#i don't think there is a ship name for rhaenyra and criston?

[nymphadora7]

#didnt put daemon since she said the only reason she was with him was coz she wanted to steal his gender (via @wolfienation)

big brown eyes. long dark hair

rhaenyra targaryen. you have a fucking type

[fakescenariosbeforesleepblog]

By fire and heart.

Pt 4

Daemma Targaryen. Second daughter of King Viserys and queen Aemma, you're the living portrait of your mother with the character of a true dragon, as a second daughter you don't have right to the throne but certainly, you will protect your sister's succession by heart. (You are one year younger than Rhaenyra.)

Warning: Credits of this images goes to whoever they belong to! Grammatical and spelling errors, maybe this won't be good enough but In my head the story was a good one.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters nor do I claim to own them. I do not own any of the images used nor do I claim to own them.

Pt.5 here

As soon as Rhaenyra read your letter about the end of the war and your uncle's victory, she asked you to come back home, your father gave her the opportunity to look for her future husband and she would need help to decide, nothing like another woman's opinion to choose a man.

She was sitting, hearing the boring proposal of every lord of every house in the kingdom, every man talks about what they can offer to the crown if she accepts them but none of them talks about what they could offer to the princess because before a princess, she's a human not a coin to exchange.

You didn't waste time changing clothes or taking a bath to eliminate the dragon smell.

The old lord was interrupted with the announcement of your entrance.

«THE PRINCESS, DAEMMA TARGARYEN!»

Rhaenyra looks at you with relief, finally you could help her or save her from her unfortunate event.

- Sister.

Your sister stands up from her seat with a small smile on her face, you walk quickly, nodding at every lord that makes a small reverence to you.

- My princess, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, my lords please continue.

You stay aside from Criston Cole, her new guard, the man makes you feel disgusted, there's something about his person that doesn't allow you to find his company pleasurable or at least tolerable.

You heard every lord, old and young, none of them are what you would expect for your sister. The young boy of the blackwood house was more suitable than any other, he was polite and at least mentioned he would protect your sister, he certainly gave a demonstration about it.

- I think the blackwood boy was better match than any other.

You said, you weren't making fun of her situation, you were simply mentioning the fact, but your sister didn't take it well and avoided your comment.

- How is our uncle?

- Good, he wanted to come with me but you know, the last time he was here our father sent him to the arms of his wife...

At that moment a dragon hit the ship, it was pretty obvious who was the rider of such a beautiful beast.

As soon as you arrived at the castle, the court was already waiting, like a pile of hungry snakes waiting for the feast of the scandal that was coming.

You joined your uncle, you didn't want to make an entrance by yourself, you saw your sister's look, she was observing Daemon with pure excitement and admiration.

- Add it to the chair.

Your uncle had a sword and a crown, the sword was the first thing he gave to your father, you were behind him, expecting for your father's reaction.

- The crown, do you call yourself a 'King' now?

- Once we won against the triarchy they named me king of the narrow sea. But I know there's only one true king, your grace.

That's all he says, then he proceeded to kneel down, mimicking him you did the same.

- This crown and the step stones are yours.

Your father smiles with fraternal love for his brother but then he questions where's Lord Corlys, who takes care of the step stones, after all his questions received his answers, he finally approaches both of you indicating you to stand up, all the crowd applaud the interaction between the king and his brother, a peaceful welcoming, your father received you with a hug and kiss on your forehead, his young princess was back at home.

You wondered if he actually could miss you, or if his new male child was replacement enough.

A feast was served to celebrate the arrival of the Prince and Princess, you're walking around without actually having a conversation or interacting with someone, you can see your father and his wife, your sister and uncle talking, suddenly an not so old lord approaches you.

- Princess Daemma, what an honor!

- My lord, I hope you're enjoying the feast, the king is always a good Amphitryon.

- I do, princess you're such a beauty as much as your sister.

- Oh I wouldn't dare to compare myself with my sister, our future queen is the most beautiful woman in the kingdom.

- She is and any man would feel happy to be the husband of our future queen, but many others would feel blessed to be the husband of the warrior princess.

You're speechless, shocked, this man is talking about marriage?.

- Excuse me, my lord, perhaps I have the body of a woman but I'm younger than my sister, I still don't have any desire to look for a husband. If you excuse me, I have to go.

You see your sister and Alicent sitting alone so you see it as a way to escape.

- Excuse me, can I join you? That old lord was being... Disgusting.

- Feel free to join us Daemma.

Alicent says, now that the three are sitting, you think about all those times when you felt like you didn't fit at their side, now you're here, the three of you, women trapped in a men's world.

- I suppose the trip wasn't as good as expected.

She speaks once again. Your sister sighs without looking at her.

- Tolerable.

- Every man in the seven kingdoms adoring you... What a misery.

Alicent replied sarcastically but not trying to offend but your sister doesn't get the joke. Alicent noticed and quickly tried to fix her mistake.

- Many young ladies don't have the privilege to decide between suitors...

- They don't adulate or adore me, they just want my name and blood for their future children, how romantic it must be to be imprisoned in a castle squeezing out babies.

now it's your sister who realizes her mistake, Alicent's face passed to happy to sad, your sister wasn't totally wrong but it was improper to say it, all that time far from home was useful, you thought about what Alicent was going through, perhaps she didn't want nothing of that, and her face is proof enough that in fact she's not the happiest wife.

She talks about the big efforts your father did to organize that trip for Rhaenyra and how frustrated he feels because it wasn't as successful as he thought it would be. Then she mentions how grateful she feels that both of you are at home, she feels lonely, as much as you, as much as Rhaenyra. But you've been lonely almost all the time, so for you it is not that hard, you excuse yourself and leave, it has been too much for one day.

You were on your way to your chambers when your father intercepts you.

- My child, well... No longer a child, look at you, you're a woman already.

- Everybody seems to be surprised by the way I've changed.

- War can change a person tremendously. You already know a dark part of what is outside.

- And I would like to continue exploring, but I suppose this conversation is not to motivate me to leave and find more adventures, isn't it?

He laughs nervously, you know what he would say but you're expecting to be wrong.

- I fear my sweet daughter, it is time, your sister and you are in age for marriage...

- I'm younger than her, I'm not ready.

- You have duties to fill here, Daemma.

His voice sounds exasperated, he already has your sister and now you are going to complicate his life more.

- My only duty is to be at my sister's side, at the right time I'll be with her to protect her as you ordered me. Meanwhile I don't have anything else to do.

You started to walk away while your father was pretending nothing happened. Smiling at every person who was around you.

You saw your sister and uncle sharing a conversation, you wanted to join but it wasn't maybe the right time, both were enjoying their company, you always felt a strange vibe between them, it is not the same love and bond that you both share, the way they see each other is different but you cannot understand what it is.

Once you were in your chambers a small figure appeared in the middle of the room, you gasped until you saw the little boy with that wavy white hair.

- Hi

He tries to say, you don't feel comfortable with your visitor and once you're walking back to your door and tell a guard about the boy, he speaks again pointing at you with his small finger.

- Demma...

That takes you by surprise, you turn back at him and simply you say him

- Daemma

- Demma

- Da...e..mma

He smiles at you, you sigh and offers him your hand, his chubby hand takes your finger and both walk out of the room, you were walking to Alicent's chambers when one of the servants who was clearly worried sees you with the boy.

- MY PRINCE!... ( She runs to the little boy at your side and once she has him in her arms looks at you) Princess Daemma, I'm sorry, the boy has a great facility to disappear, where was he?

