#the court and council of queen daenerys targaryen

[jedimaesteryoda]

Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow are somehow very much the image of their forebear Aegon V "Egg" Targaryen.

Egg is called the "Unlikely" for a reason. He was the youngest son of the youngest son, the trueborn grandson of Daeron II furthest from succession, yet he managed to become king. Daenerys likewise is a girl and an exiled, dispossessed royal with no lands, wealth or swords to her name at the start of the series, and by the end of the first book, lost her khal with seemingly nothing left. Yet, she manages to hatch dragon eggs and build an entire kingdom and army from the ground up. She is the exiled prince played straight. Jon is the supposed bastard son of Eddard Stark who joins the Night's Watch, yet he manages to rise to Lord Commander and could possibly become a king by the end of the series.

Jon and Dany both can relate to Egg with regards to relationships with his brothers. Daenerys had to deal with a half-mad abusive older brother in the form of Viserys while Egg was terrorized by his own half-mad sibling Aerion, and in the end, both their fraternal bullies ended up dying by fire. Jon had a good relationship with Egg's brother Maester Aemon, his fellow black brother who counsels him like he did Egg to the point he gives him the same advice of "kill the boy."

In "The Mystery Knight," the dragon egg at Whitewalls is believed to hatch a living dragon but it refers to Egg's maturation as he is unveiled as the Targaryen prince while Daenerys hatches living dragons eggs which connects to her maturation and rise.

(Note: Daenerys and Egg make their egg hatching attempts after having tragically lost their sons and spouses. Eg g and Jon both burned down places with Summerhall and Mormont's tower respectively.)

Connections are also found with physical transformation and taking on a new humble identity as a disguise under which the young prince learns about the trials of those less priveleged. Daenerys goes bald after hatching her dragon eggs, signifying her transformation from a weak, frightened girl to a "true Targaryen" just as Egg shaved off his hair to signify his transformation from Prince Aegon to Egg, squire to the hedge knight Dunk.

Aegon took on the guise of Egg as the squire to the common born hedge knight Dunk as he stayed away from royal court traveling the countryside. Daenerys grew up away from royal court in Essos always traveling from place to place while Jon (unwittingly) hides his Targaryen identity posing as Ned Stark's bastard son and rode with wildlings, associated with the smallfolk of the Night's Watch. Both Egg's descendants' views were impacted by their upbringing as Egg's was. Egg's years among the smallfolk gave him more sympathy towards them or as he was called "half a peasant" just as Jon was called "half a wildling" for having ridden with the wildlings and his upbringing as a bastard gave him more sympathy towards the marginalized along with good teachers. Daenerys's past as abused childhood growing up in poverty who sold into marriage made her sympathetic towards the slaves and children, the most marginalized and least protected members of society.

"Why do the gods make kings and queens, if not to protect the ones who can't protect themselves?" -ASOS, Daenerys III "I am the shield that guards the realms of men. Those are the words. So tell me, my lord—what are these wildlings, if not men?" -ADWD, Jon XI

Put into leadership roles as Jon is elected as Lord Commander and Dany becomes queen as Egg was elected King at the Great Council, the two show solidarity with the downtrodden as Egg did.

They face frustration in pushing through needed popular changes in face of reactionary opposition up to and including rebellions. Daenerys liberates slaves and supports their rights against the slavocracy, but faces opposition in the form of the Harpy and the Yunkish coalition as Egg supported the rights of smallfolk and faced opposition in the form of rebellions by the lords. Jon pushes for reforms such as naming a former prostitute as his squire and allying with the wildlings, but faces opposition in the form of Marsh's faction.

Daenerys and Jon are Egg's spiritual successors as they try to make the world a better place, and deal with realities of ruling and leadership.

[a-song-for-ages]

Down Bad

Mix of hotd series and the books idk maybe

Somewhat eventual willem blackwood fic (age gap of like 13?)

no beta we go down like canon jon snow (he's dead)

pronunciation of daenerys that is used: dy(die)-nair-ris

Summary:

Daenerys Velaryon sees her mother dressed as a nun and knows she's up to no good but decides to let the Queen do as she pleases without interfering. (If only all parents had such children.)

Pt. 1

"Mother," her voice was soft, and still, and it cut through the air like ice. There was no warmth in it, not when she seemed to walk upon on her mother and her dragon - the less sensible of the two dressed like a virginal woman of a Faith she had little love for.

"Di," her mother turned, hair spun like the silver of the moon and gold of the sun - a stark contrast to her own, the black of night, the image that brought upon her family the scrutiny of lesser men and hisses of poisoned vipers awaiting to strike - nevermind the colour of their eyes, so light, her own, so dark, her brothers, and yet, contrasting and complimenting that wine of her own mother's.

Daenerys supposed if she and her brothers were the Targaryen children of Jahaerys and Alysanne reborn again, there would have still been doubts of their parentage, regardless of any dragon born to them in the cradle, or not.

Daenerys also supposed that if Visenya Targaryen had to appear to court in her ashes and declare them legitimate, she would have been questioned. And oh, the poor soul who would dare to do so. Daenerys thought of the three Maesters slain by her son, upon their questioning of his right to rule from the Throne. Would they have rathered he hid in the shadows and rule as the Hightowers did, when her grandsire had turned old and frail, tended to by maesters of their own, sending no word of when he succumbed to death?

There was no word to describe what she felt.

Luke. Dead. Arrax. Dead. Grandsire. Dead. Visenya. Dead.

Dead, dead, dead... dropping like ashen leaves of a weirwood tree.

"I am only going for a... ride," the queen's confidence had slowly died upon her mouth as she noted the pitched black of her daughter's eyes. They were calculating, and cold, and predatory, assessing her the same way Rhaenyra assessed those she had yet to consider as enemy, or ally. A dragon anticipating a hunt.

"If you were, then you would be wearing riding leathers," she said coolly, a brow only raising as the darkness dimmed in her eyes. "But you are not." Then there was a slight tilt to her head, and oh, how Rhaenyra saw her own self in her daughter's stance.

Rhaenyra regained her composure, and stopped her fingers from caressing the cool silver of her rings, when her daughter continued to drawl.

"And while Syrax is so stubborn to have you come to her for a ride," she paused, the dragon trilling a song in the air at the mention of her own name, maw opening the slightest in what would have looked like a gum-filled smile of a child who had gained recognition for a silly act... save for the fact that from Syrax's gums, came came black sword-like teeth protruding straight into one another. "She has come to you."

"A farewell, then, perhaps," her voice was casual, and her shoulders were laxed, but Rhaenyra knew, if anything, her daughter's mind often contradicted what she showed on her body.

"But to where?"

Daenerys had then folded her arms over her chest, and lowered her chin and looked pointedly at her mother - as she did to Jace and Luke and Joffrey and Aegon and Viserys when they were caught mostly by her, trying and failing to do what only she could. (Silly things, Rhaenyra remembered, like stealing the marbled balls from the Council room of her father's... back in King's Landing, when they were so very young, and her father was hale as a horse.)

Rhaenyra shut her eyes and considered telling her daughter the truth, before she decided against it. The less that knew, the better... but that did not mean she would be any less honest to her daughter, who had a most unnerving ability to tell when someone was lying. (And mostly, in her youth, when those light eyes she seemed to get from Aemon Targaryen, if what Rhaenys said was true, would train themselves upon a person, it felt as if she was mostly seeing through them, not at them. It had unnerved Rhaenyra when little Di was a babe, but she slowly grew used to it, until she found herself hoping to hide a thing from someone... and then she would find those ghost eyes of her daughter set on her.)

"I cannot say," she said, swallowing indiscernably, "but I trust that you will keep the knowledge of my venturings to yourself -"

There was a slight smile on her daughter's lips, but it was so bare that Rhaenyra knew it could disappear as quick as a feather on the wind.

Her daughter only nodded, rolling her eyes as she, "So a fool's errand, then."

Rhaenyra pursed her lips, and flexed the hand to her side, breathing out and deciding, "Mayhaps we shall see... I will only know once this course has been taken and done with."

Daenerys did not look entirely convinced otherwise, but Rhaenyra trusted her daughter to keep her secret, as was the habit of theirs, protecting each other's, not as mother and daughter often did, but as something other. Like friends. Like sisters... if Rhaenyra was to have one that would be entirely hers, and not her father's or Alicent's or anyone else with whom she had to share with... then yes, that was what her daughter was to her... and Rhaenyra was never sorry for it. Neither was her daughter, who had only looked slightly annoyed, but accepting and trusting of what her mother had planned. Even if she didn't know the half of it.

Approaching her daughter, Rhaenyra took her cold hands and rubbed them warm, bringing her only daughter to look to her, now, a slight frown had made its way to her lips.

Rhaenyra hated seeing her daughter so displeased, and said, "I will be back before the week's end."

Daenerys's displeasure only grew, as she turned to look away from her mother, not entirely thrilled at whatever information her mother sought to hold from herself - from Jace. She knew once her mother's disappearance became known, he would be the most wroth of them all. And it would only be her who would have to deal with it (now that Luke... Rhaena, Joffrey, Aegon and Viserys were all gone.)

Rhaenyra pulled her daughter in for a tight hug, and Daenerys reciprocated, holding her arms tight round the stiff grey clothes of her mother, and laying her head on her chest. I hope you know what it is you are doing.

"Do not die," was all she said, and when Rhaenyra kissed her daughter on her forelock, Daenerys had pulled away the slightest, eyes larger than a full moon, and shining with worry for all the dangers that could possibly present themselves to her mother.

"Do not worry yourself," Rhaenyra said, smiling at her daughter as she caressed the side of her face. "I will not." And Daenerys seemed to relax in the slightest at that.

"Have Syrax take flight near wherever it is you are to go," Rhaenyra looked as if she were to consider contesting that advice, "or, as far as she can take flight without raising enemy alarms. If she should not do so, then I shall, though only she would know when your life is threatened."

Rhaenyra smiled at her daughter, holding her face in both hands now, and she said, "If this will ease your worry, then of course," and she kissed her daughter on the head, before turning to give Syrax a last look - the she-dragon crooned and shook her head as Daenerys would when she walked out from the sea, body soaking wet, eager to reach the warmer waters in her room...

Rhaenyra turned back to her daughter, and with one last touch of her palm on her cheek, she left.

Daenerys hadn't watched her mother walk away. She hadn't said any goodbyes... hadn't liked any of it, ever since both her fathers departed themselves from her life. (She remembers the many men she considered a father figure... let it be her own grabdsire, or the White Cloak Ser Harrold Westerling, who served her own mother from the time long before she was a babe. They were all either gone now, to the Stranger or Balerion or the Sea or the Roots of the earth, or so far from her that she could not hope to hear their breaths.)

Instead, the young princess looked on into the sapphire eyes of her mother's dragon, and only thought, 'You best protect her when the time calls for it,' which somehow managed to elicit a huff from the she-dragon, who stretched her wings and gave her one last look before she took flight.

No doubt, the dragon named after the Goddess of festivities and drink had seemed to say, 'As if I have not done that my entire life.'

And Daenerys smiled then, ever so slightly, the air around her cold, but the warmth in her palms providing some comfort to her.

[kingsanddragonsandgods]

⁂Early life:

Princess Visenya Targaryen of Runestone was born on the last day of the year 90AC, at her mother's ancestral home.

