#eddard ii

[asoiafreadthru]

A Game of Thrones, Eddard II

“I dishonored myself and I dishonored Catelyn, in the sight of gods and men.”

“Gods have mercy, you scarcely knew Catelyn.”

“I had taken her to wife. She was carrying my child.”

“You are too hard on yourself, Ned. You always were. Damn it, no woman wants Baelor the Blessed in her bed.”

He slapped a hand on his knee. “Well, I’ll not press you if you feel so strong about it, though I swear, at times you’re so prickly you ought to take the hedgehog as your sigil.”

[franzkafkagf]

Gonna be so normal about Aegon's little frat boy gang that somehow obediently sits at his feet while he is cuntily lounging on the throne.... their names are Martyn Reyne, Eddard Waters and Leon Estermont btw....

[thevelaryons]

In the show, Rhaenys’ reaction to Corlys’ affair was very muted. That’s likely a result of her show personality being quite different from her book version. Therefore, I imagine that book!Rhaenys would behave very differently to the news of her husband’s affair. Fire and Blood stated that Corlys took care to keep the affair secret in order to avoid Rhaenys’ wrath:

Princess Rhaenys, his wife, had the fiery temperament of many Targaryens, Mushroom says, and would not have taken kindly to her lord husband fathering bastards on a girl half her age, and a shipwright’s daughter besides. Therefore his lordship had prudently ended his “shipyard trysts” with Mouse after Alyn’s birth, commanding her to keep her boys far from court. Only after the death of Princess Rhaenys did Lord Corlys at last feel able to bring his bastards safely forward.

In many instances of cheating that happen throughout the books, the reaction of the wives to their husbands’ affairs is dependent on the wives’ personalities.

Helaena express irritated resignation when referencing Aegon being with his mistress. Helaena is a gentle and sweet natured person who doesn’t typically raise a fuss about anything.

Baela argues with Alyn when she suspects him of having an affair. The mistress in question is a ruling princess so there’s nothing Baela can do to her. She can only express her anger towards her husband. Baela is known for having a bold and fiery personality.

Rhaenyra is furious at the possibility of Daemon cheating on her and potentially impregnating his mistress, a lowborn girl. Her response is to order the execution of her husband’s mistress. Rhaenyra is shown to be a very proud woman who is quick to anger.

Catelyn is bothered by the affection she believes Ned holds for the mother of his bastard son. She makes many attempts to have the bastard child sent away. As much as she loves Ned, she can never forgive him for keeping his bastard son at Winterfell, because he is a reminder of her husband’s affair. Catelyn is a very dutiful wife but also exhibits wilful behaviour at times.

Cersei resents Robert for many reasons, which includes his tendency to always cheat on her. She has previously killed her husband’s mistresses and the bastard children he fathered on them. On one occasion, she even sold Robert’s mistress to a passing slaver because the affair occurred too close to home, at Casterly Rock. Cersei goes the extra mile by also carrying on her own affairs behind her husband’s back. She is cruel and wilful, with many of her actions motivated by her wounded pride.

Rhaenys is described as being spirited, proud and fierce. She is also known to have a fiery temperament.

I do not think Rhaenys would go straight to kill mode. Though her reaction would certainly depend on the manner of how she learns Corlys cheated on her. It’s said that Addam and Alyn have Laenor’s likeness so that might affect Rhaenys’ behaviour. Rhaenys does have a very ‘fire & blood’ mentality, but she might not be so willing to kill children, especially those that look like her own son. Marilda is the other woman, so she doesn’t have any such protection from Rhaenys.

For highborn women like Rhaenyra and Cersei, they primarily express their discontent by taking their anger out on the (lowborn) mistress/bastards because they have no recourse in addressing their highborn royal husbands. As a princess, Rhaenys occupies a higher social status than Corlys. She would definitely quarrel with him, just as Baela was said to do with Alyn. But at the end of the day, Corlys is still a man in a patriarchal society that says cheating is okay:

Many men fathered bastards. Catelyn had grown up with that knowledge. It came as no surprise to her, in the first year of her marriage, to learn that Ned had fathered a child on some girl chance met on campaign. He had a man’s needs, after all, and they had spent that year apart, Ned off at war in the south while she remained safe in her father’s castle at Riverrun. Her thoughts were more of Robb, the infant at her breast, than of the husband she scarcely knew. He was welcome to whatever solace he might find between battles.

So Rhaenys would ultimately have to redirect her anger elsewhere. One of the core themes of the story is that it is the smallfolk that suffer in the conflict between the highborn. During times of war, the highborn target the smallfolk on each other’s lands as a way to get back at each other.

Rhaenys could possibly order Marilda’s death, but might spare the children since they are just children. Though she would not allow them to remain on Driftmark. If Rhaenys’ own children are dead at the time she learns of the affair, she would be even less willing. If she did decide to spare Marilda, then Rhaenys would still want her gone. I think she would be very insistent on having Corlys’ mistress and bastards exiled (on pain of death, as is often the case). They can go elsewhere in Westeros or across the sea to Essos. But I do not see a scenario in which Rhaenys would be comfortable with their presence on Driftmark. As a Targaryen princess and the Lady of Driftmark, it would be considered an affront to her pride to let her husband’s mistress and bastards continue living in the place that is also her home.

[novaursa]

The Price of Fire (14)

- Summary: In the shadows of the Red Keep, the daughter of the Mad King, Princess Y/N Targaryen, finds herself caught between duty, love, and survival. As her father’s madness deepens and political intrigue swirls, she seeks solace in a forbidden romance with her sworn protector, Ser Arthur Dayne. With King Aerys plotting to use her as a pawn and her brother Rhaegar maneuvering to shield her from their father’s grasp, Y/N must navigate a web of deceit and desire. As tensions rise, secrets ignite into fierce passion and dangerous alliances, where the wrong move could mean the end of them all.

- Paring: targ!reader/Arthur Dayne

- Note: For all the parts check out my blog. The list is pinned to the top.

- Rating: Mature 16+ (Aerys is warning on his own)

- Word count: 6 000+

- Previous part: 13

- Next part: 15

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @alyssa-dayne @lightdragonrayne @onlyrealjoy @hajmola-vs-aamchaska

(unspecified time jump)

The chamber in the Red Keep is thick with the scent of smoke and burning pitch, though no fires are lit. The atmosphere itself feels heavy, oppressive, as though the very walls remember the echoes of past screams. King Aerys sits upon the Iron Throne, his disheveled silver hair cascading in knotted waves around his shoulders now. His eyes blaze with an intensity that is neither entirely sane nor completely mad, but rather somewhere in between, a dangerous twilight that keeps those in his presence on edge in these past months. His once-proud stature has withered under the weight of his paranoia, his frame thinned even more beneath the extravagant robes that drape from his bony shoulders.

"Lord Qarlton Chelsted," Aerys’s voice crackles, sharp as a whip as he stares down at his new Hand, who stands at the base of the Iron Throne. The man bows deeply, though his face betrays a hint of unease. "Speak."

"Sire, I come with news from the battlefield," Chelsted says, his voice steady despite the tremor in his hands. "The battle is over. Lord Jon Connington has fallen... slain by Rhaegar himself."

Aerys does not immediately respond. His long, twisted fingers grip the armrests of the Iron Throne, the blades biting into his skin as if the throne itself hungered for blood. The king tilts his head slightly, his lips twitching in a smile that holds no warmth. The madness in his gaze flickers, like wildfire waiting to consume.

"Jon Connington, my Hand... slain by my treacherous son?" Aerys murmurs, his voice slow, as though tasting the words. He lingers on the word treacherous, as though it holds special meaning to him.

"Aye, Your Grace," Chelsted replies, straightening. "But I swear to serve you loyally. I will be a more—"

"Yes, yes," Aerys waves a hand dismissively, as though Chelsted’s life were a mere afterthought. His attention is no longer on the fallen Hand or the war outside the Red Keep’s walls. His thoughts have wandered somewhere far darker. His eyes gleam, burning with a different kind of fire now. "But what of, Y/N, my daughter?"

