#but I also think it's interesting how they praise rhaenyra now when they were so eager to reject her out of mysoginy before

[ineed-to-sleep]

Just a collection of HOTD screenshots where I personally think the lighting/colors were slapping

[exitpursuedbyavulcan]

The Silver Dragon (11/?)

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x Original Female Character

Word Count: 3034

Story Summary: Lady Arianwyn Targaryen, the Lady of Runestone, was seeded by her father, the Rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen, in an act of unbridled hatred, and borne of her mother, the late Lady Rhea Royce, as a desperate grasp at revenge.

Ignored by her father, and alone following the death of her mother, she is raised in King’s Landing alongside her cousin, Prince Aemond Targaryen. As they grow, the two find themselves indelibly bonded. But their lives are far from the fairy tales they read, and as tensions in the family rise, they find their paths may diverge.

Will they be pulled apart when the dragons dance?

Chapter Summary: As Arianwyn adapts to her new surroundings, and Aemond heals from his wound, the pair take comfort in the letters they exchange.

Warnings: None.

Series Masterlist

Taglist: @thelittleswanao3,@trap-house-homiecide

Author's Note: This one came to me quickly! I hope y'all enjoy. And bonus points to anyone who can correctly identify the historical source of the phrase "dearest friend!"

Also, there have been some questions about the timeline in this chapter - it doesn't match either the books or the show, so I feel the need to clarify. Before I started writing this, I went over both the book and show timelines thoroughly. However, neither really made sense to me in terms of the appropriate ages for characters for the story I wanted to tell. So, I sat down and made my own timeline! It is very different from both the show and the books, but it is the best fit for my story. Maybe once I wrap this up I can share it with y'all, if that would be something you're interested in!

I'm sorry if these discrepancies bother some of you. But it is, after all, the mantra of fic writers that canon is only a suggestion!

Dearest Friend

Aemond,

I am sorry it has taken so long for me to write to you. So much has happened since I watched you fly from Driftmark on Vhagar.

Oh, what a sight that was! I had not been able to appreciate her fully in the moonlight. From where I watched in the tower – the very one you flew from – I could truly grasp her massive size and see her scales gleaming. Truly, the gods must have a sense of humor, giving you the bronze dragon and me the black.

Emrys was distressed when you all left without us. I could hear him wailing for Dreamfyre from my rooms. But I cannot blame him; I felt very much the same. I miss you – all of you – very much.

We did not linger for long at Driftmark after Ser Laenor’s funeral. It was not as grand an affair as Laena’s. I had the sense that Corlys and Rhaenys were eager for us to leave – I do not think they like either Rhaenyra or my father very well. I cannot blame them. Neither has said a word to me since we arrived on Dragonstone five days ago. I suppose it is the best outcome I could hope for, for I know Daemon to be capable of much worse.

Have you heard that Daemon and Rhaenyra were married? It happened only two days ago. I was not in attendance at the ceremony. I almost wish I was, as it was done in the Valyrian tradition. It would have been fascinating to see in reality what I have only read about and imagined for so long. But I could not have stood to be around my father for so long – to witness him in a moment of joy. I would have been sick, I think.

I have been settled in rooms in the opposite wing from the rest of them. For this, I am grateful, for it means I do not have to see my sisters, or Jace and Luke (who are now my brothers, I suppose), more often than is necessary. While I am allowed to break my fast and take my luncheon in my own rooms, I am still required to attend dinner with the family.

The first few meals, Jace and Baela tried mocking me. Baela talked about how she wished for the cuts on my face to scar so that I would never forget what happened that night. Jace tried to goad me by heaping praise on his brother for what he did to you. Though I wished to shove the entire table down their throats, I pretended not to hear them. Like Aegon, they lost interest once they realized they would get no reaction from their victim.

So now I simply sit in silence and eat my food – which on this barren island consists mainly of fish, which you know I hate. As soon as the meal is done, I retreat back to my rooms. Though it is lonely without Brynna and the rest of my companions from King’s Landing and Runestone, it is better than facing Daemon and the rest. I never thought I would, but I find myself praying for my father to continue ignoring me.

