#shes mad at daemon at first when jace tells her what happened

[kingcunny]

and what if one of the dragonseeds is baelons bastard and he looks exactly like viserys. and daemon kidnaps him before he can get himself eaten by a dragon

[gwenllian-in-the-abbey]

Not fluent in English. 

Please tell me I’m not the the only who noticed that team green characters in the show aren’t allowed to hate team black characters. 

Like Aemond can’t even hate Lucerys for cutting his eye and disabled him for life. 

And Alicent can’t hate Viserys for marrying and gr*ping her and forcing pregnancies on her, even though he have no intention to name any of their sons his heir, and treating her mostly like a caretaker and concubine rather than his lawful wife and the mother of his legitimate children. 

Aegon and Helaena aren’t even allowed to hate Daemon the man who ordered the death of their Son.

Like why??? Why aren’t they allowed to hate them???

Hi aleksandra! You make a good point! I think there are a few things going on here.

For one, I think the writing is incredibly inconsistent across the board this season, and there are a lot of dropped plot threads. Some of it is intentional (like, I do think B&C was deliberately downplayed and undermined so that Alicent could have that Dragonstone scene, more on that in a bit), some of it I think is just bad writing and a kind of ... well, look, I can't speculate as to what goes down in the writer's room and have no idea what their workflow looks like or what processes they follow, but a problem going back to S1 is that characters and dialogue vary a lot from episode to episode. I don't think it's all that normal for a fandom to be concerned ahead of time about which writers will be writing which scenes and which episodes, but with HotD there seem to be huge differences in how each writer interprets the characters. Having worked on OFCIR collaboratively with @aifsaath, we work really hard to make sure the chapters are relatively consistent. I gave our first few chapters to my critique partner for original fiction, a guy who knows my writing inside and out, someone I've worked with for about 6 years now, @theravenpiper, and he could not actually tell which scenes were written by me, and which were written by Aife, which I took as a big complement to our collaborative process, and to our ability to edit to a uniform standard. Now I'm not saying we do it better than the HotD writers, but I do think that there is something missing from their collaborative process that makes the entire thing seem disjointed.

I do not think it is entirely that the whole of team green is not allowed to be angry at team black, although that is part of it, some of it is part of an overall bigger problem where major events are not allowed to resonate across the story, and I chalk some of it up to simple bad writing. Rhaenyra is apparently over Luke's death enough by E3 that she can seek out Alicent for some kind of vague "let's stop this madness" ploy, but still conveniently needs "a son for a son" in E8. Although Rhaenyra is negotiating from a position of power in E8, there was no reason for her to feel so desperate as of E3, when Rook's Rest hasn't even happened yet, that she would set aside her grief and anger and go seek peace. Peace was offered in E10 of season 1 and Rhaenyra turned it down after Luke died, so what has changed besides Rhaenyra's own husband beheading a toddler? Other events happen too and have little or no consequence. Rhaenyra and Mysaria kiss in E6 and it's entirely forgotten by E8, with zero follow up. Criston Cole is brought to his knees by the sight of Aegon lying injured by his dragon, but never even visits his bedside. Gwayne never interacts with anyone aside from Alicent and Criston. Rhaenyra sends her younger children to the Vale and never mentions them again (she is shown looking wistfully at a box of toys), nor does Jace. Laena in a vision berates Daemon for not looking after their girls, but does he ask after them when Broome shows up directly from Dragonstone? I could go on. Events just happening and then never really mattering again is a consistent problem throughout the season, which makes it hard to tell when it is happening deliberately and when it is happening because the writers can't get on the same page.

There are two things I do think are deliberate, however, one of them being the scrubbing of Viserys' image. While audiences loved Paddy's performance, a lot of viewers did pick up on how Viserys played favorites and neglected his sons, and I think when the show decided to switch up Alicent's motivation from "she wants to protect her children and knows they will face the sword if Rhaenyra comes to power" to "she misheard Viserys' last words," they knew that the natural question is, "why should she care about Viserys' last words?" A lot of the immediate feedback about that episode involved how Alicent was stupid for not knowing Otto planned to have Aegon take the throne, and a lot of people didn't think that Alicent (or Aegon for that matter) really believed that Viserys changed his mind, but apparently that was the writers' intention, that Alicent truly believed it and managed to convince Aegon (there's a lot I could say about how they could have included this deathbed misunderstanding into the plot without having it replace all of Alicent's other motivations, but they did not do that). So in order to drive home the point that the whole entire war is being fought due to this misunderstanding, they have to make sure the audience is clear that all of these characters considered Viserys a good king. Even if he was Alicent's rapist. Even if he was a deadbeat dad. Even if he was a terrible husband. We are meant to believe he chose Rhaenyra not because he was playing mindgames or out of guilt over Aemma's death, no we must believe he chose Rhaenyra because he was good and wise and to convince us he was good and wise we have to have the green characters reminding us constantly that things were so much better when Viserys was around, that Aegon is inferior to Viserys, that Viserys' wishes are all that matter. Nevermind that it goes directly against the book, never mind that it's not even a particularly powerful or interesting change, it's what enables Rhaenyra and Alicent's relationship to continue. Because here's the thing-- if Alicent put Aegon on the throne because she felt it was the only way to keep her family safe, and because she feels that law and tradition ARE on her side, and because absolutism isn't good (!!!) then there's no chance for her and Rhaenyra to ever reconcile. These are irreconcilable differences, not misunderstandings. And so the show has to glaze Viserys otherwise the basic reasoning falls apart.

And the second is the events like Luke's death, Blood and Cheese and Rook's Rest come in, events in which the greens or the blacks harm and traumatize each other directly. It is not that the greens are not allowed to hate the blacks, it is that Alicent is not allowed to hate Rhaenyra, and by extension, the people who Alicent cares about are not allowed to hate her (I would argue that Aemond is allowed to hate Luke on screen, he literally murders him, and I don't think the scene with the brothel madame is an expression of true remorse, it's more "I'm kinda sorta sorry there were consequences for my actions."). Alicent cares about Helaena the innocent, and therefore Helaena cannot be allowed to hate Rhaenyra (note Phia Saban's many interviews about how apolotical and neutral Helaena is). Aegon, on the other hand, can be affected by B&C because he is allowed to hate Rhaenyra. In fact, his hate for Rhaenyra puts him at odds with his mother, which is what the show wants. Aegon is gravely injured at Rook's Rest, but good thing Rhaenyra's forces did not cause the injuries, Alicent herself drove him to battle with cruel words, and Aemond burned him, which puts him at odds with Alicent too (and Helaena is allowed to express ire at Aemond by extension). If you look at S2 as an exercise in driving a wedge between Alicent and her family and downplaying what happens to them in order to justify their decision to have Alicent seek out Rhaenyra and surrender Aegon's life, it makes a lot more sense.

The thing is, it still doesn't work. Their efforts are much too transparent and require characters to act in ways that are simply not within the realms of how normal human beings would react to these situations, much less the characters established in S1. There is a twitter user, and I'm so sorry that I can't remember their name at the moment, but I've seen them express the sentiment several times that Alicent's character this season made them aware, in a way that a viewer should never be aware, that these are scripted lines coming out of her mouth. That is, a lot of the characters in S2 do not feel like actual people. Aegon is such a fan favorite this season because he feels real. Alicent garnered legions of fans last season because her struggle felt real, even if we didn't agree with it. She felt like a character who inhabited a quasi-medieval world, bound by restraints we are not bound by, but nevertheless a human with human reactions who had to make difficult choices and persevere through them. And any human would be angry beyond comprehension at Blood and Cheese, would lose all faith in Rhaenyra, would know that there can be no peace if she is ruling with a man that ruthless at her side. If she thinks her sons are devils (and mind, so far as king Aegon's most egregious action is executing a handful of ratcatchers after one of their number murdered his son, whereas Rhaenyra burned about 65 peasants alive in a quasi religious ecstasy-- will Alicent ever find out about that, I wonder?), they are at least the devils she knows. Better they all die than end up in Daemon's hands, surely? And so OP, you're right, they are not allowed to hate each other when naturally you, and many others, feel like they should. That is because they are writer creations who would never do such things as what happen in the books in the first place, acting out plot points of entirely different characters (their book counterparts).

[n-i-m-u-e]

Lucemond bodyswap!AU

This plot was quite popular when I was a teenager (before the dinosaurs), but I've hardly ever seen it in this fandom. And a few days ago I literally had this dream (yes, I resumed taking antidepressants this month and usually when you start taking them, you have very vivid, detailed and interesting dreams at first) I couldn't let go of the idea.

Let's imagine that Rhaenyra and her family stay in KL until Viserys' death to prevent the usurper from taking her throne, and then just stay there because she's now queen. And so, with the help of some bizarre Valyrian magic really don't care the causes, only the effects, Luke and Aemond swap bodies and, according to the classic of the genre, cannot tell anyone about it (although Helaena knows anyway). And of coooourse, they have to work together to get everything back to the way it was.

-----------------------∞----------------------

for me, this is such an inexhaustible endless source of dramedy:

Aemond’s first thought when he looks in the mirror and sees his nephew's reflection is 'What can I do with this horribly messy hair?'