A palpable tension fills the room at the mention of you, the daughter of the Mad King. Terrax, who now rests behind the Iron Throne, shifts his great bulk, his tail thumping once against the floor. His head lifts, nostrils flaring as if even at the sound of your name, he senses your absence. The beast's eyes, much like Aerys's, are alight with something primal.

Varys steps forward from the shadows, his movements so fluid and quiet that one could almost forget he was in the room. "Your Grace," the spymaster says in his usual soft, syrupy tone, "there are whispers. Whispers that suggest the princess is in Dorne. Hidden away, though there is little more I can say at this time."

Aerys's eyes narrow, his lips curling back to reveal the yellowed teeth of a serpent about to strike. "In Dorne? My daughter... stolen... by that traitorous son of mine?" His voice rises with each word, his temper flaring, but there is something more, something darker lacing his anger. An obsession that claws at his mind, unrelenting. "She belongs to me!"

Terrax lets out a low growl, a rumble that vibrates through the stone of the throne room, and Aerys's attention shifts to the dragon, a deranged smile curling his lips once more. "Yes, my son... yes. She belongs to us. The mother of dragons. The queen that was promised."

Tywin Lannister stands quietly, his sharp eyes watching the scene unfold. His face betrays nothing, but there’s a calculating gleam there, as if measuring the madness in Aerys’s words and how best to maneuver it. His gaze flickers to Jaime, standing silent as a sentinel by the door. Their eyes meet for a brief moment, and though no words are exchanged, the tension between father and son is tangible. Jaime’s grip tightens on the hilt of his sword, the Kingsguard armor feeling heavier on his shoulders with every breath the king takes.

"My king," Varys interjects smoothly, bringing the king's attention back. "Dorne may yet harbor the princess, but with patience, we will learn more. Our spies are ever vigilant. The people of Dorne, they are not ones to act without reason. Perhaps she is kept there for now, hidden in shadow, waiting. But rest assured, I will know when the time comes."

Aerys leans back into the Iron Throne, the metal spikes and edges digging into his flesh, though he seems not to notice—or perhaps, he enjoys the pain now. His fingers trace one of the jagged edges of the throne, slicing open his finger. A thin line of blood drips down his hand, unnoticed by all but Varys, who watches with cool, calculating eyes.

"She will come back to me," Aerys says, his voice soft now, almost a whisper. "She will come to her dragon. We will be whole again. All of them will burn for this betrayal... all of them."

His words linger in the air, a promise of fire and blood, and Terrax lowers his head, resting it near Aerys's feet, as though the great beast himself understood. As though the dragon, too, awaited the day he would burn the world for his king.

Tywin shifts slightly, his lips pressing together into a thin line. Jaime, still at his post, cannot help but glance at the king, wondering how much longer the madness will be contained—if it ever truly could be.

The room falls silent once more, save for the occasional creak of the Iron Throne and the slow, rhythmic breathing of Terrax behind it.

The winds off the Torrentine River were warm, carrying the scent of salt and stone as they whipped across the walls of Starfall. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the river’s mouth, the ancient castle stood like a sentinel, its pale stone towers catching the light of the midday sun. Below, the river sparkled in shades of silver and blue as it met the Sunset Sea beyond. Starfall’s walls were high, built with the pale stone that gave the castle its name, and they seemed to gleam like starlight even in the brightness of day.

You stood on the edge of the courtyard, watching Arthur Dayne train, the weight of your worries momentarily lifting. His legendary sword, Dawn, gleamed in his hand, the pale blade flashing as it moved through the air with impossible grace. Arthur’s movements were fluid, almost like a dance, each swing of the sword a testament to his mastery. It was mesmerizing, watching him—how effortlessly he wielded the blade that had felled countless foes.

And when Arthur was near, the voices in your head—the dark whispers, the warnings—always fell silent. It was as though his presence calmed something deep within you, a stillness where before there was only unrest.

Your gaze trailed from his sword to his face. The focus in his violet eyes, the way the sun glinted off his sweat-slicked brow, and the steady rise and fall of his chest as he trained all made your heart ache. He was beautiful in his strength, in his quiet determination. And he was yours, in a way that only the two of you understood. His loyalty, his affection—they were unshakable, even in these turbulent times.

When he finished, Arthur wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to you, his features softening as he caught your gaze. He approached, the familiar warmth of his presence like a shield against the world outside. "You’ve been watching me for some time, haven’t you?" His voice was low, teasing, but filled with affection.

You smiled, feeling lighter just by his closeness. "It’s hard not to when you’re so captivating," you replied, stepping closer, the fabric of your dress rustling against the stone as you moved. "Though I wonder," you added, glancing at the sword in his hand, "is it true what they say? That Dawn was forged from the heart of a fallen star?"

Arthur glanced down at the sword, a small, thoughtful smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "That is the legend," he said, his voice steady and quiet, the way it always was when he spoke of something deeply meaningful. "They say that long ago, a star fell from the sky, and from the metal within it, the first Dayne forged this sword. Dawn has been passed down through my family for generations, always given to the knight deemed worthy to bear it."

He paused, the tip of the sword resting lightly against the stone at his feet as he looked back at you. "But it is not the sword that makes the knight. It is the honor with which it is wielded."

You stepped closer, your fingers brushing lightly against his arm. "You carry both with such grace, Arthur. I've never seen anything or anyone like you."

His gaze softened, and he reached out, cupping your face with his hand, his thumb brushing lightly against your cheek. The touch was intimate, familiar, but there was always something more, something deeper between you both. His thumb traced your skin as though trying to memorize every part of you, as if this moment was fragile, fleeting.

"I only wish I could shield you from all of it," he murmured, his voice low, filled with emotion. "You’ve been through so much. Your father... the rebellion... everything. I hate that I can't keep you safe from it all."

You closed your eyes, leaning into his touch, savoring the rare peace that his presence brought you. "When I'm with you, the world feels... quieter," you admitted, your voice a whisper. "Everything falls away, and it’s just us. Even the voices—" you hesitated, glancing up at him, "they go silent as before."

Arthur’s expression tightened, the concern clear in his eyes. "The voices... they're still there, even now after all these months?"

You nodded slowly. "Always. Dark dreams, dark warnings. But when you’re here, it’s as though they can’t reach me."

He drew you into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. "I’ll always be here for you, Y/N." His words were a quiet vow, one that you knew he meant with every fiber of his being.

The two of you stood there for a moment, the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs below blending with the soft breeze. Starfall, for all its ancient grandeur, was peaceful in a way King’s Landing never could be. Its history, though steeped in blood and legend, seemed to settle like a protective blanket over its halls. Here, among the high towers and old stones, it was easy to believe that the world beyond couldn’t touch you.

"Starfall has always felt... different," you mused, resting your head against Arthur’s chest as his arms wrapped around you. "There’s a sense of peace here. Like it's somehow separate from the rest of the realm."

Arthur chuckled softly. "It’s the land of my ancestors. This place has stood for thousands of years. The Daynes have always been here, and the sword..." he paused, tilting his head slightly, "well, perhaps it does carry a bit of that fallen star’s magic. I’ve always felt it too, though I think it has more to do with you."

You lifted your head to look at him, your heart swelling at his words. "Me?"

He nodded, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. "Yes, you. There’s something about you, Y/N, something... otherworldly. You have a strength that no one else can see. And I’m drawn to it, just like I’m drawn to you."

The sincerity in his eyes made your breath catch, and for a moment, all the fears, the dark dreams, the war—none of it mattered. All that mattered was Arthur, his arms around you, and the sense of safety he gave you.

"I love you," you whispered, the words slipping out as naturally as breathing. You didn’t say them often, not because they weren’t true, but because they felt too precious, too fragile to speak aloud too often.

Arthur smiled, leaning down to kiss you softly, his lips brushing against yours in a way that was both tender and full of promise. "And I love you, more than you’ll ever know."

