#nettles x alyn

[ride-thedragon]

At this point I think as a fandom, we've lost some of the crackship charm we once had. I can look up Ashara Dayne and Ser Davos and find results, But Nettles and Helaena have nothing. It's time to rectify that for my favourite girl and try to inspire some fanfics. Feel free to add more.

1. Daeron and Nettles

Think Enemies to Lovers, Captive of War drama like Jaime and Brienne or just some good old Gwen and Arthur-inspired love. Ivy by Taylor Swift coded, a She's all that inspired affair. I genuinely think that he's just trying to be there for her with this one. It happens and neither of them realise until You're in Love starts playing.

2. Baela and Nettles.

They would give the pot calling the kettle black in every argument. The Princess Bride-esque dynamic between them. Very Graham and Megan from but I'm a Cheerleader. Sapphic Pinning and Resentment should be its own genre. Sir Chloe's Michelle is my vision. We can even make a throuple with them and Jace or Alyn. Truly, I think they but heads until they kiss, building on resentment. I also think they would be the coolest couple.

3. Addam and Nettles

Kaz and Inej core.

But in all seriousness, I think Addam being loyal and Duty bound and Nettles challenging that idea is delicious. Solider of Duty x Solider for the People. A modern-day Persuasion story but gender-flipped if we put our minds to it. See you Again Kali Uchis and Tyler the Creator, that's all.

4. Nettles and Helaena

They just deserve better. That's all. Give me cottagecore sapphic romance with my best girls involves. Like the young lesbians from Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Lesbians raising kids together. Sheepstealer and Dreamfyre hatching eggs for the nieces and nephews. I just-

It would be so cool, I will by Mitski sentiment is already attached.

5. Alyn and Nettles

Now that we are here obviously she apologized for Sheepstealer, she doesn't need to but she did, He tries not to like her but can't help it. She wins him over and they hatch him an egg or something idk. Think The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement, Mia and Nicholas, Flipped the movie if you will. Jealously plots would slay. For the song choice think Shameless Camila Cabello. Please remember that Alyn is younger than Netty by 3/4 years though.

6. Rhaena and Nettles

See now this is classic Friends to Lovers, Emma and Harriet if gay, perhaps, Bend it Like Beckham core definitely. Sofia by Clario inspired. Nettles doesn't leave Rhaena out because she's without a dragon and the same happens inverse. Sapphic confusion however, like Rhaena doesn't understand at first why she feels that way.

7. Nettles and Jace.

Now for the Mr Knightley and Emma Woodhouse of our time, the Kate and Anthony of Westeros. The potential for her just not listening to him when he tries to tell her how to ride a dragon. Or when she talks to him about the people he'll rule over eventually, Ygritte and Jon style. She's also the only bastard who doesn't look Targaryen, he can relate to that a bit. I think she's Fierce and he's Stubborn. Ungodly Hour by Chloe x Halle for them.

8. Nettles and Alys.

The Fire Witches of Westeros. I think they will be perfect as a ship. American Horror Story-esque characters. The two Witches in the story are obviously my favourites. It would be Jennifer's Body meets, the craft meets, and Suspiria. Willow by Taylor Swift becomes them.

This one was also a bonus more or less.

Anyways I just need to start to get a baseline story for my girl by the time the show gives her to us. So we have a general sense of direction, I'm tired of the mischaracterization of my baby. She's smart, resourceful, Cunning, Fearless, and not entirely loyal. She also curses, enough for it to be a character trait. Please remember this for her, I'm tired. I also know that Daemon loved her but she's too much fun as a character to limit her to him romantically in all her fanfictions, it is an interesting narrative to explore while we don't have exact answers but he gets romantic ships with anyone. She deserves more.

[acewithapencil]

Meeting of the dragonseeds (1/2)

[pessimisticpigeonsworld]

If Nettles was white, she would be as popular as Lyanna, Brienne or Arya, and y’all know it.

She grew up a homeless orphan (which is why it’s so insulting when people try to act like she’s a freaking idiot who doesn’t know how to bathe herself yet she can tame a dragon🤦🏽‍♀️ Put most of the highborn women in her position and they wouldn’t survive a day in her shoes).

She’s the only known non-Valyrian dragonrider who claims a wild dragon. A prince who believes in Valyrian supremacy falls in love with her to the point where he’s willing to sacrifice his life for her. Nettles singlehandedly disproves the whole idea of Targaryen exceptionalism and their blood purity. She slowly earns a dragon’s trust by bringing him sheep, and gradually he lets her closer, and then forms the dragonrider bond and lets her fly. up until this point, nobody had tried a strategy like that before.

