#The riverlands are just so important to me and I have so many thoughts

[emilykaldwen]

Please dear God let Vizzy T have visions that would be so fucking funny

But also. How badly is Harrenhal going to fuck with Aegon? Or is it going to do that indirectly via Abby? Because like, obviously Aegon doesn't have the connection Abby does, but I feel like Aegon might try to foster something for Abby. I mean, he's kinda doing that already imho but I assume he's going to be even more intentional

Vizzy's in the tower that Lyonel and Harwin died in. That man is having nightmares I promise you cause fuck him. All my friends hate Vizzy T.

Picture of me trying to figure out how to answer this.

So Harrenhal is going to affect both Aegon and Abby in different ways. I think for me, a really big thing, is how much of the curse is truly a supernatural/magical effect, and how much of it is in our own heads. We see this briefly talked about by Baelish in the main series, as well as the Youtube Video narrated by Catelyn Stark herself.

I will, of course, say that there is absolutely something otherworldly going on. Westeros is magic, and there are more dragons alive right now than there have been since the doom. This story is about generational trauma, and cycles, and Harrenhal and the dragons are part of it. But also it manifests itself into different ways that aren't supernatural. I hope that makes sense (and all shall eventually be revealed)

Aegons are tied to the Riverlands. Aegons are tied to Harrenhal specifically. Aegon the Conqueror and Harren the Black. Aegon the Uncrowned dying at the God's Eye.

And now another Aegon is here and what could that mean?

[ladystoneboobs]

@sunflowersansa, #catelyn was raised to be hosters successor for almost a decade wasnt she?

the annoying thing is we don't have an approximate age for edmure, nor any age for cat when minisa died (in childbirth with a last, stillborn son, not edmure). i've seen fanart depicting him as anywhere from a toddler to a younger teen/tween when catelyn and lysa were teenagers. but i feel pretty confident in my estimation of ~7/8yrs age difference between eldest sister and baby brother, and not just bc of symmetry with the next generation. my reasoning is thus:

we all assume catelyn had some grooming as an heiress, rather than it just being a nominal status in early childhood. how much training can one really give a 3 or 4yo, y'know? we know rickon never had any manly lord lessons from ned since he was still so young when they parted. if she was closer to 7 or 8 when edmure came along, that leaves more realistic time for education, and a sizable number of years with only daughters for hoster to try to accustom himself to lack of a son and make do accordingly. even only 1 or 2 years of rulership lessons would still matter when minisa's death left hoster more dependent on her as not just hostess but later a trusted confidant of a sort until she got married.

ned thinks of edmure as "the boy" in his pov when hearing of the mountain's first attacks in the riverlands. we know ned's not great with keeping up with ageing from his earlier comments about tommen, and he surely hasn't seen edmure in many years, but this tells me that when they did meet at riverrun, edmure was not that close in age to himself, catelyn, and lysa. (i think it's less likely to see someone as frozen in childhood if they're anywhere near your age cohort.) ned could still be wrong about edmure's age thinking he couldn't possibly be at least 25 and any green knight younger than that was still a boy or youth, but that miscalculation makes more sense to me if he was around ~26 rather than a fellow thirtysomething or a guy pushing thirty.

we also know that edmure acted as brandon's squire in his duel with littlefinger, which i read as more someone playacting at some squirely practice when not yet consideed old enough to be anyone's assigned squire, with the informal nature of the duel which meant lightly-armored littlefinger having no squire of his own, and brandon having an actual squire who likely could have been present. so that lines up with a ~10yo edmure to 15yo littlefinger, 16yo lysa, 18yo catelyn, and 20yo brandon. (this is admittedly the most subjective point and i wouldn't consider it strong evidence if not consistent with the rest.)

catelyn doubted her memories of her mother, including her appearence, which in this world strangely devoid of portraits, still makes me think she was quite young when they lost her. so, yeah, not a large gap between edmure's birth and minisa's death in her next childbirth. if catelyn was 8/9 or even 10 when her mother died and she became de facto lady of riverrun, that could line up with the lannister twins losing their mother at 7 and not having strong memories of joanna.

idt catelyn really did think of riverrun as her birthright when her brief time as conscious heiress was a small fraction of her life, with at least 6yrs knowing she'd move away to be lady (consort) of winterfell instead and the rest of her life living out that responsibility as northern wife and mother. but it must still sting to be used to such a position of importance in her earlier time in riverrun and have no real authority when she returned to live there again as an adult, especially when edmure still seemed to act (to her) like the baby of the family not entirely matured into the authority he held all for himself. there's a part in her time in renly's camp when she thought robb was years younger but still knew what he was doing more than the southern king and his knights of summer playing at war. i'd imagine a simaliar feeling whenever edmure annoyed her. that's another difference between robb and edmure, that robb was a dutiful eldest sibling like his mother, formerly catelyn's baby but never anyone's baby brother. while edmure, even if he was (my by headcanon) a few years older than renly and unlike renly was meant to be a male heir from birth, was still a youngest child of 3 like renly.

[atopvisenyashill]

oh god key 5 people still exist?

they are absolutely still yapping about that yes despite grrm saying that he was annoyed the original outline got out because he's departed so much from it at this point. it is as always used to cut sansa almost exclusively out of narrative importance (but tbf, sometimes brienne and catelyn/lsh and notice this is only used as a cudgel against women. love these hypocrites lol).

anon sent an ask like two seconds later that says: wait sorry about the last ask, one must banish the discourse from the mind, it is the mindkiller, et cetera et cetera. Have you read His Dark Materials? any thoughts on what daemons various asoiaf characters might have?

lmaoooo.

i read the first book in grade school and watched the show as it was airing, so if there's any errors here, no there aren't lol. i don’t know if you MEANT for me to take this as “imagine asoiaf but with daemons” but it’s a little hard NOT TO when everyone and their mama is associated with an animal. like what animal is joffrey? i mean he is a lion aksksj. i know daemons are supposed to represent your ~true self~ but at the same time so many of them attempt to model themselves off their sigils, with some characters even identifying AS that animal or being heavily associated with animals of their house (like even the tullys, they’re fish, that’s not a fearsome animal but when edmure gives that “fish swim even black ones” line you’re like DAMN. these bitches are SLIPPERY ya know? anyways ajsjd)-

robb stark - eastern direwolf. it’s the bigger direwolf irl and it’s the one that prefers a more lush habitat (like the riverlands)

jon snow - sorry i can’t just can’t see ghost any different!! i think it also fits his story, the idea that catelyn is waiting to see his daemon to get an idea of who his mother is and it’s JUST a direwolf.

sansa stark - okay so i wanted to make her like a modern relative of direwolfs to show that even if she looks different, more domesticated, she’s still a direwolf but it turns out direwolves are not related to gray wolves (even tho they look remarkably similar) but DOGS. i feel like there’s some symbolism here but idk what. anyways. i thought a wolf dog hybrid would fit here - my instinct says the Volkosob wolfdog because of their friendliness towards humans.

arya stark - ATLANTIC WOLFFISH. they are freaky and kinda mean looking but they don’t attack humans unless provoked and they’re integral to the health of their habitats. also imagine the stress of the only stark looking cat kid and she’s got a fish as her daemon.

bran stark - 😭😭 can i give a wolf wings. i do believe there are mythological winged wolves and it would be fun if he’s had like, normal animals all his life then his finally settles on a form right as he wakes up from his coma and it’s a mythical creature.

theon greyjoy - ngl my first thought was like, a duck, for how sexually violent they are as a species aldjfskd but that's not fair because allll the iron islands are like that. i was thinking some sort of salamander, which theon would think is cool but the ting about most salamanders is that while they're born in the water, once they reach maturity, they go to land. i was thinking a tiger salamander - whether they go through metamorphosis is completely up to them.

ned stark - a husky. i know huskies aren’t wolves my mom has them and i know for a FACT those bitches are all Just Smart Enough to have anxiety but not smart enough to do anything else. ned is smart enough to be depressed about everything but does he solve a single problem he has? well.

catelyn stark - orca. are orcas fish? no they’re dolphins lol BUT they are one of my favorite animals, and they are hugely family oriented, and viciously protective of their pods, with a bit of a sadistic streak (which isn’t to say cat is sadistic but she DOES have a known temper that fits with the grudges orcas tend to hold).

joffrey baratheon - obviously i want to say joff is a lion but if cersei’s kids 3/3 settle in as lions, that could be proof of A Problem bc now i’m like “what are the political ramifications if all your children have daemons that represent their mother’s house but not their father’s house. do u just pray all your kids get random non house themed daemons.” i was trying to find infamous killer lions but it doesn’t seem like it’s really a specific species that gets vicious, you just sometimes get a handful of brothers who band together and go WILD on some territory. anyways i was picturing more north african, they tend to be bigger, the more typical lions you think of and i would want joffrey’s daemon to look like The Epitome Of Lions.

tommen baratheon - love the idea of tommen being a doe.

cersei lannister - hmmmmm. can i say white lions (not completely white, mostly white) bc they only exist in captivity?

jaime lannister - nemean. why? it’s funny.

tyrion lannister - i want him to be one of those lions with black manes, to make him stick out from his siblings the way his eyes do. not even his daemon is a golden lion!

robert baratheon - i would love robert to be a moose bc of how vicious they are but i think they’re too funny looking so he gets to be an elk. i like that elk can become invasive species if they’re not checked bc they’re Too Adaptable. the idea that robert is the sort of person who can adapt to any situation, not for his intelligence, but simply bc he is too good at violence. something fun here.

stannis baratheon - he’s a moose for sure. goofy, big, and mean as fuck.

renly baratheon - renly is a peacock and he thinks its kinda funny

brienne of tarth - i'm feeling some sort of beast of burden, like a horse. loyal, fearful, but always charging straight into danger, always carrying the heaviest load of the group.

dany targaryen - i'd love the idea of dany having a wyvern as her daemon, a sort of nod to barth's theory that wyverns were used to make dragons.

[waitingforwinterwinds]

ASOS; Steel and Snow: 19 TYRION III (pages 254-272)

Tyrion gets new job as Master of Coin while the Council divides their new lands, then Tywin vies for Westeros' Biggest Pile of Trash Disguised as a Father award, while Cersei and Tyrion learn of his plans to marry them off.

-

Tyrion had claimed Pycelle's old place by the foot, propped up by cushions so he could see. (...)The Grand Maester was a shambling skeleton, leaning heavily on a twisted cane and shaking as he walked, a few white hairs sprouting from his long chicken's neck in place of his once-luxuriant white beard. Tyrion gazed at him without remorse.

Good. Now push him down some stairs. A stolen chair is not enough.

Mace Tyrell spoke up. "Is there anything more pointless as a king without a kingdom? No, it's plain, the boy must abandon the riverlands, join his forces to Roose Bolton's once more, and throw all his strength against Moat Cailin. That's what I would do."

yes, well... we have (not so) conflicting reports on your intelligence, so excuse us if we don't rush.

(advance warning: I am Very mean today. I have a headache. get so many, at this point you could call me Rita Repulsa... pfff. Reader Repulsa XD)

... Mace Tyrell and Littelfinger, Shuttheduckup Challenge 2023.

"A Lannister?"Tyrion had a bad feeling about this.

*gasp* we're in a Star Wars!

"- Why should we pay for what he has given us for free? The best thing to do about our lord of Pyke is nothing, in my view. Granted enough time, a better option may well present itself. One that does not require the king to give up half his kingdom." Tyrion watched his father closely. There something he's not saying. He remembered those important letters Lord Tywin had been writing the night Tyrion had demanded Casterly Rock. What was it he said? Some battles are won with swords and spears, others with quills and ravens... He wondered who the "better option" was, and what sort of price he was demanding.

I hate Tywin. I think it might be worse that he's clever enough to shuffle plans like this.

The enmity had waned a bit after Dorne became part of the Seven Kingdoms... until the Dornish prince they called the Red Viper had crippled the young heir of Highgarden in a tourney.

