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novaursa · 1 day ago

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Where Wolves Wonder (1/2)

- Summary: You and Jon were always close, but as the years went by and those feelings grew, your mother decided to put an end to it.

- Paring: stark!reader/Jon Snow

- Rating: Mild 13+

- Next part: 2/2

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @alyssa-dayne @oxymakestheworldgoround

The frosted breath of Winterfell’s courtyards felt sharp on your skin, yet you and Jon were unaffected as you shared quiet moments in the early mornings, wrapped in the whispers of the waking castle. As twins, you and Robb had always shared a close bond, but something about Jon’s presence grounded you in a way that felt… different. He was a mystery, dark-haired and solemn, so much unlike the rest of your family, and yet a steady presence, as constant as the winter snow itself.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping?” Jon asked softly one morning, his voice barely audible as he leaned against the training yard wall. His eyes lingered on your face, a hint of a smile playing on his lips as you approached him. “Or did you come to see if I’d frozen solid?”

You gave a soft laugh, shaking your head. “If you froze, I’d think you more of a fool than I’d ever imagined, Jon Snow,” you teased, crossing your arms and mirroring his posture.

A faint chuckle escaped his lips, but there was something softer in his gaze—a look that lingered just a second too long, as if he were memorizing every detail of your face in the dim morning light. You felt a flutter, a warmth creeping into your cheeks that had nothing to do with the cold. You had seen the way he looked at you before, the way his hand sometimes brushed yours just a second longer than necessary, and yet neither of you spoke about it.

“You spend so much time with him these days,” Catelyn said one evening, catching you by surprise in one of the dimly lit hallways of Winterfell. Her tone was light, but her gaze sharp. She studied you carefully, and you forced yourself to meet her gaze, though you felt a pang of guilt.

“He’s family,” you replied, hoping that the evenness in your voice would convince her.

“Is he?” she asked, her tone a touch more pointed. “He’s your father’s son, yes, but…” Her voice trailed off, eyes narrowing, her mouth pressed into a thin line. “Just… be mindful. Some bonds are best left at friendship.” Her words lingered, heavy with something unspoken, but you nodded politely, her warning pricking at your heart.

As the weeks wore on, however, it grew harder to heed her caution. You and Jon found yourselves slipping into shared conversations, hushed whispers in the darkened corners of the halls, or quiet moments near the Godswood. One evening, after a long day, you found yourself sitting beside him on a stone bench by the weirwood tree, your shoulders almost touching.

“Y/N,” Jon said, his voice a quiet murmur, “Do you ever wonder… what it might be like, if things were different?” He didn’t meet your gaze, his eyes fixed ahead, but you could see the tension in his face, a wariness that he couldn’t quite mask.

“Different…?” you asked, though your heart already knew where he was leading.

“If… if I were truly one of you,” he said, his tone hesitant. “If there wasn’t… this distance between us.”

You placed a hand on his, feeling the warmth of his skin, the steadiness of his presence. “You are one of us, Jon. And to me, that’s all that matters,” you whispered.

The softness of your words hung in the air, your hand lingering in his, and Jon’s gaze softened, his expression vulnerable in a way you’d rarely seen.

But this moment was not yours alone.

Behind you, unbeknownst to either of you, stood your mother. Catelyn’s gaze was fixed on you both, her expression unreadable, yet her hands were clenched tightly, her knuckles white.

It wasn’t long before she confronted you, her voice tight with worry and unyielding resolve. “You will not spend any more time with Jon. You’re not to meet him in secret corners or dark hallways. Is that clear?”

You stared at her, heart pounding in your chest. “Mother, he’s my brother—”

“He is not your brother,” she said firmly. “There is a line, Y/N, one that you must not cross. He… he doesn’t belong as we do, no matter how much your father thinks otherwise.”

Your heart sank, anger flashing in your eyes. “How can you be so cold? Jon’s always been part of this family.”

Catelyn’s expression didn’t soften; instead, it seemed to harden. “I’m protecting you,” she said, voice laced with a hint of regret, though she pressed on. “One day, you’ll understand why.”

You turned on your heel, storming away, her words weighing heavily on you. But as the days passed, your mother’s warning settled into an insurmountable barrier, each glance shared with Jon feeling edged with longing and hesitation. Yet the ache in your chest never seemed to lessen.

Jon’s gaze found yours often in those fleeting moments across the halls, his silent question lingering between you both: What could have been, if only things were different?

The clank of steel and laughter echoed through the training yard of Winterfell. Robb’s hearty laugh boomed as he caught Theon’s playful shove, and even Jon managed a faint smile, though it was fleeting. Ever since Catelyn’s orders to keep you away, he had grown quieter, his gaze darker, lost in thoughts that weighed heavily on his heart.