The air in the Stormlands was thick with the scent of rain and the promise of battle. The tent’s flaps fluttered softly in the breeze, the canvas walls stained with the grime of weeks of warfare. Outside, the campfires flickered in the dusk, casting long shadows across the muddy ground. The sounds of soldiers preparing for the night echoed faintly—clanking armor, sharpening swords, quiet conversations—but within the tent, the atmosphere was tense, a weight pressing down on the men inside.

Rhaegar Targaryen stood by the map-strewn table, his silver hair falling loosely over his shoulders. His violet eyes were focused, studying the battle lines marked out before him. Robert Baratheon’s forces held the Stormlands with grim determination, their defenses solid despite the prince’s best efforts to break through. The rebellion had grown larger, fiercer than he’d expected, and the weight of it bore down on him like a chain. His fingers traced the inked lines on the map as though they held the answers he sought.

The flap of the tent rustled, and Rhaegar looked up to see Eddard Stark step inside, his face somber, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. The young Stark lord was quieter than most men Rhaegar had fought alongside, but there was a strength in his silence, a kind of unyielding resolve that Rhaegar had come to respect.

"My prince," Eddard said, bowing his head slightly as he approached. "A raven arrived, bearing a message. Varys sent it."

Rhaegar’s heart quickened at the mention of Varys. The spymaster had been his key ally, working behind the scenes to manipulate Aerys’s growing paranoia and keep the Mad King’s attention diverted from his sister. He took the sealed parchment from Eddard’s hand and broke the wax with swift, deliberate motions.

The message was brief, written in Varys’s careful, looping hand:

"Aerys’s eyes have turned to Dorne. All goes as planned."

Rhaegar’s eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened. He crumpled the message in his fist and tossed it into the fire pit beside the table. The flames devoured the parchment in moments, leaving only ash behind.

"Varys moves the pieces well," Rhaegar murmured, his voice low, more to himself than to Eddard. He stared into the flames for a moment, watching them dance before he turned to face the Stark lord fully. "But no matter how well the game is played, some pieces can’t be moved easily. And I wonder, Eddard, if Robert is one of those pieces."

Eddard’s face remained impassive, but his brow furrowed slightly as he shook his head. "Robert is... stubborn, my prince. Once he sets his mind on something, it’s hard to pull him away from it. Especially now, with war upon us. His blood is up, and all he sees is victory."

Rhaegar sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as weariness settled in his bones. "He’s promised to your sister, is he not? Lyanna. Can’t you talk some sense into him? Remind him what’s at stake? This isn’t just about war. It’s about the future. The realm."

Eddard’s eyes darkened, and a shadow passed over his expression. "Robert loves Lyanna, or at least the idea of her. But this war... it’s no longer just about love or promises. Robert hates the king, as do many. And while he may hate Aerys, he does not hate your sister." Eddard paused, his voice quieter now, more thoughtful. "The people... they love her. Many speak of the princess with admiration, more than they speak of the king himself. And there are many lords, my prince, who would see her on the throne. Many more who would see themselves beside her."

Rhaegar’s eyes flashed with a brief, irritated gleam. He straightened, his shoulders tense. "I know how much my sister is loved," he said, his voice carrying a hint of frustration. "But I’m not doing this to place her as some prize to be won by ambitious lords. She is not to be another man’s conquest, another ladder for them to climb to power. She’s my blood. And I would see her safe, not used."

Eddard nodded, understanding the conflict in Rhaegar’s heart. "I understand, my prince," he said quietly. "Truly, I do. My father and brother... they loved her too, in their way. They died by dragonfire because of it."

Rhaegar’s expression softened slightly at the mention of Rickard and Brandon Stark, their tragic deaths by the hands of his mad father a stain upon the Targaryen name. "Your father and brother were good men. They died protecting my sister’s honor after Aerys made his intentions clear. I wish their fates had been different."

Eddard’s jaw tightened, and a flash of pain crossed his face. "They stayed longer in the capital than they should have," he said, his voice thick with grief and regret. "Had they left sooner... perhaps they wouldn’t have been there when Aerys declared he would take your sister as his second wife. They might have lived, and the rebellion might have never begun."

Rhaegar was silent for a long moment, his mind turning over the weight of Eddard’s words. The rebellion had been sparked by many things, but Aerys’s obsession with you—his declaration that you, his daughter, would be his bride—had been the breaking point. It was a madness that had consumed the king, and the cost had been paid in fire and blood.

Rhaegar moved toward the edge of the tent, looking out across the camp where his men gathered around their fires. "My father’s madness has cast a long shadow over all of us," he said quietly. "But I won’t let it destroy my sister, or the realm. If I must fight, I will fight for her—for her future."

Eddard stepped closer, his presence solid and reassuring, even in the face of so much uncertainty. "You have allies, my prince," he said firmly. "Men who believe in your cause. Robert may be headstrong, but there are others who will listen. The princess has more support than you know."

Rhaegar’s gaze shifted back to Eddard, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Let’s hope that support is enough," he said softly. "Because if it’s not, this war will consume everything."

The two men stood in silence for a long moment, the weight of their shared burden pressing down on them like the gathering storm outside. Another war was coming, and with it, the fate of the realm hung in the balance.

The air in Starfall was warm and fragrant, the scent of blooming jasmine and orange blossoms wafting through the castle’s sunlit courtyards. It was a rare day of peace, and you wandered the familiar paths alone, seeking a brief respite from the weight that had been pressing on you since your escape from King’s Landing. Terrax’s absence weighed heavily on you, a constant reminder of the danger that still lingered in the capital. The bond you shared with your dragon was strong, but with him so far away, you felt a deep emptiness, a loss that you couldn’t shake.

As you rounded a corner, your steps faltered. By the fountain in the courtyard, Ashara Dayne was speaking with a woman you recognized immediately. Her long, dark curls cascaded over her shoulders, her sun-kissed skin glowing in the midday light. She was dressed in the loose, flowing garments of the Dornish, her eyes as sharp as the smiles she so often wore.

Ellaria Sand. Oberyn Martell’s paramour.

The woman’s presence here surprised you, though perhaps it shouldn’t have. Dorne had long been a haven for those who defied convention, and Starfall itself was no stranger to intrigue. Still, the sight of Ellaria made your heart quicken with a sense of unease, even as you tried to push it down. What could she want here?

Ellaria caught your gaze before you could slip away. Her lips curled into a playful smile, and her dark eyes sparkled with something that felt like curiosity. "Ah, the dragon princess herself," she called out, her voice rich with the accent of Dorne. "I’ve heard many tales of you, Y/N. Intriguing things, from Oberyn."

Ashara glanced over her shoulder, her expression softening as she saw you approach. She gestured for you to join them. "Y/N," she said warmly. "Come, we were just speaking about you."

You hesitated for a moment, but then forced yourself forward, stepping into the courtyard. The sunlight danced on the surface of the fountain’s water, casting a shimmering light across the smooth stone beneath your feet.

Ellaria smiled, her gaze sweeping over you with clear interest. "I must admit, I was eager to meet you. The stories don’t do you justice."

You forced a polite smile, though you felt the slight shift in the air as something stirred within your mind. A voice, soft at first but growing stronger, whispered faintly in the back of your thoughts: “Stop doing that. Mother shan't be too pleased. None too pleased.”

You blinked, trying to shake the strange sensation. The voice had been absent for so long, quelled in Arthur’s presence, but now it returned, a dark whisper threading through your thoughts like an unwanted guest.

"I hope the stories were flattering," you said, keeping your voice steady as you took a seat beside them. You glanced briefly at Ashara, her serene expression betraying no sign of concern, though she had always been difficult to read.

"Flattering?" Ellaria’s eyes gleamed with mischief. "Some were, but others were... more intriguing than flattering. Oberyn speaks of you with a kind of admiration I’ve rarely heard from him. A Targaryen princess without her dragon at her side, living in secret in the south. It’s the stuff of legends, no?"