Luke wakes up in Aemond’s chambers and struggles with his new size, bumping into and tripping over everything until he finally reaches the room he’d fallen asleep in the night before, already covered in bruises. There, he sees himself—or is it his body?—turning the room upside down, searching for something. Luke timidly asks what Aemond is looking for, and with a look of wild madness in his eye, Aemond barks: “A comb!”

Luke, on the other hand, doesn't care about Aemond’s hair at all. It annoyed him how long it is, although he's mesmerized by its softness and color. Especially the color, since he’s imagined countless times what it would be like if he’d been born with Targaryen hair. But he can’t deal with the long strands and just ties them into a messy… something. Aemond nearly has a stroke when he sees this vandalism for the first time.

They agree to call a truce until they find out how it happened, but they constantly fight for various reasons. Mostly because Aemond is the one who panics dramatising overreacts about the situation. Luke, as an empathetic child without emotional constipation, even tries to calm him down. But, as expected, only encounters rudeness in return. The uncle says that he has never felt so defective before, even after he had lost an eye. He also says that he is very worried that Luke-in-his-body will now disgrace Aemond with ‘such idiotic expressions’ after Luke-in-his-body cannot hide the obvious resentment on his face.

Their attempts to behave like the other are rather clumsy. Mainly because Lucerys has never really hidden his emotions, while Aemond has never really shown his.

Aemond is shocked to find that in his sister’s family, displays of physical affection without any serious reason are perfectly normal. On the first dinner of being Luke, Aemond reflexively twists Jace’s arm when he tries to ruffle his hair unexpectedly. Later, when Rhaenyra, noticing something is off with "her sweet boy", pulls him close in a gentle hug to figure out what’s wrong, Aemond is beyond errored. And let’s not even talk about how the poor guy feels when Daemon slaps him on the back and asks for his opinion on something. Yes, used to being fairly distant from his own family, Aemond is really stunned by the intensity of the interconnectedness in his older sister's household.

After all this, he goes to complain to Luke, who is also in shock and distressed about 'Aemond's day', but it's more of a ‘Damn Bitch, You Live Like This?’. He hasn't seen any of his uncle's family all day and no one has even looked for him, except for Sir Christon (and it's a pretty enough nightmare). He tells Aemond that maybe understands why he's such a prick - because he hasn't ever been hugged enough.

Aemond, who can't come up with a plausible reason for not training with Jace, decides that he will quickly defeat his older nephew. But he is annoyed to realise that Luke's body is not as strong and trained as he is used to, and he cannot hold a sword of the weight that Aemond is used to. The fact that Jace is only gently encouraging his “brother” irritates him even more.

In the early morning, Aemond forces his nephew to train with him to learn how to use his new body—instead, Aemond cringes as watches Luke struggle to cope with his own. But after a little while, using each other's advice, they have a good sparring. Aemond is very excited about the possibility that having both eyes and the agility of a small body opens up—is triumphant at his victory. Luke look like he doesn't cares (he really doesn't, because he'd rather be in bed at this hour).

But the real hit for Aemond comes when Damon meets him later that morning and tells him that he saw the fight between him and Luke and is really proud of him because he has ‘unexpectedly good technique’. Aemond's fangirl-daddy-issues-emotions run high, and even the warning that ‘needs to be careful with this one-eyed Hightower cunt, because his extreme niceness is too alarming’ doesn't diminish them. By the end of the day, Aemond is mentally running around with the fact that ‘the Rogue Prince praised my fighting skills.’

Luke laughs for a very long time when hears about this conversation. Because ‘Daemon saw me beat you, and according to him, I fight only slightly better than Joff. Joff is six, uncle. Daemon thought "you" went easy on "me".’

They try to find some information on how to get back into their own bodies in Valyrian manuscripts, but Luke discovers just how terrible his uncle’s pronunciation is when he tries reading something aloud. The search is soon forgotten, as their impromptu speaking lesson stretches late into the evening.

The amount of time they’ve been spending together lately doesn’t go unnoticed and starts raising questions. So, the boys decide to split up for a while and conduct their searches separately.

Luke, who is unbearably bored being Aemond and lacking his discipline, decides to find some entertainment. He’d normally call Jace to fly or invite Rhaena for a walk, but obviously, that’s not an option now. So, he heads to see Helaena, who is delighted to have him visit. Luke confirms that his "quirky aunt" is really sweet, but freezes when she declares she’s 'so glad Aemond can see the underside’.

Later, Luke encounters Aegon too, who makes a comment about Aemond-Luke’s hairstyle. And boy, out of habit, reacts in much the same way as he would if something similar happened between him and Jace—he responds with some kind of small joke. Aegon stares at him as if he’s grown a second head—or at least regrown his second eye. Slowly, Lucerys realizes that his stoic, cold uncle is really just wearing a mask. After all, truly coldblooded people don’t flare up at every little remark.

Aemond, who’s genuinely trying to solve the problem, finds a reference to a book that might be in Dragonstone’s library. Without thinking twice, he decides to fly there. Based on who he looks like now, he thinks no one will find it odd if Lucerys Velaryon spends a few hours in the library at his own home. He heads to the dragonpit to ride Lucerys Velaryon dragon.

But dragons are not humans. Arrax is not at all pleased when some suspicious guy—no matter how much he looks like his rider (this no less suspicious point also needs to be clarified)—tries to approach him and decides to take a few bites out of the pretender. Aemond is rescued by Luke, who is on his way to visit his dragon. Unlike his uncle, he did not assume that Arrax could be fooled by appearances.

Luke angrily tells his uncle that he 'tried to steal someone else's dragon again and almost got hurt.' For the first time since they switched bodies, they get into a real fight, almost ending in blows. But when Aemond sweeps Luke off his feet with a well-placed strike from his “blind side” and and falls on top of him, they have some feelings that are… let's say not typical of a fight, which makes Aemond embarrassed and run away. What can you do—they still teenagers🤷‍♀️

And speaking of teenagers. If you wake up with morning wood while in someone else’s body, is jerking off in such a situation still considered masturbation or already sex? Just asking.

Aemond, isolated from his usual routine and still holding a grudge against Luke, decides to “gather some information on the enemy camp,” as he calls it. In reality, he's simply finding out how Luke is treated by his family. And this simultaneously makes him envious and angry on behalf of his nephew. Because he doesn't like the condescending attitude that thrives on Luke. Now it becomes clearer to him why he once thought the boy was weak and foolish, though in recent days, he’s realised that’s not the case at all. But this condescension causes Lucerys’ impostor syndrome to progress. It doesn't allow him to become stronger.

Also, unexpectedly for himself, Aemond finds that he actually likes his cousins, and even little Joffrey is “a decent kid.” Jacerys stops provoking a dull irritation as long as he’s either silent or far enough away that his words can’t be heard.

For a few days, Aemond and Luke avoid each other. But eventually, Luke comes to make peace and finally apologizes to his uncle, not just for the recent incident, but for everything.

They decide to fly to Dragonstone together because Luke knows how to sneak into the castle. After all, he has slipped out countless times with Jace, Rhaena, and on his own.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[backjustforberena]

So, sort of knowing where this scene is set is making me want to reevaluate it and try and come up with what's happening and why. This is not Rhaenys being a pacifist or saying "don't go to war" - I mean, if nothing else, she's the one who dragged her husband out of bed to make him go and pledge for Rhaenyra. We left Rhaenys at the end of Season 1 during a moment of agency and a moment of action for the character: going to patrol the Gullet. She's in it. She's not flinching.

But being an active participant and being willing to fight does not automatically turn you into either a warmonger or bloodthirsty person. Being fierce in war does not mean inviting it, to the cost of everything.

We know that Rhaenys is going to be a large presence in the war: we see her on the wide shot sitting at the Painted Table, opposing Daemon. The idea that a "pacifist" or someone hesitant to be in the war would be sitting right by her Queen's side is a bit daft, when others could easily hold that place (not least Corlys).

The good chance is, looking at the outfits, this is on or around the funeral for Lucerys. I don't think it's specifically at the event, given that Rhaenys's silhouette on the wide shot seems a lot bulkier and floor length, so she's at least got some sort of outer layer on, if not a whole different outfit/possibly a dress (in other news: please give my lady more than one outfit for this season, I beg).

But either way, this is occurring around a time that Rhaenyra is in flux. Where her emotions are strongest. It's not at the start of the war - so it's not Rhaenys giving a preachy speech or telling her to turn back or whatever. Things have happened. Time has passed. Alliances have been made and quite possibly other things have occurred. A very important thing to note is: Daemon isn't there. He has left for Harrenhal and Jace has returned.

For the first time, probably, Rhaenys will have the chance to counsel Rhaenyra without Daemon's influence or presence. Daemon, who has been gung-ho about vengeance since Viserys popped his clogs and is likely no better now. Someone who feeds Rhaenyra's worst instincts.

Rhaenyra is inexperienced at war. She's never participated in one, never been close to one, never waged one. She's never been in this position of responsibility. There's a decent change she can romanticise it, even, given her father's tales of Valyria, the glorification of Daemon, her childhood wish to be a knight and ride to battle and glory and the righteousness of her cause and her claim as she sees it.