"red viper"? isn't that the Mandalorian one... Oberyn? The one coming for the Seat? Ohhhhhh. >:3c I sense Drama.

The eunuch drew a parchment from his sleeve. "A kraken has been seen off the Fingers. (...) Not a Greyjoy, mind you, a true kraken. (...) Sailors from the Jade Sea report a three-headed dragon has hatched in Qarth, and is the wonder of the city-"

So the three-headed dragon is actually Dany's triplets, obviously, but are we sure 'true kraken' mean an actual tentacle waving, cephalopodal kraken and not, say, Euron. ... !!! Oh no! terrible thought: Euron with a pet kraken.

... Tyrion all like "let's not mutilate men, and send them to the penal colony instead because the folks there aren't completely awful and I said I'd send men," Tywin all like "No, they hurt my feelings, so now they will rue the day."

Tywin's death was so justified.

... Ah, so Petyr told the Lannisters about the Sansa/Willas plot. Do you think he knew that it would start the Sansa/Tyrion ship line? or did he just think they'd flat shut the Tyrells down on that one and keep Sansa nice and toasty for Petyr's convenience? (I just feel like it's a hidden theme, characters like Sam and Sansa being smarter than they give themselves credit for, while men like Petyr and Renly are less clever than they think they are.)

"So long as you remain unwed, you allow Stannis to spread his disgusting slander," Lord Tywin told his daughter. "You must have a new husband in your bed, to father children on you." "Three children is quite sufficient. I am Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, not a brood mare! I am Queen Regent!" "You are my daughter, and will do as I command."

Look. Cersei is a horrible person, but on this one... *Slams the steel chair into Tywin's head so hard his skull cracks like an egg with calcium deficiency.*

Urrgh! That's just like, the Whole Thing, though, isn't it? Cersei is the most powerful woman in the Seven Kingdoms (team Lannister edition) and it's still worthless next to Tywin. It's still not enough for her to be in control of her own life and choices. Cersei is Not a Good Person, but I can see so clearly how she got here, and I feel so sorry for her.

"His Grace the royal pustule has made Sansa's life a misery since the day her father died, and now that she is finally rid of Joffrey you propose to marry her to me. That seems singularly cruel. Even for you, Father." ... "She is no more than a child."

It's nice that you're aware. But I've heard that might not last very long, so I'll savour it while it's here.

Tywin: I keep trying to marry you off, but it turns out every lord in the Seven Kingdoms is as ableist as I am, so forced child bride who has no ability to refuse it is. She even comes with a castle of her own, sort of, so I don't have to give you mine.

"Tywin Lannister." That's a strange way to spell "abusive crapwad." This man is trash. complete trash, and not even the classy kind you're supposed to recycle.

... *bops Tyrion with the steel chair for his reaction about Lollys*

"- And the grandmother was some woman he'd brought back from the east. (...) no one could pronounce her name. -"

Because they were racist and didn't bother trying? Or because their accents garbled the pronunciation so bad she told them to stop trying?

(I actually read a story about a young woman in... a student exchange program I think it was, and she was in... America? One of the English (as the primary language) speaking countries and she took on a localised nickname right away, because she was aware they couldn't pronounce her name correctly, that they'd have trouble with the pronunciation. Except for this one boy, who was convinced he and he alone could pronounce her name correctly, so he harassed her until she told him what her birth name was, and then he confidently proceeded to call her by that instead of the nickname she asked to be called for months. And yes, he was saying her name wrong the entire time, refusing to listen when she said he wasn't and wanted him to use her nickname instead. And like, I know that doesn't sound like it should be all that annoying, people say words with accents all the time and it's either funny or sexy, but it is annoying, trust me. Having your name mispronounced repeatedly and confidently like it's no issue is so freaking frustrating. My irl name isn't even uncommon, I'm from Australia, so you can imagine how bland my name is, it's a generic western name, but I had this teacher once, who was from America, and she had the heaviest twang in her accent, and she would always, always, always stress the first vowel of my name as a hard vowel when it's a lazy vowel. And technically she was using my name, but that is not how you pronounce it and therefore that is not my name!! Stahp!!!)

"- Maegi they called her. (...) Half of Lannisport used to go to her for cures and love potions and the like."

Wonderful, bring even more doubt and concern into the Robb/Jeyne relationship. (Like I have no doubt Robb could have been seduced easily in his medicated and emotionally compromised state and then had his sense of honour drive him to marriage, but I guarantee this line has had a small handful of people go "it was love potions 100%, no other way such a Good Boy like Robb could have done something so silly." Despite the fact the series is all about people making dumb choices with the best intentions.)

... oh right, Tywin committed genocide against entire families and is the reason we had The Rains of Castamere.

[dragons-i-guess]

Fic idea that I may or may not ever write #1: Zuko in Westeros

Feel free to use any or all of these ideas in your own fic if you want.

Shortly after the events of Zuko Alone, Zuko sees a flash of blinding white light and falls unconscious. In the Riverlands, around the time Robb is returning from his campaign in the West, Beric, Thoros, and the Brotherhood Without Banners are marching along a back road when there's a flash of of blinding white light. Once they blink the spots out of their eyes, they see a ring of fire and lying unconscious inside it is a certain scar-faced teenager. Seeing as he appeared accompanied by fire and light, they immediately assume he was sent by the Lord of Light and is special somehow.

Their certainty only increases when Zuko wakes up and reveals 1) that he's a firebender 2) he's the son of the Fire Lord and Fire Lady and a prince, and 3) he knows the Lord of Light/R'hllor by a secret name, which they take to be a super-special secret name as of yet unrevealed to the unworthy masses (Zuko asks them if they are referring to Agni when they first mention the Lord of Light). Take all this together, they immediately dub him the Prince of Light and Champion of Agni/R'hllor/the Lord of Light, and swear their undying allegiance to him.

Zuko is very confused.

He tries convincing them that, yes, he's a prince, and yes, he can make fire with his hands, but he's not that special, but Beric and co just respond with some vague, significant sounding proverb about how the Lord of Light works in mysterious ways or something like that (Zuko yells something about them sounding too much like Uncle).

So Zuko is stuck with this band of outlaws following him proclaiming him a prince (some even think he must be Azor Ahai). Having figured out by now that he's definitely not in Kansas anymore, Zuko doesn't really know what to do, but taking care of the Smallfolk seems like a decent thing to be doing, right? Oh hey, who's this girl we've captured that reminds me of my little sister in some (scary) ways? Apparently someone important named Arya Stark. She's a king's little sister or something. And she really wants this Hound guy dead because he killed her friend, which, fair (also reminiscent of Azula). The Hound guy is being given a trial by combat to prove his innocence. Hmm. I bet I could take him.

Zuko fights the Hound instead of Beric. Between being a prodigy with his dual dao and also having firebending, he wins and kills the Hound for Arya. He throws up afterwards, this being the first man he's actually killed himself, and he and Arya have a discussion about their first kills (this girl has killed how many people? Definitely very Azula like). Zuko basically imprints on Arya and decides to help her out. So instead of just ransoming her to her brother, he asks her what she actually wants. After some discussion, she decides she does want to go see her brother and family again, so they set off for Riverrun. Except along the way they find out Robb's actually going to the Twins for a (Red) wedding, so they head there instead, arriving just in time to fish all the bodies of the river, including Arya's mother.

Arya wants vengeance.

Zuko takes a look at the Twins and thinks, I managed to sneak into Pohuai stronghold, this place can't be much harder. Having conveniently had both his swords and his Blue Spirit mask on him when he got transported to Westeros, he puts them on and Blue Spirits all the prisoners the Freys took out of the Twins (and also sets the place on fire and kills a great many Freys in the process). (Arya wanted to come to, but Zuko put his foot down. This girl might be just as scary as Azula, but she's also even younger than Azula. No way. No how.)

And that's about as far as I've thought this through. Arya gets declared the new Queen of the North by her brother's rescued bannermen, Zuko decides to stick around to take care of her, and by extension the Brotherhood also now sign on with the Starks, although they continue to be not-quite in the chain of command and still go about lynching looters regardless of what house they're sworn to.

[aebi12]

"Sinful Desires" - Chapter 22

Aemond has no idea where he is.

Or how long it has been since he left Harrenhal and fled on Vhagar's back.

The lands closest to Harrentown had suffered his wrath, fields and houses burning with dragonfire, people fleeing their homes in terror, vast areas of forest completely destroyed under the relentless breath of his she-dragon.

But it changed nothing.

By the time Aemond becomes aware of his surroundings again, Vhagar is eating some kind of animal that she has just charred with her breath. The sunlight hurts his eye, and the prince has to make an effort to keep it open, as he tries to sit up without losing his balance.

He has a vague recollection of giving up control to his dragon. He had felt the rage they both shared, Vhagar's impatience, the desire for revenge that had consumed him before... fortunately -or perhaps not- he let her take the reins of the flight and after that he doesn't remember much. He does not recognize where he is, though it is clear that he is still somewhere in the riverlands.

His stomach growls as he takes a few steps toward Vhagar, though the thought of eating seems ridiculous to him. He doesn't even remember the last time he fed. What is the point anyway? Aemond never considered himself a person prone to self-destruction, until he felt the true pain of his losses.

But he still has many vendettas to collect.

Helaena.

Daeron.

Jaehaerys

Maelor.

Alyssa.

A part of him, the one he usually goes by, the instinct and the drive and the need to spring into action, wants him to get back on Vhagar and go straight to Dragonstone or King's Landing or wherever he can find his half-sister or his uncle.

The other part, one that sounds too much like Alyssa's voice, reminds him that there is still something for him to consider. Rather, someone. His niece Jaehaera. His little girl is the only thing that has prevented him from carrying out his craziest plans. The idea of leaving her alone at the mercy of such a cruel world is inconceivable. Jaehaera is the only reason for him to push the pain aside, so he can get rid of the people who see her as a threat.

The sound of some branches breaking puts him on alert. Aemond turns quickly and scans the forest, trying to figure out where the noise is coming from. Or if he had perhaps imagined that something was breaking.

"Could be scouts," he thinks as he reaches for the dagger he always carries on his belt, "Or it could be..."

"It's just me, my prince"

Alys Rivers emerges from the forest and walks directly towards Aemond, although she keeps a safe distance, as if she fears that at some point he will throw the dagger at her. Her eyes as black as two coals, however, seem to scan his face before smiling mysteriously.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asks, confused, though what he really wants to know is how she found him.

“The fire always tells me what I want to know,” she replies in that infuriating tone of hers. Aemond begins to lose patience. He doesn't want that woman near him, he doesn't feel like putting up with riddles or insinuations, she seems to sense it because she says, "I have an important message for you."

"Words of my uncle?" asks as he watches as she takes out a small piece of paper from her skirt pocket.

She hands him the message without replying. Aemond snorts before taking it, unfolding it and reading its contents.

A lump form in his throat as he recognizes the letter. And then rage flows through him, and in two strides he reaches the woman and carelessly grabs her arm, “Witch, where did you get this? What kind of game are you playing?”

"No game," she replies calmly, "I'm just a messenger."

“Don't lie to me, Alys Rivers,” he hisses, “Who gave you this letter?”

“The same person who wrote it, your princess”

"She's… that's not possible," he replies, clutching the dagger.

"Is it?" she asks in a teasing voice, “Your princess arrived in Harrenhal a couple of days ago. And now she enjoys the hospitality of Lady Sabitha Frey, who is already planning what she will do with your Alyssa and with the silver-haired little boy who traveled with her."

Alyssa. His heart skips a beat. She couldn't be alive, could she? And who was that little boy with silver hair? Could it be…?

"She died in the riots at King's Landing"

Alys shrugs, “See for yourself. Fly to Harrenhal and find out, if you don't believe me."

"Is this a trap?" The woman may well be in cahoots with his uncle Daemon.

“Would that stop you for wanting to make sure? Do you have something to lose?”

