#steffon what a man.... he will die but still

[hauntingblue]

AEMOND FIRED HIS MOTHER????!!!

[atopvisenyashill]

AU where instead of having a dead ladies club we have a dead dudes club: Aerys dies in Summerhal and Rhaella eventually becomes Queen regent for her son. Joanna, Minisa and Lyarra live while their husbands Tywin, Hoster, and Rickard don't. And Cassana survives the shipwreck along with patchface.

me seeing this ask:

anyways, let's first establish how each man dies.

Aerys - like you said, just killing him at Summerhall is easiest.

Tywin - if we kill him during the Reyne/Tarbeck revolt, it butterflies away all the Lannister kids so we'll have it be that something goes horrifically bad during the Defiance of Duskendale and he dies there.

Steffon - Cassana washes up on shore with Patchface in 278.

Hoster - this one's a bit tricky because in order to die before Robert's Rebellion kicks off, something Weird and Tragic has to happen to him during a time period that is more or less chill in the riverlands. He does fight in the War of the Ninepenny Kings but that happens in 260 and Edmure likely isn't born until 267. We could say he dies in the Greyjoy Rebellions, but that's after Robert's Rebellion by a few years. We'll just invent a sickness or accident that kills him, instead of Minisa dying in childbirth lol. if it makes the plot more interesting for him to die during the Greyjoy Rebellions though, tbh, that's probably also fine, but I do think having only one (1) parent at Riverrun is important to how the kids develop.

Rickard - this one is similarly difficult. we could just have him die when he does die, and just say that Lyarra didn't die.

anyways, let's dig into what this changes right off the bat, sort of set the scene here-

Rhaella is like 13-14 when Summerhall happens, and then like 15-16 I think when Jaehaerys II dies, so not only is she a very young Queen, she's likely to remarry. Since she's not even at the age of majority yet (jfc), I think if we assume she's regent, it means she allied with Aerys' friends to oust Jaehaerys II's small council - so Tywin is for sure still Hand, and ruling the entire realm in all but name. I do imagine that not only is Steffon very close at court as well, but Cassana becomes close to Rhaella.

Rhaegar won't be allowed to wait until he's like 21 to marry, they will be looking at marriages when he's like 12-13 and likely intend for him to get married right away at like 15-16 and consummate, because he's the only male heir.

Edmure becomes Lord of Riverrun very young, Minisa as his regent. I think given that Minisa will be regent, Catelyn still has a lot of parentification stuff happening here, but I do think it's more likely she notices the crushes going on between Lysa, Cat, and Petyr.

Robert still becomes Lord of Storm's End - he's 15 when Steffon dies, which is plenty old to take up his seat. However, with his mother still around, Stannis and Renly have a parental influence at least.

alright let's go event by event here:

262 AC: Jaehaerys II dies and little three year old Rhaegar Targaryen is crowned King. Though there is an initial push by Edgar Sloane and Jaehaerys' small council to establish one of their own as Regent and Hand of the King, Queen Rhaella is successful in ousting her father's men in favor of her own - mostly the husbands, brothers, or cousins of her ladies. This includes, of course, the impressive and young Tywin Lannister as Hand, probably Steffon Baratheon, and honestly, it's quite possible here that Lewyn or Loreza's husband is named to the small council as well, given the fact that we know one of Rhaella's ladies was Loreza. Despite being so young, Rhaella is named Regent.

272 AC: A decade with the trio of young Rhaegar, Queen Regent Rhaella, and Hand of the King Tywin has allowed the realm to prosper. Without Aerys pawing at her ladies, Rhaella holds onto several close allies, and neither Tywin nor Joanna spend their days being humiliated at court to curry favor with the king. Rhaella is likely more level headed than Aerys, and isn't overpromising on things and then abandoning her projects soon after. There's likely been a push for her to remarry, if only so Rhaegar's children may have a Valyrian option to marry somewhere down the line? But on the other hand...it might be possible there's some problems at court re: everyone gossiping that if Tywin is the real King, and Rhaella is Queen, are they not...you know....that gets back to Joanna. Not only that, but I can bet there's tensions between Loreza's Dornish faction and Tywin, probably with Steffon in the middle because Tywin is clearly trying to get Rhaegar/Cersei hitched from an early age, Loreza is clearly trying to get Elia/Rhaegar hitched from an early age, and Steffon and Cassana are desperately fucking and having kids in the hopes of having a girl for Rhaegar to marry. We know there was a visit by Rickard during the first ten years, so it's very possible that Lyarra develops a friendship with Rhaella, and that instead of that dumb "i'm going to build another Wall" plan, Rhaella starts encouraging more people to be sent to the Wall.

275 AC: Rhaegar comes of age and takes his position as King without a regent. While I don't doubt he would keep Tywin on, I do think there's going to be tension here - we see this with both Jaehaerys and Aegon III, and even Joffrey really, that the move from child to adult can be a bit rough on the Hand/Regent/King relationship. I think Rhaegar, melancholy as he is, would want to be known as a good king, a kind king, and probably doesn't appreciate Tywin's cruelty. I think it makes a lot of sense that he'd purposefully scorn Tywin specifically for this reason - the same as Alysanne purposefully spurning Rogar's match or the Dragon Twins + Aegon III purposefully spurning the lords for Daenaera. It's about making a statement, it's about power, it's about standing out from the people who are trying to rule through you. I almost think it's likely Rhaegar and Elia still marry here, but it's possible Rhaegar decides to just straight up marry someone who isn't connected at court at all - not a Martell, not a Lannister, but maybe a Hightower or Tyrell. Especially, imo, because of Rhaegar's prophecy obsession - what if he visits Jenny's woods witch on his own? Or what if he visits Oldtown and sees Mad Maid Malora is heavy with magic? Maybe, knowing how often he stays at Summerhall to be an emo fuck, he marries Ashara?

277 AC: The Defiance of Duskendale. I don't know if an 18 year old would be this stupid, it does seem likely that he would just fall into the same trap Aerys did - ie "I want to prove I'm better than my Hand and I'll deal with the issue myself" - but I think Rhaella would be like "absolutely fucking not, you're the fucking KING, and you have no heir/only a baby for an heir, if you don't want Tywin to do it, send someone else then." I think it would be really fun if Rhaella got caught in this trap, Tywin completely botches getting her out and gets himself killed, and Rhaegar just goes "oh fuck that noise" and burns Duskendale to the ground his damn self. It could be an interesting change here that Rhaegar's madness + obsession with the prophecy gets kicked off not by his father's own madness but by the near loss of his mother. Even if Rhaella is mostly fine (she went years being tortured by Aerys, I think she's made of sterner stuff! I can see her being real shaken up for awhile before chilling out), the idea that he could really be The Last Dragon is terrifying. Suddenly, he needs to set this prophecy in motion, he needs to have more dragons, it can't just be himself and his mother.

279 AC: Another blow, just after losing Tywin and nearly losing {his mom? joncon? does he care that much about joncon lmao}, Steffon dies in a storm coming back from the Free Cities. Cassana lives but is quite shaken up by the entire event and retires from court to stay at home with her boys. Another blow happens later in the year, when Loreza dies, and Doran inherits Sunspear.

281 AC: So....now we're at the Tourney of Harrenhal, where shit gets real. Who Rhaegar marries will decide who is on his side here and who has started getting ready for Mad King 2.0 because I do imagine that in the four years since the Duskendale fuck up, a lot of the lords have started whispering. If he marries Elia or Ashara, he still has Dorne on lock. If he marries Malora, that might mean Doran is involved in the Southron Ambitions plot (although then again, he might not be, it's not like anyone thought to involve Doran in the wo5k until way too fucking late anyway). If he risks marrying someone like, completely outside of Westeros, I think something kinda crazy starts cooking at home with every single region having no reason to be loyal to him. Not to mention, if Lyarra is friendly with Rhaella, does he already know Lyanna? Since Hoster and Tywin are both dead here, it probably means Rickard had to reach out to Minisa and and Joanna and I'm really interested in how this goes, politics wise. Is it just Rickard and Minisa (and Jon Arryn) doing Southron Ambitions? Is Cassana getting involved after the loss of Steffon? And what does Rhaegar's small council look like now? Is it packed with Dornishmen and Crownlanders? With Reachers? Does he have some sort of woods witch as his Hand?

SO WHEN RHAEGAR TAKES LYANNA. For one thing, when Brandon gets to KL and starts shouting "COME OUT AND DIE" Rhaella isn't going to respond by burning everyone. I can see her maybe taking them captive because what they're accusing Rhaegar of, when he's the King, is pretty fucking severe but she's not just slaughtering them. She's sending the Kingsguard to go look for him while she holds the Northern faction at KL, and while I do think they'll go and get him, I think Rhaegar is going to say something like "it's fine, she's fine, leave us alone" and the North is gonna get real shitty about this. Brandon might attempt to leave. Lyarra might attempt to find Lyanna herself with a host of Northerners, or maybe with a host of stormlanders, riverlanders, or westermen. The crown has to respond to that, so there's likely to be some skirmishes here. Either Rhaegar is found with Lyanna at the Tower of Joy or Rhaegar finally appears and is like "why is everyone yelling" while everyone demands to know where Lyanna is. If he's cagey, the North and their allies are going to start attacking more boldly. If he says "yeah she's my mistress now, back off, I'm the king" I think everyone is too amped up to give a shit and the North refuses to stand down, which leads to whoever is leading them - Lyarra, maybe Ned - being labelled a traitor to the crown. This is going to domino effect quickly. If he says "yeah she's my wife now, back off, I'm king" he is losing everyone fast as fuck.