But oh! I am selfish. I have not asked anything of you. How was the ride on Vhagar? Have you ridden her since? Surely she cannot fit in the Dragonpit, so where does she lie?

And most importantly, how is your wound? Are you reading this letter yourself, or is Orwyle reading it for you? If he is, let him know how much I appreciate him, and that I hope he is treating you gently.

Please write back to me soon. I have not yet been brave enough to try and find the library here, so I am near to going mad with boredom.

Arianwyn

Sent to the Red Keep from Dragonstone on the 19th day in the third month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

Arianwyn,

I am immeasurably glad to hear you are unharmed. My mother, Helaena, and I were so worried what Daemon would do once you were in his grasp. We will continue to pray that you remain safe and well.

Do not apologize for not writing – my happiness should be the least of your concerns while you are living among enemies. My mother has written to your cousin, Ser Gerold, and Lady Arryn, your Godsmother. Our hope is that they will come to the capital to petition the King for your return, and that they will be able to succeed where we could not.

I am pleased that you were so impressed with Vhagar. I have not been able to ride her since we arrived back in the capital, as Maester Orwyle continues to insist on my drinking tremendous amounts of milk of the poppy to numb my pain –I am not even sure I have any pain; he has not given me a chance to feel it. He is treating me gently, overbearingly so. He treats me as if I am a helpless, petulant child!

Your guess is correct. He is reading for me. And writing. And every other damn thing. It is only my eye that is wounded, and yet he acts as though I have been rendered incapable of even independent thought.

Arianwyn, please forgive my interjection into the Prince’s many complaints. If I indeed treat him as a “petulant child,” it is only because he acts like one. Be assured, if I did not place such restrictions on him, I am sure he would overexert himself and end up injured worse than he is now. – Orwyle

Enough about overbearing Orwyle. You asked about Vhagar.

She is so wonderful, Aria! Aegon was right, she did not need a single command from me to make her way back to King’s Landing. I think she was happy to return to the land of her youth, after so long across the sea. She flew around and around the city, frightening all the small folk, and even the nobles in the castle – they were not expecting to see such a massive dragon!

She did try to enter the Dragonpit, but you are correct, she is much too large. She has instead taken residence in the empty Tourney Grounds. Where she will go when we actually have a tourney, I have no idea. As soon as Orwyle lets me off his gods damned sedatives, I will take to the skies once more.

You did not mention how Emrys was. Have you been able to ride him? If you are so permitted, perhaps we could arrange a place to meet. There must be some clearings in the Kingswood large enough for both our dragons. Or you could just return to the Keep – come home. With me and Vhagar to defend you, surely Daemon would not try and force you to return.

Perhaps this is the milk of the poppy speaking. But I miss you very much. There are so many people at the castle, but it still feels empty without you. Even the library doesn’t feel right when you are not here to read with me.

I asked my mother about my sending you books, or some of your things from your rooms here, but she said no. It would require a great cost, and we cannot be sure that Daemon would not turn the ship away.

I am so sorry for your loneliness. I wish there was something I could do to give you comfort.

Aemond

Sent to Dragonstone from the Red Keep on the 24th day in the third month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

Aemond,

Your words give me great comfort, which is increasingly hard to find. I have read your letter over and over again, for when I read your words, it feels for a moment as if I am not truly alone.

I have heard from my cousin. As I write this, he is sailing for King’s Landing. Lady Arryn will be not far behind him. I have never met her, but it warms my heart that she cares so much for the memory of my mother that she would make such a journey for me.

However, I am hesitant to hope that their words will sway the King. From what your mother told me, he was sincere in his absurd belief that my presence will soften Daemon. And now that he is wed to Rhaenyra, I fear he will be even less likely to bring me home. Besides, I am hesitant to trust him after the way he treated you at Driftmark.

As for your daring plan for my escape, I am afraid it will not be possible.

