#nettles and aemond

[ride-thedragon]

NETTLES AND AEMOND PARALLELS

Thus far, I've covered the Nettles and Daemon paralles, but it is worth knowing that Nettles paralles all the members of my little Riverlands square. They all kind of parallel each other but that's not my journey yet.

So it is time to focus on the youngest of the 4.

1. Marred Young.

Both Nettles and Aemond are given scars, young in the narrative that change the perspective of them. Aemond is a prince, so the most we get is them calling him Aemond one eye. Nettles is marked as a thief (consistant theme in her narrative) and is speculated as such throughout her story.

2. Power During the Dance.

They both gain an unprecedented amount of power during the dance. Aemond becomes the prince regent of the Realm after Rook's Rest and a battle hardened warrior. Nettles also becomes a battle hardened warrior, but she gains a dragon and is declared a Dragonseed because of it.

3. Age in Romance/ Love during the Dance.

They are both the younger partners of their "romances" during the dance. Aemond is younger than Alys and Nettles being younger than Daemon. With that being said, they also operate on the opposite side of their respective power imbalances in their relationships.

4. Instigators.

Aemond starts the war by spilling the first blood of it. Nettles departure instigates the battle above the God's Eye.

5. Where you go, I go.

While in the Riverlands, Nettles and Aemond are never in the same place. She spends her days on Dragonback chasing him, and he always manages to evade her.

6. Where we end.

Nettles exit is Aemond's entrance into the narrative for the Battle Above the God's Eye. His death and Daemon's technically pay the price for her life and ability to leave the narrative. Aemond was always too dangerous to fight alone, but when Nettles leaves and Daemon tells Aemond to find him, their deaths are inevitable.

7. The Daemon of it all.

They both parallel Daemon. Aemond more overtly, Nettles in a thematic sense. They both have a narrative relationship to Daemon as well. Alleged lover and the only thing keeping Aemond from his glory at that point in the narrative.

This was fun.

[addamvelaryon]

Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Corlys was turned into a clueless NPC whose importance is heavily diminished from the source material. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Laena, Laenor and Addam all had their characterization, relationships and storylines warped in service of other characters. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason characters from the books had their existence erased. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason we got several new OCs whose storylines are fleshed out. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Nettles’ storyline has been divided amongst the other characters. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Daeron was retconned out of existence so that his family doesn’t even mention him, before being shoehorned back into existence with a diminished role. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Criston is obsessed with having relationships with women despite his strict adherence to maintaining his honor. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason he claims that Blood & Cheese was propaganda created by Alicent. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Alicent doesn’t care about the Green cause and is very willing to sacrifice her family for a crumb of Rhaenyra’s affections. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Helaena doesn’t care about her children getting hurt and is very ready to get over it. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Rhaena has no personality beyond her lack of a dragon. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Alyn has no personality beyond his lack of a father. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Baela’s only purpose is to give a pep talk to other characters. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Daemon killed Rhea and raises a hand to Rhaenyra, in the show, though that never happened in the book. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is why Daemon mistreated Laena and now ignores Baela & Rhaena. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Rhaenys acts like a preacher of peace. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Aegon regularly bullies Aemond and why Aemond committed treason against Aegon. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason characters’ ages are all over the place. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason characters’ personalities are not consistent over the course of two seasons. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason Rhaenyra is not simply a woman fighting for her birthright but a fanatical cult leader who believes herself to have a divine destiny. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason he won’t let Rhaenyra or Alicent commit to the war, despite their family members dying one after another. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason he created a contrived plot where Rhaenicent have secret meetings with each other. Ryan Condal’s practical issues is the reason the showrunner insists that the succession war that tore a family apart is actually about two old friends struggling to get back to each other.

[theflorasdiary]

The problem with this show are not the characters or how the episodes are made,but the writers that decided to develop a literal masterpiece into a circus.

The campaign for season two literally started with making the audience choose between team black and team green:we had two trailers,two official posters and even the actors were “divided” to promote their teams.

So they basically told us to pick a side since the beginning.

Then they procede to turn team black in the saint team:making them the victims of the patriarchy,the heroes of the story.They showed us team black as if they are more Targaryen then the other team only because they know a prophecy and use this fact to excuse them from anything they do.

