#aemma arryn deserved better

[alicent-archive]

Just wrote in Aemma’s pov for my future fic ‘the family eats the family’ and holy fuck wow was that horrifying 😃, that being said, here’s a snippet of it:

@carriellie 🫶

(TW! Horrific depiction of childbirth, a graphic non-consensual c-section, and death).

The story repeated in the Red Keep goes like this: the Queen fought valiantly until her last breath, that she died doing her duty, and that she died for the future of the realm.

What they do not say is that Aemma died screaming, she died in agony, and she died feeling more afraid than she had ever felt in her life.

Aemma died pinned to the bed by her own attendants who had ensured the temperature of her baths were safe; she died with the Maester who had given her milk of the poppy to grant her a painless sleep the previous night hanging over her with a sharp instrument meant for sawing; and she died watching her womb be sliced from top to bottom with her husband--her Viserys oh what have you done Viserys please--allowing them to saw and saw and saw into her until her baby was wrestled out of her guts.

She died not knowing if her child was a Visenya or a Baelon.

[blessedbymoon]

"but here you are surrounded by people all focus on the baby. someone have to attend to you"

inspo, inspo

[sunfyredefender77]

Amma and Alicent deserved so much better :(

[ladyofthehightower]

i will my burn flesh and from, screaming the words, it will never be yours - last woman on earth, paris paloma

full edit below the cut <3

:D

[florzzzs2]

Those poor Targaryen girls

The brilliant artists of the fanart: naomi butello; @novembernatten; fklouis; corviids; thewweskywalker; Bella Bergolts; abiiibabejpeg; Riottartherite; zacckiell; artechillyraven;

I'm sorry if I forgot to mention anyone!

[eschercaine]

I was shook when I found out that Sian Brooke also plays Eurus Holmes in BBC’s Sherlock. And now, my mind is thinking of a House of the Dragon AU where Aemma Arryn is like Eurus.

Despite her kind nature and radiant smiles, only Daemon and maybe Rhaenys are aware how cunning and dangerous Aemma truly is, especially when provoked or slighted. And then, when Viserys chooses to cheat with Alicent of all people because Aemma fails to give him a living male heir, all hell breaks loose.

Viserys, a weak and gullible man he is, falls prey to Aemma’s mental manipulations and learns firsthand why he should not cross her.

Rhaenyra... she adores her mother more than Viserys and wants to be like her. And Daemon... he’s trying his best to prove himself to his sister-in-law that he is a worthy suitor for her daughter.

[lady-corrine]

Queen Aemma Arryn - Lady Aemma of House Arryn, herself a granddaughter of the Old King and Good Queen Alysanne through her mother, the late Princess Daella.

[absolutedoorknob]

This is a full response post because this comment deserved it @sarcasticsweetlara

Does it surprise me that Viserys married Aemma at 11? Not really, based off of what other high-society marriages Westeros has (Sansa was going to be married to Joffrey at 12 if Ned Stark wasn’t accused of being a traitor and the war of the five kings, also i do not know how old Viserys was when he and Aemma got married), and at that young it’s really just a political arrangement. Bedding at 13 is a little more sus.

I’m less familiar with Aemma’s death (I think because her actress doesn’t look 23 and I’m certainly not as familiar with the book). From what I’ve read, Aemma was unfortunately going to die regardless of the c-section or not, but that doesn’t excuse Viserys from cutting her open, making her suffer more and ultimately for nothing because the baby died soon after. Without the c-section, Aemma would most likely still have died but she would have at least died with dignity, and possibly not in pain as she could have been given milk of the poppy. But no. Viserys is selfish and picked a gruesome death for his wife over a baby.

But no. I’m not going to stop ragging on old Vizzy T here. Because he still got Aemma pregnant after FIVE MISCARRIAGES AND STILLBIRTHS. like he did not care for her health at all in that regard. Now I get the political pressure of having an heir and stuff, but once again Rhaenyra being an heir wouldn’t be a problem if there wasn’t a political precedent created in a watershed decision one generation ago that puts women in the back of the line of succession (that Viserys was also involved in.) Literally, some maester must have told him AT SOME POINT that any further pregnancies for Aemma would not be in her best interest and that they would be extremely high risk of not fatal for both her and the baby. That is a man who does. Not. Care. About his wife and only cares about the possibility of a son.