I had not the courage to approach my father with the question of my mounting Emrys again. But I mentioned my desire to ride him again to my maid, a woman by the name of Kiyara. I have suspected since I arrived that all my servants were reporting my every move to Daemon. My suspicions were confirmed when the next morning, I received a note from him as I broke my fast. It said:

“I am almost impressed by your boldness. But I must not have made myself clear. You will not leave this castle until I say otherwise. You needn’t fret for the little black dragon. He has been made comfortable in the volcanic tunnels. He is unrestrained, and has been spotted flying across the bay to hunt with Vermithor. He is most happy amongst the other unclaimed dragons.

If I knew how to reach Emrys, I would burn this whole wretched island to the ground.

My ignorance is my greatest weakness. I am utterly lost in this monstrosity of a castle. Were it not for the guards leading the way each night, I am sure I would get lost trying to find my rooms after dinner.

I feel so helpless, Aemond. I thought that as long as I had Emrys, I could endure whatever Daemon did to me. But now, I am a Targaryen without a dragon, and a Royce without armor. How will I ever survive?

Arianwyn

Sent to the Red Keep from Dragonstone on the 31st day in the third month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

Arianwyn,

Just send word and I will fly Vhagar across the Blackwater and burn the island down for you. Curse of the Kinslayer be damned. It would be worth it to save you and Emrys.

But I speak in anger. A righteous anger to be sure, but still anger. To do so would have consequences beyond my control and comprehension.

All I can think of to do is pass on the note from Daemon to my father when Ser Gerold and Lady Arryn arrive. Even he cannot deny the cruelty in denying you your dragon.

The fact that you have not even seen Emrys since you arrived makes me hesitant to mention my progress with Vhagar. But I know you will want to hear – perhaps it will cheer you.

I have at last been able to ride her again, now that Orwyle has given up on being my jailer. It is just as wonderful as it was that night. Why did you never tell me how thrilling it was? Yes, you told me of the wind in your hair, the sight of people and towns below shrinking to nothing as you climb higher and higher, but you never told me how it set the blood ablaze. When I mount Vhagar, I feel as though I could conquer the world.

But I don’t want to conquer the world, Aria. I just want to save you.

Aemond

Sent to Dragonstone from the Red Keep on the 6th day in the fourth month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

Aemond,

Let us write no more of my escape. Until we know it to be true, or at least have reason to truly hope, the thought serves only to sadden me.

Instead, tell me only of happy things – things to bring me light and joy as I sit alone in my gloomy tower.

How is Helaena? She and Aegon will be married soon. I wish I could be there to help her prepare. I had great plans for her gown. She has shown me so many of insects over the years, though I often wished she hadn’t. I was going to embroider the prettier ones on the skirts of her wedding gown. I thought that if she had them with her, she would not be so afraid. Perhaps you can ask your mother to do it for me.

What are you reading now? I have at last found the library here, but it is a pitiful thing. What books there are concern mostly warfare and its history. That is of no interest to me. And while there are many books on Old Valyria, they are only what we have already read. There are only a handful of collections of fairy stories. I will soon devour them all, and I have no idea what I will do then.

Please, do not hesitate to tell me more of Vhagar. If I cannot ride Emrys, your stories are my only way to the skies. I always told you that you would be the fiercest dragonrider since Aegon (the Conqueror, not your brother, obviously). Consider that now a promise. When I see you next, I want to be awed by what you and Vhagar can do together.

Arianwyn – the girl in the tower

Sent to the Red Keep from Dragonstone on the 10th day in the fourth month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

Arianwyn,

I pray we will find that hope soon. Ser Gerold and Lady Arryn arrived today. My father will hear their petitions tomorrow. With luck, you will be home in time for the wedding.

My mother says she will begin embroidering Helaena’s dress for you. She says that she is sure her work will not be as beautiful as yours would be, but she has fallen out of practice in recent years. Helaena is very excited to see the finished gown, but that seems to be the only thing that interests her about the wedding. I don’t blame her, I would not want to marry Aegon either. But it is their duty, and we must always perform our duty.