- It's fine, he was in my chambers, I was taking him with his mother.

- Thank you my princess and welcome home.

You nod and the servant walks, the young boy waves you goodbye with his little hand. You don't return the wave and simply leave.

The next morning was actually a nightmare, your father went to your chamber, full of anger.

- Did you know about this, Daemma!?

- First of all, good morning.

- Answer the question, NOW.

- I don't even know what you're talking about, your grace.

- You sister, was out last night in a pleasure house with Daemon!

- Why would I know about my sister and uncle's business?

- Because she's your sister, she could tell you about her plans.

- Daemon is your brother, he could also tell you about it.

- Don't play with me Daemma.

- Well, what do you want me to say? I don't know anything about that, I went to sleep and I haven't seen Rhaenyra since yesterday afternoon! Now leave!

He left the room, the doors of your dorm sounded like a storm once he closed them and you quickly asked your maidens to prepare a bath and a dress, you needed to talk with your sister, was it true? Does she and your uncle are into something else?.

You ran to your sister's chambers, her guard tries to stop you but you get inside.

- What in the seven hells you were thinking Rhaenyra!?

- What are you talking about?

- Where were you last night at the hour of the owl!?

Your sister is speechless, her face is full of guilt, you know your father wasn't lying, you were ready to slap her when Cole appeared once again at the door.

«Princess, the queen requests your presence» She instantly leaves, you stay there you're not going to leave until you know what she did.

Later, your sister explains to you what happened, the fake accusations against her and instantly the affection you felt for your uncle crumbled, how dared he, his ambition for the crown pushed him to ruin your sisters reputation and all her opportunities to find a husband and her place in the throne?

You heard about the audience your father requested with your uncle, you needed to hear it too, you wanted to hear, but in the shadows.

You heard it, your uncle talked about marriage with your sister. It doesn't break your heart, but it makes you angry, he puts your sister's right to the throne in risk and he doesn't deny what he has done to her.

As soon as your father leaves the hall, you leave your hidden spot, Daemon is still on the floor.

- What have you done Daemon?

- Not you too, Daemma, you're not understanding.

- You always said the Hightower were behind the crown, craving for power, and I believed you... But all this time it was you who wanted the throne!

- you don't know what I actually want, Daemma

- You're a liar, you poisonous snake! Bloody bastard!

He stands up furiously and walks to you.

- Watch your tongue young lady! You can talk to my brother as you want but not to me, I've been more like a father to you than him and for that I deserve respect.

- You've lost not only a brother, you lost your nephew too, the little girl that has been like your daughter, you have lost a family and the love and respect we all had for you.

You feel tears coming out and you will not allow him to see you suffer for him, he certainly broke your heart, you also felt heartbroken for your sister, how could she be so dumb? Exposing herself and ruining her chances.

The announcement of your sister's marriage with Laenor Velaryon brought you some relief, Laenor is a good man, honorable and from a big house, it's the best option for her, then the announcement of the hand of the king replacement was also good to hear, you never trusted him, a Hightower less, was an smart move of your sister, but that is not enough to fix the crack that she and Daemon caused in you.

[kazz-brekker]

hotd episode 8 thoughts

hmmm. i remember reading an interview with the writers of this show before the season dropped where they lowkey threw shade at hbo and very heavily implied that having 8 episodes rather than 10 was not their choice and i can very much feel that with this episode

it felt a lot more like a penultimate episode of a season rather than the season finale. all of that set-up with the marching armies at the end of the episode really felt more like a "and next week, a big battle!" kind of thing rather than a "in 2 years, you'll see a big battle!"

why is this show acting like the war is only just starting…we saw named characters toasting each other 4 episodes ago…

i was otto hightower-baited! i saw the name rhys ifans in the opening credits and went !!!!! only for a single shot him in the last minute of the episode, i feel robbed!

i did find tyland lannister's visit to the triarchy very funny. no bureaucrat in the history of westeroes has ever suffered like this man. also sharako lohar was DEFINITELY hitting on him, you cannot convince me otherwise

as someone perpetually annoyed that in game of thrones daario naharis has brown hair rather than blue i appreciate that the tyroshi sailors had dyed hair

the aegon-larys alliance really become one of the unexpected highlights of the second half of this season. they're going on their little essos vacation together!

god rhaena you deserved so much better this season and so much more screentime. we should have seen more of you and jeyne arryn!

entertained to see that ulf is quickly becoming that coworker that no one likes

rhaenyra. girl. i love you but please stop with this bloodless warfare thing. you have six dragons on your side, stop hesitating about using them!

all of those soldiers standing around in the background clearly eavesdropping on criston and gwayne's argument was very funny

kind of loving all this insecurity about his parentage they're giving jace, it's nice to have some conflict with his character

i liked the little dragon heads on rhaenyra's dress at the dinner with the dragonseeds

alys rivers sitting on the edge of daemon's bed like his own personal sleep paralysis demon made me chuckle a bit

his final weirwood vision was such blatant fanservice but as a fan of daenerys and bloodraven i can't be that mad about it

can someone check on that portion of the fandom that used to ship helaena and aemond, i feel like they're not doing so hot right now after those scenes

i did think it was strange that helaena could so clearly communicate aemond's death to him when she had such a hard time doing so with her other visions in the past? but perhaps nothing clarifies your sinister visions of the future like being mad at your sibling

i was really happy that rhaenyra and daemon reunited! i've missed matt smith and emma d'arcy having scenes together this season a lot. plus, i know their relationship is all kinds of fucked-up but i just loved seeing them speak in high valyrian to each other again. and it's always nice to see daemon kneel before his wife

glad that alyn got to really chew out corlys on his failures as a father, that's been a long time coming

i wasn't expecting rhaenyra and alicent to have another scene together this season but ngl it was kind of fun, emma d'arcy and olivia cooke really just eat up every scene they have with each other

plus the reversal of their dynamic from the episode 3 meeting was interesting, with rhaenyra being very unyielding and alicent being desperate to connect

i enjoyed seeing rhaenyra be mean to alicent, especially the whole "son for a son" thing. yes, rhaenyra! alicent's son killed yours! please be mad about it, you deserve it!

i just feel like the end of this seaon lacked the punch that season 1 had, it felt more like a little showcase of all the fun stuff that was coming rather than definitive cliffhanger. i mean, c'mon, we don't even get to see the fall of king's landing????

[mhsdatgo]

Why you don't like the ship of harwin and rhaenyra? He is the only man in her lifes who treat her kindly and show actual love. All the other, like viserys criston daemon ecc, treat her like shit

Hello, anon. I agree with you about every single man in her life treating Rhaenyra horribly but Harwin is no different.

He's her sworn shield after Criston is called by Alicent's side, her supposed "champion". But the show gave us so little about him that I literally cannot, for the life of me, grasp the love this man gets. All we get of him is that he's basically a glorified boytoy, what Criston would've been had he put Rhaenyra before his honour.

From the books, we know that several sisters of his are Rhae's ladies-in-waiting, his father is the Hand when Otto leaves for a brief period of time and he's generally at court for long before Rhaenyra marries. This makes Harwin the man who watched her grow up, GROW UP. She was a KID when he started buzzing around her or her court.

The first time they interact in the show, it's when Harwin gives her that (nothing short of disgusting other than impressed imo) when she's back to the camp with a boar during Aegon's name day, the second is a year later when he tackles her in the streets, mistaking her for a boy when she's out with Daemon. He lets her go when he spots him. Timeskip happens, we learn that they're lovers and they have three kids together.

