#yes this is about cotf

[lyranova]

That moment you announced something you had just planned, and suddenly as your writing it and are fully fleshing it out, the chapters suddenly change and so does the title and you’re just like:

[atopvisenyashill]

i was poking around to see if i could find enough fancasts to do a graphic of Indigenous Stark fancasts and i found a great Sansa and Jon but struggled to find anyone else which is kinda funny to me lol. but look at them!!

his name is Asivak Koostachin and her name is Riit (or Rita Claire Mike-Murphy) and they're perfect!!

[fallstaticexit]

The Landgraab Foundation is known for being the jack of all trades when it comes down to the all mighty simoleon. Perhaps this is the opportunity for Benji to find his place with the rest of the Briar's.

prev / next

AN: Annnd we're back! with mods updated, I'm back to updating my stories. Still working on COTF but I have another MM update that I will post tonight! :)

Ami: I never thought I’d say it, but I’m dying to wean Saroi. She must think my nips are made of rubber.

Benji: Looks like everyone had fun at Batuu. The whole family was there.. wow. The kids got so big.

Ami: You do know we were invited, right?

Benji: No, I know... I guess it’s easier to avoid family functions when I’m busy with work.

Ami: And why’s that?

Benji: It’s the dynamic. I was too young to hang out with Mel, Lyric and Sonny and too old to relate to the twins, Amir and Olive..doesn’t help I’m an only child either-

Ami: You want to know what your biggest selling point was for me when we met?

Benji: My good looks? My great work ethics?

Ami: Your big family. I’ve always wanted siblings and cousins, and knowing you had all that and seeing how crazy they were about you made me realize how loved you are.

Ami: Look, I love the dedication you put into your business but I wouldn’t mind seeing you enjoy life outside your office more. Why do you think I stepped down? I can do things like take Saori to her appointments or visit Finn’s class. So our kids wouldn’t be raised by a-

Benji: Servo?

Ami: [laughs] Yes. No offense.

Benji: Speaking of, the Landgraab Foundation called again looking to meet about the merger.

Ami: Are you considering it?

Benji: It’ll expand our customer base to the states, not to mention it’ll save cost by outsourcing material. And.. it’ll take a lot more off my plate. I can spend more time with our family. The kids can meet everyone sooner. I can spend more time with you.

Ami: Then I think you’re making a great call.

Benji: Then it’s settled.

Ami: Should I check on Finn? I have a feeling he’s been sneaking down into the kitchen.

Benji: [yawns] Nah. He’s probably passed out by now.

Ami: [sighs] I love you, Ben.

Benji: I love you too.

Finn’s Inner Monologue: Did you know the best way to get away with a late night snack is to hide the cookie jar in your baby sister’s crib? Works every time!

[rhaenyra-first-of-her-name]

Only in asoiaf fandom would someone call the descendants (Starks) of the original colonizers (First Men) as indigenous.

Just because the Andals colonized the original colonizers, it doesn't make the First Men indigenous lol.

The Children of the Forest are the only indigenous people of the Westeros. And no one else.

And the First Men committed genocide against the CotF.

Yes, George's writing about CotF is deeply problematic. But saying that they're not human enough to imply they're not indigenous; is a real life justification colonizers have used (the Natives look too different, they worship the wrong Gods, their way of living is wrong) to defend their actions (and genocide).

Just because the Andals did something similar to them to what they did to the CotF, it doesn't make them indigenous.

It doesn't matter that the First Men adopted their Gods.

Hypothetically, if the rest of Westeros adopted the Old Gods, it won't make them indigenous either.

Just like the Dornish are still considered of the Rhoynar, even after they adopted the Seven. (To be exact, the present Dornishmen are both Rhoynar and Andals.)

*sigh*

Signed by a very tired women of color who grew up in a former colony.

[timeconsumer]

I just saw your post about how this site barely knows about coheed and while the fandom has diminished considerably on here, it actually used to be pretty big like...8ish years ago (as someone who had a pretty big following of COTF on here)

But please do spread some misinformation to boost my spirits, I'm feeling nostalgic 🤙

yes!! I know there used to be a ton of cotf around - unfortunately they have mostly dissipated :( BUT us early 20s cotf are going to make tumblr into a coheed world by any means necessary 💪

as for misinfo... just stay posted I will be dropping plenty of trademark lies

[brando-2187]

Thoughts I had while listening to Radio Westeros (CotF)

I had a bunch of thoughts while listening to episode 78 (The Children of the Forest) of the Radio Westeros podcast and I wanted to share them with anyone who cares to read. ☺️

-In the episode, Lady Gwyn and Yolkboy do a really good job of explaining the difference between wargs and skinchangers, how wargs can change into dogs/wolves and skinchangers cannot. They talked about how rare bonding with dogs, wolves and direwolves is among skinchangers and it got me to thinking: were the Starks made kings because they could skin change into direwolves? The direwolf would be the king above dogs and regular wolves, in fact we see this with Nymeria and Summer. Nymeria becomes the head of a great wolf pack and Bran, while inside of Summer, takes control of another wolf pack. 

-On the topic of the Children breaking the Arm of Dorne: I really get the feeling Valyria or whatever it was called before it became an empire actually did have a presence on Westeros much earlier than we’ve been told. If Valyria is supposed to be Rome, they have an earlier history than what we are being told, likely because the maesters a long time ago had something to hide. It seems likely to me that there was a republic version of the Valyrian Empire and the history we have been told is just the empire’s history, not whatever existed before. I also have a working theory that I will expand upon in its own post about the Proto-Valyrians (we’ll call them PVs) presence in Westeros before the breaking of the Arm. In a very brief summary, the idea is that the Amethyst Empress is a parallel to Cleopatra/Egypt and the Bloodstone Emperor is really just Rome, the Bloodstone Empire. I think the black stone that they worshipped is just the oily black stone that they built with. I believe the oily black stone is just basalt that has been infused with some sort of magic, likely bloodmagic, and they oily appearance is just its magical charge. We have evidence there was a culture in Westeros pre-breaking of the Arm that liked to build with sorcery and oily black stone present in some buildings. It seems likely to me that this was the work of the PVs and that they had to pull back to protect the heart of Valyria from the rising threat of the Dothraki from the East. If this is true, it is also possible that they CotF broke the Arm to keep either the Dothraki out (most likely) or even to keep the PVs armies from easily coming back into Westeros. I have essays worth of thoughts on this though so I will save that for another time. 

-The way the Northern Mountain Clans call Ned Stark “The Ned” makes me wonder, was Brandon a title that the Kings of Winter used to adopt when they became king? The Brandon becomes the Bran? Is it like the title of The Merlin where it passes on almost like it is the same person? Is that how Brandon the Builder supposedly did so much? (This one is just kind of a random thought but I figured why not include it.)

-We are told that Brandon the Builder came to the Stormlands to help Durran Godsgrief build Storm's End as a child but what if they actually meant he was a Child of the Forest? I think it’s likely Brandon the Builder was half CotF and this would help explain him possibly living a long time. His father is said to be Brandon of the Bloody Blade, a son of Garth Greenhand, and the moniker he’s given reminds me of how Barbrey Dustin talks about Ned’s older brother Brandon. 

“My father had great ambitions for House Ryswell. He would have served up my maidenhead to any Stark who happened by, but there was no need. Brandon was never shy about taking what he wanted. I am old now, a dried-up thing, too long a widow, but I still remeber the look of my maiden’s blood on his cock the night he claimed me. I think Brandon liked the sight as well. A bloody sword is a beautiful thing, yes. It hurt, but it was a sweet pain.” ADWD, The Turncloak

So is the Bloody Blade in the first Brandon’s name actually about him following in his father’s footsteps and spreading his seed throughout the lands of Westeros? If that is the case, I find it to be highly likely he came across a Child and had a baby with her, possibly Brandon the Builder. 

-The idea of the Dothraki fighting the Ifequevron is really interesting to me. Imagine a battle between the two: the Ifequevron could take over the Dothraki horses and wipe them out almost instantly. The Dothraki definitely would mess with an enemy with that sort of power over their strongest asset. No other real thoughts to add to this point, I just thought it was really interesting. 

