#from fellow jonerys lovers

[buttertheflame]

Open Call for Feedback 🔎

Hi Jonerys lovers, I’m a fic writer who’s been on hiatus for a few years and I’m back. Check out the prose. Does it drone on? I’m in the editing phase…

A Normal Family

4k words, Jon x Dany, Dany POV, post-ADWD, TWOW-speculation

(excerpt from chapter 1 of a 5-part au fic, sequel to A Long Way Home)

Castle Black

Present: 302 AC

Winter

She knew it was a dream when she felt the heat, for in Volantis, the air was hot and dewey—the evening almost as sweltering as the day. At first, Daenerys thought she was breathing fire—it was such a beautiful thing—as the oily Black Walls of eastern Volantis’s old blood gained a vermilion glow in the night. Within, a labyrinth of palaces, cloisters and temples burst into flame. Then out of the ashes came waves of slaves of every designation, crying, The Princess Who Was Promised! There were dozens. The dark eye has begun to lift from her! There were hundreds. The minions of the night will lose their temples of deceit! Then there were thousands. She will bring an endless Summer, and those who die fighting her cause shall be reborn! And tens of thousands. She is Azor Ahai reborn! Wait! Wait for the return of the blazing comet! Lord of Light, herald her coming! 

“Yes!” she cried in ecstasy, carried by their fervor. “Yes!” 

Daenerys could not even search for her sense of shame, for her Lord would not allow it. Not even when the great river westward then rushed to meet her, and took her through valleys at the feet of countless mountains. Far ahead, the Rhoyne broke into three different tributaries, causing the air to cool with them. Below, a field of poppies dotted the earth. It is the Trident, she realized, and settled herself further in the saddle upon Drogon’s back. She remembered. Her foes would appear, armored in ice, and she would burn them all. 

Instead, a lone rider came upon a hill. The red helm of a two-headed dragon took shape, dotted with four rubies for eyes. The black visor was lifted. Daenerys did not wish to see her beautiful brother die again, so she opened her mouth to warn him, but she would not be heeded. Rhaegar turned to face the antlered yellow and black rider who had trailed behind him, thus revealing an infant in his free arm. She startled as the babe, held tight to his black gleaming breastplate, gazed at him in wonder. His buoyant laughter mingled with Rhaegar’s soothing voice. The father’s lips pressed to the soft infant crown, from which sad and sweet notes rose. 

“He fixed himself wholly

And laid in the earth. 

Then fashioned his crown

From a field of dirks.” 

Daenerys mustered up a sob so strong it caused her to wake. 

After a choked beat, she found Jon Snow next to her, his back also flat to the feather bed of their private room, his face turned to train dark eyes upon her, in the gloom of the very late night or very early morning. She had not wanted to look too closely at the red priests of Essos who had called her this promised prince. It was a legacy she did not want. When his fine hands reached her face, Daenerys’s mind grew desperate. I must pursue the Iron Throne. Jon wiped away her fresh tears then drew her into his arms. 

“I’m here,” he whispered. “I’m here.” 

She nodded against his chest, but failed to shake the tension from her belly and limbs. Her heart quivered with guilt for keeping this from Jon, and fear, over what he had revealed to her last night. I could have become one of them, he had told her, a week ago back in Winterfell. As she wondered why hadn’t he become one of those vicious wights when his body had lain cold for two days, the guilt that followed and her grief for Viserion stayed her tongue. Then he’d promised to give her the realm and afterward settle them on Dragonstone, once the wars were won. She couldn’t help but hold onto his promise. 

A family and the realm. Surely, they could have both? But given the fresh news, she wondered…could hers and Jon’s children be safe with him? Could their line be safe with him? Could she and her royal consort truly achieve this goal? A family and the realm. 

She thought of the cautious, wise and bold Ser Barristan Selmy, the Commander of her Queensguard who had lost his life half a world away fighting the reignited war against the Essosi slave cities. No more than a hundred days prior, it had been in a moment of relative peace, while the killings and slayings of her people were still going on: as she considered marrying the snake zo Loraq to broker peace, Ser Barristan had cautioned against marrying for political gain only, but to also consider love. He said that her grandsire Jaeherys had commanded his children to wed, for a woodswitch long favored by her grandmother had visited the Red Keep to prophesy that the prince was promised would be born of their line. 

Daenerys jerked, then pulled away from Jon. 

If this prince is what Jon said it meant…perhaps he had been born to die. The thought incensed her. Did Rhaegar really do this? Could he and Lyanna Stark have been so cruel? 

Moreover, if the followers of R'hllor thought Daenerys was this promised prince…had she, too, been born to die? 

Another sob rose…and the contents of her half-digested dinner followed. It stunk the frigid air, but her disgust wasn’t great enough to cause her to stop; her muscles took command, demanding that she retch until there was nothing left. It took her to the edge of the bed, where she groped blindly until she found a metal sheet and brought it forth. She was dimly aware of Jon moving to stand on the stone floor. He ran a soothing hand along her back and stopped to catch her hair, as she retched into the bedpan.

“Leave me!” she gasped, mortified. “Jon, please.” 

He hushed her. “Daenerys, please do not be ashamed! I’m here. Do not ask me to leave. I’m here.”

He moved the hand on her back faster and focused on the span between her shoulders, trying to coax the tension out of her muscles. Chagrined, she took his other hand, which he squeezed. It was bone dry and warm, a solid comfort she was distantly aware of, and no more.

Jon passed a hand through her hair one last time, pulling her from her haunted musings. She huffed, licked the acidic grit from her teeth, and then pulled herself back up to lay down on her side. When Jon pushed the bedpan aside to kneel on the floor, a realization came. Words are wind, she had thought, for so long, especially the prophecies among them. Yet so much had happened since the maegi tricked her in the Plains of the Lhazarene. Now that she was here beside her lover, pondering all they meant to the greater world, it was so clear to her now. There was something to Ser Barristan’s words that he and I could not have foreseen. Does everything happen the way it must? Some called it fate. Her wheezes were the only sounds as the sickness left her in a slow drip. They eventually slowed to a halt and her breaths returned to normal.  

The outlines of Jon’s handsome face came into view, his dark brows pulled and lips pouting with worry as he seemed to search her eyes. She cupped his cheek weakly, and smoothed her thumb along his stubbled jaw. Weary though she was, she would not be able to return to sleep. 

Leaning forward to press his lips to her forehead, Jon whispered, “That’s good. You’re alright. It’s alright, now, Dany.” 

He swept the hair from her face, stroked her neck, brushed her shoulders then eventually palmed her waist. She shivered, delighting in his much needed closeness. Then he kissed her forehead again. He climbed into bed again and gently drew her into his arms, encouraging her to tilt her head back to rest on his shoulder. He rubbed light, soothing circles on her belly for many long, peaceful moments. She felt like a rock tumbling in the flow of a river’s current—unable to see yet unable to distrust its strength. What was this? Undeserved peace? 

When she followed its source, she found herself musing once more. 

Many ran to and fro to search for the one who was promised. Somehow, in all the Known World, the two bearing the designation had met and were in this bed, at this Wall. The Lord of Light had called upon Jon to continue his fight and gave him renewed life. Of course, of the stories she’d heard, none who had been given the kiss had been half as worthy as Jon…but perhaps His grace covered all of mankind. For, when asking R'hllor to give them a glimpse of His chosen, the red priests had seen her and him—their deeds and the shadows they cast—in the flames. 

What, then? Was He faithful? Had he held her life in His hands the way a hen huddles chicks beneath her wings? Had he watched her all this time, patiently waiting for her to acknowledge Him? Was He as good as His word?

Her soul had quieted some, enough for her to sense an answer…

A whisper upon the wind.