Ashara chuckled softly, brushing a stray lock of her dark hair behind her ear. "Oberyn always did have a taste for the dramatic."

Ellaria nodded, her smile widening. "True enough. But I see now that the stories pale in comparison to reality. The princess has a fire all her own."

The words, though kind, seemed to carry a weight to them, and you couldn’t shake the feeling that Ellaria was assessing you, as though she were looking beyond your face, beyond your title, to something deeper. You shifted slightly, feeling the heat of the sun on your skin but also the cold grip of the voice still echoing in your mind.

"Mother shan't be too pleased. You know better."

Your stomach twisted, and for a moment, the courtyard seemed to dim. You glanced around, expecting to see someone lurking in the shadows, but there was nothing. Just the voice. Just the quiet reminder of something darker within you.

"Tell me, princess," Ellaria’s voice cut through your thoughts, bringing you back to the present. "What is it like, truly, to have a dragon? Oberyn says Terrax is unlike any other, and that your bond is... unique."

Your heart sank at the mention of Terrax. You could feel the distance between you, like a severed thread. He was still in King’s Landing, still under your father’s control, and it pained you every moment you were apart from him. "It’s difficult to describe," you said, your voice quieter now. "It’s... it feels as though he’s a part of me. More than just a creature, more than just a dragon. When we’re together, I feel his thoughts, his emotions. He feels mine. It’s... comforting. But now..."

Ashara’s gaze softened as she listened, but Ellaria’s eyes gleamed with interest. "A bond that deep? It’s no wonder the stories are so grand. The Dornish respect power, and I think they would envy such a bond."

"They envy, they watch, they want. But it’s not theirs. It never will be." The voice was louder now, more insistent, its words laced with an edge that made your skin prickle. “None too pleased, Mother.”

You flinched slightly, your hand gripping the edge of the stone bench beneath you as you tried to shake the voice free. Not now. Not here.

Ellaria must have noticed the flicker of discomfort, for her smile softened, and she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "You seem... troubled, princess. Is everything well?"

You forced a nod, though you knew it was a lie. "It’s nothing. Just... memories. There’s been much to remember lately."

Ellaria’s gaze lingered on you for a moment longer, as if she sensed there was more you weren’t saying, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she leaned back slightly, her demeanor returning to its usual playful charm. "Well, memories are heavy things. But you’re safe here, princess. Safe and among friends."

You managed a small smile, though the words rang hollow in your ears. You were safe in Starfall, but the voices, the dreams—they were always with you. And Ellaria’s words, though kind, couldn’t banish the darkness that lingered at the edges of your thoughts.

As the conversation shifted to lighter topics—Dorne, Oberyn’s exploits, the happenings in the wider world—you forced yourself to focus, to stay present. But all the while, the voice in your head whispered, a constant, unrelenting reminder that something larger loomed on the horizon, something you could not yet see.

"Mother shan't be too pleased."

The nightmare begins in darkness, as it always does. It pulls you in slowly, insidiously, until you’re no longer aware of what is real and what is not. This time, though, the shadows are thicker, heavier, like a weight pressing against your chest. It’s not just the darkness that surrounds you but the stench of death—rotting flesh, blood, smoke. You can see them now, shapes in the distance, hazy at first, but then they become clear.

Bodies.

Men and dragons alike, lying in twisted, grotesque forms, as if struck down mid-battle, their limbs contorted in unnatural ways. The dragons’ once-magnificent scales are dull, lifeless, their wings tattered and blackened. The ground beneath you is slick with blood, so much blood that it feels as though the earth itself is drowning in it.

You try to move, but your legs won’t obey. You’re rooted to the spot, forced to watch the carnage unfold around you. The sky overhead is red, as though the sun itself has bled out into the heavens, casting everything in a sickening light. The air is filled with the moans of the dying, the cries of the defeated.

And then, a voice. It cuts through the chaos, sharp and cruel, echoing in your head like a distant thunderclap.

"All are blind whose eyes are closed."

The words make no sense, yet they send a shiver down your spine. You try to block them out, but they grow louder, reverberating inside your skull, rattling your very bones. More voices join in, overlapping, like a chorus of madness.

"They see nothing because they choose not to see."

"The storm will come, and none will be spared."

"Ashes, only ashes will remain."

You close your eyes, willing the voices to stop, but it only makes things worse. When you open them again, you’re no longer standing among the dead. Now you’re in the throne room of the Red Keep, but it’s wrong, all wrong. The Iron Throne looms ahead, but it is twisted, a monstrous thing made of jagged, blackened metal, as though the fires of Hell itself forged it. Sitting upon it is a figure you can’t quite make out, obscured in shadow, though you know who it is.

Aerys.

He laughs, a high, manic sound that echoes in the empty hall, and beside him stands a dragon, not Terrax but something far darker, its eyes glowing with an unnatural fire. And at the foot of the throne, lying in a pool of blood, is a child—a babe no older than a few months.

Your heart seizes in your chest, and you take a step forward, but the voice returns, louder, more insistent.

"Death comes for all, even those not yet born."

"The child will die. You cannot stop it."

"The flames will consume them all."

Terror grips you like a vice, and you scream, but no sound comes. The child on the floor doesn’t move. Its tiny body is still, so terribly still.

"Even your child will die, princess."

Your breath catches, and your hand flies to your stomach instinctively, as though you can protect the life that might be there, but the voice laughs, mocking.

"The flames will take it, too."

The nightmare shatters into a thousand jagged pieces, and you wake with a gasp, your heart pounding violently against your ribs. You’re back in the chambers at Starfall, the soft light of the moon filtering through the window. The sound of waves crashing against the cliffs below is distant, barely audible over the roar of blood in your ears.

Arthur sleeps beside you, his body warm, his breathing slow and steady. You force yourself to remain still, swallowing down the panic that threatens to rise, trying not to wake him. Your skin is clammy, drenched in cold sweat, and your hand trembles as you place it on your abdomen, the place where life might now be growing.

You bite your lip, holding back the wave of fear. Could it be true? Could you be with child? The possibility had crossed your mind before, but now, after that nightmare, it feels far more real, far more terrifying.

The voices... they had never spoken of a child before. And yet tonight, they did. You squeeze your eyes shut, forcing the memory of the nightmare back, but the image of the lifeless babe on the floor of the throne room won’t leave you. The voice’s threat lingers in your mind, refusing to fade.

Carefully, you shift, propping yourself up on one elbow, watching Arthur as he sleeps. His face is peaceful in the moonlight, his brow untroubled, his lips slightly parted. For a moment, you’re overcome by the sheer intensity of your feelings for him, how safe he makes you feel, how much you trust him. But now... now you’re not sure if even Arthur can protect you from this.

Could you tell him? Could you burden him with this fear, with the knowledge that you might be carrying his child, even as the world teeters on the brink of war?

You reach out, your fingers brushing lightly against his arm. The touch is gentle, and he stirs slightly, but doesn’t wake. For now, you’ll keep this to yourself. For now, you’ll protect him from the weight of it.

But as you lie back down, staring up at the ceiling, your mind races. You need to be certain. You need to know.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow you’ll find out if it’s true.

For now, you’ll try to sleep. Try, though you know that the nightmares will return.

"The child will die."

The voice’s cruel words still echo in your mind as you close your eyes once more, hoping—praying—that sleep will come without the darkness.

The throne room of the Red Keep was sweltering, the air filled with dread and the ever-present scent of smoke and char. The massive iron doors were shut tight, barring the world outside from what was about to unfold within. Terrax, lay coiled behind the Iron Throne, his scales glinting faintly in the low light of the hall. His enormous body stretched across the cold stone floor, a beast far too large for any room in the Red Keep, but Aerys, in his madness, had insisted he remain close.

King Aerys II sat on the Iron Throne with an unsettling calmness, his ragged silver hair framing his face. His pale eyes gleamed with a feverish intensity that betrayed the stillness of his body. There was a flicker of his old instability in those eyes, but for now, he appeared unnervingly composed, watching the men below him with an expression bordering on delight.

