#c. rhaena blackwood

[prodixal]

@wingsd || alecor karstark

She approaches the northman, eyes scanning over him with evident curiosity. They are almost piercing as they pass over his features, his hands, his attire. He was not of the north alone, so much could be said. Perhaps that is all that could be said...for now. "I liked your pledge, Alecor." she did not much bother with manners, with titles and last names. His name was Alecor, so that is what she shall call him. "Very...moving." she admits, hands clasped before her as she sits herself down beside him -- too close to befit a lady of her rank. "I have never met a warrior who was also a poet." head tilts as she near demands his attention. "Tell me, do the words fall so beautifully off your tongue naturally? Or did you have to learn it? Perhaps earn it?"

[darylandbethfanforever9]

HOTD Season 2 Spoilers:

These are apparent spoilers and I hope this does happen.

1. So, apparently and hopefully we’ll see Team Green doing some serious PR damage to the blacks, with an episode showing septons and septas decrying Rhaenyra as a cruel queen for the murder of Jaehaerys.

2. Rhaenyra and Daemon’s marriage becomes estranged, after B&C and Rhaenyra is reportedly horrified while Jacaerys supposedly disowns Daemon and Rhaena secretly writes a letter to the greens, expressing remorse.

3. Aegon promises Helaena that Jaehaerys will be avenged and Aemond tells Aegon that he will die trying to kill Daemon. Aegon tells Aemond that it wasn’t his fault and Alicent forgives Aemond.

4. Rhaenys is killed and Baela is utterly useless at helping her grandmother, and forced to flee when Dreamfyre supposedly nearly kills her.

5. The Whents ally with the Greens and Alyssane Blackwood is maimed, while Sabitha Frey is killed.

6. Alys is foreshadowed and Jacaerys has a nightmare about drowning in the Gullet

7. Helaena confronts Rhaenyra and Rhaenyra starts losing support among the small folk and her own allies.

8. Cregan Stark struggles to drum up support for the blacks.

9. Aegon tells the statue of Viserys that the war is of his own making and desecrates his statue.

10. Alicent meets the Shepherd.

11. House Velaryon rebel against Rhaenyra and High Tide and Driftmark are sacked.

Honestly I hope this happens, but I’m not holding my breath. But god, I want to see vengeful queen Helaena, war criminal Aemond and vengeful Aegon.

[horizon-verizon]

Netty’s erasure is being justified by some with the excuse that it would be problematic to depict a young Black girl in a relationship with an older white man and then be used to create conflict between two white characters. But there was an easy and obvious solution to that problem which has been provided by the author himself in F&B: The theory of Daemon having a paternal relationship with Nettles, be it as her biological father or father figure. They could have shown her as a child from an affair he had long ago with whom he tries to connect. Or, had they been more creative, he could have been a mentor to her and grown to care for her because of her loyalty and because she reminded him of his own children with whom he had no conflict whatsoever in canon. Given how they lose Luke, Viserys, and Jace in quick succession, it would make sense for him to be protective of her. But Condal and Hess would never opt for those routes simply because it would amount to admitting that Daemon - for whom they harbour hatred so visceral as if he stole their girlfriends, left them penniless on the streets, and kicked their dogs – is a human being capable of emotion and reason. It would wound their ego. There was absolutely no need to make up drama between him and his daughters just to force a ‘redemption arc’ when he never needed one.

But it is rather concerning to see how they would rather mess with the canonical characterizations of more than one female character, sideline them and outright erase them, how they would rather subject them to gratuitous violence than accept that this one male character they’re unhealthily obsessed with vilifying, is not this one dimensional monster they have made him up to be in their minds. The little girls who played Baela and Rhaena as kids had their scenes deleted and the actress who played Rhaena had to make a post about it on Instagram. Baela had one significant scene and dialogue in S1 with Rhaenys which gave a glimpse to her character that was deleted. What all scenes had in common was that they portrayed a softer side to Daemon and proved that he cared for his daughters and was involved in their lives. Other deleted scenes include Daemon proposing a toast for Viserys because it was decided that one improvised scene where Daemon expressed his love for his brother by crowning him would be more than enough and the one where he mourns Visenya which got edited out. The pattern is evident. Most female characters in the story are disposable and interchangeable for C&H and not worth putting any effort or thought. They are treated as plot devices meant to be used to further the arcs of the male characters the writers love or to prove a point against the male characters they hate. They are seldom prioritized. Maybe that’s why Black Aly was robbed off her moment in the Battle Of the Burning Mill which happens offscreen. Her presence would have made the Blackwoods appear like the badasses they are in canon and defeated C&H’s plans to demonize them. Also because they can’t possibly have a woman have agency and engage in warfare out of her own freewill because wars are for men to wage while women need to preach peace :/

Now, if my predictions are correct, then Jeyne Arryn and the Vale subplot will be made all about Daemon too because of the made-up canon-defying murder of Rhea Royce that was birthed by Condal’s galaxy brain. What a way to miss the point of that subplot from the book. The Vale alliance was never about Daemon but about Rhaenyra and the empathy Jeyne had for her cousin as a fellow woman whose inheritance was threatened by her male relatives. Her dislike for Daemon was overshadowed by her feelings of solidarity for Rhaenyra.

This show is such a droll tragedy that at times I wish they just stop pretending and accept it for what it is: The Adventures Of Historian and Philosopher Almond ft. Hugh the Greatest Family Man to have ever Family Manned in Westeros Hammer.

The pattern is evident. Most female characters in the story are disposable and interchangeable for C&H and not worth putting any effort or thought. They are treated as plot devices meant to be used to further the arcs of the male characters the writers love or to prove a point against the male characters they hate. They are seldom prioritized.

@deus-sema

Reminds me--and it is definitely connected to & fueled by the same principle of male centeredness--when SA and rape against women is used more to define a male character than to elucidate anyone on why men rape in fiction. It's either to signify a man who rescues said woman as "good"; the man who does it as "bad". And that's it. How does the woman feel and develop into the future with this incident, how does the community deal or not deal with the event and not just the rapist/would be rapist, what does anyone do to try to prevent it, etc., nothing.

Which underplays rape and gender violence as "a thing that happens" as if innate to human nature and not malleable behavior for the sake of creating character for males.

They are treated as plot devices meant to be used to further the arcs of the male characters the writers love or to prove a point against the male characters they hate.

