#daeron the war criminal

[throwawayasoiafaccount]

forever annoyed by daeron the war criminal and his unearned moniker. cause what exactly did he do that was so special to earn him ‘the daring’ nickname? the answer is nothing. imo, it’s a classic case of medieval nepotism—he was given something he didn’t truly earn. though he at least showed some self-awareness based on his retort to being dubbed ‘ser daeron the daring’. but tbh, i think the fact that he was given that moniker shows how terrible the green princes PR was at the time. so it seems likely that this was a political ploy to make daeron stand out favorably compared to his brothers and to help the greens better compete with the blacks, who had the more favorable reputation at that point. so while dubbing daeron ‘the daring’ was certainly a smart move, i still find annoying af, especially since some parts of the fandom act like the moniker is deserved.

[nikosdaydreams]

I actually feel for Alicent and her kids. Don't get me wrong, because the Greens did horrible and inexcusable things, but if you do think about it from a fraction of her perspective it makes sense.

If Aegon doesn't sit that throne, then it means she survived at least four pregnancies, years of an unhappy and borderline abusive marriage, losing the love and trust of her closest friend, being used as a pawn of her father - all for nothing.

She will have gone through a lifetime of loss, heartbreak and trauma and none of it will have mattered in the end.

And it still stays a theme throughout the Dance, the sacrifices Alicent had made to put Aegon on the Iron Throne:

She lost Viserys. Of course, he was horrid to her and her children, but he was still her husband, and her King, who she had looked after in his ailing years. Regardless of how he had treated her, there would have been some element of grief - considering she had been the one caring for him.

She lost Jaehaerys. Her son's heir, her daughter's baby, right in front of her very eyes, murdered cruelly. And in the wake of her grandson's murder, came Aegon's rage and drunkeness and Helaena's madness - the things that led to their downfall.

She lost Maelor. She must have felt even a whisper of responsibility towards him, having become his de facto carer. To lose not one, but two grandsons, in such a violent and brutal manner, would be a heavy weight on Alicent's heart.

She lost Helaena. Her only daughter. She could see herself in Helaena, and she must’ve wondered - had she subjected her daughter to the same fate as her own? After so much suffering and torture and trauma of watching Jaehaerys die and hearing of the death of Maelor, still a young child, the child she had named. Meant that her beloved, sweet Helaena, no matter how quick her death, would have died in agony.

She lost Aemond. The boy who wished for a dragon, the boy who hugged her as he bled from his empty eye socket, the boy who calmed her by saying that in losing an eye he had gained a dragon. Was no more. She would have known about his rampages in the Riverlands, surely, but losing one's own child is still a harsh blow to any mother.

She lost Daeron. Her youngest child, who won vengeance for his nephew, and fought alongside his kin, her son, only sixteen when he died.

She lost Rhaenyra. Once her best friend, then her stepdaughter, then her enemy. No matter how long it had been or what they had done to one another, I still wonder if Alicent felt a pang of grief after Aegon had ordered his half-sister killed by Sunfyre.

All this death, all this suffering, all this bloodshed, just to put her eldest son, her last standing child, firmly on the Iron Throne, so that she can justify the years of suffering she endured at the hands of her father and Viserys.

And then he just. dies. Poisoned by his own men. He had only managed a two year reign.

And all that suffering.

All that sacrifice.

All the loss that she endured to make him King.

Was all for nothing.

Her final child. Her last son. The man she had given everything to keep in power. Poisoned like a rat.

And all Alicent had left

was her traumatised, orphaned granddaughter Jaehaera

and her own grief, madness, and self-pity.

This was all she had to show for the years of suffering she endured.

No wonder she died so alone, sat in her chambers, wanting nothing more than to see her sons and her sweet Helaena one last time.

[drahg0]

ok but if your name is daeron targaryen you're gay ok. I don't make the rules

[nonconstories]

Today. I had a root canal. And then had my temp crown put on. AND, while I was getting the temporary crown for my DRILLED INTO AND NOW NERVELESS TOOTH, the dentist said "Oh hey, that's a cavity on the other side of your mouth. Let's go ahead and fill that too."

