#laenor & laena really deserved so much better

[laenaism]

it’s kind of crazy to me how often people are so quick to downplay Laenor’s father role when it comes to the velaryon boys. i know their bastardy is rumored in the book and pretty much ‘proven’ in the show (even though they don’t actually know for certain bc they can’t do a paternity test lmao), but even if they are bastards, they are still Laenor’s sons. in that case, Laenor would be their adoptive father but that wouldn’t make him any less of their father than if they were his biologically. like imagine if you said to an adopted child, “but who’s your ACTUAL father?” that would be so offensive and cruel to both the child and their father. Don’t get me wrong, they could also acknowledge Harwin as their father, which Jace does in the show, but the complete disregard of Laenor i see in this fandom is WILD! Laenor spent ten years of his life with his sons, he taught them to fish, he sang them songs, no doubt snuck them food (like cake 😉) and told them about his adventures, and yet he’s looked at as ‘inferior’ bc the velaryon boys may not be his biological children 🤨? i know he left in the show, but let’s not act like he had a true choice in the first place. if he tried to stay, no doubt he would’ve been ‘mysteriously’ killed. all of this is to say that i genuinely hope some of y’all don’t go up to adoptive children/parents and go “you’re not actually their child/parent” but i fear some of you would feel inclined to. weird.

anyways, love how fondly Jace spoke of his father Laenor in the latest episode :)

i know f&b/hotd is fictional, but it still irritates me, i needed to rant about this lmao.

[ride-thedragon]

Baela and Rhaena headcanons.(HOTD)

@princesssszzzz for the concept and idea. Our girls deserve much better.

Baela.

1. She loved both of her parents the same and tried to take after both of them.

2. The reason she's on Driftmark is because she genuinely missed her mother and wanted to be surrounded by the place where Laena would tell her stories about.

3. She's the person who had Jace learning High Valyrian in a day. She made a joke about it and now he's doing it to prove her wrong.

4. Daemon was the one who suggested her and Jace after seeing that when she was on Dragonstone they'd spend the most time together outside of Rhaena.

5. She prefers to sword fight with Luke to Jace because they both get really competitive.

6. She was convinced for a while that Rhaena would hatch a male dragon and that their dragons would make clutches.

7. She now thinks that Rhaena will have a female dragon, and when it starts to lay eggs with Moondancer, they'll trade them with each other's kids.

8. She didn't think she'd marry Jace until Rhaenys declared it.

9. Vaemond always found a way to correct her, but he'd also tell her the ways she reminded him of Laena. (They seemed close during the wedding)

10. She kept a loc in her hair for Pentos , her mother and Rhaena until Rhaenys convinced her to take it out

11. She was convinced that Moondancer would be rideable before Arrax and was devastated when she wasn't.

12. The only reason she hasn't cut her hair short is because she's scared she'll look less like Laena.

13. Laena is definitely the reason she took her locs out.

14. She has plans to take up Dark Sister after Daemon.

15. She's passively good at politics.

Rhaena

1. Her and Daemon reconciled on the whole hatching dragons issue they had, Daemon actually talked to her about claiming dragons on Dragonstone.

2. Rhaena got a maid from Driftmark to maintain her locs on Dragonstone.

3. She tends to fight with Jace a lot more than anyone. Especially when it comes to politics.

4. The reason Rhaena didn't go to Driftmark was because the thought of being their without her mother alongside her was too much.

5. She likes to ask the boys about Laenor because they almost always mention Laena.

6. Rhaena speaks High Valyrian, better than Jace and Luke. She also picked up the common tongue from the free cities.

7. Rhaena prefers materials from Pentos to the ones found in Westeros.

8. She goes more frequently than anyone else to look for Baela on Driftmark.

9. When they were younger, Baela had convinced her that the Iron Throne was the way it was described in the books.

10. She didn't talk to Rhaneyra or Daemon or the first year on Dragonstone. Luke acted as the messenger between Rhaena and her dad.

11. She used to go with Daemon to find clutches of eggs and chose both for her younger brothers.

12. She tends to 'style' her locs in whatever position they stay in to look 'presentable' with court styles, but it's a lot of hair that's typically just in two braids down her back.

13. She's read the entire Dragonstone library, including the correspondences between nobles (the ones the maesters allow).

14. She's slowly convincing Luke to learn to sail so he can teach her in a more appropriate way but he gets sea sick.

15. Daemon and Rhaenys carry her from island to island when she doesn't want to go on a boat.

Both

1. Daemon had to sit both of them down and tell them not to ask if the boys were "actually" Velaryons.

2. They have entire conversations in Low Valyrian that only Daemon understands but never asks them to translate.

3. Rhaena took more to Joffery than her brothers while Baela is more hands on with them.

4. Rhaenyra tried to fill the maternal space at first, but they all preferred the relationship where she treated them like young ladies who she cares for and honors their mother.

5. They aren't aware of Daeron (just like us) , they hear of him in passing but have never actually met him.

6. They tend to side with each other rather than anyone else, especially when either of them are surely wrong.

7. They both tend to correct Rhaenyra and / or give her council when it comes to certain decisions. She never corrected them.

8. They both planned on naming their first daughters, Laena.

9. Rhaenys canonically corrected them both into saying Velayron correctly.

(I love the interview with Eve)

10. Rhaena was terrified when Rhaenyra was giving birth to Aegon, and Baela was distant with everyone for a few months later.

11. Neither of them like King's Landing, it's a nasty place.

12. They both don't prefer Valyrian customs, mostly weddings though.

13. Rhaenys obviously favors Baela and Rhaena, so whenever they go to Driftmark, they ask her to pick out three trinkets to give the boys.

14. Rhaena and Luke always point out when Baela and Jace mimick each other, and Baela and Jace mock the expression Luke and Rhaena share.

15. Baela is more casually political, where Rhaena is very hands-on with politics. Baela had to learn and develop her understanding with Rhaenys, where Rhaena was naturally inclined and argumentative. They also genuinely thought if they had to marry Jace and Luke, that Rhaena would marry Jace, and Luke would wed Baela, just based on their general personalities and where they stayed.

16. Rhaenys tried and failed to get them into the Baratheon style we saw Laena in during the wedding and in Pentos. They both hated it for different reasons.

[rhaenyrastark]

ships i like from got and hotd

i am very much a multi-shipper when it comes to the universe GRRM has written, i do have to say however there is one ship that i really dislike and will NEVER read; Jonerys (Jon Snow/Daenerys Targaryen), i always stop reading when this ship is mentioned in fanfiction and i will unfollow blogs that ship it. i ship people that i think would be good or interesting together (or if i just like both characters and would find them cute together)

got (game of thrones)

Jon Snow/Sansa Stark

Jon Snow/Ygritte

Samwell Tarly/Gilly

Khal Drogo/Daenerys Targaryen (i know this one is a bit controversial but i found them so cute by the end)

Sansa Stark/Tyrion Lannister

Jorah Mormont/Daenerys Targaryen (more tv show than the books)

Margaery Tyrell/Sansa Stark

Oberyn Martell/Ellaria Sand (just make Ellaria her season 4 characterisation or book ver because she is so weird in the tv show after s4)

Oberyn Martell/Sansa Stark

Oberyn Martell/Sansa Stark/Ellaria Sand (in a triangle type polyamorous relationship, i dislike reading v-shaped relationships)

Bran Stark/Meera Reed

Rickon Stark/Shireen Baratheon

Gendry Waters/Arya Stark

Sandor Clegane/Sansa Stark

Jon Snow/Arya Stark

Jon Snow/Robb Stark

Myranda/Ramsay Bolton (i love evil people with evil people that enable them to do more evil)

Trystane Martell/Myrcella Baratheon

Tormund Giantsbane/Brienne of Tarth

Talisa Maegyr/Robb Stark (i love Talisa, i thought their love story was such a cute thing from the show)

Arya Stark/Tywin Lannister (give me grown up version of Arya with Tywin, especially if they make the harrenhal scenes canon, *chef's kiss*)