It all goes back to Viserys. Because he started it.

[joyfulladywarrior]

Haunting au part 1

Viserys is cursed. He has to be. The gods gave him a dream that reassured him of the future of the Targeryen dynasty. A son with the conqueror's crown who is so great that even dragons are trembling from fear of him. His son died not even a day after being born. His small body burning on the funeral pyre with his mother. He can't look at Rhaenyra, his only child who gave him so much hope. He can't console her for her loss. He can only pray that she is unaware of what transpired.

Viserys started moving back to the red keep with everyone else. He has to hear their condolences. He has to console the Arryns as well. Most of Aemma's household were from the Vale and some had witnessed yesterday's events. While Otto has reassured him that no one would speak a word, Viserys is still unsure about meeting them but someone has to do so. The day was long and difficult for everyone involved and the people were mourning their queen. He had finally survived the day and went to his chambers. The kingsgaurd had knocked and announced a late-night visitor. Viserys' visitor has brought a book and provided companionship during the night.

That night, when Viserys has finally slept, he was dreaming that he was back at the funeral and instead of being with the crowd, he was on the pyre. He saw his Balerion opening his jaws and burning him with his wife and son with everyone watching. Viserys awoke with a scream.

"Your grace!! Is everything alright?"

"Yes, ser Harrold. It was only a dream."

"Should I call for a maester?"

"No, no. There is no need. I am fine. It was only a dream. Tell me ser Harrold, is it morning yet?"

"Yes, your grace. Would you like me to call the princess to break her fast with you?"

"No, I will break my fast alone today"

Viserys broke his fast alone and went to his small council meetings. The council had already started giving him marriage options. The only two who had not done so are his dearest friend Otto Hightower and his master of law, Lyonel Strong. At night, his special visitor came to read him a book and he had the same dream of burning with Aemma and Baelon. He also did the same the day after and the day after till six moons had passed and he had only seen his daughter when required.

"Your grace" Lyonel Strong said with a bow.

"Lord Strong! What brings you to my private chambers today?"

"Your grace, I had come to discuss with you the matter of succession. It had only been two moons since the tragic passing of queen Aemma and prince Baelon. I understand that you are still burdened with their deaths."

"Say what you want plainly."

"Your grace, I wish to advise you that should you decide to remarry. The best option for this marriage would be Laena Velaryon. Everyone on the council are putting their daughters, nieces, and cousins in front of you and I had yet to do so. Laena Velaryon is of old Valyria with a Targaryen mother so your children would be full Valyrians."

Well, the only one now who did not give him a marriage option now is his dearest friend Otto. It was quiet ironic considered that the only option he was dreaming of marrying is Alicent. While he would never stop mourning Aemma's death, Alicent has started burrowing into his heart.

"What prompted this discussion Lord Strong?"

"I've been hearing rumors your grace and the arguing in the small council meetings regarding the matter have started to get outside of the meetings. I only wish for the stability of the realm."

"Your concerns are heard but the hour is quiet late Lord Strong. We shall convene again in the morrow."

"Of course your grace" Lyonel said with a bow and he left. On his way out, he saw a flash of dark blue that quickly disappeared behind a wall. While Lyonel decided not confirm the identity of the flash, he knew immediately that the rumors are true of how Otto Hightower had been celebrating the rise of his station already. However, it is too late now. He advised the king as well as he could do.

After Lyonel left and Alicent arrived, Viserys had decided that he is too stressed and could not listen to Alicent reading or doing anything else with her. He dismissed Alicent and decided to meet with Rhaenyra to have her blessings to remarry. While from their talk, Viserys knew that Rhaenyra believes he wishes to wed Laena Velaryon, Viserys understands that since Rhaenyra gave her blessings, the identity of the bride should not be an issue to her. After all, Rhaenyra and Alicent had been companions since childhood.

The following morning came and Viserys convened with his council, his daughter, and his paramour. Rhaenyra had given him an encouraging smile.

"I intent to marry... the lady Alicent Hightower" with those words, the council had erupted and realm started to divide.