“Gods, Jon, you look as if someone died,” Theon joked, leaning his practice sword against his shoulder. He gave Jon a once-over, his smirk widening as he took in Jon’s expression. “Or have you just realized that brooding doesn’t make you look half as mysterious as you think?”

Jon shot Theon a warning look, but the Greyjoy only laughed, unfazed. Robb, however, glanced between them, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the anxiety coming to light on Jon’s face.

“Leave him be, Theon,” Robb said, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice too. “Maybe he’s got a ghost haunting him.” He threw a look at Jon, his grin softer. “Or maybe he’s finally realized how much work it takes to keep up with me.”

Theon snorted. “More like he’s mourning the loss of a certain shadow that used to follow him around.” His tone was casual, but his words hit close to the mark. “Funny, though, I haven’t seen her lurking around you lately, Jon. Did she finally realize she’s wasting her time?”

Jon’s jaw clenched, his fists tightening as he looked down, unwilling to let Theon see the flash of pain in his eyes. Your absence weighed on him like a chain around his neck, each day feeling colder without your warm, steady presence. He missed the quiet conversations in the Godswood, the way your laughter softened the edges of Winterfell’s grey stone. But Theon would never understand that—he’d never understand how every second away from you felt like a punishment he didn’t know how to bear.

Seeing Jon’s expression, Robb’s smile faded. He placed a hand on Jon’s shoulder, squeezing it. “Come on, Jon. Ignore him. You know Theon loves to rile people up.”

Jon forced a small smile, nodding, but he couldn’t help the sigh that escaped him.

“Ah, don’t take it so seriously,” Theon added, still grinning but with a slight softness in his tone as he noticed the effect his words had on Jon. “Just a bit of jest, you know. It’s not as if she’s left Winterfell.”

Robb shot Theon a warning glare, but Jon cut him off. “She might as well have,” he muttered, his voice so low they almost missed it. There was a rawness in his tone, a crack that neither Robb nor Theon had heard before.

Theon raised an eyebrow, finally catching on to just how deep Jon’s feelings ran. He let out a low whistle. “Gods, you really do have it bad, don’t you?” He crossed his arms, studying Jon with newfound curiosity. “I always thought you were just fond of her, but this… You look as if she’s been sent off to the Wall.”

Robb shot him a warning look. “Theon, leave it,” he said, his voice firmer now.

But Jon didn’t seem to hear either of them. He took a shaky breath, finally meeting Robb’s gaze. “I… I know what it must look like, Robb. And I know she’s your sister. But… it’s like she’s the only thing that makes sense here, the only person who looks at me like… like I belong.” His voice dropped, almost a whisper. “And now… I don’t know what to do without her.”

The words spilled out before he could stop himself, and he immediately regretted them, looking down as if the ground might swallow him up. He hadn’t meant to admit it, to say aloud the longing that had been festering inside him.

Robb’s expression softened, a glimmer of understanding crossing his face. He placed a hand on Jon’s shoulder, giving it a firm, reassuring squeeze. “You’re not alone, Jon. No matter what my mother thinks. I’ll talk to her.”

Jon shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips. “She won’t listen, Robb. Your mother… she’s right, in a way. I don’t have the same claim, not like you. I’m just… just a Snow.”

Robb shook his head, undeterred. “To hell with names and claims. You’re my brother, Jon. Nothing can change that.”

Theon, watching the exchange, sighed and rolled his eyes, though there was a faint smirk on his lips. “If you two are done with your heartfelt confessions, there’s still a swordfight to finish here. And if Jon’s too busy sighing over lost loves, then I’ll gladly take the win.”

Jon’s hand went to his sword, gripping it tighter, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he looked up at Theon. “You’d have to earn it first, Greyjoy.”

And for a moment, the heaviness in his chest lightened as he lunged forward, a hint of his old spark returning. But even as he clashed with Theon, the ache of your absence remained, a shadow in his heart he couldn’t shake.

Arya sat beside you, fidgeting with her needle and thread, a perpetual look of boredom on her face, while Sansa, across the table, was meticulously working on her embroidery, lips pressed in a prim line of concentration. The gentle murmur of fabric against fingers and the faint pricking of needles filled the air as you all sat in an attempt at focused silence.

But your thoughts were far from the fabric in your lap. No matter how much you tried to focus on the delicate stitch pattern, your mind kept slipping back to Jon. The look in his eyes when he’d seen you last lingered in your mind, the quiet sadness that he tried so hard to hide, masked behind his usual stoicism. Every stitch you tried to sew seemed to weave his name into the fabric, and you let out a soft sigh, pulling your needle free after yet another botched attempt.