Arya Stark/Jaqen H'ghar

Missandei/Grey Worm

Missandei/Daenerys Targaryen

Jaime Lannister/Cersei Lannister (toxic but they died in each others arms, tv show only)

Jaime Lannister/Brienne of Tarth

Mirri Maz Duur/Revenge (Mirri deserved her revenge even if it inconvenienced Dany a bit)

Catelyn Tully/Ned Stark

Elia Martell/Rhaegar Targaryen/Lyanna Stark (i can only get behind Rhaegar/Lyanna if Elia is there with them and they all survive, otherwise its just shipping 2 people that started a rebellion because they didn't tell anyone what they were doing or a guy who stole and raped a women. Elia basically deserved better)

Aegon VI Targaryen (Young Griff)/Sansa Stark

Aegon VI Targaryen (Young Griff)/Arya Stark

Robb Stark/Roslin Frey

Loras Tyrell/Renly Baratheon

Stannis Baratheon/Davos Seaworth

Sansa Stark/Theon Greyjoy

hotd (house of the dragon)

DAEMON TARGARYEN/RHAENYRA TARGARYEN (i will ship this until the day i die)

Daemon Targaryen/Laena Velaryon

Daemon Targaryen/Laena Velaryon/Rhaenyra Targaryen

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Harwin Strong

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Daemon Targaryen/Harwin Strong

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Daemon Targaryen/Harwin Strong/Laena Velaryon

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon/Harwin Strong

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laenor Velaryon/Harwin Strong

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Daemon Targaryen/Laenor Velaryon

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon/Laenor Velaryon/Daemon Targaryen

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Laena Velaryon/Laenor Velaryon/Harwin Strong

Rhaenyra Targaryen/Daemon Targaryen/Laenor Velaryon/Laena Velaryon/Harwin Strong

Laenor Velaryon/Daemon Targaryen

Harwin Strong/Daemon Targaryen

Laenor Velaryon/Harwin Strong

BASICALLY IF YOU COULDN'T TELL FROM THE ABSOLUTE LIST ABOVE I SHIP THE 5 (Rhaenyra, Laena, Daemon, Laenor, Harwin) IN ANY COMBINATION POSSIBLE BUT I CAN'T THINK OF ANY MORE COMBINATIONS RIGHT NOW

Aegon II Targaryen/Rhaenyra Targaryen/Daemon Targaryen

Aemond Targaryen/Helaena Targaryen

Baela Targaryen/Jacaerys Velaryon

Rhaena Targaryen/Lucerys Velaryon

Jacaerys Targaryen/Cregan Stark/Baela Targaryen (again in a triangle not a v)

Baela Targaryen/Lucerys Velaryon

Rhaena Targaryen/Jacaerys Velaryon

Aegon III Targaryen/Daenaera Velaryon

Aemond Targaryen/Lucerys Velaryon (only in very specific circumstances; (1) when Aemond turns to team Black/doesn't fight for team Green, (2) when Rhaenyra is guaranteed to become Queen in the fic or (3) non-canon compliant e.g. no killing Lucerys, etc.)

Alicent Hightower/Criston Cole (they deserve each other, both sexually repressed and doing things for 'duty' sake)

Corlys Velaryon/Rhaenys Targaryen

Laenor Velaryon/Joffrey Lonmouth

Laenor Velaryon/Qarl Correy

[lemonhemlock]

hello! hope you are well. i love love love your posts. they are always so reasonable and aptly put. so thank you for all your hardworks <3

i was thinking about something for a long time. i'd like to know your opinion on that.

it's obvious that rhaenyra never should have married laenor. in the book she was threatened by viserys to marry him and if she had remained defiant, viserys would have disinherited her. she felt pressured to marry laenor in the show too, so that whole thing was unfortunate for her. when she married laenor, in the show she couldn't conceive his child. and then perhaps she and harwin began their relationship. when jace was born, it was obvious that he wasn't a velaryon.

so, exactly what was rhaenyra supposed to do after jace? she needed an heir to secure her position, but with laenor, it wasn't happening. and when jace was born, he didn't look like rhaenyra either. was there any way for rhaenyra to annul her marriage without offending corlys? and even if the annulment was possible, how it would have affected laenor? would people have called him "less of a man"? everyone knew for a fact that laenor was gay.

even though i am team green i feel some sort of sympathy for rhaenyra here because i still don't know if there were any possible way to get out of that situation without causing a huge drama. that being said, vaemond and his family deserved better.

i know, there are too many questions and for that i'm so sorry, i just had to ask them to you.

Hello, sweet anon, thank you for your lovely message!

As it happens, I already made a post that, I think, answers most of your questions (if you have other additional ones, hit me up).

it's obvious that rhaenyra never should have married laenor.

I think Laenor is actually a very good political match for Rhaenyra. He is also a kind man, who respects her, abides by her and would never hurt her. The problem with the Velaryons is inherited from the previous Targaryen generation. By marrying outside the family, Rhaenys created two additional dragon-riders with her children. Think about the fact that, at the time of Rhaenyra's marriage, House Velaryon had three dragon-riders, while House Targaryen only two. Uniting these two branches through marriage is a very good idea. Just like Viserys marrying Laena would have accomplished the same thing (🤢).

in the book she was threatened by viserys to marry him and if she had remained defiant, viserys would have disinherited her. she felt pressured to marry laenor in the show too, so that whole thing was unfortunate for her.

Only after she made a mockery of her betrothal tour and almost-slept with Daemon. She has a lot of opportunities and freedoms out of reach for many other noble lords and ladies.

when she married laenor, in the show she couldn't conceive his child. and then perhaps she and harwin began their relationship.

Not sure about Laenor's infertility. It's more likely he & Rhaenyra didn't really try.

when jace was born, it was obvious that he wasn't a velaryon.

Yes. Perhaps Rhaenyra hoped Harwin had some recessive blond genes in his background (not phrased in that language, obviously) and the child would come out looking more like her. But it was a huge miscalculation.

so, exactly what was rhaenyra supposed to do after jace? she needed an heir to secure her position

No, she didn't. See the first linked post. I think the better option here would have been to name Aegon her heir* and for Laenor to pass Driftmark to Laena's line after his death. Viserys had already produced enough children with Alicent and House Velaryon has no lack of cousins who can inherit, if needs be. There are enough Targaryens and Velaryons in the world by this point; they are not facing extinction.

*No, her life would not be forfeit in that situation. Legally, her claim is not very strong (narrative weakness / plot hole) and realistically-speaking people would not have much reason to rally behind her. I have a whole succession for the Iron Throne tag for this.

was there any way for rhaenyra to annul her marriage without offending corlys? and even if the annulment was possible, how it would have affected laenor? would people have called him "less of a man"? everyone knew for a fact that laenor was gay.

Previous post on annulment + another one. Important aspect to keep in mind: why would the High Septon award Rhaenyra an annulment when the Faith of the Seven is based in Oldtown, the home city of the Hightowers?

that being said, vaemond and his family deserved better.

Agree. That was a grievous abuse of power. 🤷‍♀️ Personal ambition is not a crime. Even if you want to argue Baela & Rhaena are ahead of him in the line of succession*, Vaemond has every right to petition his case and await the King's judgment. He is not seizing anything illegally here. He is officially appealing the institution of the Crown and stating his own argument. Not Vaemond's problem Viserys is rotting from the inside out and he is basically petitioning Alicent & Otto.

*Controversial opinion, but I'm not arguing that. I think the girls should be disqualified because they are not putting their own cases forward as a result of their conflict of interests (their father being married to Rhaenyra, who is actively trying to usurp the Velaryons out of her lands). Again, not Vaemond's problem they are unwilling or unable to argue for themselves and indirectly abetting Rhaenyra's takeover.

even though i am team green i feel some sort of sympathy for rhaenyra here because i still don't know if there were any possible way to get out of that situation without causing a huge drama.

It's not so much that Rhaenyra made one or two mistakes and now she should be punished for them, it's more that... I'm really struggling to see what/if Rhaenyra did anything right at all. She has been skirting her duties all her life and everything she does post ep. 6 is damage-control, which inadvertently backfires on her, because the hole she dug herself in is already too big.