In a recent reaction post to Epi 5, I said that the writers trying to make their version of Rhaenyra seem suppressed by her own council by making the "monarchs can't go into battle" thing an excuse to not deal with a woman make war instead of a pretty valid reason that had real life male monarchs not actually go to war themselves MOST of the time (the one who is meant to be the opposite of the fiery and proud Rhaenyra GRRM described but also a Rhaenyra who is trying her damdnest to be taking seriously or approved by the men around her as if that was who bk!rhaenyra was).

@thevelaryons said this in their post about how HotD writes Rhaenys and Corlys' relationship:

Yet despite all that, their relationship onscreen is still a loving one. Like I said, it’s a writing issue. Corlys and Rhaenys are clearly meant to be viewed as a loving couple but the central theme of HOTD is apparently that women are always victims of the men in their lives. Corlys as a man must fall into this in some way. But like always, the writers go overboard in their heavy-handed attempts to depict misogyny onscreen. So Corlys’ actions towards Rhaenys are such that there is a lack of respect but somehow there is love.

And they are coming from how HotD rewrote Rhaenys to be way too accepting of the Hull boys in her awareness when book!Corlys actually kept them away from anywhere Rhaenys herself might go to see them or discover them...bc she too didn't take what she and most noblewomen would see as insults to them of their husband's not only cheating but bringing their bastards around in the same spaces as their wives. Rhaenys was a Targ princess and very proud to be one.

Though Marilda is impressive as a human being (leading her own trad eboats later on), in the social context of these people I don't think noblemen would not take exception to not only their wives cheat on them but also cheat on them with any lower classed man or a stable boy and male readers not identify & recognize that as bringing shame to that man. Yes, men are socially graced to cheat, but noblewomen in Westeros still are expected to not have to raise his by-blows or have those bastards "sully" their own status by having them around. that's just the way things go, as those men love to say.

Then there is Daemon-at-Harrenhal trying to display his great leadership that he wants to prove to both Viserys and Rhaenyra that he was as capable of being a monarch/leader as he thinks they don't think he should be. Based on incompetence. Which is compounded by his bungling the Blackwoods and Brackens thing and thus endangering Rhaenyra's ability to get more soldiers...when bookwise, he doesn't perform any such stupidity and never tried to prove anything about his being able to be a competent king/independent agent to anyone. In fact he, like Jace, manages to collect many supporters from Rhaenyra with little problem. not only that, bk!Rhaenyra had an almost a ubiquitous and eager base in the Riverlands. These are CRITICAL changes made for shallow & logically inconsistent drama. Inconsistent bc we see Daemon and Rhaenyra have more or less a pretty settled marriage where Rhaenyra shows she had trusted Daemon to at least not betray her...which is why her later despair at his death and "betrayal" with Nettles was as intense as it was.

It reveals a pattern HotD makes of trying to poke fingers at misogyny while still being very sexist in how they do it by simplifying their men like Daemon and Corlys, try to overpunish and vilify Daemon, as well as how they pacified their female characters. It's all a distorted, very overly literal and unnuanced rewrite of the original story. But what else is new?

This is the story people want, right?

[prodixal]

"So we agree then?" brows raise and her heart will step into a faster beat. It was almost a relief, to know they shared same dose of disdain from one another. And that they would not fall prisoners to wishes of others. Especially not those who dare put politics before their daughters own happiness. "Ouch. Rude." she jests, but it is all too obvious how glad she had truly been to hear such a thing. "Perhaps if you were a Lannister, and I a Targaryen, we could have been happy with one another. They seem to be establishing unions in every direction. My cousins certainly do not come cheap. Unlike you and I -- sold into misery for a dream. One cannot eat dreams, nor acquire ships with them, nor weaponise them. --- Though I suppose you certainly derive pleasure enough dreaming of me...dying in your arms. Tell me, am I fully clothed in these dreams? Or do you get me to bend first?" There was much enjoyment to be found, in rattling the other. Perhaps if fate was not a fickle bitch, they truly could have been a decent match. "Wish? I wish only end to our mutual torment." Little honesty here and there certainly did not hurt. She had been more honest with the Brackens since her arrival than she had been for months back in Dragonstone. Curious. "Oh please, you would call me a traitor either way. Tell me, in my position, what would you have done?" her eyes narrow. It's not that she's hurt by the words, but they certainly spark a deeper sense of curiosity. "If I stuck with my delusional parents, I would be bending the knee to those who are going out of their way to protect whoever killed my beloved cousin. If I bend the knee to those you, yourself, have chosen to align with and betray the crown --- well, then I am a traitor to my family." she shrugs, a sticky predicament. "It just so happens that everyone involved in this conflict is my family. No matter where I go, or where I look, people are at each others throats -- traitors and kinslayers and liars and cheats. Perhaps you can see why I am not so keen to marry into yet another conflict, to remedy a regional war. It is exhausting, having to choose when there are seemingly no right choices to be made." she sighed. "So what would you have me do, lady Bracken? Betray my morals and beliefs and stand for something I do not support for the sake of my parents? Or betray the crown, and my parents for justice due my late cousin, and beliefs which build upon his death? Which choice would make me less of a traitor in your eyes?"

"perhaps you have a point, as much as i detest agreeing with you," kyra says with a roll of her eyes. "our union will do nothing for the future. all it shall do is make the two of us miserable, and as much as i love torturing blackwoods, i don't lack the self respect that would keep me bound to you." if it weren't for her parents and promises they made, she would have never agreed to this match, not that she had much say in the matter. "no use keeping up with this mummers farce."

"oh you wish i would," kyra shot back, wanting to smack grin off rhaena's lips. rhaena infuriated her. more than any typically blackwood does. was it because they were an even match when it came to their words? always trying to get the upper hand on the other?

at times, she forgot that rhaena was a dragon, but it was moments like this that she was reminded. cold and cunning, taking whatever she pleased and not caring about anyone else. just like her aunt sitting on the iron throne. "oh no, you wont be getting rid of me that easily, i will be right by your side on dragonstone whether you like it or not," she says with a wicked smile.

"because unlike you, traitor, i stand by my family and what they wish for me. we are sworn together and as much as i detest the idea of marrying you, i will do so for my family." it nearly pained her to even think about. "that is unless this war may take one of us. we may get lucky, gods willing."

kyra looked down at rhaena as she goaded her. a sick smile formed on her lips. "i could push you from a very tall tower. spook that dragon of yours so it throws you from its back. slip poison into your food." she laughed with her words. "shall i go on? i dream of it every night."