“You’re making a mess of that,” Arya muttered, noticing the snarl of threads as you tried to unknot your embroidery.

You gave her a small, exasperated smile. “You’re one to talk,” you teased, nodding toward her own uneven stitches, which were scattered across the fabric with little care for pattern or design.

Arya grinned, undeterred. “At least I don’t pretend to like it,” she said, casting a sideways glance at Sansa, who pursed her lips.

Sansa looked up from her perfect row of flowers with a slightly disapproving frown. “It’s a lady’s duty to learn needlework,” she said primly. “Besides, it’s better than… whatever it is you’re doing.”

Arya made a face, scrunching her nose. “I’d rather be sword fighting with Bran than doing this.”

Sansa’s expression softened a little as she turned to you. “You’re distracted today,” she observed, her tone less judgmental than Arya’s but still laced with curiosity. “You’ve been sighing at that fabric since we started. Is something on your mind?”

You bit your lip, hesitating. “It’s… nothing,” you said quietly, though your voice betrayed you, sounding uncertain. But both of your sisters were watching you now, their expressions expectant, and you felt compelled to offer them something. “It’s just… strange, I suppose, how things change without you even noticing.”

Arya frowned. “What things?” she asked, genuinely curious.

“Family,” you said softly, almost to yourself. “Sometimes, it feels like no matter how close we are… there’s still a wall between us.”

Arya looked puzzled, her head tilted in thought. Sansa, however, seemed to understand, her gaze growing softer. “You mean Jon,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

You stiffened slightly, glancing down at your embroidery. “Mother has asked me not to spend time with him,” you admitted, forcing yourself to keep the tremble out of your voice. “She says… that it’s best for everyone.”

Arya’s face hardened. “That’s not fair,” she said bluntly, scowling at the thought. “Jon’s as much family as the rest of us.”

You managed a sad smile. “Yes, but Mother… sees things differently. She thinks it’s better to… to keep us separate. She believes it will only lead to trouble.”

Sansa’s expression softened with sympathy. “I know she can be… strict,” she said gently, choosing her words with care. “But I think she’s only trying to protect you. It may not seem fair, but she’s thinking of what’s best, I suppose.”

Arya rolled her eyes, clearly less concerned with your mother’s intentions. “Well, it’s still stupid,” she said firmly. “You and Jon have always been close. I don’t see why that should change just because Mother has some silly ideas about what’s proper.”

A smile tugged at your lips despite the ache in your heart. Arya’s loyalty was unwavering, a constant source of warmth. “Thank you, Arya,” you murmured, appreciating her blunt honesty. “But I have to listen to her. For now, at least.”

Sansa, watching you carefully, reached across the table and took your hand, her grip gentle yet reassuring. “If it helps, you know we’re here for you,” she said softly. “Even if Jon can’t be as close… we’re still your family, and that won’t change.”

You nodded, squeezing her hand in return. “I know. I just… miss him,” you whispered. “More than I thought I would.”

Sansa’s hand slipped back to her sewing, her gaze thoughtful as she looked down at the floral patterns she’d been carefully stitching. “Maybe one day, Mother will see things differently. Perhaps she’ll understand that Jon’s part of us, too.”

Arya’s voice broke in, her tone defiant. “And if she doesn’t, then who cares? Jon is still here, isn’t he? He’s still family, no matter what anyone says.”

You smiled at Arya’s fierce protectiveness, her determination to see things in simple terms. For a moment, your heart felt lighter, as if the weight of your mother’s judgment could be softened by the loyalty of your sisters.

As the afternoon sunlight faded into golden hues, you knew you had to find a way to reconcile the longing in your heart with the boundaries set around you. But with Sansa and Arya by your side, you felt just a little less alone.

The castle was alive with a rare buzz, a tension that pulsed through the stone walls of Winterfell like a storm on the brink of breaking. King Robert Baratheon and his family had arrived that morning, and the atmosphere had shifted in a way you’d never experienced. Servants bustled, the smell of roasting meats hung in the air, and everywhere you looked, there were flashes of gold, crimson, and banners snapping in the cold Northern wind.

In the chaos of the royal visit, you managed to slip away from the eyes of your mother, of Sansa, and even of Arya, who had taken to hiding from the stern Septa who was assigned to “improve her manners.” You found Jon exactly where you expected: near the Godswood, watching the activity of Winterfell unfold from a distance, the cool detachment in his eyes like a protective shield.

“Jon,” you called softly, stepping forward, but he didn’t need to turn. You could tell he knew you were there from the softening of his shoulders, the way his stance shifted.