____________________

Jon had sent for the maester. Once he returned, he helped her to finish building a fire in the hearth, with good humor and quips that no queen should ever tend to such a task. Much needed light and warmth filled the air and brought her once more into his arms. In a quiet voice, he suggested they speak as little of Samwell Tarly as possible, for it was likely that he would send word back to the Citadel about him, the novice who had fled with stolen items of knowledge. Though Archmaester Theobold had no proof, he certainly suspected Samwell. Daenerys was certain that the Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch would be furious with the ordeal. He did not strike her as one who enjoyed dealing with the unexpected. In some moments, neither did she. Especially today, it would seem.

“Your assessment of Dolorous Edd is correct,” Jon chuckled. “But why should he enjoy it?” 

“He seems quite good at it, to have lasted longer at his post than you,” she teased. “We should all enjoy what we are good at.” 

“We should. But we don’t.” He did not jest as she thought he might; instead, a frown had taken his features. “Our Sworn Brothers once called him Sam the Slayer. He was training under Maester Aemon as a steward; I sent him to the Citadel to forge a link or three, not to become a stealer. But I suppose Euron Greyjoy’s threat to Oldtown convinced him to return quickly. This matter…it is something the Lord Commander will have to deal with.” 

“With your help, I am sure. Those letters of yours must be invaluable to him.” 

His frown deepened, brought on by some aggravation unknown to her. Did he still feel guilty for giving counsel on the Night’s Watch operations? Perhaps his discomfort was prudent. He allowed her to part from him with some reluctance. She could feel his gaze upon her back as she moved to the small table near the lone glass window, musing. In Winterfell, Samwell had told her that her great uncle Aemon Targaryen had loved her, that he had wanted to help her, but he died once their party had docked at Braavos. With her chin in hand, tears blurred her view of the dark courtyard far, far below. Would this great uncle of mine have known Rhaegar? Did they somehow discover his prophecy together? Did he approve of his designs on the realm? What even were they? It was still early enough that dawn light was still hours away.  At its appearance, their task to march their army of two-thousand men to fortify their designated castles on the Wall, would come too soon. 

“My love…I have never seen you so ill! Did last night’s turnip stew somehow disagree with you? I know you prefer simple dishes.” 

Jon knew she desired some space. He had moved to the desk on the other side of the room and leaned against it. Despite the brief respite of earlier, her mood had soured with the taste of bile in her mouth. She raised one shoulder in answer. “It was simple enough.” 

“Your dream. Do you want to tell me about it?” Growing irritable, she sighed again.“What I said last night, of my mother’s line…it upset you, didn’t it?” She startled at his accuracy, and his voice rose again, now tremulous. “Was it a dragon dream you had?” 

“I…” The babe in Rhaegar’s arm flashed before her eyes. Her heart quickened. “I don’t know.” 

The silence that followed was just as painful. 

“I am so sorry, Daenerys. I will be more careful.” 

“No,” she said quickly. “No, Jon. Don’t be sorry for anything. I need you. Don’t hold anything back from me.” 

Not again, she thought. Never again. 

“Sweet Daenerys, don’t be afraid. You have me. I’m yours.” He tracked slowly toward her. “I just…I cannot hurt you again. I will not do that again. I would rather die.” 

The sudden knock at the great door announced the arrival of Buford of House Belmore. Jon reached her, and passed a soothing hand down her back, then casted pained looks at her even once they turned to scour through their chests to make certain their clothing was decent enough for company: Daenerys in an ankle-length undersilk below a wrapped woolen shift which she tied at the waist, Jon in an undertunic and leather breeches. Once their boots were on, she soothed his pain with a kiss on his cheek and enjoyed his small smile. Then he opened the door and allowed the maester of Castle Black to enter. The other man was overly tall and not yet aged, with light brown hair turning gray at his temples, thin locks cut neatly across his forehead and around his large ears. Eight chains formed a rather tight link around his neck and brown rough spun robes, but they did not weigh him down. Carrying his medicines in a hide, he tucked it under his shoulder then bowed to the Dragon Queen and her royal consort, the King in the North. A steward training under the maester came behind him with a contraption that folded out into a table. As the maester rested his hide and rolled it out on the table, the steward asked for the location of the bedpan. Once he had it in hand, he exited the room and closed the door. Maester Buford thanked King Jon for sending for him so quickly, then sat down to work. 

It was a stilted conversation—not much was said, for which she was pleased. Daenerys wanted to get through his examination without any more shame than she was already feeling. He felt below her jaws to test her glands, then asked her to open her mouth of which he looked inside with a small candle, finishing with a check to her pulse at the wrists, then testing the tension of her belly. The maester did not know them, so after concluding that all was well initially, he spent the next few minutes choosing an herbal potion for her to drink over the next fortnight. Once the small vial of purple liquid was in her palm and she was chewing a piece of sourleaf to cleanse her mouth, he looked between the young rulers and folded his palms in his lap. 

“If I may ask, your grace…when did your moon blood last come?”

She could not answer the question directly. “It comes in fits and starts.” But he merely blinked at her. “My cycle is not regular.” 

“Has it always been this way?” When she would not respond, he said, “Forgive me, Queen Daenerys, but I have heard the story of your previous pregnancy, some years ago, in Essos.”

“My son is not here with us, is he?” she snapped. “Forget those stories—I tell you now, he was not viable. That is what the healers said. He could not be carried to term.” 

“I…see.” He trembled, as if afraid. “I am truly sorry, Queen Daenerys.” 

Jon shifted on his feet, but said nothing. He squeezed Daenerys’s fingers. 

“Forgive me, Maester Buford.” She swallowed the remains of the bitter leaf. “Already, it has been a long morning. And the blood of the dragon runs hot. You see, I often wish my son could have come into this world to experience it for himself.” 

Jon sucked in a wet breath and snuck a hand into the nape of her hair; something far too intimate for their guest to see.

But his touch was grounding, and preceded a memory that followed on the heels of her shaky gratitude. It was like standing on the shifting grains of Dragonstone’s cold beach. There, many weeks before they had discovered the island’s northern caves, she had shared with Jon the tale of her dragons’ births upon Drogo’s funeral pyre, as the red comet had passed from west to east. His quizzical requests for more details made her overcome with grief, and so with sympathetic lines around his eyes, he had beseeched her. Say anything about your past, and I will not turn away. Tell me everything, and I will not turn away. The salty Autumn air had filled her tongue, as Rhaego’s name lingered among the virulent waves. She could almost see Jon’s stunned features, sense the comforting strength of his arms around her, and catch the scent of his borrowed furs. It was the first time she had cried in front of him. 

Now, she covered her hand with his, when it found rest on her shoulder. 

“I understand, your grace,” the maester replied. “It is a great shame. But from what I can see, you have done well to carry on, for which we who aim to fight the dead are grateful. Perhaps the Gods will grace you once more.” He passed a glance over to Jon, and then gave her a small smile that almost reached his eyes. For all intents and purposes, the examination of this maester was not as cold as she had feared. 

Curiously she asked, “Do you have any gods, Maester Buford?” 

“I follow the Old Gods, your grace. Like my father before me, and his father before him.” 

“The Vale is your home,” Jon said, speaking for the first time. “Your brother Lord Benedar holds Strongsong…and has stayed in Winterfell to support my sister Sansa for many moons, now.” 

“Aye. But I must correct you, King Jon. I have no brothers but those in black.” 

Jon paused, and then he chuckled. 

The maester continued. “Perhaps Benedar would have left me as castellan instead of our cousin, but I am already a maester, and I am quite comfortable here at Castle Black. It is the lot that life has cast for second sons and such. But you, King Jon, have risen above all odds.” 

Daenerys understood why this maester thought such a notion would be appreciated by Jon, but she knew it was another matter he must worry about. She gestured for him to make himself comfortable, but he gently refused and continued standing at her side. 

“All odds.” Jon seemed to weigh the words. “I didn’t do it on my own, ser. Neither did I seek it. If any of our—your brothers ask, please relay that message to them.” 