Where's the buildup?????? Where's the reason for me to love them as a couple or him as Rhae's partner???? Must we assume he started getting the hots for her when he saw her drenched in blood in that camp? SHE WAS F*CKING 16!

Also, let's not pretend he did anything to help besides warming her bed and making her a mother of 3 before she hit 25. He knew there were rumors, he was pretty much aware of what people thought and what he, Rhae and their kids were risking. Guess what he did about it? Absolutely f*cking nothing.

He didn't marry, he didn't go back to Harrenhall, he acted defensive when his father brought the question up.

Viserys and Alicent sending him away was what it took for him to finally back away from this girl. After, obviously, screwing everything up astronomically. You can go after Criston's bitterness all you want, you can call him jealous (honestly I don't think he is, but that's for another post). But his reaction in the fields is nothing short of ridiculous imo.

What did Criston say? That he was protecting Luke like a father would rather than a trainer. A provocation, a comment that should've flew right in and out of Harwin's ears, if he was as honourable as the fandom makes him out to be. He could've said that it doesn't take being the child's father to notice how callously he's treating him. It could've turned into a meme-worth scene of two men absolutely hating each other's guts but seething right from their asses about not being able to just leap and tear at each other for all they're worth.

What would be wrong? Being called his son's father, great heavens. He could've just went "oh shit" and could've walked away after making sure baby Luke was okay, but what did he did? He handed Criston's ass to him, which was exactly what he wanted.

This man viewed that comment as disrespect to his honor, a stain in his pride. Because being pointed out as a rumored ( not really rumored to him, he knows he is, which just makes it worse) bastard's father is DISGRACEFUL to him. He knows EXACTLY what Rhaenyra, the heir, risks, and does nothing but worsen her position further. If he cared about those kids, or if he was just deluding himself into playing happy family with her, I can't say.

I don't think he hates them, mind you. I'm not here to dehumanize him. They're his own flesh and blood, he loves them, he wishes to love them and be in his life like a father should. I think it's (rightfully) a pain in the ass watching another man raise your children. He could've done it to protect Luke, but it's not his job to remind Criston that insinuating that Rhaenyra has sired bastards is treason. That outburst was unnecessary, at least to me. It did nothing but worsen everything. Knowing Alicent, and how she made Criston apologize for calling Rhae a c*nt with a simple glare, SHE'D scold that rascal good the moment she hears of it.

Harwin would hold back, at the very least, if he actually lived up to TB's standards. For Rhae, Jace, Luke and Joff's sake. I'm not going to act like Rhae is innocent but fuck anyone who thinks she's the only one at fault. She was barely an adult when they started interacting.

BONUS:

*chef's kiss* Unforgettable. As if being from a lower class is the only bad thing there is about the dude you were beating to a pulp just three seconds ago. Although that's less about Harwin and Rhae and more about Harwin but whatever.

[disinherited-dornishman]

It feels like they lacked closure to be fair. Personally I don't ship them anymore, maybe the young versions though. But I do believe they need another meet up atleast.

I apologize, I probably didn't make myself clear. I ship Criston and Rhaenyra in fanfiction.

Show canon, with all due respect to any who disagrees with the following opinion. is dogshit. Every pairing depicted is inferior to GRRM's version or depictions you find in literal fanfiction I've read on the internet.

The writing is both biased and idiotic. Logic and emotional causality (x feels this way about y because of z) is thrown completely out the window for the writers to tell their own incompetent version of a story where emotional complexity is replaced with black-and-white emotional handholding where you're told what to feel and think.

This includes Criston's fallout with Rhaenyra. Instead of respecting his humanity and acknowledging Rhaenyra's betrayal of his trust, and vice versa, the writers paint him as villainous for respecting his own sexual autonomy and not wanting to be her side piece, feeling conflicted about breaking his vows (which in his own words is all he has to his name - and he's right, that's unfortunately the world he lives in), and for being bitter with Rhaenyra, instead of using these themes to explore what could've been exquisite character-and-political drama.

Everything about the show's so dumbed down for the masses that I honestly elect to ignore the show completely except when it comes to criticizing it, because goodness does it deserve to be criticized.

All of this is to say: I agree with you completely. They lacked closure and then some, and show canon Crisnyra is plain awful, simply because it doesn't even exist anymore. Which hurts because Milly's Rhaenyra with Cole had some of the sweetest scenes I ever saw on television. They were ADORABLE.

Yet Cole isn't anything more than an enemy of Rhaenyra now. Not once do we see her even think of what could've been or see so much as split-second look of regret or guilt or pain in Criston's direction - or the other way around. Hell, it doesn't even have to be positive - have them fucking curse each other out, but do it because they're hurt! Because they're human beings and gave a shit about each other and now they hate each other because they feel betrayed!

Instead we have Modern White-Woman Power Fantasy for mainstream TV audiences to Self-Insert and Ser Incel. Rhaenyra is now above feeling angry in any way that can be ugly (she should have bit Daemon's head off for Blood and Cheese, or ordered it herself in revenge for Luke), and Criston exists to be hated.

But honestly, if I went by the show, I would lose all motivation to write for this world and these characters. That's how boring I find it. And I certainly won't hold out hope for a meet up between them, much less a satisfying one. And that honestly depressed me to think about...

Oh well, guess I'll write my fanfics instead😊

[selfproclaimedunicorn]

Omg I’m so blind and forgot my own ask game. Ok. Yes, for crackships. I submit Yorick and Aldreda (separately, not as a ship lol) for your consideration

Dude, you are so good because I had fun anyway lol. I live for smashing the OCs together like we are having a playdate & each brought our dolls.

As for Yorick--is it still even a crackship if it's his "bad end?" I would argue "yes" because every ship that isn't him with Shireen is a crackship to me. Those 2 are soulmates, your honor. Anyway, ultimate crackship is Yornyra.

Rhaenyra got what she wanted (owning the Targaryen malewife she is entitled to), but at what cost? They are so toxic & miserable, but they're toxic & miserable ✨together✨

Yorick is having the worst time, Rhaenyra is having the worst time, their kids are having the worst time--literally only Viserys is having a nice time & that's because he gets to be delusional all day long. I do not know all the details of this AU, all I know is that it is deliciously toxic & they are bringing out the worst in each other because Yorick is done with her shit & she has had her fantasy of him being her spineless accessory into adulthood shattered. I'm obsessed, but also it's sad & it sucks. Aesthetically it fucks though & you know they make pretty kids.

Now I am so glad you asked about Seal Mommy.

Crackships for Aldreda are just "what if we add more people? Making this shit a polycule would make it more chaotic."

OT3: Don't kill yourself you're so sexy. Aha

I think the name of the ship speaks for itself lmao. Everyone is having an existential crisis, they've all cried in front of each other about fucking each other/the other member of the throuple, Aldreda helped Criston give himself his midlife crisis bangs, Alicent had to hold Aldreda's hair back while she puked because she got hammered in response to letting a man see her vulnerable one (1) time

OT4: The WLW Are Unionizing

What if there was a toxic, lesbian polycule? What then? What if one (1) member of The Dragonstone Commune Polycule opening up about her trauma was a category 5 disaster that ended with 5 dead & countless injured but then they all made out about it? What then?

OT3: I just want nice things for Alicent, she deserves that

Because here's the thing I have not stopped thinking about them since this ask. Adding more people to the equation instantly makes the ship sillier & I am nothing if not A Silly Little Guy. I think Alicent deserves to get her soul sucked out while Aldreda rails Kaleb (and also I think he needs to bottom for Seal Mommy. Getting pegged will fix him/pegging a man will fix her)

[thesunfyre4446]

But also ..I can't take seriously who act like their HC is canon and who want Alicent entire excistence to ber about her ''situationship''

The hate for Alicole is not even because it contradicts Lesbian!Alicent or hate for Criston himself ,but the possibility of Ali caring romatically or having very deep friendship with someone else instead of Nyra is not okay for them.