“Y/N,” he murmured in greeting, and there was a flicker of warmth in his gaze as he looked at you, a brief break in his guarded expression. Ghost, his silent white shadow, stood at his side, watching you with those intense, red eyes. Your own direwolf, Shadow, stepped up beside you, her dark coat blending into the shaded trees, her amber eyes fixed on her brother.

For a moment, it was just the two of you, standing in the pocket of silence that the Godswood offered, a calm oasis in the midst of all the chaos.

“Quite the spectacle, isn’t it?” Jon remarked, nodding in the direction of the castle, where banners and torches flared in the brisk wind.

You sighed, rolling your eyes. “It’s exhausting, is what it is. I feel like I’m in a cage. But at least here…” You glanced around, your gaze finally settling back on him. “It’s quieter.”

Jon’s expression softened, though there was a shadow in his eyes. “A cage,” he echoed. “I suppose I know that feeling too.”

It was then that you remembered the whispers you’d heard in the halls, the snatches of conversation that mentioned Jon and the future he’d chosen. The words had tugged at your heart, but you hadn’t had a moment to ask him if they were true. Now, as you stood before him, the question pressed on your tongue like a weight you could no longer hold.

“Jon,” you began, your voice low, almost hesitant. “Is it true? That you’re… planning to join the Night’s Watch?”

He looked at you, surprise flickering across his face before he glanced away, nodding slowly. “Yes,” he admitted, his tone resigned but steady. “I’ve spoken to Uncle Benjen about it. He says there’s a place for me there, and…” He paused, searching for the words. “It feels like the right choice. Like it’s where I belong.”

You swallowed, a pang of sadness tightening in your chest. “The right choice? Jon, you don’t have to do this.” You stepped closer, your hand brushing against his. “You belong here. You belong with us… with me.”

He looked down, his face unreadable, though his jaw tightened. “Here?” he echoed, his voice laced with bitterness. “What am I here, Y/N? A reminder of what shouldn’t be, a ghost that haunts your mother’s halls.” He shook his head, the muscles in his face taut. “Out there, with the Night’s Watch, I could be someone, serve a purpose. I’d have a place, even if it’s at the edge of the world.”

“But you already have a place,” you insisted, your voice thick with emotion. “With us—with me. I don’t want you to go.”

For a heartbeat, he looked at you, raw and vulnerable, his gaze filled with a pain you recognized but had never truly understood. “Y/N,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. “I can’t stay here, not when I’m… so close to you, yet so far.”

Just as the silence between you grew heavy, Ghost and Shadow, sensing the change, exchanged a look before darting into the woods. Startled, you glanced after them, their forms blurring into the shadows of the trees.

“Ghost!” Jon called, his voice cutting through the stillness, but his direwolf paid him no mind, disappearing deeper into the trees with Shadow following closely.

Without a second thought, you both broke into a run, slipping between the trunks and branches as you chased the wolves. The air grew cooler as you moved further from the warmth of Winterfell, the sounds of the castle fading behind you. You finally caught up to them in a small clearing, where they had stopped, sniffing at something half-buried in the grass—a fallen bird, probably knocked from a tree by the wind.

Breathless, you stood beside Jon, a faint laugh escaping your lips at the sight of the two wolves nosing at the bird as if deciding whether it was worth their time.

“They’re quite the pair, aren’t they?” you said, glancing at Jon, your smile fading as you caught the lingering sadness in his eyes. He hadn’t stopped looking at you since you’d left the Godswood, and there was something between you, thick and unspoken, that words couldn’t seem to touch.

He took a step closer, close enough that you could feel the warmth radiating from him despite the chill of the forest. “Y/N,” he murmured, his voice low. “You’ve always been the one thing that made staying here bearable. I… I don’t want to leave you, but…” He hesitated, struggling to find the words. “But I don’t know if I can be what I’m supposed to be here.”

You placed a hand on his arm, feeling the solid warmth of him beneath the wool and leather. “And what are you supposed to be, Jon? Some… stranger sent to the Wall? You’re more than that. I see more in you than any title or duty.”

He closed his eyes, the conflict clear in the way he clenched his jaw, his fingers curling around your hand where it rested on his arm. “I wish things were different. I wish… I wish I could stay. But every time I see your mother’s eyes, I’m reminded that I don’t belong here.”

The distance you’d both run from Winterfell had made the world feel smaller, the space between you shrinking as he finally turned to you fully, his eyes holding a quiet despair mixed with longing. He was close, so close that you could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, his breaths mingling with yours in the cold air.

“Maybe one day, I’ll come back,” he said softly, his voice barely a murmur as he brushed a strand of hair from your face. “But I need to do this, for me. You understand that, don’t you?”