The newborn child was named after the Conqueror Queen, Visenya, by her father and anointed by holy oils seven days after her birth at the Sept-by-the-Sea in Runesport.

Queen Alysanne, who held the child during the ceremony is noted for having remarking that ‘the girl has all of Viserra’s beauty, but Alyssa’s temper’ to which the King is said to have answered ‘Gods be good’.

As Princess Visenya grew, her parents continued to battle, using the young girl as a pawn in their conflict, with both parents appealing to the King and Queen to take their side on occasion.

During her early years she grew especially close to her natural born brother, Orys Stone, the illegitimate son of Prince Daemon by Lady Rowena Royce, Lady Rhea’s older third cousin. The young boy was brought into Lady Rhea’s household in the year 90AC, following the passing of his mother.

From the age of five, her parents’ estrangement was permanent, with Prince Daemon returning to the Crownlands and Lady Rhea and their daughter remaining at the Vale. After royal intervention it was agreed that the Princess time was to be split between living in Runestone with her mother, and between the Red Keep and Dragonstone with her father, alternating during the seasons, summer and winter was spent on the Vale, while spring and autumn in the Crownlands, special celebrations were shared.

Her education appears to have been strict and somewhat old-fashioned, thus, in addition to her studies, Grand Maester Runciter notes in his journals, she was taught spinning and weaving and had an innate talent for weaving intricate tapestry. From the year 92 forward, Visenya, who had been betrothed to her newborn cousin, Prince Aerion, was expected to become Queen Consort, and her education reflected it. Her betrothed passed away in his cradle two years later, and Visenya was then betrothed to his newborn brother, Prince Aelor.

Her tutors at the time, Maester Adelin, Archmaester Vaegon and Master Petrarca of Volantis, regarded Princess Visenya as an extroverted, lively, highly intelligent, and strong-willed girl. Prince Daemon was reported to be proud of her horsemanship and marksmanship.

Because of her outstanding intellect, and his blunt favoritism, King Jaehaerys named Princess Visenya as his cupbearer in the Year 96AC, at the age of six.

The young princess often was allowed to discuss the classics, philosophy, and the affairs of state with ambassadors and envoys visiting the court of Jaehaerys. Moreover, she was personally acquainted with the painters, musicians, writers, and scholars who lived in and around the royal court.

Princess Visenya if often considered one of, if not, the best educated women of her generation.

The year 96AC marked another milestone for Princess Visenya: on the eight moon of the year, the young princess bonded and became the first rider of a she-dragon she named Huraxes. The same dragon that as a hatchling had been brought to Princess Daenerys Targayen. Huraxes had pearly scales and iridescent wing membranes, with pale and pinkish flames. The princess was allowed to bond with the she-dragons by royal decree after falling ill with a bolt of Spring Fever that nearly took her life.

Matches for Princess Visenya started being discussed by the Small Council, brought up by the Lord Hand. Thought Visenya was heiress to the largest fortress in the Vale and to the Ladyship of Runestone, it was argued that as she was a Princess of the Realm, the matter of her marriage was a prerogative of the King, which infuriated Prince Daemon, who at the time occupied the seat of Master of Law, the Grand Master agreed that such line of thought might anger the Vale, as the Princess was highly regarded by her people and her second cousin, the Lady Jeyne Arryn. Lord Corlys suggested his own son as a match for the princess, four years her junior, most likely to tie another dragonrider to his house. His Grace put down all talks of marriage for his niece, agreeing that such was the right of his brother and good sister to choose her match.

For the celebration of his niece's fifteenth nameday, the king ordered seven days of celebrations, with a tournament and grand feasts. The Queen's absence was noticed, excused as Her Grace was in the early stages of her final pregnancy, and Visenya was allowed to sit in the seat usually reserved for the consort; she was crowned Queen of Love and Beauty by the Dornish Ser Eldric Dayne, the Star in the Morning.

Since the Princess's return to court early in the spring of 104 AC, Visenya had caught the king’s eye, and it is reported that Viserys and his niece have become very close, spending hours each day in each other's company, promenading in the gardens, hunting in the Kingswood, and dancing together during feasts and balls.

The king is said to have spoiled his niece with lavish gifts, including presenting her with a manse in King’s Landing, a country estate crossing the Blackwater Rush and later a sea palace in the Reach.

⁂Marriage and Queenship:

After the death of Queen Aemma Arryn in the Year 105 AC, Princess Visenya, aged 15, became the 2nd wife and Queen Consort of her uncle, King Viserys I Targaryen. Their betrothal was announced a month following the queen’s passing, and a private ceremony was held three months later in Dragonstone.

It was a scandal at the time, as not only the King’s new marriage was announced a moon after the late queen’s passing in childbed, but it had also been rumored for some time that Viserys and Visenya had been lovers.

More salacious tales propagated by the fool Mushroom during the Dance of the Dragons tells of the princess sitting on her uncle's lap during feasts, kissing him shamelessly, and nibbling his fingers sensually as he fed her like a beloved pet; of the king fondling her breasts in public, and announcing to his courtiers that he and his niece would retire to make love. These have no contemporary support, with Septon Eustace calling such tales absurd and slanderous.

Over the matter of his marriage to his niece Viserys claimed that the marriage was in the public interest and ordered a grand celebration for the occasion of his new queen's coronation, to happen after the end of mourning period for Prince Baelon. Visenya was the first Queen Consort crowned in a separate ceremony from the reigning King. During the occasion the apparent advanced state of the queen's pregnancy caused a new wave of rumors that Visenya had been the King's mistress while the queen was still alive and that their child was conceived out of wedlock.

In their more than two decades of marriage, Visenya and Viserys had fourteen children, all survived into adulthood, something that the maesters attribute to the queen’s management of the nursery. Visenya’s role as a mother was glorified throughout the realm, their young new queen’s obvious fertility was seen, by the smallfolk and nobles alike, as both a bless from the Mother and a sign from the gods. With the birth of her twin girls, Princess Viserra and Princess Rhaelys, coins were issued, portraying her as the Mother, an allegory that would repeat itself many times for the remaining of her husband’s and son’s reign. If in her maidenhood, as a young princess, Visenya posed as a model for sculptures of the Maiden, in motherhood and queenship, she was now the Mother.

Although it was not the norm of the age, and in fact, apart from the late Queen Alysanne, no other queen receive such a honor, King Viserys granted Visenya a seat on his Small Council, leaning on her for advice on varied subjects due to his respect for her opinion and good judgment. She became a formidable figure with far-reaching influence during this time. According to some sources, her influence was such that Queen Visenya effectively ran the government alongside the Hand of the King.

In the year 115AC, around the time of her stepdaughter’s wedding to Ser Leanor Velaryon and in the years that followed, the Queen Consort started to work and put her own trusted people in ever higher positions to strengthen herself and her sons through them.

Visenya acted as her first husband’s regent after his health decline, sat in her eldest son’s war table following Viserys’s death.

⁂Personality:

Some historians have contended that to some extent she deserved her negative reputation propagated by her stepdaughter following the death of King Viserys I, despite the inaccuracies of the claims that she was sexually disreputable or regarding the legitimacy of her children, other criticisms of her were valid: she was ambitious, proud, obstinate, and masked her cunning behind a sweet-toned voice and flawless manners.

Princess Rhaenyra described her as a woman of reckless extravagance and wantonness, who seduced a grieving man, and whom the King nonetheless loved passionately and faithfully. It is widely known that those part of the Black Court of the Princess of Dragonstone took to call the queen ‘the King’s Great Whore’ and ‘Lady Concubine’, however always away from both the queen and the king’s ears as well as her supporters, further spreading the rumors of an extramarital affair while the late Queen Aemma still lived and questioning the validity of the legitimacy of their children. Despite rumors spread on her sons legitimacy supported by the queen's supposed lasciviousness, all of Visenya’s children resembled those of her lineage.

In her youth, Visenya was celebrated as ‘the most beautiful creature in the world’ and that there was ‘nothing lacking in her that the most beautiful girl should have’. Ser Alyn of Hull would reflect later in her lifetime that regarding her appearance ‘there were few women who could compete with the Queen in her prime’.

Visenya was fiercely independent, a trait she shared with her mother. Mellos described her as having ambitions to match her pedigree. However, Archmaester Gyldayn notes that Visenya was fully aware that a woman in Westeros could not hold power in her own right. Instead, Visenya orchestrated the rise of her sons.

Capable of acts of extreme ruthlessness, she, in contrast, was also able to demonstrate uttermost kindness and charity.

⁂Issue:

At four and thirty of age by the time of their weeding, Viserys was already considered in his middle age. The union however proved itself to be a happy one, and together they had 14 children, nine sons and five daughters.

Visenya had been taught the importance of receiving an education and came to play an extensive role in her children' education, resulting in the creation of a "superior breed of princes."

Queen Visenya was know to call her children her 'precious jewels', and took great pride in all of them, she was particularly close to the princesses Alyssa and Elaena, however it is said, that from all her children, her favorite was Prince Aegon.

edited on 11/04/2024

[untilmynextstory]

we're falling like stars

05. i'm such a fool to pay this price | Elia Martell x Brandon Stark

Summary: The past always nips at the heels of Rhaegar Targaryen

 Rhaegar Targaryen, the King of the Seven Kingdoms, was used to waking up to an empty bed and an even emptier chamber. He could count on one hand how many times he had woken up with his wife next to him in bed in the last 20 years. Despite being a dragon, Rhaegar had to grow accustomed to cold chambers, not from the lack of firewood and furs, but between him and his wife. 

Yet Rhaegar knew he had no right to voice discontent about the state of his marriage. After what he had done and the damage he had caused, he supposed he was lucky Elia managed to stand in his presence. 

Even after all these years, he didn’t know how Elia felt about his actions. He could make guesses and was sure he would be accurate enough in his predictions. Though his Queen would never confirm or deny, she remained dutiful. She never complained or showed any displeasure at the role bestowed upon her. 

Rhaegar wasn’t blind to the fact that his reign had started on the worst of foundations. He was acutely aware that the blame lay solely at his feet. 

The Lords who sat at his tables wouldn't tell him about his choices. Even those most loyal wouldn't dare speak anything untoward about him throwing the realm into chaos over a woman. No matter his intentions—noble or not—he had caused blood to water his realm. The people he had vowed to protect from his father's increasing madness and the Long Night, he had made them orphans and widows. Rhaegar was painfully aware of the consequences of his actions.

No one would speak these truths to him outside of his good brother Oberyn, but despite her status, there was no protection for his Queen of such words. Although he was sure, such insults paled to what his actions brought her. 

There were only so many tongues he could threaten to take. He didn’t want to turn into his father because of his actions. 

Yet his wife handled it with dignity. She never showed that she was bothered by their words or angry. His wife never raised her voice or hand at him when she had all cause to. Yet, the person whose anger surprised him the most was his mother. 

To this day, like Elia, she never requested an explanation. However, she made her anger—displeasure—known as soon as she returned from Dragonstone. His cheek still tingled from the force of her slap. It was the first time he truly saw the dragon in his mother, and unfortunately, their relationship had never recovered. 

His mother left the court shortly to find permanent residence on Dragonstone, raising his siblings, Viserys and Daenerys. He knew his mother had only stayed in King’s Landing during that first year of his reign for Elia and his children’s sake. 

He was surprised that his mother had accepted a temporary role on his small council during the first year. During those times, he felt his mother said more to him than one-word answers to things. 