Anyways, I kept this kind of general in case you just wanted some like, general outline of what could happen but if you want what EYE think is most interesting, it's a) Rhaella at Duskendale b) Minisa being the one to mastermind Southron Ambitions, although Cassana could be fun as well c) LYARRA STARK REBEL WAR HERO. I think it's likely Rhaegar would try to "she's my mistress/wife" his way out of this but its not fucking happening. all those theories about how "lyanna and rhaegar got valyrian married jon is legitimate" no he's fucking not because no one is going to give a single solitary shit. Bigamy is not allowed in Westeros anymore or Aegon IV would have tried it. if he legitimizes his own kid, it's sort of like, okay great, but he was born a bastard, now Rhaegar is legitimizing his kid just like aegon iv, and everyone is going to see this as a threat. they're going to say he's insane. they're still going to oust him. the question here is - can rhaella, through her friendships with the wives and now leaders of southron ambitions, keep hold long enough so that even if Rhaegar dies, she can get his kid on the throne? Can she make peace with Robert? Or does she have to go on the run, not with her own kids, but with Rhaegar's children?

[triscribeaucollection]

The Grim Wolf

(Game of Thrones time travel AU, from post to pre-canon, where Arya Stark kills Aerys Targaryen. Still a work in progress, but I like what I've got so far)

The wolf woman tells her, before anyone else. Your husband is dead.

Rhaella Targaryen is seventeen. Her son Rhaegar is three, seated on her lap, unaware or unconcerned by the dark-haired woman with glinting grey eyes. Her mother has been dead for a year; her father for five months. The rest of her relations died at the fire of Summerhall, the same night her son was born.

And now Aerys is gone too.

Rhaella is the only grown member of House Targaryen left.

She stares up at the stranger, who appeared in her chambers without warning, without so much as a flicker of sound or motion. She does not feel afraid. She does not feel saddened. There is nothing but a void inside, grown wider than before, and the toddler playing with a toy dragon in her arms.

It is several moments before Rhaella finds the wherewithal to speak. “Is my son in danger?”

The glint grows. The woman says, “Not while I’m here.”

---

Whispers spread of ‘the Grim Wolf’, the mysterious woman who stands at Rhaella’s back when she is pronounced to be Queen Regent. Unknown, unnamed, an armed shadow who scares many of the more witless folk at court into silence by her mere presence; even those made of sterner stuff feel reluctant to try their hands at manipulation when she lingers near.

Rhaella is grateful. For that, and other things. There isn’t a particular moment she comes to realize her wolf was the one to kill Aerys; the knowledge creeps in slowly, if indeed it wasn’t present from the first moment they met. He put on a good show for the court, her brother, but he bothered with no such noble niceties with Rhaella.

She is glad of his slip down a narrow staircase.

More glad, perhaps, than she might have been, without her wolf’s support and protection.

Tywin Lannister remains as Hand, and Protector of the Realm. The first time he and Rhaella’s wolf stare each other down across a room, everyone else waits with bated breath to see who will come out on top. Eventually, Tywin tips his head. A tiny, almost imperceptible gesture. But a gesture nonetheless. And afterward, when Rhaella bids him to remain following the council meeting’s conclusion, her wolf offers a hand to clasp. More than that, she offers knowledge.

“If you marry your cousin Joanna, she will die in childbirth,” Rhaella’s wolf tells Tywin, in a tone that brooks no argument. It was the same tone she used to tell Rhaella she would become Queen Regent, a day after Aerys died. “And you will despise the child born from her death, until the day you turn your back on him for good, and he kills you with a crossbow on the privy.”

(Joanna Lannister is sent back to Casterly Rock a week later.)

Rhaella has known Tywin since the days he and Aerys and Steffon Baratheon first began running about together in her grandfather’s court. She knows he is not one to bend easily, and certainly not to break.

Her wolf woman brings Tywin to heel in a way no one else could ever hope to achieve.

And that... that makes Rhaella feel powerful, in a way no one else could ever possibly offer.

---

A year after her brother’s death, when Rhaegar is four and beginning to make true strides in his lessons of books and swords, Queen Regent Rhaella stands before the assembled court, and announces she has decided to take a new husband, a man of proven loyalty to the crown and strength in the field. A man she deliberately did not discuss the matter with ahead of time.

It is clear to all that Tywin Lannister is stunned, in the brief seconds before he masters his expression. When Rhaella gestures, he moves without hesitation to stand beside her at the foot of the Iron Throne.

In the shadows of that throne, grey eyes glint.

---

Rhaegar becomes an elder brother at the age of five. He is the Prince of Dragonstone, Heir to the Throne, and easily delighted when given a task of ‘great’ importance. Sitting upon the cushioned floor of his mother’s bedchamber, his small face is schooled in a look of intense concentration as Tywin sets a swaddled babe into the boy’s lap.

“This is your brother Jaemerys,” the young man says, a thumb gently stroking over downy golden hair. “Jaime, for short.”

Lying back in her bed, Rhaella watches, their daughter Cersei cradled to her own chest. She remembers being weak and half-present for so long, after Rhaegar’s birth. After fleeing the blazing destruction of Summerhall in the midst of her labor pains, then carried to safety with the blood barely dry against her thighs.

This? This is much better.

By the door, her wolf woman keeps watch, a faint smile at the corners of her mouth. She still carries her needle-thin sword and more slender knives than Rhaella has ever managed to count; still wears grey tunics and dark breeches, sturdy boots and leather bracers. But her hair is longer, bound in a braid that drops to her waist, and she watches less warily than her early days of safeguarding Rhaella and Rhaegar. Twin clasps hold a short cape to her shoulders: one the three-headed dragon of House Targaryen, the other a snarling direwolf of House Stark.

(Tywin only asks once if Rhaella’s sworn protector is truly a member of the ruling family of the North. Tucked into the circle of his arms, hidden by darkness and relaxed from gentle love-making, Rhaella answers, “I do not doubt she is a wolf. But the pack that raised her is gone, and she has found a purpose with me.”)

---

Lord Rickard Stark visits King’s Landing some months after Jaime and Cersei are born. The night before his expected arrival is the first and only time Rhaella ever sees her wolf to be nervous, pacing instead of her characteristic stillness. Thankfully, whatever fears gnaw at her are gone by the time the new Warden of the North enters the throne room. Only a few years older than Tywin, Lord Rickard is taller and broader, with a thick beard that makes him seem older still.

He spots Rhaella’s Grim Wolf in the shadows beside the throne, and pauses with clear surprise. It takes a cough from one of the men beside him to prompt Rickard back into action, kneeling and paying homage to the Queen Regent. 

Several hours later, young Barristan Selmy of the Kingsguard lets the northman into Rhaella’s solar, where he jumps through a far hastier and less solemn greeting before asking for her wolf’s name.

“I used to be Arya Stark,” the woman answers.

“I’ve never heard tell of a cousin named Arya.”

Her eyes do not glint; they darken, with grief. “Because I am not your cousin. In another life, I would have been your granddaughter.” She speaks briefly of his toddling sons Brandon and Eddard. Of the babe currently in his wife’s belly, who will be called Lyanna, and another son, to be named Benjen. She speaks of White Walkers beyond the Wall, and a Long Night and Great War, and all her family going into the dirt, thanks to Aerys, and Rhaegar, and Tywin after them.

“Catelyn Tully will be a great lady for the North, whichever of your elder sons she marries,” Rhaella’s wolf tells the grandfather she never met. “Send your daughter here to foster, as soon as she’s old enough.”

Rickard Stark leaves the solar pale-faced and grim. But he doesn’t argue, and before he departs from King’s Landing, Rhaella makes him a pledge to see the Night’s Watch restored to former glory, so that they might stand firm against the threat to come.

She does not bother to inform Tywin of the full details of her wolf’s warnings - he wouldn’t believe half of it. Her caution not to wed his cousin Joanna spooked him, yes, but Rhaella doubts it would have held, if she herself had not taken the step of marriage to keep Tywin at her side. There is no doubt in her mind, however. Not when there are dragon skulls kept within the castle. The mighty beasts once ridden by her ancestors might all be gone, but when Rhaella places a hand against the still-warm bone, she can feel an echo of power. Of magic.

And she knows there are many and more mysteries left still in the world.

[blue-mint-winter]

House of the Dragon s2e6

A slower episode. I liked all the new stuff in it, but besides that unfortunately it has too much filler. What I mean is the constant repetitions of things we already know - "Rhaenyra doesn't have an army" was repeated several times, Jace asking about Daemon AGAIN, Viserys banishing Daemon AGAIN in his vision, Alyn and Addam are Corlys' bastards - AGAIN, the same old Alyn & Corlys interaction - AGAIN, no one listens to Alicent - AGAIN. Please find new material to pad out the episodes, I beg you. It feels like half of the episode should have been cut to get rid of all these repetitions. Not very efficient use of the screentime.

I absolutely enjoyed the dragon claiming part of it. Poor Ser Steffon, Rhaenyra's plan to give dragons to her loyalists wasn't a bad idea, it was just impossible to execute because dragons have their own minds and preferences. Perhaps it is similar to marriage and dragon didn't want an old and unsexy man (lol). I really liked that Seasmoke went out and claimed a rider himself before Rhaenyra tried to force another candidate on him. The whole sequence was exciting and well done.

As an aside, I think it would be more interesting if instead of showing Corlys with Alyn, it was explained more about what kind of relationship the brothers have with their father. Or to show Addam&Corlys interaction. Anyway, I predict that in next episode Addam is going to be Corlys' favourite son and future heir.

I actually quite liked Alys in this episode, to my own surprise. She's owning her role now. I only wish that instead of Daemon's pointless dreams and regrets we could see Alys in Riverrun, getting rid of lord Grover. That could have been a shocking end to the episode. (Also, too bad Daemon didn't come up with the idea to send her to do it, after all he advised Oscar Tully to kill Grover. Kind of a logical progression.)

I liked the smallfolk plot and Mysaria's pro-Rhaenyra PR campaign. Starving people turning against the ineffective politicians makes a lot of sense.

Green council politicking was quite interesting. I like that the problem of lords not respecting Targaryens strikes again with Jason Lannister demanding that Aemond join his forces before they go to fight in Riverlands. I am blaming Otto for this, Viserys was too nice yes, but Otto was the Hand for years, he was at the wheel and that's the result.