You swallowed, nodding, though your heart felt as if it were breaking. “I understand, Jon. But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop missing you.”

His gaze softened, a hint of a sad smile flickering on his lips. “I’ll miss you too, Y/N. More than you’ll ever know.”

For a fleeting moment, you were both suspended in the silent woods, lost in the ache of what could never be spoken aloud. You felt his hand linger on yours, the warmth of his touch grounding you in a way that made letting go feel impossible.

Then, as if sensing the silent goodbye, Ghost and Shadow returned to your sides, each wolf nudging against their human. You shared one last look, an understanding passing between you that held all the words you couldn’t say.

And then, without another word, you turned and made your way back to Winterfell, side by side but feeling worlds apart.

#game of thrones #asoiaf #a song of ice and fire #asoiaf x reader #fire and blood #hotd #house of the dragon #got/asoiaf #got x reader #got x you #got x y/n #got jon snow #jon x reader #jon x you #jon x y/n #jon snow #house stark

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readorsigh · 3 days ago

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Didn't reblog this the last time I came across it, but it definitely stuck with me and I've been thinking about it ever since

I like and see the appeal of "Dany, Jon, and Young Griff" as the three heads of the dragon/"new Targaryen trio." I can't help but think, however, that people who are reluctant to acknowledge that the real three heads are likely Dany, Jon, and Tyrion, are simply being ableist.

It makes sense that the three heads are Dany, Jon, and Tyrion, centered around Dany (she is Aegon the Conqueror Reborn; this prophecy centers around her, whether you like it or not).

All three have dealt with an undying threat using fire (the Undying, aptly named; a wight; a stone man).

All three have connections to dragons (Dany the strongest connection, one I don't need to elaborate on, hence being the center of the trio; Jon, who wishes for a dragon "or three," who speaks of a dragon warming things up at the Wall; Tyrion, who adores dragons, who yearned for one as a child and even dreamed of them, who is an expert on dragonology).

All three have had concrete, extensive ruling arcs (and not just "for thematic exploration," as some would have it, but as tangible demonstrations of what Westeros needs, and how Westeros could benefit if they were in charge), as Queen of Meereen, Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, and (acting) Hand of King Joffrey I Baratheon.

Both Jon and Tyrion show up in Dany's House of the Undying visions; Jon as Dany's third ?* in her bride of fire prophecy, Tyrion as a white lion running through grass. Tyrion similarly hears a prophecy of dragons from Moqorro, a prophecy that likely refers to both Jon and Dany, among other Targaryens, and is said to be a snarling shadow amidst them all. If that doesn't scream Tyrion's importance, especially his future connection to Dany and Jon both, I don't know what does.

All three are the third child of their parents, whose mothers died in childbirth, and all three have some kind of rivalry with an elder sibling (though Jon's relationship with Robb is the healthiest and most loving). All three also look up to their eldest brothers. All three had a negative relationship with an authority figure while growing up: Viserys, Catelyn, and Tywin (and for Cat haters, no I am not comparing Cat to Vis and Tywin, except to demonstrate the similarities in thinking and emotional state between the three).

All three suffer a formative betrayal that leads to a physical or metaphysical rebirth, taking place over ASOS to ADWD.

All three know what it's like to starve, be hunted, and live in deprivation. These aren't just random experiences; it's obvious that George is setting them up to brave the harsh conditions of the Long Night, possibly to find the heart of winter together. Being able to endure and survive starvation and the extremities of physical environments like The Wall, the Red Waste, and Slaver's Bay, are building blocks to this.

All three have connections to nomadic cultures that are seen as savage and barbaric––the Dothraki, the Free Folk, and the Mountain Clans of the Vale.

All three are positioned to rectify the wrongs of their houses, though thus far Dany has done the most concrete work in this regard (this is not a slight against Jon and Tyrion). More on this later.

All three are "outcast" POV's, even explicitly referred to as such by GRRM. Jon because he was raised as a bastard, Dany as an exile, bridal slave, and teenage girl, Tyrion as a dwarf who has been abused and maligned his whole life.

All three have had arcs that take place away from Westeros proper; again, this geographic and geopolitical distancing from Westeros only serves to enhance their ideological values as rulers and leaders.

Under the complicated rules of succession, all three are positioned to inherit a title that is not immediately accessible to them: Jon as King in the North (Winterfell), Tyrion as Lord of Casterly Rock, Dany as Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Why they can't access it is because of the very things that make them outcasts.

All three are foreshadowed to have three formative romances. Jon with Ygritte, Val, and ?*, Dany's marriages to Drogo, Hizdahr, and ?*, Tyrion with Tysha, Sansa, and ?**. Dany and Tyrion specifically share the parallel of having three marriages, with the first two "failing" in some way.