Nevertheless, Rhaenyra is in a very difficult situation, no doubt. It is not fair that she has to clean up the messes left behind by Jaehaerys and Viserys, the two "peaceful" kings. Jaehaerys should never have passed over Rhaenys in the first place. Viserys should never have remarried and produced extra sons. It's a difficult task, but it is her lot in life, should she ever wish to become queen. She can always pass this on to Aegon and live her life as a rich, comfortable woman. No one is forcing her hand here.

The only way I see Rhaenyra having a sliver of a chance is if she maintains a good, honest relationship with Alicent and her sons, marries a powerful, rich noble lord and has his trueborn children + petitions, wines & dines, gives out bribes and favours constantly to the lords and important players in Westeros, makes constant royal progresses, gets to know them, gets them to like her, helps them with their grievances, just basically lobbies the fuck out of every power centre in the Seven Kingdom, including the common folk. So that, when the time comes, she has so much popular support that she can basically impose herself via some sort of charismatic authority. Doesn't flee to Dragonstone, abandoning the capital and the practical governance. And absolutely does not kill her husband and does not marry Daemon.

i know, there are too many questions and for that i'm so sorry, i just had to ask them to you

No worries, I just hope I answered them! 🦄

[angiiiiexx]

Rating all the targaryen in f&b (book only)

Daenys the dreamer 7/10

- saved house targaryen

- predicting the doom is pretty crazy imo

- not really anything other interesting tho

Aegon l, the conqueror 8/10

- pretty cool and interesting

-bwould love to see a conquest show

Visenya Targaryen, the conqueror 10/10

- there's so much stuff about her I'd like to know (her relationship with rhaenys and aenys for example)

- she did so much for house targaryen

Rhaenys Targaryen, the conqueror 10/10

- her death made me kinda sad :(

- her bond with meraxes is so cute

- ancestor to all targaryen (mother)

Maegor l Targaryen 5/10

- was important for the future of their rule

- pretty interesting

- he's a bad person, tho so not a big fan

Aenys l Targaryen 6/10

- he seems like a nice guy but wasn't a good king

- not much to say about him

- his bond with quicksilver was probably cute, similar to his mom :(

Alyssa Velaryon 5/10 (not a targaryen, but I wanted to put her)

- not much about her

- her death made me put down the book

Rhaena Targaryen 10/10

- enjoyed reading about her

- deserved better

- wlw icon

Aegon Targaryen, the uncrowned 7/10

- I really like him

- his death made me sad and looking at pictures of it makes me feel uneasy

- he deserved better

Rhaella Targaryen, daughter of aegon the uncrowned 1/10

- forgot about her

- I do like that picture of her and aerea

Aerea Targaryen 7/10

- her death is the worst thing in f&b imo, made me stop reading for a couple hours

- I really want to know what happened to her (why did she claim balerion, where did they go?)

-very memorable

Viserys Targaryen, son of Aenys 8/10

- he's my fav irrelevant targaryen

- didn't know he existed until he died but his death stuck with me

- deserved so much better

Jaehaerys l Targaryen 6/10

- great king but bad father

- reading abt him bored me as he got older

- I wanted to know more about alysanne

Alysanne Targaryen 8/10

- liked her a lot

- deserved better

Daenerys, daughter of Jaehaerys 6/10

- she was cute and her death shocked me

- bonus points for the name

Aemon Targaryen 9/10

- he would have been such a great king (even better with baelon as hand)

- deserved better

Baelon Targaryen, the spring Prince 9/10

- would have also been a great king

- him and alyssa made me giggle, they're so cute

- I love his and aemon's relationship

- deserved better

Alyssa Targaryen 10/10

- her personality stood out to me

- she's so silly I love her

- I wish she hadn't died (baelon would have definitely gotten his own little army)

Maegelle Targaryen 1/10

- I forget about her

Vaegon Targaryen 0/10

- he's boring and I hate him

- was an asshole and a maester 🤢

Daella Targaryen 7/10

- not much about her

- her marriage and death made me cry a little, idk why (she deserved so much better)

Saera Targaryen 6/10

- I liked reading abt her

- made me dislike jaehaerys

- she and viserra remind me of my younger sister for some reason

Viserra Targaryen 6/10

- I kinda forgot abt her until her death

- I felt bad for her

Gael Targaryen 6/10

- irrelevant

- her death is so tragic tho

- she deserves better

Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen who never was 10/10

- my queen (fuck you jaehaerys)

- I enjoyed her character a lot

- her death was sad but also kinda cool

Viserys l Targaryen 5/10

- he was okay

- let the dance of dragons happen

- other than that he had a pretty solid reign

Daemon Targaryen 7/10

- very interesting to read abt

- has his flaws and weird aspects

- his death is so fucking cool, if I was a dragon rider and I would want to die like that

- can't really decide whether I actually like him or not

Aemma Arryn 6/10

- not much abt her but she made me sad

- her dying like her mother was so cruel

Laenor Velaryon 5/10

- I don't remember much abt him

- gay icon

Laena Velaryon 10/10

- she's really interesting and I like her a lot

- her friendship with rhaenyra seemed so cute

- I was excited about her getting adapted, I wanted to know more abt her

Rhaenyra Targaryen 9/10

- my queen (fuck you hightowers)

- I felt so bad for her

- did not deserve any of the things that happened to her

Aegon Targaryen, the elder 0/10

- rapist and usurper

Helaena Targaryen 3/10

- I forgot abt her until b&c, then forgot abt her again until she died

- deserved better

Aemond Targaryen, the kinslayer 0/10

- misogynistic piece of shit

- feel kinda bad abt the eye tho

Daeron Targaryen 4/10

- had like one interesting line

- was disgusted by what happened at tumbleton

- that the only thing I remember abt him

Baela Targaryen 9/10

- she's so cool

- I want to see more of her if f&b2 ever releases

Rhaena Targaryen, daughter of Laena 8/10

- I really like her

- she has the prettiest dragon

Jacaerys Velaryon 8/10

- interesting characters during the dance

- his death made me sad

- would have been a great king (with baela as queen)

Lucerys Velaryon 5/10

- not much about him

- how/why does a 5 year old cut out the eye of a 10 year old?

Joffrey Velaryon 6/10

- only thing abt him is wanting to protect dragons and avenge his brother :(

- his death was not nice to read about

Aegon lll Targaryen 8/10

- everything abt him makes me sad

Viserys ll Targaryen 7/10

- I was suprised when he came back

- that scene made me cry out of joy it was so cute, one of my fav moments in f&b

Jaehaerys Targaryen, son of Aegon ll 2/10

- irrelevant

- pity points

Jaehaera Targaryen 5/10

- her death suprised me

- she would have probably been "happier" if she wasn't married to aegon, that was not a fair marriage to either of them

Maelor Targaryen 3/10

- irrelevant

- his death is quite memorable tho

That's it

[simplynotcapable]

hey blue!! how was vacay?

also i had so many feels around this and would kill for your thoughts on this:

“I know you,” Visenya agreed. Her voice was shaking more than she liked, but she could not make it go steady. It was let it shake or break down crying, and she would not weep here with Daemon’s eyes on her face and Nyra’s anger slicking her skin like oil. “I know you, and I love you. I do, Nyra, I love you well, better than anyone, but that does not make me blind. I was there. I was there on Driftmark, when the two of you went to the beaches before Laena’s body had hit the seabed, when you came back with sand in your hair. I saw the way he looked at us, and I knew something terrible was going to happen, and, when the letters came, when they told me Laenor was dead, I knew. I knew it did not matter what Father said, I knew how he died, and I love you so fucking well that I bit my tongue until it bled and defended you every time anyone dared to suggest it—”

 “You think I would let him lay a hand on Laenor? I did not love him, no, but he was dear to me! I would not wed the man who killed him! If you knew me half so well as I thought you did, you would know that!”

“Lie,” Visenya hissed through clenched teeth. “You are no fool. You are not stupid. You are lying to me, or you are lying to yourself, but you are lying all the same.”