Aemond throws his weight around, people are cowed, but that doesn't mean they won't do anything. Alicent finally talks to him and he throws her out of the small council (contrast that with Jace telling Rhaenyra "my mother is my ruler"). They still don't address what he did to Aegon. Aemond sends out Criston to probably die in Riverlands against Daemon. Makes sense he wants to get rid of the only witness to his treachery. The whole scene of Aemond threatening bedbound and injured Aegon, then ordering maester to ensure a long healing process was savage. He is a true villain now.

Interesting that Aemond wants to reinstate Otto as Hand as he sees an ally in him. Or maybe he just doesn't like the foot fetishist (does he knows about Larys and Alicent?). I live how Larys tried to get on his good side and when it didn't work, he immediately switched back to Aegon.

The Larys-Mysaria parallel is strong in this ep, both telling their sob stories (which might be true or not) to Aegon/Rhaenyra who both fall for it, because they're alone and desperate as their strongest supporters betrayed and deserted them.

Larys kissing Aegon WHEN?!!

I quite like how there are factions within factions with both Daemon and Aemond going rogue. Gwayne's description of Daeron and lack of news from Otto makes me suspect that Otto is cooking up a new plan and using Daeron for it. Maybe this last grandson will be a willing puppet to his power hungry grandpa.

[ryonwyl]

♛ → Dorne present(s) RYON WYL, the RULING LORD of WYL when the dragons danced in the sky they DIDN'T CARE who would still fly, but in the blink of an eye, they would all die. the THIRTY-FIVE year old MALE who was ARROGANT & HOSTILE before they saw the first of the flames, is now ARROGANT & HOSTILE after seeing the last. they’re often associated with sun baked mountain paths,the song of battle, and the screams of victory. ( aaron fontaine. )

Ryon's full name, Ryon Paras Tremond Lewyn Wyl has become something of a joke within House Wyl and among his friends. When insulted he will say "Ryon Paras Tremond Lewyn Wyl is not one for insults. Prepare for challenge." He has been talked down from these challenges several times. (Baashir Dayne has once worked him up so much that Ryon refused to be talked down until Baashir used Dawn to break Ryon's sword.)

Ryon has a reputation of being a man of trouble. Otto Hightower used to be wary of the son of Wyl, waiting for the day he would ascend over his old and much calmer father. With his father confined to a wheeled chair Ryon spent many years restrained by his father's firm hand. The first display of Ryon's taking control was the killing of Ser Steffon Connington who was presuing raiders wandered to far into the Boneway coming across the brash Lord of Wyl and dying soon after.

When his father died the dragons were dancing and Lord Ryon Wyl was wreking havoc in the marches on raiders and bandit camps. Attacking and killing any knights from the Stormlands seen to close to what he deems as his part of the marches. As Lord he is referred to as "The Wyl of Wyl" as an official title.

[sunfyress]

ngl i always wondered what would happen if rhaegar and viserys were born as girls. like if aerys’ two eldest kids were rhaenyra and visenya instead.

(ik rhaenys the girl version name of rhaegar but my dumb brain would read this over and think of rhaegar’s daughter rhaenys instead)

aerys would first off, would be more awful to rhaella than in canon because she hasn’t given him a son that lived past infancy. throughout all of rhaella’s pregnancy with visenya he would probably hoping for a male heir to wed rhaenyra and when that doesn’t happen, his already paranoid ass would get even MORE paranoid and he probably would lock rhaella up in the maiden’s vault (again).

so rhaenyra would be named heir presumptive until rhaella gives birth to a son that lives past infancy (which does not happen as her next kids who lives past a year is daenerys). i’m guessing aerys would want rhaenyra to marry someone of close relations to keep that valyrian blood pure and all that shizzle. steffon and cassana baratheon go to essos to look for a bride blah blah they die blah blah and now aerys has to look for a groom in westeros.

he can do the same in canon and look towards house martell, but have oberyn marry rhaenyra (oberyn and female!rhaegar would be an interesting pairing). but now that he’s looking for a groom and not a bride, he also has the option of house baratheon (as robert’s grandmother is rhaelle targaryen). either robert or stannis would wed rhaenyra (robert bc hes the eldest and he was also very charismatic and handsome in his youth or stannis bc he’s the second eldest and there won’t be problems of inheritance).

(quick detour to house lannister, with tywin unable to have cersei marry a prince i’m sure he’ll look towards other great houses for her to marry into — like tyrell or maybe tully? idk. he probably won’t try to have rhaenyra marry jaime as jaime is his eldest son and heir and if jaime becomes prince consort he’ll give away his rights to casterly rock to tyrion — which tywin will never let happen. he would probably marry jaime off and try to have a hypothetical daughter of jaime marry rhaenyra’s heir — at least that would be his plan until jaime joins the kingsguard which i still would happen.)

i do think the rebellion would happen in some shape or way, because despite what people sometimes say, the rebellion didn’t start because of lyanna’s kidnapping (though that rlly fucked things up) but because of aerys burning and murdering a lord paramount and his heir and then commanding another lord paramount to break guest right. in this hypothetical, aerys will no doubt do something to cause a rebellion because the man is paranoid and crazy.

but how would rhaenyra react? would she goes against her father in open rebellion with her baratheon husband or would she side with aerys as in canon? i doubt she would kidnap lyanna and if she doesn’t have rhaella’s fertility problems than she could have the three heads of the dragon if she wanted. if she does have those fertility problems what would she do?

this is a just a bunch of mindless rambling but i’m curious about what y’all’s thoughts.

[eschercaine]

But Not Forgotten by @fromtheboundlesssea

Note: Inspired by @fromtheboundlesssea‘s Celiaverse fics. This is just a short snippet between Shireen and Stannis. The quote is based from GoT S05E04.

–

Shireen finds her father in his solar. He was busy reading several documents about the money lost in the ship that had sunk recently, but he knows that his daughter is there.

She’s afraid to ask him, so she confided first with her older brothers about it.

“Is Father ashamed of me?” she asked after they sat together on the sand after playing.

“Why do you ask that, dear sister?” Davos asked.

“I don’t know. In King’s Landing, everyone makes a fun of me behind my back because of my appearance, even our cousin Joffrey and Queen Cersei.”

“Well, you know… what Jon Snow said about Joffrey is true: he’s a little shit,” Steffon replied. Davos snickered.

She smiled. She remembered that time when they visited Winterfell, they met the shy and sullen Jon Snow who treated her and her family with kindness and respect despite being born a bastard.

Steffon puts his hand on her shoulder. “Sister, I cannot answer your question, but Father can. I know that he is different from uncle Robert and uncle Renly, but that’s the way he is.”

As she wanders into his chambers, she finally ask her father a question: “Are you ashamed of me, Father?”

Stannis looks at her in shock, then tells her the story of how she came to have greyscale.

“When you were an infant, a Dornish trader landed on Dragonstone. His goods were junk except for one wooden doll. He’d even sewn a dress on it in the colors of our House. No doubt he’d heard of your birth and assumed new fathers were easy targets.”

“I still remember how you smiled when I put that doll in your cradle. How you pressed it to your cheek. By the time we burnt the doll, it was too late.”

“I was told you would die, or worse, the greyscale would go slow and you’d grow just enough to know the world before taking it away from you. Some of the servants advised me to send you to the ruins of Valyria to live out your short life with the Stone Men before the sickness spread through the castle. I told them to go to Hell.”

Shireen can hear the bitterness in his voice, the regret of ever handing the small doll to her. She listens with rapt attention, smiling gently at hearing how her father defended her.

“I called in every maester on this side of the world. Every healer, every apothecary. They stopped the disease and saved your life. Because you did not belong across the world with the bloody Stone Men. You were the Princess Shireen of House Baratheon. And you are my daughter.”

Shireen, her eyes brimming with tears, runs to Stannis, and hugs him fiercely. Stannis is clearly taken aback by this action. After hesitating, he wraps his arms around her in return.

Celia watched as her husband held their daughter gently to him, kissing the top of her head as he did so. She knew that Stannis is a hardened man, he rarely displays emotions other than annoyance and anger, but she grew to love him after many years of their marriage. And she also knew that despite his cold exterior, he loves her and their children in his own way.

–

I hope you liked it!

[7deadlycinderellas]

if the summer of our lives could just come again, ch3

AO3 link

 Davos

Leaving Shireen again is the hardest thing he’s ever done.

Waking up in bed with Marya had been surreal enough, it had seemed decades since he had seen her. Going through the keep to encounter all seven of his sons, even Dale, too, had felt nearly like a dream. They’d come to visit, he remembered suddenly. Steffon’s name-day had just passed.

That whole day, he had tried to enjoy it.

When the older boys began to leave, is when he had to set his plan in motion.

Faking summons from Stannis was easy enough, turns out he had been planning to send for him soon anyway. Getting to Dragonstone was also shockingly easy.

Stannis had been his usual self, gruff and straight-forward. He had asked him to help him go over changes to shipping schedules what the effects of the late summer droughts on the tides. It had ended far too slowly.

Then on his way out, he had heard a small laugh.

“I’m supposed to be in lessons, but I had to come see you Onion Knight!”

Shireen was as small as she had been, her arms and legs had not yet begun to lengthen. Her face still bore the roundness of youth, her blue eyes shining.

Davos’s heart seizes as he allows himself to hug her tightly, without breaking. “Not having anymore dragon-dreams are you child?” he asks, remembering the nightmares that had plagued her.

Shireen looks confused. The comet, Davos remembers, her nightmares had begun with the coming of the comet.

“I haven’t dreamed of any dragons, I wish I did though, it sounds more exciting than the boat dreams I’ve had lately.”

He leaves her with just that single hug, trying his best to banish the image in his head of her burning.

Returning home, Davos recalls that Maester Cressen had once suggested betrothing Shireen to Robyn Arryn and sending her to the Eyrie, but Stannis hadn’t agreed.

Davos couldn’t imagine marrying Shireen off to that sickly, ill-tempered boy, but he wondered if he could somehow convince Stannis to let her be fostered somewhere else.

Renly, it hits Davos suddenly. Stannis’s brother had no children, but the court at Storm’s End was always bright and lively, fitting with it’s Lord’s showy and dramatic personality. And perhaps with his daughter so near, Stannis might not wish to lay siege to it.