They made team black loved and worshiped by the small folks after Rhaenys killed hundreds of them during her dumb and useless girl boss scene and after Rhaenyra starved them.When in the book the small folks hates Rhaenyra and her incompetence,they will literally kick her out of the city and she has to run away or they will kill her just like they did with the dragons.The small folks instead loved team green,they loved Helaena as their queen and blamed and hated Rhaenyra for her death.

They forced use to like Rhaenyra just because she is one of the main characters,pushing on her the role of strong female character that is fighting a male society and then again just because she is a woman she is excused for everything that she does.We had to sit and watch two scenes of her giving birth and two of her weddings because we needed to empathize with her.We need to see her on her dragon constantly so that we can see Daenerys resemblance.They had to make her a saint,of course she wouldn’t want to kill a child she is too good,she would never hurt Helaena,everyone is loyal to her and she can do no wrong.They even took down Nettles to not show us Rhaenyra racism and the way she wanted to have a little girl killed because her pedo uncle-husband was rumored to be her lover.

On the other side we have team green that was completely dehumanized,stripped down of every good aspects they had in the book,changing and canceling everything.

We had never saw Alicent give birth to children that came to her out of marital rapes,we also did not see her getting married as a child bride to a man that will abuse her.Apparently the love of her life is Rhaenyra instead that her own children,she betrays them and her own side of the family in favor of her ex best friend that didn’t do anything to help her in the past and instead laughed in her face about her trauma.They keep telling that Alicent has never sacrificed anything when she has sacrificed her all life for duty and family unlike Rhaenyra.

Healena is totally marginal as the “weird bug girl” that just rants things out.She was a dragon rider that enjoyed being with her dragon Dreamfyre,yet in the show apparently she doesn’t like that.Even her dragon legacy was taken by team black,because now Dany dragon eggs comes from Syrax.In Viserys last days Helaena used to visit her father with her children but again this was taken from her and put on Rhaenyra instead.She was also stripped down of her coronation,of the way she was loved as a queen and how Aegon made sure that she was remembered as the true queen during the dance.They took from her the grief and mourning of her son one of the things that will literally drove her to death,because only Rhaenyra can cry her son and no one else.

Aegon was transformed into a rapist,because you can’t like him,you can only like Rhaenyra.There was no scene of him and Sunfyre beside the battle of Rook’s Rest,they have the strongest bond between a dragon and a dragon rider,he loved Sunfyre to the point he changed the family sigil to a golden dragon.They took down his will to fight,his family support and loyalty to him,his rage as a father that had lost his son.They took two of his sons,because Maelor do not exist and now he can’t have any more children because in the show he had lost his penis.They made him useless and pushed him on the sidelines in his own story.

I still don’t understand why they had to make Aemond betray his brother when in the book he was loyal to him,also in the book there was no indication of Aegon bullying him so again i don’t understand why choose this path.Daemon had a “redemption arc” after his betrayal one but of course Aemond can’t,only team black can.

Criston Cole is portrayed as an angry incel that still hates one woman that coerced him into having sex with her after he told her no multiple times.So much wasted potential in this character,when in the book he was one of the masterminds of team green,convinced Aegon to take the crown,took care of Sunfyre and served his king just right.

Daeron…sorry who?What do you mean that there is a third brother?I just know that his character will be completely destroyed,he probably will be a bastard with dark hair and we already won’t have the Maelor storyline for him,we definitely won’t see him making Ser Hugh and Ulf change sides or any of his victories with Tessarion.He will probably be marginalized like he already is,because again you can only like team black and only them can have the best.

How can you “pick a side” like they desperately want you to do,when they do shit like this?Literally forcing you to like team black because they are paint as the saints/good guys and assassinated every good thing about team green?

Keep telling me that this show is not team black propaganda and that’s is fair like this.

[ophelieverse]

Everything is reduced to misunderstandings,mistakes and accidents.No one is plotting to take/steal the power like it was supposed to.

Characters are completely changed or are the opposite of what they are in the book.The is no gray,only black and white,only good people or bad ones.

Different team stans are at each other’s throats.

Daemon and Aemond are plotting against the people they are most loyal to and they want to become kings by themselves.

Daeron is lost somewhere and it’s rumored to be a bastard.

Maelor and Nettles don’t exist.Their storylines were so important for characters like Daeron,Helaena,Daemon and Rhaenyra.

Apparently having dragon blood/being valyrian has no use to ride a dragon.

Other dragons,like Dreamfyre,are long forgotten.

There was no interaction,no relationship,not even a conversation between Viserys children.