Rhaenyra laughed, an incredulous sound as her face flickered through more feelings than Visenya could place. “Is this why you would not speak to me? Years now, and it was because the snakes in the Keep has poisoned you against me? Because of Laenor?”

“He taught me to swim,” she answered, helplessly, and roughly fisted the tears away from her eyes. “He read to me, when I could not sleep. He and Harwin taught me the sword. He was silly, and he was foolish, and sometimes I hated him for never being what we all needed him to be, but he was good. He was a good man, and he did not deserve to die just so Daemon could find his way to your bed! I love you. I love you. But I cannot just…forgive that and forget it. I cannot just pretend it did not happen, it is not so simple!”

and also daemon's and even nyra's. honestly, i'll take anything you can tell me about this entire confrontation if it isn't too much lmao

my brother and i climbed a small mountain to explore a weird cave and we both fell down a hill so vacation was a success 10/10

Visenya and Laenor is really interesting to me because he’s one of the few people that she doesn’t have to have complicated feelings about. Laenor is just Laenor. She wishes he was more what Rhaenyra needs in a husband, and sometimes she’s angry that he doesn’t see the things she and Rhaenyra can see so easily, but none of that changes that she loves him. He’s Laenor. He doesn’t treat her differently from the boys, even though she’s not his daughter, and he never looks through her like Viserys does. She can love him without constantly being on edge about it, like she is with the Targtowers. He’s not Nyra, who Visenya is always worried about making bad decisions and acts as this kind of icy buffer between Enya and the rest of their siblings because of her own hangups about them. He’s not Harwin, who she can’t even care about in front of anyone else.

She gets to just be a child with Laenor, completely uncomplicated. She doesn’t have to do anything or be anything, she doesn’t have to help hold him up. She doesn’t have to protect him, like she feels she needs to protect everyone else.

Laenor’s death completely takes that away from her. There is no one else in her life that she loves without feeling like they’re her responsibility to look after. Even Rhaenyra, who she thinks of as something like a mother, Visenya is constantly fretting over her decisions and her behavior. Harwin was kind of similar, but he’s dead, too.

Laenor’s the only one, and that’s why his death hurts so bad.

And she knows it was Daemon. There are lots of rumors flying around that Rhaenyra and Daemon had him killed or killed him themselves, and she fights them hard because she still loves her sister, but she’s pissed. She’s lost someone, someone that by all rights Rhaenyra should also be devastated over losing, and instead her sister marries the man Visenya believes killed him.

And she hates Daemon for taking Laenor away from her, for taking him away from the boys, and a part of her hates Rhaenyra for letting it all happen—and she’s angry with herself for being angry with Rhaenyra. She’s a ball of grief and anger and indignation, and none of this ever even crosses Rhaenyra’s mind.

She has no idea why Visenya won’t answer her letters! She cannot figure it out. They didn’t argue after Driftmark. They’ve never really argued. The only thing she can think of is Visenya being angry about Rhaenyra flinging Aemond into the line of fire during the confrontation, but she didn’t seem angry about that after it happened. She doesn’t know. She has no clue. She spends years with her mind whirling, trying to come up with an answer, and Jace and Luke have no idea, if they ask Visenya ignores the question, and she just. She wants her sister back.

And then she gets her back, and she finds out…Visenya’s angry over something she didn’t do. She’s angry about them killing Laenor, which they didn’t do, Laenor isn’t even dead. She’s listened to the rumors and she believes them. She believes Rhaenyra would allow it or, at the very least, overlook it, and she hates that. She hates that her sister could believe this of her, that Visenya doesn’t believe her even when she denies it. It hurts. It pisses her off.

She feels like she’s lost her, that Visenya’s been snatched up by Alicent and all her little whisperers in the Keep, and she can’t handle that. She can’t handle losing Visenya anymore than she could handle losing one of her boys, which is why she snaps and tells her the truth.

And this is Daemon’s first real dose of the Targaryen sisters’ relationship, and he is genuinely pleased about it in a way Visenya doesn’t notice. Because, yes, Visenya hates him, Visenya’s pissed at Rhaenyra, but even within all that she’s still loyal to Rhaenyra. Even thinking they killed someone she loved, that doesn’t waver.

She loves Rhaenyra the way he loves Viserys, though purer and not tinged with Daemon’s personal brand of envious tomfuckery. She loves her sister even when she hates her, and he sees himself in that. He sees himself in her, and—no matter how much she hates it—he’s right. She’s angry like Daemon and she’s spiteful like Daemon, she’s loyal to the point of losing herself like Daemon. She’s a little bit mad, just like Daemon.

He likes that. He feels connected to her because of that, even if Visenya would rather claw out his eyes than have a conversation with him.

To push it a little more even though this isn’t technically related to this quote, Visenya maintains her dislike after finding out Laenor is alive is because she has memories of a different Daemon.

Visenya remembers a Daemon who had a much better life and was much softer. He was a better person, for the most part, and a kinder person because Baelon’s existence pushes him onto a different path. She loved that Daemon. She thought of him like a father.

And she sees this Daemon, and he’s different. She sees the difference, the twisted parts of him, that he’s more brutal and broken, and she doesn’t trust that. She can see all the parts of him that are poison, and she wants nothing to do with it.

And it’s hard for her to hate him in this life—harder than grieving him was in that other life—but there’s something not right about him and she can’t make herself look past it.

[primordial-shade]

Ok so I want to run through one of my previous posts again because I felt I didn't explain it well and it deserved a better write up.

So here I am with my Laena/Rhaenyra ABO au again

Firstly lets talk through the hierachy seen in Westeros:

From highest on the hierarchy to lowest as seen through the eyes of the faith and the nobility of Westeros

Alpha-Male Beta-Male Omega-Male-Alpha Female Beta Female Omega Female

Omega Males and Alpha females are regarded on similar levels but Omega males are often treated better because they have a cock.

Because fucking Westeros.

So anyway here is the layout of orientations:

Corlys (B) Rhaenys (A) Laenor (O) Laena(A) Addam(B) Alyn (B) (Yes these two are now Rhaeny's kids because I said so)

Viserys (A) Aemma (O) Rhaenyra (O) Daemon (A)

Aegon (B) Helaena (O) Aemond (A) Daeron (O)

Alicent (O) Otto (B)

Ok here we go:

Laena and Rhaenyra were really close as children. They were born a few months apart and when Rhaenys was in the capital the Velaryron family often spet time with the family.

However after the council debacle and Viserys being a shit and alienating most of his family Laenor and Laena spent more time with their mother and father on Driftmark. They came back once and a while but not for long.

Then Aemma dies.

Rhaeny's is apoplectic in her rage when she hears what her cousin did, she has to be stopped, 5 months pregnant as she is with twins, from burning Viserys alive for how he destroyed a member of their family.

Wife slaying and Kinslaying.

Because yeah, Aemma is family as well and Viserys ordered her death. Its Kinslaying y'all as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway they do go to the Redkeep but only for one person, Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra, who awakened her secondary gender on the day of her mother's death and became an Omega as her father killed her mother.

When they get there they find that only Daemon has been taking care of the princess, her body going through painful and sudden changes whilst she grieves for her mother.

Visery's is no where to be seen and Daemon is sneaking around having already been banished. The kingsguard keeping him secret because Visery's has sent no one to care for the princess and her Lady Alicent has been missing since the week after Aemma's death.

Rhaeny's nearly shouts down the castle. And Corly's, as ambitious as he is, see's this all and immediately destroys all plans of marrying his beloved daughter or son to Visery's. Not with all this, not when seeing his niece, the child Aemma so adored and loved, in such a state, still clutching her mothers bloodied blankets as she wails in pain and grief.

After settling her family they take control. Rhaeny's orders Daemon to stay and over the next week they help Rhaenyra with her new biology, and Laenor is so so happy for another omega in the family, and to arrange her mothers funeral. Viserys only tries to protest Daemon remaining but Rhaenys is angry and her niece need them all. Viserys walks away bruised and bloodied.