It makes sense for Rhaenys to have both an opinion on that and to offer council, given Rhaenys's own experiences. What Rhaenys is saying is that: there will be a cost. It will not be easy and Luke's death is not the worst thing that will occur, potentially. It will get messier and messier, she could lose more and more. Including Jace, who has just returned to them. And all of that, as Queen, will be on Rhaenyra's shoulders. She has to remain level-headed as opposed to being ruled by emotion and ruled by "the desire to burn and kill" because that way madness lies.

I think the order of the lines will go like this, with them being split up by either more dialogue from one or both of the women:

"When the desire to kill and burn takes hold and reason is forgotten.. we will not even remember what began the war in the first place." [...] "There is no war so hateful to the Gods as a war between kin. And no war so bloody as a war between dragons."

Rhaenys starts by looking into the middle-distance, not looking at Rhaenyra. She is empathising with what Rhaenyra is feeling and remembers experiences that she has been through that conjure up the same desire. The war has started, you see that in the language.

And it makes sense if Rhaenyra is feeling like she is starting this for Luke or starting it for her father or starting it for some noble reason for Rhaenys to keep that in check if she sees Rhaenyra veering towards revenge or vengeance without limit - something that is likely to come out at such an event as Luke's funeral and the aftermath of finding those remains (because a woman screaming over the remains of their burnt son, how could she possibly relate...).

But then she will turn to Rhaenyra. Then she'll look and say the next part which is, essentially: be certain. This war will not be easy, be just or be glorious. It will not be a crusade, it will not be idealistic, it will not go how Rhaenyra expects and at the end of the day, even if victory is assured, people may not like you for it. It will change you. It will have a cost.

That's not something to necessarily run away from or hide from. But it is something to keep in mind and be aware. Don't be consumed. Don't prolong it. Don't deny it. They are in it now. They are all in it. For Rhaenyra and she has to understand that. Whatever Rhaenyra decides, it affects everything. Whatever Rhaenyra is ruled by, it changes all.

[starkdirewolflove]

House of the Dragon

Baela is talking with Corlys at the docks and reminiscing about her grandmother and the love Corlys had for her and his great journeys. He’s despondent and rejects Rhaenyra’s offer as Hand but Baela sets him straight that Rhaenys was more than just his wife that he lost: she was a princess, a dragon rider, a warrior, the queen who should have been and she died a dragon riders death, just as Laena did and just as Baela wants. She will see Rhaenyra on the iron throne no matter what. Corlys is inspired by his granddaughter and wants to name her heir but she is fire and blood and says the driftwood throne should pass to salt and sea. He accepts the badge.

At Kingslanding Rhaenyra’s handmaiden Elinda is on her secret mission, she gets a gold cloak to let her into the city by telling him she works for the white worm. She goes to a house and I think the woman she meets was one of the maids in the red keep.

Alicent sits by Aegon’s bed and he’s in bad shape, a broken leg and half his body is burned. Aemond is standing before the iron throne and Haeleana is there, she asks him “was it worth the cost?” She probably dreamt the outcome of the battle. I’m interested to see what their relationship is like, I don’t think we’ve ever seen those two speak to each other before.

Back in the Riverlands and Daemon’s scorched earth mission with the Blackwoods has backfired. All the riverlords come to Harrenhal in the night to berate Daemon for the crimes the Blackwoods have committed against the smallfolk and the holy places, Daemon starts hallucinating Laena again and starts to feel guilty for how badly he’s fucked up. The riverlords will not support a tyrant who orders children murdered in front of their mother.

Back to Dragonstone and Rhaenyra is sending Ser Alfred to treat with Daemon and see how he’s progressing in the riverlands and if he’s decided to accept her as his queen.

Jace arrives back and mother and son have a long discussion/debate about their next steps. Rhaenyra has been reading about Queen Visenya, Vhagar first rider and wielder of Dark Sister, Jace doesn’t think Rhaenyra should try to emulate her and Rhaenyra is sick of being told to stay behind because she’s a woman. She knows Jace wants to fight and so does she, they discuss Aemond being in charge now and he won’t wait to strike, Syrax is smaller but quicker and Vhagar is already wounded from her battle with Meyles. Jace comes up with a plan to find riders for Vermithor and Silverwing as House Targaryen has descendants in other parts of Westeros and they could help turn the war in their favour. “It’s a mad plan,” Rhaenyra says but it’s the best they’ve got along with a massive load of scrolls and records to sift through.

I’m guessing the Sowing of the Dragonseeds will happen next week. Can’t wait to see the Bronze Fury up close.

I think Alicent is starting to get a better idea of how Rhaenyra felt in Kingslanding when Viserys was still alive, she may have had power and position but without her father to prop her up she’s easily dismissed even by her own son and lover. I also think she’s seeing Cole as the faithless, hypocrite he is instead of the gallant knight he pretends to be. He thought he was offering Rhaenyra the world by asking her to give up the crown and her inheritance to run away with him to Asshai and be a farmers wife, now he’s decided Alicent is too pure and delicate to preside over a war council. As if she’s gonna be in the field of battle herself and see the atrocities up close. She’s also starting to realise what a monster she’s created in Aemond the kinslayer.

[thecountesstribe]

House of the Dragon 2x3 episode reaction. I have alot of thoughts, bare with me.

The episode was eh but that's mostly just because it's the calm before the proverbial shitstorm.

BAELA “I COULD SMELL BITCH FROM A MILE AWAY AND IT'S ON SIGHT” TARGARYEN, HOW I LOVE YOU!! MOONDANCER IS BEAUTIFUL! MY BRAVE GIRL DID HER THING. IKTR POOKIE!! HER SASSING RHAENYRA, 10S across the board. I know Rhaenyra is tired 😩

I'll always feel for Rhaena, she finally was able to speak although, I wanted more dialogue from her, it's fuckin owed atp HBO, but you could feel her resentment, her anger and her frustration during her scenes. I feel so bad for her cause the only people that are really looking out for her are Rhaenys and Baela. Daemon don't give af, Rhaenyra is trying to find a balance between being a mother and queen but you could see that there is a distance between her and Rhaena even though she lived with them instead of on Driftmark with Rhaenys. When Rhaena first accepted the “mission” and walked off you could tell Rhaenyra wanted to tell her something but it looks like she doesn't know how to talk to her, which is fuckin sad. So those headcanons of her probably only having her brothers to talk to and Luke by extension makes her situation even worse. The glass child fr. So she's most definitely claiming a dragon this season and honestly good on her. Although if they do write Nettles out I'm gonna be pissed. That scene with Baela and her warmed my heart though. Another thing Rhaenyra totally brushing her feelings aside and being like my sons, my sons, my sons is totally not helping her character either. I'm honestly mad they fumbled the majority of the team black relationship dynamics. Rhaena going to ward is literally foreshadowing her future in the dance so I'm not mad at her, she did become everything Rhaenyra wanted her to be, was literally the last of the Targaryen's future and history before Dany came along. I know one thing though they better give her Morning idgaf what they gotta do. That is one important part of the plot I won't forgive if they rewrite it.

Honestly I don't give a damn who gets pissed but fuck Corlys. I said what I said and I'm not taking it back. I don't ever want to hear another “Rhaenyra and her bastard boys usurped Rhaena and Baela”, Corlys is just as misogynistic as the rest of the men in the realm. In the books the succession of the Driftmark throne was up in the air but they rewrited it in the show and yes Baela and Rhaena didn't have a claim to it cause Laenor was Corlys firstborn in the show and he did legitimize his boys but he had an opportunity to make Rhaena Lady of the Tides, she would've been either way had she married Luke as intended but he didn't and you wanna know why? Take a guess, exactly. It goes without saying. I understand him not naming Joff, he's heir to the throne in case anything happens to Jace but he could've named Rhaena and he didn't. So fuck him. Also foreshadowing for the end of the dance.

I wish y'all could've heard the long drawn out exhale that I let out knowing we gotta be see Larys Clubfoot ( the old man was so real for that name 🤣🤣😭😭🤣) more on my television screen. So Crispin, Clubfoot and Gwayne and Aegon, I can't win. Battle of the incels and they're failing upward while we lose 💔. I'm sick. The only thing I like about Gwayne is him irritating crybaby Cole and immediately clocking that there's something going on with him and Alicent. He's messy, I could appreciate that.

Young Rhaenyra was a nice little surprise even though the context for the scene was dark. Daemon getting his death notice in Harrenhal (also foreshadowing) and his dream sequence was peak if you ask me.

I need Rhaenys to never ever in her life speak on Luke's name again. I understand what she was trying to say but even having the audacity to insinuate that it's Luke's fault the war even started cause he took Aemond's eye (he was literally trying to protect his brother and her granddaughters) and that Otto and Weak King Vizzy T council wasn't planning to usurp and kill Rhaenyra from the start is blasphemy to the highest degree. Her clocking Rhaenyra's council was good though. The men in this show are just so ughhhhh. Why did they give Rhaena and Rhaenys an off screen goodbye when she was one of the most important people in her life and especially since she's gonna y'know...

Helaena telling Alicent she forgives her is so gonna hurt when we remember in future episodes. This is gonna greatly contribute to Alicent's suffering especially when Helaena goes off the deep end. She's going to realize she had a hand in destroying one of the purest and greatest things in her life and we the viewers are gonna be hurt.

Didn't expect to get a full blown view of Aemond hanging out but okay I guess. There he goes again not addressing his problems (his bum ass older brother, his nuisance, his bane of his existence) and going to take it out in somebody else though 🥱.

