#canon aegon ii

[omnipotent-scient]

(BOOK ONLY) Since some stupid people have come into this fandom, everything you hear makes you think whether they are just stupid or pretending to be stupid.

"Alicent did everything for 20 years while Rhaenyra was vacationing on Dragonstone"

The princess of Dragonstone living in dragonstone!??? Oh the misery😱😮 Are you hearing yourself? Like be serious right now.

It is the seat of the heir, the Prince/Princess of DRAGONSTONE. Dragonstone is her seat, where she rules. Until she becomes Queen where the seat will pass on to her hair and the next after that. As Prince of Dragonstone Rhaegar along with his family lived on Dragonstone.

She ruled on Dragonstone. After being heir and cupbearer before her marriage for years. And no she wasn't simply sitting on her ass and having sex and fun and vacationing as some of you put it. She had duties to be done, holding courts, hosting guests and visitors. It wasn't just some small island with no island either, it was an overlord to, House Velaryon, House Celtigar, House Bar Emmon, and House Sunglass(what a name). And she had to host those who were guests coming to pay respects and hear their problems and what not. And none of these mean that she was simply gone from Kingslanding either, it takes an hour? on dragon back to get there. We do know she was there present in some ways, the rivalry between her sons and Alicent's, her and Maester Gerardys coming to heal Viserys.

"And in these 20 years, Aegon bettered himself to rule."

Girl where? We know nothing of him from ages 6-12?. Afterwards, all we know of this time is he was fondling maids, fucking servantmaids and whore, getting drunk and spending his time in the streets of silk and that he was having bastards even after being married to a princess and having children. They literally found him in a brothel with a whore, while bringing him news of his father's death.

[lauraneedstochill]

Boy meets world, S7EP19 // post by @bookwyrminspiration // Michael Dickman, Killing flies // Margaret Atwood, Shapechangers in Winter // Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe // Better Call Saul, S1EP9 // unknown (x) // Glee, S4EP4 // Little Women (2019) // Dante Émile, After Abel // George R. R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons // Pietro Novelli, Cain Killing Abel // unknown (x) // Genesis 4:9 // Joan Didion, South and West // Sherlock, S1EP1 // 520 Studios, I Wanted To Feel Loved Without Feeling Like I Was Begging For It // by twitter user @/thehauntedqueen.

web weaving on: Jaehaerys Targaryen & the grief of losing a child // Sunfyre & his eternal devotion // Alicent & Gwayne (coming soon)

[omnipotent-scient]

And the thing is, it us not that Viserys didn't love his children from Alicent either. Viserys did love his children very much. Just simply not as much as Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra came after and before many miscarriages and stillbirths. She was his only child, the only child his father and grandparents met. She was his only child for nearly 15 years. She became motherless at a very young age, therefore he focused on her more. So many things why Viserys favoured Rhaenyra.

But in the end the green stans will say, Viserys didn't love Aegon (even tho he did), hence he deserves the throne better than Rhaenyra who was loved.

A little about the “difficult” green childhood

I'm tired of reading posts that say that Aegon and Aemond became terrible people because they had "rough childhoods." What kind of nonsense is this?

Yes, Viserys did not love his sons very much, but he was not a monster. He did not insult or beat his sons. These boys are part of the ruling dynasty, they lived in luxury and comfort, had a good education, they got everything they wanted (except for the title of heir), they were forgiven almost everything, they had a mother next to them who loved them. How many boys in Westeros have this?

Aegon has nothing to complain about at all. The boy was a spoiled hedonist who got everything he wanted. His wife was his sister, the Targaryen princess and dragon rider, whom he knew well and he did not have to leave his home (Daemon, who at the age of sixteen was forced to leave the home in which he grew up and live with a strange woman, was not so lucky). And even if Aegon was not satisfied with Helaena as a wife, then since he was born a man, the prince could afford promiscuity with any woman he wanted. And it doesn't seem like anyone at court would be bothered by this. Re-read the book. All of Aegon's problems began from the moment he usurped his sister's throne.

The only thing Aemond could complain about was the loss of his eye. After all, even if Viserys had made Aegon his heir, Aemond would still not be very high in the line of succession, since Aegon had two sons by the age of twenty, and in the future there could be even more. As for losing an eye, yes, it's bad. But still, many things happen in life. I mean, in real life, injuries happen during children's games or fights.

At the same time, Rhaenyra lost her mother when she was a child, and after some time she was replaced by an embittered and full of hatred and envy woman, because of which she had to leave the house in which she grew up, and after her own father forbade her to leave Dragonstone, to protect the “beloved” daughter and wife from new conflicts.

I've written before about what I think of Viserys as a father and my opinion hasn't changed. Viserys's love brought Rhaenyra more harm than good. Viserys was a terrible father to all of his children, but at least his children from his second marriage had a mother. No matter how much I hated Alicent, she was there for her children and loved them in her own way. Rhaenyra has been alone since she was a child.

Rhaenyra was also forced to marry against her will to a man who would never love her as a woman. And when she allowed herself a relationship with someone else, she was certainly condemned and humiliated.

Every time I see posts about the "difficult childhood" of Alicent's children, I want to laugh. Rhaenyra grew up without a mother, her stepmother was an evil witch, and her father was a useless idiot. But of course, according to the greens, Rhaenyra was born evil in the flesh and her suffering does not matter and she deserves it.

[yandereunsolved]

Yandere Book Aegon seeing Yandere Show Aegon eye his darling—

Yandere Book Aegon: "I will slowly strip you of your flesh and feed it to you if you look at them again."

Yandere Show Aegon: "Do that, and they'll end up in my bed because they realize how monstrous you truly are."

Yandere Book Aegon: "They hold no leash on me. I do whatever I please. Yet you come running to them like a pathetic little dragonet who can't even use their wings."

Yandere Show Aegon: "So angry I give them the love and affection you starve them off and make them work for it?"

Yandere Book Aegon: "I will always be the man who took their maidenhood first. I give my attention sparingly because that is all I can afford to give. If you weren't being such a piss poor king, maybe you'd have less time to eye fuck my spouse."

Yandere Show Aegon: "They enjoy when I—"

Reader: "Aegon?"

Yandere Show & Book Aegon: "Yes, my dear?"

Reader: "I got hurt. It was just that this nobleman got angry and he—"

Yandere Book Aegon: "A nobleman harmed you!? Say no more. He will be immediately taken care of."

Yandere Show Aegon: "Truce?"

Yandere Book Aegon: "Temporary truce."

Yandere Show Aegon: "Agreed."

[franzkafkagf]

the fact that aegon is looking at his son in these stills with so much love and adoration.... i am so not ready he is so special to me.