Nettles is self-made. She’s self-taught. She’s loved for herself. She survives a freaking war and becomes a fire goddess/witch. Who wouldn’t want her ? Who wouldn’t want to be her ? Unlike Rhaenyra and Alicent, she’s the final girl of F&B.

Once again, I don't understand where you got that I'm anti Nettles? I'm anti Nettles x Daemon, but other than that theory, I very much am a fan of Nettles as a character. I won't say that there isn't racism and unfairness that happen regarding Nettles' character (though I haven't seen it personally), because people can be really shitty. But me personally, again, I'm not anti Nettles, I just dislike certain groups of her stans.

Again, I don't deny that Nettles was a strong woman. She endured many things most characters in F&B don't and most likely survived the Dance. However, I do disagree with some of the ideas you're stating as fact.

For starters, we don't know if Nettles is non-Valyrian; that's one of the many theories surrounding her, but it's not confirmed, so stating it as fact is misleading. Just because she lacks traditional Valyrian features doesn't means she isn't a dragonseed.

Jace and his brothers don't look Valyrian but they very obviously are of Valyrian descent. Rhaenys, the queen who never was, had black hair; Duncan the son of Aegon V looked like his mother, Betha Blackwood; Aegor Rivers also had black hair; Baelor Breakspear had dark hair; Daeron son of Maekar had sandy brown hair; Rhaenys the daughter of Rhaegar had her mother, Elia Martell's features.

Moving on, Daemon's relationship with Nettles is ambiguous. We don't know if they were in a romantic relationship or if his attack on Aemond was purely to save her (though I'm sure that was part of his decision). Again, you are stating a theory you believe as fact, even though it's unconfirmed.

I'm not going to touch the whole thing of Targaryen exceptionalism, because, as I said earlier, Nettles' parentage is unconfirmed. But the whole blood purity thing still hasn't been disproven at any point of GRRM's works; they intermarried to preserve their magic blood, the magic blood still exists in ASOIAF due to the incest.

Nettles is an important character in the story of the Dance, but she isn't the "final girl" you claim she is, let alone of the whole book. There are several dragon riders who survived the Dance and thrived. Rhaena is the ancestor of the Tyrells in the main series. Aegon III is the ancestor of Daenerys, the Baratheons, any remaining Blackfyres, and possibly Jon Snow and Young Griff. Baela and Alyn are the ancestors of Aurane Waters and the Velaryons.

The book of F&B is so much more than the Dance of the Dragons. Saying that Nettles is the "final girl" of the book doesn't make any sense when she only appears in a few sections. That's like saying Alys Rivers is actually the main character of the book. Nettles disappears after the Dance and doesn't appear in any other event. She does nothing else after her disappearance and has relatively little impact on the history of Westeros post Dance.

I have absolutely no idea where you're getting the whole "fire goddess/witch" thing. However, you have already been throwing out theories and your personal biases as fact, so I don't think it matters. I'm not trying to control who your fav is, I totally understand wanting to be a certain book character. But that doesn't mean you can act like everyone else is wrong for not having the same fav as you.

It's that kind of entitlement, thinking you're better than everyone else that makes people not like Nettles stans. It's almost on par with stansas and Alicent stans. People like you project so hard onto your favs, you take any perceived insult, critique, or argument as a personal attack. It's exhausting interacting with people like you.

[deadmegumi]

Pros

- daemyra reunion ROMANCE IS ALIVE

- larys and aegon going to sell oranges in essos together beautiful eunuch princess x fatherhusband ROMANCE IS ALIVE PART TWO

- rhaenyra angy

- criston soiled white cloak monologue & gwayne sisconisms

- bloodraven mentioned & daemonalys bestfriendisms

- A SON FOR A SON !!! and alicent getting two late term abortions because she's in love with her daughter that looks just like rhaenyra

- alyn and addam #bastardrights

- jace daemonisms

- daeron sneak

- did like the ending montage, we're suited tf up

- They fr got peepaw locked up 😭😭😭 let him OUTTTT

- helaenaaaaaaaa :)

CONS

- STUPID STUPID STUPIDDD fucking visions my god... dumb as fuck... who gaf about stupid ass prophecy or winter is coming... in your fuck ass canon it lasted ONE NIGHT BITCH WHAT FUCKING LONG NIGHT!!!!