It ended up, in the end, not truly being difficult at all.

“Storm’s End is the Baratheon ancestral home, it would be good for Shireen to see it. And I think having her around might put some responsibility into your brother, being that he currently has no heirs.”

Stannis’s eyes are hard to read, part distaste, part uncertainty.

“Last he saw her, Renly said she was ugly.”

Davos laughs softly in derision.

“Your brother may be thoughtless, but he isn’t needlessly cruel. Shireen may not be a great beauty, but she is a sweet, good child with a fine mind. She will win Renly over as easy as she won me over.”

He tries not to sound desperate, but Stannis is already speaking of the mystics, and he knows Melisandre may soon come to him.

And Stannis agrees, and Davos feels like maybe he’s won this time. That maybe they will win this time.

A week later, the agreement had been pounded out. Davos wonders if perhaps Renly simply saw a way to one-up his brother, but if it ends with Shireen safe, then it’s good either way.

Stannis asks him to accompany her. He would have offered anyway.

“Where are we going now, Onion Knight?” She asks him.

“We’re going on a quest.”

“Me too?”

“Well we’re going to need someone to read me all the books about all the old quests, so I know how I’m doing it right.”

There’s a touch of disappointment on her face. He takes her by the hand to help her into the wheelhouse.

“I have to go and rescue someone, then we have to ride north and try to stop some monsters.”

“Who are you rescuing? A princess in a tower?”

Davos laughs. Shireen did often have an affinity for the trapped princesses.

“A prince perhaps, though he would likely spit if he heard me call him that. I need to help him get back to his princess.”

Shireen wrinkles her nose.

“Not Prince Joffrey right?”

Davos can’t even imagine a laugh here. If half the stories he’s heard are true, the crown prince was more likely to need people rescued from him.

“No, this boy doesn’t even know what he is yet. But he will rise to greatness anyway. I’d like you to meet him someday, he’s one of your cousin’s actually.”

“What’s his name?”

“Gendry”.

He could remember the boy before, in his cell hopeless and ashamed. He could remember the man he became, who had wanted to help people even before learning he was of noble blood. Davos had believed Danaerys had intended to legitimize him for his heroism during the battle against the dead. She hadn’t had the chance. And part of Davos wondered if he would have even wanted that.

“Why does he need to be rescued?”

Davos sighs deeply.

“Because some people with a lot of power will want to hurt him, and he can’t save himself from where he is.”

A bastard boy on the streets of Flea Bottom. He was beholden to his apprenticeship unless released, and any route out of the city would be fraught with danger. Bandits, pirates, men who might try and sell him, all the worse if anyone got a good look and maybe figured out who he was. Ned Stark had figured out the Queen’s secret easily enough, but it would be a falsehood to say no one in King’s Landing ever questioned her fair haired children before.

“Do you know how you’re going to rescue him?”

That makes Davos smile.

“Do you remember why I told you your father cut off the tips of my fingers before knighting me?”

“Because you were a smuggler?”

“Which means I am excellent at getting things out of places and getting them where they aren’t supposed to be without being found out.”

He put his fingers to his lips to remind Shireen that she shouldn’t tell this to anyone, then taps her on the nose and shuts the door and moves to mount his horse so that they could leave.

He hopes he’s right.

 Sansa

Sansa carries Lady through the hallway and into her chambers. When she turns, she notices Arya sitting on her bed and yelps, dropping Lady to the floor. The wolf, now the size of a regular wolf, gives her a look of disgust, and pads off, taking a step onto the trunk at the end of Sansa’s bed and climbing up to curl up and fall asleep.

Arya cocks an eyebrow.

“I thought you had more nerve than that.”

“What are you doing here?” Sansa asks her, slipping off her shoes and stockings.

��Can I stay with you tonight? I had a bad nightmare last night.”

Sansa sighs, slipping one hand up to undo the ties at the top of her gown.

“Can you help me undo my straps?”

Arya reaches out and yanks the strings, loosening them. Sansa slips out of her gown and into her nightshift with ease before speaking again.

“Should I even ask which one?”

There were so many to choose from that they were both having. The Long Night nightmares, the watching Father get beheaded again nightmares, the ones where going through the anomaly just put them straight back in Hell (Ramsey for Sansa, Harrenhall for Arya).

“The one about Hardhorne. I think I had it because Jon left yesterday.”

Damn. Neither of them had been at Hardhorne, but Jon’s stories were so vivid and descriptive. The piles of bodies being climbed by walkers before they too rose, the people who ran straight into the water, clawing their way towards the boats trying to run. They had both had this one too.

Arya distracts herself by petting Lady.

“You really shouldn’t carry her everywhere now, she’s getting too big.”

“I’ll carry her for as long as I can. It will make me stronger.”

“She’s going to be bigger than you soon.”

“Then maybe someday she’ll carry me instead.”

Arya is quiet after that, and pulls off the cloak she’d thrown over her night shift in case one of the servants came by. She leaves it on the trunk next to Lady.

“Bran told me the Reeds should be here sometime tomorrow.” Sansa tells her as she crawls under her furs.

Arya bites her lip.

“That means we’re going to have to tell everyone tomorrow.”

Sansa laughs hollowly.

“Jon was hard enough...I can’t imagine how we’re going to tell Robb or Mother.”

Arya feels her stomach tighten. She could barely look at Gray Wind when he followed along with Robb after having seen what had become of them before.

“I can’t believe you managed to have the eloquence to tell what we know to Tyrion in just a single letter.”

“Well it was pretty rambling and confusing. I told you, I told him I saw things in visions. That King Robert was in danger, that people would look more closely at Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella. Not to trust a damn thing Littlefinger says. More politics, fewer ice zombies. Besides, I had that trump card to make sure he paid my words due.”

Arya frowns.

“I saw you give him the letter when he was leaving with Jon. What on earth did you tell him?”

She hadn’t been close enough to hear their conversation, But whatever Sansa had whispered in the Imp’s ear had affected him enough that his eyes had gone wide and he’d stood in the same spot, seemingly dazed until Uncle Benjen had prodded him and he’d tucked the letter into his satchel and rejoined everyone.

“I told him the name of his first wife.”

Arya’s surprised.

“I never knew he was married before you.”

“Most people don’t. No one outside his family should know anything about it. That’s why it worked.”

“What happened?”

Sansa smiles grimly.

“It’s not my story to tell. The only reason I think he even told me was because we were in the crypts sure we were going to die that night. Airing our sins and all that.”

Arya rolls over to face her.

“I guess I just don’t really understand your relationship with him. I couldn’t imagine you being so close to someone you were forced to marry.”

Sansa laughs. It is somewhat ludicrous, and her thirteen year old self would have screamed in horror had she known.

“He was forced into it as much as I was, and he was always kind to me. Beyond that, he tried to protect me, to make me feel better about things that happened. Though of course there was no way he could.”

Sansa turns suddenly pensive.

“And I got a front seat to exactly what his family thinks of him. Jamie aside, the rest of the Lannisters seemed to delight in tormenting him as much as they did tormenting than me. And it made me so incredibly angry. He once told me that people were going to spend a lot of time underestimating me, and that ended up being incredibly true too.”

There’s a long silence after, and Sansa really doesn’t want to have to talk about this anymore.

“Get some sleep Arya. Tomorrow’s going to be rough enough as it is.”

Laying all the way back down, she feels Arya shift beside her.

“Uhh, fair warning? I’ve been told I’m an angry cuddler.”

Sansa’s eyes pop back open.

What on earth was an angry cuddler?

She finds out the next morning when Arya has managed to migrate halfway down the bed and wrap both her arms so tightly around one of Sansa’s legs that she’s woken with the limb heavy and prickly, and entirely unable to stand up.

 Bran

Bran wakes, his stomach already in knots.

He gazes out the window, noting the clear skies. He notices Summer isn’t sleeping underneath like he usually did, perhaps he had an early start.

He manages to dress himself, though he only has one pair of breeches that have been cut to fit over his cast. His boot takes the longest, but he laces it up tightly before reaching for the heavy metal crutches Mikken had made for him when it became clear that he was not up for staying in bed until his leg healed.

Hobbling on the crutches had been hard to learn. The splinted wrist was one thing, but he could hardly admit that it had been near on a decade since he had walked properly at all.

So at least he had an excuse for his staggering.

In the hallway, he bumps into Arya, who’s rubbing the back of her head.

“What happened?”

“Sansa pulled my hair until I woke up and let her leg go.”

He’s not going to question that.

Rather than join the rest of the family at breakfast, Bran has Arya slip in and grab them a platter of oatcakes with honey and sliced apples.

“Where are we going?” Arya asks.

“The stables.”

She makes a face.

“They won’t let you ride with the cast.”

“I’m not going to ride,” Bran tells her, “I’m going to see Willas.”

Arya’s stares at him confused for a moment before it hits her.

“Oh, Hodor.”

“That’s not his name,” Bran says roughly. “So I won’t call him that. He died protecting me, that’s the least I can do. Especially since the other is my fault.”

Arya is quiet most of their slow walk out to the stable. Bran has never been overly forthcoming about what exactly happened to everyone north of the Wall.

When they reach the stables Willas is finishing up with the morning chores. The other grooms have already gone down to breakfast, leaving the three of them alone.

“Hodor,” he says, upon seeing them.

“Have breakfast with us,” Bran says, and Arya offers him the platter.

The three of them sit and eat their cakes in silence. Arya licking a bit of honey off her thumb and Bran leaning over to steal one of her apples.

When they’re finished, Willas stands, and with a “Hodor,” leaves them to haul water for the troughs.

Bran chews thoughtfully on his last bite while Arya wipes off the tray.

Arya finally fixes Bran with a gaze while he chews.

“You’ve been weird since you told us the Reeds were probably going to arrive today, so what is it?”

Bran doesn’t say anything, and avoids her eyes.

“Come on, out with it. Sansa said Meera left almost immediately when you two returned to Winterfell, and you didn’t even mention her again. When you lead us down to the Neck, she didn’t even look at you. What in seven hells happened?”