No. Not really. And maybe this is the moment he gets revenge.

"If you are lying to me, I will return to feed you to my dragon"

She just smiles mysteriously and slips out of his grasp because he's already moving towards Vhagar, who seems to understand that the situation is urgent, because she pushes her food aside and takes off as soon as Aemond sits on her back.

“To Harrenhal,” Aemond orders.

***

Lady Sabitha is inspecting her guard's training in one of the courtyards. Alyssa sighs as she listens to the woman make a disparaging comment to one of her soldiers. Aegon, who is playing with a rocking horse and imagining it to be a dragon, clings to her hand as the horses begin to neigh, the dogs bark desperately in the kennels, and screams come from outside the castle.

"What in the seven hells is going on?" Demands to know Lady Sabitha

"Dragon!" Aegon exclaims delightedly in his squeaky little voice.

"Yes, sweetheart, I know you're playing the…"

Alyssa stops talking as the silhouette of a dragon casts her huge shadow across the courtyard. Her heart is pounding and her eyes quickly scan the sky, observing the majestic creature that flies over the castle.

"I don't know that dragon," Aegon says, calling for her attention.

“It's Vhagar,” Alyssa replies with a huge smile on her lips and relief filling her chest.

"It cannot be"

Lady Sabitha looks desperate, terror on her face as her men flee, leaving her unprotected, "Bloody cowards!" she yells, though no one seems to pay any attention to her and only a couple of loyal ladies remain by her side. The woman turns to Alyssa, “You! You have something to do with this…”

“I advise you to choose your next words carefully, Lady Sabitha,” the princess cut her off, “Prince Aemond is quite protective of me and can't always control his temper. If you promise to cooperate with our cause, I can sweeten the way you have treated me these past few days."

“Never, girl, I'm not an oath breaker,” she assures before turning her back on Alyssa, and running into the castle.

Alyssa doesn't even bother to follow her. Her eyes are on the dragon that has now perched on one of the castle battlements. The princess tries to step back so she can make out the figure of Aemond descending from the saddle, but she can't. Still, she knows he's here, that she'll see him in just a few moments. She wants to run to meet him, she wants to meet him halfway, but little Aegon still holding her hand won't stop whispering, his eyes on Vhagar, his laughter flowing as he listens to the dragon roar.

"Alyssa"

Someone calls her name. He calls her name. Her heart stops momentarily when she turns and she sees him, standing under one of the huge arches that mark the entrance to a castle hall. Her smile widens and a heavy weight seems to leave her body as he takes a few steps toward her, the dim winter sunlight illuminating his figure.

She can't hold back anymore and runs towards him, nearly making him lose his balance and fall as she hugs to his chest, happy tears streaming down her face. He seems almost as desperate as she is, holding her close to his body, as she feels his hands bury in her curls and his nose draw in her scent.

"Is it really you?" he says she almost in a whisper

Alyssa wants to laugh, but she stops herself and lifts her face to his scowling, “What kind of question is that? Of course, it's me! I'm here with you,” she takes his hand and places it on her chest.

He sighs when he feels her heart pound under his hand. “I thought you had…,” he shakes his head, “I only heard that your mother managed to flee the city, they didn't say anything about you”

“Yeah, well, that was…”

"Is this my new uncle?"

Alyssa is startled and pulls away from Aemond to turn to her little brother, who is watching the tall figure of the prince with open curiosity.

“Yes, sweetheart, I'm sorry, this is your uncle Aemond,” she says after clearing her throat and wiping away her tears, “Aemond, this is my little brother Aegon.”

So this was the boy Alys had mentioned. For a moment, a brief moment, Aemond had thought that perhaps the news about Maelor had also been a lie and that Alyssa had managed to escape with his baby nephew. A foolish idea, now that he thinks about it.

“We are actually cousins,” he points out as he observes the familiar features of the little boy.

"Why do you wear that?" He asks, pointing to the leather eyepatch.

Alyssa tenses and looks between the two of them, not quite sure what to say. There are a few moments of silence, until suddenly Aemond speaks.

“Because I lost an eye,” he says simply, his good eye staring at the boy, who seems to be struggling to understand what he's been told, so his next question doesn't surprise him.

"How?"

"In a fight"

“Mother says I shouldn't fight, she says it when I fight with my little brother,” he comments wrinkling his nose.

Aemond doesn't know what to say to that. Alyssa pales and her eyes darken.

"Can I see your eye?" the boy follows, oblivious to his sister's discomfort or how uptight his cousin seems

“Aegon, no, sweetheart, you shouldn't ask that kind of things,” Alyssa chides.

Vhagar roars then, perhaps sensing her rider's discomfort.

"Is that your dragon?" wants to know Aegon

"She is my dragon, yes, her name is Vhagar"

"Wow," Aegon smiles and looks up at the ancient beast, "She is big, so, so big!"

“She is the largest dragon in the world”

Alyssa stops herself from rolling her eyes as she takes in Aemond's satisfied expression. Aegon keeps asking questions and Aemond doesn't seem to know which one to answer first.

“Calm down, Aegon,” Alyssa lowers to her brother's level, “Aemond is going to tell you everything you want to know, but now…”

"I want to fly on the dragon!" demands the boy

“Not now,” his sister replies.

"Alyssa, please, I want to fly!"

"Aegon, I said no."

"But..." the little boy starts to pout.

“I'll let you take a ride with me if you help me clear this castle of the scum first,” Aemond interjects, “It's a job for a knight, are you up to the task?”

Aegon's face lights up and he walks directly towards Aemond, coming up to his side and extending his little hand towards him. The prince seems to hesitate for a few seconds, but in the end, he takes his hand.

“I think you two will meet little resistance on your adventure,” Alyssa comments, “Lady Sabitha and her cronies fled as soon as Vhagar appeared in the sky.”

"I know, I was tempted to order her to burned them all"

Alyssa gives him a hard look and follows them into the castle, "Just for the record, my little brother isn't going to ride your dragon until he's at least three times the size he is right now."

Aemond chuckles and they inspect the castle, though only a few servants remain within the halls. In the end, they discover that Lady Sabitha has fled through the latrines. The ridiculous idea sparks satisfaction in Alyssa.

"Will it be wise to stay here?" she asks once they settle into one the sitting rooms, “It is very likely that Lady Sabitha wrote to Daemon to let him know that I am here. And that I have Aegon"

She looks at her brother, who is playing next to the maid who has been taking care of him for the last few days.

"Let him come then," he replies, "We're going to have to face each other at some point."

"But it doesn't have to be now, it can't be now," she looks at him anxiously and takes his hand, "We've only just met again."

“I know,” he caresses her cheek gently, “I feel like I just got you back.”

His comment reminds Alyssa of what he had said before her brother interrupted them. He had believed that she had not survived the riots in the capital, he thought she was dead, another victim of the war… like Helaena and Maelor.

"What is it?" he asks when he notices the change in her expression, the sadness reflected in her green eyes and the fear that she is clearly experiencing.

She hesitates. Where to start? She supposes that the most important thing will be to apologize for failing him, "I am so sorry, Aemond, so sorry."

"Why do you apologize for?" he questions, confusion in his eye

"Because I assured you that Helaena would be protected if she stayed with me in the castle and… I couldn't do my part, I let her…" She shakes her head, the pain preventing her from continuing as she remembers Helaena's screams.

Aemond seems to notice her distress, but he couldn't move to comfort her. At the mention of his sister, his body freezes. The memories and the pain that he has tried to suppress these days reach his body like waves of torture.

"What exactly happened?" get to ask at the end

Alyssa starts talking and doesn't hide anything from him. She fills in the details of her mother's arrival in Kings Landing, her futile attempts to convince Rhaenyra that the war must end, she tells him of her mother's fury after the dragon riders’ betrayal. And she tells him about Mysaria and her poisonous comments that ended in Helaena's death.

“Then she herself… it was she who decided to leave,” Aemond comments at the end.

"I shouldn't have abandoned her, I should have stayed with her, never let her out of my sight and…"

“Don't blame yourself, it wouldn't have helped,” he replies, squeezing her hand, “Helaena…look what her guilt did to her. Her pain consumed her, I don't want that to happen to you too”

"But…"

He shakes his head, “It is not your fault, Alyssa. I think it would have ended up happening anyway. Those children were everything to my sister,” his voice cracks at the end, his mind adding the infamous White Worm to his list of revenge.

Alyssa sighs, “Your mother is fine. At least she was until I had to leave the city”

“I know,” Aemond nods, “How did you get out? Why didn't you let me know you were coming?"

"Everything happened very fast. Suddenly the people were enraged and threatened to enter the Fortress. It was almost a miracle that Aegon and I managed to get out, although it was Talya who helped us, she led us through unknown passages of the castle and told me to look for you. I had no way of communicating with you."

"It was foolish to venture alone on the Kingsroad" he frowns.

“I didn't have too many options,” she responds, exasperated, “I imagine that Alys Rivers gave you my letter”

“I still don't know how she found me,” Aemond admits, “Vhagar often seeks hidden places to rest.”

“I think she may be a witch,” Alyssa smiles, “At least that's what people around here say.”

“Yeah, I heard the same thing. It doesn't matter, she has proven to be useful and has been loyal until now."

"Why did you leave Harrenhal?"

Aemond offers her a sad smile, “There was no point in continuing in this place. After receiving the news about Helaena and about your supposed death, the grief and anger were too great. I let myself be blinded by my temperament and I could only think about making someone, anyone pay for the pain I was experiencing."

Alyssa sighs and massages her temple with her fingers, "I heard you've been burning towns and farmlands."

“I admit I overstepped,” he replies after a pause.

“Those people are part of your kingdom, Aemond,” the princess closes her eyes for a few seconds and then faces him, “This family has a responsibility and a duty to these lands, and we have failed them. What happened in King's Landing…”

“Barbaric,” he hisses angrily, “Your mother should have ridden her dragon and stopped that carnage. Sometimes the only alternative is to give them fire and blood."

She shakes her head and fights with herself not to raise her voice too high, “My brother Joffrey died trying to do just that. Syrax ejected him from its back and he died from the fall. Violence cannot be the only way to rule. There was peace in these lands before this absurd war started, we must return to it."

"You defend the people who cruelly killed our dragons, creature bonded to our history, our family"

“I defend the people who were dying of hunger, of cold, who felt abandoned by their leaders. My mother didn't help them, you burn their food and livelihood…we have to be smarter and learn from what happened. Right now, those people possess control over Kings Landing.”

"Taking the city back from them won't be hard"

“Keep them subjugated might be,” Alyssa looks at him defiantly, “All these losses can't be in vain. I know you're upset right now, but I also know you're a man of duty. And that duty extends to being a good ruler for the common people.”

Aemond seems to want to reply and continue the discussion, but his features suddenly soften and he just nods, too tired and not in the mood for a fight. Alyssa pulls her chair closer to him and takes his face in her hands, joining their lips in a short kiss.

"I'm sorry about Daeron," she says, still against his lips, "I know he was a good brother to you."

The prince fights the lump in his throat before replying, “He was a fine boy. I am sorry I didn't get to see him one last time."

Alyssa hugs him and he hides his face in the space between her neck and her shoulders, comforted by the smell of her jasmine scent. They hold on for a few minutes, both thinking about their losses, about everything they've experienced. In all that is yet to come.

“What happened to the army that came here with you?”

“Ser Criston led them to the Reach. The plan was to join Daeron and then march on the capital."

"I assume it didn't work"

"Cole is dead," he says ruefully, the scowl coming back to his forehead, "and the men probably scattered across the realm, if they're not dead as well"

Alyssa never gave the knight much thought, though not that she particularly liked him, considering he was a faithful servant of Alicent's. Aemond, however, seems to sense his absence.

"There must be some way to gather the army once again"

“Maybe,” he seems to be lost in his thoughts for a few seconds, “Everything is uncertain right now. I don't even know if Aegon is alive, most likely not," he sighs, "The important thing now is to kill Daemon."