That night, Viserys dreamt of cold hands. They were everywhere. Holding him down. Stripping him of his clothes. Pushing down on his stomach with their nails. Viserys was screaming so much. He was in an unimaginable pain. His stomach finally ripped and the cold hands went inside and grabbed something foreign. When Viserys was able to get a good look at it, he saw something that is supposed to be a baby. The baby was malformed. He did not look like a dragon like the children Aemma had lost. It had looked like a monster from his childhood's nightmares. Its color was green with specks of gold and ice cold skin. It was wailing strongly. Stronger than even Rhaenyra had. It looked like it is in agony. Viserys was tempted to throw the thing from the window. If not to end its suffering, then for the realm to be safe from it. The cold hands gave the creature to Otto instead who had an unusual smile.

"Here your grace. It is a boy"

Note: The nightmares are escalating and are beginning to be a little messed up. I'll try to make sure they get worst (no promises). I didn't plan the next part yet but I have a few ideas.

Also, I'm still very new at writing dialogues between characters so any constructive feedback is appreciated

[sunfyredefender77]

The tragedy of women in asoiaf

[green-aeggs-and-spam]

Much has already been said about the various ways that Jaehaerys has neglected, demeaned, and abused his daughters, so I'm going to talk about their marriages (particularly for the younger girls).

Daella and Viserra are both matched off to much older men who already have heirs of their own from a first wife - any children of theirs would inherit nothing. Then there's Saera - Jaehaerys considered all of her teenage companions to be promising matches, except they're really not. They are heirs, but Houses Mooton, Connington, and Beesbury aren't particularly impressive. They're not Lords Paramount (Rodrik Arryn - Daella) and they're not even prominent vassals (Theomore Manderly - Viserra).

So, what gives? Why is Jaehaerys organizing such terrible marriages for his daughters?

My theory: he's intentionally organizing bad matches as a means of limiting the number of half-Targaryens who could one day challenge for the Iron Throne.

The formative experience of his childhood was Maegor usurping the Throne, and one of the challenges of his early reign was Rogar Baratheon attempting a coup to crown his niece Rhaella (who may or may not have been Aerea). Queen Rhaena could have pushed her own claim after Maegor died, and Jaehaerys is lucky that she didn't. Then there's Aerea, an angry teenage girl who was upset about losing her position as heir and upset about being stuck on Dragonstone with her mother, who went and claimed Balerion when left unsupervised. Imagine if she'd successfully commanded Balerion to fly to King's Landing to push her claim - that's not a fight Jaehaerys and Alysanne could have won.

Branches of House Targaryen are a threat. Nieces and nephews and cousins with Targaryen blood are a threat. If preventing that threat means marrying all of his girls off to old men and letting their children inherit nothing, then so be it. Aemon and Baelon are the only ones who really matter.

Jaehaerys wanted to give Alyssa to his heir Aemon, but Alysanne insisted she was "for Baelon," so he accepts this one branch while keeping an eye on them. He ensures his sons are close and sets up Baelon as a future Hand of the King for Aemon. Viserys and Daemon don't receive cradle eggs, and neither one of them claims a dragon (or is allowed to claim, if I were to guess) until after their father Baelon becomes heir apparent. When an eventual succession crisis arrives, Jaehaerys settles the issue clearly and publicly through a Great Council.

As for the other possible branches? Even if all of his younger daughters had married, even if all of them had sons, those sons wouldn't be in any position to challenge the Throne. Maybe a half-Targaryen Lord Arryn would be a threat; a third son of House Arryn wouldn't be, nor would a fourth son of House Manderly. A half-Targaryen Lord Mooton or Connington or Beesbury could never muster an army or gather enough support for his claim. If his daughters have daughters? As evidenced by Aemma, they'll have no better prospects than a Targaryen prince as husband.

His daughters have no value as people who deserve happiness. They're either brides for his sons, tools to be used, or obstacles to be removed.

[wcrriorhearts]

aemma wants to reach out and pull the boy close, hold him like she used to hold his mother, but she doesn't want to overstep boundaries. he doesn't know her and all of this is a shock to his system. moments ago he was trying to escape his uncle, flying his little dragon as fast as he could, before it all ended - probably before his mind could even comprehend what was happening. now he stands before her, a woman he has never met and only heard stories of, someone he knows is dead.