A wrinkled brow relayed the question, Why should it matter? But the maester was wise not to speak so insolently. Ponderously, he shifted his hands on the makeshift table. He could sense that he was being dismissed. 

“Very well, your grace. Queen Daenerys, you should eat smaller meals with greater frequency, if the sickness returns on the morrow.” 

She eyed him warily. Did he, too, think she was with child? Could he sense that she wasn’t yet certain if she wanted to be? 

He moved to his feet, then inclined his head to her. “Only if. In any matter, the vial should be consumed once daily for a fortnight, as I have said. It was a pleasure to have your private audience. I look forward to serving you both in this Great War.” 

Somehow, Daenerys doubted that. He did not seem as single-minded as Jon and Samwell’s stories of Maester Aemon. If anything, he seemed to be all talk with little bite. Perhaps it was the least one could hope for, to make one a good maester. As she mused with an absent frown, Buford Belmore rolled the hide holding his vials and instruments closed, then bowed to them both. Daenerys thanked him with as much sincerity as she presently could, as fear slowly snaked around her heart. 

Once he neared the door, Jon called after him. “Maester Buford, as you are aware, Queen Daenerys and I are not here to take a tour of the Wall. I hope that when our army has finished its task, we will meet with you again, and discuss other matters with Lord Commander Tollett. Until then, I wish you good fortune in the wars to come.” 

Though Buford Belmore’s brows rose to his neat fringe, he obeyed at once, bowing again to them. At the opened door, the steward fetched the table, folded it up and then followed him out. Once the door shut, the crackling fire in the hearth resumed its prominence. 

“Why did you say that?” Daenerys asked, craning to meet Jon’s eyes. 

“He should know that I will be thinking of him. I do not want him to be the cause of Samwell’s downfall. What will we do if the Citadel found it within them to track Sam down and try him?” He shook his head. It was growing light outside; light enough that his black curls looked less like one mass, and revealed their individual beauty. “I am always thinking of you, as well. Do you really think you could be with child, Daenerys?” 

Her gaze turned even softer, eyes tracking the hope and fear lining his face. She had once bared her shame to him and watched with tearful awe as it fell into his hands. What would he say now, that he was called to share this burden once more? She pulled him close by the waist, then tilted her head back until he kissed her. Relief loosened her tongue. 

“I hope,” she whispered against his mouth. “And yet I do not hope. I do not think I would deserve something so beautiful.” 

“Deserve?” He pulled away, with gentle fingers at her chin. “You are the most deserving! You are the most patient, the most kind. You have never tried to stop understanding me.” 

“It is easier than you think, Jon Snow.” 

“So you say.” Ignoring her evasion, he  gave her a tremulous smile. “My brother and sisters say I am a pain. But you…are a rare, unearthly thing.” 

She turned her profile toward him, yet he followed on shifting feet; beautifully quiet, always quiet and thinking. She tried to brace for what would come next, but when he spoke softly, as if to avoid spooking her, she was caught away again. 

“Daenerys, what do you think Rhaego would have wanted from you? He would have not wanted you to be ashamed. You were tricked into losing him.” A sob came up her throat, just as wet as the one that had preceded her episode. Unperturbed, Jon drew his arms around her. “I know it is hard, and you have been so brave to have come so far. But I believe you will have to become braver, to bring a child into this world.” 

“Bravery has nothing to do with it.” She hesitated once the words were out, although she couldn’t quite call it a snap, weary as she was. Jon did not take offense, nor did he judge. In fact, the preserverant brightness in his eyes carried her gently down that river.

“Forgiveness, then. Rhaego would have wanted you to forgive yourself.” 

“He…” Daenerys hiccuped.

“He would have wanted you to be happy. Isn’t that so, my love?” 

After a beat, she nodded against his chest, for the second time that morning. It was absurd. Despite being so unceasingly vulnerable on the morning of a march, this was too important to dismiss, delay or bury. Jon knew it well. Now, it was he who hesitated.  

“I should have told you this long ago. If you would like…he could be as much mine as he is yours. My sweet Daenerys…” He brushed her silver-pale hair behind her shoulders, trailing the fingertips there as he went. He whispered in her ear, stirring her aching heart further up and up. “He should not be mourned alone, nor remembered alone. I can bear this pain with you. Please, let me.” 

It was madness. Although there had been the recent loss of her dearest child Viserion, Daenerys had all she wanted. Across Essos, hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people whose chains had been broken; their cries of freedom reached the ears of each and every god, as they worked with each other to keep it so. A place to vie for in the hearts of the men, women and children of Westeros; and in that place was a war to fight and people to bring peace to. In Jon Snow, a friend, family, a lover—and at his side, home. She had leaned on the certainty of these things for so long…had made herself content with them for so long…that the slim possibility of bearing a living child for him—while Mirri Maz Durr’s impossible prophecy echoed in her ears—caused Daenerys to snap shut upon herself like a timid creature in a shell. It was a misguided try at protection. It was not her nature, for she was blood of the dragon. In fact, she knew she was hurting herself, hurting them. But he was wrong. Her cursed womb was still barren, and was not his burden. Nothing had happened to not make it so. 

“Jon, what if…what if there is nothing but pain in store for us? Nothing but grief and blood and smoke?”

He surprised her again, and immediately calmed the tempest. 

“Then I will ask you now, of myself.” His sudden smile was brilliant. “Who could love a dragon?” Her wide eyes gave answer enough. He understood her, then. Of the two of them, it was hard to say who had doomed their line more. “Daenerys, even if there is only you and me…then every moment with you is one I will cherish.” 

“Even now?” she asked quickly, greedy. That too, she would need to hear again.

“Especially now.” 

It was a vow. Even if her bout of illness was a fluke, or if she couldn’t bear a living child, or if they failed to ensure Winter gave way to Spring… They could still be happy. At her stunned silence, he squeezed her once more, then gently pulled away, to trail his hands down her waist and land at her hips. Her softly trembling arms came around his shoulders and she felt utterly safe. Through the lone window, dawn light cut across the floor and landed at their feet. Time slipped away more quickly, as they shuffled to their feet. The fullness of their dancing hearts could not be contained, and so they touched foreheads, swaying in the incandescent beam. 

“It is something to think on, while we are separated. I will wait for your answer,” he murmured, then smiled again when she kissed his cheek as a prelude, lips lingering on his stubble, hands finding purchase on his arms. “This, you should also know before we march. After we left the outlaws in the Ice Cells yesterday, I spoke with Edd. I am not yet certain our men will be safe with the Watch.” 

She swallowed thickly. Indeed, his long-standing discomfort was prudent. 

“What is this about, Jon?” 

His face grew long and sullen, and he worked his mouth - as if holding back a scream brought on by a haunting specter. Peace, her lover had found, yet rest, he had not. 

“Me.”

.

.

.

to be continued

If you’ve read this far, thank you. You don’t have to have read the first fic, A Long Way Home, to give an opinion on the prose. The prose in that fic was more succinct. Now my muse is calling me to meander through Dany’s introspection, since there’s extremely personal stuff going on…on the morning of a military march. I worry that the inner monologues drone on for too long. Thoughts?

[fierypen37]

Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love ❤️ (you may have gotten this already from someone, our Jonerys circle is small 😂) But if so I didn't see it and would love to know your own top fave five of your fics! 😊

Oooh fun! Tagging @libradoodle1 if she hasn't already done it.

Held Captive:  Complete, in which Robb lives as King in the North and Jon is given to Daenerys as a hostage of war. This was my canon rewrite with Dany as a conqueror and Jon as her lover and fellow dragonrider. To date, it's had the highest traffic of any fic I've written, so I'm proud of that.

Victory is in Your Veins: WIP, Jon is taken as a slave for the fighting pits, Dany travels across Essos to free him. This has a darker and more violent tone than my usual work, and I've had to rely a lot on Jon's interiority to carry the fic. I'm proud of the inner monologue and sensory detail in this one.