"Bring them in," Aerys said softly, his voice carrying through the hall like a snake’s hiss. His long fingers gripped the armrests of the Iron Throne, nails tapping against the twisted swords that formed the seat.

Jaime Lannister and Ser Barristan Selmy stood at attention near the foot of the throne, their faces carefully neutral, though Jaime’s eyes flickered to Terrax now and then, the dragon’s looming presence making the knight uneasy. Both knew that no matter how calm Aerys appeared now, his moods could shift like wildfire, unpredictable and deadly.

The heavy doors creaked open, and a group of prisoners were dragged inside, their hands bound in chains, their faces drawn with fear. They were accused traitors—men who had dared to speak against the king, who had plotted rebellion or whispered dissent. Their crimes varied, but their fates would be the same.

Aerys leaned forward, his eyes glittering. "Traitors," he murmured, as though savoring the word. "You thought to betray your king, to betray the realm. But you forget that I have a dragon."

He smiled then, a thin, crooked thing, and his gaze shifted to Terrax, who stirred at the mention of his name. The great dragon’s golden eyes opened slowly, glowing with a dim, molten light. His massive tail thumped once against the floor, causing a tremor to ripple through the room.

"Burn them," Aerys commanded, his voice cold, dispassionate. "Let the flames cleanse their treachery."

There was a moment of tense silence before Terrax moved, his great head lifting from the floor, nostrils flaring. The prisoners’ eyes widened in terror, some of them pleading under their breath, others too petrified to speak. But there was no mercy here. The dragon reared up, his neck arching back as his jaws parted. For a brief second, the room was filled with a sickening, heavy anticipation.

Then, with a roar that shook the very walls, Terrax unleashed a torrent of flame. The dragonfire swept over the prisoners, reducing their desperate cries to nothing in a matter of moments. The flames were impossibly bright, and the heat was so intense that even those standing near the throne could feel it singe the air. When the fire died down, nothing remained of the men but charred, blackened bones and smoldering ash.

Aerys watched with a twisted, satisfied grin, his eyes alight with something that was neither relief nor regret, but pure, unadulterated madness. "Beautiful," he whispered, almost to himself. "The flames are so beautiful."

Terrax lowered his head again, smoke curling from his nostrils, but something in the air had changed. The dragon shifted uneasily, his tail lashing once, twice, against the floor with increasing agitation. His eyes, once calm and steady, now flickered with a wildness that had not been there moments before.

Aerys, too absorbed in his own reverie, did not notice. "More," he murmured, his voice growing louder. "We must find more traitors. Let the dragon cleanse them all."

But Terrax wasn’t listening anymore. Something had snapped inside him. The flames that had poured from his mouth moments before now seemed to burn within him, unsettling and uncontrollable. His wings twitched, his breath coming faster, and then, without warning, he let out a thunderous, guttural roar that reverberated through the throne room, shaking the very foundations of the Red Keep.

Jaime’s hand went to his sword, his heart pounding. He glanced at Ser Barristan, whose expression had hardened, but neither moved. Terrax thrashed his tail, knocking over a brazier and sending embers scattering across the floor. The dragon’s eyes glowed brighter, wild, and full of rage.

"Calm him," Barristan muttered under his breath, stepping closer to the king. "Calm him now, before—"

Aerys, oblivious to the growing danger, waved a dismissive hand. "He is my dragon," he said, his voice cracking with arrogance. "He will obey me. Terrax!"

The dragon snarled, his head swinging toward the throne, teeth bared. For a moment, it looked as though the beast would strike, his eyes locking onto the mad king’s form with a fiery intensity that sent a ripple of unease through the room.

"Terrax!" Aerys barked, his tone sharp, commanding. "Do as your king commands!"

But Terrax did not obey. His rage had consumed him. With a deafening shriek, he turned toward the doors of the throne room, his wings unfurling in one swift, powerful motion. The force of his wings sent a gust of wind through the hall, knocking over banners and rattling the ancient windows.

"Open the doors!" Jaime shouted, his voice ringing with urgency. Barristan was already moving, rushing toward the doors to throw them open.

Terrax lunged forward, his enormous claws scraping against the stone floor, his tail smashing into one of the pillars as he charged toward the exit. The massive iron doors groaned as they swung open just in time for the dragon to escape, his huge body barely squeezing through the entrance.

"Stop him!" Aerys screamed from the throne, his calmness shattered. His voice was high-pitched, desperate. "He is mine! Bring him back!"

But it was too late. With a terrifying, ear-splitting screech, Terrax launched himself into the air, his wings beating furiously as he took flight, disappearing into the darkening sky above the Red Keep.

The throne room fell into a stunned silence, the only sound the crackling of embers still smoldering on the stone floor.

Aerys, his face pale with fury, gripped the arms of the Iron Throne so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "He will return," he hissed, his voice shaking with a barely contained rage. "He is mine, and he will return, just as my daughter."

But in his heart, there was a flicker of doubt—one that he would never admit.

[sunfyredefender77]

Ned Stark casually being Aemond's father

[alishaaxo]

AEMOND SENT AEGONS LAST REMAINING FRATBOYS TO THE WALLL??

IM SICK 😭😭😭

AEGONS ALL ALONE

HE ONLY HAS LARYS WHO IS USING HIM FOR ULTERIOR MOTIVES AND HIS OWN AMBITIONS

AND ORWYLE THE GOAT 🐐

BUT NO MARTYN REYNE OR EDDARD WATERS 🥲

AND LEON ESTERMONT DIED IN THE RIOTS ‼️

[sylvancastor]

hiiii do we know the name of aegon's friends that appear on episode one?

Yes we do! They’re Martyn Reyne, Leon Estermont, and Eddard Waters!

From left to right it’s Martyn Reyne, Leon Estermont, and Eddard Waters!

[mhsdatgo]

Let's normalize calling the Rat Pack (Aegon II, Eddard Waters, Leon Estermont and Martyn Reyne) with the alternative name of Twinks Club.

1) brings back memories

2) we can't get more accurate than this

What's not to love. Spread the word.

[dalekofchaos]

GRRM's original outline

Other what if scenarios that I ran out of space for. Add your own if it didn't make the cut

What if Lyanna lived and became Robert's Queen?

What if Myrcella was born first and was betrothed to Robb

What if Robb and Margaery are betrothed?

What if Rhaella survived childbirth with Daenerys?

What if Joanna Lannister didn't die in childbirth?

What if Arthur took Lyanna/Jon to Dragonstone and fled with Rhaella, Viserys and Dany and regrouped with Jon Connington?

Jamie took the throne for himself after killing Aerys?

What if Elia and her children escaped to Dorne?

What if Balon died instead of his sons?

What if Jon Arryn had a son and was raised with Ned and Robert?

What if Theon did what Asha recommended and kidnapped Bran and RIckon and burned Winterfell to the ground and this leads to Theon becoming the Iron Prince and a strong contender for the Kingsmoot.

What if Rhaegar and Robert died in the Trident and Ned became King?

What if Viserys met and married Arianne Martell?

What if Domeric Bolton lived and never met Ramsay?

What if Rhaenyra won The Dance Of The Dragons

What if Arya revealed herself to Roose Bolton

What if Rhaegar married Cersei instead of Elia?

What if Ned and his brothers talked sense into Robert and he swore off his ways to be good for Lyanna and Lyanna fought in the rebellion because Aerys kills her father and brother(because Southern Ambitions)

[translannisters]

Ned follows in the footsteps of this Stannis guy everyone keeps talking about. Catelyn makes an arrest. Sansa looks directly at it. Chapters: Eddard VI, Catelyn V, Sansa II

[slymreddwyne]

I think the trailers for any adaptation of Robert's Rebellion should have War Pigs playing

[asoiafreadthru]

A Game of Thrones, Eddard II

“Your Grace, may I speak frankly?”

“I seem unable to stop you,” Robert grumbled. They rode through tall brown grasses.