"you did not owe a dept, sweet boy", aemma says, shaking her head and gripping his hand a little tighter in reflex. "none of what happened was in the name of justice. you were a little child when you accidentally cut aemond so badly that he lost his eye, in an attempt to protect your brother and cousins. you should not have wielded a knife, but you were not old enough to truly understand the repercussions. what your uncle did to you was not justice. he is an adult, you were barely at the cusp of becoming one. you stood no chance against him and vhagar. please do not believe that you deserved any of it." her voice is gentle, yet firm, because the last thing she wants is for luke to think that his childhood mistake made him deserving of a fate so cruel and heinous.

when he inquires about the father, aemma cocks her head to the side. "ah. well, the one who died. it might not be who you think it is, however. nonetheless, he will be more comfort to you than me. you never met me in life, unfortunately and even your mother was much younger than you are now when she last saw me. she was your little brother's age. i wish i could have seen you boys grow up in person and not from...here. but i watched you nonetheless." her smile grows again and she reaches out to cup luke's cheek. "i used to call your mother my sweet girl. she called you sweet boy, because you often reminded her of me. you have a good heart, my darling luke. i'm sorry you did not have the chance to use it fully in life."

he sees her thumb move, but there is nothing to feel, and it is another violent reminder of what had happened. he has to stop the instinct to wrench his hand away, the memory of holding mother's hand flashing on his mind. he had spent like what had seemed half of his childhood clinging to her, the easiest way he had had to draw strength and calm himself when he was upset. gods, mother. he was to bring her the stormland's support and instead he would never return, in the wake of visenya's loss as well. for a day, perhaps they would assume lord baratheon had hosted him under his roof, the warm welcome mother had thought he would receive, but what would they think when the days passed and he did not return ? there would be no body to burn, to bury properly under the sea, most of him eaten by vhagar and what little not lost to the waves. would they find arrax's body, at the least ?

❝ yes. but vhagar was scarier, i think. ❞ he admits in the end, voice hardly louder than a whisper before he clears his throat. she's so kind, is all he can think. how different their lives would have been, had she lived ? they said grandsire had loved her, he had heard whispered. he knows mother had loved her, which had been enough for him to miss a woman he had never met. perhaps they would have stayed at the red keep, rather than hiding in dragonstone, much as he had loved the island. perhaps the court would not have been divided between those who supported mother and those who would have seen her usurped. ❝ don't apologize, lady grandmother, it wasn't your fault and ― i owed a debt. ❞ one he would have rather not paid, that he had thought he would have more time for, and he had thought his uncle would not kill him, but it had been chasing him since he was five and the queen had demanded his eye as payment. he knows the price for his miscalculation, now. ❝ which ― which father ? ❞ he stumbles through the last words, but he has to ask. he's dead. if there's a moment for it not to matter, it's now. he wants mother to hold him and jace and even daemon, standing with dark sister at hand, but he does not want them to join them for a long time, will gladly take his grandmother and visenya and his father, whichever of the two he has called such in his mind, in the meantime ( but he hopes laenor is there, he's missed him more than words can say ).

[drakaripykiros130ac]

I just want to talk about Daemon’s first marriage for a moment.

I have seen people left and right shitting on him for how he treated “poor Rhea Royce”.

Let’s get something straight. There is no “poor Rhea Royce”. This woman was spiteful and cold. She wasn’t happy in this marriage, anymore than Daemon was, and yet she didn’t do anything about it. She just persisted in this false union, with no other objective than to torment Daemon. She could have demanded an annulment anytime during those years, and she had a good chance to actually get it.

Daemon had been asking Viserys for an annulment for years, for very good reasons: there were no children which resulted from this union and they didn’t even live together. Not to mention that Daemon never said his vows (Queen Alysanne did it for him). This marriage was basically on parchment. Nothing more. But because Viserys knew how Daemon was, he chose not to give him what he wanted. However, had it been Rhea herself who demanded an annulment, Viserys couldn’t have outright refused her.

There was no reason not to grant an annulment. The relations between the Crown and the Vale wouldn’t have been affected in any way, since Aemma Arryn was Queen.

Daemon’s marriage to Rhea Royce didn’t bring much to the table. He just got the short end of the stick because he was the youngest of Jaehaerys and Alysanne’s grandchildren and there weren’t many options for Valyrian spouses.