The Oasis: Complete, Masseur!Jon becomes Dany's accidental bodyguard when bad guys try to kill her. Smut ensues. I wrote four chapters of this fic in one sitting. I love when a fic captures my imagination like that. And the smut is *chef's kiss*

Not For All the World: WIP series of one-shots. Relationship between Vampire!Dany and bartender!Jon. Dany as a vampire, too sexy for words, right? I expected to write a ton of smut for them, but I've found there's a lot of heart with this premise. I'm excited for the direction it's going.

A Work of Art: Complete, Jon is a nude model for artist!Dany. This is a more lighthearted, comedic take. I had such fun writing it.

[sheikah]

What kills me so much about season 8 Jon is that his every action ruined my favorite thing about Jon--his soft, romantic side. I know we only have Ygritte to go off of before Dany, but that relationship was still very revealing when it comes to his personality.  

Ygritte was Jon’s sworn enemy, and he was under orders to kill her. Orders! But he didn’t. He saw her, that she was a woman (a pretty woman at that), and he couldn’t go through with it. But I’m supposed to believe that at Tyrion’s suggestion he committed regicide and murdered his defenseless lover?

Ygritte and Jon’s relationship was forbidden--for multiple reasons. Being with any woman was prohibited by his vows, but being with Ygritte in particular was even more transgressive because she was a wildling--someone Northerners, and especially men of the Watch, were taught to hate. Despite this, Jon slept with her and fell in love with her. Jon Snow, who had only ever been with Ygritte, went down on her with no prompting! He was a selfless and enthusiastic lover and a sexually progressive dude! But I’m supposed to believe that finding out Dany was a blood relative was too scandalous for Jon? Dany who, like him, is a Targaryen? You know, the family that normalized and created legal loopholes for incest in Westeros? It was too disgusting to kiss Dany? That’s where he drew the line? (Not even to mention that avunculate marriage was actually acceptable outside of Targaryen unions, with even the supposedly morally superior Starks participating in it. Twice.)

Ygritte participated in wildling raids wherein the wildlings killed Northern villagers brutally and indiscriminately. She participated in terrifying violence that would fit a modern definition of mass murder. Jon knew about this and developed a relationship with Ollie--a young boy whose life was torn apart by Ygritte and her fellow raiders, giving Jon a close, secondhand perspective on the extent of her violence. And yet, during the battle at The Wall, Jon couldn’t harm her. Seeing her across the battlefield--his enemy--he could only smile fondly. He could only smile at a woman who shot him three times. But I’m supposed to believe that he would stab Dany in the heart for killing smallfolk in King’s Landing?

I know it’s hard for a lot of people to understand why I don’t post about Jon anymore and why I don’t really actively ship Jonerys. But it’s because season 8 ruined the reason why I loved Jon and why I shipped Jonerys. A lot of people say--myself included--that Jon put duty before love in the past, in keeping with the whole, “Love is the death of duty,” mantra. But if I really think about it, that’s not entirely true. If Jon really put duty before love, he would have killed Ygritte while she shot him full of arrows. If he really put duty before love, he wouldn’t have hesitated when he saw her at Castle Black--Ygritte, the woman who slaughtered Ollie’s family. But he did. Because Jon Snow was a soft boy who couldn’t hurt the woman he loved. He was a soft boy who didn’t just pretend to love Ygritte to ingratiate himself to the wildlings. He was romantic with her. He flirted with her. He loved her. And I loved him for being an impulsive, conflicted, romantic guy.

And season 8 took all of that away from me. I spent years arguing against the idea of political!Jon when the truth turned out to be much worse. Jon was passive and almost apathetic in his “love” for Dany. I can’t even say anymore that I believe he ever loved her at all. He ignored and avoided her after learning about his parentage. He never comforted her after she lost Jorah or Missandei. His loyalty lasted as long as the lives of the smallfolk. He betrayed her trust by revealing his parentage to Sansa and Arya. And finally, he killed Dany when she was vulnerable. Where was the romance? Where was the selflessness he had demonstrated so many times before? Where was the enthusiasm and dedication to this relationship? When it came down to it, he wasn’t the person I thought he was. That’s what kills me. Because before I started fiercely defending Dany against all the hateful J0nsa antis on tumblr, Jon Snow was my main focus in this fandom. For years. Jon Snow was my favorite character. It was a defining facet of my personality to people who know me IRL that I was obsessed with Jon Snow. Most of my merch was Jon Snow merch. My tote bag for work was printed with Jon Snow fanart. A student got me a Jon Snow funko at the end of the semester one year because of how much I fangirled over him in our fantasy lit class. When I started shipping Jonerys, it wasn’t because I thought Jon was someone who would just make Dany happy. I have always loved Dany, but Jon was my favorite back then. I wanted my sweet, soft Jon to have a queen he deserved. That’s how powerfully bad season 8 was. It made me turn on my favorite character, not just from GoT, but from anything. And I can never forgive the writers for that. And I can’t just go back to business-as-usual in the fandom because I’m too bitter and sad. 

[the-mini-muse]

Robbaery Prompts #7 + others

After his breakup with Jeyne, Robb is hit with another heartbreak when his beloved dog Greywind got out of his and Jeynes apartment while he was moving out. Veterinarian Margaery was moving in her new apartment when she saw someone hit a dog on the street. A tale of a dog, two people who love him, and how a simple twist of fate changes their lives forever. 

Daenerys was the Slayer until she died in a fire. Well, she did die but magic brought her back. Her friends Missandei, Gendry, Margaery, and her Watcher Jorah are baffled. Things get tense when the new Slayer comes to town. Arya Stark has always been different. She wasn’t a proper girl according to her perfect sister Sansa. Her life changed forever when she ignored someone calling her the Slayer. Vampires killed her parents, youngest brother Rickon, and crippled her brother Bran. Now along with her remaining siblings Robb, Sansa, Jon,and Bran, Arya is at Kings Landing aka The Hellmouth seeking a way for her to train as the new Slayer. Jonerys, Gendrya, Robbaery. 

Robb convinces his mother that he should be the one to tell his father about the Lannisters trying to kill Bran. On the way to Kingslanding, he ends up protecting a caravan the holds the young daughter of House Tyrell. Margaery insists on accompanying him to Kingslanding and a growing attraction is undeniable. How does the Game of Thrones change with two young lovers meet and fall in love. In another life, they would never cross path but in this one - it changes everything. 

Every year the younger Starks  go on a couples retreat for a week. This is the first year Arya gets to go because she’s recently started dating Gendry Waters. Robb’s on again off again girlfriend Jeyne is pushing marriage while he is working through the discovery of his feelings with long time friend Margaery. Sansa is trying to pretend she’s not being physically/verbally abused by Joffrey. Robb’s best friend Theon crashes the retreat to proclaim his love for Sansa. Jon can’t ignore the signs that his girlfriend Daenerys maybe having an affair with her co-worker Dario. Robbaery, Gendrya, Theonsa, Jonerys

The Tully blood line was gifted by witch hundreds of years ago with the ability to find their soul mate. Its not perfect - Catelyn almost marrying the wrong Stark brother is an example of that. Robb always having a liking to the smell of roses, Sansa loves when it snows, Arya had a fascination with bulls, Bran has always liked to read about history and prophecies, and Rickon has been drawing scales everywhere. Robbaery, Jonsa, Gendrya, Bran/Jojen, Rickon/Shireen. 

Olenna Tyrell managed to spirit her granddaughter away after hearing whispers of the Queens plan with wildfire. Unfortunately Lannister soldiers pursued them to the riverlands. Separated, Margaery came upon an ancient and mystical stone doorway. The next thing she knows she’s years into the past and face to face with the Young Wolf. 