Sept Rhaenyra had the same energy as Arryk pretending to be Erryk and you can't convince me otherwise. I know they were gonna do a reunion between the two but Rhae still trying to be a pacifist and not knocking Alicent's head about even a little bit was stupid to me. She literally tormented her and her children for years! What more was there to say? Get in the field Rhaenyra!! Do you guys really think Alicent didn't know Viserys wasn't talking about her son Aegon? Let's all bffr for a second. She knew and they wanna chalk up the entire dance to it being a mistake is rather irritating. Alicent being prideful and can't admit to her wrongdoings even after the fact that Rhaenyra told her the prophecy is not in the least bit surprising. It just cheapens the outlook on the whole “Dance of the dragons” honestly.

I hate the fact that the writers spun the show into an Alicent vs Rhaenyra situation when the whole gist of season 1 and the books was Rhaenyra vs Misogyny. Women not being allowed to rule because they're women y'know.

In terms of screen writing HOTD IS WEAK and I'm blaming the writers for not reading the source material before putting pen to paper. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying they can't rewrite certain stuff, it's a given with the limited amount of episodes per season, sometimes you do need new plots to shock the viewers and you can't really get into everything but at certain points it's downright ridiculous. Spinning the conflict into a misunderstanding is stupid and I stand by that.

[bbygirl-aemond]

What would happen if Alicent agreed to marry Jace and Helaena?

Alright so there are a few posts that'll be useful to check out before reading my answer! The first is a post here about how Rhaenyra is actually smarter and more politically savvy than most people give her credit for, which will explain why I treat her in this response as fully aware of the implications of what she's doing. The second is a post here about what would happen if the Greens let Rhaenyra take the throne, which builds on historical precedent from the time period GRRM based HotD off of to explain why Alicent is convinced that her children would be killed if Rhaenyra assumed the throne. Okay, so with all of this information in mind, let's get into why this was a win-win scenario for Rhaenyra, and a lose-lose scenario for Alicent!

From a political standpoint, if Helaena married Jace, she would be used against the Greens. It would bring Dreamfyre over to the Blacks' side, leaving the Greens with only Sunfyre and Tessarion, who are both young dragons. Remember, Laena and Laenor are still alive in this episode, so Vhagar is still on Team Black, as is Seasmoke. And Helaena would also immediately become a political hostage the second war broke out, because the Blacks would imprison her in case she tried to escape and help her family.

And conflict between the Blacks and the Greens would still be inevitable, because Helaena marrying does nothing to erase the facts that (1) Westeros is highly misogynistic and (2) Viserys still has three sons who are alternatives to Rhaenyra in many lords' eyes. So as in the post I linked above, the Greens would still become figureheads of a movement against Rhaenyra, either willingly or unwillingly. If war broke out, the Greens would lose, and Alicent's sons would all be put to death; even if it didn't, they would still pose a threat to Rhaenyra's claim and would likely be killed by one of her supporters (cough cough Daemon) to stabilize her rule.

From a personal standpoint, Alicent also has reason to believe this arrangement would be detrimental to Helaena's happiness. First, we know that Helaena is close with her family, and Aemond in particular. Remember that in canon, Helaena killed herself right after Aemond died, and since the show has explicitly made her a dragon dreamer this is in no way a coincidence. Even if she wasn't entirely suicidal and remained alive after her siblings died, she'd 100% be mad with grief the way she was in canon.

Second, Alicent has no reason to believe Jace would be a better/safer husband than Aegon. Remember, Alicent doesn't know Jace; she doesn't know he's a good person the way we as the audience do. Someone pointed out in the reblogs that the only data point she has on Jace is that he was involved in bullying Aemond, which doesn't make a great impression. She also hasn't been shown evidence of Aegon being a rapist yet. And honestly, in canon Aegon is far from an abusive husband to Helaena considering the circumstances. The only evidence we have of their relationship shows that he leaves her alone, except for when he's forced to conceive children with her, and brings her gifts (the beetle she's playing with at the dinner is from him). There are no hints of him physically or verbally abusing her. And Helaena seems very content with this situation, being left to her own devices. Alicent has no way of hoping that Jace would be as understanding of Helaena's eccentricities as she can ensure Aegon will be. In fact, because of the above point about bullying Aemond, she has reason to believe Jace might be unkind about Helaena being different.

Third, Helaena is also very heavily coded as autistic, and I can tell you that being forced to leave behind everyone and everything she's ever known to go with Jace to Dragonstone is absolutely her worst nightmare, regardless of how much she might like Jace. Like, autism and complete upheavals of routines and familiar environments do NOT mix, at ALL.

Fourth, Alicent wants to save Helaena from the trauma she herself went through, as much as she has the power to. Remember, Alicent went through all of the trauma of rape and forced pregnancy/childbirth completely alone. She didn't have her best friend, and she also didn't have her mother, and she absolutely doesn't want Helaena to go through the same things without her mother's support. Alicent maintains the most control over Helaena's safety and happiness by keeping her close to home; who would send their child into an unknown situation with an unknown spouse who may or may not make them miserable, knowing that they're different in a way that practically everyone refuses to understand or accommodate?

Oh also, a lot of people say that by marrying Helaena to Aegon, Alicent was forcing her to be a SA victim. But that ignores that there is no real possibility, in Alicent's mind, that Helaena would ever have a husband she's attracted to and wants to sleep with. It's never even been a possibility for Alicent herself, nor for like 99% of noble women in Westeros who have to marry for purely political reasons rather than true love. Besides, Alicent has no reason to think Helaena would be magically attracted to Jace since she doesn't know him. In Alicent's mind, Jace doesn't present a possibility of consensual sex for Helaena; no potential husband does. In this, Aegon is no worse than any other option for her.

Meanwhile, though this arrangement would come at political and personal cost to Helaena and the Greens as a whole, it only serves to benefit Rhaenyra. Securing a Valyrian bride for Jace- and babies that will most likely look Valyrian- only helps to strengthen Jace's claim, which in turn strengthens Rhaenyra's. As mentioned above, it also disarms Rhaenyra's enemies of their biggest, oldest dragon at the time. So while Alicent would risk everything by agreeing to this arrangement, Rhaenyra risks nothing and in fact only stands to gain from it.

So of course Alicent says no. Her children's chance of survival, including Helaena's, is best if they remain united and fight together. Helaena's chance of happiness, in Alicent's mind, is most certain if she stays close to home, and Alicent is honestly probably right for all of the reasons stated above.

The kicker is that Rhaenyra has proposed this whole thing KNOWING Alicent cannot accept. She probably suspects that Alicent's trying to maneuver towards the throne even if she doesn't fully appreciate why, and she and Alicent both demonstrate a ton of empathy for each other as mothers, so she absolutely understands why Alicent wants to keep Helaena close. She's not proposing this because she thinks Alicent will accept. She WANTS Alicent to reject her offer.

Why? Because it makes Rhaenyra look good, and it makes Alicent look bad. Remember, this is right after Joffrey was born, with the whole deal over the bastard situation. When the people in that room are wondering why Alicent turned Rhaenyra down, their minds won't go where Rhaenyra's went. They'll assume Alicent only turned Rhaenyra down because of the rumors. This will make them think Rhaenyra was extending an olive branch and being the better person, while Alicent was refusing it and being bitter and hostile.

This is what I mean when I say this is a win-win scenario for Rhaenyra, and a lose-lose scenario for Alicent. If Alicent accepts, Rhaenyra secures a Valyrian bride for her son and strengthens her claim, while Alicent's kids will be in equal danger but less equipped to protect themselves and Helaena will likely be miserable. If Alicent refuses, Rhaenyra comes off as the empathetic hero, while Alicent is painted as the paranoid, crazy villain.

Again, this is some pretty next-level political maneuvering from Rhaenyra here. Remember, the more irrational and mean Alicent seems, the easier it is to rope everyone else, especially Viserys, into gaslighting Alicent. And with the rejection of this offer, Rhaenyra can lean into being more hostile with the justification that she tried to be the good guy, but Alicent forced her hand.

[snowbryneich]

Anarchy Preempted AU with Fem!Jace and male!Baela 🧍‍♀️

Jace would probably think giving Baelon kids and reaffirming “his claim” would save Luke. Because obviously he will be the ‘real’ ruler of the two of them when she reaches majority! Probably too dark an au actually, but you usually make everything emo so I’m trying to keep it on brand. 😂

I wasn't sure if this was a drabble request or just an idea of how this verse would go - behind a cut as longish (and dark) if you want a drabble request give me an age and i'll try!

It would be dark, I think yeah. I do think Jacaera would be less convinced she was going to die as a girl whose claim can be ignored even if Daemon has inexplicably crowned her and constantly convinced Luke was, which is not too helpful for her state of mind. And she knows what her fate is likely to be as a captured girl from the start.

Like when Laena came to get Jace for the wedding in the main fic he was clueless at first, but Jacaera would be given a wedding cloak and panic and be frantically telling Lady Laena she hasn't flowered and not really here for listening to reassurence. Only Baelon being her age would calm her down.

Jace is engaging with Baela on the wedding night because you have to be nice to girls where as Baelon would be getting yes my lord husbanded to death by Jacaera (and still cross about the insult to his grandfather if that had been said.)