And it's even more wild if you think about how Rhaenicent is meant to be a tragedy ship ,one that is good because the last drops of love are toxic and obsessive .So making Alicent trying to reach out to Nyra is not only it's so damn occ ,but it misses the point of the ship ,at least in this universe (though i don't know if Rhaenyra and Alicent actually work) .

And they are the ones that ,in the name of ''showing how much motherhood is hard'' make Ali hates her kids and abandom them .

But that principle doesn't apply to Rhaenyra .Because she is ''the perfect mother'' and ''her kids are amazining'' ,so she doesn't have to abandom them.

Sorry for the rant ,i just felt like you understod .

AND THAT anon was truly an ass and i hope you never have to interact to people like that ever again.

(Love your posts ,btw)

awwww thank you!!!!

yeah this fandom has a huge problem separating HC from canon. HC and ships are fun. ship what you like! that's the whole point of being in a fandom! but the problem is when people start to attack other people for not having the same opinions, and can't separate HC from the actual show \ book.

alicent loves her children and at the end of the day, even if she was in love with rhaenyra when they were young, they've spent the last 20 years being enemies. like... come on guys. alicent never even considered putting rhaenyra over her own children. and why should she? they are her children, and rhaenyra has been her enemy for the past 2 decades.

Rhaenicent is an interesting ship. and i'm not against it. but as an alicent fan, i really hate the "alicent only loves & lives for queen rhaenyra's sake" take.

yeah that anon was.... upsetting. thank you ;)

[thephantomcasebook]

This will probably piss people off ... but I'm getting tired of hearing this argument in fandom.

I honestly don't understand why people think that Emily Carey saying that Alicent was in love with Criston is 'just like ... her opinion, man'.

What?!

Let's just push aside for a second that - before this "Tie-In" version of "Fire & Blood", that shit was canon for years. Like, forever, has it been canon that it was speculated that Alicent and Rhaenyra fought over Criston - that Alicent believed that Rhaenyra named Criston to the Kingsguard so that she could never have him. And that Rhaenyra not only did it to spite Alicent but named him her sworn shield with the express purpose that they were gonna fuck at some point - which was up for debate if they ever did ... till HOTD.

And Alicent's response in the books?

For fucks sake there's like six different versions of an entire illustrated story book section about this in the "Game of Thrones" Special Features on the Blu-Rays.

But, in case no one knows how performance and crafting works in acting ... they don't just make shit up for their major motivation and drives for characters. They talk, in-depth, with the writers and showrunners about their characters and their histories in order to build their backstories and motivations.

Alicent being in love with Criston isn't something that Emily Carey just made up, she was told that by either GRRM or the showrunners!

Also, Emily Carey is not the original Alicent. Olivia Cooke played and built Alicent first, because, 1x06 - 1x10 was shot first and then 1x01 - 1x05 was shot much later in the production. So, it stands to reason, that the note about Alicent being in love with Criston - even if you're not following old canon - came from people who had just shot the back half of the season and were building backward from 1x09.

This:

was shot long before -

this:

Look, you can ship who you want and all that shit. But saying that Alicent being in love with Criston when she was young is Emily Carey's "Opinion" is just ignorant. It was probably what GRRM told her or the showrunners - cause, it might not be in the newest version of "FIre & Blood" - if you can't them as they go by - but it was literally in everything else for a DECADE before this show was even in development.

[dirtytransmasc]

Rhaenyra is the rightful heir, do u support team green also because you think that aegon's claim is stronger because he is a man?

honestly, succession doesn't matter all that much to me, I'm not a political person even when it comes to fantasy shows. but let me have a spin at explaining my take.

Rhaenyra was the true heir, she was the first born and she was the named heir, I agree with that fully. but with the way we see her act, I personally don't think she would have been a good queen. she tends to expect a lot of others, give little in return except she she's desperate for aid, and picks self benefit over what's best for the realm (having multiple bastards, "killing off" her husband in place of another that will weaken her ally ship with the velaryon's, running of to dragonstone, etc.) and then will harm those who threaten to topple her house of cards (putting the blame and wanting the torture of a child after her own son cut out his eye, asserting her son onto the Driftmark throne even when he had no claim, killing an innocent man who stated a simple fact, etc.). I think she would have ruled with fear and very irresponsibly. at the end of the day, my thing is, is that Rhaenyra was never prepared for the throne and was coddled (that's Viserys's issues) and she was unfit for the throne because she could never seem to out the realm before her and her children. Daemon is also insanely cruel and rouge and Rhaenyra refuses to put him on a fucking leash which is another massive problem (if he could stop killing people that would be great in my opinion)

Now, do I think Aegon has a better claim cause he's male? no, I think men and women are equally capable of ruling. do I think Aegon would be any better? no not really. I do think that with the counsel of his mother, who served in Viserys's place for years and always thought of everyone else (the court, house, allied houses, and the realm while also thinking about image, money, etc), his wife (who was beloved by the people and had their interests in mind), Aemond (who was an excellent warrior and was well studied for the task of being king), Otto (if he could pull his head out of his ass was one of the best hands. key word, if, but it stands for something. he understood and played the game of politics for years), and Criston (he definitely wasn't made to be hand, no matter how much I love him, but he was always a good inside ally to the greens) could help him rule much better than Daemon could for Rhaenyra and many of her allies were similarly not well suited (most not all). again, Aegon and his court would be far from perfect, but they were much better suited for the task in my opinion.

but at the end of the day, the Targaryen dynasty was crumbling, rotting away day by day. I don't think either side could have saved it, I think both had flaws that were ingrained to their core. while Aegon's line might have kept it alive a wee bit longer, it wouldn't be substantial. war and bloodshed was biting at their heels and total death and destruction hovered over their shoulders.

neither was fit to be heir. Rhaenyra being the rightful heir by both birthright and by claim through Viserys doesn't make up for her not being fit. Aegon having a cock doesn't make up for him being unfit. that's the moral of the story.

I'm not pro green cause I think Aegon deserved the throne, I'm team green cause they're more interesting in my opinion, they also just happen to be my pick if I'm forced to pick a side in the war.

in a perfect world they would have come together as an actual godforsaken family, say their overdue apologies, strengthen the house as a whole, made up for the years of infighting and ruled together through Rhaenyra, that personally what I want, but it'll never happen in a million years. so yeah, that's my take on the succession war. throughout the whole timeline I may shift closer to one side than the other, but 90% of the time I was with team green, even when I wanted nothing more for Aegon to be allowed to run away to essos

[bettsfic]

Ahhh you watch hotd? I would love to hear a little Betts Review™ favorite characters/ships any thoughts like that!!

i like hotd the way i think non-fanpeople interact with media. i enjoy it a lot, i watch it every week, i don't think about it at all when it's not directly in front of me. that's not a bad thing. it's just that hotd is almost too smooth for me to grasp onto. there's a kind of technical acuity to it that i admire a lot but that doesn't engender any feelings beyond being entertained.

if there were maybe an ounce more affection between any two characters i might be inspired to have a ship, but otherwise there's just no love anywhere. like Alicent and Criston would usually be catnip for me, but there's just too much angst, and Criston's internal turmoil of loyalty is just a step to the left of my interests. he has loyalty devoid of devotion, if that makes sense. to me it seems like he only fucks Alicent, he doesn't love her. but i guess that's up to interpretation. if he's ever put in a position where he has to choose between Alicent and his Hand duties, and he chooses Alicent, i'll become way more invested. i need less Hand, more breadcrumbs of femdom/guard dog.

i remember i liked him a lot more last season but i can't remember why. i had a fic idea at some point for an Alicent/Criston modern AU. surely i have notes about it somewhere. but this season hasn't inspired me to revisit that idea.