Canon AU. Margaery grew up as one of Princess Sansa’s ladies in Winterfell. Prince Robb and his bastard brother, sworn shield, and protector Jon Snow both grew to have strong feelings towards her. What happens when Robb ascends to become the King of the North? What if his sworn shield has claim to the Iron Throne? How can Margaery choose between two good men, two good kings? Love Triangle? OT3? Robbaery/Jonaery/or All three - up to you

Grey’s Anatomy Inspired. Today is Arya’s first day as a surgical intern at Kingslanding Memorial Hospital.  she really shouldn’t have slept with the guy wearing The Bulls jersey from the bar last night, even worse to find out he’s a fellow intern. With his father as Interim Chief and with a last name of Stark, Robb has a lot of expectations on his shoulders.  He can’t afford any distractions especially from the new Pediatric doctor Margaery Tyrell. Jon Snow had just moved to Kingslanding after finding his wife Danny sleeping with her coworker Dario. On his first day of work, he realizes that he slept with his bosses daughter the night before - Sansa who also happens to be a surgical resident in the same hospital. Robbaery, Gendrya, Jonsa.

Robb Stark is a 400 year old immortal who can’t die unless you cut his head off. With other immortal enemies like Gregor Clegane, Roose and Ramsay Bolton, and Immortal family The Lannisters, Robb has tried to stay away from The Game - the winner would be the last Immortal and the most powerful. His quiet life with his mortal lady love Margaery Tyrell is threatened with his past enemies come for him. He calls for his only remaining immortal siblings Jon and Arya for help. Arya had died her first death with her brother Robb at 16 years old. She now looks like she’s a teenager even though she’s hundreds of years old. She’s been active in The Game hunting down immortals and those that had betrayed the Stark family.  She hasn’t felt anything since she died - not until she meets someone who looks just like her lost love Gendry Waters.  Jons first death happened when his brothers of the NightWatch had betrayed him by murdering him. He didn’t even know Robb and Arya were immortal as well until almost 100 years later. Like Robb, he too has tried to stay away from the The Game after his beloved Ygritte was murdered by another Immortal.  Robbaery, Gendrya, Jon/ you’re choice.

The Avengers were an elite team for keeping peace in Westeros composed of a group of extraordinary people. They disbanded when their leader Robb and his dire wolf companion Greywind was murdered gruesomely in an ambush. Years later Ironman Theon calls to reunite the team again when a man called The Winter Soldier assassinated King Robert Baratheon. The Commander Jon Snow, The Black Widow Margaery Tyrell, and The Bull Gendry Waters are the only ones alive. Sansa and Theon has also been searching for Arya who has gone missing since Robb’s death. Theonsa Gendrya Robbaery

[yeniayofnymeria]

Dance of Dragons and Players

Will be happened second DoD? Short answer; yes.

-GRRM

Hi, short question. Will we find out more about the Dance of the Dragons in future books?

The first dance or the second?

The second will be the subject of a book. The first will be mentioned from time to time, I'm sure. - SSM

-Book

“ Dragons ?” said her mother. “Teora, don’t be mad." “I’m not. They’re coming.” “How could you possibly know that?” her sister asked, with a note of scorn in her voice. “One of your little dreams?” Teora gave a tiny nod, chin trembling. "They were dancing. In my dream. And everywhere the dragons danced the people died.” (TWoW, Arianne)

History repeats itself and GRRM knows it as a history lover. That's why he does the same in his books from time to time. Events can be based on the same root cause and similar points, but each has specific conditions and roles in itself.

Therefore, it will not be correct to search for one-on-one similarity while distributing the roles of the second dance that will take place(afterall GRRM will not copy and paste) but still, I want to talk to you about this.

According to you, which players of the second DoD can match the players of the first? How will the sides be separated? Greens and Blacks or something else? Hints from books? Reasons?

I'll start first. In my opinion, not all players match, but these are the ones I think match.(Some characters fit more than one person.)

Criston Cole - Jorah Mormont

Otto Hightower - Jon Conn. and Doran Martell

Corlys Velaryon - Tyrion Lannister

Dalton Greyjoy - Victarion Greyjoy

Larys Strong - Varys (Almost same name :D )

Erryk Cargyll and Arryk Cargyll: Well, these are twins Quenn/King's Guard, one was on Rae's side and the other on Aegon. In fact, they don't have a very important role, but a "tragic" sibling relationship. There are two separate rumors that they love and hate each other. These two brothers reminded me of Jaime and Tyrion; love and hate each other and i believe they will be two different sides in the first place (later, will change probably).

Also in books, Olenna Tyrell's has twins guards, their name are Erryk and Arryk too but I can not see them a role in this war.(for now)

Addam and Alyn Valeryon - Aurane Waters

Daemon Targaryen - Euron Greyjoy

The Shepherd- High Sparrow. In fact, the current High Sparrow also looks like the Sparrow in the time of Maegor and Aenys. We can say he is the mix of all of them.

This is the role distribution for me for now. Let's come to the leading roles.

How are the sides separated? A name, a color, a coat of arms ...

In fact, before the first Dance, divisions began in the form of the Rhaenyra party and the Alicent party, but then they were divided into blacks and greens because of the clothes they wore in a tournament.

No doubt there is no tournament. For the Dance of the Dragons, it is right to look at the colors of the dragons.

Rhaegal - Green (Jon)

Drogon - Black (Dany)

Viserion- White (Aegon?)

The first dance was between two sides, so it might be thought that the second dance would be the same. Readers often assume this way. Could be true. But we have three dragons and three colors. Also three of our throne candidates; Jon, Dany, Aegon.

If the dance is between the two sides, we will wait for them to separate as blacks and greens. If it will be experienced among three sides, it will be necessary to add whites.

Even Tyrion's eyes are a sign of this; green and black. He will play both sides like Moqorro's said.

"Someone told me that the night is dark and full of terrors. What do you see in those flames?"

"Dragons," Moqorro said in the Common Tongue of Westeros. He spoke it very well, with hardly a trace of accent. No doubt that was one reason the high priest Benerro had chosen him to bring the faith of R'hllor to Daenerys Targaryen. "Dragons old and young, true and false, bright and dark. And you. A small man with a big shadow, snarling in the midst of all."

"Snarling? An amiable fellow like me?" Tyrion was almost flattered.

And also he has dream. It is a sign too for Dance 2, i believe.

That night Tyrion Lannister dreamed of a battle that turned the hills of Westeros as red as blood. He was in the midst of it, dealing death with an axe as big as he was, fighting side by side with Barristan the Bold and Bittersteel as dragons wheeled across the sky above them. In the dream he had two heads, both noseless. His father led the enemy, so he slew him once again. Then he killed his brother, Jaime, hacking at his face until it was a red ruin, laughing every time he struck a blow. Only when the fight was finished did he realize that his second head was weeping.

It should not be forgotten that Tyrion is Jon's friend, and he has relatives with Stark as he is married to Sansa. (A bitter marriage, but ultimately a marriage.)

Some readers think that Jon cannot be part of this Dance because he is not interested sit the iron throne. I think we're looking at it from the wrong place. The sole aim and sole focus of this war will not be the throne itself. There are too many variable factors in the Second Dance that are not in the first.

What are those?

Starks and Targaryens hate the Lannisters, Targanyens (Dany) hate the Starks, Lannisters and Baratheons. Dany wants revenge. Lannisters cannot easily approach anyone this time, everyone hates them. But Tyreller wants to have power. Marg's being a queen means that Tyrels have power. So for now, there is an alliance between these two households. (Lannister-Tyrell) An probably there is this Blackfyre issue. There are the Others beyond the North. The battle of Ice and Fire will take place. Jon doesn't have zero ambition, as in the show. We know that he will experience a serious change after his resurrection. He will become a darker character. Anyway, even Arya can have an influence on Jon, as she turns into a vengeful spirit. (My “the champion” theory)

This dance will most likely be in the last book. In the last book, it is not possible to commit both the Dance and the Others war at the same time. This always makes me think. So I thought GRRM could nest these two battles.