[meanqueens]

The Real Alicent Hightower

(or, a compilation of every passage in George R. R. Martin’s “Fire and Blood” pertaining to her character)

(unless i missed something, in which case please let me know and i can update this post!)

disclaimer: my goal was not to include every time her name was mentioned, but rather to highlight everything that could be indicative of her actual character (i.e. things that she did or were done to/said about her). for full contexts and details regarding other characters, i highly recommend reading F&B yourself.

Heirs of the Dragon—A Question of Succession

“Ser Otto brought his wife and children to court with him, and served King Jaehaerys faithfully for the years remaining to him. As the Old King’s strength and wits began to fail, he was oft confined to his bed. Ser Otto’s precocious fifteen-year-old daughter, Alicent, became his constant companion, fetching His Grace his meals, reading to him, helping him to bathe and dress himself. The Old King sometimes mistook her for one of his daughters, calling her by their names; near the end, he grew certain she was his daughter Saera, returned to him from beyond the narrow sea. In the year 103 AC King Jaehaerys I Targaryen died in his bed as Lady Alicent was reading to him from Septon Barth’s Unnatural History.” “Another woman had caught his eye. He announced his intention to wed Lady Alicent of House Hightower, the clever and lovely eighteen-year-old daughter of the King’s Hand, the girl who had read to King Jaehaerys as he lay dying. The Hightowers of Oldtown were an ancient and noble family, of impeccable lineage; there could be no possible objection to the king’s choice of bride. Even so, there were those who murmured that the Hand had risen above himself, that he had brought his daughter to court with this in mind. A few even cast doubt on Lady Alicent’s virtue, suggesting she had welcomed King Viserys into her bed even before Queen Aemma’s death. (These calumnies were never proved, though Mushroom repeats them in his Testimony and goes so far as to claim that reading was not the only service Lady Alicent performed for the Old King in his bedchamber.)”

“When King Viserys took Alicent Hightower to wife in 106 AC, House Velaryon was notable for its absence. Princess Rhaenyra poured for her stepmother at the feast, and Queen Alicent kissed her and named her “daughter.” The princess was amongst the women who disrobed the king and delivered him to the bedchamber of his bride.” "...mummers and singers heralded the birth of each new Targaryen princeling. Queen Alicent had soon proved to be as fertile as she was pretty. In 107 AC, she bore the king a healthy son, naming him Aegon, after the Conqueror. Two years later, she produced a daughter for the king, Helaena; in 110 AC, she bore him a second son, Aemond, who was said to be half the size of his elder brother, but twice as fierce." "“Ser Criston protects the princess from her enemies, but who protects the princess from Ser Criston?” Queen Alicent asked one day at court. The amity between Her Grace and her stepdaughter had proved short-lived, for both Rhaenyra and Alicent aspired to be the first lady of the realm…and though the queen had given the king not one but two male heirs, Viserys had done nothing to change the order of succession." "Still, questions persisted, not the least from Queen Alicent herself. Loudest amongst her supporters was her father, Ser Otto Hightower, Hand of the King." "Even after Ser Otto had returned to Oldtown, a “queen’s party” still existed at court; a group of powerful lords friendly to Queen Alicent and supportive of the rights of her sons. Against them was pitted the “party of the princess.” King Viserys loved both his wife and daughter, and hated conflict and contention. He strove all his days to keep the peace between his women, and to please both with gifts and gold and honors."

"In 111 AC, a great tourney was held at King’s Landing on the fifth anniversary of the king’s marriage to Queen Alicent. At the opening feast, the queen wore a green gown, whilst the princess dressed dramatically in Targaryen red and black. Note was taken, and thereafter it became the custom to refer to “greens” and “blacks” when talking of the queen’s party and the party of the princess, respectively. In the tourney itself, the blacks had much the better of it when Ser Criston Cole, wearing Princess Rhaenyra’s favor, unhorsed all of the queen’s champions, including two of her cousins and her youngest brother, Ser Gwayne Hightower."

"Though [Daemon] treated Queen Alicent with all the courtesy due her station, there was no warmth between them, and men said that the prince was notably cool toward her children, especially his nephews, Aegon and Aemond, whose birth had pushed him still lower in the order of succession."

"...entertained [Rhaenyra] by making mock of the greens at court, the “lickspittles” fawning over Queen Alicent and her children."

"Others assert that it was at Queen Alicent’s urging that Viserys sent Daemon away."

"Queen Alicent had her own candidate: her eldest son, Prince Aegon, Rhaenyra’s half-brother. But Aegon was a boy, the princess ten years his elder. Moreover, the two half-siblings had never gotten on well. “All the more reason to bind them together in marriage,” the queen argued. Viserys did not agree. “The boy is Alicent’s own blood,” he told Lord Strong. “She wants him on the throne.”"

"(The princess always took care to refer to Queen Alicent’s sons as half-brothers, never as brothers.)"

"Denied Rhaenyra’s favor, Criston Cole turned to Queen Alicent instead. Wearing her token, the young Lord Commander of the Kingsguard defeated all challengers, fighting in a black fury."

"King Viserys was most wroth as well; a joyous celebration had become the occasion of grief and recrimination. It was said that Queen Alicent did not share his displeasure, however; soon after, she asked that Ser Criston Cole be made her personal protector. The coolness between the king’s wife and the king’s daughter was plain for all to see; even envoys from the Free Cities made note of it in letters sent back to Pentos, Braavos, and Old Volantis."

"The court was still rejoicing over the birth of the princess’s child when her stepmother, Queen Alicent, also went into labor, delivering Viserys his third son, Daeron…whose coloring, unlike that of Jace, testified to his dragon blood. By royal command, the infants Jacaerys Velaryon and Daeron Targaryen shared a wet nurse until weaned. It was Said that the king hoped to prevent any enmity between the two boys by raising them as milk brothers. If so, his hopes proved to be sadly forlorn."

"...King Viserys was delighted with him when the child was presented at court. These feelings were not shared by his queen. “Do keep trying,” Queen Alicent told Ser Laenor, according to Mushroom, “soon or late, you may get one who looks like you.” And the rivalry between the greens and blacks grew deeper, finally reaching the point where the queen and the princess could scarce suffer each other’s presence. Thereafter Queen Alicent kept to the Red Keep, whilst the princess spent her days on Dragonstone..."

"According to Mushroom, this only served to deepen her resentment of her stepmother, Queen Alicent, who remained slender and graceful at half again her age. The sins of the fathers are oft visited on the sons, wise men have said; and so it is for the sins of mothers as well. The enmity between Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra was passed on to their sons, and the queen’s three boys, the Princes Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron, grew to be bitter rivals of their Velaryon nephews, resentful of them for having stolen what they regarded as their birthright: the Iron Throne itself."