“Can you trust Jaime Lannister?”

“He is my wife’s twin, a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard, his life and fortune and honor all bound to mine.”

“As they were bound to Aerys Targaryen’s,” Ned pointed out.

“Why should I mistrust him? He has done everything I have ever asked of him. His sword helped win the throne I sit on.”

His sword helped taint the throne you sit on, Ned thought, but he did not permit the words to pass his lips.

[franzkafkagf]

the adventures of ser criston and the nepotism hires <3

[aifsaath]

choose violence, #1 and #18

1 - the character everyone gets wrong

I'm not sure about everyone - but a LOT of people don't seem to understand what makes Ned tick. He's not this Honour Before Reason, Lawful Dumb dimwit that Cersei thinks him to be. He's a guy who spent his formative years under the tutelage of Jon Arryn, and whose life was irrevocably changed the day Aerys decided to larp as jigsaw. What Ned saw during the war was traumatic and that trauma keeps informing his decisions through the whole first book. He's not giving Cersei and Dany teh chance to escape because he's an idiot who doesn't realise that he's in danger - he does it because he has seen the aftermath of what happens when you abandon all mercy. You don't get to see the bodies of Rhaegar's family and walk away intact.

18 - it's absolutely criminal that the fandom has been sleeping on…

BAEGON!

GIVE ME BAEGON!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE SLEEPING ON THE BEST MOST OBVIOUS SUN-MOON PAIRING IN THOSE DAMN BOOKS

LIKE SORRY HIS DRAGON IS SUNFYRE AND HERS IS MOONDANCER, THEY'RE BOTH ADRENALINE JUNKIES AND BRAVE AND THAT PAIRING WOULD HAVE SOLVED ALL THE ISSUES AND I NEED MORE FICS ABOUT THIS

[lives4lovesworld]

This meta will highlight GRRM own bias and double standards when it comes to his (= the narrative's) judgement of Aerys II Targaryen, as well as the insincerity of the fandom's obsession and exaggeration of Aerys II's "madness" and cruelty.

GRRM singles Aerys out in his cruelty and has it directly linked to his unstable mental state, which is quite ironic(?) if one i) actually consideres how normalized violence, collective punishment and arbitrariness in ASoIaF world is. Yet few and far between are actually mad, and even fewer dubbed as such, and ii) puts his in direct comparison to other characters, which are never condemned as much as Aerys (if at all) by the narrative. And the fandom naturally doubles down on GRRM hypocrisy (given how anti!Targaryen it is) and insists to exaggerate Aerys's madness in every sense to one up against Daenerys Stormborn.

Aerys is condemn for his preferred method of execution. The fandom even goes so far to write numerous metas arguing death-through-fire somehow is crueler, worser and morally more appaling than any other method, especially when it's a Targaryen monarch to use it. This absurdity as already been refuted a couple of times in the context of defending show!Daenerys burning large parts of her enemies in the field, instead of the having her men exclusively killing them in battle. But as always it falls on deaf ears, since this hypocritical fandom holds Targaryen (and only Targaryens) to modern standards, to the point where they are condemn for executing their enemies. PERIOD.

And Aerys is the biggest victim of this absurdity. Both within the fandom (since nobody cares for him, no one defends him in pointing out the double standards) and narrative (since Daenerys has, unlike what the fandom conjuncts out of thin air, never burned anyone but Mirri Maz Duur and is a rescuer above all so GRRM obviously does and can not condemn her for deeds she didn't commit).

For example, he and Stannis Baratheon have both burnt their hands for "bad counsel during the war". Qarlton Chelsted was burned for his objection against Aerys's plan to torch King's Landing and Alester Florent for the letter that offered Stannis's full surrender (x) to House Lannister, after his lethal demise at the Blackwater (x). Stannis's hand was even his kin (through marriage) and in killing him, he committed one of the gravest crimes in their world. Yet Stannis is neither condemn as "mad" for the execution nor for the kinslaying nor the style of said execution.

The only thing GRRM seems to condemn Stannis for are his reasons behind all of his "sacrifices"; which is to misuse the power of death for his own personal gain. Be it to murder Renly to avoid defeat, take a rival out and gain his army, for favorable winds for his expedition, put a stop to the blizzard or gain dragons/be Azor Ahai. Although all of Stannis's misfortunes in his failing campaign for the Iron Throne (his demise at the Blackwater, his inability to gain anyone's genuine support, House Karstark's betrayal and the blizzard) could be interpreted as narrative punishment, Stannis's reputation (as a righteous, capable man) within the narrative never suffers.

The fandom as well has no qualms how Stannis let his uncle be burned alive in order. Especially, those that refuse to accept that Stannis is in fact NOT Azor Ahai, do not even condemn for that. It's excused as "means to an end" or "products of his time". Another prime example of the fandom's blatant hypocrisy and double standards one might add; While members of House Targaryen are condemn for the use of magic, especially blood sacrifices, and Daenerys is even accuse of burning people alive and kinslaying without this being the case, Stannis is allowed to utilize (blood and dark) magic, (consider) murder and burn people as he pleases, (consider) kinslaying (nephew, brother uncle-in-law and in the future his own daughter) and still be proclaimed the Right Man to Rule™ and altruistic TKwC.

Somehow in the fandom's nonsensical moral belief system Aerys depriving sadistic pleasure in watching men burn makes it apparently morally more appaling than Stannis's religious frantic, megalomaniac reasoning ("for the greater good") behind his executions (and given the fact that he is in fact NOT Azor Ahai/The Chosen One one could argue all these sacrifice are completely in vain.)

Aerys's cruelty is not unique for the ASoIaF world. And more importantly, I would dare to say that most of his "atrocities" such as i) the annihilation of House Darklyns and Hollard ii) the maiming of Ilyan Payne iii) his execution of Brandon Stark, Rickard Stark and their escort and his call for Eddard Stark and Robert Baratheon's heads and iv) him prohibiting Elia Martell and her children to leave King's Landing, would not be seen as one of a madman, if Aerys's mental decline would have NOT been as apparent.

i) Lord Deny seized his King, killed his escort and subjected Aerys to torture for about half a year and threatened to have him killed in hopes to get the desired charter for Duskendale granted, that had been denied.

This was unprovoked high treason and broke all the laws such as the sacred guest right, the king's peace and all vows to obey and defend the king. How exactly should a king have dealt with such an uprising and insult to his person and political power? Which ruler would have suffered such grand affront, without exerting harsh punishment? Which ruler could have even allowed himself to be merciful, if it meant he will be seen as a weak king, signaling to the rest of the realm that one can take the king captive and hold hostage and get away with it?

To put in perspective; Robert Baratheon brutally smashed Balon Greyjoy's rebellion, burnt their homes, broke their castles, raped and murder the common folk and lastly gave Balon's last son as hostage to Eddard Stark to secure Balon's submission (x) after his elder brothers were slain. House Reyne and House Tarbeck were both in debt to House Lannister. Soley to restore House Lannister's prestige, Tywin demanded immediate repayment from them, (hostages if it was not possible). Both houses refused. Despite Tytos Lannister settling the matter, Tywin deliberately provoked both houses by ordering their respective lords to answer to Casterly Rock for their crimes. When refused, Tywin (without the leave of his lordly father!) raised an army and started his war of annihilation. The ruins of these houses' castles were left as reminders of the fate that awaits those who scorn the power of Casterly Rock, and "The Rains of Castamere" was written as a tribute to the event. Stannis Baratheon considered torching and raiding Claw Isle as punishment for its Lord bending the knee in captivity and House Stark extinguished House Greystark when it rose in rebellion together with House Bolton.

None of these extreme violent acts are deemed as "[their] terrible revenge" nor are these men seen as mad, cruel or unfit. And mind you, no one of these men experienced captivity and torture on their own person.