[allyriadayne]

What were your highlights of the trailers?

in no particular order

1) AEGON!!!! I was very surprised by how much he featured in the trailers. i had the inkling aemond would feature more heavily because he's the usual fan favorite but i loved that they really took the time to show more of less what aegon will be and do next season. loved his scenes with alicent and larys (!!!!) and i loved seeing him have almost complete autonomy and make decisions! i want him to get worse and this showed me a lot of promise. i'm still a bit ambivalent about the new wig because i liked the other one, but nbd.

2) Larys. a lot of torturing and spies this season which means a lot of larys too! i've been heheing too close to the sun by imagining how the aegon/larys dynamic was going to be but i had no hope of even seeing a little bit in the trailers. silly me because he was there!!! surprised by them having a mini arc beginning from the end of b&c to before & after rook's rest. also a new still of larys was so great for me personally because he was styled v differently from the usual.

3) Baela. Baela riding moondancer and fighting (?) at rook's rest as a foreshadowing for her fight with aegon later. SICKKK. her wigs and rhaena's (and rhaenyra's!) were also better so it's was a big highlight for me. more screentime for my girl!

4) Jace. I imagined he would be in the trailer for the stark nostalgia and he was, but i liked the parts where he was mommy's little diplomat in the dinner with the other dragonseeds. i was half afraid he was not going to be included but i'm glad he is. seated next to addam nonetheless!!!!! another win for my jaceaddam agenda. we also saw hugh and ulf and baela directly in front of jace soooo cute.

5) daemyra failmarriage. no daemon on luke's funeral scene nor in the dragonseed dinner. he's obviously in harrenhal and i think we see him in maegor's tunnels (?). they are soo cooked i love them. rhaenyra also looked v stern and passionate which is good because i was also ambivalent on showing her completely destroyed by luke's death like in the book. daemon looked so hot ngl i love daemon in armor so much.

6) the bracken twink taking on four blackwoods at the same time. my family!!!

special mentions to the blurry background images of tyland lannister, alicent looking like the saddest woman in the word and freddie fox looking like freddie fox in a horse.

[watcherintheweyr]

Ykw

The writers deleting that scene where rhaenyra called alicent a wh*re is one of the best decisions they made. Bc the whole dance, one of the core facets was that rhaenyra was the victim of gendered violence.

The whole dance, Rhaenyra was the one who supported women in positions of power (alysanne blackwood helped lead her armies, jeyne arryn as head of the vale, sabitha Frey as her head of house, Rhaenys on her war council, Mysaria on her Small council- and in show- 'when I am queen I will create a new order', '... how romantic to be imprisoned in a castle and made to squeeze out heirs...' [proceeds to hold alicent's hand in comfort and apology when seeing her words struck a nerve], 'my mother was made to bear heirs until it killed her', immediately inviting baela and rhaena to the table where the decisions are made in the way her father never did for her.)

Rhaenyra is the one who, through the whole dance the ONLY reports of her demeaning or attacking other women were either in retaliation to Alicent's venom, or solely reported on by the source that hated and maligned her the most in the books- and who thus had the most to gain through making rhaenyra as unlikable and unsympathetic as possible, and the source who loves to make up stories for drama - with yet another story that was **blatantly** made up for drama.

Like it's logical and justified that Rhaenyra feel betrayed and furious at Alicent. She has no idea that Otto made everything happen. It's been 6-8 months of Alicent doing this- since the night of Aemma's funeral, and Alicent never said a word to her.

Earlier within ep 2, Rhaenyra explicitly confides in her worries and fears of the lords plotting to replace her as heir to Alicent, and Alicent dismisses her fears with 'it is not our place to question the plots of lords and men' even though as heir it explicitly IS rhaenyras place.

Within this same episode, Otto repeatedly undermines and dismisses her as heir and shows visible displeasure when she outmaneuvers him to stop bloodshed at Dragonstone. And now she sees her supposed closest friend has been secretly meeting her father for months, all without telling her a word of it. It is REASONABLE that Rhaenyra be angry and betrayed.

But her lashing out and calling Alicent a whore just doesn't quite fit correctly. Lashing out at the perception of Alicent having ambition to be queen, perhaps. Lashing out that Alicent hadn't told her anything even given that she knew of Rhaenyras fears, certainly. Not wanting anything to do with her, not trusting her or Viserys and trying desperately to get distance from them both- these things all do fit within her characterization.

But Rhaenyra calling Alicent a whore doesn't at all feel consistent to the character they have built Rhaenyra to be by this point or at any other point in s.1. Even when Alicent is at the height of her power trip and her humiliation and abuse of Rhaenyra, Rhaenyra never refers to her with a slur or in such a blatantly disrespectful manner- even though Criston apparently feels more than comfortable in calling Rhaenyra 'spoiled c*nt' in Alicent's presence, despite Alicent's weak as hell and honestly half hearted reproof of him doing so.

And it's just... very very predictable that certain elements of this Fandom are trying to treat that scene as canon, even though it was deleted for a reason.

[theredpharaoah]

Dragons:

Targaryens are pretty much guaranteed to claim a castle dragon. It’s why Jaehaerys had the pit so heavily guarded. It’s probably the reason he created the pit and the dragonkeepers in the first place - to control access to dragons within the house. The Dragonkeepers have to turn Targs away from claiming dragons they know Jaehaerys wouldn’t like certain members(women) claiming. And even amongst the wild dragons, the Targaryens don’t show fear. Rhaena, Aerea, Maegor, etc, used to be among them just fine. Rhaenyra’s flinching at the arrival of Seasmoke and Rhaena was feeding Androw to Balerion with zero fear. Viserra would play in the pit and dare boys to put their hands in dragons’ mouths. Saera tried to steal a dragon. Baelon hit Balerion on the snout. Alyssa wanted Balerion but the Dragonkeepers persuaded her to go for Meleys instead. I laughed at Meleys not liking Daemon but that’s not the lore either. This is not Eragon. There’s no destined dragon for a rider. They ride whoever they choose to claim. And these dragons aren’t wild like Drogon was, they don’t have to be whipped into submission to be mounted. So please explain to me how tf Rhaena almost died. Was she attempting to tame a feral dragon? Because that’s the only way this makes sense. And Seasmoke has only been riderless for 6 years; he’s not feral and he was never an aggressive dragon.

Rhaena:

The way Rhaena is spoken of is not reflected in her character. They speak of her like she’s a coward and she comes off as anything but that. Compare Rhaena with Lady Jeyne to how Rhaenyra and Jace scoff at and dismiss her at the end of this episode; it’s not clicking. She’s not a coward. Where is this going? She’s in the Eyrie and none of us gaf about that storyline. You apparently compounded her character with Nettles. This is usually done in shows and I don’t have a problem with it, except you’ve just made that entire choice useless because you still sent her to the Eyrie. How are you going to get her back to Dragonstone? What about the children? What are you going to even do with the kids now that you’ve aged them down so much? You should’ve had her claim a dragon the episode she was supposed to leave to the Eyrie.