"His father and mother would never allow him to go near Vhagar, Aemond knew, much less try to ride her. So he made certain they did not know..."

"...these courtesies did not appease their vengeful mothers. Queen Alicent demanded that one of Lucerys Velaryon’s eyes should be put out, for the eye he had cost Aemond. Princess Rhaenyra would have none of that, but insisted that Prince Aemond should be questioned “sharply”..."

"His Grace further commanded his wife and daughter to kiss and exchange vows of love and affection. But their false smiles and empty words deceived no one but the king."

"King Viserys further decreed that Queen Alicent and her sons would return with him to court, whilst Princess Rhaenyra confined herself to Dragonstone with her sons."

"...bringing the princess and her sons back to King’s Landing, where more conflict with the queen and her own brood would have been inevitable."

"In King’s Landing, however, Queen Alicent grew most wroth when she learned the babe had been named Aegon, taking that for a slight against her own son Aegon…which, according to The Testimony of Mushroom, it most certainly was."

"The princess and the queen were both commanded to attend, with all their children. In a show of amity, each woman wore the other’s color and many declarations of love were made, to the king’s great pleasure. Prince Daemon raised a cup to Ser Otto Hightower and thanked him for his leal service as Hand. Ser Otto in turn spoke of the prince’s courage, whilst Alicent’s children and Rhaenyra’s greeted one another with kisses and broke bread together at table. Or so the court chronicles record."

"Queen Alicent, however, insisted that the princess and her maester had mutilated His Grace unnecessarily. Had they not “meddled,” she claimed, Grand Maester Mellos would surely have saved the king’s fingers as well as his life. She urged the appointment of one Maester Alfador, presently in service at the Hightower. Viserys, beset from both sides, chose neither, reminding both the princess and the queen that the choice was not his to make."

The Dying of the Dragons—The Blacks and the Greens

"The servant ran to inform Queen Alicent, whose apartments were on the floor below the king’s. Septon Eustace, writing on these events some years later, points out that the manservant delivered his dire tidings directly to the queen, and her alone, without raising a general alarum. Eustace does not believe this was wholly fortuitous; the king’s death had been anticipated for some time, he argues, and Queen Alicent and her party, the so-called greens, had taken care to instruct all of Viserys’s guards and servants in what to do when the day came. (The dwarf Mushroom suggests a more sinister scenario, whereby Queen Alicent hurried King Viserys on his way with a pinch of poison in his hippocras. It must be noted that Mushroom was not in King’s Landing the night the king died, but rather on Dragonstone, in service with Princess Rhaenyra.) Queen Alicent went at once to the king’s bedchamber, accompanied by Ser Criston Cole, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. Once they had confirmed that Viserys was dead, Her Grace ordered his room sealed and placed under guard. The serving man who had found the king’s body was taken into custody, to make certain he did not spread the tale. Ser Criston returned to White Sword Tower and sent his brothers of the Kingsguard to summon the members of the king’s small council. It was the hour of the owl."

"The council convened in the queen’s apartments within Maegor’s Holdfast."

"Gathering in the queen’s chambers as the body of her lord husband grew cold above were Queen Alicent herself..."

"“Mayhaps Her Grace the queen would care to write the message, so as to soften these sad tidings with some words of condolence?”"

"“King,” insisted Queen Alicent. “The Iron Throne by rights must pass to His Grace’s eldest trueborn son.”"

"“My own head will be the first cut off, I do not doubt, but your queen, my daughter, will soon follow.” Queen Alicent echoed him. “Nor will they spare my children,” she declared. “Aegon and his brothers are the king’s trueborn sons, with a better claim to the throne than her brood of bastards. Daemon will find some pretext to put them all to death. Even Helaena and her little ones. One of these Strongs put out Aemond’s eye, never forget. He was a boy, aye, but the boy is the father to the man, and bastards are monstrous by nature.”"

"“Mayhaps the whore will die in childbirth,” Queen Alicent is reported to have said (according to Mushroom)."

"And so each of the conspirators slashed their palms and clasped hands with one another, swearing brotherhood. Queen Alicent alone amongst them was excused from the oath, on account of her womanhood. Dawn was breaking over the city before Queen Alicent dispatched the Kingsguard to bring her sons Aegon and Aemond to the council. (Prince Daeron, the youngest and gentlest of her children, was in Oldtown, serving as Lord Hightower’s squire.)"

"Ravens flew, but not to Dragonstone. They went instead to Oldtown, to Casterly Rock, to Riverrun, to Highgarden, and to many other lords and knights whom Queen Alicent had cause to think might be sympathetic to her son."

"“Then we must see that [Borros Baratheon] leads [the lesser storm lords] to our king,” Queen Alicent declared. Whereupon she sent for her second son."

"...Queen Alicent knew they could delay no longer. Prince Aegon had grown weary of secrecy. “Am I a king or no?” he demanded of his mother. “If I am king, then crown me.”"

"His mother, Queen Alicent, beloved of the smallfolk, placed her own crown upon the head of her daughter, Helaena, Aegon’s wife and sister. After kissing her cheeks, the mother knelt before the daughter, bowed her head, and said, “My Queen.”"

"...Queen Alicent had ordered Viserys’s crown locked away..."

"The princess shrieked curses all through her labor, calling down the wrath of the gods upon her half-brothers and their mother, the queen, and detailing the torments she would inflict upon them before she would let them die."

"[Rhaenyra's] first act as queen was to declare Ser Otto Hightower and Queen Alicent traitors and rebels."

"But when the two queens—his mother, Queen Alicent, and his wife, Queen Helaena— spoke in favor of Orwyle’s proposal, the truculent king gave way reluctantly. So Grand Maester Orwyle was dispatched across Blackwater Bay under a peace banner..."

The Dying of the Dragons—A Son for a Son

"Queen Alicent went pale when she heard what [Aemond] had done, crying, “Mother have mercy on us all.”"

"Unbeknownst to King Aegon, the Hand, or the Queen Dowager, [Daemon] had allies at court as well, even on the green council…"

"Instead they slipped into [Otto's] daughter’s chambers, one floor below. Queen Alicent had taken up residence there after the death of King Viserys, when her son Aegon moved into Maegor’s Holdfast with his own queen. Once inside, Cheese bound and gagged the Dowager Queen whilst Blood strangled her bedmaid. Then they settled down to wait, for they knew it was the custom of Queen Helaena to bring her children to see their grandmother every evening before bed."

"As they entered the apartments, Helaena was holding his little hand and calling out her mother’s name."

"Queen Alicent had commanded Larys Clubfoot to learn [Blood's] true name, so that she might bathe in the blood of his wife and children, but our sources do not say if this occurred."