- gender politics wrt power and womanhood continue to Suck Badly

- if ur gonna have rhaena take nettle's plotline then at least have the decency to let her claim sheepstealer On The Show

[horizon-verizon]

what do you think of this post. i think people should ship what they want but this fandom cannot stand opinions that differ from theirs.

https://www.tumblr.com/livinginafantasysposts/726238416723935233

Going to the link you provided, the original author (lagosbratzdoll) is criticizing the JacexSara Snow ship for the shipper's racism:

They say it'll [including Sara Snow in the show] deepen Jace’s character and make him “interesting”, whatever that means. The problem with this assertion is that Jace is already plenty interesting, he led the war councils while his mother grieved, and he recruited the blacks' most important allies. Allies who remained steadfast even after his mother's and his own demise. Furthermore, Jace has existing relationships in his life that the show could explore to delve into his connection with bastardy. Three of whom are canonically Black, by the way. So, the question arises: what unique perspective or insight can Sara Snow provide to Jace's struggle with his bastard status that Nettles, Addam, and Alyn cannot?

When the OP asked what made Sara so enticing or "interesting", more than Nettles and the other dragonseeed as well as Baela, there was no salient answer in the comments. Or there were just denials. And OP has made points. Including this:

but now you cannot go five minutes in Jace or Baela’s tag without seeing someone wish they'd include Sara Snow in the show.

You: "i think people should ship what they want but this fandom cannot stand opinions that differ from theirs."

My questions to you, anon are:

What is with people trying to overwhelm and disrupt the hype shippers have for Baela and Jace in particular?

With these two supposed to be betrothed to each other in canon and continue to be so in the show, why is it that there is a change in how people see Sara Snow and Jace and Baela after we see the Velaryons and dragon twins' actors are Black?

Why is it that there is such an overwhelming intercession on the online JacexBaela shipping from JacexSara shippers as opposed to ships with white/white-adjacent couples?

Why is it that with such stronger evidence for Jace and Baela being romantic over Sara's very existence much less the ship, that the Sara Snow x Jace ship is as popular as it is?

Sara Snow is a character, in F&B, who Mushroom brings in to add intrigue, and he was never there to witness such a thing happening, so how could he know about this girl and witnessed Jace fall for her?! And the other thing is the implications of Sara Snow being Jace's "Jeyne Westerling". Unlike Robb Stark & Jeyne, Jace & Sara are presented by Mushroom and real shippers as true and closely-bonded lovers. Robb married Jeyne because he wanted to honor her and not have bastards. It was not lovey-dovey. Narratively, Baela was so dedicated to Jace (and just fierce all on her own) that she wanted to stay and fight with him at Dragonstone or follow him. For all the desire for a couple who desires and is devoted to each other, it's funny how Sara x Jace shippers aren't impressed enough with Baela. So shippers of Sara and Jace are going off of pure conjecture and desire more than other ships/shippers. This would be fine, if not for the change in actors coming with a higher support for a character that doesn't seem to exist.

Before HotD aired with its black Velaryons and dragon twins (and I've looked around at dates) there was very little hype for Sara Snow even as a person, bc there was literally no evidence--not even suggestive--for her existence besides Mushroom's unsupported say-so AND it was understood that Jace wouldn't even endanger his family and himself or hurt Baela by endangering their Velaryon alliance. Especially when his brother dies and there is no heir to Driftmark aside from Joff (a whittling-down of heirs). The blacks needed the Velaryons even after Rhaneyra dies (Alyn and Daenaera)!

It is totally antithetical to Jace's needs short-term and long-term needs to set aside his betrothal to Baela.

We have to remember that he and his two brothers have been suspected as bastards and likely treated accordingly if people could get away with it. For more than 10 years! Rhaenyra had to essentially flee to Dragonstone to get away and provide a quieter, freer life for herself and her family as well as actively "practice" and get in the groove for ruling. He would be anxious to prove how he is fit to follow his mother after she dies and rule Westeros. And like Jon/unlike Robb Stark, bc of that niggling bastardry claim, he would be more motivated to not have bastards of his own or do possibly introduce an innocent, less-able-to-take-care-of herself-girl into an incoming war. (Jenny of Oldstones doesn't count bc she was proven real through her interactions with courtiers, Prince Duncan's parent was not female and set against, his parent was not usurped, there was no war, nor was Duncannever suspected a bastard. He could afford it).