Their ruling arcs each deal with similar themes: the makings of war and peace, the line between compromise and justice, stirrings of revolution, poverty, hunger, disenfranchisement, exploitation, religion, ableism, classism, ethnic nationalism, etc.

Dany and Tyrion share in common being enslaved. This is a very important parallel that Jon does not have in common with them.

All three are related to, and have thus observed, kings: Jon is Robb's brother (biologically, his cousin) and observed Robert Baratheon; Tyrion is Joffrey and Tommen's uncle, and has extensively observed Robert and Joffrey; Dany is Viserys III's sister, and her POV is a bait-and-switch revealing that the protagonist of the Targaryen storyline is her rather than Viserys.

They have clearly outlined parallels with specific Targaryens from history: Dany with Aegon I, Rhaegar, Aegon V, Aegon III, and the first two Daenerys', most prominently, though the entire history of House Targaryen is centered around her so really every Targaryen could be counted here; Jon notably with the Targaryen bastards/dragonseeds, including Orys Baratheon, Jacaerys Velaryon, and Brynden Rivers; he is also paralleled with Aemon the Pale Prince; and Tyrion with Viserys II.

All three are romantic idealists; Jon and Tyrion are more outwardly cynical and ruthlessly pragmatic, however, a parallel they share with each other rather than with Dany, even if Dany will ~go darker~ in TWOW.

All three identify with beast/monster imagery, and not just because of their house emblems. All three have also been subject to malicious slander, in part because of their association with beastliness/monstrousness. All three are also seen as religious sinners/heretics.

All three have compassion for the marginalized (this is a fact; most ASOIAF fans tend to see Jon as a hero and Dany and Tyrion as villains, for obvious reasons, but as far as the text goes, all three are presented as empathetic toward the downtrodden and oppressed).

All three have both military and diplomatic experience; Jon is the only formally militarily trained one, with a traditional weapon (a sword), while Dany and Tyrion have to use more creative ways to wage war and fight in battle.

All three long for home, and feel guilty for doing so. Dany and Tyrion share a specific parallel of longing for an abstract ideal of home that may no longer be accessible (the house with the red door, the cottage by the sea).

Dany and Tyrion specifically share in common that they were suicidal. Dany was suicidal in AGOT, and Tyrion was suicidal in ADWD. Conveniently, the ASOIAF fandom wants both to die (as heroes or villains), and sees nothing wrong with such endings for them. One can argue that suicidal characters dying in the end is good, righteous, and beautiful, in the ASOIAF fandom (at least when it comes to these two).

Dany and Tyrion share in common that they failed to protect an innocent––Eroeh and Tysha––and this informs their political and spiritual development as rulers.

(*? = fill in the blank as you see fit; it is contentious in this fandom to admit who Jon and Dany's final romances are, and I am not in the mood to argue over this).

(**? = I genuinely am not sure whom Tyrion's third marriage will be with).

I could sit here all day and list parallels. These are just the ones off the top of my head. As you can see, Dany and Tyrion in particular share a lot of parallels unique between them. The experience of having a terrible father, and being alienated your whole life from your own family, while also taking pride in your family name, is something they will be able to help each other understand. The books are clearly setting that up.

Why then do people replace Tyrion with Arya or Faegon or Sansa or whoever else in the three heads of the dragon theory? Don't just chalk it up to different interpretations. The plain truth is that it's ableism. Tyrion isn't an able-bodied or conventionally attractive man and thus doesn't fit the aesthetic component of the three heads.

Yet for all the talk of wanting Dany to be the "antithesis" to house Targaryen, or wanting Dany, Jon, and Faegon to be Targaryens who "end the Targaryen dynasty" (is the dynasty not already ended?), why does no one speak of how Tyrion is the only Lannister in text to actually go against House Lannister, in concrete, material ways, and has suffered the consequences for it? The one Lannister who was barred from accessing his own identity? The one Lannister uniquely positioned to bring down his house?

Perhaps it's because what Tyrion represents is something people are afraid to admit about House Stark (upheld as unequivocally heroic) and House Targaryen (upheld as unequivocally villainous). Tyrion does not just foreshadow the ending of House Lannister as we know it; he foreshadows a RECREATION of it, a REFORGING in a new name and light. Tyrion has experience running the household at Casterly Rock, and did an excellent job of it. He was Hand of the King. He's known enslavement and hunger and violence, which a Lannister typically will never experience. This gives him a unique insight into understanding the plight and trials of the smallfolk who work Lannister lands and the commoners who work at Casterly Rock. Tyrion has not abandoned his identity as a lion of Lannister, even if he feels more alienated from it than ever. Nor has he abandoned love for his family, in spite of his dark spiral in ADWD. Yet his pride in being a lion, him being the only one of Tywin's children to truly resemble Tywin (as per Genna), while also undoing Tywin's legacy of oppression, and his idealism and desire for companionship and empathy, all exist in tandem.