"The king had no recourse but to take the boy from [Helaena] and give him over to their mother, the Dowager Queen Alicent, to raise as if he were her own."

The Dying of the Dragons—The Red Dragon and the Gold

"Though his mother, the Dowager Queen Alicent, spoke up in Ser Otto’s defense, His Grace turned a deaf ear to her pleading."

"...thousands left King’s Landing afterward, until the Dowager Queen Alicent ordered the city gates closed and barred."

"None was allowed to disturb [Aegon II's] rest, save his mother the Queen Dowager and his Hand, Ser Criston Cole."

"The Queen Dowager favored caution as well, urging her son to wait until his brother the king and his dragon, Sunfyre the Golden, were healed, so they might join the attack."

"...it fell to his mother, the Queen Dowager, to see to the city’s defenses. Queen Alicent rose to the challenge, closing the gates of castle and city, sending the gold cloaks to the walls, and dispatching riders on swift horses to find Prince Aemond and fetch him back. As well, she commanded Grand Maester Orwyle to send ravens to “all our leal lords,” summoning them to the defense of their true king."

"Queen Alicent’s riders got no farther than the gates, where more gold cloaks took them into custody. Unbeknownst to Her Grace, the seven captains commanding the gates, chosen for their loyalty to King Aegon, had been imprisoned or murdered the moment Caraxes appeared in the sky above the Red Keep..."

"Upon seeing that resistance was hopeless, the Dowager Queen Alicent emerged from Maegor’s Holdfast with her father, Ser Otto Hightower..."

"...Queen Alicent attempted to treat with her stepdaughter. “Let us together summon a great council, as the Old King did in days of old,” said the Dowager Queen, “and lay the matter of succession before the lords of the realm.” But Queen Rhaenyra rejected the proposal with scorn. “Do you mistake me for Mushroom?” she asked. “We both know how this council would rule.” Then she bade her stepmother choose: yield or burn. Bowing her head in defeat, Queen Alicent surrendered the keys to the castle and ordered her knights and men-at-arms to lay down their swords. “The city is yours, Princess,” she is reported to have said, “but you will not hold it long. The rats play when the cat is gone, but my son Aemond will return with fire and blood.”"

"Not even the Dowager Queen seemed to know where [Aegon II, Jaehaera, Maelor, Willis Fell, Rickard Thorne] had gone..."

The Dying of the Dragons—Rhaenyra Triumphant

"Queen Alicent was fettered at wrist and ankle with golden chains, though her stepdaughter spared her life “for the sake of our father, who loved you once.” Her own father was less fortunate."

"The Sea Snake proposed to let the Faith take charge of Dowager Queen Alicent and Queen Helaena, so that they might spend the remainder of their lives in prayer and contemplation."

"Words of these plans soon reached the ears of the Dowager Queen, filling her with terror. Fearing for her sons, Queen Alicent went to the Iron Throne upon her knees, to plead for peace. This time the Queen in Chains put forth the notion that the realm might be divided; Rhaenyra would keep King’s Landing and the crownlands, the North, the Vale of Arryn, all the lands watered by the Trident, and the isles. To Aegon II would go the stormlands, the westerlands, and the Reach, to be ruled from Oldtown. Rhaenyra rejected her stepmother’s proposal with scorn. “Your sons might have had places of honor at my court if they had kept faith,” Her Grace declared, “but they sought to rob me of my birthright, and the blood of my sweet sons is on their hands.” “Bastard blood, shed at war,” Alicent replied. “My son’s sons were innocent boys, cruelly murdered. How many more must die to slake your thirst for vengeance?” The Dowager Queen’s words only fanned the fire of Rhaenyra’s wroth. “I will hear no more lies,” she warned. “Speak again of bastardy, and I will have your tongue out.” Or so the tale is told by Septon Eustace. Munkun says the same in his True Telling. Here again Mushroom differs. The dwarf would have us believe that Rhaenyra ordered her stepmother’s tongue torn out at once, rather than merely threatening this. It was only a word from Lady Misery that stayed her hand, the fool insists; the White Worm proposed another, crueler punishment. King Aegon’s wife and mother were taken in chains to a certain brothel, and there sold to any man who wished to have his pleasure of them. The price was high; a golden dragon for Queen Alicent, three dragons for Queen Helaena, who was younger and more beautiful. Yet Mushroom says there were many in the city who thought that cheap for carnal knowledge of a queen. “Let them remain there until they are with child,” Lady Misery is purported to have said. “They speak of bastards so freely, let them each have one for their very own.”"

"...word of battle and betrayal at Tumbleton had reached King’s Landing. It is said the Dowager Queen Alicent laughed when she heard. “All they have sowed, now shall they reap,” she promised."

The Dying of the Dragons—Rhaenyra Overthrown

"If Rhaenyra were intent on murder, surely it would have been the Dowager Queen Alicent flung down onto the spikes."

"When Dowager Queen Alicent was informed of her daughter’s passing, she rent her garments and pronounced a dire curse upon her rival."

"Both were on hand the next day to bear witness as Ser Perkin’s gangling squire Trystane mounted the Iron Throne. So too was the Queen Dowager, Alicent of House Hightower."

The Dying of the Dragons—The Short, Sad Reign of Aegon II

"And so the Clubfoot was dispatched across the river under a flag of truce, accompanied by Grand Maester Orwyle and the Dowager Queen Alicent."

"There Queen Alicent received the glad news that her grandaughter Jaehaera, the only surviving child of her son Aegon and daughter Helaena, had been delivered safely to Storm’s End by Ser Willis Fell of the Kingsguard. The Dowager Queen wept tears of joy. Betrayals and betrothals followed, until an accord was reached between Lord Borros, Lord Larys, and Queen Alicent, with Grand Maester Orwyle as witness."

"Queen Alicent agreed that her son King Aegon would make Lady Cassandra, Lord Borros’s eldest daughter, his new queen."

"“[Corlys Velaryon] is traitor thrice over,” Queen Alicent said. “Rhaenyra could never have taken King’s Landing but for him. His Grace my son will not have forgotten. I want him dead.”"

"...the golden dragon banner of King Aegon II raised in their stead. Queen Alicent herself emerged from the Red Keep to bid [Borros Baratheon] welcome, with Ser Perkin the Flea beside her."

"Queen Alicent proclaimed a curfew, making it unlawful to be on the city streets after dark."

"Behind the walls of the Red Keep, the Dowager Queen Alicent and Lord Larys Strong had offered the Sea Snake his freedom, a full pardon for his treasons, and a place on the king’s small council if he would bend his knee to Aegon II as his king and deliver them the swords and sails of Driftmark."