“The important thing now,” Alyssa refutes, “is that we are together.”

"Together," he nods.

For now, they both think without saying it, At least for now.

***

Hours later, as night falls, Alyssa lies naked next to Aemond, hugging his chest and feeling content for the first time in months.

They have gotten their moment of privacy thanks to Alys Rivers, who had arrived at the castle during the afternoon, ready to return to the land that had been her home all her life. The woman, who Alyssa now knows also used to work as a wet nurse, promises to take good care of Aegon.

“Only a fool with a death wish would do this child any harm,” she comments.

The princess agrees with her. Aegon is under Aemond's protection and, being Daemon's son, all Black ally would protect him. So, albeit with some reluctance, she allows Alys to watch her little brother’s sleep. And the most selfish part of her is delighted with the arrangement, especially when Aemond can't stop kissing and touching her, their bodies coming together in a wild and desperate sway.

"Was I too hard on you?" he asks when she moves and a wince appears on her face

“No, no, not at all,” she assures him, “I'm just still sore from riding for so many days, I guess. Also, my head hurts a bit."

Aemond turns to his side and examines her face. Alyssa looks pale, her green eyes show deep circles, and her body is thinner than before. His hands caress her thighs gently and she smiles, though it doesn't reassure him.

"Your headaches are quite frequent these days, don’t you think?" he asks, remembering that she also complained about them when they were still together in the Red Keep.

“It's probably just stress,” she shrugs, “Don't worry about me, I'm fine,” Alyssa kisses him briefly and strokes her fingers over his scar, her light touch tickling him.

“Did Lady Sabitha harm you while you were held hostage?”

“She wasn't nice, but she didn't torture me either, if that's what you are asking,” she clarifies.

“I will settle accounts with her after I take care of my uncle,” he assures

Alyssa shudders. Aemond smiles at her, but without much conviction and caresses her face, "Sleep, my love, you need to rest."

She knows that he is only distracting her, but she is carried away by his soft words, by the warmth of his body, by his hands that possessively draw her towards him and, above all, by the feeling of security that she has when she is next to Aemond.

***

“You will hear from Prince Daemon very soon,” Alys assures the next morning.

“Did you see that in your fires?” wants to know Alyssa

The woman nods and then looks at the princess, a curious expression appearing on her face, but Alyssa doesn't understand it.

"Do the flames tell you the future?"

"Sometimes"

She wants to ask about her and Aemond's future, but her question is interrupted when the latter enters with a letter in hand.

“Our uncle sent me a challenge,” he smirks, “We'll met again in thirteen days.”

Thirteen days. Thirteen days that may well be the last with Aemond. Alyssa swallows and doesn't know what to say, so she stays quiet. The prince does not need her pessimism, it is better to keep her fears to herself.

"Where?" ask finally

"Right here"

Her heart is pounding as she nods, "I guess there's nothing I can say or do to make you give up this idea."

"Nothing," he replies, "You know very well that I have to do it"

"And you want to do it"

Aemond stares at her and takes a few steps to face her, taking her hands and bringing them to his lips, “I trust Vhagar. And you should trust me. Do not be afraid, my love."

“Just remember that I refuse to live in a world where we are not together,” she tells him, “Keep that in mind when you're up there.”

After that, few moments are spent together during the day. Aemond devotes himself to training and flying with Vhagar. Alyssa does her best to keep busy, distracting her little brother from his idea of flying, and helping Alys in her duties as a healer.

At night, on the other hand, they kill their nostalgia and desire by making love. Sometimes they talk for hours. Sometimes they just stay silent, feeling the weight of the countdown.

And though Alyssa would do anything for the deadline to never come, at the end of the thirteenth day the shadow of Caraxes appears before Harrenhal.

“I trust you, Alys,” she tells the woman as she places a sleeping Aegon on the bed. The sun is just about to set on the horizon, but the woman mixed some herbs to make sure the little one slept for a long time. Alyssa wasn't going to expose her brother to see his infamous father, “Take good care of him. I'll look for you in a while"

“Of course, princess,” she replies as she stokes the fire in the fireplace.

Alyssa kisses her little brother and leaves Alys's cabin to join Aemond, who is waiting for her outside.

"Ready?"

She nods and he takes her hand, guiding her to the monstrous figure of Vhagar. Alyssa can't help but flinch as she walks up to the dragon. Many years ago, she abandoned her idea of being a dragon rider and although she knows that it is in her nature to feel an affinity for these creatures, she only feels great fear and respect when she finally gets close to the ropes that allow her to climb onto the saddle.

“She won't hurt you,” Aemond assures, stroking her hand comfortingly, then placing it against Vhagar's scales.

Alyssa feels the heat coming from her body, she feels the fire under her skin and the dragon's heavy breathing. She is a very old beast, full of scars that are easy to appreciate when she is so close. It is imposing. She can't help but wonder how Aemond, when he was so small, could have claimed her as his own.

"Come on, I'll help you," says the prince.

It's a bit of a struggle, but she manages to climb up and position herself as best she can in the saddle. Aemond deftly climbs up behind her and protectively places a hand around her waist, taking the reins with his other free hand before commanding in High Valyrian.

When Vhagar flies, Alyssa can only think about how simple everything looks from below. Although it's not her first time flying, she can't compare this experience to the times Rhaenyra carried her on Syrax's back. Vhagar flies violently, like a force of nature taking her breath away as she ascends, forcing her to close her eyes, too frightened. Aemond seems to notice her discomfort because her hand traces circles on her belly, trying to calm her down.

Fortunately, the flight isn't long, considering they only climbed to the highest battlements of Harrenhal, but Alyssa had wanted to fly alongside Aemond. They had talked about it so many times as children that she had to fulfill that innocent fantasy. Besides, she well knew that it might be the only time she got the chance to do it.

"I'll be back to you, I promise," he says looking at her very seriously after helping her down from the saddle.

She stares back at him fiercely, though she doesn't respond and just nods. She kisses him. One last kiss, a touch more than anything, a subtle caress that is not enough, but that is the only thing they can share at this moment.

A farewell, she notices her as she struggles not to hold on to his hand, and lets him go back to his dragon.

The princess clings to the stone walls and follows Aemond's path in the sky, Vhagar's figure growing smaller and smaller as she flies toward the vast lake that glows orange-red against the twilight, its calm waters oblivious to the fight that will surely soon begin.

For some reason, Alyssa thinks about the gods. Her mind flies to those moments in the sept at Alicent's behest, to the queen’s continuous prayers, to her devotion. Not that it would have done her much good considering half of her children and grandchildren were dead.

Even so…

Even so, the idea of placing her faith in the hands of others, of pleading for mercy and protection for her prince is stronger. Maybe it's simply the need to seek comfort from some higher power, but Alyssa closes her eyes and whispers desperate pleas.

Part of her knows they won't be heard. The gods did not protect her siblings, the gods have no reason to fulfill the requests of a selfish princess who had betrayed her family. Perhaps, as her mind has been telling her for months now, this was always going to be the result. The punishment for her sins.

Alyssa opens her eyes as a roar cuts through the stillness of the air. The two dragons are now in full flight, so high in the sky that they are barely two specks in the distance, though the flames they hurl blaze against the firmament with violence.

She can't stand the roars. The seconds and minutes drag on, her palms smeared with blood as her fingernails dig mercilessly into them, too focused on trying to understand what's going on in the Gods Eye to care about the pangs of pain.

But it's useless. There's nothing to see. Nothing she can do.

A violent dizziness makes her stumble. Alyssa clings to the stone wall and decides to go down and look for her brother, although thinking about it is easier than doing, because with how dizzy she still feels, each flight of stairs is a challenge. Still, she makes it to the yard and practically runs to the cabin.

Alys is still sitting against the flames, watching and concentrating on them, not even flinching when the princess enters. Aegon is still lusciously asleep, clinging to the rocking horse.

The roars are heard as clearly here as they are at the top of the castle and, even with company, the sense of anguish and tragedy does not leave her chest.

"Did I send him to his death?" she finally asks after long minutes

Alys turns to look at her, but her expression is unreadable. Alyssa sheds a tear and her body tenses as a roar of pain fills the air.

"Vhagar" she whispers desperately, recognizing the sound produced by the she-dragon.

She acts on the spur of the moment and storms out of the cabin, running back into the castle in the direction of the stables. A little boy is tending to the horses, but he knows who Alyssa is, so he doesn't object or raise the alarm when the princess takes the reins of a still saddled caramel-colored mare.

She wastes no time and rides in Aemond's direction, urging the poor animal on when she watches the gigantic figure she recognizes as Vhagar plummet towards the lake.

[jackoshadows]

The way all the usual suspects descended on this post including Brydeswhale jumping in to insult the OP because they dared to suggest something different to the echo chamber.

OP, I don't think that it's as clear cut as what you mention. Bran for instance is closely connected to Winterfell, has an entire book where he is learning to rule from Winterfell and compares himself to his home.

The stone is strong. Bran told himself, the roots of the trees go deep, and under the ground the Kings of Winter sit their thrones. So long as those remained, Winterfell remained. It was not dead, just broken. Like me, he thought. I’m not dead either.- Bran, ACOK

Bran also has a strong connection to the powers of the North like the Old Gods and the Weirwoods, warging and skin changing and has a direwolf. Even more than Jon, he's the character with the strongest connection to the North with the ability to see the past and will most probably play a major role in dealing with the White Walkers.

Jon is a close second having one foot in the politics of the North and one foot in the magical threat from beyond the Wall. Arya is third because despite her not being in the North, she keeps connecting with the Northern plots - both with her time spend in Harrenhal and Fake Arya in the North driving many of the plots there.

Does Bran fail? Yes. But so do Jon, Arya, Robb, Ned etc. So I don't think appearance has anything to do with whether they would fail in upholding Stark values. In fact, Robb fails because he upholds Stark values - his execution of Rickard Karstark plays a role in his ultimate doom.

I do think the Stark appearance is important mainly for Arya - in that it makes her unique amongst the Stark siblings and yes, this is foreshadowing for Arya being a leader of the North and Lady of Winterfell. She has the Direwolf - the sigil of house Stark - she has the look and she is capable of exacting Stark justice.

For Jon, the Stark look is important in terms of hiding his true parentage and in his relationship with Arya, a Lyanna look alike. Arya is Jon's link to his mother and the way he looks is a clue to who his mother is.

More than appearance, I think it's the Direwolves that's symbolic and foreshadowing of the Stark children's future and that's more of a problem for Sansa since she does not have one anymore after siding with the Lannisters over the Starks.

No, Sansa is not Ned Jr. Far from it. She has nothing in common with Ned. They are a study in contrasts.

Ned warns Cersei despite the risks because he wants to save her children from Robert's wrath. He knows what Robert is capable of. He has seen what was done to Rhaegar's babies. He is being selfless. Sansa tattles to Cersei so that she can marry Joffrey and become queen. She is being selfish.

Ned sacrificed his honor for his sister and in order to protect her son. Despite seeing Joffrey trying to kill Arya, Sansa sided with her fiance against her little sister. Yet again, while her father was languishing in the dungeons, Sansa throws Arya under the bus by declaring her the traitor to Cersei. In the Vale she ignores the Maester's warning and pushes him to drug her sick little cousin with strong doses of the dangerous Sweetsleep because her plotting and planning with LF is more important.

Sansa has nothing in common with Ned. When has Sansa sacrificed anything for family? it's the opposite, she has consistently thrown family under the bus and betrayed them for selfish reasons.

Arya looks like Ned, actually hears her father's words from the Weirwood, asks for her father's advice, follows her father's advice, exacts Stark justice, has learned from her father on how Winterfell works. Arya has her mother's proactiveness to get things done instead of expecting others to do things for her, her mother's courage, strength and strong wills.

And yes, Arya is connected to the Riverlands and her mother and she is ALSO connected to the North and her father. That's what happens when one is a central, main character - the writer spends more time writing the character, fleshing out all these relationships and connections.