-Is it possible the first Valyrian was a child of Garth? Are the ancestors to the Daynes also descendants of Garth? Garth was said to have walked Westeros before any other men; did he learn anything from the CotF? Did the PVs or first Valyrian learn bloodmagic from the CotF?

-The Green Men on the Isle of Faces remind me of the priestesses on the Isle of Avalon from The Mists of Avalon series with the Isle of Faces being Avalon. Could it actually be women on the Isle? Bran sees a priestess of the Old Gods in his vision so we know that there were women leading at least some of the religious ceremonies. The priestesses in both stories also have bronze weapons to use for their rituals, a knife like weapon for Mists and a sickle in ASoiaF. 

-Is Snowylocks a hint that the Valyrians might have had some CotF blood? We actually don’t really know what the CotF want or how Bloodraven came to be in the cave with them with a tree growing through his body. It makes me wonder if he’s maybe been lured there and trapped for some reason like Merlin was trapped. 

These were just my random thoughts that I wanted to share. ☺️

[jozor-johai]

Wow, yes, because maybe this is also a pale imitation of what skinchanging can offer you. What secrets can someone keep from an invader in their own mind?

Also, this is a crazy cool idea:

#this is all making me think about all the questions i have about warging irt consent as well tbh#because its at the very least paralleled with sexual assault when its about warging a human#and in that light it makes sense that *consensual* human-to-human warging may be possible/become relevant later#especially irt *coerced* consent when you think about the CotF ''teaching'' bran as a clear grooming metaphor#(ESPECIALLY when youve got bran himself being paralleled by poor busted legs aeron - kept alive and *able to speak* by old one eye euron)#anyway.

Absolutely agree about Bran & Aeron parallel & the grooming comparison but I haven't thought about the other side of that, the "consensual" human skinchanging....👀👀

and as for this:

#i like the idea this was an anti stark practice cos the boltons are bad but... the starks were WORSE. thats my 2¢ anyway

If there's one thing ASOIAF is clear on, it's that you don't get to be king—and definitely don't get to stay king—by being a good person. So you definitely don't stay the Kings of Winter for 8000 years by being nice people.

I always liked the thought that the Boltons skinning their enemies and wearing their skins was their attempt at a literal approach to the Stark skin-changer magic, since they are lacking magic themselves.

What I really like about that connection is that we can universally agree that what the Boltons are doing is absolutely horrific and brutal.

But if that the Boltons are doing is really only a weak, pale comparison to the Starks' power, it puts the power of skinchanging into properly horrific context... context that we know should be horrific from what Bran is doing to Hodor.

[thoughtfullyrainynightmare]

So. I binged @lyranova’s series COTF last night, and I got inspired. And I just had to make a one chapter spin off from it with Fue’s and Lara’s future son. 

Hope you enjoy ^_^

It felt as if air had been knocked out of him, making him able to draw only shallow breaths as he made his way forward. His muscles ached with a tingling sensation, but it’d pass. He had great faith in the sensation passing. All he’d need to do, is keep calm, and keep moving forward within the limits of his own capabilities. If he could only take shallow breaths for now, then that’s what he’d do. It was called getting accustomed to the situation and was nothing to get worried over. Unexpected things were going to happen, but what would matter was his ability to work with it.

The terrain looks pretty similar than back home. And there’s a prominent concentration of mana that way, so it’s probable that the headquarters is there. Yeah. For now, I can just work under the assumption that things are similar to what they’d be in my own time. And if it turns out that I’m wrong, I’ll make corrective manoeuvres. Yes. I need to start from somewhere. And this is as good of a tactics to start with as any else.  

Red flags by the side of stone gates, depicting a golden lion came in sight. And behind the gates, multiple sources of mana could be detected moving around.

Alright. It looks very similar, so this can’t be that far from my time. But now to… how to approach this? I could very easily sneak in and just see them, if they’re both here that is, but that’d be a poor choice. But then again, just knocking on their door and asking to see the captain is enough to raise an eyebrow. And most of the time it wouldn’t lead anywhere. But… between the two choices, that is the more rational one to take, because the other one can potentially cause havoc.

He sighed to himself, gathering himself for a moment. Alright. I can do this. I just need to argue my case well.

---

“Welcome back Sir,” Randal greeted as Fuegoleon returned to the base, passing him in the corridor.

“Thank you,” he replied with a courteous tone. “Did anything note worthy take place while I was gone?”

“Well you could say that Sir…”

“Hm?”

“I’m not quite sure how to explain it properly Sir. But a certain… young gentleman is here to see you.”

Fuegoleon stayed silent, waiting for Randal to elaborate.

“He’s wearing the squad uniform, and his mana levels are more than enough to qualify him for the squad, but I can’t remember him ever joining. And he does have a cloak pin that… it resembles your family insignia,” Randal paused for a moment while thinking back to the young man’s ensemble. “He was very insistent on seeing you, but kept it perfectly civil and he seemed reasonable enough. Though he refused to tell me what he needs to talk to you about.”

A thought passed through Fuegoleon, even if he still had a reason to be sceptical. He couldn’t let himself get caught into the emotion and the countless of possibilities and had to make sure who the man indeed was.

“Where is he?” He asked frankly, but a hint of curiosity lacing his tone.

“In your office Sir,” Randal replied, to which Fuegoleon nodded.

“Thank you,” he still said before starting to make his way towards his office.

“Oh and Sir?” Randal continued as an afterthought, making Fuegoleon turn his head back to Randal while halting his movement for a moment. “He-, he also inquired about Solara. I suppose. It was very subtle.”

Fuegoleon paused for a moment, thinking about what course of action to take with a faint thoughtful hum. “Where is she at the moment, do you know?”

“I’m assuming that she’s in her office Sir,” Randal replied while his brows furrowed for a brief, passing moment.

“Could you ask her to come by my office?” Fuegoleon asked, receiving a nod from Randal.

“Of course, Sir.”

He still nodded before continuing his way to his office, the thoughts beginning to swirl in his mind more violently than before. And none of the possibilities that came to mind were exactly calming him, for all had a component that made him feel uneasy, even if for very different reasons.

He opened his office door and was greeted a sight of a young man, possibly in his early twenties or slightly younger quietly sitting in a chair before his desk. His eyes were golden, bright as the morning sun, and he had ginger hair, slightly lighter than Fuegoleon’s own.

“Good day,” he greeted while standing up and offering his hand to shake while wearing a friendly smile. A smile that was reflected in his eyes.

“Good day,” Fuegoleon replied while returning the handshake, letting his eyes wander free over the crimson cloak the man was wearing. It indeed resembled the squad uniform to a great extent, but with minor alterations, and a cloak pin on his right shoulder.

His gaze met with the pair of golden eyes once more, and he gestured back towards the seat. “Please.”

The man nodded and sat back down as Fuegoleon circled around his desk and took a seat in his own chair.

“I’ve understood that there’s something urgent you need to discuss with me?” He inquired factually, choosing to get straight to the point.

“Yes, that is correct,” the man replied before his gaze shifted into the distance with a thoughtful frown. “But I must admit that I’m not quite sure how to begin,” he admitted with an apologetically amused chuckle.

“Then perhaps it’s better that we get straight to the topic,” Fuegoleon suggested with a stern expression while preparing himself for whatever the man was about to tell him.

“I suppose that’s indeed the best course of action,” he agreed with a veil of hesitation over his eyes. “You see, my name is Leonidas and I’m-“

There was a knock at the door, interrupting Leonidas’ explanation, the sound making both of them turn their heads towards the sound and see Solara emerging into the room.

“You needed to see me?” She inquired with a faint smile, her eyes passing briefly over the young man whose eyes widened in recognition. “Or are you in the middle of something?” She continued while gazing to Fuego.

“It’s alright, you can stay,” Fuego replied with a faint, and yet factual tone as Solara made her way closer to his desk after closing the door.

She placed a few documents onto his desk as he spoke: “Please, continue.”

“Ah, yes,” Leonidas uttered as a forced, tense grin appeared on his lips. “As I said, my name is Leonidas and, um,” he paused to clear his throat as his gaze averted to the side for a moment. “And I’m your son.”

Fuegoleon kept his stern gaze directed at Leonidas while Solara’s brows rose in surprise, her head turning towards Leonidas. The young man was seated back in the chair, his arm was propped against the arm rest, his hand loosely held against his face, and his index finger was placed horizontally over his lips.