As a result, Jon will be drawn into this war, even if he doesn't want to. Some things are inevitable, especially after deciphering his true identity. So, if the parties are going to be greens and blacks ... And if the colors of the dragons decide ... Then it seems inevitable that Jon is the leader of the greens.

If Aegon is truly a Blackfyre, Jon is the prince's only child. Is it wrong to wait for Jon to ride the dragon named after his father?

( I can't imagine Jon riding Viserion even if Aegon is the real Targaryen. Viserion name? Really? Püfff If the name of the white dragon was Rhaegal, okay but not. Actually, there is this too. If GRRM would not make Jon the leader of the greens, why he did call the green dragon as Rhaegal ? The white dragon would have given this name. Or he would have given the white dragon a more appropriate name. Since the dragon is white, we would think that Jon would ride this dragon. White-headed sword, white wolf arm and white wolf. It makes sense. But the green one was called Rhaegal and the white one was called Viserion. We need to think about that. )

One of the reasons I think the dance's main sides will be Jon and Dany is this.

A blue flower grew from a chink in a wall of ice, and filled the air with sweetness. . . . mother of dragons, bride of fire . . .

Jonerys fans believe this is a FS for "love". No it is not. First of all, the symbol of love is red rose, not blue rose. The blue rose symbolizes Lyanna and Jon. Another name for the blue rose is the snow blue flower. This flower is the symbol of the north and Winterfell. The sweet smell was presented as a death sign in this books many times.

Example:

He never left his bed, though, and the smell of sickness clung to him day and night, a hot, moist, sickly sweet odor. (Ser Darry's moment of death.)

A foul, sweet smell rose from the wound, so thick it almost choked her. The leaves were crusted with blood and pus, Drogo's breast black and glistening with corruption. (Drogo dies)

There was a smell of death about that room; a heavy smell, sweet and foul, clinging. (Cat's father's room)

Another important detail is that Undying ones showed her important things. The things and people threatening her, her enemies ... They tell her to be careful. In summary, Jon is a "death" threat to Dany, directly or indirectly. Ever since I noticed this detail, I waited for Jon to cause her death. I don't need to tell you the result. :D Of course I was waiting in the books ...

In order for this to happen, these two have to be enemies; greens and blacks.

Well, if there is a third side? Then it is Aegon. Whites. Blackfyre. Tyrion had a relationship with all three dragons. (He will meet Dany.) Moqorro actually counted all kinds of dragons.

3 number is important for Targaryens. Aerys had 3 living children, Jon is third child. Dragon has 3 heads. There are 3 dragons. Dany's prophecies and this Moqorro's dragon prophecies: old and young, true and false, bright and dark.

Generally, we thought that every word in a sentence describes a person, but so many dragons should not be expected. Besides dragon has 3 heads :D

Old-Young is 1 person.

True- False is 1 person.

Bright-Dark is 1 person.

All dragons are fighting, and Tyrion is in the middle of this war and is stuck in between them.

The white cyvasse dragon ended up at Tyrion's feet. He scooped it off the carpet and wiped it on his sleeve, but some of the Yunkish blood had collected in the fine grooves of the carving, so the pale wood seemed veined with red... He tossed the bloody dragon in the air, caught it, grinned.

This is an interesting detail. Perhaps the white dragon (Aegon) would die first in this war. If the dance is going to die between 2 sides (greens-blacks) then Viseron will probably never come to the west. (If this is a FS for Viserion. Viserion was the dragon that was frequently seen in this pov and took action. 6th book.)

What do you think?

[kitten1618x]

GoT Afterthoughts ep. 08x01 ‘Winterfell’(Part 3)

Annnnd I’m back again! So where were we? Oh yes, back in Cersei’s boudoir...

~

The first thing I noticed is Cersei is drinking wine again. I’m still not 100% sure she was pregnant to begin with, guys. They were very secretive and ambiguous about the whole thing if you think back on it — and those leaks about her miscarrying turned out to be a wash.

~

Cersei is still salty about those damn elephants.

Same girl, saaaaame.

~

Euron wants to know how he compares to her past lovers. She strokes his massive ego a bit until he brings up Jaime—still a tender wound, she warns him to tread lightly, then simultaneously insults and compliments him as he lays a possessive hand on her stomach and declares he’s going to put a prince in her belly. She promptly dismisses him.

~

What’s striking here is that Cersei appears to be fighting off tears. Clearly, she didn’t want to sleep with Euron, but did so to keep him loyal to her. Love her or hate her, it’s sad to see her at such a desperate and low point where she’s basically whoring herself to keep an ally. Especially when Euron is such a wildcard, and now that he basically got exactly what he wanted—who’s to say he’ll stick around?

~

But, if you believe in political!jon, this is quite the parallel to Jon essentially doing the same to hold onto a wildcard ally in Dany.

~

I’m still not sold on a Cersei pregnancy/miscarriage guys...

~

While Euron is distracted, Theon and what remains of the Iron Born loyal to them, free Yara. She promptly headbutts him for leaving her ass, then helps him up. Now they’re even. 10/10 realistic sibling behavior. lol

~

Yara wants to head back to the Iron Islands, but senses Theon’s need to make amends to the Starks. She sends him to Winterfell with her blessing. I truly love these two as a strong family unit!! Gahhhhhh

~

We drop back into Winterfell where Lord Royce greets Alys Karstark and her people. And why this is necessary got me like 👀. Almost as much as why Alys was cast as a tall, red-headed girl... perhaps to fake a death scene of another important tall red-headed girl with the battle of Winterfell right around the corner?

~

Davos schools Tyrion and Varys on Northern stubbornness and loyalty. Then he proposes a marriage alliance between Jon and Dany if the world should survive. And fucken gag me, Dadvos... I expected better of you! lol I believe the words he uses are “a just woman and an honorable man.” And I’m sorry, it’s just hard for me to reconcile this statement with the same Davos who was extremely skeptical of the things Missandei was saying about Dany last season. Or the same Davos who looked extremely uncomfortable with Dany’s tantrum on the beach when she accused her hand Tyrion, of not wanting to murder his family... but, I digress.

~

We end this scene on Varys’ ominous words, sure to leave a bitter taste in your mouth: NOTHING LASTS. Drop those truth bombs, Varys.

~

A marriage alliance between a truly just woman and an honorable man is probably still in the cards... just sayin’.

~

We drop down from the battlements where Dany and Jon are strolling amongst the battle preparations. Of all the things they could be talking about: the wall falling, the issue of food shortages, etc. Dany brings up Sansa, of course. (no love triangle brewing here folks, none at all).

~

Dany licks her lips and looks around coyly, as if annoyed. “Your sister doesn’t like me.” — well neither did Bran really, or any of the northern lords, but it’s only Sansa’s name on Dany’s tongue—how curious. (Not really).

~

Jon’s eyes shift nervously before he turns to face her and sighs (because I’m telling you, he knew this was coming and it’s no coincidence that he’s kept his mouth shut and stayed out of the conflict). “She doesn’t know you.” Truth. He attempts a joke at how Sansa didn’t like him much either when they were growing up, but Dany isn’t amused.

~

“She doesn’t have to be my friend, but I am her queen. If she can’t respect me…” Dany leaves the threat and it’s implications hang in the air between them, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

~

Dark!dany is here, y’all.

~

I’m sure Dany stans and the jonerii are twisting themselves into pretzels to explain this away.

I mean, it’s not like Emilia herself didn’t warn us all that her character would be doing some ‘weird shit’ and we’d know when we saw it...

~

But Jon’s face here is strikingly similar to these various scenes...

And...

And...

Same. Ass. Energy. You do the math friends, but he’s certainly not looking upon her lovingly.

~

Luckily for Sansa and Jon, the Dothraki steal Dany’s attention to inform her of the livestock count of the dragons’ current dinner menu: 18 goats and 11 sheep. Dany looks alarmed—the dragons are barely eating. Barely. Do you have any idea how many people that amount of livestock could feed?