“Nothing. And that was the problem. We were north for, gods it must have been two or three years. Meera helped keep us safe, she hunted to keep us fed. Underneath that tree, she did her best to keep me sane even though she seemed completely lost after Jojen died. After...Everything that had happened to us, everything I had felt...I suddenly didn’t care. I would have died a hundred times over without her, it didn’t matter“

He’s quiet for a long time.

“I remember, the way Meera was looking at me, before I touched the weirwood tree to see what happened at the Tower of Joy. If she had looked at me like that before...I probably would have died of a heart attack. That’s what she said before she left, was that Brandon Stark died in that cave.”

“Well you didn’t, and you’re alive again,” Arya tells him. “So quit acting like you did die. We all get second chances now, that’s sort of the point isn’t it?”

“All three of them have cause to hate me.”

“Well they definitely will if you stay this way when they all show up. So come on, and lets try and prepare.”

She helps him get back onto his crutches and they hobble back to the keep to try and head off the storm.

 Jojen

Jojen Reed was not used to being confused. His prophetic dreams aside, he had always been clever, and good at his lessons. Feeling completely in over his head was not something he was used to.

But two weeks before when he had woken to his older sister running into his room and hugging him tightly he had been completely at a loss for words. Normally, he would have thought she was ill, but when she dragged him down to breakfast, their Father had been in a similar state. Both of them had looked incredibly tired, but somehow energized, with wild looks in their eyes, babbling on about things that didn’t make any sense.

Then they sat down, and tried to tell him, and it made even less sense.

And even after they had left Greywater Watch, it hadn’t stopped.

He wakes the last day of their travels with a feeling of creeping dread in his gut.

And for the first since she lost her mind, Meera seems as unsure as him.

They’re packing up camp, Father leading the horses to water when he finally brings it up.

“You seem anxious. You and Father were so sure we had to go north to Winterfell when we left, now it seems like you don’t want to.”

Meera laughs.

“We were both so sure we had to go north before. And look how that turned out.”

Jojen doesn’t really know what to say to that. She’d told him he had died on the journey before, which explained her exuberant reaction to seeing him again, but it didn’t really explain her despair. True, she had also mentioned that his body had immediately exploded, but still…

“I know you were probably upset that I died…”

“It wasn’t just you,” she cuts him off. “Everyone. The last time I left home, everyone around me ended up dying, you were just the first. We were under there for over a year, I didn’t even know why anymore, but I trusted the Children of the forest. Then the Night King found us and attacked, and they all died. All of that history, and they died. Then Summer died protecting us, and Hodor died so we could get away, and we ran. “

They’ve finished the packs, and so Meera just pokes at the ground with a stick when she finally continues.

“We got back to Winterfell, and it turned out even Rickon and Osha had died after we left them. I wanted to go home, but I didn’t feel like I could. I went to talk to Bran, and it was like he was gone too. Whatever the Raven did to him in that cave, his body was still alive, but what made him him was gone. He was little more than a shell.”

Father returns to the clearing, leading the horses. They begin loading the packs onto them, when Meera continues. Her voice goes quiet, with a tone in it Jojen’s not sure he’s ever heard come from her before.

“I thought what the two of us had gone through- as hard as it had been, I thought it was special. I thought it was important. I don’t know anymore, I still don’t know if it was worth it. The end of the world still came after all. I don’t know what I’ll do if we get to Winterfell and Bran is still...that thing.”

Jojen can’t really say anything to soothe his sister’s words, so he just listens. He supposes that must do some good too.

They ride for a bit in silence. They’re not far, could reach the keep by mid-day easily. Jojen can still feel Meera sitting stiffly in the saddle. They could have taken a third horse, but neither of them are good riders, having not had much way to practice, given that horses don’t suit bogs well.

As the day goes on, he suddenly feels Meera go still.

“Either of you hear that?” She asks, eyes staring straight off into the trees. When neither him nor Father reaction, she slides off the horse, and grasps her spear.

They aren’t far from Winter Town, it could just be another traveler or someone out hunting, but Meera’s muscles are pulled taut as though she expects this to end in a fight.

She’s still, still as a rock upon a cliff, when the leaves of the underbrush shift and a figure emerges from them.

Jojen feels his heart quicken when he realizes the figure is a wolf.

Meera, on the other hand, softens.

“Summer?” She calls out, in an unsure voice.

Both Jojen and their father watch as Meera kneels in the road, and the wolf approaches her slowly, carefully. Jojen watches in amazement as the beast rests it’s muzzle on top of her knees, and she reaches to rub the top of it’s head.

“You did everything you could,” She assures the wolf, “You were your best, you did your best.”

[king-of-kings1]

Robert Baratheon - the one character fandom does not understand properly.

Okay, I've seen many arguments regarding asoiaf in almost all over the internet. Any network, any platform, name anything there will be some arguments between the fans. One of the most important and common fanfight I've ever seen is, Robert vs Rhaegar, morality one i.e who was the better man.

I've seen heavy arguments from either side, claiming the fav man is the best but I chose to stand on the neutral perspective and see who really is a better person and this will be my analysis of it.

So Robert Baratheon and Rhaegar Targaryen, two of the great names in the entire ASOIAF series. The fight between them extends in the fandoms in a long line. Obviously everyone can admit the Robert was the better warrior but who was the better human being?

Many fans seem to misunderstand Robert and tends to paint him as some heartless monster and a drunkard who is obsessed with a girl who does not loves him, who smiled at the corpses of children, who abused and raped his wife, who wanted to kill some innocent Targaryen children who had nothing to do with Rhaegar or Aerys. You see, these points are all the ones which comes round in a circle again and again to say that Robert was a bad human being but trust me, Robert is not bad, I would not even say him as a faulted character.

Robert is probably one of the only characters who was designed by his past trauma along with his brother Stannis. Robert comes off as a jolly man, easy to laugh and loving fun at every turn but the truth is, he has much sadness pressed up in him than his fun-loving attitude. When he was still a little boy he sees his parents die before his own eyes. Yes, that's right. He stands in some tower with Stannis and watches his father and mother die right before his eyes. Though there is no mentioning how the brothers reacted to it physically, one could easily imagine how it should've felt to watch your parents die right before your eyes and you could do nothing to save them. Imagine yourself in that position and how would you feel? Now that's where Robert finds hate towards the Targaryens for the first time because Steffon and Cassana Baratheon took the voyage only on Aerys' orders to find Rhaegar a bride with valyrian blood. See that, the names Aerys and Rhaegar comes in the death of his parents.

Then Robert was sent to be fostered in Eyrie and his time at Eyrie was his best with Jon Arryn becoming a very strong father figure to him and Ned as a brother from another mother. But still, he was young and was likely affected by the dreadful past memories (look how long years Ned was affected with the trauma of the war). So he turns to alcohol and women to help him forget like any normal man in his place would do. So no, he did not choose to be a drunkard or a playboy, he was forced to by his tragic past.

Then he is betrothed to Ned's sister, and is so happy of the fact that he and Ned will soon be brothers bound by blood but then again Rhaegar comes to shit on that like the same way he did with his parents and how do you expect him to behave? To smile and brush off as if nothing had happened. And then Aerys calls for his head and the head of the man he considers as his brother, he would normally be like, Well, Fuck you, asshole. You killed my parents, your son shits on me and my house's honor and now you want to kill me and my buddy, that's not how its gonna be. Fuck you, fuck your son, fuck your family. You can't blame him for that.

He has every right to be mad at the Targs. One way or another all the bitter things happened in Robert's life is connected with the Targaryens.

And he is just happy to build the realm back to glory with the woman he loved but then the last blow strikes with Lyanna's death. Lyanna's death completely destroyed him and all the plans he had for the realm. So yes, Robert loved Lyanna, whether it be the idea of her or anything else, Robert loved Lyanna and was not obsessed with her. The first thing he does after reaching Winterfell is to visit Lyanna, he even chastises Ned for burying her in such a cold dreary place and says that even in death she deserved better, better in such a manner that no one ever had before. Ned genuinely believes that Robert truly loved Lyanna. Did Robert truly knew Lyanna? We don't know, but the truth is Lyanna never wanted to know Robert, not the other way around. She just makes her own idea of him and never even tries to give him a chance. What a stupid does that? She doesn't likes his boyish ways but did she ever asked him to change that? How could she know he could never change without even giving him a chance?

He fights the war, because his life and the lives of all the others he'd loved is in danger. He fucks up Rhaegar, fucks up Aerys but really has nothing to do with Elia and her children's deaths because the deed was done before even he came to King's Landing. Yes, it was wrong that he laughed at the bodies of Targaryen children, but come on, look at it from his pov it shall feel right for him. And tbh, it was Rhaegar who left his wife and children there in the first place so he is responsible for their deaths more than Robert.

Coming back from that we'll compare the best and worsts Robert and Rhaegar. Rhaegar is really good. He is the perfect prince of Westeros and the small folk loved him. But what he did with Lyanna is inexcusable and make the entire realm turn against him and root for Robert. He leaves his wife and children in the grasp of his father.

Now some like to say Robert was no better to his wife than Rhaegar was to his. For them, Robert whispers the name Lyanna in Cersei's ear, yes, and that's because he was drunk with grief over Lyanna. He raped her, okay that thing is inexcusable but what about Rhaegar's approaches with Elia? The princess had a fragile nature and Rhaenys' birth was hard for her that it troubled the maesters that she might not be able to survive another birth. But Rhaegar who is so obsessed with the prophecy gets her with child again within a few years. Who is to say that Rhaegar never forced Elia? And it might've been the wine which made him force himself upon her because Robert immediately feels sorry for hurting her. And what about all of Rhaegar's public insults to Elia which Robert never does to Cersei? Robert had a chance to set aside Cersei and take Margaery as his queen by the hands of Renly, but no he never did that. He knew his wife hated him, was cold to him and still he never once tried to set her aside for another woman.