Tyrion WANTS to be Lord of Casterly Rock. He WANTS to rule. He WANTS to be acknowledged as a Lannister. He WANTS vengeance against his enemies, including his own family. He WANTS a wife and family. All of this exists ALONGSIDE Tyrion wanting a simple life, to protect dwarves, enact justice for the disabled, care for the weak and innocent, create more equitable political institutions, foster more accountable ruling for the people, and pave the way for peace. Rather than Tyrion being part of "the good heroic house" (Starks) or "being the antithesis of House Lannister and dying to eradicate the house," Tyrion is clearly a balance forging new ground: an unabashed, proud Lannister, who envisions a future where a dwarf rules Casterly Rock, gets married, has children, may even be ruthless and cunning toward his enemies, but is also empathetic, compassionate, idealistic, dutiful, and kind. The crux of Tyrion's struggle is not "should I be good or should I be a Lannister," it's being accepted as a Lannister, knowing his disability, his status, his appearance, his values, his relation to his family. Tyrion as Hand of the King went against his own family, for both selfish and selfless reasons, and yet protected his family and heritage and strove to forge new ground AS a Lannister, rather than as an anti-Lannister.

This is anathema for ASOIAF fans, specifically in how they engage with Jon, Dany, House Stark, and House Targaryen. For the typical ASOIAF fan, Jon is a classic, traditional hero, unquestioned, unproblematic, unhateable. Jon is meant to "embrace" his Stark bastard identity and "reject" his Targaryen identity. His reunion with his siblings is meant to be nothing more than heartwarming and poignant. House Stark in this scenario is the "protagonistic heart" of ASOIAF, the unequivocal heroes, not problematized by the narrative in the slightest. House Stark "winning" is a moral victory, Northern Independence is reminiscent of anti-colonial justice, and a return to Stark rule is a proxy for GRRM's anti-feudalism, anti-war message, because the Starks are the good guys.

On the other hand, for the typical ASOIAF fan, Dany has to die. Now, some articulate this in the more honest, traditional way: Dany is a villain, destined to be a mad queen, and her death signifies the end of House Targaryen. Others articulate it in a more creative and deceptive way: Dany is just such a good person (with the caveat that she's still a "white woman whose arc is built on the suffering of women of color") that she clearly isn't like the rest of her family, and will happily die for humanity to redeem herself (because she'll still commit a sin; she has those dragons after all) and by dying, House Targaryen will end protecting humanity, where once it "colonized and enslaved humanity." The death of Daenerys Targaryen is supposed to emblematize a moral victory, anti-colonial justice, and a proxy for GRRM's anti-feudalism, anti-war message, because the Targaryens are the bad guys.

What we have here is that one side will win, reunite with his family, get the girl/the title/the house/the power, perhaps reject part or some of it so that the rest of his family can retain it, while the other side will have to die, either as a hero, villain, or redeemed anti-hero, and such death will thankfully symbolize humanity winning, order being restored, feudalism being destroyed, war coming to an end, peace flourishing, etc.

Where does Tyrion stand in this discourse? Usually nowhere. Most ASOIAF fans don't even care to write about his endgame; most of them write him off as a villain. Some think he'll die, some think he'll inherit Casterly Rock, but there isn't much passion in what most people theorize about his endgame. For better or worse, there is at least passion in people arguing over Jon and Dany's endgames.

In the TEXT, however, as I argue, Tyrion is someone who embraces his house identity and pride, while also going against the oppressive values of his family, and doing so in a material, concrete way. Tyrion doesn't cry about how awful Lannisters are, or hate himself for being a Lannister, or tell himself that he should give up his noble title in order to be a good heroic guy and save the day. But he DOES reflect on Tywin's evil, Cersei's greed, Jaime's stagnancy, Joffrey's petty tyranny, the near-enslavement conditions of the smallfolk at Casterly Rock, the corruption of the monarchic system in Westeros that the Lannisters benefit from, the ableism of his own family, how he benefits from the noble name that has also alienated him, etc. He seeks to protect victims of his family, like Sansa and Penny. Under the frameworks promulgated by the ASOIAF fandom, this should not be possible; he either should belong to "one of the good houses" (which the Lannisters clearly are not, and Tyrion is not Jaime, so he does not get the 50-page long PhD essays and dissertations on redemption, gender, and honor that Jaime does, despite being the more major Lannister POV character), or he should hate himself/distance himself from his evil family and die to eradicate their name (while Tyrion is suicidal in ADWD, it's not for selfless reasons; and he doesn't hate himself for being a Lannister, he hates himself for not being accepted by his family, for being a dwarf, for being a kinslayer, for being unable to save Tysha, for being hated by society).