“That is a bold argument to make,” Fuegoleon commented.

“And I’m not claiming that it wouldn’t be,” Leonidas agreed. “But the truth is that I was sent back in time, by…” he chuckled to himself, “by the two of you. And you didn’t really give me a reason why I needed to walk through the Time Gates-“

“Time Gates?” Solara interrupted.

“Yes,” he agreed. “Look, I know, I know,” he emphasized while leaning a bit forward in his chair, “that it sounds absurd, because even time mages can’t just walk across them as they please, but-“

“But since there are portals that require a specific flux in the space time continuum, it’s not impossible, just highly unlikely. And even then, it’s not ‘walking freely’ but works under predetermined laws and regulations,” she thought out loud.

“Exactly,” Leonidas agreed while loosely pointing at her with his index finger, almost as if to say ‘you go it’. “So,” he began with a hopeful undertone lacing his voice. “You believe that I’m your son,” he smiled to them while lowering his chin, his shoulder rising slightly closer to his ears, as if he was curling around himself.

“Unfortunately, that only supports the idea of you being from the future,” Fuegoleon replied, “while the question of lineage is still very much an open discussion. Because, let’s say that you indeed are from the future, then you could be in possession of knowledge of the past that’s freely given. As royalty, and nobility,” he added while glancing to Solara, “our lives are very much under scrutiny, and thus telling simple details about us doesn’t yet prove anything.” His tone was distant and factual, a hint of disbelief lacing it, as if he wasn’t fully with the conversation and rather working on autopilot.

“That’s…”

“Furthermore, there are types of magic that can be used to inside the memories of others, thus there’s a possibility that you’ve come into possession of our future memories and thus can tell us about us,” he reasoned further while staring blankly ahead of him.

“Fair enough, but-“ Leonidas tried, but his mind was blank. Dad has a point. And he has to consider all that. He does. So how-, how can I prove who I am without really giving away much about the future? Okay. Okay. Hmm… That magic can ‘show’ memories, but feelings, those they can’t convey, right? So, what have they told about their emotions from this point of time? Things that wouldn’t be obvious. Okay. Think.

Solara placed her hand onto Fuegoleon’s shoulder, waking him from his trance and making him glance at her. But instead of glancing at him, she tilted her head and watching the young man, who was furiously trying to think of what to say.

“[It’s hard to counter those arguments,]” she commented with a soft tone, as if the words would’ve taken off of her lips with butterfly wings.

“[It is,]” Leonidas agreed with a tight smile, while his eyes still retained that look of melancholy.

Alright. So, you’re Thean. That’s a start. “[Tell me,]” she continued while circling around the desk, her fingers sliding off of Fuegoleon’s shoulder as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “[Tell me about The 23rd of Quintilis.]” She continued while leaning against the desk.

Leonidas frowned at her. “[Okay, so officially-]”

“[No. Not ‘officially’. Tell me what really happened.]”

“Oh…” he mumbled before his face distorted. “[O-kay…]” he breathed in while shifting in his seat. “[So… under the castle there’s a-]” he cleared his throat, “[there’s a portal that… really shouldn’t be there, one that really shouldn’t ever have been made really, and-]” he bit down his molars after swallowing.

“[Okay, fair enough. That’s enough to tell me that you’re Thean, and, nobility,]” she interrupted. “[What’s left is for you to convince me that you’re our son.]”

But that’s the hard part… He took a deep breath while regaining his pose, and trying to concentrate on what he could say. “But the thing is,” he began, glancing at both of them. “I can’t really tell you a lot. Because that could potentially change the course of the future.”

“Mhm,” Solara hummed.

“Oh boy, when you said that this’d be a good practice run for The Divine Evaluation Ceremony, you weren’t lying,” he joked, making Fuegoleon quirk an eyebrow, while Solara scoffed to herself with a faint passing amusement. “Alright, bad timing,” Leonidas continued with a wave of his hand while looking at his father.

A brief silence settled into the air, quiet anticipation building up around them.

Solara sighed and made his way closer to Leonidas as her arms fell to her sides.

“Convince me,” she implored, now standing next to his seat.

Leonidas’ eyes averted to the side for a moment. “Mom… I-, I really can’t. Most of the arguments I could make, could easily be countered with ‘but there could be magic that’, and the rest… I really can’t tell you,” he admitted. “If Alyssa was here, I could prove it easily, but…”

“Mhm,” she hummed while letting her gaze cascade over the form of the young man in front of her. She sighed, and opened her arms. “Come here,” she spoke with a hushed tone, making Leonidas’ eyes turn to her in disbelief.

He got up from his chair with slow, hesitant movements, looking at her, almost as if to still ask if he could. The pair of golden eyes explored her expression with a sorrowful undertone.

He took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tight while pressing his forehead against her shoulder. And it was as if, being able to hide away from the world, into his mother’s arms, allowed him to spill his emotions out. “But… this isn’t like [The Divine Evaluation…] this… I don’t know how to get back from this…” he admitted.

Fuegoleon watched the interaction, and there was something so natural about it. There was something so genuine about it that it made his heart clench. Either… either he’s an incredibly good liar… or then he’s telling the truth… He got up from his chair and made his way to the two.

“I really need you to believe me mom,” he whispered, as if speaking out a secret.

“I hear you,” she replied with a whisper of her own. “And I’m willing to believe you. But. If it turns out that you lied to me, then-“

“I’ll be in a world of trouble?” Leonidas grinned through the barely broken voice of his.

“Son or not,” Solara agreed with a faint chuckle.

Leonidas pulled back from the hug, and he looked at Fuegoleon, standing next to them.

They shared a gaze for a moment, until Leonidas spoke up. “Look, I can’t really reason to you any better why you should believe me. And… you absolutely need to consider all of the possibilities, making all of the arguments perfectly valid. So…”

“You can only hope that I believe you?” Fue asked with a low, quiet tone, but which, this time, was laced with a soft undertone.

Leonidas nodded as a reply, knowing just how flimsy the argument was. In fact, it wasn’t even an argument, it was a hope. It was a hope that the people, who would eventually become his parents, but yet weren’t, would believe him.

Fuegoleon sighed to himself. For a good while during the conversation, he had felt as if he wasn’t even present in the room, but rather just going through the motions while trying to reason it all to himself. But now, as he watched into the golden eyes, bright and radiant as a faint flicker in someone else’s, he felt the tension of his muscles melting away.

“Alright… I believe you,” he spoke with a faint smile while placing his hand onto Leon’s shoulder. “But-“

“Lying won’t be tolerated?”

Fue nodded to him. “Precisely,” he replied. “It seems you have a habit of interrupting people,” he commented with a faint smile.

“I like to think to think it more like continuing other’s sentences,” Leon commented as his gaze fell to the side. “And I don’t do it with most people…”

“Hmm…” Fue hummed with a smirk. “I think I understand. It sounds a bit like a habit of someone else,” he spoke with a tender tone while giving Solara a glance.

“Just try and tell me that you don’t like it when I finish your sentences,” she rolled her eyes with a grin.

“Never did dear…”

Leonidas smiled as he watched the exchange. They really haven’t changed from since then. Or now. Since… From. The beginning.

[butterflies-dragons]

I know that it's probably not anything, but the name Ygritte is likely based off of the word Egret, which is a long-legged bird that is found lakes and rivers. Sansa has been called a bird (by Cersei and the Hound) and has some association with rivers (through her Tully family; she lost Lady near a river). More parallels between Jon's present and future love interests?

Hello Anon:

It took me eons…  Can you forgive me?

I don’t particularly like when Sansa is called “little bird”, that was an insult.  Look at this list of all the times Sansa was called that.       

We also have Varys’ little birds, a network of spies. Not a good association. 

Right now she is under the disguise of Alayne Stone, whose father has precisely little birds as sigil: “Coat of arms of House Baelish of Harrenhal. A field of silver mockingbirds, on a green field”. 

The only little bird that I would like to be associated with Sansa is the nightingale.  

Meanwhile, the times when Sansa associated herself with birds, those are birds of prey: Hawks and Falcons: 

Do you hawk, Sansa?“ “A little,” she admitted. 

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa I

The day before last she’d taken Sansa hawking. […] Sansa’s merlin brought down three ducks while Margaery’s peregrine took a heron in full flight. 