~

That’s why it’s really hard for me to not be critical of Dany’s character here. I realize she loves her dragons and they are her ‘children’, but in this moment she shows more empathy for the dragons lack of food (who truly can fly off and hunt) than that of the actual people who quite possibly could starve—and was irritated with Sansa for bringing it up.

~

And I will show this fucken gif as many times as I want because it’s so important!!

Food is so important. Don’t let the antis try and tell you otherwise.

~

Jon and Dany go to check on the dragons, and we have the scene we were treated to from the early released stills.

Jon asks what’s wrong with the dragons and Dany replies “they don’t like the North.” — and there is definitely a double meaning behind her words, as I don’t think Dany much likes the North, either. She climbs atop Drogon while Rhaegal expresses a curious interest in Jon.

~

“Go on.” Dany encourages Jon. Not the brightest move to give your bf of 10 minutes the keys to one of your WMD’s, and especially since there are surely much more important things to be done since being made aware that the wall is down and your other child is now a flying ice demon, but hey, joy ride time you crazy Targ kids!

~

So this must be the comedic scene the D’s talked about. I know everyone had mixed feelings about Jon riding a dragon, but I must say, I rather enjoyed this scene—except for the music, which for awhile seemed like a very jarring variation of the Truth theme. The music is very important in this show, so I’ll be curious to know when this pops up again, and where. Perhaps a dragon face off in another dance of dragons? Hmmm?

~

Drogon takes the lead, and Dany seems rather amused at scaring the pants off of Jon when she nose dives Drogon into a ravine and Rhaegal follows. Oh, but what’s this? Jon has realized he can control Rhaegal on his own, and brings the dragon in for a landing. Dany—a bit surprised at this—follows suit. Girl, you should be worried.

~

But she’s not, of course—at least not for long, because she’s busy being ‘twitterpated’ a’la a typical Disney flick, at the impressive place Jon chose to land—right beside an amazing waterfall. Props to loverboy, this is 10/10 primo scenery on the romance scale.

~

I would like to take a moment here to be petty af and point out that it is Daenerys that says the “we could stay here a thousand years” line—not Jon. And who could forget his super-romantic and witty come-back; complete in his Northern drawl: “we’d be pretty old.”

and Dany’s expression says everything! lol This from Mr. ‘I’d like to see you in a silk dress so I can tear it off you’. Pretty weak, Jon. You’re losing romance points for that!

~

Okay, but all joking aside, because I know a lot of my fellow Jonsas were probably a little put off by this scene; let’s break it down. After Jon’s crappy comeback, Dany moves closer to him, and he says something kind of flirtatious and sweet: “It’s cold up here for a southern girl.”

~

This is actually a very Jon-like thing to say, and I could even see this kind of banter between him and Ygritte. It’s also a very ‘equal’ thing to say—here, where no one is around, and formalities aren’t necessary. After all, had he said, “it’s cold up here for a southern queen,” it wouldn’t have had the same punch, now would it?

~

However, Dany has no interest in being Jon’s equal — even here, alone, her first instinct is to remind Jon she’s the queen: “then keep your queen warm” — not, “then this northern boy better keep her warm”, or “then keep your southern girl warm.” Perhaps I’m reading too much into it, but that’s what hopped out at me.

~

Now the kiss. Sigh. Yes, I’m not gonna lie, it definitely looks like Jon’s into it. But my darling Jonsas, before you’re ready to throw Jon under the bus (as I imagine quite a few of you did while I took an entire week to write up my recap) the parent reveal hasn’t happened yet! Simmer down and find your zen, Jon is not a northern fool!

~

And for you antis lurking around: NO. This doesn’t negate political!jon. Not even a little bit. If political!jon is true, then he’s doing exactly what he committed to do—keeping Dany happy and keeping her North. The unfortunate trade-off is, she’s now their queen.

~

But what do we have here? Drogon seems a little restless, and Jon immediately breaks the kiss, and casts nervous eyes in the dragons direction. (Gods yes, this is so romantic). Dany laughs it off and tells Jon not to be afraid, pulling him back into the kiss. But while she’s all oblivious and lost in the kiss, Jon leans her body sideways and opens his eyes to eyeball Drogon, who’s giving him a look like ‘bitch, I know who you are, and I know what you’re doing. Watch your back.’

~

Is it a wonder why every single Jonerys love scene has been interrupted by weirdness? Bloody birth flashbacks, creepy brother voice-overs, no first kiss, growling stink-eyed Drogon... it’s almost like they’re trying to tell us that this isn’t really a romance.

~

And this is where I leave you, for now. The last part will follow shortly, and NO, I won’t break my future recaps into parts. I only did it this way because myself and half my house are sick.

[vaelerys-targaryen]

I've been reading A LOT of GOT/Jonerys fanfics since GOT ended to fill the void in my heart from the dumpster fire that is "Season 8". This was the first one I found and HOLY FUCK my fellow Jonerys lovers this is quite possibly my FAVORITE of them all. Dare I say (ahhh fuck it I'll scream it to the heavens and hells) THIS COULD'VE BEEN THE SCRIPT FOR THE SHOW!!!! In fact I'll go as far as to say that this SHOULD'VE been the script for the show. This story is up to 90 chapters so far and the author ISN'T EVEN FINISHED WITH IT YET!!!!! I've re-read it at least a dozen times already and I'm spreading it far and wide for my fellow Jonerys soldiers. I HIGHLY implore you all to read it, and spread it to your friends, and of course show this author the love and support they deserve for masterfully writing this EPIC fanfic!! Much love my friends, much love! Keep calm and love Jonerys ❄🐺🐉🔥

[tatticstudio55]

Jonerys and the myth of Orpheus& Eurydice

“Only a few feet away from the exit, Orpheus lost his faith and turned to see Eurydice behind him, but her shadow was whisked back among the dead, now trapped in Hades forever.” 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus_and_Eurydice) 

There is an orphic "something” to the Jon/Dany storylines, especially when put side by side. I’ve already dug in it a bit, but wanted to explore the matter further, especially since there’s an astounding amount of material to talk about.

We’ll start with two side by side chapters from ASOS: first, a Dany POV chapter covering the sack of Meereen, and second, a Jon POV chapter where he’s being send by Thorne to kill Mance Rayder. From a mythocritical perspective, Jon is Eurydice (the loved one stuck in the land of the dead) while Dany is Orpheus (the one who tries to retrieve his wife/her lover from Hades). Each character remains mostly consistent with these roles all through the story.

The sack of Meereen curiously evokes an intrusion in the forbidden land of the dead. The “land of Hades” stands in the middle of a waste, beyond a river (the Styx) dirty with the impure thoughts of humans, is guarded by a three headed dog (Cerberus), harpies, and, of course, giant gates.  Meereen, on the other hand, is

1)      Surrounded by a burnt waste from one side

2)      Surrounded by the Skahazadhan from the other (described as “brown” and “thick”. We’re told that the city sewers are emptied in the Skahazadhan and that the masters of Meereen get their water from deep wells within the walls of the city.)

3)      Guarded by harpy heads

4)      Hiding behind seemingly impenetrable walls

5)      Meereen itself isn’t particularly fertile. Not technically a waste, but almost (one reason why the slave market grew so prominent there)

6)      The bloodshed of the fighting pits (supposedly) appease ghiscari gods and meereenese call it the “art of death”.

7)      The dysentery epidemy ravaging the refugee camps just outside the walls of Meereen, in ADWD, also creates a strong imagery (thousands of refugees on the brink of death trying to get inside the “lands of the dead”)

So, there’s obvious parallels between Meereen and the mythological land of Hades. A few (living) heroes from the Greek mythology manages to cross from the lands of the living to the lands of the dead: Heracles, Psyche, Theseus, Orpheus. In ASOIAF/GOT, Daenerys achieve the impossible as well and take Meereen.