Over those two weeks they cousins become close again and Laena quickly begins to fall for her cousin. Who despite her pain and grief is working so hard to prepare and ensure things are running smoothly, to ensure her family has the funeral they deserve.

The funeral happens, Rhaenyra is named heir and her and Laena grow ever closer.

Then one night, a month after the funeral, Rhaenyra asks Rhaenys to go with her to her father. They have barely spoken much since her mothers death and whilst Rhaenyra is still angry,so so angry, she still loves him and he is her only parent left.

They go to the room and with no delay barge in.

To find Visery's in bed with Alicent.

Whatever love Rhaenyra may have for her father dies in that moment.

It is a spectacle the castle will never forget. The pregnant Queen that never and the princess was dragging Alicent and Viserys from the bed screaming in rage and disgust. Soon the whole city knows the Hands daughter was deflowered by the King and even when they marry a scant 2 months later the whole of Westeros knows about the scandal.

It doesn't help when Aegon is born barely 6 months later.

This is not happening under Rhaenys watch goddamit. Especially as she noticed the growing bond between her daughter and niece. Her daughter is her miniature after all, and it was Rhaenys who took her dragon and followed Corlys for a year before her grandfather finally gave in an agreed to the match. And she will be damned If she allows Visery's weakness to ruin their house.

Guess what goddamit, her daughter is an alpha. You didn't want a queen? Well now you're gonna get two motherfuckers.

Corlys is immediately on board. He loves his wife so much and he can make sure his daughter gets a powerful match as well? With his niece who adored her mother and her family so dearly unlike her sack of shit of a father? Sign him up, he will kill and die for his family, and he also gets to right the wrong against his beloved princess, the woman who travelled with him for a year to ensure she wed him?

Hell yeah.

Queens Laena and Rhaenyra Targaryean has a fucking great ring to it.

Meanwhile we'll go to Rhaenyra and the kids, including Daemon because to Rhaenys they are all kids, her kids.

Daemon is pretty much sticking to his family. He refused to leave after seeing what happened to Aemma. He loved Aemma dearly and seeing hsi brother destroy his wife like so many of their ancestors destroyed him. His father never forgave himself for his mother's death even though she wanted another child. Aemma had begged Viserys to stop and he didn't, he had sliced her open and killed her for a child that didn;t live a day.

So fuck Viserys banishing him. He is the leader of the Targaryean house now as far as he was concerned, his brother gave up all rights to their family when he did what he did. Daemon has always resented Westeros culture for infecting his family. He knows that Valryia did terrible things, enslavement and forceful prostitution. But they ensured their women and omegas were treated as the important figures they were. Precious life givers who continued their ways. Half of Valyrian houses were Matriarchal and led by life-givers.

And because of this place his family was murdering them.

So he stays, he hides in the catacombs and tunnels, the gold cloaks and Kingsguard keeping him a secret after Otto gets Viserys to banish him, because his niece is in pain and so is he and they need each other. He knows Otto wants more power and he knows with him disinherited in favour of his niece she will be the net target.

He never regrets supporting Viserys more than he does this day. Curses the 15 year old that loved his brother so dearly that when he begged his brother to support him he did so with little question.

So he calls in his cousin. He brings the Velaryons down on Kingslanding and upon Ottos head.

Rhaenyra spends the first few days after her mother's death grieving and in pain. The sudden shock sent her biology into its next stage of evolution and the suddeness has meant it is more painful than it should be. Her uncle is by her side and if she is honest he is more like her brother than her fathers. He hides from everyone and ensures she can grieve with his support.

And he ensures the rest of their so small family is there as well.

Her aunt Rhaenys is a bastion for them both. Afterall Aemma practically raised Daemon in part as well as was the most protesting when he was married off to the Royce family. Her family's lesser house married to a prince??? It was audacious.

Anyway Rhaenys and her family arrive to Kingslanding and Rhaenyra finally has the support to properly process her grief and begin planning a funeral for her mother and baby brother, which her father has not started.

Whilst the funeral happens and she is named heir after the weird underground meeting with her father, she grows close once more with her cousins and especially her cousin Laena.

She does note Alicents dissapearance but Rhaenyra loves her friend and knows Alicent lost her own mother too. She thinks her friend is grieving in her own way though she is hurt her friend did not come to comfort her.

But her and her cousins become as close as any and she becomes very close with Laena.

Then she comes across her father and Alicent. She ensures both are shamed across the country with their action and ensures everyone knows her ex-friend was pregnant before the wedding, making them wait two months to ensure she is before she lets them wed.

Because Viserys is being controlled by the three adults who demand a semi-proper mourning process occurs before they are allowed to be wed.

And Rhaenyra begins to plan. Her family begin to plan.

Rhaenys immediately asks if Rhaenyra wants to Marry Laena and vice versa. Both girls quickly agree with the allowance of a longer courting process. Rhaenys and Corlys immediately agree with with Viserys having done what he did Rhaenys quickly manipulates him into taking control of the family 'whilst he rules'.

Both girls are engaged and Laenor also demands he be allowed to Wed Daemon. Rhaenys immediately demands an annulment for Daemon and engaged them to marry when Laenor turns 18 in a year.

Daemon is very happy with this.

Corlys is absolutely delighted. Both his children managed to bag dragon riding royalty he had never been so happy. These are his kids!!!

Viserys has little say and its already sealed by the time he thinks to tell Otto who nearly has an apoplectic fit. But he can;t stop it, cuz hes a bitch.

Rhaenyra also ensures he is quickly gotten rid of. How you ask, well she persuades her uncle to take her to a brothel. Of course its not really her, but silver haired mimic her aunt finds her.

When Otto triumphantly tries to show this to Viserys nearly all the kingsguard and her family tell them she was with her family all night. Dameon even brings in the mimic and says he was simply enjoying what the street of silk has to offer.

Otto is gone a month before his precious Aegon is born.

Laena supports her the entire way of course. This is her princess afterall, and though the faith tries to argue the Doctrine of exceptionalism comes in clutch. Because A Valyrian partner is always preferable to a non Valyrian one. Get wrecked you pious bitches.

Alicent meanwhile is not having a good time. Her marriage to the King was meant to be worth it. Listen I had sympathy for Alicent at first, but that bitch literally went 180 on Rhaenyra when she thought she fucked her uncle. Like bitch???? You were fucking her dad like a few weeks after her mother died?? You fucking hypocrite, go suck Viserys rotting dick you absolute bitch. I hope you both die of the pathetic condition of being an absolute insidious bitch. Fuck you both.

Ahem anyway Alicent is not having a good time and neither is Viserys. Alicent wanted to be queen! TO be respected. But after everything the faith barely allowed their marriage, she was simply a consort and everyone knew. She heard whispers in the hall, the whore they call her, she could barely tell her own blood from the queens when she fucked the king.

She almost instantly turns venemous when Rhaenyra has her father sent away, she immediately pulls Larys and Cole, bitter his 'love' was marrying another woman rather than him (Like the fuck dude?? You could have been her sugar baby shut up goddamit.)

Alicent is also no way prepared to be a parent. Her father never taught her motherhood, as far as he was concerned servants did the child raising. But without him and the Velaryons and Rhaenyra and Daemon sweeping the keep she can;t bring in Hightower loyalists as hard as she tries. Viserys is also fucking useless because of course he is the giant pathetic cunt so baby Aegon barely gets one wetnurse and a few maids.

Rhaenyra comes across this and is furious. Rhaenys had expressed that the children of her friend and father would not be at fault and Daemon had, reluctantly, expressed having them loyal to her would be more beneficial. Laena simply told her that they were still her siblings.

Rhaenyra didn;t account for how desperately she wanted siblings. Aegon is small, with pure silver locks and blue-purple eyes and she loves him almost as immediately as she see's him. He comes alive in her arms, giggling and sweetly smiling and it takes a second before she is whisking him away and assigning him a guard, three wetnurses and a small army of maids.

And thus Aegon, and all his future siblings, join Team Black.