Daemon and The Riverlands:

First off: why is Daemon imagining himself fucking his ideal of his mother? What purpose did that serve for the plot or anything? Daemon was said to have been unaffected by the effects of Harrenahal, so why tf have you made him damn near incapacitated? And Alys Rivers; are you splitting Nettles story to her now? Are you making them lovers? What is the point of this? Also his character; he’s an idiot butcher. He told the Blackwoods to go play Ironborn on Bracken land and expected that to go over well with the rest of the River Lords? Then we have Jace; you can’t give the Freys Harrenhal you fucking idiot. The Freys wanting Harrenhal doesn’t even make sense. Nobody wants that fucking castle. It’s only useful during war.

Aegon and Helaena:

You made up a suit of Valyrian Steel armor and put him in it just so you could violate all the properties of Valyrian steel. What the fuck was the point of this? You could’ve just gave him the regular suit of armor he wore in the book. You made Helaena a dreamer and….what? The whole point of Dragon Dreams is that they give you knowledge about the future. Dany has Dragon Dreams and she uses them. Helaena doesn’t use hers at all. Dragon Dreams don’t make you fucking Cassandra of Troy; you’re not uselessly screaming and unable to decipher meanings. And there’s been a very obvious drop in ability for her. In season 1 we see Helaena performing entomomancy. There’s no way she’s doing all the shit she was doing at Laena’s funeral and doesn’t know what she’s doing. She’s 13-14 here too so it’s not some childish intuition she’s no longer able to do. And her character back then was way more badass than what she is now. She reminded me of how I interpreted Rhaena I’s character. Now she just runs around crying and being cryptic. They haven’t even mentioned the fact that she’s a dragonrider and we’ve never even seen her interact with Dreamfyre. Helaena loved flying -it was her greatest joy in life. We’re gonna discuss this regent shit later. You cut Maelor so she’s not going insane either. She went insane cuz she was constantly reminded of Jaehaerys when she saw Maelor. Originally she was told to choose between her two sons, not tell them which one of the twins was her son. And we need to discuss how she’s been completely robbed of Agency here. Helaena was actively participating in the usurping of the throne. She was in the Small Council meetings, and she was expected to go to battle and defend the city as well.

Christon Cole:

Character makes no sense. He would’ve been executed or sent to the Wall regardless of having Alicent’s favor after he killed Joffrey. Everything after that has just made him and the show seem more ridiculous.

Rhaenyra and Rulers Don’t Go To War:

This is not Planetos tradition. The rulers are expected to go to war. And in Fire and Blood, they expect Rhaenyra to participate in the war. On her dragon. Her never being in a battle is one of the weakest aspects of F&B. This episode you talk about her frustrations with being denied battle, we once again see she looks to Visenya, and then you proceed to have her act nothing like her. Her having to come to terms with the fact that she’s on her own and will have to face Vhagar should empower her. Meleys could’ve beat Vhagar. Syrax, Caraxes, and Meleys are all in the same age/size range. Syrax is faster than Vhagar and Rhaenyra has decades of experience riding over Aemond along with far more knowledge of battle tactics. She has a chance here, and she has to have a chance because otherwise she might as well walk into KL and let them kill her. The clip of her next episode flying on Syrax made no sense. Where are we going? Her picking up the sword??? She has no training. She can’t use that. Her threatening who I believe was Lord Celtigar - we already know you’re not going to do shit. Also, Rhaenyra is said to be intelligent since she was a child and she’s not shy about going to battle. The only reason she doesn’t fly to battle in the early days of the Dance is because she’s recovering from her miscarriage. Her personality clashes with later descriptions given of her by both Mushroom and Eustace: her reaction to Nettles and Daemon being one of them. And her apparent paranoia in KL seems nonexistent by the time she meets Aegon on Dragonstone - implying she wasn’t paranoid to begin with. I also don’t think Rhaenyra would be the type to put up with Daemon’s infidelity or that she would blame Nettles moreso than Daemon, but that’s my interpretation.

Culture:

Aemond becomes regent because he’s “The Protector of The Realm” and rides Vhagar. If it was up for debate, precedent(which they act like they live so much) would see regency pass to Helaena. The only reason Helaena probably didn’t become regent in the books is because she was already mad by the time Aegon was injured at Rook’s Rest. Dreamfyre should be larger than Caraxes, Syrax, and Meleys, but Rhaenys says otherwise. She’s at least the same size. So she had a dragon of a large enough size to support her claim as Regent. Also, the Greens were not arguing for Agnatic seniority - that came after the Dance. A daughter inherits before an uncle by Westerosi customs. So Aegon’s heir is Jaehaera in the show. The main argument made against Rhaenyra claiming the throne in the books by the Greens was that her children were bastards, not that she was a woman. Aegon only agreed to take the throne after Christon lied and said Rhaenyra would have to kill him to insure her bastard sons could ascent unobstructed. Aegon’s words according to Eustace: “My sister is the heir, not me. What sort of brother steals his sister’s birthright?”. This whole “women can’t rule” thing they’re doing in the show was not the norm of the culture. Visenya and Rhaenys did more of the day-to-day ruling than Aegon and Alysanne is still fresh in everyone’s minds. Also, they’ve completely failed to convey the seriousness of kinslaying. Aemond was not looked at well for what he did to Luke. He was called Aemond the Kinslayer. We haven’t seen anyone treat him differently but Alicent.

Dragonriders:

Dragonriders are warriors. Dragons aren’t for trips and to be shown off. Rhaenys is presented as a warrior in F&B and she does not use a sword. Meleys makes her a warrior. GRRM does make a distinction when he specified that characters were Dragonriders and used a blade, but Dragonriders are considered warriors. They’re literally in control of nukes. Rhaena could be said to have acted like a warrior too, and Jaehaerys acknowledged this. He said they’d have to go to war if the eggs Elissa stole hatched and that no hatchling could hope to stand against Dreamfyre and Vermithor. He refused to have Alysanna be a part of this. Rhaena then says “She is Rhaenys and I am Visenya. I never thought any different”. So Rhaenyra, Baela, Helaena, and Rhaenys’ lack of respect makes no sense. I interpret it as they would’ve been treated like warriors who hadn’t been blooded yet. And better than that, because a dragonrider doesn’t need to be blooded - you know they’re going to do damage. These men are not speaking to these women - especially Rhaenys and Rhaenyra - like they control beasts that could annihilate their entire family and bloodline in a matter of hours. And even the show contradicts itself. In episode 3 when Willem Blackwood is vying for Rhae’s hand he’s mocked by Bracken for saying he’d insure she was safe. Bracken says: “‘Protection’? The Princess has a dragon you dumb cunt.” And everyone, including Rhaenyra, laughs - she doesn’t need a man to protect her and they all know that. This also explains why Rhaenyra never learned how to use a sword even though she’d been the declared hero since she was 8: she didn’t need to. She only had to hone her abilities as a dragonrider. That was more than enough to insure she could fulfill her duties as Protector of The Realm.