Laenor simply running away,living his best life in Essos meanwhile his family started a civil war.Same as Daeron,who is trapped in Oldtwon while his siblings are destroying each other.Perfect sense.

Rumors about Alys engaging a relationship with Daemon instead that with Aemond.

Aegon and Criston Cole being the most hated in the fandom when in the book they were completely different,so much wasted potential.

Rhaenyra being paint as saint/mary sue,instead that the political idiot she actually is and the bad person she is(and that’s why i loved her in the book).

Alicent being a scheming little bitch,a Margaery 1.0,not a little scared girl that did what she did because of a misunderstanding.She wanted to usurp the throne,she wanted the power and she didn’t stopped in front of anything.

Rhaenicent scene in the Temple was a comic relief,because otherwise it make no sense if you think about how the characters were supposed to be.Just another proof of how “good” and “misunderstood” they are,acting like it’s the world that goes against them and that is not them that are keep doing a bullshit after another.

Helaena having no reaction after Blood and Cheese,but saying that things like this happen in the world.When in reality this is the event that will forever change her life,she will stop sleeping,bathing and eating.She won’t even look at her other children without feeling guilty for what happened.She literally goes insane with grief.

Rhaena bonding with the dragon that Nettles was supposed to have and that’s mean that we won’t probably see her real dragon:the pink baby Morning,that represents the hope for the dragons because in the dance they all died.

Ryan Condal if you plan to make a show about the Conquest,i beg you to not do it.I don’t want to see Visenya and Rhaenys being rivals and fight over Aegon,because i know this is what will happen!

[malaiikka]

The news about Rhaena/Nettles legit managed to erode all the excitement I had about season two during the past few weeks in a matter of seconds.

Nettles is canonically the only non-Targ dragonrider, her story and arc is so important in challenging the beliefs about dragons and Targaryens and blood magic incest that exist in Westeros and among the Targaryens, why would the writers look at such a character and decided to mesh her storyline with Rhaena’s?? Are they just so uncreative they couldn’t figure out something for Rhaena to do in the Vale?? Or can this show only handle no more than three black characters, all the while they continue on cooking up new storylines and arcs for the white characters that don’t exist in the book??

[amuelia]

Daemon Targaryen and Nettles / Aemond Targaryen and Alys

[qyburnsghost]

HE IS PISSED

https://x.com/westerosies/status/1829521118606049761?s=46

[lorhaghanima]

so, it finally happened. writers of the hotd finally destroyed everything good about it, any potential it once had, all for some kind of... agenda?

they were destroying greens slowly during the whole season two. aemond, being hateful and vengeful, but not towards ones, who deserve it (the blacks), no - to aegon, his brother, his king. aemond not having any interaction with alys rivers, instead of it the whole season and a potentially large part of their relationship was given to daemon - prophecies, visions, support in war, romantic implications. helaena, whose scene of great loss was cut, happened because of incompetence of writers royal guards (absolutely impossible for a setting), somehow her mother's affair (which is also impossible, since there's know way criston could be the only and personal protectpr of helaena and kids), and she was robbed of her burden (choice between sons) and her grieve (she is already unhappy most of the time, not cheerful, not beloved, and her loss doesn't haunt the narrative the way it should - the way it traumatized the whole family daeron who). aegon crippled not in battle and with glory, but by betrayal of his own brother (supposed to be his supporter), also deprived of his rightful grieve and anger, and even his dragon - the most beautiful, the most loyal, sunfyre, so important for the original story and our understanding, how strong and unbreakable this bond can be - erased to one scene. alicent - oh, my sweet alicent, i will remember the one, who could've been - the one we lose completely. alicent, who always loves and protected the monstrosity and beauty and destiny of motherhood and queenhood, what have they done to you? alicent, who stands in front of dragon, to protect aegon (at least try to protect him), alicent, who cuts her husband's beloved daughter and heir to the throne because all of the injustice done to aemond, alicent, who loves, loves, loves, her sweet daughter helaena (even in first part of season two she says - but what have they done to my daughter?). alicent, the actual queen, alicent, beloved by the smallfolk, alicent, respected by the council, alicent, loyal to her family to the core. where did you go, my beloved?