Tyrion doesn't have to despise himself for being a Lannister in order to change his family and even be a class traitor to his own family. He also doesn't have to eschew his selfishly motivated ambitions and desires to effectuate real change. This makes him an excellent character, yet it also makes him one hard to parse for fans, not just because he is morally gray, but also because he defies the ASOIAF fanmade dichotomy of good house=good character/bad house=die (unless you're a teenage-girl coded cishet male character, e.g. Jaime, Theon, or Sandor). Tyrion isn't a selfless, abstract ideal of morally pure heroism. He has real flaws, often discomforting ones, and some of his desires are nasty. His ambition is ruthless. Yet he is still the one positioned to end House Lannister in its current form and recreate it completely.

It's clear that this is what unites the three heads: Targaryen, Stark, and Lannister, the actual heads of each house if they were allowed to be the heads if not for what makes them an outcast within their own family, embracing their names and identities while changing and recreating what it means to be each of these names. All three houses have been enemies at one point or another, but by coming together, these three will signify a real unity. Yet it's hard for fans to apply what Tyrion represents to Jon and Dany, firstly because most fans hate or ignore Tyrion, and secondly because Jon and Dany represent the two ends of the dichotomy I outlined. For fans to accept what Tyrion represents for the other two, they'd have to admit that House Stark is not the progressive, anti-colonial, feminist, pro-smallfolk force for change that fans claim it is, and they'd have to admit that Dany dying to end House Targaryen won't singlehandedly change the world and end oppression as we know it, and that House Targaryen isn't actually the devil.

A House Stark with a bastard as its head, mixed with Targaryen blood, is anathema to the history of House Stark. Have any bastards been Kings of Winter or Lords of Winterfell, save for Bael the Bard's child who killed Bael? Have any Kings of Winter had blood other than First Men blood (knowing that Starks only marry First Men-blooded houses)? Have any Kings of Winter intermingled with the Free Folk and reintegrated them into Westeros?

A House Targaryen with a teenage girl as its head may seem anathema to the history of House Targaryen, but it's not; really, it's a vindication for the women of House Targaryen. Certainly it's anathema to the WESTEROSI history of House Targaryen. What's even more anathema is a Valyrian heading an antislavery campaign and warring with other Valyrians to abolish slavery. This is the aspect of Dany's character that garners the idea that Dany is the anti-Targaryen Targaryen. Yet would not Jon be the anti-Stark Stark, by being half Targaryen and mingling with the Free Folk, when Stark identity for thousands of years has been rigidly defined in opposition to the Free Folk, exclusive of non-First Men blood, and in conformance with the Wall and what it represents?

That's what Tyrion is: House Lannister with a dwarf as its head, a dwarf who cares about women, smallfolk, bastards, commoners, children, and the disabled, who actually wants to protect the people rather than just exploit them, and who has killed and harmed other Lannisters both in the service of that cause and in service of his own goals. The other two heads of the dragon, Jon and Dany, are supposed to represent that balance and nuance as well, between embracing and embodying identity/rejecting its worst parts, destroying the old and ushering in the new.

But it's not in vogue to include Tyrion. He's not attractive enough and he's not able-bodied. He loves dragons, power, wine, and sex too much. He takes too much pride in his own identity and doesn't hate himself enough for being a Lannister. He's too ambitious. He's too ruthless. For a fandom so insistent on the aesthetics and performance of "ending the Targaryen dynasty and ushering in Northern Independence," he fits nowhere into that tapestry, so he is excluded. It doesn't sound as sexy to say he's the third head, not just because he isn't a Targaryen, but also because he doesn't fit the "pattern" ASOIAF fans want, of a "three heads" of the dragon that serves to uphold the centrality of House Stark as heroes and the centrality of House Targaryen as villains.

Yet it's for all of these reasons that TYRION is the third head of the dragon. People will continue to debate this and vehemently disagree (as if it makes sense for a completely minor character like Faegon to be the third head). However, only Tyrion thematically, philosophically, and plot wise fits the conception of the three heads of the dragon, and only he is foreshadowed to have that kind of relationship with Jon and Dany, but especially Dany.

#ASOIAF #ASOIAF Meta #ASOIAF Speculation #Tyrion Lannister #jon snow #danaerys targaryen

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