On Adaptations:

When you’re adapting a book to a show/movie, you have license to take many liberties. People can’t follow narratives and characters on a screen the way they can with a book. They also can’t be informed of the world the way they can with a book - you have to show not tell. But Fire and Blood provides even more freedom than usual, because it’s a vague gloss of events written from two very biased accounts. Furthermore, after the dumpster fire that was GOT, I don’t think you’d have a hard time going AU with this. There is so much freedom here, but what you change has to be purposeful and good. First of all, you need to decide what you want to do? Are you sticking to the book ending or going somewhere different? You have to decide the main themes and messages you want to convey - what are you trying to use this story to say? They don’t seem to have done this. The show reads as indecisive. Are we sticking to the script or are we going in another direction; sometimes they seem to do that sometimes they don’t. Then they change lore that wasn’t really up on the table for changing; why change Dany’s eggs? The message? I couldn’t tell you. GRRM had a clear bias during the Dance - he supports the Blacks. Rhaenyra is one of many iterations in his “Amethyst Empress Cycle” - a cycle I believe he intends for Dany to break. And so the message GRRM seems to convey is some sort of naive feminist theory. The issue is that these show runners are failing at even that. Feminism is intuitive. There’s no way Rhaenyra can see her situation and what she’s doing and not see how big of a step forward it is for women all over Westeros. Yet the character they’ve crafted denies this - they all do - and continue to behave as though they exist in a vacuum. That they can have one: Rhaenyra ascending as Queen Regnant. without the other: drastically altering the political landscape of Westeros. Rhaenyra in the show acts as if she’s the exception, not a new rule. She doesn’t advocate for any other women in the realm and she still thinks in the patriarchal thought patterns of all the men around her. In the books we couldn’t say this because we’re not given enough to know. But based off of the show, we definitely can. And then this episode; what’s the message? Women are presented as this caricature and then instead of having them break that mold you have them embrace the caricature. It reads like some very idiotic interpretation of Difference Feminism. Acknowledging that those things traditionally considered feminine are just as important as the masculine, does not mean what we’re seeing in this show. Alicent doesn’t take Cole to task for betraying her at the council, she essentially says “I thought I meant more to you than that”. Rhaenyra doesn’t take Alfred to task for his insubordination, she bows to his demands, gives him an important mission, and looks weak all the while. She acts like she wants his approval. These women aren’t even the characters we were introduced to in season 1. Remember young Rhaenyra- how bold and sure she was even in the face of her inexperience? Where is that. This Rhaenyra can’t even rule her face. This Alicent can’t even express herself. This show is fighting itself. It’s fighting its apparent message, it’s fighting the lore, it’s fighting characters and relationships it previously developed.

And the changes? What do you change when you adapt a story? In my opinion you should change the weak points of that story. Off the top of my head; Rhaena, Dragonseeds, not immediately attacking KL, Moondancer and the dragons ridden by women problem(somehow they’re all just smaller than the men’s dragons - even if they’re older), ambiguous relationships, lack of sorcery known by Targs, lack of glass candles, lack of Valyrian arts and crafts known by Targs and Velaryons, inconsistent dragon populations, inconsistent dragon sizes and ages, etc. These are things I would think to change in my adaptation of this story BEFORE I took it in my preferred direction. They’ve solved Moondancer. Other than that, they’ve made more issues. One example is when they said Aegon had that dagger made by the last of the pyromancers. Why the hell didn’t they teach their skills to someone? Why didn’t he demand they do so?

Relationships:

I would put this above adaptations but Tumblr is stupid and will delete all this if I hit return. They’ve botched a bunch of relationships. Viserys loved Rhaenyra the most, but he was close to his other children and his grandchildren. He was sick, but he was a father figure to Aegon, Helaena, and Aemond. And Rhaenyra and her kids were closer to them as well. Rhaenyra and Alicent’s kids never liked one another though. Rhaenyra, Laena, and Daemon were pretty much in a throuple. I don’t think Rhaenys ever disliked Rhaenyra. The Velaryons knew(as did the whole realm) that Laenor was gay, and I’m pretty sure they knew that Rhaenyra and Daemon loved Laena. They knew Laenor couldn’t provide heirs which was why Rhaenyra and Laena’s children were betrothed when Rhaena and Baela were 2 and Jace and Luke were 4 and 3. They did that to insure they would still have Velaryon blood in their lines. Vaemond and the other Velaryons always just read as thirsty for power to me. I mean Corlys ain’t even fuck with them like that tbh. He built High Tide cuz Driftmark was too crowded(Read: his family got on his damn nerves). Vaemond attempting to take lordship from Luke due to lack of Velaryon blood was nonsensical because Rhaena and Luke’s children would be just as Velaryon as any other Velaryon had ever been. He just wanted power. Aegon and Helaena’s relationship is way off too. Aegon was a sleaze and he slept around(and was predatory), but he did seem to care for and maybe even love Helaena. They slept in the same bed until B&C happened. Their marriage was nowhere near as cold as it’s depicted in the show. Daemon and his relationships with everyone is a mess. He doesn’t seem to care about his children at all really, he doesn’t seem to have loved Laena, he doesn’t seem to have loved Mysaria, and he’s abusive of and doesn’t seem to love Rhaenyra. I also don’t read the family being so fractured. Unlike with Rhaenyra and her brothers, Baela and Rhaena never call their brothers “half-brothers”. And considering Rhaenyra’s love of Laena, I don’t believe she didn’t raise those two girls as her own. I also don’t think that Daemon doesn’t see the Strong boys as his own kids too, and they don’t see him as their father. Harwin couldn’t take an active role in raising them for obvious reasons and Laenor was never around. They’d been around Daemon since they were born, and he was their father - a present and active father - for most of their lives. Joffrey wouldn’t even remember Laenor or Harwin as he was 3 when they died. And that leads me back to Rhaenyra’s relationship with Rhaena and Baela; they were 4 when Laena died. They don’t remember her. When they think of “mother” it’s Rhaenyra’s face that pops up, not Laena’s. And it’s the same for The Strong Boys and Daemon. Harwin couldn’t have raised them as it would’ve been way too dangerous for him to even show a decent amount of affection towards them. Maybe he could on Dragonstone though? But even that wouldn’t be enough. Her eldest: Jace and Luke are 6 and 5 respectively when he dies. They have fragmented memories of Harwin at best. Autobiographical memory literally stabilizes at those ages, everything before that is either nonexistent or fragmented.