Jacaera would desperately to hide when she flowered (ala Sansa - possibly with less panic and slightly more success but not much.)

I think a turning point would have been when Daemon dragged Jace out of the sept and they fell down and bloodied their nose - he'd be much sorrier to have done it to a girl (not that Jacaera believes him) but when he gets back to the keep and Baelon who is more likely to be in the yard than Baela and see his strange quiet little wife who hates him with her busted up nose he'd be outraged "Have you stuck my wife?"- he punches his dad in the face. This goes badly for him because he's still a preteen and Daemon punches back out of instinct but is probably their first moment of connection. He tried.

Saving Rhaena getting her improved treatment (or less ignoring from Baelon because I think he'd be less snappy than female Baela. Laena did install some manners in him about not being rude to girls that just don't have the same connontations for Baela being rude to a boy, husband or not and Laena is there to reinforce them) would probably only confirm to Jacaera he'd rather have married Rhaena and is stuck with her. Rather than thinking he could just being happy his sister isn't dragonfodder. And got a dragon.

Also without Jace holding the line they probably would be sharing a bed earlier ala Rhaenys saying Laena would bed Viserys at 14. But nothing would be happening Baelon's not dumb and not into unwilling (he remains unaware of the gender politics behind brothel work - so that anon can fuck off if they are about to start) so he didn't touch her and just cut his hand and marked the sheet when it started. Jacaera is like this is because I'm not pretty (and he's also still out making his own arrangements for sex) which is unhelpful for her thoughts on that front. (So yes cheating he literally thinks his wife doesn't want him so what does she care. ) Jacaera is getting side eye from the maids and then Rhaenys (when she's in town because she's extra mad Daemon has crowned a ten year old Queen) every time she gets her moonblood and Laena like encouraging maybe next month while Jacaera is thinking not likely. Jacaera wouldn't push like Baela so her attempts would be assuring Baelon she would do her duty and he's backing out of the room like that's the least hot thing anyone has ever said.

Jacaera didn't go to driftmark when Laena went into Labour either because Baelon was fully available as no-one summons a son to his mother's childbed (I mean normally - Jace and Luke got to in canon but I think the childbed and the war breaking out at once made an exception.)

Jacaera might be able to hold Alyssa and hint she wants a baby - she could use that plot and Baelon like ah? with me? you don't otherwise seem keen.

Honestly I think Jacaera could keep it all in until she gives birth to a daughter and Baelon is like we can call her Rhaenyra. He's trying and the hormones over take over and she's in tears like I needed a boy so your family don't kill my brother. Baelon :what now?

[duchess-of-oldtown]

House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6 "Small folk" Thoughts

Just clarifying, these are my own thoughts, you don't like them, don't bother telling me so. Also, I'm not a book purist, I like adaptions taking putting their own spin on things - if it makes sense to do so. So, here were my thoughts. Obvs, this post is dark and full of spoilers.

Am I sad to say I was excited to see House Lefford? Give us more houses.

Jason ordering Aemond to come to him, it's just... my guy do you know Aemond? Are you serious?

Alicent got her cumuppence at the Council. I'm loving Olivia's portrayal of her fear and unease around Aemond.

Another Red Kraken Mention!!

I like that they let Aemond be smart at the Council and it lays the ground for him leaving King's Landing.

Ewan Mitchell's lil mmms are such a great character tic

Alicent, you're giving Serena Joy Waterford and it's not a good look on you

Corlys taking his place as Hand, there's so much in it, you can see he's sort of like I got all the power I wanted but... The cost.

Oh great now we're just making up Targaryens. Ryan, wtf

Why didn't they use this as an opportunity to introduce the other Valyrian houses? House Celtigar?

PADDY

As glad as I am to see Viserys and Daemon scenes, I'm so done with Daemon at Harrenhal. Why couldn't we get him wandering the Riverlands actually doing something? Introducing new houses and such? New places?

Simon being so kind to Daemon, this isn't the first time that somebody went mad around him.

CARAXES MY BABY

These are the scenes we should have at Harrenhal, Daemon and Alys plotting and discussing magic

I loved the Seasmoke scene. You can really sense the awe in which they hold the dragons but also the true danger of them. It's something I never felt in GoT. Also Seasmoke was side-eyeing Steffon like one of the raptors in Jurassic Park, that man was going to be a snack from the outset

Jace shouting Mother as they watch Steffon burn... Oh the irony

Dyana scenes.

Slap that old man, Rhaenyra. Slap him

Rhaenyra and her sword = Visenya

Mysaria as Rhaenyra's mistress is so special to me. Canonically bisexual Rhaenyra.

Larys, you're about as subtle as a fart in church

Aegon and Aemond scenes. Ewan and Tom play them so well. Aegon holding the lil ball, remembering his lil boy

Rhaena is going to be Nettles. That's no Morning, no reason for Daemon to fight Aemond, nothing.

Oh lil Stormcloud 😍

Disliking Jeyne Arryn. Why did they do her as an expy if Lysa?

Also, how is Rhaena going for a walk in the Eyrie? Did they wynch them down for a jaunt?

The Gay Abandon 😭😭😭

Addam and Alyn discussing their dad. Why does Corlys not pay Addam any mind? What happened there?

Where is Marilda of Hull???

Jace giving Mysaria the "I'm not calling you mom look"

Alicent with Aegon, the miscommunication, ugh the tragedy

Gwayne being a good brother to Alicent, these are the relationships we want to see complicated but expressive

Daeron mention. He's kind. (tell that to Bitterbridge)

Both Hightower siblings looking at Criston like 👁️👁️

RIOT! RIOT! RIOT! EAT THE RICH

I love Helaena's fringe tiara.

Helaena's panic, Alicent defending her daughter. The SPIKES

It's the same carriage from Rhaenyra and Alicent's first scene, she still has it 😭

Daemon was hoping that kid killed his grandad, he was like "maybe that kid is alright"

#GETDAEMONOUTOFHARRENHAL2024

Seasmoke was choosing his own man like a mid-season Bridgerton

Seasmoke reminds me of my cat.

Apparently all dragons have stealth mode.

GAY WE GOT GAY

Rhaenyra's little "yes he does that" when they tell her about Seasmoke is me when my sister complains the cat is trying to sit on her shoulder.

[simplynotcapable]

If Baelon just incarnated as Aemond properly, from Day 1, and he and Visenya were able to communicate this to each other, would that solve any of the issues? Just, any of them?

I just genuinely don't think the Dance would happen.

Aemond kicks off the Dance. He kills Luke in the storm and signs the death warrant of his entire family and all of the dragons. You can keep tracing the fuse back as far as you want, but Aemond is the one who strikes the match and lights the bitch up.

Aemond does this for several reasons:

He's a hothead with a little bit of that dragon brand madness

He's spent his entire life with his mother telling him that Rhaenyra is a threat to him, to Aegon and Daeron, to Helaena and her children. He has had it pounded into his head that Rhaenyra is going to kill him and all the people he cares about, and Rhaenyra has never given him any reason not to believe this.

He's also spent his whole life in her shadow, in Aegon's shadow, in Jace and Luke's shadow--and those last two chafe. In their shadow when he knows they're bastards, when they're not as good as him, when they never have been, and his father still looks right through him and into them. Always has and always will, doesn't matter what he does.

He's just got this raging need to make himself seen because he's never been seen before someone else. He's not the firstborn, not the firstborn son. He claimed a dragon last. He's the one with the missing eye, with the deformity. Aegon's the one deemed worthy to have a Targaryen wife and a crown, and Aemond's just there to shore up his brother and want. He exists to covet. That's all Aemond is: covet dipped in blood.

So he looks at Luke, who took his eye, who has been laughing at him all his life. Precious, perfect little Luke, the some day Lord of the Tides when he doesn't have any blood claim to the seat he's taking. A bastard staring back at him, a bastard with people who love him and see him and put him first, a bastard whose dragon hatched in his cradle and who will marry a woman with Valyrian blood singing in her veins, a bastard who cut his eye out and Aemond's father still protected him. This bastard born to a woman who is going to kill him and his brothers and his nephews, maybe his sister too. His family. His people. And he thinks of his mother who wept for him and fought for him like no one ever did, the danger she's facing if this all goes badly for the Greens, and he is angry.

If you look at things outside of morality, outside of "hey chasing a child through the rain and trying to scare him with a war dragon is stupid", outside of whether or not you think Aemond losing his eye was a tragedy or something he had coming--if you look at it through Aemond's eye and through who Aemond is, how do you think he's going to do anything but what he did?

Baelon and Aemond have a lot of similarities. They're both a little bit mad, and they both take this kind of peaceful joy in violence that Aemond hasn't really gotten a chance to explore beyond sparring at this point in the story. They're dicks! They like teasing Visenya, they like flying, they love their dragons, they're mama's boys.

But the chip Aemond has on his shoulder is completely different from Baelon's.

Visenya recognizing that Baelon is Aemond in this version and him recognizing her means that they both remember. He remembers another life and so does she, and that changes them. Visenya in silver and moonstone would not be the same person she is without remembering the dragonglass and gold universe, and Baelon isn't the same either.