I don’t know that I can be called “fierce” yet. After so long firmly planted on the ground, adapting myself to the skies can be, well, a little frightening. Vhagar is used to more daring riders than I, so she likes to fly in an equally daring manner. I am now convinced that her dive on the night I claimed her was her going easy on me. She has since flown me in ways I could have never imagined.

She has a particular fondness for flying upside-down! The first time she did so, I screamed as loud as I could for her to right us – I was afraid I could not hang onto the saddle – but she did not listen. I could only hold to the horns as tightly as I could until she at last swung around. As soon as we landed, I immediately ordered more straps to be added to the saddle to spare my aching arms.

She will make me fierce, there is no doubt about that. But with the blessings of the Seven, you will see me again before I can become the “fiercest dragonrider singe Aegon.”

Aemond, the novice dragonrider

Sent to Dragonstone from the Red Keep on the 17th day in the fourth month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

Lady Arianwyn,

I wish I could write to you with better news. Lady Arryn and I were unable to secure your release from Daemon Targaryen and Dragonstone.

We were able to convince the King to make some concessions – threatening to move the armies of the Vale against Daemon will do that. He will immediately send a raven to Dragonstone to command that you will be allowed access to your dragon. The note Aemond gave us to show him did enrage the old man.

He is a clever boy, that one. He took me to your chambers in the Red Keep to show me the work you two have done deciphering the Runes. I am immensely impressed. I will be asking your Maester Orwyle to make a copy of your translations, that I may take it back to Runestone with me for our own library.

Speaking of Runestone, Lady Arryn and I were also able to convince the King to send your attendants from the Vale to Dragonstone. Their presence was a crucial part of our original agreement, and it will continue to be enforced now that Daemon has you. You may not be able to return to Runestone just yet, but it will still be with you through them.

I am so sorry that I was not able to free you from that man. The King still foolishly believes that his brother can still be saved. You and I know the truth: Daemon is a monster.

You are strong, my dear. Perhaps even stronger than your mother. I have no doubt that you will survive this, and when you at last return home to the Vale, no one will ever be able to command you again.

Ser Gerold Royce, Lord Regent of Runestone

Sent to Dragonstone from the Red Keep on the 20th day in the fourth month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

Aemond,

Never stop writing. It is all I have.

You are my dearest friend.

Arianwyn

Sent to the Red Keep from Dragonstone on the 22nd day in the fourth month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

-

My dearest friend,

I will write every day. So long as I am alive, you will never be alone.

Aemond

Sent to Dragonstone from the Red Keep on the 25th day in the fourth month of the year, 131 years after Aegon’s Conquest.

Next Chapter

[maidragoste]

Lowkey I didn't think you were going down that route with the Harwin story but I'm very much intrigued... also fuck you Harwin, I'm glad you feel a fraction of pain that your wife felt when she found out about you and Rhaenyra and the baby.

And another thing, I'm happy that Alicent and the children are getting the love and support they need from MC, she's not the stepmom, she's the mom that stepped UP 🙌

Also does this mean that MC's baby is still going to be a Strong then? 👀😂

I'm excited to see where this story is going to go after this, like there's so much to tell about this still like how did they turn their unlikely friendship into more? When did Larys join the equation? Is the baby going to be a boy or girl? Does MC truly not love Harwin anymore? I would like to know more please my dear author, I love writing anything you write 💜💜💜

I admit that I had two routes to follow with the story: one was MC with Gwayne Hightower and the other was with Alicent and Larys. I chose the last one because it was the most interesting to explore and my head kept imagining different scenarios between them.

I also thought that Harwin would hurt more that Larys is MC's lover. The tragedy of losing his wife because she now wants her brother.

Harwin deserves to suffer after what he did to MC. He doesn't deserve her 😠😠

MC had a friendship with Alicent and Larys separately, although the friendship with him is not as deep as the one with Alicent.

The three began spending time together after Larys gained Alicent's trust and became her ally, getting her information from the court.