I just love how they rap Robb for thinking of the wider Northern campaign and not be selfish enough to save only his sisters. The 'Family, Duty and Honor' motto also includes two other words - Duty and Honor. Robb would be failing in his duty to the North if he put his self interests and love for his sisters above everything else.

And yet Sansa who sides against her sister again and again for selfish reasons and who betrays her father to Cersei - again for selfish reasons - fails in all three!

And no Jon is not a mini-Ned. He differs from Ned in many ways, he makes different choices to Ned. He pleads with Stannis to not execute Mance Raydar as a deserter and instead use him for information and knowledge. He is more pragmatic than Ned.

And the grand twist is that Jon is actually more like his biodad, when he breaks his sworn oaths selfishly putting his little sister over the neutrality of the Night's Watch, instigating mutiny and internal feuds right when an existential threat is at their doorstep.

Do any of y’all asoiaf homies think there could be some significance to the Stark kids’ appearance?

My brain does not currently have the capacity to explain what I mean exactly but I’m talking in the sense that the majority of the kids look like Tullys not Starks, notably it’s said that Arya and Jon look most like Starks and it just made me wonder whether that somehow foreshadows their failures- in the sense that the rest cannot truly uphold Stark values and therefore ultimately fail? Idk if I’m just pulling shit from thin air and this may not make much sense but I just think that fact might somehow imply that they’ll be the ones to uphold Stark values in the send and ultimately succeed in their endeavours.

Ofc I understand I’m ultimately damning Sansa, Bran and Rickon in this but I wouldn’t put it past GRRM to plan that far ahead and use some kind of magical heritage-related symbolism like that… and ofc nobody is safe in asoiaf so there’s that too.

[theprophesiedprincess]

Hogwarts Legacy: The Prophesied Princess Ch 4 Part 3

Summary: MC Seraenya Rhaefyre returns to Hogwarts for her sixth year. Besides her ability to wield Ancient Magic, Seraenya must keep an even larger secret: her true identity. A difficult task given her ever-growing powers and the presence of power-hungry nobles at the Hogwarts school tournaments this year. Will Seraenya fulfill her destiny as the prophesied princess?

Previous Part - Next Part

Chapter 4, part 3:

Melindra

Melindra took great care to make sure her gown was devoid of any lint, wrinkles, or stains. She had spent the last twenty minutes using small pulses of the accio spell to gently tug away any tiny folding in the soft fabric, pull away each nearly invisible piece of dust. She carefully tucked back each strand of hair on her head, tucking the front pieces away and out of her eyes with an ornate golden clip. Wearing an expensive but modest pink chiffon gown, Melindra inspected herself closely in the mirror of her Hufflepuff dormitory. She looked perfectly lady-like for lunch with her father and Headmaster Black. Perfectly lady-like all except for the ripped cuticles around her nailbeds. Melindra looked down at them with displeasure, felt the familiar rise of tension in her breathing, and then gave in to biting the side of her right thumbnail to relieve it.

"Father", she spoke politely as she arrived at the generously spacious and decorative apartments in the Visitor tower afforded to Lord Theos Greenbridge as an honored guest at the Hogwarts castle. "I hope your stay at my school is treating you well."

Lord Greenbridge stood up from the desk he had been so meticulously hunched over just a moment prior. "Yes. The accommodations are quite satisfactory." He looked quite respectable, Melindra thought, in a luxurious black satin coat embellished with green buttons and a steel chain belt. The broach clipped into his left chest pocket was sculpted with the symbol of House Riverland, a halfway suspended bridge in shades of green and steel. "Your presence at this meeting is appreciated today, Melindra. I know you have been looking forward to reuniting with your friends after a long holiday. Making pleasantries with House Black and House Gaunt will be highly instrumental for us."

Melindra responded as she thought may please her father, "I am the Lady of our house. It is my duty to attend such gatherings."

Lord Greenbridge nodded his head, "Yes. The role looks well on you, forced upon you so soon as it was", he pursed his lips and paused a moment. Melindra knew her father still struggled with the death of her mother, even two years later. "House Greenbridge is a proud house, with a long and respectable history. As the Lady of Greendbridge, you are now faced with upholding its nobility so that it may continue to prevail."

Melindra and her father had this talk many times before; she knew the responsibility of her role and she felt its weight. Men of importance such as Headmaster Black and Lord Salazar Gaunt had spoken to her as a child before, if at all, when she was just the daughter. Melindra had not minded this; she was shy in nature and bluntly uncomfortable in the presence of the noble lords of Astaria. But she is a Lady now. It was time to put such childish behaviors behind her.

"I wear the responsibility as an honor, father", Melindra hesitated, "Although, I do still speak to mother in times of confusion. It brings me comfort to think she may be listening. That she could help me bridge the way…".

Theos Greenbridge nodded uncomfortably. "Very good. We should be going now", he said matter-of-factly. Melindra felt a subtle disappoint, but not surprise as her father deflected from speaking about her mother again. She sighed and followed her father out of his apartments.

Phineas Nigellus Black, as the Headmaster of Hogwarts, was accommodated with a large and impressive tower as his own accommodations. Even still, the Headmaster opted to host the luncheon in a private dining chamber historically used to host lavish parties for honored guests of the castle.

The headmaster himself took the seat at the head of the table, of course, with his wife, the lean and glamorous Laticia Black, on his right-hand side. Laticia Black was a beautiful woman, nearly ten years younger than the Headmaster at the age of thirty, with full red lips, and cat-like eyes. Her hair was dark, long, and laid straight down her back. To her right sat Lord Salazar Gaunt, Lord of the Gaunt Family inheritance, and descendant to the great infamous wizard and one of the four Hogwarts' Founders, Salazar Slytherin. Seated on Lord Gaunt's other side was his younger brother, the intimidating Ousis Gaunt. Ousis Gaunt had short, slicked back golden hair, arched eyebrows, and eyes that never seemed to gentle. He was dressed in garbs fit even better for a king, Melindra thought, wearing an expensive and highly detailed black long coat, expertly detailed with snake embellishments that subtly shimmered as he moved in the light, and layered with a long, regal black cape clipped together over his chest with a steel metal snake detail. Next to him was his wife, the cruel- and regal-looking Allysa Gaunt. Allysa too had voluptuous golden hair styled high in a bun of curls. She wore an exquisitely designed long black gown with widened sleeves and a cape to match that of her husband.

Theos Greenbridge took his seat on the left side of the Headmaster, and Melindra followed in suit taking the seat to the right of her father and across from Lord Salazar Gaunt. Melindra's classmate, Ominis Gaunt, a boy her age from the Slytherin House and the son of the intimidating younger brother to Lord Gaunt, Ousis, took his seat next to her. This relieved Melindra, as she had secretly feared being sat next to one of the daunting noblemen, Ousis, in particular. "Hello Ominis", Melindra spoke softly as a sat down next to her. Ominis smiled back at her, which gave her great comfort.

Ousis Gaunt began the conversation with a stiff cough. "Your daughter has grown quite formidably, Lord Greenbridge", he said, directing the complement at Melindra's father. "A beautiful woman indeed, much like her mother."

Lord Greenbridge looked to his daughter and gave a pointed smile, "Yes, she has grown into her position as a Lady quite well." Melindra felt her cheeks heat and she resisted the urge to bring her hand to her mouth. Instead, she opted to pick at her fingernails under the table where no one could see.

"Thank you, my lord." She spoke courteously, giving her most polite smile. Melindra noticed Alyssa Gaunt looking her up and down, although the emotion on her face was well-hidden.

The Headmaster began his own exchange of courtesies, much to Melindra's relief. "I hope you had comfortable travels to Hogwarts, my Lords? The journey from your side of Astaria is no short one, as I recall."

"Yes, yes, very well. I quite appreciate you hosting us, Phineas. The apartments are very comfortable, thank you.", spoke Salazar Gaunt. He had a kind voice, Melindra thought; a more relaxed and joyous way about him than the others, especially his own brother.

Headmaster Black nodded in pleasure, "Very good. Your son won't be joining us? I held the notion that he would be present for the…", he paused as he turned to Melindra and Ominis, "festivities to come?"

"Yes, he has arrived. You must excuse my Dominic. He's the stubborn sort, I'm afraid.", he laughed whole heartedly. "The first thing he wanted to do upon arriving to Hogwarts was to find your training facilities! He takes his defensive wand-work very seriously these days". Melindra thought she saw Ominis grimace at this.

"Good boy", Ousis spoke in a tone of approval. "One his age should be nimble with a wand, prepared for any threat." Ousis turned to his son Ominis with a rather distasteful look. "My own son lacks such motivations. Although how much can be done given his… limitations?".

Now, Ominis was seething. He opened his mouth as if he was about to speak, but then closed it once again. After a moment he finally responded, "How lucky for our family to have an heir as… skilled as my cousin", in a voice that was not quite polite.

"No matter," Headmaster Black put the matter to rest, "Ominis will be trained in good time, I'm sure, with the help of our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He has already promised me that each of our students will be as trained as fit as to be a warrior.", Professor black laughed as he raised an eyebrow. "Quite unconventional, but I am eager to see if he delivers on his promises."

This discussion sparked Lord Greenbridge's interest. "Ah yes, the infamous new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Has he arrived yet? It is quite peculiar for a professor to not be present as the students arrive for the Sorting Hat Ceremony, is it not?", he said in a mocking tone.

"He arrived this morning. Subtly, thank Merlin! I feared a spectacle would be made of the affair, it would stir-up the students. You know how he so desires an audience." Headmaster Black laughed. Melindra found herself wondering who this mystery professor could be? Who would cause such a spectacle that would "stir-up" the students? She thought of whispering to Ominis to ask if he had any idea who they spoke of but she thought better of it. The notion seemed childlike and she was meant to be Lady of her house, now.

"I am well aware," replied Lord Greenbridge. "Let's hope his return from the war has humbled him some. He knows of what you are planning this year, Headmaster? He will want to be involved; I am sure. And his hot-headedness will not be an easy thing to quester. I suggest we keep a close eye on him."

"I find the notion that he has been humbled by war to be quite doubtful", offered Ousis.

Salazar Gaunt spoke cautiously, "Take care, brother. We would not want to offend the new professor's father".

His brother Ousis gave him a dubious glance.

Headmaster Black set his lips in a firm line, "No, we certainly would not. I don't mind giving in to his pompous desires for esteem. Particulalry, if that's what it takes to keep the dragon at bay."

The men and their wives continued to speak cryptically for the remainder of the lunch, with seldom contributions by Melindra or Ominis. Finally, Melindra's father quietly dismissed her as the group got up from the table. "You were very presentable today, daughter", he said. Melindra nodded, feeling relief that she had made her father proud. "You can go on to your dormitories and prepare for your classes tomorrow. I have much and more to discuss with Headmaster Black and the Gaunts. Many plans must be made."

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[star-girl69]

I Loved You Like the Sun

a/n: i hope you all enjoy!!

warnings: swearing, incest, mentions of death, mentions of violence, tell me if i missed anything!!

Daemon Targaryen x Rhaenyra Targaryen x Fem!Reader

Chapter Thirty Six- Death on Her Lips

—-

When you wake, you half expect to still be King’s Landing. Helaena will press a hand to your forehead, wake you with a smile that doesn’t meet her eyes.

But no, instead, you are trapped between two bodies, listening to the sounds of maids shuffle around, wake the babies, take them back to the nursery to be changed and ready for the day.

Daemon and Rhaenyra wake as well, and you half expect Rhaenyra’s maids to come in as well, get her ready, and then she’ll do the same to you.

Instead, she places a hand on your face, turning you towards her.

“A little longer, sweetheart. We don’t have to do anything until noon.”

Dameon hums next to you, kissing the side of your head, and you are so tired, so weak, so safe in the arms of your dragons that you fall asleep again.