—A Storm of Swords - Sansa II

A falcon soared above the frozen waterfall, blue wings spread wide against the morning sky. Would that I had wings as well. 

—A Feast for Crows - Alayne I

Bran also wishes his siblings and him could be ravens.  And ravens are cousins with the crows (Jon Snow): 

“Someone else was in the raven,” he told Lord Brynden, once he had returned to his own skin. “Some girl. I felt her.”

“A woman, of those who sing the song of earth,” his teacher said. “Long dead, yet a part of her remains, just as a part of you would remain in Summer if your boy’s flesh were to die upon the morrow. A shadow on the soul. She will not harm you.”

“Do all the birds have singers in them?”

“All,” Lord Brynden said. “It was the singers who taught the First Men to send messages by raven … but in those days, the birds would speak the words. The trees remember, but men forget, and so now they write the messages on parchment and tie them round the feet of birds who have never shared their skin.”

Old Nan had told him the same story once, Bran remembered, but when he asked Robb if it was true, his brother laughed and asked him if he believed in grumkins too. He wished Robb were with them now. I’d tell him I could fly, but he wouldn’t believe, so I’d have to show him. I bet that he could learn to fly too, him and Arya and Sansa, even baby Rickon and Jon Snow. We could all be ravens and live in Maester Luwin’s rookery. 

—A Dance with Dragons - Bran III

Jon’s fingers were in the bucket, blood up to the wrist. “Dywen says the wildlings call us crows,” he said uncertainly.

“The crow is the raven’s poor cousin. They are both beggars in black, hated and misunderstood.”

—A Game of Thrones - Jon VIII

There are theories about Sansa warging into a bird.  This generation of Stark children is deeply connected with the Children of the Forest.  For example, the eyes of the COTF are the same colors of the Stark Children’s direwolves.  Some COTF are called singers, others dancers.  Sansa is a singer too, so, since she lost her direwolf Lady, Sansa’s soul could live in some bird after her human body dies.  This applies to all of the Stark Children really.

Now, about Ygritte’s name, it really could be yet one more parallel, yes. Ygritte being named after the Egret bird reminds me of another lady, Rose of the Red Lake, a legendary daughter of Garth Greenhand and ancestor of House Crane of Red Lake.  

ROSE OF RED LAKE, a skinchanger, able to transform into a crane at will—a power some say still manifests from time to time in the women of House Crane, her descendants.

—The World of Ice & Fire

House Crane of Red Lake is a noble house from Red Lake in the Reach. It is one of the principal houses sworn to House Tyrell. They blazon their shield with a vee of golden cranes on pale blue.

According to legend the house was founded by Rose of Red Lake, a daughter of Garth Greenhand.

[Source]

We really don’t know much about Rose, but she is often depicted as a redhead:

Art credit [Source 1] [Source 2]

The parallels are there Anon.

Ygritte & Sansa: Redheads, blue eyed, descendants of the First Men, Bael the Bard, Jon Snow, rose imagery, half-fish, associated with birds and bodies of water, rivers (House Tully - Riverlands) and lakes. 

Ygritte & Rose: Redheads, descendants of the First Men, legendary ancestors: Bael the Bard and Garth Greenhand, rose imagery, associated with birds, egrets and cranes, that are really similar birds that live around rivers and lakes.

Sansa & Rose: Skinchangers, redheads, descendants of the First Men, legendary ancestors: Bael the Bard and Garth Greenhand, rose imagery, associated with birds and bodies of water, rivers (House Tully - Riverlands) and lakes.

I even find some similarities between Bael the Bard and Garth Greenhand, the legendary ancestors of these three women. 

It took me a while, but I really liked answering this question.

Thanks for your message. 

[stormcloudrising]

Yo! I read your honeycomb posts diagonally, liked it. I have to rrad them more carefully later. I also saw the honeycomb = Eyrie, which I'm writing about too for my analysis on Sansa I. I'm here asking if in taking your notes on this, you saw Sansa and honey associations. I mean honey, not bees or the like,

Hi,

Thanks for reading and the question. Also, apologies for the delayed response. It’s been a bit crazy the last few weeks with both work and life.

As I stated in my essay, honey was considered nectar and the food of the gods in Greek mythology, and I believe that Martin is symbolically using it the same way in regards to both Bran and Sansa. In the case of Bran, the association is clearer because George often gives us the young Stark’s thoughts as he eats food or drinks wine flavored with honey.

Bran drank. The potion was thick and chalky, but there was honey in it, so it went down easy.

A Clash of Kings - Bran I

Bran's wine was sweetened with honey and fragrant with cinnamon and cloves, but stronger than he was used to. He could feel its hot snaky fingers wriggling through his chest as he swallowed. By the time he set down the goblet, his head was swimming.

A Clash of Kings - Bran III

In the example above, Martin literally associates honey with the fire of the gods as it snakes through Bran’s chest. It’s so potent, his head is swimming.  Understanding the symbolism of honey as the food of the gods, helps you to see the progression of the mentions in Bran’s chapter and the metaphoric usage of the word throughout the text by Martin.

Having said all that, recognizing the honey symbolism in Sansa’s arc is not as easy as with Bran because I think that Martin is saving the revelation of her greenseer abilities for TWOW. In the instances when honey appears in her chapter, she is simply commenting about its presence in the scene and as I say, the symbolism is more in abstract . It is still there but it may not be specifically about Sansa. Like in this scene.

Petyr yanked on the other boot. "I've had about as much home as I can stomach. We'll leave for the Eyrie this afternoon." He kissed his lady wife and licked a smear of honey off her lips, then headed down the steps.

A Storm of Swords - Sansa VI

As the Eyrie is a symbolic honeycomb, Lysa as its ruler is the metaphorical queen bee. Petyr licking the honey from her lips can then be seen as him stealing her power or her icy fire. He’s doing so through enticing her to give it away. And how is Petyr doing this? Well, mint is a bee balm and George in making it a favorite of Petyr is his way of carrying through the symbolism of Petyr stealing the honey of the queen bee.

Aside from the symbolic connection to bees that I discussed in my essay, probably the most important honey reference in the entire series occurs in a Sansa chapter and is about her and Jon. I am talking about The Bear and the Maiden Fair, which is sung by Butterbumps when Olenna interrogates Winterfell’s daughter about Joffrey. I also discussed the implications of the song here.

Also, as I talked about in my essay, The Evolution of Val, dark honey is very closed in color to chestnut. In actual fact, it’s dark brown with red highlights, which is very similar to Alayne’s hair color.  She colored her red tresses chestnut brown but as always happens when you dye your hair, the original color eventually returns.  Sansa’s red hair keeps peeking through and she is running out of dye.  

To understand why the Bear and the Maiden Fair with its theme of honeyed-hair is so important to Sansa, one must understand why the Wildings consider redheads lucky and why it is said that they are “kissed by fire,” as the two concepts are synonymous.

To have kissed by fire hair is to be blessed by the gods. In symbolic terms, it’s to be blessed with the “fire of the gods.”  I suspect that the Nissa Nissa, who was quite possibly the first greenseer was a redhead. It’s not clear whether she was a full COTF or a COTF/human hybrid but I think the evidence points to her being a redhead. And although the Wildings may have forgotten the original meaning, they remember enough to think that having red hair to be blessed by the gods or to be lucky.

However,  as we’ve seen over and over in the text, being a redhead is actually not that lucky as the fire of the gods is not meant for everyone.  The text is filled with an abundance of deaths of characters with red hair.  And those who are lucky enough to attain the power of the gods—starting with Nissa Nissa, must pay a very steep price.

Let’s just think about the featured redheads in our story. Catelyn, Rob, Ygritte, Dalla, Lysa, and Beric are all dead. Jon Connington is not yet gone from the world but as he’s infected with greyscale, his future is not bright. Things are also not looking that promising for little Rickon. He’s still alive but his fate in the books will most likely be very similar to that of his character on the show. The same is probably true of Melissandre. In fact, she may already be dead and is just some version of a fire wight.

Then we come to Bran and Sansa. Bran almost died and while he survived, his payment for accessing the fire of the gods was the loss of the use of his legs. Sansa’s direwolf was killed by her father, who was in turned beheaded in front of her.  She also suffered at the brutish hands of Joffrey and the Kings Guards. Is this sufficient payment for her accessing the weirwood net? Only time will tell but knowing George and the unlucky nature of the redheads in the books, I would say the answer is no.