"Queen Alicent was outraged by Lord Velaryon’s “arrogance,” Munkun tells us, especially his demand that Queen Rhaenyra’s Aegon be named as heir to her own Aegon. She had suffered the loss of two of her three sons and her only daughter during the Dance, and could not bear the thought that any of her rival’s sons should live. Angrily, Her Grace reminded Lord Corlys that she had twice proposed terms of peace to Rhaenyra, only to have her overtures rejected with scorn. It fell to Lord Larys the Clubfoot to pour oil on the troubled waters, calming the queen with a quiet reminder of all they had discussed in Lord Baratheon’s tent, and persuading her to consent to the Sea Snake’s proposals. The next day Lord Corlys Velaryon, the Sea Snake, knelt before Queen Alicent as she sat upon the lower steps of the Iron Throne, as proxy for her son, and there pledged the king his loyalty and that of his house. Before the eyes of gods and men, the Queen Dowager granted him and his a royal pardon, and restored him to his old place on the small council, as admiral and master of ships."

"Urged on by his mother, the Queen Dowager Alicent, Aegon II was determined to exact vengeance upon those who had betrayed and deposed him."

"If the rebels could flaunt a dragon and the loyalists could not, Queen Alicent pointed out, smallfolk might see their foes as more legitimate."

"Queen Alicent had reluctantly agreed to the betrothal of her granddaughter to Rhaenyra’s son, but she had done so without the king’s consent. Aegon II had other ideas."

"When Queen Alicent demured, wondering aloud how Lord Corlys could possibly be won back after all that had been said that day, Lord Strong replied, “That task you may leave to me, Your Grace. His lordship will listen to me, I daresay.”"

"His mother entertained no such hope. “You fed [Aegon III's] mother to your dragon,” she reminded her son. “The boy saw it all.” The king turned to her desperately. “What would you have me do?” “You have hostages,” the Queen Dowager replied. “Cut off one of the boy’s ears and send it to Lord Tully. Warn them he will lose another part for every mile they advance.”"

"Queen Alicent was arrested on the serpentine steps as she made her way back to her chambers. Her captors wore the seahorse of House Velaryon upon their doublets, and though they slew the two men guarding her, they did no harm to the Dowager Queen herself, nor to her ladies. The Queen in Chains was chained again and taken to the dungeons, there to await the pleasure of the new king. By then the last of her sons was already dead."

Aftermath—The Hour of the Wolf

"Within the Red Keep, the Lads found the dead king’s body laid out upon a bier beneath the Iron Throne, with his mother, Queen Alicent, weeping beside it."

"The realm’s new rulers found themselves divided on the question of what to do with the Dowager Queen Alicent, but elsewise all seemed in accord, and good fellowship reigned…for the best part of a fortnight."

"...men placed wagers on how long the Clubfoot, the Sea Snake, the Flea, and the Dowager Queen would keep their heads."

"The men who had seized the Queen Dowager upon the serpentine steps had worn the seahorse badge of House Velaryon..."

"Queen Alicent’s captors had slain her guards and were thus condemned to death..."

Under the Regents—The Hooded Hand

"And the more observant made note of another absence. The Dowager Queen was nowhere to be seen, though as Jaehaera’s grandmother, Alicent Hightower ought to have been present."

"A more immediate problem was posed by the Dowager Queen, who refused to reconcile herself to the new king. The murder of the last of her sons had turned Alicent’s heart into a stone. None of the regents wished to see her put to death, some from compassion, others for fear that such an execution might rekindle the flames of war. Yet she could not be allowed to take part in the life of the court as before. She was too apt to rain down curses on the king, or snatch a dagger from some unwary guardsman. Alicent could not even be trusted in the company of the little queen; when last allowed to share a meal with Her Grace, she had told Jaehaera to cut her husband’s throat whilst he was sleeping, which set the child to screaming. Ser Tyland felt he had no choice but to confine the Queen Dowager to her own apartments in Maegor’s Holdfast; a gentle imprisonment, but imprisonment nonetheless."

"One death may have been a mercy. The Dowager Queen Alicent of House Hightower, second wife of King Viserys I and mother to his sons, Aegon, Aemond, and Daeron, and his daughter Helaena, died on the same night as Lord Westerling, after confessing her sins to her septa. She had outlived all of her children and spent the last year of her life confined to her apartments, with no company but her septa, the serving girls who brought her food, and the guards outside her door. Books were given her, and needles and thread, but her guards said Alicent spent more time weeping than reading or sewing. One day she ripped all her clothing into pieces. By the end of the year she had taken to talking to herself, and had come to have a deep aversion to the color green. In her last days the Queen Dowager seemed to become more lucid. “I want to see my sons again,” she told her septa, “and Helaena, my sweet girl, oh…and King Jaehaerys. I will read to him, as I did when I was little. He used to say I had a lovely voice.” (Strangely, in her final hours Queen Alicent spoke often of the Old King, but never of her husband, King Viserys.) The Stranger came for her on a rainy night, at the hour of the wolf."

[js-dragonart]

Seeing Ghosts Final Part- Forgiveness

Part I: https://www.tumblr.com/js-dragonart/761883696680894464/choices-a-prequel-to-seeing-ghosts-i-have?source=share

Part II: https://www.tumblr.com/js-dragonart/765229749092139008/seeing-ghosts-part-ii-betrayal-this-was-a-doozy?source=share

Part III: https://www.tumblr.com/js-dragonart/760435909435047936/seeing-ghosts-coping-strategy-when-something?source=share

Honestly, I am surprised that I managed to finish the series. This has been my biggest project in quite a while, since most of the time I work on funny short stories. This was so much more time consuming from planning over doing research up to the actual drawing process.

It's an incredibly sappy story with an even sappier ending...but sometimes I just need to work on something like this. And I loved giving the Targtower siblings at least some kind of happy ending...in the afterlife, reunited. In peace with their dragons.

Some Artist notes:

I am aware Aemond wasn't the last one of them to die, but as Aegon says; it took him a while to find his siblings and niblings.

Aemond calls Aegon "my beautiful king" in high valyrian

Aegon replies with "I love you. Always."