I mean, it's supported by what Jace says here ("The Blacks and the Greens"):

He has lived physically and emotionally close to Baela all his life, and considering this need to consolidate power as well as his contracting his trust towards mostly family, it's not likely that he just trusts any person he isn't likely to get aid from. Cregan Stark was the lord and liable to help Rhaneyra bc he just imprisoned and ousted his uncle to get his Winterfell seat. Supporting Rhaenyra helps him, and this lubed them both up for a closer bond.

It is way more likely that Jace, rather than show!Aemond, was the devoted son trying to actually help and protect his family by reading "philosophies" and presenting himself as a capable ruler. I think that it is dumb of the writers to then flip this show of loyalty to one's family into Aemond using it to show disloyalty to his own and not emphasize Jacaerys' own development. Aemond even left his mother, sister, and brother all to basically fend for themselves in two opportunities to join Daeron or fly to KL and fight Rhaenyra, Daemon, or any black who he would happen to see. Even though he was the one to order Criston Cole to march their army to KL so he could also confront the blacks. He specifically states that going south to Daeron and grouping up was "craven" and cowardly! In this one way, Aemond is Jace's foil and it emphasizes Jace's loyalty and devotion and Aemond's self-serving ambition, even though both have that desire to show their military worth. One works for unity, the other for individual glory and disunity. Jace ios the one to actively came up with effective plans and arrangements for the blacks, as OP stated. It shows his intelligence, care, and concern for protecting his family as well as his mindfulness towards bastardy. We're supposed to see the irony of this suspected bastard using the bastard phobia made against him for their own benefit. (Even though there were two traitors, Rhaenyra still depended on these dragon riders to intimidate/fight against any would-be greens and their armies. One of which is responsible [Addam Velaryon/of Hull] for at least pushing back Daeron and Lord Hightower's forces even with his own death. This event more showed how deep in paranoia & blood purist Rhaenyra was, not how dumb or incompetent Jace was.)

And Baela is not a bad person, merely self-confident and a Targ. Show!Baela is Black, and there has been no standoffishness towards her book character before the show besides the usual misogyny towards self-confident girls and Targ women. She has done nothing wrong to anyone, and has only displayed bravery until presumedly the day she died and set aside by history.

So from my standpoint, it looks like the motivation behind thinking Baela x Jace as less appealing or "interesting" than Jace x Sara is that Jace x Sara can undermine his relationship with Baela, his ties to the Velaryons and their alliance, and separate Jace's devotion to his family and reduce any tie to his Targ identity. This is definitely not what this character would likely be drawn in by if he ever did meet a Sara Snow who he might be at least sexually attracted to.

Just as making Rhaenyra not want to imprison Otto bc of a damned page from a woman who tried to get said sons killed, Jacaerys allowing himself to not only marry someone other than his betrothed siphons out his intelligence, unique sense of self-assertiveness and responsibility.

Other Ships I Wish Were Not as Shipped Exist, Why, and are Really the TV Shows' Faults

See, I talk about people saying one shouldn't ship ANYTHING in ASoIaF/GoT/HotD/Fire & Blood HERE, where I argue that shipping is people presenting political and social taboo/dynamics, i,e, a particular narrative they are fascinated with.

It's not just about what one thinks should be reality. However, for some people, it is and some ships gather more…bigoted people than other ships. Rhaenicent is one of those ships. There are some genuinely good or at least self-aware Rhaenicent shippers, but the most vocal ones tend to be misogynist and think themselves feminists when they are actually saying that Rhaenyra should grant Alicent all sorts of graces and expect nothing in return bc Alicent is a feminine goddess who looks out for "the realm". Some call her "mannish" or the "man" of the relationship. Most are tradcaths and transphobic (Emma D'Arcy). Most hate Targs and Valyrian customs, esp citing their hatred against incest…meanwhile, their own ship is incestuous, and even the Faith they admire and see their Catholism in at one time had a High Septon vocally denounce a Hightower lord marrying and having a relationship with his dead father's wife, his own stepmother--Samnatha Tarly. On the specific claim of incest. Later, when this Septon died, they were finally allowed to marry by the next one--their influence had grown enough or stayed its Hightower self, assumedly, as well over the years.