Guys. I have never, IN MY LIFE, had a SINGLE FILLING, EVER, and I got my first one on the day of my FIRST EVER FUCKING ROOT CANAL.

My tooth hurts. I am grumpy. I have to take antibiotics.

All of this was to lead up to an invitation to send me asks. I miss you guys (and yes, I'm writing things that aren't fanfic, you'll see some of them soon).

[maekarlargenaturals]

I’m a fan of every Daeron Targaryen except for Daeron the Daring and I think that entitles me to financial compensation.

[percentstardust]

love how i added rhaenyra first as a muse after hotd started airing but she’s now probably my least active hotd muse besides caraxes and vhagar. 🫣

[screamsfromla]

Baela and Rhaena should kick u in the head

it’s been two years since season one came out and i am still not seeing enough people acknowledge that every adult targaryen is a bad person except helaena, jacaerys, and MAYBE daeron if you tilt your head to the left and squint a little

[pessimisticpigeonsworld]

On the "Choose a Side" Discourse

With HBO leaning veryyyy heavily into "pick a side" for their promos, the "no team" people are crawling out of the woodwork. I want to preface this post by saying that I'm not saying people shouldn't have favorite characters who aren't mine, nor that people should just be totally invested in fandom discourse.

I already made a post about the issues with the arguments of the "no team" people, so I'll just summarize my thoughts from that real quick. A majority of their arguments and metas are thinly veiled anti Rhaenyra thoughts. That's still true of this new wave of this group.

Now, one thing I will agree with them on is: GRRM did not write this story to be one of choose a side. However, that is not because the Blacks and the Greens are equally bad or the Targaryens are all evil. No, it's because the Greens were always in the wrong and GRRM makes this abundantly clear to us in F&B.

Let's look at some facts from the Dance. While male primogeniture is tradition, it's not the law; the king's word is law, something ASOIAF has established time and again. The Greens took the throne through underhanded ways. They left Viserys' body to rot for days while they prepared for Aegon's coronation to prevent Rhaenyra from learning and coming to KL. They forced the smallfolk to attend and most didn't cheer for Aegon, with some even calling for Rhaenyra while most were confused and angry.

Aemond drew first blood by killing the unarmed thirteen year old envoy, Lucerys Velaryon. A majority of the realm declared for Rhaenyra; 53 houses supported her, while only 28 supported Aegon. The Greens committed the greatest atrocities of the Dance: Aemond burning the Riverlands and Daeron massacring Tumbleton. They also committed the greater number of atrocities.

The Greens also lost the war. The Blacks weren't just fighting for Rhaenyra, they fought for her heirs as well. This is why they swore to her and Jacaerys; later for Aegon III after the deaths of his older brothers. The Black forces continued to fight after Rhaenyra's murder and took KL. Aegon was murdered by his own men when the Blacks were marching on KL; in other words, the Greens knew they were beat, so they killed Aegon in an attempt to save themselves. Since Aegon left no heirs aside from Jaehaera, Aegon III was crowned and married to Jaehaera. The Blacks won the war.

Aegon the Usurper's bloodline is destroyed with the deaths of Jaehaera and Gaemon Palehair. This is the final affirmation of the Greens being in the wrong. GRRM's books punish usurpers by wiping out their bloodlines; Maegor and Robert Baratheon being the most obvious examples. Aegon and all the Greens have no descendants, their bloodline is dead.

Rhaenyra's bloodline, on the other hand, continues all the way through to the main series. Daenerys Targaryen, the most powerful character in the series, is her descendant, as is Jon Snow (unconfirmed as of now in the books) who is another of the key five. Rhaenyra may have died, but her faction won the war and her bloodline will save the world through her two greatest descendants (alongside the rest of the key five).

The Dance of the Dragons is, ultimately, a story of the damage the patriarchy does and how misogyny is destructive to the world. The Dance caused the death of the dragons and a great loss of power for women in the realm. Queen consorts after Rhaenyra had markedly less power and there was a drop in female leaders of the great houses. The loss of the dragons caused the weakening of magic in the world as a whole.

The Dance isn't about who your favorite war criminal is, nor is it about the evil of the Targaryens. It's about misogyny; something HOTD seems to have forgotten. Even before they started pushing TB vs TG so hard, they still missed the point.