Alicent tries to get it back under control, and Viserys attempts to force the issue but Rhaenys compares Aegons treatment with the way Addam and Alyn are being raised and he goes belly up like the insect he is.

And so Rhaenys takes control of the raising of all the Targ kids. With Rhaenyra right by her side.

Laena, only telling Rhaenyra and her mother, dissapears a week after this happens, appearing a few days later riding Vhagar into the city.

Needless to say no one is protesting her engagement to Rhaenyra now.

(If Rhaenys was heard laughing herself sick when it happened no one tells)

The the war of the Stepstones begins. Daemon, Laena, Laenor and Corlys head out. Rhaenyra wants to as well but with her brother growing, Alicent already preganent again and her need to become a stronger heir she stays behind with Rhaenys, Aegon, Addam and Alyn.

In the Stepstones Laena quickly becomes vital to their victory. Vhaegar is one of the only dragons alive capable of melting stone and so she is put to task burning the pirates from their caves. Daemon and Laenor have more agile dragons and fight the ships and perform more acrobatic maneouvers. It takes two years to finish but the war is finished.

Meanwhile Rhaenyra and Rhaenys strengthen their positions. Rhaenys gets recommended as Hand of the King by Rhaenyra and Viserys folds of course. Rhaenyra also gets a bunch of new Ladies in Waiting from the major houses and begins a huge amount of improvements to the cities, funding it first with her own funds and then using funds she gains from buying nearly every brothel in Kings Landing. ALso lots of Blackmail is involved. Even Larys feels the pain after one of his favourites turns on him, again fuck this guy he treats women like shit and his favourite is sick and tired of him. Her name is Iliana and she's from Essos and the Princess is ;listening to her ideas of how to improve the brothel system and ensured her horrible master got eaten by Dragons.

There is still a Green Faction, because ofc, but they aren't as strong especially when the Prince Aegon hardly recognises his own mother because his sister and Aunt mostly raised him. He wouldn't even know he had a dad if Rhaenyra didn;t explain they shared a father. Aegon honestly can't remember a time his mother actually held him for more than a few seconds and his father barely pays attention to anyone except Rhaenyra. He basically thinks he's Rhaenyra's kid and the same happens with Helaena, Aemond and Daeron. I think if it was any other scenario Alicent would have been fine raising the kids through maids. But as a woman trying to usurp a throne she needed to be more hads on with her kids honestly and in the show its evident she's uncomfortable with motherhood until Aemond, but by that Point Viserys is his usual self, she has no father for support and shes trying to run up support for her son by herself.

Her kids become Rhaenyras, and she adores them. She gives Aegon and Daeron egss from her clutched that hatch and when Helaena and Aemonds do not she takes then on Syrax and helps them find their own dragons. Dreamfire for Helaena and Grey Ghost for Aemond.

Going back a bit however Laena and everyone returns from the stepstones in good health and two royal marriages are quickly planned.

It is a day of splendor when Rhaenyra and Laena, and Daemon and Laenor marry. Though both Queens are known in history as the Black Queens they were also known as the Queens of Fire and Sea. Rhaenra and Laena dressing in red and blues, gifting each other rich gifts to reflect their heritages as Targaryean but also Velaryon and Arryn. Laena often wears Blues, golden jewllery shaped like dragons and waves, shaped like creatures of the sea. All gifted by her loving wife. Rhaenyra much the same dressed in red, dressed in golden dragons and fire. Rubies and Pearls adorn them both.

In the traditions of the Faith and of their own Faith they are wed and it is soon after both Rhaenyra and Laenor fall pregnant.

Now heres where I had some debate but I decided that Laena and Rhaenyra would have Rhaena, Lucerys and Baela and Laenor and Daemon would have Jacaerys.

Here is the full kid list:

L+R : (Baela, Rhaena, Lucerys) (Aemon Baelon) (Visenya Monterys) (Rhaenys Aemma)

L+D: (Jacaerys) (Saera Gael) (Corlys II (Joffrey)), (Vaelaena Daenaera)

I put them all in brackets to show where they are but yeah Rhaenyra busted out triplets on her first go and Baela was named Heir, being out first.

Both Corlys and Rhaenys are exstatic, THey steal the kids whenever they want, including Rhaenyras siblings because they are also theirs. Fuck off everyone. You can often find their children and thier partners trying to hunt them down to get back their children.

Baela and Jacaerys are married and Rhaena marries Saera and lead driftmark. Helaena marries the heir of house Celtigar, Aemond and Lucerys and can be found travelling around the world often. Aegon never thinks he will end up married but ends up in Dorne and seduced by its future princess which sccessfully brings them together with the rest of the Kingdoms. In a hundred years practically every major house in Westeros is Valerian thanks to intermarrying and dragons fill the sky. My basic idea for this is Rhaenyra hears the prophecy, tells the others and everyone quickly decides more Dragon riders are needed right now. It spreads expecially including another idea I have which meants that they all manage to reclaim knowledge from old Valryia including numerous surviving dragon eggs.

I might have to do another part because this is getting very long but this is my genuine idea.

[reginarubie]

The Dance has begun. I can understand Sansa, as for why she feels so small again, calling out to her real family even more desperately — if only these people knew what was coming, just like she does! And right now she's not that Little Bird, she's a fighter and she won't run. I love this girl and how full of compassion for other people she is. She knows that innocents are going to be sacrificed for literally nothing. Alicent does too, but she blindly prays for salvation because opening her eyes would kill her. Rhaenys does too, but... I mean, this lady has issues. Or maybe she's just THE Targaryen and it is ✨fine✨ for them to think like that. Ugh, cringe bitches, both her and Rhae — Laenor deserved better, just like Symon does, though he's got something better than he hoped for. Ned is saving him just as much he & his fam saved her from Larys. *In Aemond's voice* It's a fair exchange. And oh no Rhaenys, don't you compare Lady Whent to your spoiled cun..ning niece. Ugh, I can't stand her in any universe, sorry. One more proof you got all the characters so well! But enough of the Blacks, my Green boys! Sansa is definitely all of us watching THAT scene 🤣 Despite it's being a fight scene it's absolutely heartwarming and I was happy to experience a better version of it. Aegon and Sansa need to chat more Imao, it's sending me 😜

But Aemond, babe, your plan! It wasn't that bad. Almost as okay as Daeron becoming a king in F&B. However, their loyalty to Aegon is here again to ruin the day. Loyalty is a great thing but did any of you except Niddle listen to Aegon himself? HELAENA MY DEAR SHE'S HAVING SUCH A BAD TIME WITH ALL THIS BULLSHIT. Cousin Ned is there for you to feel valuable 💜 I hope Cole mentions that it was Ned's idea, the crown.

Also... One more hint on the possible third team... The Starks + Firesteel? Would be perfect 🥺 Waiting for the Storm's End. Hope Ned does something to Aemond's anger issues hehe... But even if Luke doesn't die, something tells me the Blacks still won't be satisfied. Either way, may Lady Stark survive them all once more 😈

Ciao Anne!,

As always thank you for your review it’s amazing!

Rhaenys is still a Targaryen to the core and she has her own plan, she doesn’t trust Rhaenyra one bit, but she has her plan and won’t be standing down about it. Her girls need to inherit Driftmark and their children — Laena’s grandchildren — to sit on the Iron throne for her revenge to be complete, also, it felt fitting with the way she acted with the attack to the Sept that Rhaenys would be like “The Realm ain’t my responsibility since they rejected me. Now they pay the price”

Aegon is very aware that he is not fit to rule — maybe he might have been but his issues are all over the place — and he knows Ned is more clever than she lets on, he has seen it, and he’s a little spoiled shit anyway. So ofc their interactions would be fun 😂😂😂 he be like “Where’s ya husband, cousin?” a jab to her and Aemond alike and then be like “Ya know, I know, the Seven know. Are you more attached to reality than these idiots?”

Helaena is a baby and she must be protected at all costs, and Sansa is there for it. In the book it was Alicent and Helaena both who talked Aegon out of full war and convinced him to offer her peace terms. So she’s much more involved than the show made her — terrible really so we’ll see more of her. Sansa’ll make sure of it!