And to the worst part - all of this was done for one purpose - to remind us once again about this targaryen supremacy. that they are chosen ones, that they are supposed to save everyone, that they are gods, not men, and they will not be punished by the story, instead - they will be victimised, they will be martyred, they will be rewarded for cruelty. The blacks have only two options in season two - they are either absurdly boring (cause they can't have any flaws, and supposed to be heroic - that's why it safer to make them blank and dull), or they are chosen, special, destined - to rule westeros, to ride dragons, to get whatever they want. this, of course, are qualities of the right kind of targaryens - the blacks, the connected with daenerys ones, not the whole family, obviously. This is the reason, why rhaenyra has nothing to do with the death of a child, somehow goes to the king's Landing and tries negotiations with alicent, breaks up with not-so-perfect daemon, tames bronze fury just because she can, and acting incredibly passive most of the season. This is the reason, why we don't have nettles - girl of color, of unknown birth, younger and more beautiful, who tames the dragon using only her wits, survives the story, surpasses the tragedy. of course we don't have you, dear nettles - you are a mirror, where targaryen, mostly daemon and rhaenyra, were supposed to see their flaws.

I remind you, that hotd is supposed to be an interpretation of a very specific story. One where dragons dance and house targaryen falls. One where smallfolk kills the dragons, where dragons are monsters, destroying cities, and targaryens are false gods and precarious rulers. The cursed war - kin against kin. The narrative, where everyone is dead long before the beginning, everyone is doomed. It's not supposed to praise house targaryen, on the contrary - it says 'look, what they've done, look, what they do', 'look, how treacherous, flawed, hypocritical, unnatural, brutal, unreliable they ALL are, even to each other', and what is most important - 'look, they can be killed, look, they can fall, look the dragons and their riders bleed, and we can destroy them'.

and all of this potential, all of this greekish kind of tragedy, lost... and i have no idea, what for.

[evagreen-stories]

Honestly, I'm DEVASTATED they've completely cut Nettles and are doing this whole Rhaena x Sheepstealer thing.

Not just because that means we will most likely never see Morning but because Nettles was such an important part of the story. Not just because of the battles she fought but because of her crucial role in Daemon and Aemonds battle and deaths.

Believe what you want, whether she was Daemon's lover or bastard daughter, it was Rhaenyra growing so paranoid after the two dragonseeds changed sides and ordering the ASSASSINATION of that young woman that pushed Daemon to go on that su*cide mission after Aemond.

With Nettles needing to flee and Daemon realising Rhaenyra doesn't trust him anymore and is willing to go after him/his lover/his daughter, he was willing to sacrifice himself and his dragon while bringing down Aemond & Vhagar.

Had it not been for that, the whole story would have been totally different. Perhaps the war would have raged on for far longer as well.

At this point it feels like they won't even do Rhaenyra's paranoia arch and her demise. That they won't have her order Addams arrest, imprison Corlys, order the assassination of Nettles, etc.

It feels like they've turned her into an empowered, always rational, never doing any wrong feminist-icon while her book version was SO much different.

That's what I liked so much about the books and the entire GoT/HotD universe; that there are no good people, only bad people and worse ones.

"Choose your favourite war criminal" type of stuff. That's totally missing from this show, in my opinion. It's all too black and white. It's almost... boring at this point.

At this point, I hold little hope for the rest of this show to get much better. Even George has (indirectly) spoken out against this change.

[f-e-r-o-n-i-a]

Writers: "We think this might be better."

HOTD Fandom: "Just keep to the damn books...THEY'RE FINISHED. Use the book material."

Writers: *continue to change the story in the most non-book-possible way*

HOTD Fandom: *RIOTING*

Writers:

[targwh0re]

*Cough Cough*

I’m just gonna leave this here…

[ride-thedragon]

Nettles as a contrast to Addam

Nettles as a character diametrically opposed to Rhaenyra

Nettles as an Alys Parallel

Nettles as an Aemond Parallel

Nettles as a Daemon reimagining

Nettles as a Marilda of Hull parallel

Nettles as a Rhaena counterpart

Nettles as a Dany Parallel and Counterpart

[athzhowakar]

Without Nettles, Timett son of Timett wouldn't have existed.

Last appearance of Nettles :

(Source : Fire and Blood)

Now these people who revered Nettles were called 'Painted Dogs'. This tribe had an offshoot called 'Burned Men' and we know that Timett son of Timett was the leader of the 'Burned Men'.

Have a look at another picture which is a screenshot of the Asoiaf wiki :

If Nettles did not exist, the 'Burned Men' would never have that coming of age ceremony and certainly wouldn't get their name. But they form a significant part of the main Asoiaf series. Also, they were included in the show.