Jonsa is another ship that mostly has misogynists and praisers of "soft femininity". Sansa becomes a totally different creature in their eyes, and Arya also gets interpreted as "mannish", even having "internalized misogyny" for not being as "girly" as Sansa. Jon, like Rhaenyra, is also totally reduced and recharacterization to make Sansa this higher kind of feminine goddess through the chivalric narrative canon!Sansa is actually growing out of bc it has led to her many losses, including her own innocence! Jon doesn't even like (as in attracted to) "girly" girls who cannot even attempt to physically defend themselves! His favorite sister is Arya and Sansa has dismissed him for his bastardry several times! Because they think he will become some sort of great leader, even King Beyond the Wall, and Sansa will be Queen in the North or some jazz, they believe that this version of "Jon" as a "knight" is perfect for their "delicate princess" Sansa.

Daemon x Nettles

I'm a Daemyra shipper and I do not think Daemon x Nettles is either a canon or good ship in of itself, and the material in F&B that wants us to think they were sexual or romantic uses misogynist and classism to present Nettles as Daemon's lover AS WELL AS not his lover. But always it's logic that is against Nettles' true, brave heart, and Daemon's fidelity to Rhaenyra, despite him choosing to die for her instead of just leaving Rhaenyra behind and vocalizing hatred toward Mysaria's for deceiving her. And though it is not my passionate ship like the Daemyra one, I definitely think Jace x Baela makes way more sense than Jace x Sara Snow. And Nettles doesn't need to "steal" Rhaneyra's man to actually dominate Rhaneyra for her blood purity or to be an impressive girl, and this would not be a healthy relationship (she was 17, Daemon 49-50). If they seriously consider grooming wrong and believe Daemon groomed Nettles, then they shouldn't enthusiastically ship Nettles with Daemon.

Conclusion

Some ships just do not make sense or are totally antithetical to the arcs and personalities of the original characters. They are more making wish-fulfillment fanons struggling to be canon so they can generate antipathy against those shippers/characters/storylines that should really be appreciated for the nuance they provide. Instead of vacuuming out nuance to replace them with fairytale, bigoted, and flat narratives. And so they should be put into skeptical investigation instead of just flat-out "accepted", like how some artists have purposefully drawn the dragon twins out of their family portraiture of the blacks.

EDIT (8/22/23)

It's also funny how--with the examples of other ships--when it's something race-related or when some people in the fandom want to protest against such intrusions and the subsequent denials of intrusions it tends to be about certain PoC or interracial ships. AND that it defaults as "everyone has the right to ship/draw/etc however they want!" when someone brings up race more than ships with gender or sexuality or class switching. Hm...

[selkiewife]

3, 9, 24?

Thanks @thistle-and-thorn !

3. A character that fandom has helped you appreciate.

asoiaf: Hmmm I think Lancel Lannister and Aeron Greyjoy. It’s not that I didn’t appreciate them before but reading others’ ideas about them really made me appreciate them more. The comparisons to Theon also didn’t hurt. Black Sails: Eleanor Guthrie and John Silver. This is the same kind of situation where I actually appreciated them alot before but fandom metas and insights and ideas seriously deepened my appreciation and understanding of them. Excited for my rewatch!

9. A Ship that isn't your OTP but that you enjoy.

Ahhhh… this is hard. I have so many favorite ships (which is what I'm interpreting OTP as in this question because I am such a multishipper.) So now I’m trying to figure out the levels of my favorite ships (I’m overthinking already and these responses were supposed to be quick and dirty so this is definitely not including everything but the ones I enjoy but aren't like my favorite ships for life: asoiaf/got: Sanrion (Sansa x Tyrion), Lansa (Sansa x Lancel), Braime, Sansaery, and Catelyn x Ser Rodrik (does anyone else ship this but me though?- since it's so obscure it might have to be one of my favorites I don't know) Harlots: Marnwells (Charlotte Wells x Daniel Marney), Northwells (Margaret Wells x William North) Black Sails: Vane x Jack x Anne HOTD & Fire and Blood: My OTPs are mostly the w/w ships of both fandoms. But I also enjoy for HOTD: Daemyra, Rhaewin, Alicole, Daemon x Laenor (Daenor?), Helaemond, Jace x Baela, Jace x Helaena and Rhaenys x Corlys and for Fire and Blood: Dettles, Nettles x Addam, Jace x Sara Snow, Baela x Alyn, Baela x Dalton Greyjoy, and Alysanne x Alaric. (Basically I am a walking ship war and that's not even getting into my faves.)

24. How has fandom positively impacted your life?

It has given me a space to create and imagine and heal when I was isolated and really messed up. It has been very therapeutic and also a source of great inspiration to me. It brought be back to writing after I had given it up. Theon specifically helped me in more ways than I can explain right now.