Aemond’s contingency plan wasn’t that bad, and it took into account several issues… still could the Greens claim to be better than the Blacks if they fought an intestine war between themselves? No. They love each other, they’re loyal — never forget Aegon commissioned ginormous statues of his brothers, Aemond never took the throne though he acted as Prince Regent and Daeron actually throw wine in the face of the lord who dared suggest he stole his brother’s crown.

Like Alicent did one thing right, she made sure her children would be united and loyal and true to each other — we see that also in the private dinner scene in the show, Aegon shoulders Aemond in his speech and immediately is ready to throw punches when the Black kids come for them making sure to humiliate them by slamming their face in the plate — 😂😂😂.

Lady Stark is much stronger than anyone gives her credit for, much more clever than anyone gives her credit for and much more good and brave than anyone gives her credit for. She’s going to eat you all alive and make of you all her project to save the North and you will do it gladly because she asked nicely. 😂😂😂

That’s Sansa superpower. Her own brand of magic.

Thank you again for dropping by and for the amazing review!

As always sending all my love ~G.

[raksh-writes]

A couple of hotd season 1 episode 7 thoughts:

Corlys you fool, Rhaenys be there spitting facts and yet you care about your pride more aghhh (I mean, I get his reasons, but also I feel like Rhaenys should've pushed him harder -- and apparently its just the beginning of dismissing Laena's daughters in the show?? Ugh, hate that, I'd love to see More of them)

I have to say, Rhaenyra x Daemon? Not feeling it, haven’t been feeling it from the start and Im still very much not feeling it. Might be because I just really dislike that prick Daemon (fuck him so very much, especially for Laena, oh my god, she deserved so much better) but also, I do rarely like the most popular ships so... oh well 🤷‍♀️

Granny Vhagar is Awesome, she's so damn badass, I love her 😍 Every scene with her is just *chef's kiss*

I feel like... there should’ve been more urgency about Rhaenyra's wound in the moment? There was A Lot of blood there, how is no one calling for measters or putting something on her wound to stem the blood flow? I get the drama, but that could'e Added to it, instead of being just stupid and pulling you out of the scene ;/

Aemond is... interesting. Which is more than I can say about a lot of other characters and I do know he turns prettyyy evil but... oh well, I do like interesting villains ^^

Ngl, kinda hate them (mostly Rhaenyra tho, Deamon just seems there and he's a fucker already) for what they did to Laenor, or rather, to Rhaenys and Corlys, like... the fuck?? they lost both of their children in the span of like two days? poor Rhaenys, she was so devastated ;_; I mean, I get what they tried to do, changing his death in the book to a somewhat more of a "happy" ending for him but... I dunno, I don’t feel that it's much better to be honest ;/ And it happens just as he was ready to commit fully to Rhaenyra and their sons too, and as he just lost his sister, so now he'd have to leave his Whole family behind just... I dunno, cause he feels guilty? It's... not very compelling, at least for me. His death would’ve been tragic, for sure, but it would’ve been a very In-Universe thing, not all that surprising in the world they live in + wouldn’t add another ick-factor to Rhaenyra's and Daemon's wedding ;/ I dunno, mixed feelings on this one, but yeah, doesn’t endear the ship or the characters more to me.

Welp, that's what Ive gathered so far from this ep, we'll see what more the season has to offer!

[thewingedwolf]

anyways so my final opinion on s1 of hotd is that the ten year time skip was too much. it should have been 9 years and it should have started with Rhaenyra finding out she’s pregnant again with little Joffrey. The season should have ended with either Rhaenyra finally deciding to go to dragonstone to be left alone OR with her and Daemon’s wedding. They skipped over too much and it made the deaths of the Strongs and Laena feel very cheap, as well as rushing too much of adult Laenor’s character (who all of a sudden is a very absent husband and father, but we see none of his depressive spiral or of his relationship with Qarl). I get they wanted to get to the war and the dragon fighting but they could have built up Laena’s death to be a really awesome and terrible scene PLUS they clearly don’t mind writing in big scenes with the dragons that never happened in the books, they could have just ✨invented✨a dragon fight or whatever. And showing more of the actual politicking from the greens might have made them look less stupid lmao. PLUS I miss baby Aemond and Aegon, they were amusing and incredibly good actors, and i wanted more of the other little ones! they deserved more than like 2 episodes. i think the emotional beats were all good, they were just too rushed!! if they wanted to end with the beginning of the dance, they should have had a 16 episode season 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

my other main criticism is LIGHT YOUR FUCKING SHOWS HBO. there were whole scenes were i couldn’t see SHIT like i did Not even know who was talking because the scene was so dark even Rhaenys pale ass and bright white hair were GONE. COMPLETELY UNSEEABLE. WHAT THE FUCK. they used that big budget on better wigs, better CGI, better costumes, better sets, but NOT A SINGLE DOLLAR ON LIGHTING APPARENTLY. RYAN CONDAL PLEASE LEARN FROM YOUR PREDECESSORS MISTAKES!!!! you put those gorgeous dreads on Corlys, that immaculate armor on Rhaenys, just a never ending parade of the coolest outfits on Rhaenyra, spared no expense to make Matt Smith as weird and hot as he’s ever been BUT CAN I SEE THEM? NO. I CANNOT.

[cassatine]

I would love to know your ideas about Daemon/Rhaenyra and their deranged love!

Ongoing manifesto is [here]

that being said idk that’s a bit. too vague and open-ended a question. pls be more specific next time but for now:

They’re the same person in different bodies and they both looked at their mirror self and thought yeah I’d tap that?? And after ten years of separation, ten years of distance from the mirror self, the only one that truly understood them: I’d rather burn the world down I’d rather be feared than live without that again?? Heights of Targ psychosexual fuckery right there!!

They both subscribe to the idea that only dragon people are real people! Targaryen exceptionalism all the way for them. Why do you think even Rhaenyra’s love for Alicent did not translate to understanding or protection or anything beyond ‘love me fear me adore me’.

Not to deny the unhinged romanticism of the “meant to burn together” line but what I’m personally obsessed by is “they will fear what else we might be capable of”, like that’s their thesis statement and political program rolled into one and it’s hot as fuck. Also stupid as fuck, because that program hasn’t worked out that well for any dynasty in the long term, like, ever, but also: better burn together than keep on living a half life. Viserys called them “restless and chaotic” back when he first thought they’d shagged and really, he’d pegged them right. They tried normalcy (as much as feudal people with pet metaphorical nuclear weapons can be normal) and it turned out to suck ass — “happy enough”, says Daemon of his time with Laena (which, ouch), “droll tragedy”, says Rhaenyra of her life, of her years trying to play by the rules (also ouch). And they’d have gone back to it if not for each other — one spousal funeral reunion shag of tenderness and they were like “meant to burn together” never gonna be separated again!! No cost too dear!!

I get that the argument that they’re getting married for political reasons only get people’s hackles up, and lbr it is on the level of saying water is dry, but imo swinging the pendulum to the other extreme (nothing to do with the political at all) isn’t that much better in the end. It is a political partnership. Rhaenyra doesn’t say “with you as my husband and prince consort my claim wouldn’t be so easily challenged” for people to say that she hasn’t taken the political repercussions of a wedding into account. And whether Rhaenyra is really, really crap at maths or whether she’s fudging the numbers because she wants Daemon that bad (it’s the later, of course it’s the later), the fact is that she makes a political argument for their getting married. Sometimes people both want to climb each other and to be a political power couple steamrolling all opposition until everything explodes in their face (better have everything explode in your face than go through life like you’re already dead for one minute longer than needed).

Rhaenyra has it bad for Daemon, but she has it bad for the throne too. If she didn’t she’d cut her losses and they’d move to Pentos or wherever, and she is very much not gonna do that. They love each other insanely, but they love power too.