Aemond is really growing on me, particularly his relationship with uh, that one lady whose name i don't remember. if he starts showing evidence of goodness or redemption, or if his relationship with the lady starts driving his actions rather than spite and ambition, i could see myself really vibing with him. but a lot of this show is wrapped up in spite and ambition and greed and power, and those things are fun to watch but don't really make me feel anything.

i also like Aegon a lot, but mostly because he's being meow meow'd in the plot and i recently rewatched Dunkirk where i like that actor's character far more, and can kind of plant the latter onto the former to trick myself into caring more about him. (and that little "mummy." there's promise there.)

i used to like Daemon and Rhaenyra but the second a character chooses themselves and their individual desires over someone they love, i completely lose interest. Daemon wants the throne. i can't empathize with that kind of drive for power and so i just can't make myself care.

but! i do like Rhaenyra. her desire for the throne is a little more interesting to me because she's seeking peace and not power. it's a real shame that they divided Rhaenyra and Alicent because theirs is the most interesting relationship to me and they also have great chemistry. (spoilers ahead) i think the most engaged i've been all season is their scene together. if Rhaenyra and Alicent ever start working together against a common enemy, and they do it willingly, without a mass of angst, or at least move toward repairing their relationship, i'll be insane about that.

honest to god my favorite thing about the show is that 10-minute breakdown at the end of every episode. i'm very fascinated by the behind-the-scenes stuff because a lot of very smart and talented people are making it and i think there's a lot to be learned there. also i almost always prefer the story about the story than the story itself. i'm saving the behind the scenes series for after the season is over.

tl;dr there's a lot of potential for me to become fannishly interested if some of the things that are being set up come to fruition. if someone has a really juicy modern AU rec for me with any of my go-to relationship dynamics (submissive guard dogs, mommy issues, i'm trying to think of a third thing but that pretty much covers it), i'm all ears.

[goldoriole]

HotD S2 EP 1 A Son for a Son

My thoughts on the season 2 premiere

So lovely to see Winterfell again

When Cregan's actor was cast, I was not really feeling it, but did such a great job.

Also, I see the Cregan x Jace vision

ALYSANNE MENTION?

Meleys & Rhaenys <3 my queens

DAEMON LEAVE HER ALONE...SHE'S PATROLLING 100 MILES OF SEA WHILE YOU DO NOTHING!!!! DON'T TOUCH HER!!

LAENA VELARYON MENTION?? IN MY HOTD??

The fact that mentioning Laena and Rhaenys' grief while waiting for her remains to come home to Driftmark immediately shuts Daemon up - good!

"It's a command."

"Would that you were the king." Daemon Targaryen found dead on Dragonstone

CORLYS!!!!

is that Alyn washing the deck

IT IS ALYN!!!!!!!!!!

While Alyn and Addam are meant to be the same age as Luke and Jace, I don't mind that they've aged them up so dramatically. Clearly, the show is going more Corlys' bastard sons rather than be more ambigious. The actor for Alyn is killing it!!

YOUR BROTHER!! ADDAM OF HULL COME HOME SOON

Alyn rescued Corlys in the Stepstones?? By diving off the ship?? Another The Water Between Us win!!

Love that Helaena is a floor girl

Aegon coming to look for his kids - so cute!!

SER CRISTON COLE!!!!!!!!!!

I knew this would happen because of the leaks but still, the hard cut to Alicent x Cole in the middle of it!! Insane!!!

Alicent putting on his cloak for him?? Insert complex marriage cloak metaphor here.

Jaehaerys at the small council... :(

Aegon grinning at his son the entire time....

Tyland Lannister Terrorizing Hours

"Mine are bigger."

Aegon slumping in his chair, playing with the marble - this is exactly how I've characterized him in my head. I keep on winning.

"They no longer breathe our air." Iconic Larys moment.

I really enjoy how the show keeps cutting to Rhaenyra for these quiet, emotionally tense moments. Amazing.

HER FINDING ARRAX'S WING

Rushing off Syrax but then immediately slowing because she's afraid to see. Oh god!

Luke's cloak!!!!

Syrax coming to comfort and mourn with her. OOOOOH

"Aegon the Magnanimous!"

Love Aegon's entourage! Who are your friends??

Aegon's direct and gentle nature when speaking directly to the smallfolk. Oh gods. Did he feel horribly guilty after the Rhaenys' busted through the floor of the Dragonpit?

HUGH HAMMER???? IN THE RED KEEP??????

WHAT???

I am so intrigued by this interpretation of Hugh.

"Our victory depends of the efforts of the smallfolk." YES!!!

Larys sowing discord wherever he can. Love.

Alicent describing Aegon as eager to prove himself.

THE VELARYON THEME KICKING IN!! YES!!

Mysaria is on this boat, isn't she.

SHE IS.

DAEMON DON'T TOUCH HER!!!!

She's so beautiful

RHAENYRA IS BACK!

BAELA AND RHAENA ALERT. BAELA AND RHAENA ALERT! MY GIRLS!

Her very first words being "I want Aemond Targaryen."

Daemon sitting down right beside Mysaria on the bed. You know he's only doing this because she's his ex.

Jace is home! Baela with him.

Jace trying to hold it together to give his mother the report. This is so sad!! I was tearing up.

Alicent lighting a candle for her mom out of love, lighting a candle for Viserys out of obligation, and lighting one for Luke out of...guilt?

Rhaena crying at Luke's funeral. :(

JACE HOLDING JOFFREY.....

Daemon skipping Luke's funeral (couldn't spot him so my bad if he was) to go arrange a hit on a toddler.

Wait, this is insane. He requested Aemond and it's just going to be a mistake that Jaehaerys gets killed?

How often do you think Criston and Aemond hang out.

Calling your mother by your first name, SHAME AEMOND.

Criston Cole caught slacking by his manager Otto Hightower.

Love that whenever a door opens Criston automatically reaches for his sword.

How often do you think Otto and Aemond hang out, lol.

Aegon and his buddies sloshed on the throne. So funny.

Even while drunk, his commitment to the people is so strong? Crazy. Love it.

Helaena!!

Okay. Blood and Cheese not as emotionally impactful as I thought.

"They killed the boy." THAT'S ALL?

THAT'S YOUR SON??

ALL YOU HAVE TO SAY??

All in all, phenomenal episode with a sort of strange, aborted ending. I think they wanted to avoid being overly violent with depicting a graphic decapitation of a baby, but still. Kind of fell flat??