It doesn't matter that Rhaenyra isn't a perfect, or even a good, person. It doesn't matter that Rhaenyra is non-conforming, plays the political game, and exploits her father's favor. Rhaenyra could have been as pious and well-behaved as Naerys and the Greens still would have usurped her. Rhaenyra could have had children with Laenor, and still the Greens would have usurped her. HOTD tries to paint the usurpation as partially being on Rhaenyra and her choices, but nothing Rhaenyra could have done would have been good enough.

The Blacks are the protagonists of the Dance. Are they perfect? No. Are they heroes? No. GRRM loves his gray characters, the Blacks are no exception. If you people want a story with black and white morality and perfect protagonists, go read another book. Just because people aren't perfect and don't operate exclusively in what's right according to our modern standards doesn't mean they aren't the protagonists.

In conclusion: there isn't a TB vs TG discourse in the Dance because the Greens are the antagonists and completely in the wrong. The point of the Dance is that the misogyny of the Greens damaged the realm. Rhaenyra is the rightful queen, there is no actual argument for Aegon or any of his allies.

Rhaenyra is the rightful queen to Westeros, go cry to George if you don't like it.

[throwawayasoiafaccount]

i think most people would hate him if the showrunners decided to stick with canon

let’s not forget Bitterbridge and Tumbleton

daeron the war criminal deserved his pathetic death

[silmarillaure]

Don't pit THE MEN of House Targaryen against each other!!!

Aenar is SMART FOR LISTENING TO HIS DAUGHTER

Aegon I is...

Aenys TRIED

Maegor is...

Aegon the Uncrowned MARRIED A LESBIAN ICON & IS AEREA'S FATHER

Jaehaerys I is...

Aemon the Pale Prince is THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TARG MAN

Baelon is HUBBY MATIRIAL

Vaegon is A NERDY ACE ICON

V*serys I is...

D@emon is...

Aegon II is...

Aemond is...

Daeron the Daring is A WAR CRIMINAL WHO GET'S A PASS FOR BEING A MINOR

Aegon III DESERVED BETTER!!!

Viserys II is...

Daeron I is...

Baelor I is...

@*g0n !V is...

Aemon the Dragonknight is THE FATHER DAERON II DESERVED

Daeron II is THE BEST KING OF WESTEROS

Baelor Breakspear is THE BEST TARGARYEN MAN EVER

Aerys I is AN AROACE BOOKISH KING

Rhaegel is A DANCER WHO HATES CLOTHES

Maekar is AEGON V'S FATHER

Daeron the Drunken is...

Aerion is...

Maester Aemon is FLAWLESS

Aegon V is THE MOST ICONIC MALE TARG

Duncan LOVES HIS WIFE

Jaehaerys II is...

Daeron the Gay MARRIED HIS BF FOR LOVE

Aerys II is...

Rhaegar is...

Viserys III is...

[echos-muses]

we should talk about alicent some more.

y’know, just a bunch of hateful shit. alicent is just purely lucky her children look valyrian. if she had “plain-featured” children, she would have the same rumors said about her.

let’s move to aegon, shall we?

i think this speaks for itself.

let’s also take a look at aemond in the next reblog so i can show you all the screenshots of the book.

Even the timeline of Harwin Strong's death was changed to benefit Rhaenyra and team black in the TV show... In book-canon Harwin is alive at the time of LAENOR's death, he's at the funeral, he is there when his biological children maim their uncle. Funny enough, book!Aemond does not use the word 'bastard' he does not call Jacaerys 'Lord Strong', they are fighting and it's not even because Aemond 'stole' Vhagar but because while 'stealing' Vhagar he pushed Joffrey in dragon's dunk, and Jacaerys and Lucerys show up to BEAT him with their training swords, and Jace deliberately, knowing who was there, brought with him his knife, during the fight, three to one, Aemond call them 'Strong', and this is it. Harwin was there when this all come to light, can you imagine this in the show? Harwin by Rhaenyra's side, their bastards around them, and everyone else looking at them, taking note of how much the boys look like their mother's sworn protector...out of all that happens, from the whole ordeal, Viserys only real attitude is to dismiss Harwin from his daughter's service and send him back to Harrenhall...in the books Daemon, Viserys, Corlys and Lary's are all rumored to be the supposed responsible for the fires that kills Lyonel and Harwin, but in the show, somehow, it is Alicent who unwittingly order the arson?? Really?? Daemon would be more believable honestly, more in character...

