes he never had to, not necessarily in this order.