Elia wasn’t like that. She still engaged like a proper lady wife in public. Behind closed doors, he had been waiting for the inevitable blow-up, but it never came. She did her duties as always with no air dissatisfaction. 

Then, he thought his marriage would implode once Elia had become pregnant with Mariah. It brought even more of a harsh reminder that all that he did was for naught. He had bled the realm for nothing. 

He remembered even his mother saying that if Elia had time to recover from her first labor with Rhaenys, things mightn’t have been so dire. Though he knew what his mother was saying beneath her words, the men in their family bled the woman for heirs. 

Though he could say Mariah’s birth was never intended, he truly never expected to have another child with Elia. Sure, most of the reasoning came from the Maesters' predictions, but because of what happened with Lyanna, he would ignore the Maesters' disclosing that they made another batch of moon tea for his wife. 

And Rhaegar wasn’t a fool by any means; in the first year, he never sought his marriage bed with Elia. He wasn’t under any illusion that he would be welcome in her bed even if she would do her duty without complaint. 

Rhaegar may be many things - foolish being the highest - but he wouldn’t force his wife, especially knowing what his father did to his mother. 

Physical intimacy was never an issue in his marriage. He knew the realm considered him bookish, and he wasn’t one for brothels. Rhaeger wasn’t pious by all means, but he was a man. He was - is -  attracted to his wife. 

However, after the year of abstinence, he had sought her bed. She didn’t reject him. And he wasn’t blind to the fact that the enthusiasm wasn’t the same, but she seemed to accept his advances. However, he was painfully aware that she never went out of her way to initiate. So their coupling wasn’t a lot, but enough for Mariah to be born. 

Rhaegar didn’t know how to feel when Elia had told him and watched as her stomach became more pronounced. He didn’t know how to handle that this pregnancy could bring his wife’s death or the fact in his darkest thoughts that Elia was always meant to be the mother of his three heads. 

Then, he felt he was in a pool of regrets as he thought about what he had put Lyanna through. He could admit he was fond of the Stark girl. She was wild and spirited. And he had convinced himself he needed Ice for his fire. She wanted out of her betrothal with Robert, and he needed a third head. He didn’t love her despite what the songs proclaimed. In fact, after the birth of the third child, he never planned on seeing the Stark girl. 

Maybe it was cruel of him, but Lyanna was a means to an end. He was sure that Lyanna would state the same. He had only heard from the Stark girl once since he had married her to his friend Jon Connington. He knew there was no love in that marriage, but considering the North’s reactions to Lyanna’s actions and most of the realm, she deserved a peaceful life. 

He knew his friend wasn’t happy with the arrangement, yet he thought there was some contentment in the relationship. The few times Jon spoke of his wife, he would detail that she mainly spent time outside the castle hunting and riding. Jon wasn’t a man to bestow praise often, but he would highlight that Lyanna did her duty well as the Lady of Griffin’s Roost. 

Though he imagined ripples in his friend’s marriage despite his residence being in King’s Landing when it was time to announce Elia's pregnancy to the realm, he saw it in how Jon would look at him. Yet, Rhaegar felt it was more betrayal to Elia to think or consider Lyanna’s actions or feelings, especially when he hadn’t seen Elia so happy since she had told him that she was pregnant with Rhaenys. 

And with this pregnancy, she did have a healthy glow he hadn’t seen from his wife outside of the glimpses she would show him when they were in Dorne or her brothers. He had thought that maybe this pregnancy would be the thing to bridge them together. He thought, in some ways, it did. He felt more present with the pregnancy than with his oldest two children. 

He accompanied Elia to all her appointments, and even his mother returned from Dragonstone to be with his wife. 

At birth, Rhaegar had never been so terrified for the fate of his wife. He knew the birthing bed wasn’t easy for any woman. However, with Elia’s health, it was even more precarious. He remembered all the blood and Elia’s pale skin after Rhaenys' birth. Elia’s frail grip in his hand as she struggled to open her eyes. She had assured him the birth wasn’t too much for her despite the battlefield her birthing bed looked like. 

However, the severity of the birth wouldn’t be evident until afterward. Elia had been too weak to walk and was bedridden for almost half the year. However, a part of him felt that her recovery was affected by the fact their firstborn wasn’t a son. 

At Aegon’s birth, Elia was placed in confinement once the swelling of her stomach became pronounced. Their marriage was shaky after the Tourney, and Elia never mentioned how she felt as she focused on the pregnancy. He didn’t want to upset her, and he found himself in the ancient scrolls that belonged to his family or writing his Uncle Aemon. 

He had expected the long labors and the looks of pity at Mariah's birth, though her birth had been the quickest and easiest. It was sudden. Elia had an intense craving for dragon peppers and had been snacking on them when her labors came. She wasn’t able to make it to her chambers as she gave birth in the middle of the godswood in front of the oak imitation of a weirwood tree. 

He remembered rushing down to the woods and seeing Ser Jamie try to preserve her modesty as a woman giving birth could have. But Mariah, in all her screaming glory, was there in her arms. Elia had the biggest smile as she held their daughter tightly. 

And Mariah was her mother’s image from the midnight hair and skin tone. She was practically Rhaenys’ twin, except while his oldest daughter inherited his purple eyes, Mariah was born as the embodiment of her mother’s homeland. 

And Mariah was the child he was closest to, and he feared the day the illusion of him would shatter in her eyes as it did for Rhaenys and Aegon. 

He could clearly remember when Rhaenys discovered what he had done to Elia. No longer was she the firstborn who always wanted to receive hugs or any of his affection. She no longer tried to be a presence in his small councils. 

He could see the betrayal his daughter felt, or maybe it was always there. She had done her best to bury it as her nightmares did return. Her screams echoed through the Red Keep. Rhaegar didn’t remember Rhaenys ever having trouble sleeping. His little girl was known to fall asleep in his lap. Aegon had always been the more fussy babe. His son had always preferred the comfort of his mother versus him. 

Yet, with the return of Rhaenys's nightmares, Elia had told him the truth. That night, when the keep was attacked, Rhaenys had screamed for him. Considering the damage to his family quarters, he knew she had hidden under his bed. He didn’t know about her terrors because Elia had her daughter in her bed. She would stay up all night trying to console their little girl. 

If he were honest with himself, even as he returned to the Keep, Rhaenys would fight for his attention. When she truly needed something, she never asked for him. Only Elia could wipe her tears. 

He watched as his daughter put the pieces of his betrayal together. He thought she was a dragon shedding her skin as she replaced the prominent sigils and reminders of his house with her mother’s. 

She had donned Dorne's traditional garments, which reminded him of Elia when he first met her all those years ago, before their betrothal, when he visited Dorne. 

His son was harder to read. Aegon had always been a boy who could laugh easily, especially compared to him. Sometimes, he felt his son had inherited his Uncle Oberyn’s temperament. His son knew how to read people—he could charm them like a viper, though he was dutiful. He knew what his role was in their family. He took his studies seriously and soaked every lesson he tried to give along with the small council. Rhaegar wanted to prepare his son for his role as King - something his father never did for him. 

It filled him with pride as he watched his son, as a cupbearer, learn how decisions for the realm were made. And when Rhaenys had figured out the truth, Aegon didn’t shout or show disdain as visible as his sister. 

Even when he tried to pull his son aside, Aegon gave him a dismissive smirk and shrugged him off. 

And how could Rhaegar defend himself when he swore he would never bring up the prophecies to his children? How could he defend himself from the songs sung of forbidden love between him and Lyanna when there wasn’t love? It was all a transaction. 

He remembered wanting Elia or his mother to help him figure out these murky waters of parenthood he was sailing in, but it was his burden alone. 

When the door is opened without an announcement, his thoughts are broken. At first, he thought it was one of his wife’s maids, but he knew they would knock. Instead, he found himself looking into the eyes of his youngest daughter, looking mischievous. 

If his daughter is thrown off by his presence in her mother’s chambers, she doesn’t show as her feet patter further into the room. 

“Morning, Kepa.”

A smile graced his lips. Mariah was only up early in the morning if she was in the middle of one of her plots. She walked further into the room, and her eyes scanned for her mother before she climbed onto the bed. Rhaegar thanked the gods he had the foresight to place his trousers back on before he fell asleep. 

He pressed a kiss to her cheek. He inhaled the smell of oranges that clung to her skin. She wanted to smell like her mother; she had declared loudly in the keep when anyone asked her about the perfume she was wearing. 

“You’re up early.”

“It’s time to eat!” She announced. “Where’s Muna?”

As if the Seven summoned her, his wife appeared from her chamber, already dressed for the day. Rhaegar can’t help but feel disappointed about not sharing a bath. 

“I’m right here, love,” Elia replied softly. 

 She had chosen to wear more traditional Dorne clothing, which was more appropriate to the heatwave they were experiencing. Her long hair was in a very loose bun, and her gold hair clips were interwoven strategically. 

However, despite knowing the castle is filled with guests, she is dressed more elaborately to break fast with those he assumes are only him and their children. 

“Plans this early in the morning?” He knew he didn’t hide his slight bitterness from his voice and the look Elia gave him. 

“I want to ensure the kitchens are good and all the guests are okay.”

“And which guests will you be dining with?”

“I was planning on breaking fast with the Royces from the Vale. I also heard that Lord Stannis Baratheon and his wife are in attendance.”

Rhaegar can’t hide his wince. He felt as if his past was always nipping at his heels. He knew there was no point in dwelling on things out of his control. Instead, he pressed a kiss to his daughter's head. “You behave for your mother now, okay.”

Rhaegar sighed as he felt a headache forming behind his eyes. He truly didn’t enjoy tourneys, but he did appreciate that they could bring the realm together peacefully—for the most part. It was nice seeing the Houses he usually didn’t interact with, and he loved seeing how the smallfolk could enjoy the festivities, especially since it had been so long since he ventured into Flea Bottom to perform songs and drink with them. 

He knew now, as the King, Ser Barristan would not allow such a thing to happen, nor would any of his Kingsguard. 

But he would prefer to be in the Flea Bottom than have to listen to a poor attempt of some lord trying to plead their case for a betrothal to one of his children. 

However, he could appreciate some of these minor houses being so bold with their proposals. However, it seemed it would be all for naught as he watched his oldest daughter—using her younger sister—mingle with the men from the North, in particular Brandon Stark’s only son, Robb Stark. 

Rhaegar could admit he didn’t know how he felt about that. His council—notably Jon—always voiced that he needed to intervene or address the North’s treatment of the Crown. As much as Rhaegar always valued Jon’s advice and appreciated that even his wife, a woman of the North, did not impact his views, his friend didn’t have the delicacy of handling this. 

Rhaegar was more than aware that the force of the North that Ned had brought carried the weight of their victories during the Rebellion. Despite the Riverlands having the numbers, the North was a brute, strong force simply because they lived in harsh conditions. The North was his largest kingdom. He knew that even the Warden had trouble keeping them contained. He also knew they didn’t have a full revolt because of Brandon. 

As much as Brandon did not like him, he kept the Northmen in line, keeping the fires cool on another rebellion. Rhaegar also knew that if anyone wanted a Rebellion, people would seek the North as allies. It didn’t help that Dorne, another independent kingdom, had ties to the North through the marriage between Ned Stark and Ashara Dayne. 

Rhaegar knew that, unlike last time, Dorne would not let Elia be used to keep them complacent. However, he would never allow that to happen again. 