[nrilliree]

I wonder why exactly people call Daeron the only good, responsible, worthy or whatever child of Alicent? Just…why?

Daeron, after Aemond, is the main war criminal of the Dance. He burned Bitterbridge, killed the townpeople, and those who survived the fire were finished off by soldiers or drowned. He ordered the murder of the entire city for the death of his nephew, instead of convicting the guilty. Even Daemon, considered the greatest villain by TG, didn't do such things.

Under his mediocre command, Tumbleton was plundered. "Seldom has any town or city in the history of the Seven Kingdoms been subject to as long or as cruel or as savage a sack as Tumbleton after the Treasons."("W całej historii Siedmiu Królestw rzadko się zdarzało, by jakieś miasto albo miasteczko splądrowano równie brutalnie, jak Tumbleton po Zdradach. ") He didn't stop his men from doing this, because either he didn't care or these people didn't care about him and his orders.

Just…why?

[alicentflorent]

why did you become anti rhaenicent? I remember you used to reblog gifs and posts about them not too long ago. No hate I'm just curious since you've been posting anti rhaenicent stuff lately

It wasn't until after season two started airing. First, the fact that the writers wrote them meeting in the sept while ignoring the pain and loss they both went through at the hands of each other's loved ones. It felt like queerbaiting, because rhaenicent will never happen and while the childhood romance is implied they resented each other for a long time. That scene could have been written to show to mothers grieving the loss of their innocent children, let them be vulnerable with each other but also let them hate each other and hate themselves over the fact they feel anything for each other that isn't just hatred.

What really ruined rhaenicent for me though was the dragonstone scene. We watched alicent get "punished" all season, constantly humiliated, her sex life being tied to her grandsons murder, not being respected by anyone because she chose her children over Rhaenyra. Then of course the only way she can redeem herself is to sacrifice her sons and she isn't just giving up on her rapist and war criminal sons but Daeron too, and her lover, her brother, her father basically everyone she loves aside from her daughter who might be spared. Alicent is the one who has to become humbled who has to listen to Rhaenyra insulting her without saying anything back, without even bringing up her murdered grandson killed by Daemon, who Rhaenyra brings back into the fold. Alicent reverted back to her teenage self and has to put Rhaenyra before everyone else but no one would ever expect Rhaenyra to give anything up for Alicent. Imagine the outrage if Rhaenyra had offered to give Aegon the throne to make peace with Alicent over Aemond's maiming? After Alicent treated her like shit for years? The fandom would absolutely lose it.

It boils down to hate it when one half of a ship even if I ship it is put down in favour of the other half of the ship. One half of the ship needs to humble themselves and jump through hoops to prove their worthiness to the other half of the ship. I hate that trope especially when it is a woman or poc or anyone with less power that has to prove their worthiness.

I enjoyed young rhaenicent, the childhood lovers who are fated to be enemies and the AU fics where Alicent isn't married to Rhaenyra's father against her will but right now after Alicent's treatment I'm struggling to engage with this ship in any capacity.

[icarusignite]

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House of the Dragon

Series

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ An Eye for an Eye Masterlist (Aemond Targaryen x OC)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Before the Sky Falls Masterlist (Aemond Targaryen x OC)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ For Whom the Bell Tolls | HOTD World War 2 AU

(Soldier! Aemond Targaryen x Nurse! Reader)

Oneshots

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I hate you I love you (Cregan Stark x Fem! Reader)

The five times you told Cregan Stark you hated him, and the one time you actually meant it.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I want to fly with you on dragonback (and eat only cake) (Alicent x Rhaenyra)

Basically the title. Rhaenyra finally gets to take Alicent on that dragon ride and eat cake....and maybe kiss the girl she loves.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Like an old melody, my heart resumes (Daeron x Fem! Reader)

Parts: 1 / 2  / 3

After years apart and with several misunderstandings between them, you meet Prince Daeron at what is meant to be his betrothal feast. When secrets and unspoken desires come to light, you and Daeron are faced with a choice: to let go of the past and embrace a love that has always burned between them or allow your tumultuous history to keep you apart.