MC is with Alicent all the time so it was inevitable that she would be there when Larys went to talk to Alicent. The two of them felt comfortable so they started to invite him to join their activities.

To be honest I think Alicent and Larys took advantage of MC's vulnerability. She was sad, broken and unsure of herself after learning of Harwin's infidelity. So when they started praising her and telling her that Harwin was an idiot who didn't deserve her, she clung to them because it felt good, they made her feel rushed and she wanted to feel loved again.

You are definitely right. MC is the other mother of the Targaryen children. She loves them. Spoiler: She's going to fight for Aegon to have the throne.

MC's babies will be Strong boys 😋

Thank you very much for writing me anon, it always makes me happy to see messages in my inbox 🥰💖

[princeofdragonstone]

Who are your favourite targaryen couples

hii

let’s start with the originals, aegon x rhaenys x visenya obviously 💋 they formed westeros into one, they made westeros better and could not do so without one another. the dragon must have three heads after all, and no other throuple is topping them ✨

aenys i and alyssa — now i didn’t think of them as one of my favourite couples before, but now that i think about it i love the respect and loyalty they had for each other. they had perfect children, i love each and every one of them. though it’s such a shame that alyssa remarried to # that person out of all people (i’m glad rhaena gave him what he deserved tho!!) and i felt so sad for her when she missed the affection aenys was showing her while being married to rogar. she deserved so much better than that man, aenys might not have been a good king but he’s def was a better man than THAT man.

jaehaerys and alysanne — now, their relationship had so many flaws and they had much to grief but they did truly love each other. they lost so many children which i absolutely hate :( and the lost children played a huge part on their relationship. (i mean most of them were created just to give them a harsh life but we ignore that) the start of their relationship is just perfect, them marrying secretly and showing up in front of their mother (and # THAT man) ?? we had to stan

baelon and alyssa — do i have to explain? the purest relationship in f&b its confirmed. baelon did NOT even glance at any other woman after her death. they were the original malewife & girlboss couple it’s true 💘💘

daemon and rhaenyra — now, they might have given so many people heart attack when they got married in secret, (like viserys lolz) but they’re just too iconic to not be one of my favourites. they’ve been making alicent mad since day 1 💋 maybe daemon wasn’t the most stable person in westeros but he still died for his queen at the end and i love that

rhaenys and corlys — corlys might annoy me sometimes 😭 but i believe he did love her (i just wish # that incident didn’t happen) i just shipped them so much then the old man had to go ruin it like that

aegon iii and daenaera — i can’t say much about them but definitely one of the cutest couples out there, thank R’hllor for them

aemon and naerys — now, i don’t believe that naerys and aemon had an affair behind aegon’s back or anything, but i believe they did love each other. they just didn’t act upon their feelings because of duty :((

brynden and shiera — i feel like i’m praising them too much but i can’t help it 😭 they balance each other out and they’re it for me!!!

jaehaerys and shaera — i can’t say much about them and wasn’t actually gonna put them on here, but they said fuck everyone and married each other instead, daemon and rhaenyra’s spirit 100% possessed them on this one 😭

also honourable mentions: viserys ii and larra (i don’t exactly ship them bc we know so little, but their relationship seems interesting)

daeron i and daena (again, this is kind of a crackship but like viserys and larra they seem interesting, especially knowing how much daena valued and loved daeron

i can’t think of anyone else rn but i’m sure there’s more 😭 and also snowstorm is #1 for me this is just historical targaryens

[dwellordream]

I'm loving all this great discussion you've got going on about Rhaenyra Targaryen. How would you have preferred GRRM to have written her? What could have given her greater nuance and made her less "total hot mess" and more "nuanced and possibly tragic antiheroine"? Thanks for your generosity in answering all of these questions!