But Rhaegar wasn’t blind to the hostility that Brandon felt towards him. He knew that the Warden of the North didn’t even talk to his sister once he had been released from the Black Cells and was given the truth. 

Rhaegar had thought that fighting Robert had been a terrifying moment. His cousin was radiating with fury as he swung his favored war hammer. Rhaegar still had nightmares that his blood and rubies stained the Trident. 

He knew Brandon would have called for combat if he hadn’t been weak and malnourished from the black cells. He believed the only thing that kept the man from fanning more flames was Ned telling him about the newborn son who was heir to their house, motherless and needing a father. 

Rhaegar knew he had to thank Ned a lot for being the envoy for Northern matters. Yet, he knew Ned was a son who didn’t crave war. He just wanted his family whole. With Ned being married to Ashara, Elia was part of that family now—his children were dear to Ned and his family, so Ned cared more that their children didn’t have to go through a war like they did. 

It was clear that the North held no love or allegiance to him. 

It made him think of the whispers of an alliance Rickard Stark had been forming with the marriages to the South. It had been part of why he had secretly sponsored the Tourney at Harrenhal. As much as the North did not care for the flowery words of the South, it didn’t put them above politicking. So Rhaegar was curious about why the Warden would encourage interactions between their children outside to vex him. 

He had thought of betrothing his daughter to Ned’s oldest son, Jon, yet he had seen how the boy was utterly transfixed by his younger sister, Daenerys. In the few words spoken to him by his mother, she had even brought up that they planned to visit the Starks of Moat Cailin, especially as it had been some time since his mother had been able to see Ashara. Every visit was missed due to Ashara’s pregnancies. 

Rhaegar sighed. He was tired of thinking about marriages and didn’t want to think about becoming a grandparent so soon. 

He brightened at the sight of his wife returning to her seat. He thought his wife looked even more radiant as she aged. He stood to move her chair and took her by surprise as he briefly kissed her lips. 

It was improper, especially for their station, but he didn’t mind as he heard a few sighs and awes from the crowd. 

Yet, he felt cold grey eyes in their direction that he elected to ignore. 

He couldn’t hide his surprise when Doran approached him, stating that Brandon Stark wanted a meeting between them before the dinner feast. Rhaegar wanted to remove the crown from his head and spend time with his youngest. He was eager to hear what she had done with her day, especially since there was no report of a prank she had set off or of the guards panicking about her sudden disappearance. 

Yet, if Brandon was requesting an audience, it had to be important. 

Only requesting Arthur’s presence, he followed his brother-in-law to the Small Council room where Brandon Stark was already waiting with Prince Lewyn, keeping the man company. 

Brandon did stand but didn’t bother with a bow, “Your Grace, Prince Doran.”

“Is everything okay, Lord Stark?” Rhaegar asked, choosing to ignore his fellow Warden's lack of courtesy. 

“Us Northmen endure,” the man responded as they sat. 

Rhaegar kept his face blank as he eyed the man. Like their winters, the Northerns were always considered harsh, brash, and barbarous. He could see where those descriptions would come from, considering the man wasn’t slim and slender like in the South. Even without their fur cloaks, men such as Brandon made imposing figures. He remembers seeing Brandon back in full health when he came down to the Tourney for Mariah’s birth. Unlike Ned, Brandon was the same height as him, and Rhaegar knew that Brandon would be a challenge from strength alone. He recalled Prince Lewyn mentioning that Brandon was fierce with a sword after a trip Elia had come from in the North. 

However, he watched as a friendly smile graced the man’s lips. He remembered that smile at the Tourney in Harrenhal as the man greeted other noblemen. 

“I requested this meeting to put forth an opportunity to join our houses,” Brandon started. 

Rhaegar felt his heart hammering in his chest. Brandon only had one child - a son. He couldn’t imagine his child - his firstborn so far away. 

“You never cared for anything below the Neck, and now you are offering marriage between my oldest niece and your son?” Doran replied as words failed him. 

“I know with all your plotting, you fear another rebellion, particularly in the North,” Brandon stated harshly. ‘Besides it to assuage doubts of loyalty to the crown. My son and Princess Rhaenys seem to get along fine. I don’t see any harm in the match.”

“You mean outside that you have no respect for the Crown,” Doran answered. 

Brandon looked affronted. “I have respect for the Queen and all of her children. Prince Lewyn can attest to the hospitality all Northerners gladly give to our Queen.”

“Except for me,” Rhaegar said, finding his voice. “What is to say about your detest for me won’t bleed over to my daughter. Or what of your bannerman.”

He watched as Brandon’s eyes turned cold, as he had imagined the Wall was. “If you forget, my wife was of Southern blood. Sure, some will be unhappy, but they also know that without our Southern neighbors, our winters would be even more harsh.”

“It sounds like you should be courting someone from the Reach rather than the capital,” Rhaegar retorted. He didn’t miss the look Doran threw him or Lewyn. 

A cruel smirk crossed Brandon’s face. “Prince Doran, I would like to formally apologize for the role the North played in the disrespect they showed towards your homeland. In all these years, I realized the North hadn’t fixed that error, and I hope to provide some remedies.”

Rhaegar could tell even the stoic Doran was taken aback by Brandon’s words. Rhaegar didn’t think that Doran or Oberyn had forgiven him for his role in the rebellion. Doran may sit on his council and provide great words of wisdom, but he knew underneath Doran’s amenability, he would never forget his slight towards his sister. He knew Oberyn was only cordial due to Elia’s interference. 

In fact, the wound of the rebellion was never really dealt with between him and Doran, and now, sitting with Brandon and Doran, maybe he made a mistake by not laying things bare for him to face his judgment. 

“From my understanding, Lord Stark, you had no role or done any ill-will to my kingdom.”

“But my blood did,” Brandon countered. “And as much as the North suffered, the actions of my blood left a mother and her children defenseless and innocent Dornish blood to be spilled.”

Doran looked taken aback by his words. “Lord Stark -”

“Enough!” Rhaegar shouted. Of course, Brandon looked thrilled at receiving such reactions. “Don’t forget, I am your King.”

“So was your father.”

Rhaegar rose, but Doran, being of reason, took control of the room. Rhaegar didn’t miss Prince Lewyn's hand on the man’s shoulder. It wasn’t one of warning but of comfort - commodory. “Please, let’s compose ourselves as the men of our stations should reflect. We are not children squabbling in the sand.”

Rhaegar huffed. “If this is your way of starting a marriage negotiation, you are doing a rather poor job.”

Brandon ignored him. “I would have Robb fostered in Sunspear until the wedding. Sunspear is closer to the capital, and it would give the two time to get to know each other. In addition, Dorne and the North are similar in holding their culture and customs sacred; I believe we could find more common ground. That said, I would like to send men to learn to fight in the sands, and in return, I could host men as well to learn to combat the cold. The only thing I truly ask for is lots of sand to make more glass gardens and for the marriage to occur under the Old Gods in Winterfell.”

Doran was quiet as he took in Brandon’s words. Never had a marriage between the North and Dorne for a major house.  They were two of the most independent Kingdoms the realm had, and both were known to resist dragons. 

“Seems like you are negotiating with Dorne rather than the bride’s father,” Rhaegar countered pointedly. 

“To be blunt, your Grace, what do the Crownlands have to offer the North? All your goods come from the kingdoms supporting you. Besides, my son marrying your daughter binds us to your house - your dynasty.”

“And if I say no?”

“Pity, the Queen seemed agreeable to the match as your Princess.”

“You spoke to the Queen about this?” 

Rhaegar watched as the man closed his mouth. “We did.”

He tried to recall if Elia ever mentioned such a conversation with the Lord, but she didn’t. In fact, outside of saying that Ned had shown up with his two sons, it only meant her lamenting that Ashara couldn’t attend with their two daughters. He briefly recalled her mentioning that Ned was delayed as Ned and Ashara’s youngest daughter, Arya, had tried to hide in the wagons being brought down. 

There was no conversation about her talking with Brandon Stark about marriage of all things. 

Rhaegar stood, causing Doran and Brandon to stand as well. “I will think about your offer, Lord Stark; you shall have my answer before the end of the Tourney.”

Rhaegar wouldn’t classify himself as a jealous man, or he tried not to. He was aware of the privilege of being the Crown Prince provided him, even with a fanatic father, as he had. People always seemed to forget that his father’s decline mentally didn’t exasperate until his capture at Duskensdale. He wondered if Ser Barristan Selmy regretted saving his father. 

Yet, he didn’t indulge in jealousy. He also never experienced jealousy, especially regarding his wife. 

He never questioned Elia’s loyalty to him, especially at the beginning of their marriage. Despite how dismissive the Lords and nobles were of Dorne or his wife’s features, he knew beneath their words they would not hesitate to offer themselves to his wife for pleasure and the opportunity to ruin her reputation. 

He knew eyes coveted what he had when his wife would wear her more traditional garments to court. After all, despite three pregnancies, his wife had retained her slim figure, and with this last pregnancy, Mariah had caused her legs, butt, and breasts to fill out even more. This pregnancy had caused Elia to look healthier than she did at 24. 

He knew Dorne was more open with their sexuality and sexual freedom. He knew his wife didn’t feel distaste for things that the Seven frowned upon, given her brother’s broad of bastards. 

Yet, with everything he had done, would his wife seek comfort from another man or woman?

He had to admit his wife had very loyal handmaidens. He believed even someone like Varys had trouble keeping an eye on his wife. Even then, his Queen had a court, and he knew they were carefully selected. He knew each woman would never betray their Queen’s trust. He knew that they would keep any of his wife’s affections she held for another close to their chest.

Yet, he wondered if she did. 

He knew she noticed his behavior at the table as she tried to engage in conversation with well-wishers. Again, she did not mention correspondence between her and Stark. 

It made him think about all her trips North. He knew she would mention his presence a few times, but not enough for him to believe that Brandon would go out of his way to speak with her. He felt any interactions Brandon would have with his wife would just be vexing to his King. 

After all, he was aware of Brandon’s reputation when he was younger—heard about many of the maidenheads he had taken from Lyanna’s lips. 

He could imagine the Wild Wolf of the North attempting to flirt and show affection to his wife. After all, how else could the man pay him back without starting a war? 

The Targaryen king didn’t leave his seat even as Mariah begged to speak with the Starks again. He observed silently as his wife was dragged by their daughter's hand to the table containing the Northmen. Rhaenys followed shortly afterward and sat next to Robb Stark. He watched with bated breath as the two stood after receiving a nod from Elia, with Ser Jaime following. 

He took a long sip of his wine as he focused on Elia speaking with Brandon, their daughter between the two of them. Gone was the confrontational man he had spoken with hours ago, and instead of a man entertaining his young daughter. 

Gone was the propriety of a princess as the girl stood up from her bench and howled like an infamous dire wolf. Brandon was laughing before he joined her and was scolded by their Queen. He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him as Brandon and Mariah held a similar smirk of accomplishment. It was the impish look he had seen so many times he had debated if his daughter would become the incarnate Rogue Prince Daemon Targaryen. Maybe it wasn’t a dragon within his daughter, but a wolf. 

His belly filled with dread. 

Elia would never. It was wrong of him even to entertain such a notion. Even with all he had done to her, Elia would never be so cruel. Because of his sins, he knew better than to entertain such vicious thoughts. His mother had told him he was a fool for following fickle prophecies—a fool whose price almost cost him his family. 