[n-i-m-u-e]

[danyyytarggg]

YOU can continue to treat house of the dragon as canon and YOU can continue to get upset with HOTD!characters’ actions, take them literally, and judge their characters off of said actions. ME, i will be MINDFUL of the unspoken OOC tag that this particular fanfiction has and will therefore not take any of their actions as canon

[sweetestpopcorn]

The Blacks and the Greens 🐉 by the beyond talented and patient and every compliment imaginable @lupotterdraws featuring (from left to right) Princess Helaena Targaryen, Prince Daeron Targaryen, Prince Aemond “One Eye” Targaryen, Queen Alicent Hightower, Prince Aegon “The Elder” Targaryen, and their graces King Viserys I Targaryen, (his favourite child) the Princess of Dragonstone Rhaenyra Targaryen “The Realm’s Delight” and last but not least her beloved uncle and husband Prince Daemon Targaryen, “The Rogue Prince”

Thank you from here to the moon and back Lu! You are as talented as Balerion’s fires were hot 🐉🔥

PS: asoiaf characters, these can only be found in the books and not in a certain lizard show

[potpourri-of-ecclecticism]

Helaegon are probably one of THE ONLY ships in the history of entertainment media that, despite being canon in all realms, actually came alive only through actor interviews

[omnipotent-scient]

Alicent is a political mastermind whether you like her or not. Her keeping the peace after visits died is why Rhaenyra lived as long as she did

Lol, which part of her character screams political mastermind to you? The part where she was having petty grudges against a pre-teen? Or the part where she spread unnecessary rumours abt the said 12/13 year old? Or the part where she publicly hated the same child? Or the last where she wanted a 5 year old's eye to be put out? Or the part where her 19 and 15 year old sons remained unwed, instead of creating an allegiance?

She is smart and cunning and ambitious but not in the most political way.

Her marriage was the utmost political move on her part. Through this marriage, she became queen, one of the most powerful titles, had four princelings and three to follow after them.

I do think the Rhaenyra & Alicent mostly animosity mostly began after Otto was sent away(109)/Aemond was born(110), which would put Alicent(21/22) displaying public dislike towards Rhaenyra(12/13). Everyone and their mothers in the court knew abt their 'animosity' towards each other even before the tourney of 111 AC, blacks and greens were formed. Alicent was 23 and Rhaenyra was 14.

“Ser Criston protects the princess from her enemies, but who protects the princess from Ser Criston?” Queen Alicent asked one day at court. Such a political movie on Alicent's part🤦‍♀️

Taking in Lord Commander of the Kingsgaurd Criston, was a power gaining move on her past however. But then again, a man she alleged of being a pedo when she had a silver haired daughter herself. So, again, who knows.

Aegon and Helaena marriage was arranged by Viserys, so it would calm down Aegon a bit (from whoring and drinking). She as a mother did not stop Aegon from whoring or excessive drinking, even though she wanted him to be king. She did not prepare him to rule or have someone do it, just let him sire bastards and destroy his reputation. Just because he was a son, he was the better choice, even with nothing to back it.

Queen Alicent demanded that one of Lucerys Velaryon’s eyes should be put out, for the eye he had cost Aemond. Luke was FIVE when this happened, Alicent was a grown 32 year old woman, a mother to 4 children. Though this can easily be passed as her mother's grief talking. So moving on.

Aemond(19) and Daeron(15) remained unwed. Marriage is the best way of allegiance (ex. Rhaenyra and Velaryons). Aemond could've been easily married by then, maybe to Cassandra Baratheon, where he could've been her consort (ex. Daemon and Rhea). Daeron could've been married too, but even a Betrothal would've been fine, maybe to some Tyrell. Yet it didn't happen.

By (visits=Viserys?) 'Rhaenyra living as long as she did', I think you mean the peace treaty? Even an idiot knows you offer a peace treaty at the beginning of a war, so you can be seen as peaceful and better than the other. It wasn't even just her either, Otto and Helaena both pushed for it. The offer was also a hostageship for Rhaenyra and her whole family.

Also Rhaenyra is the one who kept Alicent alive not the other way around. “for the sake of our father, who loved you once.”

[pumpkinfyre]

Prisoner of Vows

Chapter Two: Courting

Summary: Naelys Velaryon is the beloved daughter of Rhaenyra Targaryen. After the Dance begins, she is trapped in Kings Landing and forced to choose between her blood.

"I remember you disliking tourneys," Helaena says, her thin lips pursed in a straight line. "Yet, for your marriage celebrations, we must attend one. It is quite strange." Helaena herself was strange, but Naelys loved her all the same. They had been close as children before Naelys and her family moved away to Dragonstone. Helaena had been the first to congratulate Naelys on claiming Silverwing, as Naelys had done the same when she bonded with Dreamfyre. The fact that they hadn't seen each other in years didn't change their fondness for each other. 

"I still have no love for them, but Mother enjoys them..." 

They slip into the box above the arena, both girls taking seats. Naelys tries to calm herself, nervously surveying the dusty arena. Aegon is beside his mother, already taking to his cups, the queen giving him a scathing glare. 

"Ser Criston will be taking part, as will your stepfather," Helaena says, noticing her companion fidgeting. "I heard that they held a competition against each other almost two decades ago when our mothers were our age." Naelys sighs at the mention of Daemon. "I also heard that Ser Cole bested him." The idea of seeing Daemon defeated on the dirty ground was a fond one. 

Naelys feels a hand on her shoulder, and when she looks over her shoulder, she sees her mother walking past, wobbling as she nurses the baby bump. The princess comes down the balcony, taking her seat next to her daughter, Jace, and Luke following shortly. Rhaenyra sighs deeply, the heaviness of the babe taking its toll on her. 

Naelys hated tourneys, but she would make do for her mother. 

Nearly an hour passes, and the princess can feel her boredom eating her alive. Daemon had indeed participated, but he hadn't been pinned against Ser Cole, much to her disappointment. She had been forced to hand over her favor to her stepfather, and that alone had put her in a foul mood. Naelys would rather be riding the skies with Silverwing but alas was forced to observe the most boring of events. As the tourney comes to an end, Rhaenyra grasps her daughter's hand tightly, a wide smile on her face. 

"Your little cousin and grandmother have arrived," she coos, grunting as Naelys helps her to her feet. The large bump not helping in the slightest. "We should go see them, then." 

Baela had grown taller, and more beautiful. Her face was stern and unmoving, like stone. She reminded Naelys of Daemon, though she liked her cousin much more. Rhaenys pulls Naelys into a sweet embrace, her thin fingers wrapping around a lock of white hair. 

"I would congratulate you, but I'm not sure how, cousin," Baela says, her eyes narrowed slightly as she eyes the Hightower's as they take their leave from the hall. Naelys smiles awkwardly, grasping Baela's hand in her own. "In any case, I'm glad you came. I was hoping we could do some dragonriding together," she speaks in a hushed tone, but her plans do not escape her mother. Rhaenyra huffs to herself, lowering her gaze to her oldest child. "I don't like you riding whilst I'm in this condition, Sweetling," Rhaenyra grits out, a lightness to her words. Naelys couldn't understand her mother's worry. Silverwing was fiercely protective of her, not to mention the great silver beast was known to be quite docile, at least as docile as a dragon could get. Silverwing was large, only slightly smaller than Vermithor, so Rhaenyra's fear was slightly understandable, but in all the years Naelys had been a dragonrider she had never had a tumble. 