Now, in the next Jon POV chapter we’ve got Jon inside the elevator cage, going down the Wall to meet kill Mance Rayder. Jon is perfectly aware that, whether the mission “succeeds” or not, he’s not making it out alive:

The sky was slate grey, the sun no more than a faint patch of brightness behind the clouds. Across the killing ground, he could see the glimmer of a thousand campfires burning, but their lights seemed small and powerless against such gloom and cold.

A grim day. Jon Snow wrapped gloved hands around the bars and held tight as the wind hammered at the cage once more. When he looked straight down past his feet, the ground was lost in shadow, as if he were being lowered into some bottomless pit. Well, death is a bottomless pit of sorts, he reflected, and when this day's work is done my name will be shadowed forever. – Jon, ASOS

Jon’s inner thoughts on his surroundings closely matches common depictions of the Asphodel Meadows: it’s grey, it’s gloomy, it’s grim. It’s associated with death. Moreover, unlike Dany, Jon isn’t going down there as a conqueror/savior, but as a prisoner (Thorne gave him no choice), inside a cage nonetheless. Fun fact: in this chapter, Jon and Tormund discusses how Tormund’s daughter got married to a man who crept inside their tent during the night and stole her. Tents in ASOIAF/GOT – especially in Dany’s narrative arc – are linked with death and sorcery, so it’s not impossible that Tormund’s anecdote about his daughter might mirror Orpheus’s intrusion in the lands of the dead to steal back his wife Eurydice. And let’s not even get into what awaits Jon in Mance’s tent: Mance’s wife, Della, about to give birth (later, we learn that she died from it), and the horn of Joramun (blowing in it would apparently destroy the Wall, which keeps – as Mance reminds Jon – the dead from crossing. Hum.)

It’s interesting because, as I suggested in another post (On Jongritte and Jonerys), Dany’s last ADWD chapter portrays her as a distorted orphic figure who keeps telling herself that she’s lost if she looks back, while in Westeros (if temporality align), Jon is already dead and/or on the verge of being resurrected. The two ASOS chapters I discussed above illustrates Jon and Dany as they descend into the lands of the dead, whereas in Dany’s last ADWD chapter, we’ve got the pair (Orpheus/Dany and Eurydice/Jon) simultaneously returning to the land of the livings (literally for Jon, metaphorically for Dany, as she’s just fled Meereen).  

These, however, aren’t the only instances of the Orpheus/Eurydice subtext in the Jon/Dany narrative: Dany’s fever dream in AGOT and Jon’s nightmare inside the crypts of Winterfell are another example: both dreams takes place in (or starts in) cold, empty, macabre spaces filled with ghastly presences. Dany, as Orpheus, is running toward her red door (the “exit”), while Jon, as Eurydice, hears over his head the noises of a feast he’s not allowed to attend (the land of the livings, symbolically).

There’s also a scene from 7x06 where Daenerys looks back… just in time to see Jon being grabbed by dead men and dragged under.

AND let’s not mention Daenerys’s ties to music and the musical trope: her brother was a great musician (who happened to play of the same instrument as Orpheus: a harp/lyre). Her dragons “sang” when they were born. A clever fellow somewhere figured out that Daenerys’s name read backward was “serenade”. Knowing that Orpheus’s most notable attribute was his musical talent, I’m keen on considering that significant.

Thoughts?

[alienor-woods]

fwiw (and I'm purposefully not tagging this, so if people wank about it, it's because they came looking for it), since I see a lot of word-twisting and misunderstandings 'round this blue void since I took my fics down, lemme just go on the record and say that I've always loved the idea of Jon x Sansa ending up together in the books. Even after all this nonsense, I would STILL squee and clap my hands if Jon and Sansa end up together in Winterfell. I think it would be very Henry Tudor x Elizabeth of York. I think their narratives have really interesting parallels and track each other in an intriguing way. Sansa goes from being a lady to a bastard; Jon goes from being a bastard to Lord Commander. They both have a ton of death, rebirth, and found-family themes that repeat through their arcs.

What I hated and ultimately led to my waning interest in wider ship interactions was the atrocious demonization of Daenerys and the shrieking and pearl-clutching about Jonerys among my "fellow shippers." I mean, when you get down to it, shipping is about being personally drawn to different relationship paradigms, not about what's actually going to happen in canon. I don't ship SanSan, but that's just because I've never been into the Beauty and the Beast trope. It's my least favorite Disney film, even. The people who love that sort of story love SanSan, and that's cool--I'm genuinely glad they have a vigorous fandom going to explore and engage with that dynamic. I don't ship Petyr x Sansa, just because I personally don't like darkfic or the "descent into the underworld" sort of trope that that Petyr x Sansa tends to implicate. I don't think those people are wrong, and tbh I'm all about people still shipping Petyr x Sansa even tho he's dead! Like, y'all do you. Get deep into some character motivations, you know? I've been known to write bitter, cunning Sansas in my time. It's cathartic, it gets me out of my comfort zone and into the margins of my usual tastes. Same with Jon x Dany. I fuck with it a little bit because it smacks of enemies to lovers,and can also have that epicly tragic star-crossed angsty feel at times, and yeah, SOMETIMES I LIKE LEANING INTO THAT. See also: Kara x Lee on BSG, which was a pairing that I GOT, like, I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S DOING, but ultimately Kara x Sam was a ship I was more personally drawn to because it ticked my own particular subjective boxes. It doesn't mean the show's writing was bad. It didn't mean that people who lose their shit over Kara x Lee are ~wrong and ~can't see the beauty of Kara x Sam. It just means that, wow, we're different people with different tastes and -- also -- different takes on characters formed by our own subjective experiences and the stories we all personally enjoy being told.

So, like -- saying "oh this would be a cool ending dynamic for Jon and Sansa and I think it would hit themes A, B, and C of the show" is very different from what the #discourse is in the tag lately, which is, "THIS EVIDENCE **PROVES** THAT MY SHIP IS RIGHT AND THATS ALL THAT MATTERS BECAUSE THIS IS A ZERO-SUM GAME IN A WAR OF RIGHTNESS." THAT I don't fuck with, because it's not the fucking point of shipping and it invites SO MUCH wank from the other ships because it's doing the equivalent of a drive-by mooning, and then being ~shocked when you get a retaliatory drive-by mooning.

So yeah. It's not that I never thought there was any canon basis at all for Jon x Sansa. It's not that I think people are WRONG to point out what they notice. I just hate how canonical information has been fucking weaponized and made un-chill in a ship war which I honestly find hilarious, because there is way more going on in this story than where Jon Snow gets his dick wet. And ultimately?? The stress and anxiety of watching all of it unfurl is what I was shedding and detaching from by taking my fics down. I still consider myself a Jon x Sansa shipper. I just don't consider myself to be IN the ship anymore, and I couldn't achieve that feeling of full separation until I pulled my fics. IF IT AINT SERVING MY HIGHEST AND GREATEST GOOD, IT'S GOTTA GET GONE FROM MY LIFE.

[sheikah]

I stupidly spoiled myself because I forgot that tumblr now has a filter option for the mobile app that allowes you to block certain tags. Anyway just wanted to let my fellow jonerys lovers know in case they missed this news and don’t want to see any spoilers

Yeah, this is my friendly reminder to all of my followers that I do post a lot about Game of Thrones and I will post about leaks–whether they be photos or the rare plot leaks that I actually credit as real. In all cases I tag it as “got spoilers.” But, anon, I don’t think you actually “spoiled [your]self” because 1. There is still some speculation as to whether or not that is a photo from the s7 set or a genuine, new photo and 2. Even if it is a new photo it reveals literally nothing. Emilia isn’t even fully in costume and is wearing some coat. It’s a set photo but it’s not an actual scene imo. All it tells us, if it IS an s8 photo, is that Jon and Dany have at least one scene together and I mean, surely you knew that much already bud? :)