While Elia had their daughter in her lap, Brandon’s cool gaze met his, the bastard had the nerve to smile. 

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[witchthewriter]

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐞𝐧

ESTP

Slytherin

Chaotic Neutral

Aries Sun, Scorpio Moon, Sagittarius Rising

The eldest daughter of Prince Aegon and Princess Rhaena Targaryen, she had a younger twin sister, Rhaella. They were the spitting image of each other.

When she was a young child, Aerea's personality was shy, introverted, timid and very sensitive. She was constantly overcome with tears, bed-wetting and fear. Almost everything scared her; horses, dogs, boys with loud voices, men with beards, dancing and on the top of that list - dragons (according to Grand Maester Benifer.)

After the coronation of her uncle Jaehaerys, Aerea had turned into a rambunctious, quick-witted and adventurous girl. Spending half her days in the kennels, stables and dragonpit.

This led to rumours that Aerea had switched places with her twin-sister Rhaella. Who was a novice at the Starry Sept in Oldtown.

Afterwards, she was forever known as willful, stubborn, and bold. According to Lord Rogar Baratheon, she had a "fire" in her. Archmaester Gyldayn likewise described her as a "fiery young girl".

When she was eight, Aerea reportedly loved horses and would later say that the time she spent working in the stables of the Red Keep were the happiest years of her life.

It was the whole of the Red Keep that Aerea loved. She adored the excitement, the colour and attention she received as the King's heir. Before her ninth birthday, she became the leader of a pack of young girls who terrorized the Red Keep.

However, her mother Rhaena, sent for her to return to Dragonstone. During her time there, she became a 'terror'. Defying her septa, mother and maesters, abusing her servants, and insulting others.

Aerea was eager to return to the royal court, and it is said that she counted the days until she could mount a dragon and fly away.

Rhaena introduced her daughter to the many dragons on Dragonstone, wanting to make her feel comfortable. In 53 AC, Aerea was finally replaced as the heir of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen when Queen Alysanne gave birth to Princess Daenerys. Aerea was not happy with being replaced. This only brought more terror to the island.

Aerea's only friend on Dragonstone was her mother's companion, Elissa. When she left, after Elissa's brother (married to Rhaena) had murdered practically everyone on the island in revenge, Queen Alysanne (Rhaena's younger sister) visited to bring her condolences and comfort in person.

In the months afterwards, Queen Alysanne visited the island to give comfort to her sister and niece. Enraged, Aerea rejected the queen, stating that she did not care the women were all dead.

To her aunt, the Queen, she readily voiced her anger about being replaced as heir as well as deep hurt that her mother had placed a dragon egg in Alysanne's cradle, but had done nothing for Aerea but give her away as a young child.

And so, Aerea begged her aunt to take her back to King's Landing, but her mother denied the request. Even though the Queen of Westeros had asked, Rhaena still denied her. That night, Aerea and her mother fought with much anger. After that, Aerea refused to speak to Alysanne.

Within a year or so, Aerea disappeared from Dragonstone; she had claimed Balerion, flying away on him, the same dragon who had killed her father.

Her mother believed she had returned to King's Landing, but upon arrival found that she had not been seen. Ravens were sent to all the lords of the Seven Kingdoms. There was no sign of Aerea. Anywhere. Even though Rhaena travelled everywhere, trying to find her daughter.

King Jaehaerys began to fear she was dead; he told his small council that Balerion had likely thrown her off his back. Surprisingly, Septon Barth disagreed, citing that Balerion would likely have returned to his lair on Dragonstone if he had suddenly been without a rider.

Aerea and Balerion were missing for more than a year.

In 56AC, a severely ill Aerea clinging to the back of Balerion, landed in King's Landing. Reports say she was unrecognizable. Stick thin, barely wearing clothes, hair a tangled matted mess. Her eyes were bloody.

She choked out, "I never," and then collapsed.

Aerea was carried to Grand Maester Benifer by Ser Lucamore Strong of the Kingsguard.

Maester Benifer quickly worked on Aerea in his chambers with Septon Barth, who had been summoned to administer the rites for dying.

Only those two men saw her last hours; the maester forbade all others, including the king and queen, from entering. Benifer gave the sickly young woman milk of the poppy, and immersed her in an ice bath to reduce her fever.

As the sun set, Septon Barth announced Aerea dead. She was cremated the next day at sunrise.

To the world, it was said that Aerea died of a fever - only partially true. Ser Lucamore said that the princess's fever was so hot that he could feel it through his armor. She had blood in her eyes and her body had "something inside her, something moving", the knight said, until the king forbade him from speaking of the princess.

Benifer left no account of Aerea's death, but according to an account in Barth's private papers, Aerea's fever was one unlike anything he had seen before. The septon described her as burning, with a red skin and having barely an ounce of flesh upon her bones, appearing gaunt and starved.

The origins of the creatures that lived inside Aerea are unknown. Barth speculated that Balerion, not Aerea, had chosen their destination; as likely the only living creature in the world that had known Valyria before it was destroyed in the Doom, Balerion had returned home, where accursed creatures as those found inside Aerea now lived.

A raven was sent to Queen Rhaena on Estermont, but by the time it arrived Aerea had already been cremated. Rhaena traveled to the Red Keep, where she took possession of her daughter's ashes. Although King Jaehaerys offered to have the ashed interred on Dragonstone with other Targaryens, Rhaena stated that Aerea had hated Dragonstone, and had wanted to fly. She took Aerea's ashes into the sky upon Dreamfyre and scattered them "upon the winds".

Following Aerea's death Balerion became the first dragon to reside in the Dragonpit, guarded by the new Dragonkeepers. Barth began studies that caused him to write Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns.

[omaegorverse]

could you give us a timeline for the omaegorverse? i've been studying the family tree for a solid 3 days now (genuinely a few hours a day it's becoming a problem) and i need to know more. oh beloved oracle satisfy my craving for insane asoiaf aus tell me moreeee

OK listing the history below seperated by kings

have maegor era from the 40s to 66 AC, peak omegafication dark evil era everyone's a little scared. several harsh long winters. jaehaerys viserra daenys born. getting raised poorly. jaehaerys is beaing beat, viserra is the golden child, daenys is viserys' comfort doll. maegor has cemented his rule and has rhaena on his side through hostages.

jaehaerys i era 66 through 92. got leadership beat into him by maegor. viserra is gotten herself kicked out of the westerlands (married into the lannisters, killed her husband and his mother to have blood magic twins, pissed everyone off) and is now girlbossing through the riverlands married into harrenhal. in 77AC viserys and daenys do a dragon dream murder suicide at the god's eye. jaehaerys has six kids with his wife maris hightower. she kills him cos his dick led him to hole (a hightower bastard) which led to their daughter dying (the bastard convinced him to wed their daughter maegelle to lord hightower).

aegon ii 92 AC through 99 AC. in his mid-twenties when he ascends to the throne. his reign is mostly marked by a civil war between him and his twin brother aerion, mostly over their sister helaena who aerion kidnapped (helen of troy.) they both die fighting above dragonstone.

viserys i 99AC through 120AC. DYNASTIC CRISIS after aegon dies because one of aegon's wives (daenaera velaryon) locks herself and her children (including aegon's heir) in dragonstone and a great council decides on aegon's brother viserys inheriting as king regent. marked by aegon's other wife jocasta lannister's consolidation of power to back the inheritance of her sons with aegon over daenaera's. also marked by viserys' insane wife alyssa arryn going ham with a priestess of r'hllor

120-128 PRINCESS REGENT DAENERYS TARGARYEN. she swoops into power as regent for aegon's descendants via daenaera in order to curb jocasta lannister. pretty good queen. more jocasta power-grabbing, + her son jaehaerys

128-136 aegon's grandson daeron i turns 14 and asks his great-auntie dany for the throne back please. he's a bit sheltered and is here for glory doesnt care much for rule or power. does a dorne conquest, assassinated by jaehaerys who, while daeron was doing war, had been consolidating allies at court. jaehaerys killed daeron while daeron was at his peace wedding with the princess of dorne. red wedding teehee. all secret of course, officially it was dornish rebels who wanted to stay independent but like everybody knows it was jaehaerys

136-144 jaehaerys ii son of aegon ii finally gets his throne. has like two dozen kids. originally his faith wife was alysanne tully and his blood wife was aerea bastard daughter of helaena and aerion, but aerea died and he remarried to viserys i's blood magic baby alysanne targaryen. has several concubines. his kids are a powder keg and he gets JFK'd by his daughter elaena, whom aerea died birthing

144-147 short reign of aegon iii. his elder brothers viserys and maegor were also JFK'd and he was stuck with the throne. hamlet if his dad was claudius. his younger brothers aemond and aerys cause problems for him. dies of over-exhaustion trying to solve the JFK mystery and also rule the seven kingdoms and deal with his horrible little brothers

147-184 reign of aerys i targaryen. religious fanatic groomed by the faith in love with his half-sister. his reign is marked by sharp shift towards faith of the seven. in 168 the faith pretty much fully wrest control from him (aerys' bastard nephew hugor via prince aemond siezes power and becomes high septon) and convince him to set up the 'faith protectorate' which makes him something like a constitutional monarch and puts the faith devout in control. his reign is marked by civil war. the north secedes in 161 AC, dorne is ruled by daeron i's sister daena who is masterminding rebellion, and the hightower declares war on the high septon and aerys which yes sounds insane but theres reasons. aerys ends up deposed by his son daeron. also the faith protectorate and aerys actually do a lot of pro-peasant stuff and removing power from nobles and thats a lot of the reason why they rebel.

184-204 reign of daeron ii. daeron is the third son of aerys and after an attempt to rescue his sisters from the maidenvault (yeah i had aerys make a maidenvault. aeyrs i baelor on steroids) got sent to a septry in the stormlands but his mother snuck him out and into dorne where daeron i's sister daena is wed to the prince of dorne. goes to war with his father and wins, forces him to abdicate. reign marked by fixing his father's mistakes and getting beat up by remnants of the protectorate loyalists. his wife gets merked and he gets domed but survives with some brain damage. his son baelor mercy kills him

204- reign of baelor the bloody. son of daeron who gets his epithet when aged 9 he kills some assassins/rebels when they attack the red keep. doing his reign and family now so its iffy, but he's married to rohanne martell the rosy dawn epic queen. cheats on her with a twink and she kills the twink. not sure on his death

im gonna keep the family tree going till 300AC when turbo-long night hits and everyone gets blowed up. anyway hope this helped lmfao im sure its VERY confusing ����

[fireismine]

DAENERYS APPRECIATION MONTH 2022

Day 4: House Targaryen

→ Declining Power of Targaryen Women (until Daenerys Targaryen)

Though none doubted that Aegon Targaryen was the final authority in all matters relating to the governance of the realm, his sisters Visenya and Rhaenys remained his partners in power throughout his reign. Save perhaps for Good Queen Alysanne, the wife of King Jaehaerys I, no other queen in the history of the Seven Kingdoms ever exercised as much influence over policy as the Dragon’s sisters. It was the king’s custom to bring one of his queens with him wherever he traveled, whilst the other remained at Dragonstone or King’s Landing, oft as not seated on the Iron Throne, ruling on whatever matters came before her. - Three Heads Had the Dragon: Governance Under King Aegon I, Fire and Blood