So here's Baelon in Aemond's place. Who remembers loving Rhaenyra and being loved by Rhaenyra, who remembers Laena, who remembers Daemon, who remembers being firstborn and first pick and the way it weighed so heavy. Who doesn't...want to be seen, not really, doesn't covet the same way. All those things Aemond wants so bad--firstborn son, Viserys's favorite, a crown on his head, a dragon in the cradle. Being first and being special and being chosen? He had it already! He knows what it is. He knows he didn't get his happiness from that. He was happy in that life because of Visenya, because of their family.

He's got Alicent in one ear wailing about bastards and the threat of Rhaenyra, but Baelon has Visenya in the other saying "no, she's our Rhaenyra, still, she loves me and she'd love you too if she wasn't so afraid to love you, I swear, I swear"

Baelon doesn't care about Viserys's attention. He doesn't care if he loves Luke and Jace best, doesn't give a flying fuck about any of it, because he's been loved best already and didn't much care for it. Visenya loves him best, and he knows that, and that's all that matters. He doesn't care that Aegon is first born, that Aegon could be king, that Aegon is more special.

And when Baelon claims Vhagar, when he comes back to Rhaena and Baela and Jace and Luke, he knows what it's like to have a dead mother! He knows, he knows, he knows, and he knows what it is to love Laena, and so why would he be cruel? Why would he say anything at all to hurt them more when he understands why they're angry, when he knows he did something insensitive?

Baelon doesn't lose an eye at Driftmark.

Baelon doesn't stop Aegon from leaving, either, because who is he to stop him? Who is he to keep him from running away from a throne he doesn't want?

And Baelon looks at Visenya, looks at her with her eyes wide and her hands clasped, and he kneels to Rhaenyra because he doesn't want it and Visenya says it's safe. Visenya says they're safe, and Baelon trusts Visenya more than he can ever trust another soul.

("I won't forgive you," Visenya says, Rhaenyra's hand in hers, and she looks into a queen's eyes with her jaw set and her mind made up. "If you--if Daemon...I will not forgive you, Nyra, and I swear to whatever gods there are that I'll put your fucking kingdoms to light until someone shoots me down.")

And they are safe, really. Safe as a Targaryen can be, anyway, but Baelon wants to leave anyway. Just in case, his mother's whispers still in his head, and so he goes. Alicent won't, won't, won't, but Baelon goes and brings Visenya and Helaena with him. Pentos, no further.

They go home for visits and leave again, and Jaehaera marries Joffrey and Jaehaerys marries Jace and Baela's daughter, and Helaena falls in love with living a life beholden to no one, and Baelon and Visenya marry three times all over again. Daemon watches them with sharp eyes, listens for whispers, but the whispers never come because that's the fundamental difference between Baelon and Aemond.

Aemond wants everything. Baelon just wants the things that matter.

[lya-dustin]

Someone will remember us

Chapter 56

Cw:mentions of child sexual abuse, child murder, infanticide and liberal use of the word r*pe

Gif by @gojuo

Taglist: @stargaryenx @mercedesdecorazon

“Where were you!” his mother shouts at him as Helaena refused to part with Jaehaerys’ bloody little body.

He was four, only slightly younger than Rhaenyra’s Aegon.

“They raped my daughter and killed my son, and it was all because of you!” Aegon snarled at his brother.

His brother, the man who celebrated Lucerys’ murder, now cursed him for it.

“I want her dead. They took my heir, I will take hers.” Aegon vowed. “I will kill her, I will make her watch as I smash her whelp’s head to pieces, I will rape her myself and make her beg for death.”

Aemond hides his relief at knowing his wife is far enough to avoid capture.

“You won’t find her, your grace, your ever leal brother set her free.” Otto hid his smirk well, to think Aemond once admired the man.

“You only lost one eye,” Aegon repeats the words Otto had said when he returned from Storm’s End. “How could you be so blind?”

“I made him do it.” Helaena lies in his defense. Broken in her mother’s grief and yet Helaena is still the one to defend him.

“What?” he snapped to face the last person who would ever betray him.

“I ordered him to get her out of here.” Helaena doesn’t shrink in fear, she is silk hiding steel, a shame the steel is revealed in such awful circumstances. “A true queen counts the costs to her people; she is one of my people.”

“And now our son and heir is dead, our daughter ruined, some queen you are, sweet sister.” Aegon sneered and Helaena did not even flinch at his words.

----

“You are a son to me, your highness. I would hope you tell me why you compromised yourself and your family by aiding her escape.” Cole spoke true, he was the closest thing to a father to him.

A father who encourages his violence and resentment, and yet still a better father than the king.

Besides, everyone could easily guess why Aemond did such a thing anyways.

“What sort of man would allow his wife and unborn son to remain where they will come to harm?” the one-eyed prince gave his answer and knew it was sufficient, to Aemond, of course.

Criston’s loyalty to his mother bordered on madness. He would not understand that Aemma was not safe here.

“I gave you my word I would make sure she was safe, did something give you reason to doubt my word?” there is an unspoken son somewhere in there, Cole loved him more than his brothers, something Aegon hated.

“You heard him, my own brother wishes to kill my son and rape my wife out of revenge. The moment Aegon orders Fell or any of the Kingsguard to move aside, they would comply without question, even you would be of no use.” It is harsh, but it is the truth, Criston had stood there and let his mother humiliate Aemma before their wedding.

His wife was last sighted arriving in Duskendale, Jacaerys and Daemon had arrived there first and ensured she had a proper escort to Dragonstone.

Strong’s spies had said she wept bitterly when she learned of what had happened.

But she was safe and that was all that mattered now.

-----

Aemma hugged her brother firmly when he came to receive her.

“I thought I would never see you again.” Aemma said weeping from knowing what’s coming.

But Jace is here, and she will do things her way and not how the adults told her. she will tell him about her visions, and they will chart the course from there.

“So did I, sister. I am glad you were able to escape that kinslayer.” Jace comforted her, as if her gilded cage had been the worst of the blackcells.

Don’t call him that, she wants to say, as stupid as he is, Aemond didn’t mean to kill our brother.

But Aemma keeps her mouth shut and asks him about his travels.

“I wish you had been there, the Northerners aren’t like the people have said they were. I had been afraid Cregan would be offended by your refusal and side with the Usurper, but he said his honor is not brittle.” Jace leaves almost no detail out as they walk to where the Darklyns had brought a carriage and horses to take them to the Dun Fort.

“I figured as much. Did you hear of what happened to Helaena and her children? Stokeworth wanted to turn me in thinking I or mother had ordered it.” Aemma had vaguely threatened House Stokeworth with arson in her short respite there as well as openly condemning the barbaric act to all and sundry.

She knew it must’ve been ordered by Daemon, but the princess needed to know someone else had arrived to the same conclusion.

Jace had latched onto Daemon before transferring such attachment to his foster father, Vaemond, these past three years.

“Lord Mooton told me, he insinuated it was done by mother as well, claimed a mother’s grief does things to the mind.” He nodded quietly. “It should have been Aemond who lost his head, not little Jaehaerys.”

The words sting, but it is the truth. Had it been done for revenge, it should have been Aemond who had died that night.

This was cruelty disguised as revenge.

“Who do you think could have done it, Jace?” Aemma asked in a whisper as Caraxes broke through the clouds and announced his landing with a roar.

----

Aemma has always struggled with her anger as well as other impulses.

She has always been mediocre at best when it comes to keeping her inner dragon under control.

But you’d think all those lessons on patience and self-control with her grandmother and Teora had done the trick as she resists connecting her fist to Daemon’s face in front of Lord and Lady Darklyn.

The Rogue Prince betrays nothing, there is no smug look, no sadistic grin, not even a twitch that would give him away when Meredyth Darklyn mentions the unspeakable acts committed by the man having supper with them.

But Aemma knows he is guilty; she knows that it was he who ordered for Blood and Cheese to hurt the children.

“I know you ordered it.” Aemma confronts him the next morning as they prepare for the last leg of their journey. “I hope you suffer for it in this life and the next.”

“I don’t know what you mean, stepdaughter.” He plays dumb, but that same flash of recognition he had when she said the dead man wasn’t her father tells her what she needs to know.

“I know it was you who ordered Blood and Cheese to torture and kill Helaena’s children.”

“Your mother wanted her son avenged and I made it happen.” He said simply, as if the request gad been of no consequence like buying a new horse or finding out of season fruits.

“Revenge would have been killing Aemond, the children were innocent!” Aemma hissed and fought the urge to hit him and claw at him for being so cruel.

“That boy would have been the reason yours would be dead if we were to lose. If the Usurper has no heirs, the Kinslayer gets the Conqueror's crown, stepdaughter.

You should be thanking me for securing your inheritance and that of your son.”

And with that, the thin thread of self control snaps and Aemma flies at him in rage.

“How dare you?!” she screams over and over as she tried her best to pummel him with her fists. “They were children, they were innocent!”

“So was your brother, or did you forget that when you let his murderer back into your bed?” Daemon held her wrists with firm grip and kept her at arm’s length.

“Damn you, damn you to the seventh hell, Daemon Targaryen!” she spits at him.

“Sister, Aemma what has gotten into you?” Jace runs to her side and pulls her away from their uncle and stepfather.

“It was his doing, it was done on his orders.” She weeps in her brother’s arms knowing Daemon will go unpunished.