When one such reported that the captain of the Hand's personal guard, a knight named Ser Ilyn Payne, had been heard boasting it was Lord Tywin who truly ruled the Seven Kingdoms, His Grace sent the Kingsguard to arrest the man and had his tongue ripped out with red-hot pincers. - TWoIaF; The Targaryen Kings: Aerys II

ii) The maiming of Ilyan Payne is seen as way too extreme even for ASoIaF (only exclusively by the fandom) and as "Aerys being unable to hear the hard truth", despite a monarch (unfortunately) being well in his rights to teach his subject "respect", if he openly mocks his better, extreme violent punishment from a ruler being normalized as sign of strength and a warning to any potential rebels.

The crimes everything boils down to;

The full depth of King Aerys's madness was subsequently revealed in his depraved actions against Lord Stark, his heir, and their supporters after they demanded redress for Rhaegar's wrongs. Instead of granting them fair hearing, King Aerys had them brutally slain, then followed these murders by demanding that Lord Jon Arryn execute his former wards, Robert Baratheon and Eddard Stark. - TWoIaF; The Fall of the Dragons: Robert’s Rebellion

iii) While the inverse-annals are clearly baised, GRRM has made it clear that Aerys is responsible for the rebellion (x), and that his call to execute them all was another product of his cruelty and paranoia. Which omits any nuance the situation had such nuances as;

Brandon and Rickard were on their way again back to Riverrun for the impending wedding between him and Catelyn Tully, when word reached Brandon of Lyanna's supposed abduction by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. Brandon, along with his squire Ethan Glover, Kyle Royce, Elbert Arryn, and Jeffory Mallister, rode to King's Landing immediately. Upon entering the Red Keep, Brandon shouted for Rhaegar to "come out and die". Rhaegar was not present, however, and Brandon and his companions were arrested by King Aerys II Targaryen and charged with plotting Rhaegar's murder. - awoiaf.westeros.org; Aerys II Targaryen: Year of the False Spring 

A paramount lord and his heir barging into the royal court of a king (half of which would rather dethrone him and most did not see him as the ruler of the realm) and brazenly demand the crown prince's head BASED ON RUMORS alone in front of said court. For a supposed crime that stands in direct contrary to what is known of said heir (x, x, x).

While it's a well established fact that this fandom only intrest is to present House Stark as poor, oppressed, altruistic and wronged victims and House Targaryen as the evil warmongering lunatics, it is still mind blowing to see people glorify Brandon's stupidity as Protective Big Bro Thang™, talk how he should have escape the situation unscattered (because they believe the starks are the Main Characters™ and should have all the Syndromes (like plot armor) of one) and his execution being yet another uncalled atrocity of Aerys's madness, when Brandon literally has committed high treason through his rash actions. Even Catelyn call Brandon's action "rash" and his would-be father-in-law Hoster Tully called him a "gallant fool" for it.

A highborn father that would have politely ask them to lay out their complains (again) behind closed doors so he might calmly listen to these allegations and their wish to see his oldest one dead after the spectacle of their entrance, has yet to be named by obnoxious neutrals and "intellectuals" preaching such scenario as the solution to this fiasco.

Realistically speaking, what should Aerys have done with a paramount lord, his heir and their escort breaking the king's peace and threatening House Targaryen's power by demanding the Crown Prince's head? Insulted this gravely that they about to rise in rebellion with mighty allies. When it comes to this situation Aerys had been caught between a rock and a hard place;

He could have a) dismissed the accusations, let them go home and have the realm think of him as weak. Home to their seats, where hot headed Brandon would have likely raised the north in rebellion anyway and whose brother's foster brother Robert Baratheon would have likely joined him for his wounded pride. Risk the riverlands to stand with them as well for their siege lord's daughter Catelyn would have wed Brandon Stark. Possibly the Vale too, for Jon Arryn's beloved forster son's brother has raised in rebellion and his bride is Lord Tully's other daughter and Brandon Stark's sister in law. Or b) use this incident to dispose his 'disloyal son', so his chosen heir Viserys would have less threats in his ascend on the throne later on, yet simountanastly signaling the realm that one can demand a Targaryen prince's head based on rumors alone. Establishing a most dangerous precedent for the future of House Targaryen.

What might have salvage the situation without an all-out-war or an unacceptable, most dangerous precedent for House Targaryen('s might) would have been to dismiss the accusations. Instead of summoning the fathers of the escort and executing them all along with Rickard and Brandon, he should have send them to the Wall (which would have made Eddard Lord of Winterfell) and send for Benjen Stark as cupbearer or squire at the court (so he might functions as hostage over the North).

And even this might have not have worked for i) it would have been still a too mild punishment for conspiring to murder the Iron Throne' heir and ii) for they could have just refuse to take the black once at the Wall, return to Winterfell with the help of the Night Watch and call to war anyway (though House Tully and Arryn might have been more reluctant to join them in such a scenario)

Do these nuances make Rickard, Brandon and Co's execution less gruesome and the call for Eddard and Robert's death morally justified? No, but they show that they could have been committed by a sane sovereign too. But instead of being seen as actions of a madman they would have been seen as too-harsh (failed) precautions. (IMO Tywin and Stannis would act the same way in such a situation with the big difference that they would be cold and caculative, whereas Aerys had become aroused)

Princess Elia would have gone as well, but he forbade it. Somehow he had gotten it in his head that Prince Lewyn must have betrayed Rhaegar on the Trident, but he thought he could keep Dorne loyal so long as he kept Elia and Aegon by his side. - TWpIaF; The Fall of the Dragons; The End

iv) Same with iii) if one was to look at the political situation (especially before the rebellion) and analyze Aerys's actions without dismissing them all as one kf a deranged lunatic, this particular action was actually quite savvy.

Prior to the rebellion, the royal court had been devided into two parties; the king's and the prince's;

Chief amongst the Mad King's supporters were three lords of his small council: Qarlton Chelsted, master of coin, Lucerys Velaryon, master of ships, and Symond Staunton, master of laws. The eunuch Varys, master of whisperers, and Wisdom Rossart, grand master of the Guild of Alchemists, also enjoyed the king's trust. Prince Rhaegar's support came from the younger men at court, including Lord Jon Connington, Ser Myles Mooton of Maidenpool, and Ser Richard Lonmouth. The Dornishmen who had come to court with the Princess Elia were in the prince's confidence as well, particularly Prince Lewyn Martell, Elia's uncle and a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard. But the most formidable of all Rhaegar's friends and allies in King's Landing was surely Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. - TWoIaF; The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring

Essentially the Second Dance of Dragons was brewing;

To Grand Maester Pycelle and Lord Owen Merryweather, the King's Hand, fell the unenviable task of keeping peace between these factions, even as their rivalry grew ever more venomous. In a letter to the Citadel, Pycelle wrote that the divisions within the Red Keep reminded him uncomfortably of the situation before the Dance of the Dragons a century before, when the enmity between Queen Alicent and Princess Rhaenyra had split the realm in two, to grievous cost. A similarly bloody conflict might await the Seven Kingdoms once again, he warned, unless some accord could be reached that would satisfy both Prince Rhaegar's supporters and the king's. - TWoIaF; The Fall of the Dragons: The Year of the False Spring  

So contrary to the fandom's insistence of Aerys's reason behind his prohibition for Elia and the children to leave the capital being unreasonable paranoia or malice (or even godamn racism??), Aerys was smart. By ensuring that they were located in the capital, he gave the dornish forces a reason to defend it (essentially ensuring his survival) then had Elia and the children been safely in Sunspear or Dragonstone, they would have had no reason to continue to fight (and be slowly overrun) for the defense of King's Landing if the only one remaining there was the king that had disinherited Rhaegar's entire lineage and proclaimed Viserys his heir after Rhaegar death at the Trident (ergo putting an end to Dorne's hope to size the Iron Throne through a Martell-Queen Consort and later a half Martell-king).