[horizon-verizon]

What do you think of this interpretation of the Rosby and Stokeworth inherinerences in Fire and Blood?:

https://www.tumblr.com/bbygirl-aemond/713884545316978688/non-book-reader-here-whats-this-about-rosby-and

*EDITED POST* (4/5/24)

("Rhaenyra Triumphant")

A)

Account of the greens taking Rosby and Stokeworth and the two lords swearing fealty to them "under duress" (as OP says):

With a hundred knights and five hundred men-at-arms of the royal household, augmented by three times as many hardened sellswords, Ser Criston marched on Rosby and Stokeworth, whose lords had only recently repented of their allegiance to the queen, commanding them to prove their loyalty by adding their power to his own. Thus augmented, Cole’s host advanced upon the walled harbor town of Duskendale, where they took the defenders by surprise. The town was sacked, the ships in the harbor set afire, Lord Darklyn beheaded. His household knights and garrison were given the choice between swearing their swords to King Aegon or sharing their lord’s fate. Most chose the former. ("The Red Dragon and the Gold")

The OP's words:

i don't think rhaenyra was politically pressured into one answer or another. these two decisions wouldn't have really set a precedent for any of her other leal lords, because they specifically involved lords who had committed treason in front of tons of witnesses. the precedent would have only granted rhaenyra the power to choose a lord's heir after he'd been executed for treason and wouldn't have applied to any of her then allies, so making a woman heir shouldn't have made any of her lords feel threatened.

Yeah, well, it shouldn't have... and yet:

Lords Rosby and Stokeworth, blacks who had gone green to avoid the dungeons, attempted to turn black again, but the queen declared that faithless friends were worse than foes and ordered their “lying tongues” be removed before their executions. Their deaths left her with a nettlesome problem of succession, however. As it happened, each of the “faithless friends” left a daughter; Rosby’s was a maid of twelve, Stokeworth’s a girl of six. Prince Daemon proposed that the former be wed to Hard Hugh the blacksmith’s son (who had taken to calling himself Hugh Hammer), the latter to Ulf the Sot (now simply Ulf White), keeping their lands black whilst suitably rewarding the seeds for their valor in battle. But the Queen’s Hand argued against this, for both girls had younger brothers. Rhaenyra’s own claim to the Iron Throne was a special case, the Sea Snake insisted; her father had named her as his heir. Lords Rosby and Stokeworth had done no such thing. Disinheriting their sons in favor of their daughters would overturn centuries of law and precedent, and call into question the rights of scores of other lords throughout Westeros whose own claims might be seen as inferior to those of elder sisters. It was fear of losing the support of such lords, Munkun asserts in True Telling, that led the queen to decide in favor of Lord Corlys rather than Prince Daemon. The lands, castles, and coin of Houses Rosby and Stokeworth were awarded to the sons of the two executed lords, whilst Hugh Hammer and Ulf White were knighted and granted small holdings on the isle of Driftmark. ("Rhaenyra Triumphant")

Even with those fathers being traitors, after their executions, the houses themselves would not be considered "treacherous houses" unless the new lords/ladies also betrayed Rhaenyra.

To say that Rhaenyra making these girls ladies is to ignore how Rhaenyra herself becoming queen of Westeros would not have any sort or level of impact on Westerosi customs of succession. Her choice to make a girl the heir/next lady after her father would have created a stronger basis for other girls and women to inherit their fathers' (eventually maybe mothers') positions because it gives more strength to a girl/woman's claim in other houses regardless of what their fathers did or didn't do. The result would still be a girl/woman growing to be the lady of her house and she would have to take on the privileges, constraints, responsibilities, duties, and final decisions for the rest of her life. no matter the identity of the father, the house itself would live on if Rhaenyra doesn't decide to just eliminate the entire two houses... which she didn't do. Why? Because she is the first female monarch, the rules are already bent a little and she is in that "supreme" place. She can bend the rules more toward her own needs or just support those who themselves present changes that could help her and them. (She doesn't which is disappointing but also idk, I can't blast her after her losses.)

As the monarch, Rhaenyra already has some influence/power over how other houses and lords will and can safely transfer power. Rhaenyra making Corlys' "grandsons"--Alyn and Addam of Hull--his heirs by officially legitimizing them so they could also inherit the name "Velaryon" is her continuing the succession-tradition & performing an already-customary royal privilege of determining succession rights for other lords. This is already a monarch's privilege and right, but it was critical for the Velaryons, and having a girl come before other men around her itself presents the chance for other girls/women to press for the higher seats, be more considered for those seats, and receive less resistance once they get them or have less trouble having support in case of resistance. Every action Rhaenyra takes when it concerns succession absolutely can become precedent or is already customary. The lords around her are looking at how she acts to adapt their own actions to hers, that's part of the game of feudalism in Westeros.

If anything, if those girls had become the ladies and acted in good faith w/Rhaenyra, it would likely have given more credence to both Rhaenyra's image of mercifulness and wisdom and the girls' loyalty to their queen/superior/monarch. Traits of an ideal leader, for both--making feudal patriarchy work for you, or a chance to emphasize that. Aside from that, if Rhaenyra had granted these houses to these girls she could have inspired a more practical loyalty to her that reduced the risk of what happened when she was forced to flee KL--one of these girls turning her away.

Corlys Velaryon--Rhaenyra's principal supporter, her Hand, the guy who's supplying the fleet she's using, the guy who's financing the entire war besides her own Dragonstone funds allocated for the war, and whose later imprisonment caused many of his followers and soldiers to desert her--strongly argued against her giving those girls the castles. He argues such despite their father being traitors (about the refusal to continue lines of succession through girls regardless of past parents' actions) and there being a true and real precedent for girls to inherit when there is absolutely no direct male relative available. Corlys felt threatened--not directly so, but with the concept of universal female leadership. He saw in Rhaenyra the exception, Rhaenyra needed him, and for her to be overall successful--or anyone from a position like her where they are trying to rise through a society that otherwise wouldn't allow her to--there come times where compromises must happen or you can't see anyway out of said situation where you think you must.

And thinking in Rhaenyra or someone in her shoes thinks how he wouldn't be the only one thinking so; if he, someone on her council and in proximity to her, thinks it is it that much of a stretch to contemplate what others would/could/do? Rhaenyra and others would know that some of her own supporters would have felt similarly and this was a moment where she/the blacks would have felt they needed to prevent as many conflicts or defections as possible.

So honestly, no, the ideas that 1) Rhaenyra wasn't under real pressure or 2) that at least some of the supporting lords wouldn't concerned/threatened with a traitor's daughter inheriting despite their dads being traitors is false. The problem decidedly came from a gender thing.

BTW, Rosby's daughter was 12 and Stokeworth's was 16.

To deny so is to deny the evidence of misogyny being the defining feature of the Dance and a deciding motivation behind Rhaenyra's act of appeasing male lords for her own immediate needs/the progress of her self-doubt and paranoia and the decline of her relationships and bonds of trust as if these things weren't a major factor and didn't lead to her writing her execution letter to Nettles/distrusting Daemon.

B)

OP says this:

it's deliberate that the dismissal of the daughter's claim is mentioned in the same sentence where she denies rhaenyra entry. the poetic justice of that is not a coincidence. whether you think this is grrm narratively punishing rhaenyra for not being feminist enough, or whether you think she's being unfairly punished for being constrained by the patriarchy- it's up to you. i'm personally undecided. but regardless of her intent, her decision is very intentionally implicated in her demise."

I agree that there was poetic symmetry--a kind of "justice"--for Rhaenyra disinheriting the girl ending with the same girl denying her sanctuary after Rhaenyra loses her own inheritance--after being put in danger of smallfolk riots and losing her son and dragons. Another son and heir who will not receive her seat or possessions, as those girls did not until she herself lost. If nothing else for the situational irony, but definitely how it also reflects how the Targs have also sacrificed some of its own members for power, namely its female members. Beginning from Aenys I. House Targaryen hurting itself under the constant need to survive as a strong house while anticipating attacks from outside.