And Robert is a better king than Rhaegar. Now most like to say that Robert was a bad king and how he spent the realm's money in unwanted things. Say what you will but Robert was a better king than Rhaegar ever would've. The first and foremost duty of a king is to protect his kingdom and his people. While Rhaegar caused a war for his stupid prophecy and burned his kingdom down Robert did the exact opposite. Rhaegar stayed in the stupid tower when the war he started was raging across Westeros. But when Balon Greyjoy attacked his kingdom and threatened the peace of his people Robert takes action at once, defeats Balon and takes his son hostage to prevent any further wars. He holds the peace in his realm after two wars, Two Bloody Wars.

And yes, he gives up his hate for the Targaryens in his deathbed and gets his orders to kill Dany back.

Robert is a great character who is loved by his people, so much that they cheer for the douchebag Joffrey over Ned just because they think him to be Robert's son. Even Ser Barristan while in Dany's service regards Robert as his king and feels bad for failing him. He is such a character that Ned feels something dies within him when he hears about Robert's death, who else could make Ned feel that way.

So here it is, the end: Robert Baratheon is a good man and better than Rhaegar.

[crowkingwrites]

War Creatures (Ch.35)

Pairing: Loki X Reader

Summary:  In a crossover of the Nine Realms and Westeros, you find yourself in the dawn of a rebellion. Odin, Lord of Pyke, has made alliances with your family, House Grover of Highgarden. Your father’s army will join Odin’s army to overthrow the King and take the Iron Throne. There is just one cost to this alliance.You must marry the dark, young prince Loki.In a world where Kings do as they wish, where war is an oncoming storm, and peace is nothing but a dream, you are lost but brave. Loki is more powerful than he seems, and love will grow from the flames of war.

Words: 2261  // [AO3 Link] //  Seasons 1-3 of War Creatures - Chapter 31 - Chapter 32 - Chapter 33 - Chapter 34

:Ser Petra POV:

Ser Petra was knighted after he came to Highgarden, cleaning up his act. After fighting in illegal rings and sometimes going days without food, Ser Petra had grown very used to his cushy knighthood quickly. He deserved it and he had grown to be useful to Lord Garth and his family. His unmatched fighting skills with a sword and his intellect have made from indispensable to the ruling family. No one would suspect the most loyal knight to betray the house he served.

He was there when Lord Garth had gathered his men around and spoke of rebellion, even treason.

“He’s taking boys.” Lord Garth’s voice boomed. “Little boys from their families. First, it was the killing of innocents. Then, it his wavering mind. He is no longer fit to be king. King Malekith has given into the darkness that rules his mind. We must stop it.”

“I don’t mean to question you, my lord, but how do you propose we take down the King?” Ser Petra asked, scratching his beard.

“I’m glad you asked. I have been in contact with Lord Odin of the Iron Islands. He is planning for an open rebellion to take the crown himself. This is a man of power, knowledge, and value. I believe in him and his cause.”

“So, savages from the Iron Islands and Highgarden soldiers?”

“No. They are not savages. Iron Islanders have skills on the sea that we do not possess. We have advantage on the land and the numbers. Lord Odin has also spoken to Lord Steffon of Casterly Rock to join our alliance. We’ll seal these alliances with marriage. Lord Odin has two sons. I have a daughter. Lord Steffon has a daughter.”

“You’re marrying your daughter off to a man of Pyke?” Ser Petra narrowed his eyes. “I don’t mean to criticize, my lord, but I fear he may not treat your daughter well.”

“Any man who lays a harmful finger on any of my daughters will face a wrath that the Nine Kingdoms have never known. Besides, I’ve heard terrible tales spun about the Dark Prince. If he is as scary as they say he is, we will win this rebellion.” Lord Garth’s men cheered on while Ser Petra left the room. He took a vow that day. He swore he would protect the ruling family. He swore his sword to the King. He would not have that king removed.

Ser Petra met with a pretty servant girl in the courtyard. She smiled brightly when she saw him at first, but then her smile faded when she saw the wrath.

“Are you leaving for King’s Landing soon?” he asked her.

“In less than a fortnight, why?” She batted her pretty eyes. “Did you want to toss around in the hay?” “No. I have whispers that need to be sent to the King and his small council. Lord Garth speaks of treason and an open rebellion.”

“Rebellion?”

“The Lords of Highgarden, the Iron Islands, and Casterly Rock are forming alliances with marriage. Soon, their armies will march across the Nine Kingdoms and they’ll attack the king.” The servant girl left sooner than planned. Royal spies couldn’t hold information like this for long, and Ser Petra was desperate to get to work. The Nine Kingdoms had been living peacefully for decades. He wouldn’t have this peace disturbed now.

Whenever he could, he intercepted ravens. He listened carefully to Lord Garth’s words and deciphered them as best as he could for the royal spies that stayed within the walls of Highgarden. Of course, Lord Garth never suspected his own. Ser Petra thought himself as smater than the aging man.

“What have you heard of the alliance?” a young spy asked him.

“The Dark Prince will be here soon. I suspect the wedding will be soon after that. They want it to be hush-hush.”

“How do you know? Has Lord Garth revealed any days? Any details?”

“No. His lady wife handles all of the wedding crap. He is handling the rebellion. He will not make any moves until his daughter is married.”

“Leaving him open for a siege,” the spy smiled grimly. Like a ghost the spy was gone and disappeared into the walls of Highgarden where most spies hide themselves. In the coming days, Ser Petra saw Highgarden at her best. People teeming with hospitality and kindness. The best dishes were set out and the palace was cleaner.

He strolled down the hallway until he saw a posse of people heading in the opposite direction. Leading them all was Lord Garth himself. His voice still boomed in the corridors of the old castle. Next to him stood a young man. His long dark hair was combed back. Ser Petra judged his dark clothing. It looked as if he was attending a funeral, not an upcoming wedding. He noted the sword and daggers strapped to his sides.

Ser Petra also saw the young man match his glare.

“Ah! Ser Petra!” Lord Garth came closer. He gestured to the young man next to him. “This is the Dark Prince Loki. My daughter’s betrothed.”

“My lord,” Ser Petra bowed his head. He looked towards Loki’s way again and noticed his younger features. “How old are you, boy?”

“Don’t call me, boy,” Loki’s eyes glared. “I’m seventeen.” “You’re still a boy,” Ser Petra laughed at him. Although he planned for Highgarden to fall during a siege, he loved the girls. Cecelia, Dahlia, and Amaryllis would be safe should anything were to happen. He found himself smiling after meeting Loki. At least, they were around the same age. Ser Petra had spent his years in knighthood watching Cecelia grow up before his eyes. They were not blood related, but Petra had a paternal affection for her.

They met again in another hallway just as a spy ran off and disappeared. Loki stood right behind him, seeing what happened.

“Have you driven your squire mad, ser?” Loki asked. “He ran off in a hurry.”

“I ordered him to do something of urgency. Can I help you, my lord?”

“I was told that you possess knowledge of the Highgarden army. I had hoped to ask you questions.”

“Questions? Why do you need to know?”

“I am to lead them into battle. I want to know everything I can,” Loki explained, already bored of this transaction. Ser Perta started laughing.

“You? A boy of seventeen? Lead an army? You must be as mad as the king!”

“I am not. And I will be leading this army.”

“Oh, I’m sure you will, boy,” Ser Petra left an impression on Loki. One that carried into the wedding. Ser Petra saw Cecelia smiling in her beautiful gown while Loki sulked and stared at Ser Petra from afar. He didn’t mind much. This was an evening to celebrate new friends and love. Not planning the undermining of Highgarden.

As soon as Loki and Cecelia left, Ser Petra got to work in aiding as many spies as he could through Highgarden. Some had posed as servants, other posed as poets and intellects, some had posed as children seeking asylum from the war. Months had passed and he was among the first to welcome back Cecelia and her growing stomach back into the safety of Highgarden.

He didn’t anticipate this at all.

When visiting with the lady, Ser Petra took the time to ask careful questions as one of the royal spies poured tea for Cecelia.

“Is it love that I see in your eyes?” Perta laughed. “I have seen you happy but not like this.”

“Thank you, Ser Petra. You can say it is love.”

“Your husband didn’t seem too happy on the wedding day. What happened?”

“We grew. Our love needed tending and kindness. Now we reap the harvest of it.” Cecelia said, patting her swelling belly. Ser Petra smiled genuinely.

“I hope for you sake it’s a boy. I heard from your father that Loki has declared himself to be a Frost Giant. He took his own sigil. Why?”

“To be king. Loki wishes to take the Iron Throne for himself,” Cecelia said. The spy had stumbled over and stopped in her walk. She took a breath and continued. “Is she alright?”

“She’ll be fine. How are you? How is the baby?”

“We’re both healthy and fine. Lady Eir has been so incredibly helpful in that aspect. She expects me to give birth in the colder months coming.”

“Ah yes, the harvesting months. What a wonderful time to have a child.” After conferring with the spies around him, it was final. Loki presented a real threat against the crown unlike his father and older brother who had lost so many battles. Both of their armies headed south towards the civil war that broke out against the noble elf families.

If Loki was to die, so was everything that went with him, including Cecelia and her newborn.

“Is there another arrangement?” Ser Petra asked the sell sword spy cleverly named No Face. No Face sighed beneath his metal mask.

“No. Lady Cecelia and the babe must die. Either you do it your way or I’ll do it my way. Either way, it must be done. King Malekith wishes it.”

“Cecelia is powerless without Loki. Tit was an arranged marriage between the two. She does not want the throne for herself. She never has. Her baby will be born into this world wanting nothing but life.”

“Yet, the baby possesses Loki’s blood. The baby must die,” No Face warned. Ser Petra retreated back into his room, wondering if what he was doing was right for the realm anymore.

:Loki POV:

The chill of the North meant nothing to Loki and his new army of Frost Giants. They proudly marched out of the villages and homes to join his cause. Loki rode a new, bigger horse. She was black with eyes that looked like drops of blood. Caina, Loki dubbed her. He always wanted a good warhorse.

“Where do we march, my king?” a frost giant rode beside him. He was tall and lanky like Loki was. He had dark markings around every inch of exposed skin Loki saw with his eye.