[prodixal]

"Hm, so you did not spend much time talking then? Or is your memory poorly?" her brow rises as she smirks. It was awfully endearing to be pestering a hungover man. Small chuckle follows up his question and she'll shrug. "I am a woman who speaks her mind, believe it or not that is enough for very many to want me dead." along with a lack of manners and occasional threats. As well as her last name, her other name, her blood, her status. There really was no shortage of reasons to resent her. And yet, here she was, in all her glory, not giving a single flying or landed fuck. "I see." she mutters. "I am sure our king is most...appreciative of your support." she will clear her throat then. "Onto the more important matters --" she puts her cup down, then straightens in the chair as she looks at him. "May I touch the sword?"

"Her dragon likes to eat men or something." He waved his hand, she'd not told him anything else her sister needed to hear. Nymor wished she'd go away, his head was pounding and she just kept talking. It was stupid of him to not take a potion this morning, he doubted she'd be the loudest person he'd meet. Looking up at her he raised an eyebrow, "You make enemies then? What exactly do you do to make people want to kill you?" He didn't know her or stories of her to know enough about how many people would want to kill her or why. "I'm not lying, I'm in pain." He was lying, he didn't give a damn about who's head wore a crown. Obella was his princess and that was the only ruler he cared about. "I fully support King Corwyn."

[prodixal]

@trcshcans || kyra bracken

Rhaena had not truly allowed herself to grieve. First came denial, then rage, then hope that revenge could be the path to closure -- and now, now she was only sad. Now it was tears that coated her face, a sense of hopelessness that inhabited every part of her being. She no longer wished for anything except for things to return to the way they were. Last couple days were a blur, and she was tired -- so very tired of pretending she was tougher than she had truly been. Of pretending she cared less than she did. She'd missed Xaerys, she'd missed his laugh and his softness and his advice. His letters, which came promptly and without failure. Xaerys never missed a letter. Never missed a name day. Never failed to be a good brother. He was the best of them -- and for it, he died. She could not stay inside anymore, Rhaena never liked being inside. She needed cold air against her skin, and for the darkness of the night to swallow her whole. She needed Morghos, to touch her scales and rest against her cheeks. Yet on the way, through utter darkness, she ran into the very last person she wanted to see in this state. A sigh is not of disappointment, she was simply tired. "Not tonight Kyra." she says softly, perhaps the first time she'd sounded like a genuine person. "I cannot do --- whatever this is."

[dragonmartellstark]

At the coronation of Rhaenyra as Regent Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, Jacaerys was chosen as his heir, but his figure was not well seen by others due to his supposed bastardy, his mother assured that he carried his blood, dragon blood and with that should be enough.

Jacaerys was engaged to her cousin, Baela Targaryen, but despite maintaining a good relationship, the two did not love each other and it is known that Baela did not like the idea of ​​being queen since she had to obey the protocol and rules that according to her, were absurd. In 132 a. C., Jacaerys made a long journey through the Seven Kingdoms settling in for a time in Winterfell where he met Sara Snow, the bastard sister of Cregan Stark and it is known that he fell madly in love with her. The prince extended his stay in the North for a few more months to meet that young woman who had amazed him and both became lovers during that time sharing time in hunting parties, card games and in the boy's bedroom.

Queen Rhaenyra demanded that her son return to court in order to officially marry his cousin Baela, but Jacaerys disobeyed his mother and secretly married Sara in the heart tree of Winterfell, where he gave himself to her under the testimony of the Old Gods. This marriage was something bittersweet for Cregan since he had four daughters with Alysanne Blackwood with whom the prince could marry, but in the end Cregan declared his sister as Rickon Stark's legitimate daughter.

Rhaenyra and Daemon were unhappy with the prince for having humiliated Princess Baela in this way and also displeased with Lord Cregan for accepting that marriage. Baela Targaryen did not show upset and accepted that her cousin was happy, in addition to revealing that she had a lover of hers, her cousin, Alyn Velaryon and she wanted to marry hers as she no longer had a fiancé. In the end Rhaenyra accepted this marriage and declared Sara legitimate to be able to have a formal wedding taking place in the year 133 a. C., being a double ceremony in which Jacaerys and Sara were married, in addition to Alyn and Baela.

Jacaerys and Sara soon consummated their union as a very passionate couple. In the year 135 a. C., was born the first daughter of the couple, Rhaenys named in honor of her grandmother Rhaenyra of her and Princess Rhaenys, the queen that she never was. Two years later Aerion was born, the future Aerion I Targaryen and he had the platinum hair and purple eyes of his maternal family proving that Jacaerys was of Valyrian blood.

The couple was happy and despite not having more children, they were very close and shared the same room. With the passage of time Sara gained the appreciation of hers-in-law of hers the princes Lucerys, Joffrey and Aegon, in addition to the sympathy of Helaena Targaryen and hers of her children who saw her as "a new queen." In 152 a. C., her son Aerion married one of Lucerys and Rhaena's daughters, Princess Laena Velaryon with whom he had a daughter, Rhaenyra.

In 157 a. C., Queen Rhaenyra I passed away and Jacaerys was crowned as Jacaerys I using the Targaryen surname instead of Velaryon. Sara could not be crowned due to the king's problems with faith refusing to declare a bastard queen, but Jacaerys chose to change to the Supreme Septon being supplanted by a man known as "Bar" who crowned Sara as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms in 159 a. C.

During the reign of her husband, Aenar Targaryen, Aegon's eldest son "the youngest" (Jacaerys' younger half-brother) rebelled against the king declaring himself the sole king after the death of his father in 160 a. C., this rebellion is known as "the war of Valyrian succession". This war put the royal family in great danger suffering an assassination attempt that was stopped by Joffrey Velaryon protecting the family from him until the end. This rebellion ended in 162 a. C., when Jacaerys convinced Aenar to marry his granddaughter, Rhaenyra who was Aerion's only heir when he ascended to the throne, in this way Aenar and Rhaenyra would reign in the Seven Kingdoms together. This deal was supported by the Velaryon, the Starks, and Aenar's younger sister, Jelaena, so the prince agreed to marry the little princess.