Thank you so much! I hope I’m not annoying people with my constant complaints about Fire and Blood haha.  Just as a whole I think Fire & Blood would have benefitted as being a series of interwoven novellas, not a mock-medieval-history of the past 300 years of Westeros. GRRM’s greatest talent as a writer, imo, is in how he develops characters as nuanced and realistic people with understandable ambitions and fears through their own perspectives. That’s lost out on in F&B. Occasionally it breaks into more ‘novel-like’ scene descriptions, but overall it’s supposed to read as a dry historical text, only it’s an often contradictory, absurdly biased, all over the place, relying on shock value dry historical text. I get that part of the whole idea was to present various viewpoints of certain characters and events and ‘leave it up to the reader to decide’ who they were inclined to believe, but really it’s just more of a vehicle for misogyny than anything else, since we exclusively get the viewpoints of a couple of very sexist maesters and... Mushroom. Yay.  Okay for example if I was going to handle Rhaenyra’s character while still hitting the basic plot points of her story (and this is not me saying I think I’m a better writer than GRRM or that I ‘know his characters better’, it’s just my personal interpretation), I think my goal would be to humanize her to the audience of readers while not shying away from her darker moments. She’s supposed to be controversial and provocative. However that doesn’t mean she has to be totally 2-dimensional or such a hot mess. I think I would start by emphasizing Rhaenyra’s position for the first 10 years of her life. She is the coddled, cossetted, and beloved only child of Viserys and his adored wife Aemma. She has never had a sibling, she’s never had to share any attention, her parents dote on her, as does all the court. Of course she is going to be spoilt, high-maintenance, proud, and temperamental when she doesn’t get her way. However, Rhaenyra is not just a bratty princess stereotype (or, she doesn’t have to be). She is also an extremely brave and determined little girl. She is extroverted; she likes socializing and being around people, she’s confident and assertive and used to having her voice heard. At the age of seven, she single-handedly tames and bonds with a young dragon. That is an extremely impressive feat for a child. You can’t argue, bully, or demand your way into riding a dragon, a wild beast. Rhaenyra had to show some serious grit and tenacity to do that at such a young age, so she’s not just this puffed up little fragile flower who wails when she doesn’t get her way. Rhaenyra also has a great relationship with her father. He doesn’t seem to hold the fact that she is his only child and a daughter against her; he praises and shows her off in front of his court, he makes sure she is always by his side. Rhaenyra is used to being honored before everyone. She is her father’s cupbearer, she is present while he holds court, she is exposed to a high level of adult political interactions and basic courtesies. She’s probably pretty bright for her age, and has a keen understanding of who is who and what everyone at court’s relations to one another are. She’s not been kept locked up in a nursery playing with toys, she is seen as an active member of court and her father’s little shadow. She also likely has a very good relationship with her mother Aemma. Rhaenyra is Aemma’s pride and joy, her sole surviving child after the trauma of a very young marriage and multiple miscarriages and stillbirths. Aemma has no close siblings of her own, and never knew her own mother Daella; no doubt she prizes her relationship with Rhaenyra and hopes Rhaenyra does not experience what she did as a little girl, growing up without a mother and only much-older half siblings in the Vale.  Then there is her Uncle Daemon. Daemon is the ‘fun’ relative little kids adore. He doesn’t treat Rhaenyra like a child, he doesn’t condescend to her, he brings her back all sorts of exciting and interesting toys and gifts, he takes time out of his day to spend with her, he takes her on outings and makes her feel special and loved. He’s not always busy with the mundane aspects of ruling that her father likely is, he’s not caught up with his own wife and children, he has all sorts of wild tales of adventure and mystery. It’s easy to see why Rhaenyra loves him so.  Then Aemma dies. No doubt this is a horrible shock to Rhaenyra. She’s a little girl, just eight years old. She’s not necessarily that familiar with the harsh realities of pregnancy and childbirth, she just knew she was getting a little brother or sister, and now her mother is gone, just like that. Aemma died during the birth. Rhaenyra never got to say goodbye, and her little brother dies a day later, compounding the grief and horror. Her father is heartbroken and reeling, and her favorite uncle is out drinking and whoring.  