[natividadmoon]

It's going to be long but I wanted to give an opinion on the whole controversy of Jace's couples

I feel that it is much more complex to speak than just accuse of misogyny or homophobia

ironic because Sara Snow is a character with dubious reality but she is the one who started all this, lets go

I've been with Sara Snow's label since she started hinting at her name since the previous season and I've seen how it all escalates little by little

I don't know who was the first to mention it but I know that the first response was from the Baela x Jace chargers, at that time Cregan x Jace were not very active, it began to become popular with chapter 10

That he gets with the speech of humiliation and debasement of the black woman before a white one by Jace and Alyn (mrd's speech in my opinion because Baela will not stop being a white woman from a racist society no matter what complexion the actress interprets her, the infidelities were made as a white woman) ironic that those were fans of Daemyra (they even celebrated the beach scene) and I saw few complaints with the treatment of Laena, which was the true crime of the series

"That how they were going to take it from Jace" as if his were a prize, etc, etc. They seemed to be more people who didn't read the book yet or didn't remember that Baela was much more than two lines with Jace.

So as a woman and a fan of Elia it was easy to see what parameters were used to have compassion for a deceived and despised woman if she was not a Targaryen (Rhea Royce vs Rhaenyra is a clear example)

The irony that later en masse they grabbed that Sara Snow did not exist and it was Cregan with a wig. and Baela x Jace chargers who cried that if there was love, now they also seemed to live with the fact that HE WAS ALSO UNFAITHFUL with a man.

What I am going to say should be taken into account that she is being a woman, not a man. And it is that I feel that many times women fall into the fetishization and invalidation towards male couples, seeing as a fantasy or "minor relationship" towards a couple of two men, not a real relationship. This is a larger study, but this is in regards to women reacting to male partner history, as well as personal experience moving in different fandoms that include M/M shipping.

Fortunately @atopvisenyashill gave a very good point of the perspective of a gay man (or bi man too) before the Cregan x Jace couple and that opened my eyes a little. I mean, I'm not a man, but I certainly like how a lot of queer men take that pairing and pray it's canon (I even edited them myself because I'm not necessarily against it) bbut I feel like that applies to real ones, (hate that connotation), shippers of those couples that are far from the conflict Jace x Baela vs Jace x Sara

Regarding Sara Snow in the life of Jacaerys there are two points that will not change:

The relationship (more loving than friendly, although the latter can also work) does work to give Jace more nuances. I'm not saying he's a bad character, for me he was the best heir to the throne and my personal baby. But I feel that his character without errors works wonderfully in a historical book, and Jace is also going to be an important character in the series and when he is in a space of real time it will be noticed that he is not 100% like that (because that is what attracts us to characters of similar ages like Jon, Robb, Sam, etc) He feels the pressure of being heir to his mother, he feels the pressure of being a bastard in the series, even after winterfell he drives the dragon seeds. There is a reason that can be explained beautifully, if he gets to know a bastard.

If he falls in love with Sara Snow in the book or series,it will be blamed on a boy who literally has all that on top of himself, and who finds how different a bastard's life is and what he could have been in another time, Could it be a step to later weave friendships more easily like the one possible with Nettles? possibly

I know many say but Sara Snow has no personality and she is only turning to Jace's narrative. well at that point those are many characters, mainly secondary or third. especially with Jace ending up young as a result of his tragic death. Not to mention Harwin Strong, it's not like much is known about his personality beyond possibly "comforting" Rhaenyra or being on the birthing bed (even being present in King's Landing and Dragonstone, we don't even know the name of his sisters or what happened with them) and yet we all love him in the series and even Martin plans to write a book.

I feel like the fight was never in the Cregan x Jace and Jace x Sara shippers. The conflict was always like the Baela x Jace shipper, and their reactions to those two 2 shipps

[omgellendean]

Some thoughts while reading Fire and Blood (pt.3)

There are unexpectedly many elephants in this book. What’s your deal with the elephants, GRRM?

“In this world of men, we women must band together.”  — Jeyne Arryn.

NETTLES 

Blackwoods: every known member of the family is charismatic and/or charming; cool weapons, 14-years old successful battle commanders, strong-willed bold women; own a cloak of raven feathers.

Brackens: dumb back-stabbing assholes with next to no personality.

GRRM: I love all my characters equally.

Daemon is so horrible you just have to love him.