The following years were calm and peaceful for the kings enjoying a certain popularity for being conciliators, in addition to their works of charity to the convents, orphanages and schools of the Capital.

Sara did not separate from Jacaerys being her faithful and beloved companion, she was even with him when he was sick with smallpox in the year 179 a. C. The queen took care of her husband for four days, but during those days she was also infected and had to be in bed away from Jacaerys. That same year Jacaerys passed away at the age of 64, when Sara found out about her death and cried for her for a long time and her condition only worsened, dying two days after the king. Both were cremated and their ashes were buried together.

A la coronación de Rhaenyra como Reina regente de los Siete Reinos, Jacaerys fue elegido como su heredero, pero su figura no era bien vista por los demás debido a su supuesta bastardía, su madre aseguro que el llevaba su sangre, sangre del dragón y con eso debía ser suficiente.

Jacaerys estaba prometido con su prima, Baela Targaryen, pero pese a mantener una buena relación ambos no se amaban y se sabe que Baela no le agradaba la idea de ser reina puesto a que tenia que obedecer el protocolo y las reglas que según ella, eran absurdas. En el 132 d. C., Jacaerys hizo un largo viaje por los Siete Reinos instalándose en por un tiempo en Invernalia donde conoció a Sara Nieve, la hermana bastarda de Cregan Stark y se sabe que el quedo perdidamente enamorado de ella. El príncipe alargo su estancia en el Norte por unos meses mas para conocer aquella joven que lo tenia maravillado y ambos se convirtieron en amantes durante ese tiempo compartiendo el tiempo en partidas de caza, juegos de cartas y en la alcoba del chico.

La reina Rhaenyra exigió a su hijo volver a la corte para así casarse oficialmente con su prima Baela, pero Jacaerys desobedeció a su madre y se caso en secreto con Sara en el árbol corazón de Invernalia, donde se entregó a ella bajo el testimonio de los Antiguos Dioses. Este casamiento fue algo agridulce para Cregan ya que tenia cuatro hijas con Alysanne Blackwood con las que el príncipe podía casarse, pero al final Cregan declaro a su hermana como hija legitima de Rickon Stark.

Rhaenyra y Daemon estaban descontentos con el príncipe al haber humillado a la princesa Baela de esa forma y también disgustados con Lord Cregan por aceptar aquel casamiento. Baela Targaryen no se mostro disgustada y acepto que su primo fuera feliz, además de revelar que ella tenia un amante su primo, Alyn Velaryon y quería casarse con el al ya no tener ningún prometido. Al final Rhaenyra acepto este casamiento y declaro legitima a Sara para poder realizarse una boda formal celebrándose esta en el año 133 d. C., siendo una doble ceremonia en la cual se casaron Jacaerys y Sara, además de Alyn y Baela.

Jacaerys y Sara no tardaron en consumar su unión siendo una pareja bastante apasionada. En el año 135 d. C., nació la primera hija de la pareja, Rhaenys nombrada en honor a su abuela Rhaenyra y a la princesa Rhaenys, la reina que nunca fue. Dos años después nació Aerion, el futuro Aerion I Targaryen y este tenia el cabello platino y los ojos morados de su familia materna demostrando que Jacaerys era de sangre valyria.

La pareja fue feliz y pesé a no tener mas hijos fueron muy unidos y compartían la misma habitación. Con el paso del tiempo Sara se gano el aprecio de sus cuñados los príncipes Lucerys, Joffrey y Aegon, además de la simpatía de Helaena Targaryen y sus hijos que la veían como “una nueva reina”. En el 152 d. C., su hijo Aerion se caso con una de las hijas de Lucerys y Rhaena, la princesa Laena Velaryon con la cual tuvo una hija, Rhaenyra.

En el 157 d. C., falleció la reina Rhaenyra I y Jacaerys fue coronado como Jacaerys I usando el apellido Targaryen en vez del Velaryon. Sara no pudo ser coronada debido a los problemas que tuvo el rey con la fe negándose a declarar a una bastarda como reina, pero Jacaerys opto por cambiar al Septon Supremo siendo suplantado por un hombre conocido como “Bar” quien corono a Sara como Reina de los Siete Reinos en el 159 d. C.

Durante el reinado de su marido, Aenar Targaryen, el hijo mayor de Aegon “el menor” (medio hermano menor de Jacaerys) se rebelo contra el rey declarándose como único rey después de la muerte de su padre en el año 160 d. C., esta rebelión se conoce como “la guerra de sucesión valyria”. Esta guerra hizo peligrar mucho a la familia real sufriendo un intento de asesinato que fue detenido por Joffrey Velaryon protegiendo a su familia hasta el final. Esta rebelión acabo en el 162 d. C., cuando Jacaerys convenció a Aenar de casarse con su nieta, Rhaenyra quien era la única heredera de Aerion cuando este subiera al trono, de ese modo Aenar y Rhaenyra reinarían en juntos los SIete Reinos. Este trato fue apoyado por los Velaryon, los Stark y por la hermana menor de Aenar, Jelaena por lo que el principe acepto casarse con la pequeña princesa.

Los años siguientes fueron tranquilos y pacíficos para los reyes gozando de cierta popularidad por ser unos conciliadores, además de sus obras de caridad a los conventos, orfanatos y escuelas de la Capital. 

Sara no se separo de Jacaerys siendo su fiel y amada compañera, incluso estuvo con el cuando este enfermo de viruela en el año 179 d. C.. La reina cuido por cuatro días a su marido, pero durante esos días ella también se contagio y tuvo que estar en cama alejada de Jacaerys. Ese mismo año Jacaerys falleció a los 64 años de edad, cuando Sara se entero de su muerte lloro por un largo tiempo y su estado no hizo mas que empeorar falleciendo dos días después que el rey. Ambos fueron incinerados y sus cenizas fueron enterradas juntas.

[laannie0803]

Ladies of Winterfell (Eddard Stark's direct and indirect ancestors)

Lady Mormont. She was the wife of Alaric Stark. She was considered a brave woman. She died in 55 AD. C. in an unknown way.

Lysa Locke. She was the wife of Lord Benjen Stark, Lord of Winterfell. She had two children with her, Bennard and Rickon.

Gilliane Glover. She was the wife of Lord Rickon Stark, Lord of Winterfell. She had two children with her, the eldest being Cregan.

Arra Norrey. Arra was an esteemed youth partner of Cregan Stark. Shortly after Cregan regained direct control of the North, around AD 126, he married Lady Arra, who died two years later, giving birth to her only son, Rickon.