—-

The next time you wake, Rhaenyra is leaving you. She kisses your cheek, whispers that she’ll just be over there, and Daemon presses you closer to him, and you know you won’t quite fall asleep again. Instead, you breathe in his scent, sink into his warmth, fade into him.

—-

You are brought out of your half-slumber by Rhaenyra, who guides you with silk soft hands to the vanity. She is already dressed, hair braided and twisted so elegantly.

She talks as she brushes your hair, and you cannot help but hang from her every word with rapt attention.

You push aside your thoughts, attempt to forget, and focus on her.

“We’ll have to go to a council meeting, today. We have been fighting primarily in the Riverlands. Your former good-brother rallied many to our cause, and we are making good ground. The council, they- they will want to know what happened to you.”

You meet her eyes in the mirror, and see the sorrow on her face.

“I…” You scramble to reassure her, but come up at a loss.

“Will you be okay? To speak? I can…” She trailed off, and both of you know there is not much she can do.

“No, Nyra. I’ll be fine.” You didn’t know if you would not fine, but the smile on her face was enough to make you feel just a little better.

“You are more important than anything, sweetheart. Our family is more important than the world.”

You smile and nod, and if she notices that it doesn’t quite reach your eyes, she says nothing.

She lets her hands linger as she helps you dress, palming your hips, dancing across your collarbone. Her fingertips trail up and down your sides, splay wide across your back to pull you close, to kiss you.

You had missed be treating like this. Like you were the sun, like you were a goddess. Rhaenyra stares at you with such reverence it makes your cheeks heat, but she only smiles and helps you slip the red dress on.

Her own is black, and Daemon finally stands; watching you and Rhaenyra with a smirk on his face before dressing himself.

You don’t question when he places a hand on your lower back, guiding you to the Great Hall, almost as if you have forgotten where it is. You haven’t. You would never forget. But you are desperate for him, so you lean into his touch.

—-

“Lady Targaryen.” Rhaenys breathes, almost as soon as you walk into the room. “It is such a relief to see you alive and well.” She takes her hands in your own.

You like to think that if your mother was still alive she would be a lot like Rhaenys.

“Thank you, Princess. I am most happy to back.”

Baela barrels into you next, even though you had already greeted her yesterday before you went to bed, you cannot blame her for double checking.

Rhaena follows, and then they clear and Luke is left in front of you.

He had to return without you, fly alone from Tarth to Dragonstone, be without you for so long. Being the heir to Driftmark weighs on him heavily, and your heart twists to know you were not there to help him.

That is why you live, you think. For your family, for your children.

You open your arms, and Luke practically runs into them, smothering his face into your shoulder for just a moment, before he pulls back and blinks back his tears.

You whisper, so no one can hear, “You know, Jace cried when he saw me as well.” He looks up at you with a disbelieving smile on his face, but another lord starts speaking so you usher him away.

“Lady Targaryen-”

“Actually…” Rhaenyra starts, taking her seat at the head of the Painted Table. “The first order of business I wanted to discuss was my husband and wife’s titles. I would like for Daemon to be my King-Consort, Y/N to be my Queen-Consort.”

Daemon straightens next to her, looking decidedly smug and proud.

You falter. Think of Helaena. Think of her words, when she looked over her shoulder, blue fabric downing behind her.

Who would ever want to be Queen?

But you see Rhaenyra’s barely contained smile, and you realize that this is almost her giving you a present. She thinks is what you want, to be her Queen, the Queen.

And you cannot deny her, so you quickly slap a smile on your face a mumble a thank you. She seems placated with that, turning back to the council, talking about how a formal coronation would be soon, but the two of you would be King and Queen in everything a crown.

Across the table- Jace meets your eyes. You smile at him, and he nods back, eyeing you carefully.

“Your Grace?” Someone asked, and it took you a few moments to realize they were talking to you and not Rhaenyra.

“Oh. Yes, my apologies, Lord Corlys.” He smiled, distractedly, bowing his head before speaking.

“I know it might be difficult, but would you mind recounting what happened? Everything. From the kidnapping to the escape.”

This was something you could do. You could recount it, simple, pretend it was a story you were telling to your children.

A chair scraped along the floor, next to Rhaenyra’s.

“Sit, Y/N.” Daemon said, and you eyed the chair. You pushed aside your fear and strode forward, sitting down quickly.

“Whenever you’re ready, Your Grace.” Corlys said, and you nodded before taking a deep breath.

“As soon as I landed at Storm’s End, I saw Vhagar. But I didn’t think much of it, because I was an envoy. I- I really did not think Aemond would… do what he did. I went into Lord Borros’ hall, and I- I don’t remember much. It’s all quite hazy. But I remember he said that Storm’s End was not something Queen Rhaenyra could call upon at her whim.”

“So he refused?” Rhaenyra asks, grabbing your hand.

“Yes. I told him that I was the rider of Cannibal, and he asked if I was threatening him. I said no, and that I would take his message to the Queen. Aemond then accused me of treason, of threatening a High Lord. I, um, I panicked, but Aemond looked at me as if he wanted to kill me, regardless of his orders. I ran out, but he followed, pulled me back by my hair just before I reached Cannibal.”

“A traitorous act,” one of the Lords tutted, and your eyes glanced to him briefly before you settled back to staring at the Painted Table in front of you.

“He held a knife to my throat, told me to tell Cannibal to fly. And I did, then he hit me with the hilt of his knife and I fell.”

You can feel Daemon’s hands curl around the back of your chair, so hard you fear he will break it.

“When I woke, I could barely see, barely remember anything. There was a woman there, but I didn’t know who she was. I fell back asleep. When I woke again, it was Princess Helaena at my bedside. We talked, nothing of importance, really-”

“Your Grace. We need to know everything, please,”

“Yes, well, we were just two women who had suffered similar things.” You felt like you were being interrogated, even as Rhaenyra’s thumb smoothed over your skin.

“What things?” The same lord asked, and you found that you truly did not want to answer.

“We do not need a minute by minute recounting, my lords.” Rhaenyra threw the lords gathered a pontes glance, before putting her other hand over yours, holding it tightly with both hands. She motioned for you to continue. You took a deep breath in. Rhaenyra did help. Rhaenyra, and Daemon, always made it better.

“She left me, and the next morning Queen Alicent came to me. She told me I would be treated kindly, and I suppose, I was. They did not torture me, did not kill me. I had food and water, an adequate room. She told me that essentially, the reason I was there was because of Cannibal and my marriage.”

“Thank you, Your Grace. That is very helpful.” Lord Corlys turns from you. “The Hightowers are scared of our dragons.” He concludes, and you nod in agreement. “Please, continue.”

“I spent most of my days with Princess Helaena and her children. We were not quite friends, of course, but just two lonely women. Nothing happened until the assassins were sent. I was with the Royal Family, and they came, I told them who I was, and they did attempt to save me. But Aemond killed Blood, and he died in my arms. Cheese was killed trying to escape, trying to get back to Dragonstone to inform the council of my life.”

Rhaenyra squeezes your hand, bringing you back to the present, back to her.

“I screamed at the Royal Family, that I wanted to go home, and even Helaena shared my sentiments, asking her mother and brother why I was not allowed to leave. The Hand confirmed what Queen Alicent told me. I was lead back to my rooms, and I stayed there for three days. Helaena only managed to visit me once, telling me that the common people had started calling for her death. They called it ‘a wife for a wife.’ Then, suddenly Jace was saving me and we managed to escape. I am most grateful.”

You meet his eyes from across the table, and he smiles as the table erupts into praise for the young Prince.

If anyone wanted to question why you left your escape so vague, they don’t. Rhaenyra squeezes your hand, Daemon places a hand on your shoulder.

When the table quiets, Lord Corlys thanks you again. They talk about potential retaliation, and they don’t even notice when Maester Gerardys comes, bringing a letter and depositing it in front of Rhaenyra.

You watch as Rhaenyra reads, as her face drops, as she curses under her breath. You are just about to ask her what is wrong when she stands.

“My Lords… I have grave news from House Saunton. Aegon has retaliated first, sacked cities in the Crownlands. They advance on Rook’s Rest. The house requests aid, from us.”

The room is silent for a moment. No matter the fighting in the Riverlands, the tension in the Reach, this feels like the first stroke of war.

“Aemond the Kinslayer leads the charge on Vhagar.” She finishes, and no one speaks until Rhaenys does.

“I shall head to Rook’s Rest and battle against Aemond. Meleys is also accustomed to battle. I doubt we will be able to kill him, but I have faith we will drive away his forces.”

“My dear wife,” Corlys starts, and you can just barely make out the fear in his face. “Vhagar is the oldest and most powerful dragon know to this world. You cannot even attempt to face them alone.”

At the first mention of Aemond’s name, you had remembered what he said to you on the night of the reunion. The night of the death of Blood and Cheese. What he did to you, what he took from you when he kidnapped you.

You have never been one for revenge or vengeance, even with your late husband. You always rationalized that he lived and he breathed, and refused to let Daemon kill him simply because he was dying on his own.

But Aemond… he lives and he breathes, but you know truly he does not deserve to.

When you speak, it is death on your lips.

“I shall accompany Princess Rhaenys on Cannibal. We shall defend Rook’s Rest. I shall kill Aemond and his dragon. I shall exact vengeance for his crimes.”

—-

taglist:

@wondergal2001 @akiraquote @a-lil-bit-nuts @anginoguera @thatkinkylesgirl1 @stitchattacks @honeypillowsblog @kaloafd @blackhoodlea @softtina @wallace02sblog @tetgod @hotd-fanfic @rxscpctals @iramagnus

[patrocles]

Considering he’s right about the other leaks I can’t see him being wrong about the helaemond leak. Aemond’s had the most screentime of the kids, they’re not going to keep him holed up in Harrenhal to only have a romance and burn the Riverlands and then give the most significant events to the son that none of the show only viewers know exists. Theyll prob give Aemond Daeron’s storyline so he’ll fight to get back to KL and Helaena which is where the aemon/naerys element comes in&will lead the sack

(cont'd) of Bitterbridge to avenge Maelor. Alys isnt important to the core story of hotd which is about the Targaryens and her story is unfinished so there’s no satisfying point to leave it off. Nothing is lost if she’s left out. The writers dont care about characters outside the immediate family circle. With helaemond they can just build upon s1 and flesh out Helaena and it ties together his death with her suicide which leads to the revolt. For Aemond he will struggle between duty and personal desire.

I've been thinking about how to reply to this. I could go into depth about how I don't agree with your interpretation of Aemond's character and the show overall. I know my words will be wasted so I'm not going to bother.

I think I'm moreso trying to figure out what you want my reaction to be with all this? "Oh now I'm convinced that Alys isn't important at all so I'm going to stop caring about her and come over to the Helaemond side! You've won me over."

I've been in the ASOIAF fandom for so long and I've seen all manners of ships happening, every combination you can think of. I don't care what anyone does and I literally don't care what people are into. Helaemond has a lot of traction, it has a lot of fics and fanart and people that support it. And yet me and the like 5 others who enjoy Alys and her relationship with Aemond are getting these anons here on tumblr with messages just like this or randos on twitter trying to ~convince us~ or really just try and shit on our fun about how Alys won't be in the show and doesn't matter, for what? It it not enough to have your ship? Do you so desperately need us on your side or just don't like seeing others enjoy something you don't because that enjoyment is somehow threatening?

You clearly seem to have put a lot of thought into this theory and that's cool. It honestly sounds like you needed more convincing than I do. Respectfully, I don't care. I don't enjoy this ship, I don't see the narrative function of it, I think the "this character doesnt matter to the ending therefore they should be cut" is a bad storytelling runoff from Game of Thrones and has rotted so many people's brains in how they watch this show (not to mention wrong in this case), and I think the "evidence" is wafer thin at best and requires a complete overhaul of Aemond's arc to make it work.

I like Alys Rivers, I like her relationship with Aemond, I have since before the show even aired, and that's where I'm staying. I don't need to be disproved or convinced otherwise.