Laenor is a darling and we love him but by ep7 it’s kinda obvious that while Rhaenyra does like him she’s been disappointed in him as a political partner for a while (ftr it’s understandable that he’s flaky, what with the trauma of what happened re: Joffrey). He gives her the ‘ready to commit now’ speech and for ten years she’d have had to take it even with no way to know whether Laenor would follow up on it, because she had no other option, but alas for him he gives her the speech after Daemon pops up, freshly single, while the situation with Alicent and the Greens hits No Return Point, and Rhaenyra says: actually yes I deserve a husband that supports me, a political partner I can actually trust to look after my interests, one who will kill a bitch for me, and that ain’t you.

She didn’t free Laenor!! It’s not a victory for the gays!! She functionally exiled him because she chose Daemon over him. She told her husband and friend of ten years to fuck off to Essos and never come back and let his family believe him dead because her mirror self was back and it’s her mirror self she wants. Let her and Daemon be selfish on that one instead of dressing it up as a victory for us queers.

Everyone goes on about Rhaenyra having a case of gender, and she sure fucking does, but you know who else does? Fucking Daemon, that’s who. Viserys says he’s the Visenya of the family. He straights up wields Visenya’s sword. He was sent off to Runestone where his wife was in charge, and where all that would have been expected of him was to do the do and bring forth some heirs, which in Westeros is what's expected of women (also he’d obv. have resented being married to a normie and not another Targ, because only dragon people are real people), and being a cursed mix of extreme insecurity and overblown dragon pride he simply couldn’t handle any of it, hence the extremely unhappy wedding with Rhea, but also his tendency to overperform masculinity à la westorosi (violence). And yet he’s gonna fucking kneel to Rhaenyra!!

Daemon is literally going to crown her!! I am the crown (I am the realm) she told Criston and what’s the one title Daemon will take? Protector of the Realm. He’s going to die for her!! Fighting her war!! Just like Rhaenys died fighting Aegon’s war!!

Ok. Look. Wherever canon goes — at the end of the day some people see incestuous legacies fuckery and like clockwork they go, oh the latest generation has to fuck and do it in full ancestors cosplay while insistently calling each other by familial relationship terms, and they have to make it weird for everyone else, and they also have to kill a lot people to maintain their grasp on power, and by some people I mean me.

[albinokittens300]

HoTD Thoughts! Episode 4&5

-Okay, okay. They got me. They got me with Daemon and Rhaenyra. Went into this show set on not shipping but yea they got me in my feels about these two.

-It's the tenderness for me ya'll. The forehead touch, the dance scene, the smile they both have around one another.

-As for Rhaenyra getting married...yea. I actually like the way they build up Laenor and her marriage. Politically, it's strong and as much as it's loveless I like the reasonable political motivations behind it. Like even more neither of them are judgey to one another. Laenor and Rhaenyra are friends, and considering they are gonna spend 10 years together it seems, I'm glad they don't loath one another even if there is no love there.

-Her suitors were interesting though!

-Not gonna get into the weeds of the brothel scene...just will say pinning it all down to Daemon wanting to manipulate his way to the throne using Rhaenyra...does not track with how Daemon is in any other situation so far imo.

-Criston Cole...took a very Nice Guy turn and yikes I was not expecting it. Bow out gracefully, my dude. Poor Joffery, he deserved better.

-Viserys is again. I think a good dude, but a horrible King and can't see the mess he is creating for both Rhaenyra and Allicent.

-OTTO'S GONE YESS. Also can't knock Alicents glow up with the green dress. She really cam in swinging after she found out Rhaenyra didn't tell her the whole truth. No asking for forgiveness now.

-Rhaenyra daring Daemon to take her away and marry her when she just recently gave Cole a firm no for the same thing is AMAZING. That scene if nothing else made me start rooting for them. They really do love one another and the fact they wait another 10 years before reuniting makes me so sad, but also, PINNING.

-Harwin and Laena. I'mma have a whole post by itself talking about Harwin and Laena. Hold on for that one.

-The wedding was GREAT. Fun until it wasn't.

[niieonlogs]

HOTD recaps

From my old blog

Episode 5

HOTD Ep 5 was insane.

Rhaenyra proposing Laenor a open marriage. This could have gone so well if sir Crispen did not fuck it up so bad.

Joffrey’s really do not do well at weedings.

The Velaryon and Alicent were dripped out.

I hate/love Daemon so much, The way he killed Reha Royce was so cruel and then the entrance at feast was so good.

criston cole really thought Rhaenyra would leave everything behind for him lmao, be fr.

Lyonel giving Harwin a nod and Harwin just going through the crowd like nothing was awesome. 

Larys starting shit up and Alicent recruiting the rats... Ooh it’s gonna get dirty. 

Episode 6

After HOTD Ep 6 I am officially a Alicent hater, I cannot take it anymore. Everytime she open her mouth I want to scream.

I pray for nothing but bad things to happen to Criston cole. I need him dead like right now. It's been years wtf is this mf still so bitter. Ew

Larys strong had my man Harwin killed and for what?! Alicent and here snakes are so annoying.

Viserys is a great father, he loves his daughter and will listen to no one, I love it

It was nice to see Daemon being concerned for Laena.

Rhaenyra telling Laenor to bring his boyfriend with them, my queen fr.

Laena and Harwin deserve so much better.

Episode 7

Rhaenyra and Laenor have such a amazing friendship, I knew she wouldn't kill off her bestie.

Lenor deserves to live out his best gay life and I so happy for him. Made me even more on the side of Team Black.

Daemon and Rhaenyra together kinda gross me out but happy to see their kids sticking up for each other.

Sad to see Otto back, is there really no one else in the entire relm that could become the hand?!??!

Rhaena should have gotten Vhagar, that's her mother's dragon and legacy.

As annoyed as Aemond taking Vhagar makes me that scean was badass af.

[beyond-far-horizons]

- Much Birthing

- Much Burning

-Older actresses and bitterness

- Really good to see the kids at last and the dynamics of the adults being played through them

-f*cking hell Larys Strong needs to be killed with fire. Walden Frey from the future has some words for you. Great to see the way they are adapting things from the book though and we are getting to see who actually did what.

-I like that Alicent has similarities with Cersei but she isn’t her. She has aspects of compassion and a core of piety but also the understandable fear and bitterness have taken its toll.

-Criston I get it but also it’s made you a bitter, petty little man. Also why are you still there considering what you did last episode?

-VHAEGAR! Finally! Not too big of a fan of her design but she is monstrous and awe inspiring.

-Far too little time with Laena, we’ve really been robbed of her, especially her friendship/possible romance with Rhaenyra. Also Episode 5′s actress was stunning. Missed her. Heartbreaking with the kids too.

-Liked Pentos and a different side to Daemon, but sorry can’t forgive him for Rhea and really not into the main ship if you know what I mean. 

Harwin - bless you, you deserved better. I felt the fight scene was great but the excuse he was gotten rid of was a bit weak. The rushed pacing felt off to be honest. Loved the warm passion and loyalty between him and Rhaenyra.

Have such a soft spot for Laenor even though he is at times an idiot. The actor really captured the innocent warmth of the character.

Poor Alicent being married to the Crypt keeper. It’s also hilarious how quick Viserys is to jump at a compromise. And so sad him kissing Aemma’s ring - I wonder how much his ‘blindness’ for Rhaenyra is bound up in his guilt over what happened to her...hmm now I remember what happened to her I feel less sorrow for him...

Loving f*ckboy Aegon, a more multifaceted Aemond (even though with Sadboy! backstory he’s going to get defended even more vigorously -sigh) and lovely if slightly weird Helaena.

Fans are going to go CRAZY over the adult versions of the kids esp Jace and Aemond. 

[opheliacore]

Really, Laena deserved a better death, they rushed too much. They just stated Daemon, Alicent and Rhaenyra all had proles in the timeskip without showing any deep harwin x rhaenyra bit, any laena and daemon marriage likeeee. Harwin death by Larys was alright, but anyway my point stands

I know they probably think developing characters that die soon like Laenor, laena and harwin would be a waste of time, but like the majority of the audience never read the books nor the Fire & blood, so they dont know shit about the conflict.