Ryan Condal does not understand that HotD is a prequel of GOT. People expect to see a 'prequel' and also improvements in certain areas in which the GOT failed. People don't want to watch his fanfiction. If we needed fanfiction we would go to AO3, Wattpad and Tumblr.

Again, Nettles plays a very important role in the Dance of Dragons. Her closeness with Daemon drove Rhaenyra further into madness and caused Daemon to sacrifice himself in order to kill Aemond. Daemon was originally planning to do things strategically. But once he realised that things have gone too far and there is no going back, he went on a suicide mission.

The presence of Nettles would also prove that Rhaenyra's judgement isn't good enough and she makes several errors after taking the King's Landing which eventually lead to her downfall. But the show runners don't want us to think that Rhaenyra is an idiot. However, I am surprised that they let go of a chance to make Daemon an adulterous man and portray Rhaenyra as a lonely wife who is betrayed by everyone including her beloved husband.

Anyways, I am still hoping that I am wrong and my fears are meaningless. I am still hoping to see Nettles on the show.

[klaus-littlestwolf]

I’m getting tired of hearing people say that Sheepstealer is ugly.

I get that GRRM described him as ugly but look at him!

Look at his patchy colors, those jagged spikes, the curved tips on the end of his wings!

He is fucking cool!

He looks badass and while he’s definitely small compared to the other dragons I think if he was coming at you, you would be more afraid than you would of Sunfyre or Syrax or even Dreamfyre or Silverwing.

He is the definition of gnarly and he looks like a punk rock song made manifest! Sheepstealer is an awesome dragon and despite the horrendous writing of season 2 (and how they destroyed the entirety of Team Green from what they were in the books to a shitty family of backstabbers (who’s own mother would want them dead which is insane if you read the book)) if I’m looking forward to anything besides Aemond carrying the entire show as the best villain ever (since all Daemon is doing is hallucinating maternal incest and flirting with witches) it is Sheepstealer getting a rider and proving that he is a badass dragon cause damn straight he fucking is!

I don’t like that we have to accept Nettles not existing and Rhaena being the one to ride him but if I get content of my little punk rock dragon then I suppose I’m fine.

Stop Being Mean to my Baby!

[mejcinta]

HOTD S3 PLOTLINE IDEAS INCLUDING SOME BTS HINTS BY WRITERS, ACTORS AND MY OWN SPECULATION. PS: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DON’T CUT MAELOR OR NETTLES!!!!

Aemond struggles with paranoia following the prophecy Helaena revealed to him, initially denying it and continuing in his quest for glory. Ewan also stated in an interview (to Hey U Guys, YouTube) that Aemond could oversee the breaking of the blockade. Will he be duped by the dragonseeds and Jace moving on 2 fronts i.e the Gullet AND King’s Landing, capturing it in his absence as he’s occupied at the Gullet?

Helaena is in more danger with Aemond than ever before (Sara Hess’ words).

Orwyle alone knows of Alicent’s treason. Aemond might confront him about Aegon’s disappearance.

Aegon’s escape might trigger Alicent to admit her treason.

Helaena disapproves of Alicent’s betrayal/compromise with Rhaenyra (Phia said that news would be a 'tough pill to swallow' for Helaena) while Aemond (IF POINT NUMBER 1 DOESN’T HAPPEN) is heartbroken and angry because Alicent chose Rhaenyra over him and his siblings. There’s no time left to hold Alicent accountable for her crime and he loves her too much to harm her. Thus his departure from KL will be one of urgency.

Aegon and Larys on a turbulent ‘road trip’ while on the run to Essos.

Alicent and Rhaenyra feud because of Aegon’s escape. When Otto is finally captured by the Blacks, a bitter Rhaenyra executes him in public before Alicent in retribution for Jace and baby Viserys. This widens the divide between the two women and severs their old bond. It’s all out war from here on out.

BEST OPTION: Helaena learns she is with child (Maelor) just when Alicent thinks her sons are free from Rhaenyra’s wrath. Having a male babe would mean Helaena would have to live in fear losing another son. S2 happens in the span of 6 weeks, so Maelor’s conception can fall between the dinner in s1 episode 8 and her encounter with Aegon after Jaehaerys’ funeral. Alicent has some few sympathizers left at court (maids and/spies connected to Larys). It is these people that help facilitate the escape of baby Maelor with Rickard in disguise.