Alysanne Blackwood. During Wolf Hour, Lord Cregan took twenty-two men prisoner, including Lord Corlys Velaryon. His granddaughters, Baela and Rhaena Targaryen, convinced Aegon III to make an edict forgiving him, but Lord Cregan was not convinced. Given this, Alysanne asked him to respect the edict, stating that doing so would give him what he wanted. Lord Cregan asked her to marry him, to which Alysanne agreed; Champiñón claimed that the marriage was Alysanne's intention from the beginning.

Alysanne and Cregan were married in a splendid ceremony, proclaiming their vows before the weirwood of the Gods of Winterfell forest. At the wedding feast, Rickon, Lord Cregan's four-year-old son, sang a song dedicated to his new stepmother. Lord Cregan and Lady Alysanne had four daughters, Sarra, Alys, Raya, and Mariah.

Lynara Stark. Lady Lynara Stark was a member of the Stark House and the descendant of a younger son of Lord Brandon Stark.

Lynara was the third wife of her cousin, Lord Cregan Stark. She had five children with her, Jonnel, Edric, Lyanna, Barthogan, and Brandon.

[prodixal]

"Oh yes I have been told. Yet it always the ones reminding me, who happen to circle back around for some more of my company. Isn't that curious?" Rhaena knew she had the appeal, she must have, for even people who disliked her could not help liking her at the same time. Or at the very least, they desired her. It was so like a Greyjoy to speak such a thing in public, and Rhaena pulled her aside and away from any possible eyes that might follow. With her hands around Rheas waist, she looked up with a warning. "Careful now." voice is soft, a whisper almost. And she leans in. "There are benefits to fucking each other too -- 'less you wish to lose 'em?" At the reminder of her engagement her eyes roll and she steps back, a shrug passing over her shoulders over the matter. "A Bracken no less. She is unbearable. I wish to fuck her then feed her to Morghos." it was honest truth, really. "I do expect you to congratulate me, however -- tonight, bring wine."

"You really suck the fun out of things, you are aware of that aren't you?" Rhea almost pouted, stuffing the gold coins back into her pocket. She wasn't wrong though, not that Rhea would ever let her have the advantage of knowing she thought the younger woman was right. The lack of access to gold bothered her too, however, once more houses were brought to their cause, she was confident they could overcome such an obstacle. Money would only get them so far. "How short sighted of us to fuck each other but not a Lannister. "

She simply rolled her eyes at her command, but moved to walk along side her anyway. It was no request nor a question. It left no room for negotiation and Rhea had learnt over the years that sometimes it was simply better to let Rhaena have her way.

"I heard of your betrothal, I assume you'd like me to spare you from the congratulations?" Poking a dragon wasn't wise, yet, she found herself enjoying it far more than she should.

[prodixal]

"Greyjoy." she says though a nonchalant sigh. Her eyes passing over him as if appearances were enough to see through a person. "How very lucky you decided to join us during this difficult time." with her hands clasped together before her, she walks up to him. "I hear we've you to thank for kidnaping my dear cousin. Is that true?"

@bloodycrxwnn // daemon greyjoy

[prodixal]

open to all. driftmark

"Must I justify myself at every turn?" it was getting tiring. Perhaps she ought to make a public announcement and explain that she did, in fact, owe loyalty to the only people who had genuinely treated her like family. Revenge, power, Dragonstone -- those were simply the benefits that came with the territory, and Rhaena would have all three. "Pour me a drink then, go on."

[prodixal]

@rxdianced || jaenara velaryon

"I flew in yesterday." she says through a tired sigh. "I suppose I've you to thank for my chambers being ready. However did you know I'd betray my mother, family and the crown so quickly? I do not enjoy feeling so...predictable." she smiles anyway, sitting across from her dearest cousin. "I am so very sorry for your loss, my dear. Xaerys was the best of us, truly -- his death will not go unpunished." but Rhaena was not the one to cry, nor to mourn. "Have you managed to rest at all?"

[prodixal]

She will roll her eyes, though it is more playful than irritable. Rhaena did not like the concept of battles, she did not like to envision people dying, hurting, all because a few in power couldn't get along. It was barbaric, cruel, unnecessary. But she couldn't well voice such a thing. Because those few people in power were her family, and war was a prerequisite for peace. "Well you are in luck. I do find scars awfully attractive. Perhaps it will distract from your ugly face." she squeezes her hand then, gentle smile spreading into her cheeks. She did not mean that. Kyra was beautiful, so incredibly beautiful that Rhaena had to actively forbid herself from thinking it, from perceiving it. And while normally, she would let herself indulge peoples beauty, with Kyra it was different -- she did not want to like her, did not want to wish for her. Though, even if she did, she would not be the first to grow fond of her cage, if she let it. "See you get it. I am gladdened you did not hit your head bad enough to forget I've very strong negative feelings for you." And yet here she stood, one hand in hers, the other wiping her face. Such words meant little in contrast to her very actions. There is visible relief as the other confirms her cousin was still alive, or at the very least it was not her that killed him. Her shoulders relax, her breath evens and she will wet the cloth once again. "Are you truly angry he did not kill you Kyra?" brows are furrowed, and she thanks the gods within her soul just as the other mentions her sister stepping in. She had to lock away her own sister to prevent her from joining the battle. "I am certain you fought well. Let us hope there will be no more battles to be had. I am very cross with you, you know, I am."

kyra closes her eyes for a moment when she feels rhaena's hand on hers. after so long of pushing the other away, she couldn't help but feel comforted by it. she thinks back to their conversation before she left. how much love rhaena has in her body and kyra can't help but wonder if any of that love could be for her. neither one of them wanted this marriage to happen. and yet here they were. "that's asking a lot, it's not a battle without coming out with a couple new scars," she says and tries to laugh but instead groans when she jostles her leg. "mm because wasting your time with me is better than showing people how you truly feel about our betrothal."

she looks at her then, seeing the worry in her eyes as she takes in what she has been told. kyra can't help but feel a pang of sadness. but who is she to question how rhaena feels? that was her family and she was nothing, her enemy, her betrothed she never wanted. of course she cares about jaehaerys. "of course he's alive." though, she doesn't know for certain, someone else could have struck him down after kyra was pulled away. turning her head to look at the small window high in the wall of her chambers. "he left me there to die in the blood and piss instead of finishing the job," she says a little too harshly. "if it weren't for my sister, i would have died there." she finally looks back at rhaena when she apologizes. "there is no need for all that. i asked for this, i chose to go out there."