The period after the Dance was probably the friendliest for women in power since the Conquerors. So many ruling ladies! So many conflicts prevented by them! So many women with an agency! Such a pity it ended soon.

Alyn Velarion is perfect, I just hope author won’t fuck him up in the second tome.

I mean, he carved a mouse on his brother’s tombstone! And named his ship after his mum! And trolled Peake! Such a good boy :3

Baela and Rhaena is the rare example of GRRM writing a sister couple that has a close and loving relationship despite them being very different. Better late than never, I guess.

Baela x Alyn marriage is the cutest thing ever, and I’m really impressed by how GRRM managed to sell it to the reader (meaning me) despite not showing them interact before their wedding.

Tyland Lannister was perfect and that’s why Martin killed him.

Rogar, Peake and Cersei are all essentially the same type of power-grabbing regent that doesn’t care about anyone but themselves, but each one is less competent and more cruel than previous. 

Unwin Peake punished the criminals the same way as Randyll Tarly had, and this is enough to understand what kind of a disgusting prick he is. 

Yet another baby looking at the atrocities without seeing. 

Aegon’s master-at-arms is an even worse teacher than Thorne, ugh.

Daenaera being brought to Aegon is the most epic appearance since Lady Sam barged into the sept. Tywin Lannister is just an amateur.

This book has a staggering amount of children — victims to adult’s greed and hunger for power.

[ride-thedragon]

Day 1: AN UNLIKELY DRAGONRIDER: NETTLES AU WEEK:

Favourite Romantic Pairings

As much as I've become a dettles girl recently, I feel it's only right to give my favourite What ifs with my crackships

Nettles × Alyn Velayron: Lord and Lady of Driftmark after the dance of the Dragons.

2. Daeron Targaryen × Nettles: A marriage to rebuild the realm.

[ride-thedragon]

The pair was so rare I had to conceptualise it.

[acewithapencil]

The dragonseed friendship is something that’s so important to me

[ride-thedragon]

DAY 6: AN UNLIKELY DRAGONRIDER

NETTLES WEEK: FAVOURITE POST DANCE THEORY/ HEADCANON.

Nettles is the mother of two Queens.

Nettles in Dorne.

She marries the Sword of the Morning. Cousin of the Martells, when they are called it isn't questioned after the birth of the Lord of Starfall's first child by her. Her other 3 children are also welcomed, a new occurrence. Two girls and a boy, brown skin, purple eyes, and silver locs. When they arrive, they are told that not a day off course is the Lord of Driftmark and his return to Dorne.

Nettles and Alyn.

She doesn't run away, facing the problem for what it was, against her husband's wishes. She barely recognises Alyn as he steps off the boat, and he doesn't believe it's her until he's close enough to see her nose scar and the three children behind her. A blonde girl is rushed past them to meet a healer, and he embraces her. A blond boy follows her, and she recognises Viserys in an instant. After three days of apologies and explanations, they learn the girl has died. The daughter of House Rogares died. A plan is constructed between both after seeing how quickly Viseyrs takes to her second daughter. Nettles returned with Alyn too driftmark with her first 3 children under a promise of safety.

The fate of 6 children.

Her two daughters assume the identity of Larra Rogare and Daenaera Velaryon (a ward of Driftmark) and are wed to Viserys ii and Aegon iii Targaryen under the hope that the children will restore the power of house Targaryen, two brother sister marriages between the children of the Rogue Prince. Her son is taken as a ward of House Velayron, and she retains the right to visit her children under false pretences and different assumed identities so no one discovers the plot. It is sworn away, and the histories carry on as they were.

[ride-thedragon]

I've come to the realization that I've been talking about the theory that Rhaenyra wanted Nettles dead by the end of the war without actually talking about it. That changes now.

Why Rhaenyra Targaryen Wanted Nettles the Dragonseed Dead. (A theory).

First things first this is not my theory, I've just thought about the justification on it, I believe the original poster is on Reddit.

1. Nettles does not look Valyrian: this is the most obvious case for the theory. Nettles existence is in direct opposition to the Doctrine of Targaryen Exceptionalism. The idea that they 'control the dragons' as stated by Viserys in episode one of the show is an illusion, he says this to Rhaenyra and she then says everyone thinks Targaryens are closer to Gods than men, but they say that because of our dragons. Netty isn't just a common-looking dragon rider, we have absolutely no proof that she was a descendant of any person from Old Valyria. She also uses the most unconventional means to claim her dragon. One only referenced to be used before the Dragons were claimed by the people of Old Valyria, a direct connection to the Targaryen history to dragonriding, using the closest ancestor to the wild dragons they would've claimed. That's an issue for Rhaenyra and the future of House Targaryen.