"Then I will not ride," Naelys says, smiling softly at her mother as Rhaenyra eyes her knowingly. "Without grandmother, of course! I'm sure Rhaenys wouldn't mind accompanying us to the skies," Baela intersects, giving her cousin a knowing look. Despite being a pious and quiet girl, Naelys became quite ravenous when it came to her dragon. Nothing could keep her away from Silverwing for long. Rhaenys smirks as she watches the young girls giggle together, hiding their smiles behind their hands. 

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅──╮

Having Daemon Targaryen as a chaperone was something Naelys would not wish on her worst enemy, but her mother had insisted on Daemon accompanying her around the Keep until the wedding. Daemon was charismatic enough, and Rhaenyra trusted him to look after her daughter during the short courting process she and Aegon would be having. 

That being said, it was awkward to have lunch with the queen and her son alongside her stepfather who notoriously hated the Hightower's. 

The garden was nice, and the cool air made a good atmosphere. Naelys sips at the cinnamon-spiced tea in her cup as Daemon absentmindedly dangles Dark Sister off his hip. Alicent sat next to Aegon, keeping their cups full of cider instead of wine, her lips pursed sternly as she kept an eye on her eldest child. Aegon himself stares blankly at Naelys as she sips her tea, dainty fingers cradling the glass softly. Naelys was less clumsy than she had been years prior. She no longer tripped over her long skirts, and she no longer tried to make Aegon play with her, as she did often when they were children. She would follow Helaena around, as they were close, but her relationship with Aegon hadn't been much different. They would sneak into the kitchens to steal extra cake, and Aegon would always take a swig of wine he knew he wasn't allowed to have. Now she was so much like a proper lady, something his mother liked. 

But she wouldn't look at him. 

Sitting beside Daemon in her dark burgundy gown, Naelys holds a neutral expression on her face, licking her lips every so often to clear the remnants of tea. Her cup had been refilled three times in total, because despite what others may believe, Aegon could count. Naelys tries to avoid conversation with Daemon, but he speaks to her anyway. 

"My brother will be attending the wedding, I assume. I haven't seen much of him since we arrived," Daemon says, his thin lips pursed in an ugly manner, much the way his face usually looked. Daemon Targaryen never truly looked happy or content. Naelys perks up at the mention of her grandfather, her big brown eyes trained on her stepfather as he speaks. Letters had been sent to Dragonstone telling them of King Viserys' festering sickness, though her mother and stepfather had never taken them seriously. Rhaenyra's trust in Maester's died alongside her mother and baby brother. 

"The King, as I'm sure you are aware, is very sick these days," Alicent says, a bite to her words as she stares at Daemon through her thick lashes. "He wishes to save his energy for the festivities." The Hightower matriarch folds her hands in front of her, sparing a glance towards Aegon. "His Grace is very excited for the wedding, given he hasn't seen you in such a long time, Princess," she says, Daemon narrowing his eyes at her. "I remember you were quite close with him before your departure to Dragonstone." Naelys smiles slightly, her fingers digging into the velvety fabric of her dress, the burgundy gown creasing at the force.

Naelys was sure that her mother had already seen the king since they arrived, but she hadn't spoken about her visit at all. Rhaenyra had the habit of dropping by her daughter's room every night, without fail. When Naelys was still a young child, it would result in whimsical bedtime stories, or Rhaenyra would read to her about the Conquerors adventures across Westeros and Dorne. As she became older, though, Naelys would read to her mother, and sometimes her younger brothers. Joffrey had become extremely attached to his older sister, and followed her everywhere. 

Lately, though, Rhaenyra hadn't said anything about her father during her nightly visits with her daughter. Naelys had noticed, of course, but decided against mentioning it to her mother. The current pregnancy had not been treating Rhaenyra well, and Naelys worried for her mother. Her grandsire must have been worse than either of them thought. 

"Mm, my brother would not miss such a thing," Daemon says, looking at Naelys as she takes another sip of her tea, her eyes worried. 

She would visit him, Naelys decides. Her grandsire was sick, surely he would enjoy some company. 

The group moves from eating pastries and sipping tea into walking the gardens, Aegon and Naelys a few steps ahead of Daemon and Alicent. 

When they were children, the gardens were a common place to see them playing together. Aegon would chase Helaena and Naelys around with a wooden stick, pretending to be a villain of sorts, and little Aemond would play the knight in shining armor. Alas, they were no longer children, and things were much different now. Naelys herself had changed since the death of her father, she seemed somber to Aegon, a certain sadness to her face. 

The awkward silence was deafening, and Naelys could feel herself wanting to run away desperately. She glances at the man beside her, only to realize that Aegon is picking his fingers bloody. Perhaps unconsciously, he rips at the skin of his cuticles, blood seeping from the small wound as he did so. It looked painful, and she cringed slightly. Naelys moves her body to shield the view of Daemon before grabbing at Aegon's hand, stopping his self abuse. 

"Stop that, you're hurting yourself," she mutters, feeling the clammy flesh of Aegon's hand in her own. "See? You're bleeding, Aegon." She examines his bloodied fingers, frowning as she notices that he must do this often, the lingering scars of his picking evident. Aegon himself stares at her, his light eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. It looked almost as though he was confused on why she would show any sort of concern towards him. 

Aegon looked exceedingly different, Naelys notices. When they last saw each other, his hair had been much longer, the white mess of curls had reached past his shoulders back then, and always made him look similar to his mother, in Naelys' opinion. Now it was shorter, his curls less pronounced. His eyes, still that light lilac hue, had deep shadows underneath them, indicating his night lifestyle. Aegon no longer looked like the boy who would pretend to be a dragon and chase her around the courtyard. 

He looked like a man. 

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅──╮

"How long does it usually take for an egg to hatch?" Lucerys asks, glancing at the pink egg as it rested in the lit brazier. Naelys is pulling a comb through her brothers fluffy brown hair when he asks the question, his little nose twitching as Naelys' incense is burned. Their nighttime routine was simple. Luke and Joff would come to see their older sister before bed, due to their mother's condition. She would ready them for bed instead of a servant due to Joffrey's fussy nature, he remained well-balanced when with Naelys. 

"It depends," she coos, setting the brush down on the vanity. "Sometimes it takes years, or centuries. Other times dragon eggs don't hatch at all. They can often turn to stone, as mine did." 

Rhaenyra had placed an egg in Naelys' cradle, as was their tradition. The egg, however, failed to hatch, even after the princess was born. It left room for Naelys to claim her own dragon, Silverwing, at age thirteen. 