Also, except for Dalla, Lysa and Ygritte, all the redheads I listed above were literally touched by the fire of the gods in some manner. Think of the Stark kids and their warg and or greenseer abilities; Jon Con and his greyscale, which is said to have been created as a result of a cursed placed upon the Valyrians by a Rhoynar king; Beric and Cat who both returned from the dead; and of course Melisandre and her powers.  

These are an awful lot of redheads tied to the magical storyline. Compare this number with the other characters who are also connected to magic and you arguably only have Arya, Dany, Jon, Euron and Patchface. See the difference.

Yes, sometimes a black box is simply a black box. However, when you see a theme playing out throughout the text and how it’s symbolically linked in numerous ways to a specific character then you have to start wondering if George is trying to say something.

To have “kissed by fire hair” is symbolic of being blessed by the gods or having the ability to access the power of the gods. Honey is also symbolic of the food or fire of the gods. And so, when in the song, George tells us that the fair maiden had honey in her hair, he is implying that she is most likely a greenseer—and one with red hair. I say that because of the emphasis George puts on dark-honey hair as well as Alayne’s chestnut colored hair. As I’ve stated, dark-honey hair is brown with red highlights ala Alayne’s.

Now of course, the Bear and the Maiden Fair is also filled with sexual insinuations as implied by him licking the honey from the maiden’s hair…the Lord’s Kiss anyone. In many world myths about the bear and the maiden, the “honey” is not always freely offered. It’s sometimes taken by force or the maiden is enticed with some element. Think of Petyr’s symbolic use of mint, which is a bee balm.

Sansa tried to step back, but he pulled her into his arms and suddenly he was kissing her. Feebly, she tried to squirm, but only succeeded in pressing herself more tightly against him. His mouth was on hers, swallowing her words. He tasted of mint. For half a heartbeat she yielded to his kiss . . . before she turned her face away and wrenched free. "What are you doing?"

A Storm of Swords - Sansa VII

However, force or enticement does not seem to be the case in this particular instance as the song suggests that the maiden freely offered up her honey to the bear. And so, whatever happens between Sansa, the fair maiden, and her bear, her fire will be freely given.

I suspect that in TWOW, we will see more blatant passage of honey being tied to Sansa. This will a result of what I believe to be her greenseer abilities but also a result of the Persephone theme running throughout her arc.

OMG…this response turned out to be extremely long. Apologies for making you read so much (assuming that you did).😊

ETA to add that redheads were probably also probably considered lucky because their hair matched the color of the weirwoods, which are sacred to the old gods and those who follow them. 

[lyranova]

happy anniversary lyra!!!!!! hmmm for the ask game 12,15,18 for alistar? considering what he’s abt to go thru…

Hiya Tam, and thank you so much 🥰! Of course, because yeah in COTF: Shadows he’s…he’s about to go through some rough stuff 😅!

Alistar:

12. What one act in this character’s past are they most proud of?

Hmm…one act Alistar’s most proud of was when he used his magic to save someone for the first time. I think it kind of helped him realize that he isn’t just someone who causes people “to hurt” that he also can cause people “to feel safe/heal”. So…I think that’s his proudest moment from his past, was when he saved someone for the first time using his magic!

15. Do they think redemption is possible? Why or why not?

Alistar does believe redemption is possible! He’s *seen* it work with his dad and Patri! He believes everyone has to chance to redeem themselves, yes even Lucius despite what he’s done. Just because someone is redeemed doesn’t mean their past misdeeds are erased/forgiven/forgotten, it just means that they realized what they did was wrong and they want to try to fix it if they can, or at least to have the *chance* to fix their mistakes!

18. What advice would they give to their younger self?

“ Stop trying to shoulder things on your own. You’re surrounded by friends and loved ones who want to help you and support you, so don’t try smile and pretend everythings fine when it isn’t. When things get to be too much, hand some of the pressure off to someone else instead of keeping it all inside and losing control of your powers…I promise you won’t be a burden.“

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

Hello! I'm pretty sure I saw you mention a while ago that you were disappointed by confessions of the fox, would you mind explaining why? I've seen mostly good things about it myself. If I misremembered then I'm sorry and I hope you have a good day :))

I think this is one of my less popular opinions. And I understand - we so rarely get historical fiction with trans folk as the titular character (indeed, we rarely get any fiction what that). So I get people’s desire to laud it. 

For me though? It fundamentally didn’t work as a book. As a story.  

Let me count the ways. (Apologies in advance for the length of this.)

First: If you’re trans-ing someone who was historically cis instead of seeking to find a real, historical trans or gender-nonconforming person, I have questions. 

Most of the questions can be summed up as: Why? 

I struggle with historical fiction that takes a cis person and re-imagines them as trans as if there aren’t already literal historical, real trans people out there whose stories can be told. It smacks as (unintended, well meaning) erasure of lived experiences. 

Jack Sheppard, to the best of our knowledge, was a cis dude. There were trans folk in London in the 1710s and ‘20s. You might have to dig a bit for them, but they’re there. Because trans folk have always been there. 

Second: Characterisation 

This is more personal taste, but I found Jack and his girlfriend Bess to be inexcusably boring. How a trans, thief and gaolbreaker in 1720s gin-soaked London can be written as boring is anyone’s guess. But he was. 

Jack had no real personality and I found his story to be uninteresting. Oh, he’s the world’s best thief and gaolbreaker, that’s nice. But on its own it isn’t enough.

He had few to no faults. Childhood trauma isn’t a personality. Nor is being trans. And the author relies heavily on gender + occupation (thief-ness) to equal personality. So it falls very flat.  

Bess, his girlfriend, is a mixed-race sex worker from the Fens (even though actual real-Bess was from Edgeware). She seems to only exist to demonstrate that Jack is good at sex. She also veers a little into the Mystical Woman of Colour Healer Who Aids The White Person on their Journey of Self Discovery trope. 

Neither Bess nor Jack undergo any real change in the book. They exist in a weird stasis and experience no development, despite living through some harrowing things. They’re wooden dolls who move through the story without really engaging with, or being influenced by, the things around them. 

The other “main” character is a modern Academic who “found” this supposed “manuscript” of Jack’s life and is annotating it. His story unfolds in the foot notes and it’s just so messy if not a bit contrived. It didn’t make sense. I think the author was trying to convey that the Academic was in a sort of dystopian future, but if that’s the case it didn’t work. And if that’s not the case, the entire inclusion of the Academic’s story served only to annoy and take me out of the reading experience. 

E.g. There’s a scene where the Academic is being taken to task by the Dean for playing stupid games on his phone during office hours and like honey, lapsed-historian/academic here, trust me the Dean doesn’t give a fuck what you do during your office hours so long as you’re in your office and students can come bother you about their poor marks. 

The manuscript is supposedly being sought after by this pharmaceutical company for nefarious reasons that never struck me as being entirely realistic/believable. Also, the university was spying on this non-tenured, slightly useless Academic as if he somehow mattered? Which made zero sense. Anyway, it was stupid and should have been ripped out of the final version. OR changed substantially. 

Jonathan Wild, the thief taker (main antagonist to Jack), is probably the only interesting person. 

Third: Lack of Follow Through, or, the Fabulism Was Not Used Well 

The book tries to blend in some fabulism to the world by giving Jack the ability to “hear” the thoughts of inanimate objects. This could have been fun and gone to some interesting places, but it failed to deliver. 

I personally found the shoe-horning in of “capitalism commodifies everything” to be sloppy and heavy handed. It was done with little grace and didn’t sit right given that we are dealing with the early modern period. Yes, you can use the past to critique our modern woes, but do it intelligently. Don’t slap modern points of view and understandings of things onto the past and expect them to make sense. 

Anyway, Jack spends the book hearing inanimate objects talk to him, asking him to “free” them, or something. And uh .. .it doesn’t go anywhere interesting after that. 

Also the correlation one can draw from these objects to, you know, slaves, is uncomfortable. Especially as it’s the cargo of the EIC ships that Jack hears. I don’t think it’s intended in any sort of malicious way, but the allusion is there and I always found it to be distinctly uncomfortable. 