“We march back to my wife, cousin,” Loki smiled. “She lives in the south where our dwarven and human friends wish to be right now.” “To Highgarden, it is.”

As the troops approached a village, Loki had an awfully good idea. He turned to his cousin on his right.

“Our warriors, they still needed to be blooded, am I correct?”

“Yes,” his cousin confirmed. “Many of us have been trained, but we have not seen battle yet.” A mischievous smile played on his lips. His eyes turned dark.

“Show me what you can do. Sack the village.”

The small Northern village burned to ashes in only an hour. Several mens’ heads sat on spikes and decorated the border of the village. Loki rode Caina through the ashes and looked down upon his easy victory. Not much of the village was left except for food and its people. Children held onto their mothers’ torn skirts while they were captured. Each person filed into the carriages. Some men had to be chained and separated from the rest.

Loki heard a man say ‘fuck the dark king’ and spit on the ground. That was his mistake.

“What’s your name?” Loki asked of the man, a smile played on his lips.

“Why does it matter?” the man yelled back. A frost giant soldier kicked the back of his knee which sent him down to the ground hard.

“Kneel before your King!” the soldier said. Loki jumped off his horse and approached the burnt man. His clothes were dirty and parts of him were burnt. His beard caught the snow that fell from the sky. Loki’s sword touched the tip of his chin.

“I have taken your home. I have destroyed everything, and yet you have the courage to tell me to fuck off?”

“You’re going to kill us, aren’t you?” the burnt man said. “Doesn’t matter whose king. You’ll end up killing us anyways. You’re no better than the Mad King.”

Loki put his sword to his neck, watching the man get increasingly nervous of his own fate. The burnt man closed his eyes and accepted what fate handed to him, a quick death. Loki put his sword down and knelt in front of the man.

“I’m not like the Mad King. I can be merciful,” Loki told the burnt man. He took his dagger and shoved it into the man’s side. “See? I gave you the pleasure of watching your family come away with me while you lay dying here in the snow.” The burnt man cried out, holding his side and rolling on the ground. Loki left him there as he rolled and writhed.

Satisfied with himself, Loki cleaned his blade until another cousin caught his attention.

“My king, this one says she knows you,” this frost giant had a young woman chained to his horse. Her light red locks and sad eyes tied knots in Loki’s stomach. This woman did know him, and he knew her very well.

“Lorelei?” Loki breathed out. The woman looked up to Loki with a grateful smile. A tear streamed down her cheek. She was dirty and bruised. Her shoes had very little to protect her from the snow beneath her toes. Her light clothing suggested her profession.

“Hello Loki,” Lorelei greeted. “I knew you’d never forget me. I knew you’d come back to me.”

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[mycounselortoldmetojournal]

8-8-19 (pt1) “Yet Still there is Good”

Not sure if there’ll be a part 2, but it’s only 11 AM, so God only knows.

Saw Therapy Bro last night, and I’ll admit, it went so much better.  To his credit, he made it clear he *does* read this, and he adapted his style; the questions asked and the ways in which he interjected were so much more helpful to me.  I’ll admit, after last session I was wondering if I had the right guy;  his ability to adapt last night told me I do. 

It’s taken me way too long to get this concept, but it’s slowly begining to build itself up in my mind; there are so many conclusions which I draw that are automatic that I’m not really even aware of them; I’m not consciously aware that I’ve drawn a judgement or conclusion or read the reasons why.  I just *know* that I’m right and here’s why someone else is acting this way.  The point Therapy Bro keeps trying to make is,  A.) No, you don’t know why.  B.) There could be so many other reasons why.  C.) (But I think this needs to be A / #1 for me:) You have to be mindful and aware of when you’re jumping to those conclusions.  And that, for me, is the hardest part. 

So i’m going to take the next week and a half and this journal to try and reflect on moments and situatinos where someone has done something that is hurtful to me, or moments where I feel hurt or less-than, and come up with alternate reasons as to why that person may have acted that way.  

Fate and the universe, it seems, have a perverse sense of humor.

Because I left therapy expecting people to be horrible and me having to come up with alternate reasons why.  And instead, I’ve experienced nothing but love since then.

I left Therapy Bro’s office and texted a friend whom I had intended to grab dinner.  We settled on a place and both got there at the same time. This is a man whom I’ve had a *HUGE* crush on from the moment I met him. Tall, gorgeous, muscular, completely and 100% himself, and has a spirit made of gold; humble, and kind, and loving... when I asked him “Why did you get into your profession?” he replied, “I couldn’t die without making someone else’s life better.”  I’m in love. At one point he asked “Why have I never been over to your place?” and I said “No one sees my place.  The only people who’ve ever been in my apartment are...” “Don’t tell me. Your hookups?”  “Yup.” He got quiet and just looked at me. “You know I love you, right?”  And the way he said it..... y’all.  I don’t know.  I don’t know if it was that “I’m a good friend and I love you as my friend,” or if it was “You’re my guy and I want to be with you now until the last breath I’m blessed to take in your presence, until I”m joined with the eternity of the universe which is the only thing I can imagine that is greater than you and your being.”  (At least, that’s how I’d express it to him.)   He continued, “ ... and it makes me... I dunno. Jealous to hear you talk about other guys.”  He paused again. “That makes me sound selfish.” The irony of it all is he’s dating someone who’s 100% wrong for him, hands-down.  I haven’t met the guy, I don’t know their dynamic. But I knew within 10 minutes of (Hmmm... what shall I call this guy who loves me whom I love back...?  Mr. Incredible?)  him talking about his BF that his BF doesn’t listen to him, doesn’t acknowledge his unique gifts and abilities, doesn’t validate him or his spirit, doesn’t pour back into him and only takes, has already built up walls that have stymied trust.... I’ll stop there. It’s not my relationship.  But it just sucked to hear someone for whom I would walk over hot coals look me dead in the eye and say “You know I love you, right?” and “I kick myself for not asking you out months ago,” only to continue to hear his woes of how his Boyfriend In Absentia (BIA) is wrong for him. 

But. He’s taken. He’s off the market.  And I’d rather have good (Great) people and spirits as my friends than not have them in my life if he can’t be my lover. So I’ll stand shoulder to shoulder with him as a dear friend and let him know I’ve got his back. 

After dinner we walked outside and stood a moment on the sidewalk.  Mr. Incredible is in Incredible shape (and he absolutely should follow his passion to be a personal trainer; his reasons for not doing so are just baffling to me.) He offered again to help me with my lifting.  In the past he’s said “You know the same things I do, so not sure what I can do.”  I said “Clearly not, because you look like you and I look like me.” (Yes, there’s more to unpack there.) He started to say”Well I think you look amazing,” and I, as I always do to everyone, cut him off and didn’t allow him to finish.  (Let’s put a pin in that moment. Maybe for part 2.) instead I went in for a hug, and he put his arms around me. Y’all... you know that scene in every movie where they plug in a dead battery into a high voltage source and you see the battery meter go from zero to like 10,000% in half a second?  That was that hug. It was electric. (boogie woogie woogie.) The charge I got from his arms around me....  We said goodnight and walked opposite directions to our cars, but I was literally hopping across the crosswalk, shaking my hands... every part of me was tingling. I got in the car and involuntarily, my hands went and covered my nose and mouth, a la Steffon from SNL.  Y’all.... that boy...

And then this morning a hookup whom I thought was just a hookup has continued to reach out to me.  “So when’re you coming over again?”  Last time we met up, as we were lying in bed sweaty and panting, he looked over and said “Wanna go grab some food?” And I’m fairly certain the hookup turned into a date. And it was wonderful. 

It’s odd.  In the mist of all the horribleness going on all around us, yet still there is good.  There are authentic people.  There are honest people. There are people who have experienced trauma and abuse and been subject to the worst of humanity, yet still come out the other side with grace and kindness and gentleness and love. (There’s a reason I call him Mr. Incredible.)  There is such a desire and a longing and a want by so many whom I’ve met to BE vulnerable, to BE authentic, to BE genuine; they jsut need someone they can trust to be those things and not be attacked in return.Someone who will validate that those traits are signs of strength, not weakness. 

There are plenty of reasons to choose happiness.  Every day. 

Happiness doesn’t exist pre-made.  I’ts not something that’s made in a factory, shipped to a store, and you go pick it up, open the package and pour it out.  Happiness is made, from scratch, by each of us.  Our recipes are all different, and the flavor is unique to us all, but we must MAKE our own happiness, and it starts with the choice to take the ingredients that are around us in our lives and cook that motherfucker until a golden brown cake of joy comes out. 

“Yet still there is good.”  I think I see a tattoo in my future.

“Yet still there is good.“   “I will not tiptoe through life only to arrive safely at death.”

[atopvisenyashill]

What if Rhaegar, Elia, and Lyanna were genderbent?

I've answered a few about Rhaegar being gender swapped or stillborn and that answer essentially boils down to "his mother's life sucks even worse than it does in canon, plus the political scene is tense as FUCK." i've also answered some about lyanna being gender swapped as well, which is basically just "lyanna is having the time of her life chilling in winterfell while westeros burns around her" hah. never done an elia one, or all of them swapped.

But okay - Lonnel Stark is, in all likelihood, just chilling out at Winterfell. Either he or Benjen gets fostered out (I speculated on where in that other ask, but I think it's likely he would be sent to a Reacher house, where there is currently a plethora of girls to get engaged to, or the Lannisters, and if Tywin is meant to be the foster father of Benjen or Lyanna/Lonnel as the war kicks off, that puts a fun spin on what Tywin is going to do if he has a potential hostage and/or closer alliances with the Southron Ambitions plot), and which one is fostered out probably depends on the ages of the people he's fostering with. But no matter what, both of them are just kinda chilling. After the war, if a bunch of the Stark men die, having both Benjen and Lonnel would help a lot in rebuilding House Stark as well (ntm, I think it's likely Benjen went to the Wall out of guilt for whatever happened with Lyanna. If she never leaves with Rhaegar, that guilt goes away!).