~

And so he did. The coming of the new year saw the king taking to the sky again on Vermithor, this time for the riverlands. His progress began with a stay at Harrenhal as a guest of its new lord, the nine-year-old Maegor Towers. From there he and his retinue moved on to Riverrun, Acorn Hall, Pinkmaiden, Atranta, and Stoney Sept. At his queen’s request, Lady Jennis Templeton traveled with the king to hold women’s courts at Riverrun and Stoney Sept in her place. Alysanne remained in the Red Keep, presiding over council meetings in the king’s absence, and holding audience from a velvet seat at the base of the Iron Throne. - Birth, Death and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I, Fire and Blood

~

King Jaehaerys had not attended the council, but when word of their verdict reached him, His Grace thanked the lords for their service and gratefully conferred the style Prince of Dragonstone upon his grandson Viserys. Storm’s End and Driftmark accepted the decision, if grudgingly; the vote had been so overwhelming that even Laenor’s father and mother saw that they could not hope to prevail. In the eyes of many, the Great Council of 101 AC thereby established an iron precedent on matters of succession: regardless of seniority, the Iron Throne of Westeros could not pass to a woman, nor through a woman to her male descendants. - Heirs of the Dragon: A Question of Succession, Fire and Blood

~

Daenerys Targaryen had preferred to hold court from a bench of polished ebony, smooth and simple, covered with the cushions that Ser Barristan had found to make her more comfortable. King Hizdahr had replaced the bench with two imposing thrones of gilded wood, their tall backs carved into the shape of dragons. The king seated himself in the right-hand throne with a golden crown upon his head and a jeweled sceptre in one pale hand. The second throne remained vacant. The important throne, thought Ser Barristan. No dragon chair can replace a dragon no matter how elaborately it's carved. - The Discarded Knight, A Dance with Dragons

[isefyres]

𝔇𝔞𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔯𝔶𝔰 𝔗𝔞𝔯𝔤𝔞𝔯𝔶𝔢𝔫'𝔰 𝔠𝔦𝔯𝔠𝔩𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔠𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔢 𝔴𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔫.

Irri - is a Dothraki handmaid to Daenerys Targaryen. Irri was born to a khal of a khalasar. It was destroyed by Khal Drogo, and she was enslaved. Irri, Doreah, and Jhiqui are given to Daenerys Targaryen by Viserys Targaryen as wedding gifts to serve as her handmaids. She is given to Daenerys to teach her how to ride horses in the Dothraki style She stays with Daenerys, even after the death of Khal Drogo and the disintegration of his khalasar.

Doreah -is a Lysene handmaid to Daenerys Targaryen. Magister Illyrio Mopatis found Doreah in a pleasure house in Lys. Viserys Targaryen bedded her while he was a guest at Illyrio's manse. Illyrio payed the House Orthys good coin for her to be given to them. Viserys Targaryen is usually kinder to Doreah than to Daenerys's Dothraki handmaids, and Daenerys has the Lyseni sew a fine sandsilk cloak for her brother. While sick during the trip to Qarth, Doreah recovers. Eventually becomes part of Daenerys court and a confidante of many women who wish to know secrets of pleasure.

Ezzara - is a Ghiscari priestess of Meereen. She is a Blue Grace. Ezzara treats the first victim of the bloody flux at Meereen, although the man dies within an hour of arrival. Ezzara accompanies Galazza Galare, the Green Grace, along with two other Blue Graces, to the Great Pyramid of Meereen to explain to Queen Daenerys Targaryen the symptoms of the disease and its possible spread in Meereen. Not trusting the Maesters, Ezzara travels with Queen Daenerys and becomes the main source of medical issues.

Sariah - Originally from Myr, she is a Mereen exotic dancer, part of Hizdahr zo Loraq court and a favorite of him of sorts, often finding herself in his bed. While not a slave, when he is killed, Sariah chooses to follow Daenerys to the new continent, finding no real home in Mereen or Myr as she does not remember her home. Sariah is multilingual and often helps with translations and such. She also helps make the queen new dresses in the style of her House based on books and recallings of the old Valyrian Households.

Kaizina Nika Elizan - of the New Lorath Empire, East of Braavos. Called the Empress of the East Shivering Sea. With the help of a mercenary company and the people, she gained control of the seat of council to call upon one ruler for Lorath and reclaimed the Ibbish Isles and Morath, a mining Lorathian colony and Saath, taking the mayority of the East of the Shivering Sea with Braavos help, wanting less taxes by having only one tax to be pay to one person. Daenerys accepted Nika's invitation to her coronation and Nika will attend her own in turn, and wishes for commerce and alliances to be made once Westeros regains peace.

Cahira of Lys - Lysani warrior, leader of a legion given to Daenerys Targaryen by Prince Lysandro, Cahira was second in command in the Orthys household when it came to training and now her direct order is to train women and help them defend themselves as well serve the Queen on her Conquest. Cahira is part of a deal made to stablish Lysani settlements on Westeros.

  Kira Kandaq - House of Kandaq Heir, attendant to Queen Daenerys in Mereen as her famiyl rises to power. The House is supposedly less hostile to the rule of Daenerys Targaryen. Skahaz mo Kandaq, known as the Shavepate, serves as one of her Meereenese advisors. The House before Daenerys came was considered a lesser House and its influence has grown due to their service to Daenerys. The house are considered traitors by the Sons of the Harpy. She becomes part of her emboy and court.

Val of the Free Folk - later on Val Weirwood, is a member of the free folk. She is the sister of Dalla, the wife of Mance Rayder. Resourceful, fast and quick witted, she is often called princess by the South and she takes advantage of this to get some attention to raise her nephew. She has a relationship with Jon Snow who she has been claiming as her own for a while and she is often found with Daenerys teaching her some Northern costumes as well the simple pleasure of gossiping and being women.

Princess Myrcella Baratheon - After her return from Dorne, Myrcella becomes a political player in the game, acting as the ruler of the kingdom as regent until Daenerys comes along. Myrcella becomes a friend and an ally and Myrcella is the one who shows that political alliances through marriage, while not ideal, is often the way to make a kingdom united, like Queen Alysanne and Queen Rhaenys did before them. Myrcella is witted even despite her murder attempt in the queenmaker plot and still beloved by the kingdom. She is often considered Daenerys heir, before Daenerys gets one of her own. Cella eventually finds friendship in Dany's handmaidens and her own cousin as well love in Aegon, who she weds.

[isefyres-archive]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐗 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐘𝐒

Used to the seven during the dance of dragons, after the Rogare fell from grace, the other houses voted them out as a great house and now the Rogeres are referred with the titles of "Grace" instead of Prince or Princess like the ruling houses. The six ruling houses are all confirmed descendants of Valyrian Households before the Doom and evolved into their own ventures through the years. At least two of them are descendants of Dragonriders, while there is a third one in dispute. The Houses all reunite in a council and each house as a member elected to survey as one specific matter. There are usually intermarriages between the houses to avoid wars between one another, though many seek marriages with other Free Cities, specially Myr or Tyrosh.

House Orthys: The richest of the houses with Prince Lysandro the elected treasurer and coin master of the house. Their sigil is represented with pearls and a woman's shape with a crowned heart, as they are followers of the Love Goddess with the richest and exclusive pleasure houses in Lys. Only exclusive clientelle can enter and they have the best girls and boys, trained and treated well. It's were Prince Viserys found his lover Doreah, perchusased for Daenerys as a Handmaiden. House Orthys is often the one hand visited when companies and people need loans and they rule the coin with a tight grip. If the coin is not delivered, they will ask for something as valuable in return. Prince Lysandro is master of coin, with his sister Narcysa managing the Pleasure Houses and their half sister Oriana being a companion to Quentyn Martell, travelling to Dorne. Without Orthys founding, no war efforts or ships or armies can be contracted.

House Haen: Members of house Haen are known to be warriors of the Love Goddess or the Goddess in Battle and they protect the city from attacks. They are also know for their beauty and the gold of pin in their sigil symbolize their wealth as well a symbol of safe passage. House Haen has a history of letting people take safe refuge during the war at the Stepstones. They are also known for having survived a poison attack after Myrmadora Haen went to King's Landing as a potential bride to Aegon III. Due to this their sigil, added wings to the horse, to refer their coming back. They handle the prepartion of the female armies of the city and protection of temples.

House Saan: House Saan can consider themselves distant relatives of the Velaryons, with a similar sigil upon their coat of arms. House Saan handles the construction of ships and fleets as well the protection of the city in materials, making sure the city is well stocked and protected after the war of the Stepstones. House Saan are known supporters of the Targaryens during the centuries, during the dance, an old friend of Mysaria, Daemon Targaryen's paramour, traveleled to Westeros and spied for them at court. She brought with her, the support of another house, house Vagnaron. At the time the two of them were bethroded.

House Dagaeron: Descendants of Dragonriders of Valyria before the doom, their dragons were said to be more Wyrm than Dragons, as their bloodbond with them wasn't as strong as the Targaryens before the Doom happened. Still, their sigil depics a White dragon atop of a rock symbolizing Valyria. The trident represent their command over the sea and the god of War and the scythe adoration for the God of Death. House Dagaeron are the negociatiors in the current regime of Lys, in a position known as gonfaloniere, an elected military leader. They command the male armies of Lys and negociations with anyone who wishes Lys aid in battle.

House Vagnaron: Descendant of dragonriders who were exiled from Valyria due to extreme experiments with shadowbinding and blood magic, they rose to power in Lys due to their military force. During the dance, the heir of the House travelled to Dragonstone to show support for Queen Rhaenyra with his then bethroded of House Saan, and also as an old client of Mysaria. House Vagnaron were the ones who took the Rogare's wealth after the war, deeming their actions of taking Prince Viserys, then King Viserys II as hostage as unreasonable. They are known shadowbinders and followers of the R'hallor.

House Pendaerys: House Pendaerys are related to the Celtigars of Claw Isle. They are perhaps the smallest of houses but a wise one, worshipping the God of Death and known for having visions of the future, like House Vagnaron, they are known shadowmancers and can bring people back from the death though it's said the second life is shorter than the first. House Pendaerys has a sea dragon on their sigil,a book and a horn, all things House Celtigar claim to have in their possession. Like the Celtigars, Pendaerys are the keepers of knowledge and healers, so they have the records of every citizen and slave on Lys, tracing every family tree, like the Celtigars. They are said to have been dragonriders of seadragons but this is a disputed fact.

[kaerinio]

daenerys' first language is high valyrian. when she was a baby, viserys would coo at her exclusively in valyrian, and ser willem darry ensured that her nurses and early tutors also interacted with her in both valyrian and the common tongue. her first words were valyrian, and as a girl, she would often converse with the servants at darry's estate and viserys in valyrian, including the various dialects of the free cities! typically, the only common tongue she would really use was with ser darry. and, following his death, valyrian remained her main form of communication; however, this changes, when viserys transforms into the beggar king. shortly after selling rhaella's crown, the final physical attachment to their targaryen identity, he begins to speak to dany only in the common tongue. you see, to him, he is a westerosi king, and in order to be westerosi, he decides that he (and dany) must speak the language of westeros: the common tongue, which is, as he would claim, "the language of civilized man." when dany attempts to speak valyrian with him in those initial days, she is met with hostility and harm, including viserys admonishing her valyrian, claiming that it is diminished, berating her accent, and telling her to speak in a way befitting of a targaryen princess (interesting). so, dany stops speaking valyrian with viserys altogether, and instead, she whispers this language, tasting of the house with the red door and what feels like home to her, with other children in bazaars and vendors and servants in the homes of could-be allies.

i should write a separate thing for this because i am incredibly fascinated by language and connection, and dany is certainly very attune with language, connection, and intimacy through communication !!! and i will but! as queen of meereen, dany speaks high valyrian, particularly a ghiscari dialect constructed of old ghiscari and valyrian, while conducting court and communicating with her subjects. during council meetings, she primarily communicates in high valyrian, as it is spoken and understood by all her councillors. with barristan, belwas, her bloodriders, and handmaids, she typically speaks the common tongue. among the dothraki (and when it is just her, her bloodriders, and handmaids), she speaks dothraki. when it comes to her dragons, she croons at them in high valyrian.