The Last Kingdom

Oneshots

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ The only heaven I'll be sent to is when I'm alone with you

(King Alfred x POC! Fem! Reader)

Parts: 1 / 2

You are a prominent scholar from Baghdad, visiting Wessex to learn more about English culture and try to help its ailing monarch with your medical expertise. However, conflict arises when you find yourself falling for the Catholic king, knowing he cannot give you what you deserve.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Valhalla Bound  (Finan x GN! Reader)

During the ransacking of Rumcofa, you save Osferth thus exchanging his fate for yours. aka you die and Finan's reaction to that

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Night Terrors (Sihtric x GN! Reader) 

Sihtric has a nightmare, and he accidentally snaps at you. What comes after is the most awkward confession of his life and you are oblivious af.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Praying's just a poor man's way of begging 

(Sihtric x Fem! Reader) 

You are Earl Ragnar's youngest daughter and the boy you've spent many pleasant afternoons with as a child was none other than Sihtric Kjartansson. Reunited after years apart, will the two of you be able to face the truth of your feelings or will it all end in heartache?

In this labyrinth of time, our souls entwined

(Modern AU Finan x Fem! Reader)

Finan and his friends witness a bar fight during their night out and Finan feels a magnetic connection to the hero of the fight. This can be read on its own but it can also be seen as a continuation of my earlier fic Valhalla Bound where you died and now your reincarnation meets Finan's in another world and that's why you seem so familiar.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Go ahead and cry, little girl (Aethelstan x Fem! Reader)

You are Sihtric’s daughter from his first wife. Your mother dies after he leaves her for his current wife and you blame him for his death. Aethelstan is yoiur dearest childhood friend.

Ateez

Series

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Danse Macabre Masterlist (Jeong Yunho x OC)

Oneshots

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Pirate Ateez Masterlist

Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Oneshots

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I don't want your sympathy (i just want myself back)

(Luke Castellan x GN! Child of Hypnos Reader)

Terribly injured after returning from his quest to the Garden of Hesperides, Luke Castellan turns to the only person who can help him sleep.

Criminal Minds

Oneshots

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Steady Your Heart in Mine (Spencer Reid x GN! Reader)

Exam season brings you a lot of stress and Spencer Reid is there to walk you through it. Established relationship, descriptions of anxiety and panic attacks.

Lockwood & Co.

Oneshots

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I thought I dreamed her (Lucy x Lockkwood)

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ I love you forever, I'm not a dreamer (Lucy x Lockwood)

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes:

Series

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ These Violent Delights Masterlist

[aeriondripflame]

what am i talking about this is literally daeron

the erasure of daeron is hilarious for so many reasons but so very funny that alicent can not have (one) normal son

[visenyaism]

Okay but what’s your daeron ranking from most to least exciting I’ve got to love gay flight daeron son of the unlikely vanishing from the narrative

1) war criminal daeron, imperialist. jon snow kinned him as a child and the idea of him shouting IM THE YOUNG DRAGON in the winterfell courtyard is everything to me. why was his fantasy to die young doing futile dumb war. i mean i know why that’s the shit jon has always been on. but anyways daeron watching his father never ever mentally escape the effects of the dance of the dragons until he dies relatively young because war is hell and then immediately being like LETS START ANOTHER WAR the second he was crowned king at 14. anything to fill the void of not having a dragon.

2) gay daeron who invented gay marriage. we know not much about him except he was too based to live so Aelora’s opps from FIFTY YEARS EARLIER somehow returned to take him out. rip

3) war criminal daeron, 8th grader domestic terrorist. Love the greens inexplicably having one completely normal member who is just cheerfully committing mass casualty events because his big brother told him to. cant wait to see him on television when he shows up in season 2 (he will. you’ll see.$

4) daeron the good. should be a sicko given that his three parental figures in his life were aegon iv naerys and aemon. and 3/4 of his children were at least a little bit dragon madness pilled and yet. a boring pretty chill nerd king who almost got usurped just because daemon blackfyre could do a cartwheel and he couldn’t. bear the sword next time