Fourth: Misuse of Marxist Theory, or, More Heavy Handed Moralizing that Annoyed the Dear Reader because it wasn’t subtle and, more importantly, it wasn’t done intelligently. 

So, the author is an academic - studies 18th century lit. Which is readily apparent as his Academic (self-insert) character is, I believe, supposed to be a historian and uh ... you can tell that the author doesn’t know enough to wing that. E.g. How he interprets some of the laws and customs of the time. Instead of understanding the social, economic and, most importantly, environmental issues that gave birth to laws like “the corporation of the city of London owns the streets so you can’t muckrake” he chooses to understand them through a very 21st century lens (and a Marxist one at that. I know I’m perhaps a bit uncool for this, but I find the application of Marxist theory to the early modern period to be ... not useful). 

Do you know why, mid/late 17th century London passed these municipal laws? Because of the god damn fucking plague you numb nut. You absolute buffoon. It had nothing to do with “oh the City/government is evil and wants to own you” it had to do with the fact that no one cleaned the goddamn street. So the city took over doing it. 

Prior to this, in London, you were supposed to keep the street in front of your building clear of waste, debris, refuse etc. No one did this, of course. I live where it’s cold and snows a lot and people can barely shovel the 2 sq ft of sidewalk in front of their driveway in the winter. I dread the idea of an average homeowner being expected to keep the street clear and clean. 

Anyway, guess what dirty streets attract? Vermin. Guess what comes with vermin? Plague. Guess what happened in 1665/66? The great plague of London! 

17th century England might not have understood germ theory, but they did understand correlation. (Also, the population of London was doubling at the back half of the 17th century and streets needed to be reliably cleared for through-traffic reasons etc. etc.) 

ugh, sorry, that one in particular drove me up the wall. Not everything is a capitalist conspiracy. Especially when we’re talking about municipal by-laws from the 17th century. 

And I understand the temptation to read a lot of modern interpretation of words like “corporation” and “company” onto bodies that used these same words in 17th and 18th centuries. But the weight, meaning and connotation of “the worshipful company of merchant adventurers” is different from, I don’t know, “the tech company google” or whatever. The early 18th century is when we start seeing the birth of the stock market, of “venture companies” (i.e. merchant adventure companies), of a lot of the language and proto-iterations of what will grow to be economic institutions of our time. But it doesn’t mean they’re the same and that difference is important. Because Jack Sheppard is a man living in 1720 he’s not going to be having our modern 21st century critiques of capitalism because his engagement with the economic systems of his time would have been radically different to our own experiences. 

Fifth:  Unbelievable Top Surgery & Recovery 

So, Jack gets top surgery. In 1720s fever-ridden London. While quarantining in a brothel. 

And he lived! No infection! No tearing! He was up and about in a matter of days. I don’t remember if his nipples survived the operation or not but somehow Jack did. Without anesthetics! Or you know, any concept of hygiene. 

His Mystical Girlfriend Who Exists to Show How Good Jack is at Sex is also somehow Magically Very Literate and also Magically a Surgeon? and performs this surgery on Jack in the middle of a plague. 

The entire ordeal was so poorly handled in terms of believability that I literally set the book down and said “what the fucking fuck” to the empty room then drank wine before finishing the chapter. 

An aside, it is funny thinking about the quarantine chapters at this point. I read COTF when it first came out a few years ago. Sweet summer children, we none of us had any idea how to write quarantine scenes. 

That reminds me: the entire quarantine thing was presented as the government trying to control movement and take away people’s rights etc. instead of a very normal, typical response that cities had been enacting since 1350. Samuel Pepys, who lived through the 1665/66 epidemic, barely even notes the restrictions. He’s like just “hmmm I’d love to go to the pub but I also don’t want to die. so. *shrug*” 

At the time of the author’s writing, most of us in the western world had no idea how normal and day-to-day disease was for our ancestors and yes, sometimes there would be crackdowns to try and curb it if an epidemic hit. That was part and parcel of life. So again, Jack and Bess wouldn’t be like “ooooh we’re 21st century slightly libertarian lefitsts who think the government is doing this to control us and for nefarious purposes”. Much more likely, they would have been like Pepys and viewed it as nuisance, albeit a necessary one. 

Sixth: Overall Lack of Realism 

I think I’ve noted the big moments where I was like “no one in the early 18th century would think that I’m pretty certain”. This isn’t to say people didn’t grouse, complain about London government (and the king etc.), critique or question the world they lived in. They absolutely did! Regularly. With great verve and gusto, if the broadsheets are anything to go by. But their critiques, their complaints, suggestions for bettering life, are not the same as ours. Because how could they be? They lived in a different world, were responding to specific things, grew up hearing and believing certain things etc. 

Jack, aside from having minimal to no character, really did read like a modern slightly-libertarian leftist who was plunked into a novel that takes place three hundred years ago. 

In addition to unrealistic political views, his understanding of body, gender, sexuality and identity also read as incredibly modern. Now this is harder, because we have so few extant sources from that time on those who lived non-gender conforming lives, and from their point of view, so yes creative imagining and interpretation is the rule of the day for writing that. 

But, we do know how in general the average person engaged and understood gender and sexuality and that would, naturally, inform anyone whose experience was different. And that base line of “probably what a typical cis Englishman or woman felt about their body and identity” wasn’t present. At all. 

Indeed, gender engagement at that time was interesting. The concept of the body, the role of the physical body, how it was interpreted is absolutely fascinating and the author could have done some really cool things with that. But he didn’t. He went for slapping a modern interpretation onto the past. 

At this point, write a dystopian novel and make Jack a fictional character. That probably would have gone over better, for me at least. The conceit can remain the same: It’s the year 4056 and an Academic found a manuscript from the year 3045 when the Dystopia Was a Thing - and go from there. 

--- 

I think part of what made this very popular and why people seem so taken with it is that it reads smart. It reads like someone who has immersed themselves in that world etc. because of the slang and language used. 

Yet, for me, as someone who has studied this period extensively, especially queerness in London in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, it read flat and unrealistic. 

I was initially very enthused when I started it. There are some posts to that effect on my blog. But it very quickly went south. It tries very hard to be Radical and Smart and Subversive and Critiquing Everything and so I think it fails at the fundamental thing it should be doing: telling a good story. 

(Note: The book does try and address racism in London at this time. It also felt a bit forced. And Jack seemed to have no prejudices or preconceived notions about Indian and Black folk which isn’t realistic. Like, it might make him #Problematic but my dude, you’re writing a man born in 1702. He’s going to have some iffy views. That can be challenged! Absolutely. But they still would have existed.) 

---

Thank you for the ask! I again apologize for the length of the reply. 

[fallstaticexit]

List 5 facts about a favorite sim of yours, and send this to simblrs whose sims you adore 💜

Thank you for the ask :) I always get sooo excited when I get an opportunity to answer one of these!

Since next COTF update is a bit Noa centered plus I've been playing with him in game the past couple days (and he's my little bb) I'll blabber about my favorite ex-pirate. 🤭💖

Noa was born in Selvadorada - there's a lot Noa doesn't know about his past. The little he does know are the very blurry early memories he had before he was taken in by pirates as a toddler and the little bits of information he was able to scrape up over time from his crewmates or the Freudian slip from his caretaker/Captain, Knox during one of his passionate drunken rants. He had no idea his mother was a witch until he after he had Adie and we actually learn in the coming update how he finds out about his Aunt Nora (via flashback). His way of connecting with his birth home is by embracing Selvadoradian culture by opening his failing restaurant, A Taste of Selvadorada.

Noa was raised by pirates - After the death of his mother when he was a toddler, Noa was taken in by pirates. Before he met Orion and the Briars, the pirates was the only family he ever knew. His captain, Captain Knox, was the closest thing he had to a father even if they had a rough relationship where it often felt like Knox resented Noa. He also considered Knox's son, Roman, as his brother; their relationship wasn't all that great either, especially as they got older. He grew up around liars and thieves and for his whole life that's what he had to become in order to survive. Even though Noa is no longer a pirate, he still has the instincts of one and is constantly having to shake away old habits.