Also contrary to the fandom's insistence on how Aerys's cruelty and paranoia breaks even Westeros's norm in taking hostages in war, even from his supposed allies and families (through marriages) is not unusual; the kings of the Winter are known to have taken child hostages to secure their subjects' submission, Quentyn had been given to Lord Yronwood as "blood debt" by Doran Martell. Theon had been taken hostage by Eddard Stark to ensure his father's submission. The Redwyne twins have been taken hostages by the Lannister court to ensure their father's loyalty (to lend them his fleet in their war). Where is the condemnation for them? Also contrary to the fandom's insistence highborn hostages, especially those who are considered family members are also not treated badly. They experience most of the privileges their birth and status grants them. Cases such Sansa in King's Landing and Jaime in Riverrun are the expection, not the rule.

But what is to expect from a fandom that lays the blame for Elia Martell and her children's gruesome murders on Aerys Targaryen (her father-in-law and their grandfather) and Rhaegar Targaryen (her by-then dead husband and their father) instead on the heads of the rebels like the liege lord of the men to commit the murders (Tywin Lannister) or the self-styled king (Robert Baratheon) who sanctioned these murders later (going so far as to making mentioned liege lord his father-in-law)?

Aerys II Targaryen has always been exclusively presented by the fandom as this horrendous sadistic monster without a heart. Every act of his a epitome of stupidity and cruelty with Aerys's madness as an inevitable by-product from coming from an incestuous union, despite this not supported being the text.

Aerys Targaryen was not born that way. His mental state in his later years was a product of the immense trauma he experienced throughout his entire life; from witnessing the death of his entire family when he was 15 years old, to being powerless as he and Rhaella were forced to suffer still births, miscarriages and dead babes in the cribs to his imprisonment and torture in Duskendale (x). The justified constant fear of being dethroned by his own son (x) and the feeling of never being deemed worthy or competent enough by others to the point where he not even seen as The King (x) likely only added to his instability and cruelty.

His paranoia, especially concerned Tywin Lannister and Rhaegar Targaryen, was also anything but irrational; Aerys was not in the wrong to mistrust Rhaegar as he later planned to dethrone him, which could only result in Aerys’s death should Rhaegar wish to ascend the throne as comfortable as possible. Nor for being wary of Tywin Lannister, who gambled with his life at Duskendale in hopes to get Rhaegar on the throne with his daughter as his queen. (x)

Aerys was not a fool to prevent Tywin from becoming Rhaegar’s father-in-law. Before the rebellion, they were the biggest threats to Aerys’s reign. Not only did he prevent an alliance between his two greastest threats, in giving Rhaegar Elia Martell to wife. The princess to the least densly populated kingdom (which is quite hated by the more "civilized" southern kingdoms such as the Dornish Marches, Reach and Stormlands for their blood feuds (x,x)) and with a small army, he also prevented Rhaegar from gaining exponentially more support had he married a noble daughter from a house with more wealth, resources and men (like Cersei Lannister)

And mind you (!) had Steffon Baratheon succeeded in finding a "maid of noble birth from an old Valyrian bloodline" in the Free Cities, Aerys would have given Rhaegar's a woman to wife that has absolutely no ties to any kingdom (which would have given him no political advantage beside whatever wealth her family would have had across the sea) and who would bee seen as 'foreign stranger', similar to Larra Rogar, Viserys II's wife.

Such a choice at the time was politically quite savvy: His supposed heir secured the succession without shifting the power balance too much by preventing Rhaegar from amassing even more support through an more politically advantageous match. That this choice later on backfired in the face of an external political threat (e.g. the rebellion) was unforeseeable and unfortunate.

Jaime's rise to a kingsguard was as well a less then perfect solution by Aerys for his (justified) fears; in appointing Jaime as kingsguard he had gained the most valuable hostage against any possible rebellion from Tywin Lannister, but he also had to endure Tywin's son day and night as shadow. Aerys seemed to have played by the motto "keep your friends close, but your foes closer" with Jaime as he had previously done with Tywin, whom he had refused to dismiss as Hand or accept his resignation (x, x) and suffered greatly from it (at first mentally, later with his life). (x)

As said, the reason why I wrote this meta was to showcase the imsincerity of the fandom's obsession and exaggeration of Aerys II's "madness" and cruelty, as well as to point the nuances that are often overlooked simply because Aerys was mad.

Afterall, how comes that Aerys's cruelty and madness is more empathized than anyone else's by the fandom? Where does the intrest and obsession for it as well as the need to deliberately twist Aerys's relatively peaceful reign (x, x) into one of terror unseen before come from?

Simple because Aerys's cruelty and madness must be given such great narrative and political importance, and his reign must be one of the darkest times yet, so when dany antis proceed to write their "metas" of how of Daenerys will be rejected by Westeros, never know home or love, become the-hidden-mad!queen-all-along™ and step into her father's foot steps by torching King's Landing and committing mass murder, have a "basis". The first one is even more ridiculous considering that Rhagear was beloved during his days, and is still, despite actually living under Aerys's roof till his 16th birthday, unlike Dany.

Nothing more, and one knows so because the same people won't predicted the same for their tool-character "Aegon VI" who is the Mad King's supposed grandson and son to Prince Rhaegar, whom most of them condemn just as harshly for whatever headcanon (pRophECy oBbsEsSed, vIsenYa) that has been treated as canon for too long. Not to mention that there is an abundance of characters whose fathers were horrible, yet there aren't daily posts on a character's utter mental decline based upon their father's flaws. (bioessentialism)

In conclusion and defense of Aerys II Targaryen; i) he is as much of a victim of tragedy and cruelty than he was an enabler, ii) his paranoia was not unreasonable iii) his cruelty is not at all unique for the medivial ASoIaF world nor in comparison to other characters. In fact neither his paranoia nor his cruelty makes him stand out in his madness, but rather his manic-depressive behavior iv) how his mental state does not render all of his decisions as one of a mad man.

I would also like to say that a forced abdication of Aerys decided by a Great Council with Rhaegar ascending the throne would have neither be the perfect solution as it is often presented. Had his abdication gone relatively smoothly (which would NOT have necessarily be the case (x)) it would shaken the laws and rules of Westeros to its core.

As the first Great Council had done it, it would have given the lords of the realm again the idea and power to decide who is to rule them. Which would have not be the positive, progressive, humanitarian step towards democracy as most mistake it but path a way of war and instability ambitious, vile lords would have misused for their own gain yet again.

If the first Great Council had established an iron precedent on the matter of succession, than such a second one (in which the lords could abdicate their rightful king because they are not content with him) would have path the way for any man to inherit his male relative's position if he manges to convince enough of his subjects to abdicate their current sovereign and put him as his heir (as son, brother, nephew, grandson etc...) through bribery and whatnot.

An era of chaos unseen would follow. Just imagine what the lords of the realm would have done with a king like Aegon V that would robb them some of their absolute power through his reforms. It would hollow out the crown of any power to protect and serve the small folk (be it through humanitarian reforms, against its lords or plan costly, necessary infrastructure)

The wars such as the Wot5K are a direct result of the illegitimacy of Robert's rebellion and how it had shaken Westeros's laws. Instead of the once rather cemented hereditary monarchy, Robert opened the door for Westeros to be wreaked by every sovereign that believes he can muster enough manpower to establish himself a self-styled King. (x)

IMO instead of gathering a Second Great Council, Rhaegar honestly should have just found a discreet way to have his father's poisoned. Although this would have been OCC for noble, valiant Rhaegar and quite harsh to expect from a son to do to his father (no matter their estranged relationship) it would the most practical decision.

[rosaluxembae]

I guess I have a more serious point about the start of Robert's Rebellion that Robert and Ned can't take any credit or any blame for it because they didn't have any choice (besides maybe fleeing across the narrow sea) or any real agency in the situation.

Ned is so clearly a loyalist at heart that I think it's fair to assume he would have propped up Aerys' tyranny if it didn't affect him personally. On the other hand Robert didn't start a war over his gf, Jon and Aerys started a war over Robert (Saying Brandon and Rhaegar started a war over Lyanna would also make sense but Robert wasn't involved). Whatever way you way up the war, it simply wasn't their decision to make.