[orbital-obvious]

Some more personal opinions about HOTD season 2

So this blockade. How does it work. It's not a siege, the Blacks only control Blackwater bay. I'd assume that food arrives to Kings Landing via land - Stromlands and the Reach are both close and are also Green supporters. Yes, a sea blockade can screw up the economy (cutting off communications with Essos) but. Like. it wouldn't starve the city. SO. how.

On the topic of the blocade, I can 100% belive the smallfolk would cheer for Rhaenyra because she brought them food even though SHE is the reason to the starvation in the first place (though, again, I have no idea how). Also I hate how the show doesn't adress the fact that Rhaenyra is fully willing to starve the people and only give them food as a PR tactic.

Hey, Mysaria, quick question, what is it exactly that makes Rhaenyra so great? Why do YOU, specifically, believe she is the rightful and good queen? In the show Mysaria is the voice of the smallfolk, but Rhaenyra is uncaring for the smallfolk (not in any way that matters) and a mediocre leader besides.

Corlys being mad at Rhaenyra was such a good moment for me.

I understand they are pushing the angle of "Rhaenyra's council wouldn't respect her cause she's a woman" which, yeah, 100%, but I think a more interesting aspect I see int he show is how Rhaenyra is NOT GOOD at running her council. Slapping a person in plain sight would not make them respect you, it's the abuse of power you have towards them. Saying crap like "I want prince Aemond's head" and then LEAVING, giving the council the option of either ignoring what you said (which sets a problematic precedent), or have an excuse to do whatever they want (which led to Blood and Cheese and in general encouraged Daemon's unruliness) is BAD. Fucking off to an udnercover mission without telling anybody is BAD.

Rhaenyra, people keep bringing up Daemon not because he's a man that needs to save you, but because he's a warrior and a battle seasoned commander whom you should use. The fact that you can't utlize your men properly is a you issue, but saying "well we have Daemon" when talking about getting Dragonriders is actually a very reasonable point. I just wish the show would have her confront her flaws instead of saying "she's a great leader they just don't like to see a girlboss winning!!!". Jace is coming close, though.

Like, don't get me wrong, the Greens aren't some awesome megabrained function, but the show makes their flaws very clear (As it should) and I just... want to see the same treatment for Rhaenyra.

You know what? At this point, Let Rhaenyra ride the dragon to battle. If she can't heed what JUST happened to Aegon in Rook Nest that is a her issue.

So.. why are they trying to tame Seasmoke? Rhaenyra knows that Laenor might yet live; therefore, Seasmoke cannot be claimed by a person and any attempt to do so is a suicide mission.

Alicent being actively kicked out from the small council was such a good scene, actually. Yes, the side that uses misogyny as a tool and justification cannot have a woman lead them. But, I think Aemond didn't kick Alicent out of the council ONLY because she was a woman. I think part of it is because he knew she would still champion to Aegon, and he can't have that. The scene where she tenderly touching his cheek... His mother still have power over him and Aemond is clearly fighting it ohhhh the acting in this show is soooo gooodddd.

Lady Arryn my love, the show might have forgotten that you are a female ruler who never married and was a lesbian but I NEVER will. At least they gave you a kickass dress, you look amazing. You are everything show!Rhaenyra tries to be and they would not let you shine

I don't like the way they write the Smallfolk view of the dragons and try to pass dragons in general as "gods". If the smallfolk are in dissarray over killing 10 ratcatchers when one of them is guilty of killing the crown prince (which was horrible), they should be furious at Melyes stomping and killing tens if not hundreds (which was also horrible). "It's an ill omen" no, actually, it's the best thing to ever happen to non-royalty in years.

I never thought I'll be so happy to see the freaking TWINS. The scene with the Freys was amazing. I found it interesting that the Lady was the one to take charge in the negotiations.

I really like Jace. I think he's my fav Team Black member, even if he brings into the table this vibe of "actually fucking doing something" that Rheanyra doesn't like.

Aemond in his Kingslayer, Kinslayer, outfit slayer era, going out there being a blockhead and taking the worse decisions. Love her. Aemond really screwed the Greens over by almost killing the king and gettting rid of one of three (four?) dragons they had. It's so fun to see everything implode.

Also, in my favorite interactions list, Larys-Aegon was not one I expected to see but one I welcome. It's just really good - you can tell there is emotion in there, but also that Larys is using him (he tried moving from Alicent to Aemond, and Aemond rejected him, so Aegon is his grasp for power). Might be one of the most layered relationships in the show.

lol at the Lannisters summoning Aemond, and having lions for some reason. They are just doing the most.

My friend said: "Rhaenyra should've sent Jace to Harrenhall" and oh, my god. yeah. This would be a safe place for him (at least for a while) and Jace does have better diplomatic skills than Daemon. but then we wouldn't get the Daemon getting tortured in Harrenhall plot. And that one's my fave.

Daemon fucking up and getting chewed up by the Riverlords... yeah, my skin is cleared.

Alys killed lord Grover, right? That's what they were getting at?

Daemon blaming SIMON for his dream sequence side quests is just.... Chef's kiss. I get the idea he doesn't suspect Alys because she's a woman, which might be my favorite way the show explored misogyny.

Alyn and Addam, my loves. I don't know why I just like every scene they are in. And having a discussion while Addam is shaving his blond hair while Alyn had a head full of black hair... The way one has given up any connection to Corlys and the other one is striving to get the acknowledgement of his father and the privileges that come with it... The drama, the tension.

Also Seasmoke and Alyn's meeting was the first time since Sunfyre headboop that I actually felt something for dragons.

Ser Gwane Hightower >>>>>>>. That is all.

[shine-no-hitokiri]

WARNING, spoilers Ep10 ahead

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I thought something horrendous happened, and then watched the episode and? It? Was? Sad, yes. Uncomfortable to watch? Yup. Realistic and messy and unpleasant depiction of varying degrees of animalistic rage from people suddenly put through the grinder? Absolutely.

Rhaenys: they are coming for you and your children. You should maybe abandon Dragonstone at once.

Rhaenyra: goes into labor right there.

Daemon: checks garrison, organises outlook posts, mentions that they are undermanned and how they should at least attempt to appear strong, sends a dragon skywards in fear enemy dragons might come, thinks to check the loyalty of the Kingsguard. Listens to her cries, all the while doing his stuff. When all is done, comes to Rhaenyra (it's too late). Grieves. Is with her at the funeral. Crowns her.

People panicking left and right: He didn't SuPporT hEr.

No. He didn't. He secured their castle on the very real assumption that they could be attacked any moment. That's a realistic depiction of what would normally happen in such a situation and a realistic depiction of Daemon in particular. He would see securing the castle as way more useful than being emotionally supportive of his wife. Come on.

The council: gathers

Rhaenyra: talks.

Daemon: is literally vibrating in his skin... yet still waiting for her to ask every pertinent question before giving her the answer.

Panicked viewers: He Was UnDerMinIng Her.

No? He was doing his damned best? His best isn't very good, but that is a known fact? I truly loved the first meeting? He was acting like a teacher's pet dying to be questioned and to show how ready he is? Like a hound tearing at the leash? Like she asked about the state of their garrison and he started answering before the question ended, talking at a speed we've never seen from him before? But he waited for her command each time? Like, what did you realistically expect, Daemon being calm and reasonable?

Otto: exists.

Daemon: is mouthy and Dark Sister happy.

Rhaenyra: tell him to stand down.

Daemon: stands down.

People: He WaS UndErmInIng Her.

My sisters in Seven, this man has no self control at the best of times. Here, he's convinced these people killed Viserys. He has hated Otto his entire life. He has just cremated his daughter. His brother's throne has been usurped and he's fully expecting to be attacked at any moment. And Rhaenyra looks at a fucking book page and starts to forget what she'd spent 20 years pursuing and preparing for. It's a fucking miracle Otto is still alive.

Second council: gathers.

Rhaenyra: wants to maybe accept terms.

Daemon: unravels.

OK, I'm with y'all here, this is absolutely bad and the entire scene just was bad per se. Now, the entire episode was leading to him screwing up under pressure, it was a given because it was always going to be too much of an offence from people he hated too much, and not being allowed to act the way he wanted because he's suddenly answerable to the Queen was never going to be without consequence. Rhaenyra said right in the beginning that he'd go mad, and she knew him best. She actually sent Jace after him because she expected Daemon to start the war without her (didn't happen). It's hardly a commentary on their relationship, more of a "multiple brave attempts at bottling the rage were made, but ultimately, in the face of escalating stakes and piling up tragedies, were unsuccessful". That said, the entire scene was kind of badly thought out. I'd sooner believe Daemon would openly defy Rhaenyra's orders than him kinda sorta threaten her but not really and then leave?

Anyway...

Show: makes a point to have Rhaenys scold Corlys for abandoning her, remind him that they're both hurting. Hmmm... Something something parallels something.

Rhaenyra: actually goes on to plan a war? Thank you 14 flames of Valyria, because just accepting the terms and sending her sons to be "wards" (read: prisoners) of her enemies would be a wildly stupid decision. Is shown to be too naive, sadly. Reminding the Baratheons of their oath wasn't the power move she expected it to be.

Daemon: makes himself useful? In the only way he knows how? In the middle of the mess? With everything collapsing and war unfolding? 2/10 you screwed up and aren't out of the doghouse by a long shot but a small attempt was made to shield Rhaenyra from the rest of the council and to just be at her side? OK maybe 2/10 is generous, 1.5/10 is more like it.