She no longer mourned the desolation of being dragonless, but she understood Rhaena's plight either way. 

"Will this one hatch, do you think?" Luke clung to Naelys as she leads the boys out of her chambers and towards their own rooms. Little Joff was fast asleep in her arms as she walked the long corridors, the soft pitter-patter of tiny feet making a slight echo. "I do." She answered, finally tucking Joffrey in his bed, the toddler still fast asleep. Naelys kisses his forehead gently, as their mother often did, before turning to usher Lucerys to his bed as well. 

"We have a long day tomorrow," Naelys said, making sure to leave the pitcher of water on a desk nearby. Luke got thirsty during the night quite easily. "Make sure you sleep well, Luke." 

Leaving the room, Naelys makes her way towards the nursery. She would bid her youngest brother, Aegon, goodnight before heading to bed herself. 

Before she can enter the nursery, the door opens suddenly, and Naelys jumps, a soft gasp leaving her lips. Elinda, Rhaenyra's lady, let out a startled shriek as well, placing a hand over her heart as she breathes deeply. 

"I'm so sorry, Princess! I didn't know you would be in your way here, so-" "It's alright, Elinda, everything is fine..." 

Elinda closes the door behind her, glancing at the cradle that housed the youngest of Rhaenyra's sons once more. 

"Princess, your mother had told me to fetch you after I was done putting down Prince Aegon," Elinda says, giving Naelys a soft look. "Ah, alright then. I'll go to see her... you should get some rest as well, Elinda." Naelys smiles at Elinda, giving her a kind look before turning to travel towards her mother's quarters. 

When she finally arrives, Rhaenyra is pacing the room, her long golden-silver hair pulled out of her usual braids. Naelys smiles gently, walking towards her mother carefully. Her nerves were obviously on edge, it was common for Rhaenyra to pace with an unhappy expression on her face when she was worried about something. 

"Elinda said you wanted to see me?" 

Rhaenyra turns, her eyes narrowed slightly with worry. 

"I've decided that the wedding is off, I will not allow you to marry your uncle," she says, her hand cradling her baby bump tenderly. "I cannot leave you here with these vultures, I simply can't do it." Rhaenyra snaps, resting herself in a chair. Naelys' gentle smile fades quickly, and she looks at her mother as though Rhaenyra had grown  second pair of arms. 

"Are you mad? The wedding is the day after tomorrow, we cannot back out! Grandsire would never allow it, neither would the Queen..." Naelys looks at her mother, trying to understand where her passionate denial had sprouted from. "If you deny the marriage everything will fall apart, please don't let your emotions get the better of you." Rhaenyra rises from her seat, beginning to pace the room again. "You are my heir, and my only daughter! These people will strip you of all your purity and kindness, I cannot allow it." 

"As your mother, and the crowned heir to the Iron Throne, I have authority over you," Rhaenyra stands in front of Naelys, her hands cupping her daughter's cheeks lovingly. "We can find you a good, honorable man. One who can love and protect you, but that man is not your uncle." 

"I wish to do my duty, mother," Naelys says, her brown eyes welling with tears. Even as a child, she was prone to her emotions. Any strong feeling she had could reduce the girl to tears. Seeing her mother so desperate was terrifying. "My duty is to you, and I intend to do it well." 

mama nyra is the best nyra, I love her smmm 

I'm going to try to come up with a designated schedule for updates, but it may take some time.

thank you for reading!

masterlist ᡣ𐭩

[drakaripykiros130ac]

More and more I see people questioning how the Blacks didn’t outright win and destroy the Greens in one go with all the advantages they had.

The answer is simple: The Greens were protected by plot armor.

GRRM gave the Blacks almost everything they could ask for (thereby favoring them):

1. The best allies (the Winter Wolves, the Lads, Cregan Stark, Jeyne Arryn, etc.)

2. The most Houses supporting Rhaenyra’s cause (53)

3. The largest territories (the North, the Vale and the Riverlands)

4. The largest and best fleet (commanded by the Velaryons)

5. The Velaryon fortune

6. The most dragons

Normally, with all these advantages, they should have won the war with their hands tied behind their backs. The Greens only had home-field advantage (King’s Landing) and Vhagar. That’s pretty much it.

But of course, GRRM wanted it to be a more balanced war, and despite giving the Blacks plenty of advantages, he protected the Greens so the story can actually take place.

1. There is just no way that Aegon the Usurper could have survived everything he endured (Rook’s Rest, and then battling with Baela etc.) In my opinion, he was one greenie who was definitely protected by plot armor.

2. Daemon using B&C to only kill one of Aegon’s heirs instead of eliminating everyone in that tower is also kind of plot armor for the Greens. There is no way that he wouldn’t have taken advantage to have everyone in that tower killed. It would have weakened the Greens considerably (not to mention that Alicent was the “brains” behind the operation).

3. Then you have Rhaenyra sparing Alicent after she took King’s Landing (the woman who bullied her as a child and stole her throne) for some dumb reason like “My father loved you so I am doing this for him”. Yeah right…With how much Rhaenyra hated the woman, she wouldn’t have hesitated to chop her head off.

4. For some reason, Rhaenyra decides to go to Dragonstone after the storming of the Dragonpit, instead of the Vale. Another plot convenience for the Greens. The Vale was obviously the best place to go. The Greens wouldn’t have been able to touch Rhaenyra there. The Arryns would have protected her and her child, until Cregan Stark arrived and dethroned the usurper. Happy ending, the end. But yeah, it’s Asoiaf. There are no happy endings, and GRRM had to give Rhaenyra a tragic end.

All in all, the Greens survived as long as they did because of plot armor. No, they were not politically savvy (believe it or not, that’s Daemon. He managed to convince the Red Kraken to side with the Blacks and didn’t really offer him anything in return).

Otto was a terrible Hand who got fired twice, Criston Cole was another terrible Hand who was all muscle and had no political intelligence (or any kind of intelligence), Alicent was a manipulating and greedy shrew hiding behind her sons, Helaena was completely useless, Aegon didn’t know what the hell he was doing or why he was doing it, and Aemond was a brainless psycho on the biggest dragon in existance.

Oh, and there’s also Daeron the Forgotten, who after torching Bitterbridge, managed to get himself killed by a fallen tent.

[alvsanne]

"I want to see my sons again, and Helaena, my sweet girl..."

[lullaebies]

headcanon: aegon ii has mocking-affectionate nicknames for all of his family. the tradition started with aemond "twat" targaryen, helaena "idiot" targaryen, and daeron "squirt" targaryen, and continued to his sons with jaehaerys adequately named "twerp" and maelor being "brat". only jaehaera gets a pass because his daughter is a sweetie and also the only person that doesn't bully him lmao