Rhaena Targaryen, first born daughter of Aerys, cannot inherit but she is a catch. I'm sure there's some plans to have her marry Aerys and Rhaella's first born son, but when that first born son never comes, Aerys (and Steffon, probably Tywin as well, as I imagine the people doing most of the actual ruling early on was those two. I have always pictured this dynamic as the two of them teaming up on Aerys to babysit/keep him occupied while they do the actual work, haha) looks to make a smart political match with his daughter instead. Enter Jaime Lannister. Aerys is going to be a huge weirdo about this, Tywin is going to get his feelings hurt, Cersei is going to start scheming. Exit Jaime Lannister. But...Enter Robert Baratheon.

That's right my man, the one, the only, Bobby B. is marrying girl Rhaegar/Rhaena. My reasoning is this: Steffon has already brought Robert to court several times so they're familiar with each other, Robert is knighted fairly young so he proves himself "worthy" of the honor, and best of all he has a Targaryen grandmother. Not only does this keep ~the blood of Valyria~ strong in House Baratheon, but it also helps in the long run if the Targaryens keep having fertility issues, because they have another Valyrian house to turn to for potential brides. BUT. There is a challenger here - ENTER ELLARIO NYMEROS MARTELL!!!

While I think Aerys himself would rather Robert because he's a racist freak, that alliance with Dorne is the only reason Robert's Rebellion went on for as long as it did. Without Dorne, Aerys has nothing. Less than nothing, even. Granted, without a helpless bride and her two children being kept hostage in the capital, Aerys still has jack shit, but he doesn't know that now does he. Still, with Loreza and Rhaella being friends, I think Ellario is a contender for Princess Rhaena's hand (again, a bit unsure on when Mellario and Doran marry, so maybe Rhaegar/Rhaena marries Doran since he's the one inheriting, and Ellario has no seat to give Rhaena). There's some stiff competition with Bobby B. here. I think it's likely Bobby B. & Steffon win that one though, and Loreza's hurt pride means that, once again, when Aerys inevitably does something fucked up and the realm turns on him, Dorne is going to conveniently look the other way while the rest of the Lords storm KL to oust Aerys.

HOWEVER. We do have these two branches here - Rhaena marries Bobby B., and Rhaena marries Ellario. In the Ellario situation, as I point out in other asks, a girl Rhaegar would be in Dorne, not in KL or anywhere in the Crownlands. Since there's no Stark maiden for Robert or Rhaegar to get fixated on, exactly what Aerys does is up in the air here, but we know from Jaime and JonCon's memories that Aerys was acting erratically, especially in regards to wildfire, long before Robert's Rebellion started. Now, there's no real reason for Robert to go so hard on hating Targaryens in this scenario BUT if Aerys makes KL kaboom? I do imagine there comes a question of "well is Rhaena going to go crazy too?" and there's a minor stand off between Dorne and the rest of Westeros. If Rhaena marries Bobby B., I think there's a chance that marriage is used to further push Robert's claim to the throne once Aerys finishes blowing shit up, considering Robert's grandmother, Rhaelle, is used to push him in canon.

IF Rhaella and Viserys live (let's say they still get sent to Dragonstone while Aerys is making wildfire), I think things get real dicey in either scenario. They'd need some sort of consensus in pushing Robert over Viserys, and Rhaena is not going to stand by and do nothing while people call for her mother and brother to be killed.

THE REAL JUICE is If Rhaena finds the prophecy as a young girl and starts obsessing over it and what it means. She’s going to be very determined to have children (or to make Viserys have children, perhaps?), bringing her fucked up Valyrian magic to a court that is probably very anti Valyria because Aerys just blew some stuff up, and Robert, if canon is anything to go by, is going to react violently to something like that. BUT. If she’s smarter - and she’d have to be, women cannot make mistakes the way Rhaegar can! - and plays up the “i want to give you a healthy heir” thing and isn’t as publicly focused on magic, that might be okay. It DOES change the political landscape a lot because, in a scenario where Aerys gets himself ousted, and Robert marries a Targaryen, they are….basically just a continuation of the Targaryen line, in a very real way that Robert/Cersei are not. In Dorne, however, Ellario I think more likely to be forgiving of weird magical obsessions, and Rhaena would likely have a long leash (so to speak) on obsessing, but with no real power to make her plans come to fruition. in either scenario, I do wonder if Rhaena doesn't try something fire and blood magicy and blow up another building the way Egg does Summerhall. If she does, and she survives, I think that's the final nail in the coffin of the Targaryens, who would have blown up THREE SEPARATE PLACES in the last, what, 2.5 decades? I think Robert could be convinced to just send all his dragonspawn to the Faith and start over with a less ridiculous, much more rich family, while Doran and Ellario have Rhaena held in Sunspear to keep an eye on her.

[atopvisenyashill]

Dead dudes club Anon: I meant that Tywin, Rickard and Hoster dies when their kids are still young leaving their wives as regents for their sons. Like let's say Tywin who doesn't lose his wife but is so worked up that he has a dwarf son that he ends up falling down the stairs and breaks his neck. Hoster could die in a hunting accident sometime after Edmure is born and Rickard ends up with some sort of illness after he and Lyarra have Benjen.

i would like to apologize in advance for my incessant use of em dashes in this post lol. okay even with some adjustments, you run into an issue here where-

steffon, aerys, tywin, rickard, AND hoster all die within a few years of each other, and that’s going to cause a mass conspiracy. i mean JUST jon arryn dying was enough to make the twins suspicious maybe he was onto them & that man was old as balls. nearly every lord paramount dying within a few years is soooo weird. “well doesn’t this essentially happen in canon” yeah because of the political unrest happening tho lol there’s a Reason for it.

there’s no way for steffon to die in the shipwreck and cassana to be regent because robert is already 16 at that point - remember he’s a few years older than the twins! and you can’t have cassana be regent without butterflying away renly bc he’s born 277 and they die in early 279.

also hey 🤧🤧 i did the math just right there on tywin!!! the defiance of duskendale happens in 277, so the twins were only 10-11, which means joanna is regent for a few years still.

we could easily kill rickard off in a wildling excursion but brandon is 20 when he dies in canon which means he’s been lord of winterfell for four-ish years so no matter what, lyarra isn’t the one calling the shots by the time ~the plot~ really starts. i figured it might work better if lyarra is at winterfell when rickard & brandon die bc even tho everything falls to ned next, having a grown adult as The Stark In Winterfell while ned is in the wind/in the vale is interesting - unlike benjen, Lyarra can lead troops into battle. If she had been regent, it’s likely Lyarra is at Riverrun with the Tully kids and Minisa for the wedding though, which could also be interesting and i suppose also gives her more of a chance to actually LEAD because we know it takes a minute for northerners to get past the neck - as robb says, they even wind up starting the war without half their force bc a bunch of the mountain clans couldn’t get there in time. but if lyarra is there for the wedding, that puts her in a position to lead. especially without aerys there to call the parents to court - i don’t think rhaella is going to pull a stunt like that.

i think hoster or rickard is the easiest to handwave murder off - hoster is always up to some shit and both the wildlings and skaagosi have historically picked fights with the north from time to time.

and regardless of alla that, rhaella is likely to seize the regency with tywin’s help anyway - tywin has already made a name for himself, is aerys’ friend, and tyrion won’t be born until 273, which is eleven years after jaehaerys ii dies.

most of my answer still stands here - rhaella is taking the throne with tywin by her side, and you can bet in the years between cersei’s birth & his death, he’s going to be pushing rhaegar/cersei as a match, something that will be in rhaegar & rhaella minds after he dies; either minisa or cassana are likely to be the architects of the southron ambitions plot alongside jon arryn, and that alliance is still going to cause problems for the crown when rhaegar loses his mind, because the moment brandon doesn’t get a straight answer about where lyanna is, Lyarra is probably going to use the northern host to start sacking cities and searching for her daughter (since she hasn’t been brought to the capital to burn by rhaella).

the biggest change here is probably the twincest. we know joanna knows about it early on BUT. tyrion’s birth is likely going to put her out of commission for a minute or two. he’s born in 273 so if we say she’s healthy enough to start moving around by 275 (which. omg these two idiots were really out here feeling each other up at the age of like 6 ajsjs 😭), i imagine she broaches the question of jaime’s marriage at this point, which is probably also when rhaella starts asking around for suggestions for rhaegar. if tywin dies after tyrion, i can’t see her fostering jaime out because he’s lord now and she’s the regent. if she catches them together again, it’s probably cersei she sends away - maybe to lannisport, maybe to the capital (with herself, and kevan stays at the rock to train jaime). even if we have tywin die at duskendale, at that point the twins are 11, and it probably amounts to the same - cersei is sent away while jaime stays home. once he’s closer to 16, she’s going to start talking about jaime marrying elia, and cersei Will attempt to sabotage this.

the canon event goes: jaime helps defeat the smiling knight -> jaime stops at KL to see cersei -> cersei tells him about the lysa betrothal & jaime joins the kingsguard. this tracks even with tywin dead - again, likely (imo) joanna and cersei go back to the capital once she’s healed, and there will be still be an opening on the kingsguard. cersei has also spent several years with rhaegar at this point - he would have married around 176ish, so Maybe they’re married to each other or maybe she’s a lady to his wife - and rhaegar no longer has to listen to rhaella. if cersei is like “heyyyyyy rhaegar, babyyyyyy” WELL….especially if CERSEI is married to rhaegar. but even married to someone else, i mean, the first step to making sure they’re together forever is to make sure HE can’t marry lol. it MIGHT not happen - jaime has spent the last several years not as heir but as LORD and he might take giving it up a bit more seriously But he might not! if this plan is foiled, you can bet joanna is not only asking loreza if elia and jaime can marry RIGHT NOW (IF rhaegar’s bride isn’t elia), she’s also going to do something drastic re: cersei. and like idk man what do you do if your kids won’t stop fucking? send cersei to be a septa? to the silent sisters? she might, if cersei isn’t married yet, get cersei married quickly and far away from jaime but if cersei marries rhaegar, well……she’s not foiling this plot, it’s happening for sure. so basically either cersei marries rhaegar & jaime is on the kingsguard OR cersei is lady to his wife, which Might still let her plan happen.