Her going after Nettles was not only her removing a "love" rival but also her trying to legitimize her own and her kids' claims (in her view). There was enough clear-headedness there, why not the Rosby/Stokeworth? Yes, there was pressure on top of her grief probably messing with her sense of safety versus what and how to get there, but it is a fact that she chose the path of least resistance to throw off the pressure when she didn't need to. (Why was Nettles "more" emotionally troubling more than the two traitors' girls? Already explained this in the Twitter thread I linked.)

Again, at the same time, I can see how misogyny and constant patriarchal disparagement of her in her personal history and her own experiences (not created) fueled her self-preserving mindset into a place where more things pushed her into that paranoia and near-Cersei-need to gain any level of control as soon as possible. There to motivate Rhaenyra as with Cersei Lannister killing Robert's bastard kids and the abuse even against her own and Alicent not caring for the raped girls of Tumbleton/pushing for Aegon to be king for her own power. blankwhiteshield explains in this way:

You can have an irredeemable and evil character that the patriarchy still suppresses and affects the psychology of immensely, rendering her a bigger monster. The commentary on the destructive capacity of static social constructs is not lost as a result. A character can turn into the devil of the story due to a world that ceaselessly strips her of her humanity, as well as as a result of the choices she actively makes.

I think Rhaenyra turned tyrant because she reached the limit sooner than we'd like after her not being able to work through her grief and several betrayals and deaths of loved ones occurring in pretty quick succession. Simultaneously, she:

had, performed, & used misogynoir against Nettles

removed inheritances from other noble girls to ensure other lords surrounding KL's support based on Corlys' advice rather than her own husband who gave better advice

and went after one of the biggest bulwarks of her fight against the greens which her own son organized for such (the dragonseeds) through blood purity to get rid of perceived threats...the same bp which threatened her son and gave justification to the contraction of female sexual a general autonomy

She didn't have her avenues to her goal straight AND the Targ-anal paradigm provided her with the ready blueprint of blood purity, misogynoir.

So OP is right to point that out, that there was poetic "justice" if not plain symmetry. We can't move away from the fact that her actions had consequences against her and inevitably led to not having enough time and room to recuperate to go against Aegon again. Ironic since Dragonstone--the place where she will end up after not having that room-and-board denied to her--was her past base away from Alicent to learn how to rule and to grow her lost family.

Both her fault and not: not hers in the beginning, but hers later--psychologically affected by both grief from direct attacks and classist entitlement.

Check out this post by la-pheacienne, who explains how the narrative identifies Rhaenyra as the wronged party and then the person, affected by those wrongs, then brought her own ends by recalling Greek Tragedy narrative structure.

C) Just for Future Note

OP says this: "when she asks the stokeworths for refuge, the male castellan (ruling in the young boy's stead) tells her she can only stay for one night, and then turns her out onto the streets."

This is the account of Rhaenyra being barred from Rosby's castle after fleeing KL:

The accused turncloak Addam Velaryon, born Addam of Hull, had saved King’s Landing from the queen’s foes…at the cost of his own life. Yet the queen knew nothing of his valor. Rhaenyra’s flight from King’s Landing had been beset with difficulty. At Rosby, she found the castle gates barred at her approach, by the command of the young woman whose claim she had passed over in favor of a younger brother. Young Lord Stokeworth’s castellan granted her hospitality, but only for a night. “They will come for you,” he warned the queen, “and I do not have the power to resist them.” Half of her gold cloaks deserted on the road, and one night her camp was attacked by broken men. Though her knights beat off the attackers, Ser Balon Byrch was felled by an arrow, and Ser Lyonel Bentley, a young knight of the Queensguard, suffered a blow to the head that cracked his helm. He perished raving the following day. The queen pressed on toward Duskendale.

House Darklyn had been amongst Rhaenyra’s strongest supporters, but the cost of that loyalty had been high. Lord Gunthor had lost his life in the queen’s service, as had his uncle Steffon. Duskendale itself had been sacked by Ser Criston Cole. Small wonder then that Lord Gunthor’s widow was less than overjoyed when Her Grace appeared at her gates. Only the intercession of Ser Harrold Darke persuaded Lady Meredyth to allow the queen within her walls at all (the Darkes were distant kin to the Darklyns, and Ser Harrold had once served as a squire to the late Ser Steffon), and only upon the condition that she would not remain for long.

("Rhaenyra Overthrown")

Conclusions

The Rosby and Stokeworth decisions were mistakes made under intense pressure; those also made for her immediate needs for a man funding most of her war and supplying most of her fleet to continue to want to support her. And I'm interested in how OP continues to not provide textual evidence to go over.

*EDIT* (8/21/23):

THIS is a great post by @mononijikayu about medieval queens, female rulers, the history of how women in leadership positions were made and seen as threats to the very structure of social “order”, and contextualizing Rhaenyra thru Empress Matilda. I didn’t even know about Matilda’s husband being comparable to Rhaneyra’s Daemon! PLZ READ!!!!

Excerpt:

just as much, along with these fictitious portrayals, more lies are depicted. these women are considered vixens that cause havoc to men by shifting them into desires and danger. through the written word, we see how women are cast in roles of villains in men’s lives. it is because by their conclusive thoughts, women are the only creatures that are able to turn ‘good honorable men’ into despicable creatures who do shameful, deplorable acts for the sake of women’s pleasures. […]  it is within this narrative that ancient chroniclers declare that women were in fact the doom of men. if they were not able to control the dangers posed by the wiles of women, then the foundations of the mighty society they had built would be up in flames.  [...] as i mentioned, these factors of community are written down and preserved. and with that, the example of the ancients were the foundations by which medieval society built itself. the same concepts continued to cause the same issue within society and that was the exclusion of women from participating in the bigger picture of community and state, much so with governing states in their own right—without judgment or disapproval. 

[vampire-exgirlfriend]

1, 3, 8, & 13 (Aemond?) for the salty asks

Damn nonnie, coming in hot lol

1. What OTPs in your fandom do you just not get? Oh god lol in Star Wars it's def Damerey and JediStormPilot (even the name makes me 🤮). It just feels so forced and hokey and there's no chemistry. Also DinLuke. Not a vibe. In HotD it's def Rhaenyra x Criston. Like pls stop. Most of the other ships have potential, even if it's just drama.

3. Have you ever unfollowed someone over a fandom opinion? Hahahahahaha all the time. I'm protecting my peace here, okay? And some people are just flat out wrong and I don't care to read about it.

8. Have you received anon hate? What about? Yes lol mostly about not updating Salt in the Wound (yes, I'm still reworking it, yes, you'll get it soon) and also because in Salt, I made Daemyra poly and Rhaenyra bisexual (like have you not read the source material? Girl was very obviously boning Laena and Daemon). I'm sure there will be Opinions™️ about my super secret project with @magpie-to-the-morning too.

13. Unpopular opinion about XXX character? Oh, Aemond. Idk maybe that (in the show) I def think he was banging Helaena? Also that he's not some kinky daddy dom. Like my guy is absolutely inexperienced and if he's doing it right it's because his partner taught him how.

Send me a salty ask 🫠

[ironwoman18]

Daemnyra Moments- Part 3

Chapter 3: The Rogue Prince and The Fierce Princess

Three years, three fucking years, winning and losing battles. Caraxes had been helpful in those battles. Now they also have Seasmoke, Laenor's dragon, and it might help their cause here in the Stepstones.

Prince Cragas had been a pain in the ass because he is using the caves to hide and these were the moments when he wished to have the Black Dread himself to melt the rock with his fire, of course he couldn't tell this to Caraxes, the dragon could get jealous.