Viserys got Aemma (half Targaryen) and the Crown. Rhaenys got herself a love match with a powerful Valyrian lord (Corlys), and Daemon…well…

We all know how Daemon is. Upfront, rude etc. Yes, he lashed out and bashed Rhea Royce in public. It’s not nice, but you try being chained over ten years in marriage to a woman who’s your wife in nothing but name (and who refuses to let you go out of spite). Daemon was in his thirties and he had no children born to him. He wanted heirs of his own and both Rhea and Viserys were denying him that.

Daemon was a Targaryen Prince of many talents, who deserved a better wife from the start. Alysanne did him dirty.

[kazz-brekker]

hotd episode 5 thoughts:

this was a pretty talk-heavy episode, which i guess is to be expected after all the action of rook's rest, but i am glad it seems like there will be more dragons and drama in the next episode

ooooh boy the greens parading the head of meleys through king's landing was NOT a good pr move, it is such a bad look to show that the creatures you based your entire reign around are fallible and can be killed

kind of thought aegon's burns might be even worse than they turned out to be, but the maesters having to cut that armor off his body because it had sealed to the wounds was pretty gross

i feel like rhaenyra and alicent need another secret meet-up to commiserate about workplace sexism because WOW those two councils were infuriating

jace flying off on his dragon to do some unsanctioned diplomacy just like rhaenyra did when she was a teenager…he really is his mother's son

i HAVE missed caraxes the noodle dragon, it is true, good to see him again <3

daemon's petulant little "i did not think they would be so eager to die" while sitting on a rock in his fancy dragon armor was really fucking funny

we got to see jeyne arryn and the eyrie, at last! and some of her dialogue was a direct quote from the books, which is fun

rhaenyra and mysaria's dynamic is one of my favorite surprises of the season so far, it's nice that rhaenyra has someone she can be honest about her frustrations with

man, daemon's harrenhal dreams are getting FREAKY. at first i thought that lady he was hallucinating was aemma but. uh. nope!

i continue to love how no-nonsense simon strong is and how done he is with daemon's dramatics

i'm continuing to appreciate how this show is giving screentime to the smallfolk and emphasizing how much an impact the war is having on them

need someone to adopt cheese's dog and give him some good pats please, he deserves better than this

alicent and criston really are never ever getting back together after this episode

it was fun to see the twins and that jace is pretty good at this whole diplomacy thing. i don't THINK the lady at the table was sabitha frey otherwise they would have mentioned her by name?

i really like how unimpressed alys is with daemon and her dragging him for his poor planning and tactics while also getting more hints of her magic

i feel like my stanning of house blackwood has perhaps reached a slight bump with this batch of war crimes. alas!

i liked when the laena hallucination turned up just to drag daemon for being an absent father

really pleased by the amount of baela and her characterization that we got in this episode, hope we'll see more of rhaena too

we can debate blacks vs greens as long as we want but everyone MUST acknowledge that rhaenyra has VASTLY better taste in who to appoint as her hand

you know, i think this is the first one-on-one scene aemond and helaena have ever had?

aegon waking up just long enough to say "mummy" after alicent has already left…kill me now

rhaenyra immediately knowing that jace had flown out and done diplomacy without her was such a mom move

not really sure what the errand elinda massey got sent on was???

i refuse to believe sunfyre is dead until i see the evidence with my own two eyes

in the book the new dragonriders is mostly jace's idea so i like the idea of it being a jace and rhaenyra collaboration, and i'm VERY excited to see vermithor and silverwing next week

[crazycoke-addict]

I'm not Team Green, nor Am I team Black. I'm Team Women!!

I'm Team. Everybody should be listening to Helaena when she speaks her riddles. I'm Team. Yes, Rhaenyra mothered bastards but she is still the rightful heir, and it is no different to what a king does. I'm Team Rhaenys should've been on the iron throne and also deserves a husband who listens to her. I'm team Laena Velaryon deserved better. I'm Aemma Arryn deserved better and should've had her own dragon. I'm Team, Alys Rivers, and her witchcraft. I'm Team Alicent deserves her freedom after being chained to a game that she was forced to play by her father. I'm Team Dyana deserves justice. I'm Team Mysaria, and her scheming plans are.