[backjustforberena]

Rhaenys was Jaehaerys granddaughter yeah but she was also the daughter of the sister who's birth he attended, who he helped raise. How could he be so callous and cruel to her?

Then again wasn't he the same to his first daughter about who would become queen, constantly brushing his wife's worry away by saying she'd be queen when her brother was king?

Yes, Jaehaerys would never commit to Daenarys being Queen per se and would simply state that she and Aemon would marry when old enough. It's said that "from the moment Aemon was born, the king began to speak of him as his heir" - which goes to show.

I can understand his caution, and perhaps excuse this as less misogyny, but more pragmatism, given Daenerys was so young and the incidents surrounding Rhaena and her daughter were so fresh, the idea of a female ruler or the implication that female could become ruler over a male relative was galling and signalled only bad things. And, of course, it would only bring back ideas regarding his own claim. Surely, stability in the form of what Jaehaerys and Alysanne had done would be appealing and mean that a reoccurrence of that kind of fracturing would not be possible.

But, then time passes. And it's just now totally and utterly sexist. Rhaenys has no volatility, she does not represent any sort of danger to the Targaryen hold over Westeros. Her father was not wild, but serious. A picture of duty. Her parents were literally picture-perfect. There was no reason to fear the kind of ruler she could become. Alysanne doted on her and favoured her. She'd grown up in court, she was the eldest grandchild, daughter of the eldest child.

It is her RIGHT. Even in the book, it's interesting that the blokes all agree that Baelon would be "better suited" because he was older, a warrior, with two sons and the love of the people. As if Jaehaerys was about to shrivel up and die right then and there. Honestly, there would have been NO HARM in naming Rhaenys heir at that moment. If childbirth were the issue, then sure, name Baelon once she dies. Or if there is a child that lives, name Baelon as regent or whatever. Either way, you don't have this.

What interests me are the conditions around which the choice was made. Rhaenys's father dies. Baelon goes to war to slay those that killed Aemon (ironically, something Rhaenys would be unable to do due to her condition, though she would not be unwilling to fight on dragonback, we know that) - and Jaehaerys starts thinking:

It's not discussed in official Small Council meetings, but rather in private audiences with Septon Barth and the Grand Maester. There's nothing to suggest that Alysanne was consulted until after the choice was made. This is also true of anyone else who might have been on Rhaenys's side.

Rhaenys's strongest male allies were away, fighting the war. Her husband, Corlys Velaryon (incidentally also Master of Ships and on the Small Council), as well as her uncle Boremund Baratheon. Both on Tarth.

Rhaenys would have spent a portion of this interim time on Driftmark (Aemon dies so quickly and they had departed from the island to go to Tarth) and consoling her mother, as well as be caught in her own grief. She would have no idea what the King was up to. But, neither, also, would Baelon.

When it's announced, it's done so in a way that cannot be undone: it's in public, as soon as Baelon gets back, in front of the smallfolk and the lords, and it's done to cheers. Jaehaerys embraces his war hero son and proclaims him heir. Baelon arrives via dragon, so, again, it's likely that all of this is done whilst Rhaenys is alone, as Corlys would be travelling by ship.

Ergo, no one can do anything about it. And that's why Corlys resigns and Alysanne flies away and Jocelyn and Boremund glare and dissent. That's all they can do.

[notenoughmuses]

Many things had been restored. Dragons in the world. The Targaryen House was back on the throne after three long years. Viserys had survived the molten gold that had poured over him. He'd been left with scarring and his hair had taken its time growing back to its previous length. But as he made his way back to the Free Cities he'd found a blue dragon egg and it'd hatched soon after.

Rhaellion, named after his mother Rhaella had been a source of renewed hope and joy for the Begger King. He thought of trying to find his sister but he'd heard from some wandering merchants who had heard from others who had heard from some Dothraki that Khal Drogo was dead. His silver haired Khalessi had walked into a pyre and after that....he didn't know.

Viserys knew he would have felt it if Daenerys has died. She was his sister, raised her for four and ten years. When he thought of her, Viserys felt a nauseous feeling in his stomach, which told him Dany could be alive. He recalled the same feeling settling after his mother had passed.

Three years had passed and Viserys had been able to let his dragon eat how she wanted, Illyrio had given him stay at his manse when the man saw the live dragon, the Golden Comapny was also more apt to follow the Targaryen now aa well and more sellswords came following. Viserys bid his time, his dragon had grown fast in size with its free range diet and life and could easily be rode. He taken all his knowledge from his history and books he'd read in his childhood and whatever texts he could find in Essos now he had coin for such things.

Westeros had been going through various wars and much had happened. The Starks were spread across Westeros, a war of Five Kings had passed and a boy King sat the throne after his brothers passing. Viserys and his army sailed to Westeros as soon as Joffery Baratheon had died, hoping to catch the throne in a state of chaos. The fight for the throne hadn't been easy and some figures had fled the capitol, namely Sansa Stark and Tyrion Lannister before he had even got to Westeros.

Tommen Baratheon had been usurped and declared a bastard of incest, not approved by the faith and sent to be a Maester. His sister had been a thorn for Viserys who he had allowed to live in part because Arianne Martell had asked, she became her lady in waiting when Viserys learned of the marriage pact which Viserys had honored. Vowing to do better for the Kingdom and not make his brothers mistakes.

Cersei Lannister had been exiled to Essos, working for Illyrio in his Manse. Her twin Jamie had been sent to the wall and Tywin Lannister had been caught and resided in the deepest parts of the Black Cells, tortured slowly and painfully as payment for how he and his men had destroyed the Targaryen and Martell family. The former crowns allies of the Reach had backed their true King once Tommen had been dethroned. He took Margaery Tyrell as his second wife with Ariannes permission as he allowed her to have her own paramour. Though his first wife's paramour hadn't lasted long in Court due to politics and rumors.

Viserys sat the throne with two wives, Arianne having just announced she was with child and his dragon, Rhaellion who had laid a clutch of eggs which was bond to hatch hopefully soon, when he'd gotten word that ships sailing from Essos were on their way. An armada by the sounds of it, all flying the Targaryen House flag.

Dany. She was alive! Three healthy dragons and an army, became Queen in her own right. Viserys was elated to have his sister come back, knowing she was alive, despite the small voice growing louder in his head, reminding him that she'd basically ordered his death, allowed her Khal to kill him. His wives and his small council thought otherwise. Telling him how she'd thought he was dead, how she was coming to take the throne. It would be another Dance if he wasn't careful. Viserys wondered if she knew he was alive or not, if like himself, she'd learned only recently of her status in life.

"Daenerys, what do I owe this visit?"

@reiignonme @kizhavvorsa @incissam @westerosiqueens @ any other Danys

[horizon-verizon]

Queen Alysanne played no part in the selection of the King’s Hand. Whilst the king and council were deliberating, Her Grace was absent from King’s Landing, having flown Silverwing to Dragonstone to be with her sister and comfort her in her grief. Rhaena Targaryen was not a woman easily comforted, however. The loss of so many of her dear friends and companions had plunged her into a black melancholy, and even the mention of Androw Farman’s name provoked her to fits of rage. Far from welcoming her sister and whatever solace she might bring, Rhaena thrice tried to send her away, even going so far as to scream at Her Grace in view of half the castle. When the queen refused to go, Rhaena retreated to her own chambers and barred the doors, emerging only to eat…and that less and less often. Left to her own devices, Alysanne Targaryen set about restoring a modicum of order to Dragonstone. A new maester was sent for and installed, a new captain appointed to take charge of the castle garrison. The queen’s own beloved Septa Edyth arrived to assume the place of Rhaena’s much lamented Septa Maryam. Shunned by her sister, Alysanne turned to her niece, but there too she encountered rage and rejection. “Why should I care if they’re all dead? She’ll find new ones; she always does,” Princess Aerea told the queen. When Alysanne tried to share stories of her own girlhood, and told of how Rhaena had put a dragon’s egg into her cradle and cuddled and cared for her “as if she were my mother,” Aerea said, “She never gave me an egg, she just gave me away and flew off to Fair Isle.” Alysanne’s love for her own daughter provoked the princess to anger as well. “Why should she be queen? I should be queen, not her.” It was then that Aerea broke down into tears at last, pleading with Alysanne to take her back with her to King’s Landing. “Lady Elissa said that she would take me, but she went away and forgot me. I want to come back to court, with the singers and the fools and all the lords and knights. Please take me with you.” Moved by the girl’s tears, Queen Alysanne could do no more than promise to take the matter up with her mother. When Rhaena next emerged from her chambers to take a meal, however, she rejected the notion out of hand. “You have everything and I have nothing. Now you would take my daughter too. Well, you shall not have her. You have my throne, content yourself with that.” That same night Rhaena summoned Princess Aerea to her chambers to berate her, and the sounds of mother and daughter shouting at one another rang through the Stone Drum. The princess refused to speak to Queen Alysanne after that. Stymied at every turn, Her Grace finally returned to King’s Landing, to the arms of King Jaehaerys and the merry laughter of her own daughter, Princess Daenerys.

Fire and Blood, by George R.R. Martin pg 227-228

[dragonsfromthemoon]

Hi Ashter! I was watching this interview with GRRM (by the way he looks to be a very sweet and fun guy to talk to) where he was talking about his new book (Rise of the Dragon) which has lots of gorgeous illustrations. I saw the illustration of the Iron Throne. Now in George’s words, it is not beautiful, but it looks a LOT cooler than the one on the show. Apparently the King is supposed to be like 10 to 15 feet above everyone else. Now this got me thinking… even if Dany does become Queen like I want her to be in the books… I don’t think she’ll want to sit on the Iron Throne. She wants to be equal with her people. Which is why she uses a simple bench at the bottom of the stairs (George even corrected this illustrator and told them that Dany wants to be equal to her people so she wouldn’t sit on top). So if Dany does become Queen… I don’t think she would want to sit on the Iron Throne. It’s not her style to sit high above her subjects. Though I wonder if maybe it’ll be different. If she does become Queen. I’m still totally sure she will survive.

Well, first I would like to say I do see the merit on Dany burning the Iron Throne or discarding it through some other mean, as a symbolic act. As you said, to stay closer to her subjects.

But here I will play the devil's advocate and argue why it could be in Dany's interest (or at least GRRM's, in a doylist point of analysis) to keep the Iron Throne just as it is.

1. The throne is much a symbol of the kingdom as it is of the monarch's power. Thus, before Dany took Meereen, the throne there had represented the system of slavery — it was a symbol of it.