But Rhaenyra is named her father’s heir. Her mom might be gone, but her dad still loves her, and he loves her so much, in her eyes, that he is willing to buck the precedent that set him on the throne (passing over Rhaenys) in order to name her his heir. She’s Princess of Dragonstone; a whole island! Despite her grief and rage over her mother being ripped away from her, this is probably thrilling for a little girl. She’s going to be queen one day. Everyone loves her and wants her to be happy. She’s going to be the first Targaryen queen in her own right. Doesn’t that make her special and chosen? Then a year later her father remarries. Rhaenyra likely isn’t happy about this; her mother has only been dead a year!- but she is willing to try to get along with her new stepmother, Alicent, who probably seems like less of a mother and more of an older sister figure, just a teenaged girl of 18. Alicent is smart and pretty and Rhaenyra remembers her from court as a very small girl. Her father is Rhaenyra’s father’s Hand, someone Rhaenyra probably knows well, maybe even considers almost family, having grown up seeing him all the time, exchanging gifts at holidays and birthdays, attending tourneys with his family, etc. Then Alicent gets pregnant, something 9 year old Rhaenyra probably wasn’t really thinking about. She has a son, and people are saying he will be king, that her claim doesn’t matter. Then Alicent has another son. She doesn’t have time for Rhaenyra anymore. She’s not Rhaenyra’s mother. She has her own sons, and Aegon will be king, even though it’s not fair, even though Father promised she would be queen, even though Mother is dead and never coming back.  These are three major events happening in short succession in the life of a precocious little girl.  Rhaenyra likely feels hurt and confused and angry. Sure, her father hasn’t officially declared Aegon as his heir, but Alicent and her father are pushing it, people Rhaenyra thought she could trust. Who is she supposed to rely on now? Well, there’s Uncle Daemon, who suddenly seems like less of the fun uncle, almost like a big brother, and more of.. something else. He doesn’t treat her like a little girl anymore, he calls her beautiful and encourages her to show off her good looks and charm, assures her that regardless of what her father says or does, he will always care for her. She can count on him! And Ser Criston Cole, her longtime crush- well, he just sees her as that spoilt little girl. She’s growing up! She’s not a child anymore but he just doesn’t get it. She’s certain he feels the same way about her, that he loves her back, but his vows and white cloak are in the way, and he won’t stop seeing her as the little princess, not a girl of sixteen, a woman grown! She doesn’t have a mom to talk to this stuff about, but there is Uncle Daemon, and he knows pretty much everything about love and seduction; that’s why there’s all those wild tales about him. If she asks him to help her show Criston that she’s a woman now and wants to be treated as such, he wouldn’t turn her down, would he? Besides, he treats her like a grownup. He thinks she’d be an amazing queen. Father and him fight all the time, but Father’s blinded by his love for Alicent- she’s manipulating him! Uncle Daemon gives her advice, and she tries to impress Criston, but it backfires. He leaves her feeling humiliated and rejected. It’s not fair, she’s the princess, she’s supposed to be good at everything, but he acted like she was wrong to try to show him how much she cares and wants to be with him! Now he won’t talk to her anymore, and Father is sending Uncle Daemon, who seems like her one true friend, away from court because of some stupid rumors that he ‘deflowered her’. Alicent is saying she should be married to Aegon, her half-brother who she can’t stand; he’s a spoilt little creep, always groping servant girls and kissing up to their father. Dragonstone seems like the escape she needs from all of this, but Father is threatening to strip it from her unless she marries Laenor- Laenor who she knows isn’t even into women! They’re not even close friends. He doesn’t want to marry her anymore than she wants to marry him, only their fathers are insisting on it. Daemon’s gone and she has no idea when he’s coming back, and Harwin is sweet and says he loves her, but he would have never been accepted as her husband. Still, at least he’ll never leave her or turn on her, the way everyone else has. And that is basically how I would cover Rhaenyra’s childhood and adolescence in a way that I think at least gives her some understandable motivations, some nuance, and some real emotion beyond ‘she threw a fit when she didn’t get her way’.