2. Alyn's Part: She also visibly does this where more notable bastards fail, Silver Denys and Alyn of Hull being the bastards that die and are burned, almost killed respectively. That doesn't aid Nettles' case with the strange way she claims her dragon, Sheepstealer ensures the death of every other potential rider, most of who would most likely look more Valyrian.

3. A smaller part: In the few descriptions we have for Nettles, It's said her loyalties were never clear and that's part of the reason she was mistrusted. I think that part is a bit overlooked because from all her actions described she fought loyally for Rhaenyra and her cause.

Moving on from the incentive, Daemon's part in Nettles's story is important but not in the ways usually discussed. These are the ways in which his part in this would’ve played out.

1. He doesn't know: Plain and Simple, Rhaenyra had this plan and didn't tell him, expecting his loyalty and understanding. In this scenario, she takes her father's words to heart after she realizes Daemon doesn't understand. He'd be more impressed by Netty than the other Dragonriders because she doesn't look like them, doesn't claim her dragon conventionally, and by all accounts is filthy, and foul-mouthed. Rhaenyra is trying to run a country, Daemon is getting to know Nettles and because Rhaenyra would be occupied she wouldn't realize how close they are becoming, Mysaria, Lady of Whispers in all but the name makes it a priority to know. Rhaenyra sends Nettles away from court at Daemon's side to prolong the issue and he gets close to Nettles and loves her in whatever way he does. The betrayers betray, Addam is now Corlys' Heir so he's questioned not executed. Mysaria informs Rhaenyra about this relationship between Daemon and Nettles and she realizes she can't depend on him as she thought, but she still expects him to understand. Rhaenyra writes to lord Mooten, to kill Nettles and send Daemon her way, but he knows better and has seen their relationship firsthand, Daemon would burn them himself if that happens and believes it would curse his house so he does his little plan, and succeeds, without breaking guest right and because it seems like the Queen is a Mad, Guest Right breaker, descending into grief and Jealousy, he changes factions, Daemon gets himself killed after securing Nettles safety because he doesn't think much, cite. "That whore of a queen killed my brother".

2. He does know: Basically, everything that was just described but he is aware of Rhaenyra’s goal, and probably petitions for Nettles to join him as a way to get Rhaenyra to seemingly not be viewed as crazy for killing Nettles, especially if she dies fighting Vhagar or Daemon kills her after. But then months go by and with the aid of Mysaria she realizes that Daemon loves Nettles and won't kill her, she then writes to lord Mooten who doesn't want to be burnt or cursed so he tells Daemon who realizes there is no sense in going back and sends Nettles away for her protection.

All in all, it's my preferred theory because HBO doesn't have the best history with Asoiaf women and depicting their grief or complexities. Making Rhaenyra have a reason for killing Nettles not just a jealous, hurt, and betrayed woman succumbing to the madness of her grief is, in my opinion, a beautiful depiction of Rhaenyra being a capable ruler but being undermined and reduced to stereotypical characterizations based solely on her gender. The people who wrote this part also notably hate her for no reason.

A note would be that Rhaenyra could just as easily put on this performance for her declaration of this decree to save face, she uses the same justification people use for her first three kids against Nettles and uses witchcraft as a justification, a practice said to be used by Queen Visenya Targaryen, an idol for Rhaenyra. It seems more like a justification for her actions rather than a belief she would hold. Especially for the child who grieved her son at her side.

[ride-thedragon]

AN UNLIKELY DRAGONRIDER: A WEEK OF NETTLES.

Day 3: FAVOURITE PLATONIC DYNAMICS.

Nettles and the Dragonseeds.(Alyn Velayron, Addam Velayron, Ulf the White, Hugh Hammer [Baela Targaryen])

"It's all God's will: you can die in your sleep, and God can spare you in battle."

Nettles and Corlys Velayron.

"For while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isn't any other tale to tell, it's the only light we've got in all this darkness." -James Baldwin (Sonny's Blues)

Nettles and Baela Targaryen

"I want to do something splendid...something heroic or wonderful that won't be forgotten after I'm dead. I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday."- Little Women, Louisa May Allcott.

Nettles and Jacaerys Velayron.

“Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.” – Measure for Measure

Nettles and the Mootons

"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature."- Jane Austen.