Her audience chamber was on the level below, an echoing high-ceilinged room with walls of purple marble. It was a chilly place for all its grandeur. There had been a throne there, a fantastic thing of carved and gilded wood in the shape of a savage harpy. She had taken one long look and commanded it be broken up for firewood. "I will not sit in the harpy's lap," she told them. Instead she sat upon a simple ebony bench. It served, though she had heard the Meereenese muttering that it did not befit a queen. [Daenerys VI, ASOS]

So, you see, Dany's reasoning for destroying the harpy's throne is that she does not want to sit upon a symbol of the very thing she is combating: the system of slavery. Her ebony bench, thus, represents a new order for Meereen, one with more equality, freedom and justice.

2. The Iron Throne is another matter, though. It was created to fit the context of Westeros — a united one after the Conquest. The Iron Throne is union, the king's justice and the king's peace (granted, not every king lived up to this legacy, but the point still remains). The Iron Throne is a reminder of the king's duty to the people.

���The first law of the land shall be the King’s Peace,” King Aegon decreed, “and any lord who goes to war without my leave shall be considered a rebel and an enemy of the Iron Throne.” [Fire and Blood]

The reconciliation of the Seven Kingdoms to Targaryen rule was the keystone of Aegon I’s policies as king. To this end, he made great efforts to include men (and even a few women) from every part of the realm in his court and councils. His former foes were encouraged to send their children (chiefly younger sons and daughters, as most great lords desired to keep their heirs close to home) to court, where the boys served as pages, cupbearers, and squires, the girls as handmaidens and companions to Aegon’s queens. In King’s Landing, they witnessed the king’s justice at first hand, and were urged to think of themselves as leal subjects of one great realm, not as westermen or stormlanders or northmen. [Fire and Blood]

A king should never sit easy, Aegon the Conqueror had said, when he commanded his armorers to forge a great seat from the swords laid down by his enemies. Damn Aegon for his arrogance, Ned thought sullenly, and damn Robert and his hunting as well. [Eddard XI, AGOT]

Daenerys is the successor of Aegon the Conqueror's legacy and the narrative itself parallels them. So I would not be surprised if she decided to keep the Iron Throne, as dangerous and imposing as it is, for the sake of what her antecessor built and the meaning behind it.

All in all, what happens to the Iron Throne is still on GRRM's hands. One can only speculate hahahaha.

[fromtheboundlesssea]

In A Dance of Songs what is Jon's relationship like with: Rhaegar, Lyanna, Elia, Rhaenys, Aegon, Daenerys Celia, the Starks and the Martells as well as the other Targaryens, it's sad that he seems to be trying to avoid getting involved in a situation that won't end up happily for him, as going to either side could lose him a siblings and if things go wrong Westeros and history will probably blame him

In order of how you asked about them.

Rhaegar - Jon is very distant with his father in the sense that he is a bastard and not some great failed child of a prophecy that he would have probably been seen as in canon. When Jon was younger, he longed to have his father’s love and approval, but has sense grown out of it.

Lyanna - She died when Jon was born and so he has a rather romantic view of her and no one really stops him from having such notions about her. Who would dare tell a little boy anything bad about the mother he never got to know.

Elia - Jon has a lot of respect for the queen and, therefore, stays as much out of her way as he can. He calls her the king’s one true queen.

Rhaenys - He had a decent but distant relationship with his sister as she was older than him and a girl so their paths didn’t really cross all that much. He respects her mind and heart. He’s been on the tail-end of a few barbed words but that’s why he didn’t notice the cues that she was having an off day and kept pestering her.

Aegon - Jon has a far better relationship with Aegon from the time they were children, but they were often pitted against each other by their father with Aegon often being the winner in his affections. Aegon stopped competing in those little games when he saw how much they hurt Jon and Jon appreciates that.

Daenerys - Jon has the same sort of distance that he has with Rhaenys when it comes to his aunt, however they are slightly closer because of their age. He became aware of her affection for him and that knowledge is one of the main reasons he spends most of his time away from court as he believes she needs to focus on Aegon.

Celia - A mix of his relationship with Rhaenys and Daenerys, although he feels a sort of affinity for her because she’s on a vastly different social level than the rest of the lords and ladies at court.

The Starks - Jon is the closest to Sansa out of the Starks and has strong romantic and protective feelings towards her. He worries about his bastard status, but believes he’s proven himself enough in the eyes of court to be worthy of her. He writes often to his uncle and Robb and keeps a sparse correspondence with Arya, but he’s not close with the Starks as he was raised in the South rather than the North.

The Martells - A very distant relationship shop. They tend to not interact at all unless it’s tourneys or council meetings.

The Targaryens - he enjoys his little nephew by Rhaenys. Viserys is distant as he was fostered in Oldtown. They write though.

Jon is in a very precarious place when it comes to his place in court and within his family. It could go many different ways.

[i-drink-and-i-write-fics]

The Queen’s Guard

Chapter 8: The Iron Bank

Summary: Jorah and Myria visit the most powerful bank in the Known World.

The room was sterile, which was odd considering how ornate the outside of the building was. Jorah stood stoically beside Myria, who fidgeted in the nearly empty hall. She was used to grand rooms and lavish surroundings after spending a few winters in High Garden. But this…this reminded her more of how the court probably felt with Cersei Lannister as its Queen.

“Do not be afraid, for they will not listen if they sense weakness.”

Myria ignored him and huffed. Where were these bankers?

Finally, three gentlemen walked in and took seats at a long table at the head of the room. Jorah and Myria walked up and bowed their heads slightly. There were two stone benches on their side, clearly meant for guests, but neither took a seat.

“Welcome to the Iron Bank,” stated the man in the middle. “Please, sit.”

Myria knew her place as a bastard and waited until Jorah took a seat before moving herself.

“Funny; it is not often we see a disgraced knight travel with a cup bearer instead of a squire.”

It took all of Myria’s strength not to lash out at the men at the table. Jorah cleared his throat. 

“I was disgraced rightfully so. But my Queen has restored my title and made me part of her Small Council.”

This elicited a raised eyebrow from the man. “Queen Cersei has pardoned you?”

 “Our true Queen, Daenerys Targaryen.”

There was a pause at the table as the three men looked at each other. 

“Daenerys Targaryen…”

“Has returned to the Seven Kingdoms,” Myria interrupted. “And her armies will be attacking King’s Landing.”

“Bold for a cupbearer to speak in this meeting.”

Myria narrowed her eyes. “I am no one’s cupbearer. I am Lady Olenna’s personal guard and the Master of War on Queen Daenerys’ council. Now, we know the Crown owes the Iron Banks exuberant amounts of gold. We are here to pay that debt in exchange for support.”

Whatever response the three men had for Myria, died on their tongues the moment she mentioned gold. The seconds slipped into minutes, but Myria just stared the men down. And now it was Jorah’s turn to fidget. 

Finally, the man in the middle responded. “Are you suggesting your Queen can repay the Crown’s debt?”

“We didn’t travel all the way to Braavos to join a mummer’s troop.”

The man smiled at this. “And the gold is…”

“Ready to be brought in on my command.”

Another beat of silence.

“Forgive me, I don’t believe we have been properly introduced. My name is Tycho Nestoris. May we offer you something to drink?”

Myria stood outside the Iron Bank as she watched the Ironborn carry the chests of gold from the carts into the vast building. Yara broke off from her men and came over.

“Stormbreaker?”

Although it was just a singular word, Myria could tell Yara had framed it as a question.

“Aye?

Yara smirked. “I had wondered since the moment I laid eyes on you. One of Robert’s bastards actually survived the purging of King’s Landing.”

Myria sighed deeply. “I wasn’t in King’s Landing when the purge happened. Nor was that the first purge to have happened. Just…the one in the public eye.”

Yara raised an eyebrow at this. “There were others?”

“When Queen Cersei first married Robert…there was a smaller purge. Not right away, but a few months after the royal wedding. I was only a child at the time. And the only one of my mother’s children with black hair.”

“How did you survive?”

Myria hesitated. “I’d rather not get into that story at this time, my Lady.”

Before Yara could protest, her men came up with the last chest.

“This is the last of the gold owed to the Iron Bank.”

Myria nodded her head. “Good. Whatever gold is left we will need. Buy as much food as you can that will travel well. When our Queen attacked the Lannister men, some food from the Reach was destroyed. We need to be able to feed the realm when winter arrives. Leave some gold behind in case we need it for the war.”

Yara gestured her head. “You heard her!”

“Yes, my Lady!”

After they were gone, Yara turned back to Myria. “Once they are done, we will be looking for a pleasure house to enjoy before we make the long trip back to the war. Care to join us?”

Myria gave a small smile. “Thank you, but I’m afraid that I would not be fun in a place like that. I’m going to find something to eat and then spend the night on one of the ships.”

“Suit yourself,” Yara looked up as Jorah came out of the bank. “Perhaps the old knight will keep you company.”

Myria resisted the urge to sigh. “He is a man, no doubt he will join your crew.”

Yara just smirked as she left after her men. Myria finally rolled her eyes and headed down the stairs, in the other direction.

“You are not joining them?” Jorah asked as he jogged down the stairs.

“While the Ironborn are certainly interesting to converse with, they are off to a pleasure house after they secure food for the realm. That is not really my idea of entertainment.”

Jorah caught up with the former sellsword and fell instep. “Then what is your idea of entertainment?”

Myria tried her best not to look over at the knight. “I don’t really have any. Most of my life…well, I never stayed in one place long. Until I met Lady Olenna and she offered me a place in her home. Margaery was teaching me to read when I first joined their household and I did love reading poetry. Perhaps once the war is over there will be other books I can try to read.”

“I’m afraid I do not have any books in my cabin, but I do know of a tavern a ways from the dock if you would like to join me. If I remember correctly, minstrels visit often in hopes of being paid in coin or free ale.”

Now Myria tried her best not to smile. “To hear a minstrel would be a nice treat before the war. They often visited High Garden.”

Jorah smiled. “Allow me to lead the way, then.”

The tavern was loud and there was indeed a minstrel playing a lute with his cap on the floor by the hearth. Jorah tossed a coin into the cap as he lead the way to the barkeep. He grabbed two pints of ale and took Myria to a table nearby. 

A tavern maid brought meat pies to the table and Myria said a quiet thank you before eating. 

The pair ate quietly, only occasionally commenting on the food or the music. But as they ate, the good food and the ale made Myria relax for the first time since meeting the Dragon Queen. Jorah smiled more and Myria noticed how nice he looked when he did and how often he rarely smiled unless he was around the Queen.

The more the ale flowed, the more relaxed Jorah and Myria got. Until the pair were telling stories about their respective travels and laughing at all the foolishness they did when they were younger. 

Then Jorah told Myria the story of how Daenerys hatched her eggs and Myria could see right then and there why he was so devoted to the queen. Had she witnessed that herself, the former sellsword would easily follow Daenerys to the ends of the Known World. 

But then the moment came for Jorah to ask how Myria came into Olenna’s service and she clammed up.

“I- I am not ready to tell that story just yet.”

Jorah instantly noticed the change in Myria’s demeanor and nodded his head. “Of course. My apologies for crossing any lines.”

“No apologies needed, good ser.”

“Shall we head back to the ships?”

Myria nodded her head and followed him outside. And as the pair walked back towards the dock, she could tell that her answer had ruined some of the levity the night had brought. But she also noticed that Jorah was walking closer to her than he had before. If only she could allow herself to open up to him.

Chapter 9

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