[mintharaestermont]

"well," minthara began, taking a moment to regard malee. there was no judgement in the way she looked at her, merely gratitude. that was the thing about minty - she could be utterly incorrigible to those who approached her in the wrong ways, but if she was to decide she liked someone, it brought out the good in her that some overlooked.

"i think you have more backbone than you think you do." she spoke decisively, as though her own words were the only opinion on the subject that mattered. "i mean, i just made a complete show of myself just then. you didn't have to speak to me. you could have stuck your nose up. but you didn't. that says something."

she gave a small, thankful nod, and turned her attention back to the field. malee was right. as far as minthara was concerned, principles were all she had. "it's not that i'm above playing along or anything. not when the request is genuine." had the knight been a stormlander, or a riverlander, or near enough anybody who was not looking down his nose at her, even from where she sat in the stand above him, she would have handed her favour over without complaint. "but i think it's more important to keep hold of your dignity rather than hand it away to just anybody." it was debateable whether the word dignity could be used, but it certainly helped minthara reckon with the consequences of any of her actions.

and the other's words rang true. all too often, they were expected to relinquish who they were, let go of all they had, because someone who thought themselves their better demanded it, and to do so with a smile on their lips.

"you'll find a knight who knows the worth of it." in that, she was sure. she were a beautiful woman who seemed to have a sweet soul - surely the object of affection for many a knight. "and if you still decide to keep hold of it, that's your right too. you owe them nothing." she did not owe minthara anything either, but she supposed she wasn't asking for it - only that she consider her options.

"malee westerling." she repeated the others name, committing it to memory. "the pleasure is mine." the knight who had approached them was knocked from his horse, and when the crowd cheered, minthara cheered loudly along with them. "i think it is the way of all who were born near the sea, whether island or coast. we all end up with veins full of salt water."

malee tilted her head slightly as minthara’s words sank in, her fingers tracing the delicate ribbon at her wrist. the gesture was simple, but it stirred something deeper within her. she had often been told to smile and let things pass, to avoid confrontation, to yield. but minty had not yielded. she had defied the expectation, leaving the lady of the crag with a strange sense of admiration.

“i see,” malee said softly, her voice thoughtful, but with a quiet conviction. she couldn’t imagine the tension the other had felt, the weight of that decision, but she felt something stir in herself, a flicker of understanding. “your mother’s wisdom might be more common, but I agree with you, even if i do not possess the backbone to act upon it.” she murmured with humor, shifting her gaze, she watched the knights on the field, but her mind was elsewhere. “it’s not always about the prize, but the principle, isn’t it?”

the lady's fingers moved back to the ribbon, pulling it gently as she processed her new acquaintence's words. the knight’s earlier arrogance hadn’t gone unnoticed by her either. she could see why it might irk someone with a sense of pride, the guts to say something.

“maybe you’re right,” she mused, a slight smile touching her lips. “if it’s a matter of dignity, there’s freedom in not bending to it. it’s strange, though,” she added, as if speaking more to herself than to minthara, “how we’re often trained to relinquish that freedom without realizing it.” she were not often open about her thoughts, but the other's actions spurred some confidence in speaking about it to the other.

the crowd’s cheers rose once more, but malee was only half-aware of them. she was too caught up in the conversation, the weight of what had been said.

“thank you, lady estermont,” she said after a pause, her smile softer now, warm with gratitude. “you’ve given me something to think on.” she touched the ribbon briefly, her eyes meeting minty's. “i’ll hold it with care.” the words were simple, but there was something in them that carried a promise.

“my name is malee westerling,” she added after a moment, her gaze softening further, “of the crag, here in the west. it’s an honor to make your acquaintance.” she gave a friendly smile. "we've no island, but are keep is settled upon the coast, so i do have a love for the sea, as i imagine you must."

[buttercuparry]

Day 4: favorite quotes

So, writing a meta based on this prompt proved quite the struggle for me. And the reason behind it was that there are simply too many mesmerizing quotes to choose from! I mean how do you choose? How do you decide when Arya's character is so rich that in almost every chapter in every book we have some kind of quote, adding to her complexity.

So I decided to keep it simple and began from a non-arya POV.

Ironically one of my favourite moments in AGoT is actually from Sansa's pov. We see her commenting (somewhat disapprovingly) on Arya's free spirit and it struck me then, that despite being born a noble man's daughter (in a society that actively encourages class segregation), Arya chooses to interact with her father's subjects with dignity.

Sansa knew all about the sorts of people Arya liked to talk to: squires and grooms and serving girls, old men and naked children, rough-spoken freeriders of uncertain birth. Arya would make friends with anybody. 

Arya definitely possesses a natural love for people and perhaps this is why she pushes against the constraints of the Westerosi society so vigorously. Why she feels that apathy for the common folk isn't the way to go.

In a similar vein is her iconic quote of:

"The woman is important too!"

There have been lot of misunderstandings in the fandom regarding Arya's views on the feminine. And most of it is a result of D&D's horrendous: most girls are idiots.

So I think this quote from Arya deserves a mention as we see that despite her reservations against the Royal family, Arya still manages to dismiss Jon's flippant opinion of Cersei's display of Lannister colours as her being vain.

Also another thing that I would like to mention is how brilliant it is of Grrm to actually introduce nuance to Arya's character. She is not a Mary Sue as some so mockingly claim her to be.

By that I mean to say that yes, even if our girl is vehemently against treating common folks as fodder to a nobleman's cruelty, she can be naive and have a very black and white concept about the ways of war ( which is understandable since she is just 9 years old). So it really is a stroke of genius on Grrm's part when throughout ASoS, he makes Arya confront the fact that there are no 'good' and 'bad' side in war. That her House, and its allies have been just as cruel as the Lannisters.

One such example of it is the scene that unfolds at the Stoney Sept. Here we get to see Arya's despair when she realizes that the men forced into cages are actually Northern Men who too have brutalized, raped and plundered their way through the Riverlands.

She looked at their filthy hair and scraggly beards and reddened eyes, at their dry, cracked, bleeding lips. Wolves, she thought again. Like me. Was this her pack? How could they be Robb's men? She wanted to hit them. She wanted to hurt them. She wanted to cry. They all seemed to be looking at her, the living and the dead alike. The old man had squeezed three fingers out between the bars. "Water," he said, "water."

These quotes are definitely not the whole of it. But they do give us an insight as to who Arya is and who she will grow to be in her future. And that's why I think that these deserve a celebration in their own way.

[jackoshadows]

Do you think that Sansa's "flaws" are gonna be something she eventually confronts herself? Things like her classism, treatment of Arya/Jon, etc.? She has had a lot of growth in some aspects but it doesn't really feel like she's grown much in that area, at least to me. Especially not when compared to other characters. I don't see it causing huge issues, but I could definitely see it causing some personal conflict with her siblings if/when they reunite.

For me personally, I think if she was going to confront what I feel are her flaws, she would have done it by now you know? The author has written in plenty of circumstances where Sansa could reflect on past actions and grow and for some reason GRRM just does not build on it. Maybe because he does not think it’s a flaw or maybe because he thinks that character growth has already happened on page (Like when he said Sansa regrets the role she played in Ned’s death) or maybe because there are other more important things that need to happen in the limited time and number of books he has left.

To give an example, take book 3 ASoS:

Sister. Sansa had once dreamt of having a sister like Margaery;  beautiful and gentle, with all the world’s graces at her command. Arya  had been entirely unsatisfactory as sisters went. How can I let my  sister marry Joffrey? she thought, and suddenly her eyes were full of  tears. “Margaery, please,” she said, “you mustn’t.” It was hard to get  the words out. “You mustn’t marry him. He’s not like he seems, he’s not.  He’ll hurt you.” - Sansa, ASoS

If GRRM had written it like Sansa thinking that she was unable to help her sister Arya against Joffrey and so this time she could try and help Margaery and do right what she had got wrong in AGoT - that’s actual character development. So many characters do it. For example, Jon apologizes to Grenn and Pyp for being a bully and sets about taking the time to teach them the sword.

However that’s not what happens here.

Sansa had once dreamt of having a sister like Margaery; beautiful and  gentle, with all the world’s graces at her command. Arya had been entirely unsatisfactory as sisters went.

She is still slagging off Arya! Even two books after being proved wrong regarding the likes of beautiful, elegant people like Cersei and Joffrey, she still assigns value to good looks and propriety. She considers this stranger she hardly knows, Margaery, to be her sister because she is beautiful and graceful.

And then after Margaery ends up using her and betraying her, we still don’t get any introspection about her real sister.

It’s the same when she spends a book pretending to be a bastard and yet fails to hold any opinions on bastardy itself. Not even about Jon, just the concept of bastardy. Daenerys sold into slavery leads her on a campaign to free slaves. Arya’s trek through war torn Riverlands helps her understand what the small folk are going through and that the North were equally culpable in what was being done. Jon’s bastardy and Tyrion’s disability allows them to sympathize with those who are othered and ostracized. Bran was always kind and sweet and he’s only 7-9, but there’s a great deal of growth in his ACoK arc as prince of Winterfell. 

And yet with Sansa, while she’s aghast at having to play a pretend bastard and hurt when Harry calls her as such - at no point does she reflect on why it’s unfair for bastards to be treated that way, only that she herself has to experience this.

That’s why it’s hilarious when stans make a great deal about her rare thoughts on Jon Snow in AFfC when Myranda Royce brings him up.

She had not thought of Jon in ages. He was only her half brother, but still … with Robb and Bran and Rickon dead, Jon Snow was the only brother that remained to her. I am a bastard too now, just like him. Oh, it would be so sweet, to see him once again.

She has completely forgotten about the existence of her bastard brother despite playing a pretend bastard in the Vale.

All my real brothers are dead and only the half brother is left, he will have to make do.

Oh and now I have been reduced to his level as a bastard.

It will be sweet to see him again.

Even now, at the end of book five Sansa does not still get it when it comes to class and sisterhood and brotherhood and family and all that.

And then of course in the TWoW sample chapter we see her overhearing LF’s price gouging scheme and as someone who is from the North, I would assume Sansa has an idea of the scarcity of food. And yet, all we have is extravagant feasts and 12 foot tall lemon cakes.

Again, Jon, Dany, Tyrion, Arya and Bran have all gone through dealing with food shortages as leaders and have found themselves scavenging for food and experiencing hunger. And yet, even when hit in the face with the reason for why the hungry smallfolk are rioting for food, Sansa is unable to comprehend why she was attacked while Margaery was a favorite.

Hopefully we do have some personal growth for Sansa in books 6 or 7, possibly when she meets up with Arya and they sort out the ‘Deep Issues’ between them. At least some growth in regards to her relationship with Arya is certainly happening considering the author has commented on it and that is an important relationship for both characters. Everything else? If it was going to happen, IMO it should have already happened.

[stormcloudrising]

What are your thoughts on Arya's arc in the final 2 novels ?

Hi Nonny,

Happy New Year and thanks for the query.

I think that Arya's story in the last two books will be jam packed but first she has to make it out of Braavos.

As I mentioned in my essay on Ser Shadrach, The Secret of Shady Glen, the Faceless Men are compared to mice multiple times throughout the text...including Arya herself. The interesting thing is that I was recently re-reading Arya's Blind Girl chapter from ADWD and it suddenly hit me that the Faceless Men who are symbolically compared to mice, invited a symbolic cat in the form of Arya into their mist.

Arya herself unknowingly invites a real cat into the House of Black & White and it's through the eyes of this cat that she is able to see that the Kindly Man who has been attacking her with the stick.

“It is good to know. This is two. Is there a third?”

“Yes. I know that you’re the one who has been hitting me.” Her stick flashed out, and cracked against his fingers, sending his own stick clattering to the floor.

The priest winced and snatched his hand back. “And how could a blind girl know that?”