Helaena and Alicent arrange for Jaehaera to be snuck out to safety to Storm’s End.

Daemon misinterprets the vision Alys showed him, becomes obsessed with it benefitting him directly e.g he believes Dany could be his future daughter with Rhaenyra (Ryan Condal said this).

Daemon fears Helaena because he saw her in his vision. This could be Helaena’s only saving grace, especially after Jace is killed by the Greens’ forces.

Mysaria forces Rhaenyra to contend with the fact that for as long as Helaena lives as a symbol of true Queenship to the smallfolk she stands little chance of being accepted and must get rid of her.

Mysaria disapproves of Alicent’s influence on Rhaenyra and will throw a wrench in their dynamic.

(ASSUMING MAELOR IS FOOLISHLY CUT FROM THE STORY, SMH) Ser Rickard’s demise leads many to believe that Jaehaera is dead too and this might throw Helaena into severe depression.

Aegon and Larys might get intercepted on their journey to Essos and be forced to change course to their nearest least suspicious location: Dragonstone. Tom Glynn Carney stated in an interview to the Nerdist that he’s not so sure whether Aegon and Larys will end up in Essos.

Ser Alfred Broome looks to Aegon for favor because now that Daemon knows he would readily betray Rhaenyra, his safety under the Blacks is at risk. He will be the one to welcome Aegon and Larys to Dragonstone and hide them.

Baela, who by now has lost both Rhaenys and Jace, stews in rage ad vengeance. As she divides her time between Dragonstone and Driftmark in the books, I expect that she’d be left in charge of Dragonstone (with Driftmark now sacked). She grows more suspicious of Ser Alfred and his activities.

Alys’ past is delved into (one of th writers promised this, can’t tell which one) as she struggles with 100 years of loneliness following Daemon’s departure (actress said Alys desires human connection). Turns out she has much in common with Aemond, who also feels alone and abandoned by his family.

Daeron rescues Otto from his jailors (this means the old man will be captured by the Blacks later on and be executed publically later on as well.)

Daeron might learn of Aegon’s whereabouts and communicate with him.

Aemond goes to Harrenhal and clashes with Alys at first. Their relationship will take time to develop #slowburn.

Rhaena saves little Aegon from the Triarchy/Tyland preserves Aegon and when the seeds capture them, he is arrested????

OR Jace is the one who tries to save his brothers but fails. Ultimately, Vermax, wounded in battle, flies to Dragonstone and dies on the beach with little Aegon still clinging to him. This way Jace dies having saved a brother heroically.

Addam’s identity is revealed and Rhaenyra starts to doubt Corlys’ intentions. This is the beginning of her paranoia arc.

Alyn and Corlys draw closer as father and son.

Aegon questions Larys’ intentions.

Larys uses his spy network to siphon intelligence from King’s Landing and Harrenhal.

Aegon secures Jaehaera either by himself or with the help of Storm’s End to whom he gives promise of a marriage alliance in exchange.

Sunfyre escapes a hunting party sent by Rhaenyra, confirming he is alive and able to fly. He begins his journey to Dragonstone.

OPINION: Swapping Nettles for Rhaena would be DIABOLICAL because that means Rhaena would have to suffer pure hatred from the woman she calls mother. And this being what separates Daemon from Rhaenyra doesn’t hit as hard as Daemon slowly losing faith in Rhaenyra as she descends into madness and paranoia, and at the same time Daemon starts to falsely see the vision of Dany manifest through Nettles, who he brings under his wing of protection.

It would be much better for Rhaena to FAIL in her attempt at claiming Sheepstealer. Have Jeyne take her back in and try to connect her to her little brothers again, who have probably left ahead of her by this time. Develop a mother-daughter dynamic between these two with Jeyne imparting some counsel. With the guilt of putting her little brothers in danger, Rhaena tries to gain the support of the Vale for Rhaenyra by reaching a deal with the Royces, who by now are still bitter about Daemon. And Daemon, who saw visions of Laena urging him to take care of their daughters, will defend Rhaena from Rhaenyra’s anger after the Battle of the Gullet. He will try to help Rhaenyra see sense, that the tragedy would have happened anyways, whether Rhaena was present with the children or not.

[scarareg]

Find kinda funny how in the Dance Of The Dragons, teenagers are the ones who are doing most of the "war" side of the war. Jace, Nettles, Daeron, Addam, Aemond and The Lads are the war MVPs!