The war council had a meeting. "My Prince thank you for joining us" said Laenor, the boy grew up a lot in the last three years.

"It's good to see you, Laenor" he smiled at the boy.

"Ser Laenor, my Prince" he said and Daemon smiled and nodded.

"My apologies"

Laenor waved his hand and started to speak "Ser Joffrey and I had been checking the islands and designing plans to attack. Some sounds silly but could work if they bite the bait"

"That's right, we can send small groups to distract and get them out then we can use Caraxes to burn them" Daemon nods, liking the idea. He wanted to be helpful with his dragon.

That night was tough. He burned many soldiers but they couldn't find the commander of this army. And the cherry on top was that he got hit by an arrow, a burning arrow.

He and Caraxes flew away. The dragon made worried sounds and Daemon smirked "that's so kind of you bud but I'll be ok, just a scratch” Caraxes made a sound that the Prince felt like a chuckle and he chuckled too "Idiot" he said in Valyrian. They landed at the camp and he went to the Maester to check on him, mostly because his dragon's looked at him in a menacing way.

Meanwhile Rhaenyra had to deal with the hunt for Aegon's second name's day. She wanted to stay in the castle. She had her own musician singing and playing for her. But of course the Queen had to come to mess up her quiet time by the Weird Tree.

She just left before she began her speech about friendship and stupid things like that.

That day for her was boring and she had to defend her uncle, because they could talk shit about him but no one else, because a fat lady with a dog on her lap blamed him for the war. But of course when her lord husband had to pay high taxes to the pirates to have her finest silks or leather from Essos, she would curse her father and his peaceful policies.

She got on her horse and left the camp after a discussion with her father about him throwing her in the arms of Lord Jason Lannister. Ser Criston Cole followed her and when he reached her they had an honest talk, the first one in three years, in fact the last honest conversation was with her father after she recovered the egg from her uncle.

That night the princess had to be brave and fierce to kill a hog that tried to kill her, she released all her anger stabbing the animal until it stopped moving.

Ser Criston was impressed, he knew some that the Targaryen had the blood of the dragon and were fierce but he never imagined a princess could do something like that.

Back in the Stepstone the fight continued and Corlys brother was in his tent, cursing and angry, they were losing, they were running out of food and men, so he decided to write a letter to the king asking for aid.

In fact he did it a few days ago and he had not received an answer yet.

"Corlys, we can't continue this war, we are running out of men and food. We are in troubles here, unless the king send us more"

"Look... Dear brother" he said with poison in each word "the king doesn't give shit about this or the problem it causes because the ships arrives to straight to King's Landing from Essos" he looked at him with cold in his eyes "so don't think he will consider helping" he left the tent and when to his own to rest until they had to go.

"Ser you think our messages arrived to the king?" Asked one of the soldier.

"I hope to and I hope that my brother is exaggerating about the king" he said, a little worried his brother could be right.

In the woods Rhaenyra and Ser Criston had an encounter with the white hart, connecting with royalty so she only could hope this was the gods letting her know that she could be the next queen.

So after this she decided to return to the camp. She was still covered in the hog's blood but she didn't care.

She arrived at the camp dragging in the hog she killed, the eyes of everyone was on her, some looking in disgust, like Jason Lannister, or in awe, like Ser Harwin, so she made eye contact with him for a minute before looking at her father and getting in the main tent.

She was a fierce princess and now they couldn't say otherwise.

After this, Alicent finally convinced Viserys to send aid to the Stepstones so he sent a letter to his brother and talked to his fleet to leave.

Little this messenger knows, he will return with a broken nose and beaten up by the prince.

Because Daemon knew this was Corlys' brother's doing. Looking for aid for the king when they had two dragon riders and fine warriors.

So they decided to do the last strategy created by Laenor. Send a bait, fake a rendition, wait until the enemies are all out and Dracarys.

And of course Daemon Targaryen offered himself as bait, just because he was Daemon, a man with no fear and wilder of the sword that was used in the conquest and in other great battles, Dark Sister.

He played his part. Rhaenyra always in his mind, he normally was a carefree man, but he wanted to survive because he wanted to see her again but if he didn't survive, at least she will know he died as a hero.

He finally cut Cragas in half, showing it to his soldiers who were now without a leader and were victims of their dragons and soldiers for the next year.

OOooOOooOO

Hope you liked this one. It had the two perspectives and wanted to showcase that this couple was badass in their own way. Rhaenyra as a fierce princess and Daemon as the rogue prince.

The next will be their little adventure around the city.

[horizon-verizon]

I'm so tired of coming across anti-Daemyra people throwing around the word grooming all the time, without obviously knowing the real definition. I'm tired of seeing people say they can't wait to see Rhaenyra get tricked by Daemon with Mysaria and Nettles, when none of her stories are certain in Fire and Blood. Besides, I don't even believe it. Too many inconsistencies and obvious mysogynism coming from the maesters. I find it ironic, that the same people who are going to qualify Rhaenyra as a victim of grooming by Daemon, are going to qualify her as a sure aggressor Criston Cole (hello consistency) and then say that they can't wait for Daemon to make her suffer, so that they initially claimed to want her protection and to be sympathetic towards her for her so-called grooming situation. These people are pathetic.

Recently wrote a post for grooming b/t Daemyra HERE.

You: "I'm tired of seeing people say they can't wait to see Rhaenyra get tricked by Daemon with Mysaria and Nettles".

I write about Daemon & Nettles in these posts:

#1, #2, #3, #3.5, #4 (Daemon & Nettles)

#5 (Daemon's characterization)

#6, #7 (Rhaenyra & Daemon's characterizations and relationship/Daemyra shipping)

#8 (Daemon's death)

And this is a master post darklinaforever made of the DaemonxNettles ship with various writers critiquing the ship and fans' using it against Rhaenyra.

You: "I find it ironic, that the same people who are going to qualify Rhaenyra as a victim of grooming by Daemon, are going to qualify her as a sure aggressor Criston Cole (hello consistency) and then say that they can't wait for Daemon to make her suffer, so that they initially claimed to want her protection and to be sympathetic towards her for her so-called grooming situation."

If they had been just as critical of Criston or Harwin for Rhaenyra getting into these sorts of relationships, we could then get into them not caring much for grooming so much as denying/ignoring this is a story about misogyny & how a woman was killed for being a woman seeking for power not traditionally allowed to her for fandom ships (Criston being PoC so being PoC changes that he is an incel?!; Harwin labeled as the healthiest, yet at least in the show, he's of similar age to both Criston & Daemon).

They like to ignore the lower age of majority (16) in Westeros AND still, how girls in Westeros are "marriageable" as soon as they get their periods (really betrothable); how the consummation still depends on what the parents will allow or can allow; that the concept of "maidenhood" exists [women are considered their "most beautiful", read "purist"] in between childhood and adulthood; that they need to think of how this impacts how these people will view childhood vs adulthood.

Is it objectively wrong for a 25 yr old to take up or sleep with a 14, 15, 16, etc.? Yes. However, what proper indictment can one use against a character who is not even in same realm of discernment as you for us? Yes, GRRM criticizes medieval politics & mindsets through showing its effects on the most vulnerable, but it is also true that GRRM doesn't allow true contexts or results of grooming to occur in characters he wants to feature for the reason of using their relationships to make other points. So again, this is a case of Watsonian vs a Doylist evaluation of things.

But bc of this consistency and their clear willingness to victim blame the victim they named a victim, it's pretty clear that "victimhood" is defined more by how well they like the actual character or according to how she acts in regards to the limits of her sexual autonomy being justified rather than her as a person.