I saw you. “I gave you three. I don’t need to give you four.” Maybe on the morrow she would tell him about the cat that had followed her home last night from Pynto’s, the cat that was hiding in the rafters, looking down on them. Or maybe not. If he could have secrets, so could she.”

A Dance with Dragons - The Blind Girl

This suggests that Arya will learn many secrets of the Faceless Men through the eyes of that cat. Like a cat with mice, she also quite likely will kill a few of them before she leaves. The interesting thing is that the FM probably knows that she’s a skinchanger. It's likely the reason why they were so interested in her to begin with. 

So why did they take the risk of inviting a skinchanger into their midst and continue to give her second chances...especially as they know that they have not broken her connection to her Stark identity. It’s because having a skinchanger on their team is a tool beyond imagining, both for their line of work and as a spy.

However, I suspect that they have further plans for the Starks. And so, whatever their plans for Arya and the Starks in general, they must certainly think that it's worth it. Arya’s Braavosi arc is one that I'm really interested in seeing play out as I think it's very important to the final outcome of the story.

Of course, when she makes it back to Westorsi, events in the Riverland will be waiting for her. I don't think that she will be the one to end the Frey line like on the show. I think that part will be taken care of by Lady Stoneheart, the Blackfish and the Brotherhood. However, I do think that Arya will encounter her mother before she heads North and she will be the one to give her mercy...hence the title of her preview chapter from TWOW. I don't think that she becomes Arya again until she offers mercy to her mom and it will be heart breaking to read.

She will also lead the Wolfpack through Nymeria as the Tullys regain control of the Riverlands. She may even take them North for the Battle for the Dawn. I also think it's possible that through Nymeria, she might participate in the take down of Ramsay and his bitches. However, I'm not 100% sure that she will be back North in time for that event. It could just be the direwolves currently in the North that will participate.

Nevertheless, I definitely think that she will participate in the final battle between the Dragon and the Wolf that I foresee happening at the Trident.

The river was a blue-green ribbon shining in the morning sun. Reeds grew thick in the shallows along the banks, and Arya saw a water snake skimming across the surface, ripples spreading out behind it as it went. Overhead a hawk flew in lazy circles.

A Clash of Kings - Arya IV

I think that this scene foreshadows Arya being in the Trident area while Dragons are in the area. Dragons are compared to snakes, eagles and other birds of prey several times in the text. In the excerpt above, the water snake can be seen as a sea dragon and so, it might symbolically represent Bran or Sansa who I see as dragons of the greensea. In this instance, it's most likely symbolically a stand-in for Bran as I think that Sansa has a different role to play.

However, I do think that the hawk circling overhead is a symbolic stand-in for a dragon, which to me suggests that Arya will at some point be looking up at dragons or at least one from the vicinity of the Trident. She also possibly might bring it down with a weirwood bow and arrow.

There is no Nights King in the modern storyline persay and so Arya won't be killing him like on the show, but we do have Euron Greyjoy who has been set up as the big villain of the final act. However, I think that Jon will be the one to take him out as Dawn goes up against Blackfyre.

Will Arya sail west of Westeros at the end of the books as on the show? I actually would not be shocked if she does as it would fit her arc and she would be symbolically sailing into the sunset sea.

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

Exactly, exactly. Not everything in a story is there to advance the plot; it can be to advance character or setting or mood. And the food porn is often good at all three - e.g. Tyrion's infamous “the swan was too rich for his taste” scene:

Cersei set a tasty table, that could not be denied. They started with a creamy chestnut soup, crusty hot bread, and greens dressed with apples and pine nuts. Then came lamprey pie, honeyed ham, buttered carrots, white beans and bacon, and roast swan stuffed with mushrooms and oysters. Tyrion was exceedingly courteous; he offered his sister the choice portions of every dish, and made certain he ate only what she did. Not that he truly thought she'd poison him, but it never hurt to be careful. [...] As the swan was being served, the queen questioned him about the conspiracy of the Antler Men. She seemed more annoyed than afraid. "Why are we plagued with so many treasons? What injury has House Lannister ever done these wretches?" "None," said Tyrion, "but they think to be on the winning side . . . which makes them fools as well as traitors." "Are you certain you've found them all?" "Varys says so." The swan was too rich for his taste. —A Clash of Kings, Tyrion XII

In Tyrion IX, 13 chapters earlier but 3 within his POV, Tyrion and Cersei both barely survived a riot by the starving people of King's Landing, desperate for bread. And here they are now, eating these incredibly rich foods, so rich that it's too much, and wondering why they have to deal with traitors in the city. "What has House Lannister ever done to these people?" God, the very idea!

The "travelogues" are also important for the other three elements of storytelling, but especially setting and mood (especially in the Riverlands for what should be obvious reasons). And when people are skipping these travel scenes, who skip the food scenes because they just want to "get on with it", it's no wonder why they miss so much of the characterization and themes of the story as well.

(There may also be correlation between people who don't like the food or travel sequences and people who don't like fantasy, like the one who asked me if I thought ASOIAF would be more "interesting" if the magical elements were removed. But I hesitate to make that connection- I mean, it feels like there's a correlation to me, because I've noticed the same people who call Brienne chapters boring also call Bran chapters boring, but still, it might be too much of a jump there.)

People have different levels of tolerance for it, but wondering if there was there ever a long passage in the books describing some meal where you just went to yourself, "OK George, we get it and can we just move it along."

Well, I grew up on the food porn in Redwall novels, which Brian Jacques wrote as essentially a tone poem for blind children that he was reading to in hospital. So I have an unusually high tolerance for it, so I’ve never had a problem with it.

[destellolunar]

SABRINA'S MONTHLY OBSESSIONS:

MARCH 2021

Fics:

Heal by AzulRoma (@roma-northr)

Tomorrows that follow @little-miss-sunny-daisy

Quiet light by coveredinthecolors

White winds blow by @helpless-in-sleep​

Waiting for you by @misssophiachase​

Picturesque by @supernutellastuff​

Edits:

The wolf posters by @recyclingss

Rebelion by @labime​

She will never forget him by @klavscaroline​

Big bad wolf by @lyannainsomnia

Magic of pegasus and tangled fusions by @klarolineagainnaturally

Blogs:

@parallel-outlines

@likemypulse

F i c s

HEAL — AzulRoma

Summary: Devotion told through the pain swallowing their hearts; a display of love through the act of cleaning each other's tears. [One shot]

Why am I obsessed?: The way of words this author has it's wonderful, it's truly something else. This is a very underrated story and most people should know about this beauty and this author. Her writing style is really deep and I absolutely adore the way she writes Klaroline, their scenes always get stuck in my mind, it's the perfect mix of intense emotions and sweetness. This is an emotional story, but it's precious.

WHITE WINDS BLOW — perfectpro

Summary: Caroline Forbes waits anxiously in the Riverlands to hear of the return of her betrothed, Elijah Mikaelson, from the uprising against the mad King Silas. Instead, a letter arrives from his younger brother, Lord Niklaus, telling her of Elijah's death and offering to uphold the joining of their houses himself. She will become the Lady of Winterfell, but Lord Niklaus, waiting at the heart tree, is a stranger. [One shot]

Why am I obsessed?: I'm trash for GOT au's, and the univese building in this one is exceptional. The narration it's so genuine, I honestly felt like I was watching a show and it was really magical. The way the KC relationship evolves is full of tender, how they slowly built up a bond despite the tragedy it has behind was such a joy to read.

QUIET LIGHT — coveredinthecolors

Summary: Caroline Forbes sets off to the Bahamas with her boyfriend, Elijah, where she'll finally meet his brother for the first time. But as it turns out... she knows Klaus Mikaelson a little too well.

Multi chapter: 1/10 (in progress)

Why am I obsessed?: This is a love triangle between our favorite originals and it's genuinely amazing! By the time I got to the end of the first chapter I was freaking out, and now, the anticipation is consuming me. Plus, Luiza's writing is the most glorious and poetic thing ever and adds so much climax into the story. It's filled with drama and I want all of it!

TOMORROWS THAT FOLLOW — sunnydaisy

Summary: How was she supposed to know that the cute guy she had seen on her morning run was a prince?

That’s what she gets for deleting her Instagram.

Multi chapter: 3/? (In progress)

Why am I obsessed?: Modern royalty fic with prince Klaus and actress Caroline it's everything to me! It's beautifully written and the story is so intriguing and charming. It's super fluffy and it's the perfect one to put a huge smile on your face. Besides, this was the story that made me obsessed with the modern royalty trope. It's so good and brings light to my life.

WAITING FOR YOU — misssophiachase

Summary: Detectives Klaus Mikaelson and Caroline Forbes are forced to work together on an organised crime case. Given their growing attraction and close proximity solving a murder is the least of their problems. [One shot]

Why am I obsessed?: The world building here is so good, it's an amazing story and although it's about detective KC it goes beyond that. The importance the author gives to all the chacarcters, how she lets them grow in so many aspects, the details, the dynamics, everything it's sensational. I love this one so much.

PICTURESQUE — supernutellastuff

Summary: She doesn’t talk to Klaus about feelings. Ever. Or at least when she’s sober. Sure, there are times when their friends pass out and the two of them lie on the rooftop, looking at the stars, and talk. Or times when they go to clubs and instead of trying to pick up people they find themselves in a corner spilling their guts amidst the pulsating lights. But alcohol or some other form of intoxication is definitely involved.

Klaroline (with a little Steroline) AU/AH where it's a miracle the gang still have working livers seeing that they spend more time than they should at the bar.

Multi chapter: 7/7 (completed)

Why am I obsessed?: This is a really engaging story and one of my favorites parts it's the dialogues. The pining was there but also some angst that show how an incredible way with words the author has. The chemistry between Klaus and Caroline is so real and it was delightful to get to read all their progress. It is fantastic!

E d i t s

THE WOLF POSTERS — recyclingss

Both in my heart and soul I believe The wolf by Yokan is canon, so these posters are everything I needed to complete that happiness. It's not only an amazing idea but the edits are fantastic! She captured the essence of the story so well and I can't stop staring at them. They are so stunning!

REBELION — labime

Is this one of the most stunning moodboards I have ever seen? Yes, is it. I adore the black and white aesthetic and the intensity of the pics. It's absolutely and perfectly gorgeous, it's so evocative and the overall atmosphere for the are it's inspired by it's unbelievable.

SHE WILL NEVER FORGET HIM — klavscaroline

This edit is stunning, I really love the inclusion of those pink roses and the overall aesthetic of it, but one of the reasons I'm obsessed with it it's because it's filled with so many deep emotions and feelings. It's beautiful and tragic, and I'm a mess everytime I read the little drabble it has. I adore it.

BIG BAD WOLF — lyannainsomnia

I could stare at this edit and everytime I will find something that I love. I consider dark aesthetics and color scheme a little bit tricky, but this one is perfection. The manip is so well done and the moodboard it's quite unique, I got goosebumps for how amazing it is.

MAGIC OF PEGASUS AND TANGLED FUSIONS by klarolineagainnaturally

We should be all thankful for having Lottie's talent and creativity on this fandom. I mean, KC x Barbie fusion? I never thought I needed that until I knew it was happening! This gif set it's stunning and has all the barbie vibes, and combining my younger self favorite story with my favorite couple it's a dream come true.

The tangled manip it's so realistic, like how? The color scheme just screams fairytale and I'm trash for it. I know everytime I'll watch Tangled I will only think about this beauty.

B l o g s

@parallel-outlines is the queen of klaroline gifs and no one can tell me otherwise. Her blog is art! Her gifs are everything to me, they are so realistic, so aesthetically pleasing, so cohesive and perfectly made. I could spend hours and hours in her blog and I will never get tired, there is so much art to look at and it's unbelievable how talented she is.

@likemypulse I recently found out this blog and I have spent so much time on it. Their edits are full of colors and they are super eye catching. The way they match the pictures and made such beautiful edits it's something that I really love and that I look up to. It's such a gorgeous blog!