Noa is still besties with Orion's ex - When Orion was 14/15, she dated the Sulani Chief's son, Sione. Sione is a really nice guy but he and Orion just wasn't a match plus her heart was destined for Noa whether she knew it or not so their breakup was inevitable. Noa and Sione both share a trauma of losing someone close to them which is how they ended up being friends. Years have past and they still talk often and consider each other soul brothers (and yes, Orion was a little annoyed at first but she's used to it lol )

Noa was named after his Aunt Nora - (did anyone figure this out yet? 🥹 ) Nora is not impressed nor pleased by this fact. Quite frankly, she doesn't particularly care for Noa at all. It's complicated...which leads to Fact 5:

Noa doesn't trust Nora - we get into the why next update but Noa can always tell when someone's lying to him or if he needs to keep his guard up. It's a trait you pick up when you're a pirate, it's how you survive. And all the bells are ringing when it comes to Nora.

[nightqueendany]

Original Final Season 7 - Episode 8: Protectors of the Realm

As with last episode, this episode takes place entirely in King’s Landing and entirely at Night because again, the Long Night is not just ONE night! 

Also, this episode has quite a bit of exposition but you will see why. Sorry not sorry.

In the Dragonpit

(which looks like the actual Dragonpit described in the books atop Rhaenys’ Hill [above], not just some repurposed gladiator arena *shakes head, rolls eyes*)

Team Stark/Targaryen prep for battle against the Night King, it’s decided the majority of non-fighters will be holed up in the Dragonpit as it’s the most strategically placed dwelling in the city other than the Red Keep. Bran will be in the pit as well.

Jon and Dany plan to be on the dragons protecting the Dragonpit (as they were supposed to be by the Godswood protecting Bran) - they can’t let the Night King/AOTD get to the Dragonpit, can’t let all those people die/turn and can’t let the Night King get to Bran - he’s the only one with the power to potentially defeat the Night King, **more on this in a bit**

While prepping in the Dragonpit (seeing the structure refortified, non-fighters of the city making their way in, passing out meals and blankets etc.), Dany can’t hold the truth from Jon any longer. She loves him and knows he wants to marry her but she can’t let him do so without knowing the truth - she’s infertile. Jon doesn’t believe it but if it’s true, it doesn’t matter to him, he loves her and knows what’s best for their people, all their people, is for them to join the Kingdoms once more through marriage in order to protect everyone.

They discuss logistics, who to tell of Jon’s parentage? He wants to tell his family but no one else matters

In the Red Keep

Team Stark/Targaryen periodically sends messengers to the Red Keep to inform Cersei of battle prep but the messengers keep coming back saying the Queen refused to see them 

In reality, Qyburn is intercepting all correspondences for Cersei, feeding her lies about what is happening in the city

Cersei and Euron (who’s finally back from Dragonstone) are insistent about the wildfire under the city being a “last resort” - Qyburn assures them he’s planned for this and that Team Stark/Targaryen will be none the wiser.

Euron attempts to persuade Cersei to take shelter on his ship during the battle, but Cersei refuses, her place is the Red Keep, she’s not going anywhere.  

On the Street of Steel

Gendry gives Arya the weapon that he made for her.

Soon after, Bran finds Arya, indicates her new weapon, and tells her she won’t need it. Arya is upset, she’s a warrior, she always has been, she should be outside fighting. Bran again reiterates that Arya must be a different kind of warrior for the fight against the dead, it’s what she’s trained for her whole life.

Arya, knowing she won’t be able to use the weapon Gendry made her, gives the weapon to Sansa who insists she be on the walls of the pit to defend it, with the rest of her people. Arya tells Sansa she won’t leave her side and Gendry and Theon say they will be at Sansa’s side too.

Plans for the Future

Once amongst a small group of their advisors and family, Jon and Dany announce that they will be married before the Battle for the Dawn. They have a few days, they don’t know what will happen during the battle to either of them, and they want the Seven Kingdoms united officially before then

Baelish and Varys obviously love this idea and they finally broach the topic of who they should name their heir, in the unfortunate event that they both die fighting the Night King. Jon, Dany, Melisandre and Bran look at Baelish and Varys suspiciously, but do nothing. They’ll think on it and tell everyone they will name an heir after the wedding, before the battle.

Because there are no weirwoods in King’s Landing and no septons either, Melisandre offers to officiate the ceremony. Dany finds this particularly appropriate as she was the one to bring Jon back from the dead.

Varys is clearly uncomfortable with this but says nothing

Okay, now that wedding stuff is settled, they need to plan for the upcoming fight against the dead...

Battle Plans

Jon speaks first and asks the one question on everyone’s minds, the only thing that matters really: How do you defeat the Night King?

Bran explains that when the Night King falls, the rest of the dead will fall with him. However, not all the dead were created by the Night King, so to make the battle easier, they have to go for the White Walkers - only three substances are known to kill White Walkers: Valyrian Steel, Dragonglass...and direwolf teeth.

Yes, Arya’s role in the battle finally has a purpose. Arya will warg Nymeria’s pack to find and take out all the Walkers so the living stand a chance against the dead - because even with all their armies pulled together, the dead still outnumber them.

Going back to the Night King, what does he want? How can he be destroyed?

Bran explains the NK was created by the COTF to defend themselves against the First Men. Sam and Missandei jump in, filling in gaps for Bran when they can. From what they can all tell from the symbols of the COTF, the histories in the different books they’ve read/skimmed through, and different visions of the past, the NK’s purpose was to destroy mankind for their wicked and violent ways, and the Children as well for making him. Only once the Men and Children put aside their differences and teamed up against the White Walkers did the dead retreat to the far North, aka The Pact.

So what went wrong, why is the NK back? Sandor Clegane chimes in. It’s simple. Man broke their promise. They went back to being at constant war. Violence is a disease. The Night King’s there to “cure” them. Beric asks Sandor who told him about violence being a disease. Sandor simply, sadly answers, “A friend.”

Missandei chimes in again. From what she was reading in one of the Targ history books she came across at Summerhall, it’s suggested that that’s why Aegon the Conqueror came to Westeros. He wanted to unite the realm to stop Winter from Coming. 

Sansa wonders why the Stark words, the Starks aren’t the enemy. No. They’re not. The Stark words were always a warning, passed down through generations of what would happen if Man broke their promise. The meaning was just forgotten.

Alright, so they know what the Night King’s purpose is. But Jon gets everyone back on track to the matter at hand: How. Do. We. Kill. Him? Arya looks at Bran hopefully but no, direwolf teeth, dragonglass, Valyrian Steel, dragon fire...none of it will work on its own. On its own? everyone asks. Bran has an idea, but as it’s never been done before, he’s not sure it will work. Bran believes he’s got to warg the Night King from the past to make him vulnerable in the present - as he did to Hodor.

Will this kill Bran? the Starks ask, concerned for their little brother. Bran doesn’t know, but if it does, it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make for the good of mankind. Jon doesn’t want to accept this, there must be another way, Bran tells him there isn’t, Jon leaves the meeting upset.

Though Dany wants to go after Jon, she hesitates, stays behind with Bran, she has a question. If the Stark words were always a warning of the threat of the dead, do the Targaryen words, Fire and Blood, have meaning as well because Aegon I wanted to protect the realm against the dead? Bran says he doesn’t know but it’s possible. Missandei listens to this and it jogs her memory to something else she read about: What’s the meaning of three, what’s the meaning of The Dragon has three heads? Dany hasn’t heard of this either, she’s curious, but again, Bran has no idea.

The Protectors of the Realm

As everyone else continues prepping, Bran is searching the city’s memories, popping up just long enough to give instructions, inform people of gaps or weak spots in the walls of the city, secret entrances that need to be blocked back up, etc. While delving into the past, Bran comes across a memory he realizes is recent - Varys and Littlefinger sneaking into the city.

VisionBran follows them and sees them meet in secret with Qyburn. The three discuss plans for the future, a future Bran realizes won’t include Cersei, Daenerys, or Jon. Qyburn assures Littlefinger and Baelish that once the dead are defeated and it’s clear Jon and Dany are dead too, he will poison Cersei and the Mountain. When Baelish and Varys ask for clarification as to how Qyburn will ensure Jon’s and Dany’s deaths during the battle, he shows them his scorpion prototype that was first seen on Euron’s ship when he attacked Dragonstone. Bran comes to with a gasp.

Jon and Dany are quickly informed of Varys’ and Baelish’s treasonous plot.