TLDR: my expectations of this man were realistic (read: low where violence and high emotional pressure are concerned) and there was always going to be a fuckup from him somewhere. It's the thing about burning - Sometimes It Actually Burns. Daemon and Rhaenyra aren't a lovey dovey couple, they are two fucking dragons that are being caged and threatened with spikes. There will be blood.

[arsenic-catnep]

Jace doesn't like when his mother is angry at him but really, what can she do, he's already married to his aunt amd she is already swollen with his baby.

Rheanyra does ask her sister what happened and she tells Rheanyra everything. Every heated moment, every stolen kiss, every time Jace took her and where he took her, she even confesses to the first time Jace took her maidenhood.

Rhaenyra can't even be mad. She had done the same with Daemon. She knows that her son didn't take advantage of her sister now, and is more accepting of their relationship now

[instantlit]

Popular books that didn’t work for me - Part 1

I always find this topic interesting because it's always full of Unpopular Opinions™ . Of course, it could bring some backlash, but on the whole, I find it funny, especially when other people mention similar opinions to mine. I decided to name it Part 1 because, unfortunately, there's bound to be other popular books that will fall short in my eyes. So, let's bring in the first 5!

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare: This was back when only the first four books, as well as maybe one or two of the Infernal Devices were out. I can't believe that Cassandra Clare has managed to keep such a massive audience, and expand it the way she has. I can't believe, years and years later, people still can't get enough of the Shadowhunter universe. I can't believe that she hasn't grown tired of it, and I can't believe that she still finds stuff to put into her novels. Because, for me, the first three books were more than enough. The problem I had with this series, and it was from the very beginning, was that I couldn't stand most of its main characters: Clary was annoying beyond belief, with the kind of reckless idiocy that makes you wonder "How the hell that girl isn't dead yet?!" I actually wish she had died at some point, it would have saved me so much frustration; Jace is the broody, tropey romantic interest with the hero-complex, the kind that readers fall quickly in love with because of his so-called devotion to poor, plain, Main Female Character. Oh, he's so dreamy! No, he really isn't; don't even get me started on the parents, especially Luke and Jocelyn (the fact that I had to Google what was the name of Clary's mom is telling enough as it is) whose romance I couldn't have cared less about and still was forced to endure for a couple of books, and all the other forgettable characters and romances, those who've been thrown into the story at random, as if these books needed a more voluminous cast. It really didn't. I kept up, for a while, only because I liked the only non-straight, bi-racial romance, because Simon was the kind of nerd that I like and because Izzy was the completely badass opposite of Clary but, in the end, even those four characters weren't enough. I stopped after the fifth book. The fact that I even managed to get this far is prodigeous, and I constantly pat myself on the back for showing such resilience and effort. I'm not kidding, these books were torture and made me roll my eyes so hard and so often that I thought they would eventually end up stuck in the back of my head. I'm so relieved to know that I'll never have to put myself through that again.

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon: Outlander had everything working in its favor to make me like it: it's a period drama, I love period dramas; it takes place in Scotland, I love basically anything related to the UK; it includes a lot of folklore elements, I love Fantasy and Folklore; and, to top it all off, I love the TV adaptation, which was actually the main reason I wanted to read the books. Outlander had all the keys to my heart, and I had all the best intentions to make a place for it. It didn't work. Outlander is one of the most drawn-out pieces of trash that I've read in a really long time. I hate using the word "boring" to qualify a book because I think it's too reductive and doesn't mean anything unless you elaborate, and anyway, everyone has a different definition of the term, but Outlander is a boring book. And it's even more so when you just think about the potential that a novel about time-traveling, rebellion and political intrigue has. How can such a book be boring?! It should keep me on the edge of my seat. Instead, I'm faced with ten different ways to write sex scenes. Awesome, but I'll just pass. Every Day by David Levithan: I have so many issues with this book. On paper, the idea sounds great: A is a person, except that A doesn't have a body. A has a different one every day. It works a bit like possession, but that's why I'm mad at this book. I'm mad because, one day, A falls in love with their host's girlfriend and then decides to freaking stalk her via their different bodies in the months after. The story has also the worst case of insta-love that I've ever seen. The thing is, this book could have been a great way to explore gender and attraction, but Every Day does nothing of the sort. It's the worst book. The worst!

Northern Lights (His Dark Materials series) by Philip Pullman: Can you imagine that I discovered this series because of a fanfiction AU I've read years ago? True story. I admit, I think I'm too old for this series now, but even when I started on the first book, it was a bit difficult to get into. I found the MC annoying (I can't even remember her name) and, while the world itself was interesting and I wanted to know what my Daemon could be, I couldn't detach myself from the thought that  this world is the opposite of practical. I know that Fantasy is not supposed to cater to the basic laws of science and physics that we deal with in reality, but this world seemed too ludicrous to work. It doesn't help that I had read some unpleasant things about the author (nothing too drastic, but he seemed like such an asshole). All in all, I finished the first book unsatfisfied and I procrastinated reading the sequels. Now, I've just given up and I don't feel guilty about it. I've come to accept that some series are not for me anymore. Actually, some series were never for me, and it feels like getting rid of an enormous weight.

Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Meyer: I wasn't going to read the Lunar Chronicles series. While I was all for fairytale retellings, it seemed too stereotypical, too predictable, too heteronormative. And then, someone I know recommended them, said that, considering the way I like slow-burn romances, these books could work for me. They didn't. Well, actually Cinder was okay. Just okay. It convinced me that maybe I should try the sequels, but I wasn't exactly over the moon about this series and the world Marissa Meyer had created. And then, Scarlet happened. In my review of Scarlet , I wrote that this book proved to be everything I had feared. I described the series, and Scarlet in particular as a "mushy romance between characters with no chemistry, brought together by the sheer force of the author's will, and a clumsy attempt at twisting a popular fairytale". I stand by those words and I can assure you that I won't be reading the sequels.

So, that’s it for me. Don’t hesitate to share your Unpopular Opinions, too!

[drhaenyra]

I just wanna give you kudos, because after a day of reflection I get where he was coming from 100%. Daemon is impulsive, he is rash, he is not apologetic, he does have a sense of duty to his family, and he does love them. The episode showed Daemon planning to defend Rhaenyras claim to the throne to the death. He was honestly helpless in this episode, so he did what he does best… start planning for chaos. The first blow was when Jace told him what Rhaenyra told him… he continues to plan and then tells Jace that he’s going to show him what real loyalty is..

Loyalty: Faithfulness or devotion to a person, country, group, or cause. (In this instance, Rhaenyra and the throne)

He goes and makes the guards swear fealty to Rhaenyra and also to Jace, if something happens to her. Threatens their death with Caraxes if they ever turn cloak. He then, after handling the duty of it all (and not flying off, I may add, like he was planning) goes to check in Rhaenyra. He’s obviously too late, their little girl is dead… and it’s another blow, that he blames in the hightowers.

Then it gets interesting… Daemon grieves. Like really grieves. This is rare. It should of been shown longer.. but it happens. And it’s done beautifully. It intermixes with Rhaenyras grief… even showing them both falling to the ground. Daemon doesn’t show emotions well, they are usually angry emotions which we will get too later. So this shows so much. In the midst of chaos, he expresses sadness. He stands with her at Visenyas funeral. Still angry… he sees her, broken… probably wondering why she doesn’t seem angry. Then he crowns her and swear her Queen in front of everyone. It was beautiful.

Fast-forward. First council meeting. It’s tense, she seems to be planning for war, but Daemon is done prepared. He’s done taken care of everything for his Queen while she was giving birth. But they are interrupted by Otto. They meet in the bridge and Rhaenyra shows up on her dragon and he is PROUD. She takes his hand pin and tosses it and he is PROUD. But then something happens. Otto gives her a book page from 20 yrs ago and she crumbles and Syrax goes off… and she stops Daemon from killing Otto. Which he does follow her order. And tells him she will give him an answer tomorrow.

Council Meeting two doesn’t go as well. Now Rhaenyra is planning a strategy against war talking about bending the knee and Daemon is mad. He demands to know what SHE is going to do about since they have already declared war by usurping the throne. Instead she starts taking about some prophecy that’s been passed down from king to heir since Aegons reign. Daemon is slowly realizing that Viserys never really considered him his heir.. so when Rhaenyra says “he told me when he made me his heir” he snapped. Proceeding to tell her, in a sense, Viserys was weak.. and dreams didn’t make them kings, the dragons did. Does this really sexy (sorry guys) thing with her and finally let’s her go. He seems a little surprised afterward, but what does Rhaenyra do?? She calls him out. “He never told you, did her” even smirking at him. There is that fire he loves, needless to say he drops his head and leaves. And he still doesn’t leave. He stays, goes to Dragon mount and continues to prepare for her claim and the war.

Finally, at the end. With a collected and cooled off head… he finds out about Luke and had to break the news to her. He grabs her hand. And breaks the news to her and she crumbles. When she stumbles Daemon even steps toward her. Making sure he’s there to protect her.

So in the end, they were standing “together” and it looks like Rhaenyra is going to finally get her fire back for next season. Hopefully. And I’m here for DarkDaemyra.

We really went from this. 

To this. 

In two days House of the Dragon time line.