Baelish and Varys proclaim everything they did, they did for the realm, always to protect the realm. This gives Jon an idea as to how the two shall be dealt with but until then, they are put in chains.

Outside, snow starts to fall much more heavily on King’s Landing. They’re running out of time...

A Royal Wedding

Davos swings a cloak around Jon’s shoulders and fastens it for him as Missandei places a simple crown of winter roses on Daenerys’ head.

Everyone gathers around in the middle of the Dragonpit where Melisandre and Jon are waiting.

Dany emerges, clutching Jorah’s arm - he’s giving her away.

At Mel’s instructions, Jon and Dany recite the words of the religion of R’hllor and jump over a ditchfire, emerging on the other side as one. Having no other cloak available, Jon removes his and places it around Dany’s shoulders. They are finally married.

“Celebrations” begin (it’s really just everyone eating around bonfires in the Dragonpit, laughing, visiting, telling stories, etc.)

At Tormund’s prompting and questioning, Jaime is inspired to Knight Brienne which everyone loves

Jon and Dany escape the festivities and retreat to the loft they’ve been staying in while in King’s Landing - it’s simple and modest and Jon apologizes that their first night as man and wife isn’t befitting of a queen, Dany shakes her head and tells him it’s perfect, they begin to kiss

Love Montage

Tyrion prompts Pod to start singing

Cue montage of all the GOT “couples” cuddling and/or having sex - Missandei/Grey Worm, Jon/Dany, Theon/Sansa, Gilly/Sam, Arya/Gendry, Jaime/Brienne, (obligatory shot of Euron in Cersei’s bed dead asleep and Cersei beside him with a glass of wine, ambivalent)

Everyone else during the montage is shown laughing, talking, and enjoying life - Jorah/Lyanna Mormont, Bran/Meera/Howland Reed, Davos/Tormund, (hilarious shot of Baelish and Varys in chains, scowling at each other).

Three Blasts

Pod’s song ends and Bran approaches Tyrion - they need to inform Cersei of Qyburn’s betrayal, she’s in danger too, Tyrion agrees

Once Jaime and Brienne surface (with Tyrion giving them both a questioning but pleased look), Tyrion and Bran make their plea to Jaime - Cersei is under attack too, should be informed of Qyburn’s treason as they have a temporary truce with her. Jaime is likely the only one Cersei will let near her and he reluctantly agrees to deliver the message.

A horn blasts three times to announce the arrival of the dead and Jaime gives Brienne one last kiss goodbye before heading to the Red Keep

As instructed by Jon, Baelish and Varys are escorted outside the city walls in chains and then their chains bound to structures in the ground to prevent them from fleeing. They want to protect the city? There they are. The city’s “first defense” against the dead, standing together, alone, outside its walls. The protectors of the realm.

Episode 8 Inside the Episode: Protectors of the Realm

1) Arya warging Nymeria’s pack and Direwolf teeth destroying White Walkers?

This one was a kind of no brainer. We were supposed to have direwolves in the 8x03 episode anyway and Arya needs to use her powers somehow in the fight against the dead, not just some dumb cheap-shot on the Night King. 

Also, I’ve always felt the direwolves could serve a bigger purpose in the fight against the dead. Bloodraven (likely) sent the direwolves to the Starks for a reason. Yes, to protect them, but what if the direwolves could do more? We’ve already seen Grey Wind fight in battles for Robb. What if the rest of the pack was meant to fight against the dead? 

(And yes, I know Nymeria’s pack is mostly regular wolves but if she’s stumbled across a few other direwolves and maybe had some hybrid pups of her own, their teeth could still kill White Walkers - in this story)

2) The Night King’s Purpose

I really loved the idea of everyone having a little piece of the puzzle - Sam, Bran. Missandei, even Sandor Clegane. They all put the pieces together to figure out the Night King’s motives, why he wants to destroy the world. 

Plus, the Night King’s purpose being to punish man for their violent ways, their sins, would make the story very biblical, which would make for some great parallels as well. 

In the show, the Night King just wants to destroy everything, but we’re never really told why. This just makes his purpose more specific and the lesson of the story more specific as well - PEACE. Prioritize peace, put aside differences, fight with each other, not against each other, etc.

3) “Winter is Coming”, “Fire and Blood”, “The Dragon Has Three Heads” - AKA Stuff actually means things??

LOL yes, stuff actually means things. People have been speculating for a while that the Stark words “Winter is coming” was a warning about the White Walkers and I’m still pissed this was never paid off in the show - like really, what was the point? So now it actually has a point.

And, as GRRM hinted at in an interview, yes, I’m making it canon (my canon), that Aegon the Conqueror came to Westeros to save the planet from the White Walkers. It makes total sense. With that in mind, like the Stark words, the Targ House words will have meaning, as will “The Dragon Has Three Heads” which is more repeated in the books than on the show, but who the fuck cares? This is my final season, so I’m writing it the way I want and what makes the most sense to me.

4) Littlefinger and Varys?

They were meant to die together, I’m convinced. The bitchy, problematic, asexual scheming dream couple we were promised. Sorry not sorry. Lol

5) Royal Wedding and subsequent gangbang?

K, it’s not a gangbang, just a montage of everyone having sex. Because weddings make people want to have sex, right? It’s basically the montage scene from the show, just, you know, better. You can imagine for yourselves which couples are actually shown getting down and which are only “cuddling” - except Jon and Dany. Jon and Dany definitely would be shown having sex as they’ve got to “consummate” their marriage :D

Also, had to sneak in Meera and Bran in there. No, they’re not having sex, just talking and visiting with Meera’s father. She and Bran should have ended up together. It is known bitches.

6) Not really a note but apologies some characters like Davos and Tormund haven’t had much attention this series. Well, Davos has a bit. But not Tormund. I’m sure he would have a very important part in the books up until when/if he dies. But he’s never served a very big role in the show since Jon invited the wildlings south of the Wall, so he’s just not had a big role in this series either. Imagine his story whatever you’d like, likewise with all other minor character’s whose stories haven’t been touched on much here. 

As always, comments are welcome.

Sorry this took so long to get out! Thanks to everyone who’s been keeping up with it!

Until next episode, which will possibly be posted next week but not sure. Still have some parts to finish. 

To Read Previous Episodes:

Original Final Season 7: Preface Post

Season 7 Episode 1: Family, Duty, Honor

Season 7 Episode 2: Greywater Watch

Season 7 Episode 3: The Last of the Dragons

Season 7 Episode 4: Dragonglass

Season 7 Episode 5: The Storm

Season 7 Episode 6: Summerhall

Season 7 Episode 7: A City Fit For A King 

Season 7 Episode 8: Protectors of the Realm (Current Episode)

Season 7 Episode 9: The Battle For The Dawn

Season 7 Episode 10: ?

[stilldanytrash]

The next anti who calls Daenerys a foreigner has lost their rights to be human.

I'm not sure you're going to understand this but here:

Daenerys was born on Dragonstone, a part of Westeros. Her ancestors lived in Westeros for thousands of years.

Calling her foreign is like calling someone who's ancestors aren't white Americans foreigners despite them and their parents living in America for years. Yes I brought up America because everyone knows about America and this is a huge problem in America.

The First Men aren't even native to Westeros, just as white men aren't native to America. You know who was native to Westeros?

The children of the forest

And who killed the CotF?

The First Men.

So shut the fuck and get the fuck off the drugs.

[theyruinedeuron]

Dany Going “Mad”

An argument can be made that this could be done well, w/o the help of Bran becoming a villain.

She conquers and conquers and conquers. Is called “Mhysa” by millions. Saves the world from darkness. 

At some point, one can see how she could develop a messianic/god complex where her word can never be questioned and everything she does she does because it’s mandated from heaven. 

But like...they haven’t set that up at all until, literally, one line in episode 4 about her being put here for a reason. So.....boy oh boy have they totally ruined this. 

If they wanted to go this route, they needed her to start saying this shit in like...s5. Not s8e4.

That said I still prefer the idea that the CoTF are ultimately villains in the books and they have been plotting against the dragonlords for some time. The reason so many Targaryens are “mad” is because they’ve been mindfucked over long periods of time. 

I mean, there has to be SOME point to the Hodor origin story, yes? Some bigger purpose? I know the show won’t tell me what, because it sucks, but here is hoping George does.