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Alicent's reaction to hearing that Viserys died will always get me because he really mistreated her his whole life and his death still devastates her.

Even after she helped him through his grief. After she tried to help his relationship with Rhaenyra even after he ruined her's. Flattering him even as he laughs in her face. Giving him advice on ruling the kingdom. Trying to appease his guilt over Aemma and never demanding that he feel any over what he did to her.

Even when she grows more critical of Viserys and he starts to openly resent her for it- she's still fluffing his pillow, tucking him into his chair. Probably still helping him bathe and being heavily involved in his treatments. He still calls her by the wrong name.

And by the end of his life, despite publicly humiliating her AGAIN... she's still giving him medicine and runs to catch him when he starts to fall. She holds his hand at dinner and smiles sweetly.

Viserys never once did anything to earn her love or her grief but he died and it still wrecked her. Was part of it shock and fear for having to deal with the consequences of his death? Absolutely. But sometimes we love people who don't deserve it and I think Alicent did. After everything he did to her she still mourned him.

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the black queen, rightful heir 🖤

— i ran as fast as i could possibly to draw her as soon as i saw the season 2 poster

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Lacrimosa by Nicola Samori

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Young Laena Velaryon drawn for @hieronymph

Her dresses are based on Byzantine and Ancient Greek fashion because Rhaenyra’s Byzantine inspired coronation gown was the best of the entire show and that style should’ve been utilized more, especially for the Velaryons who needed better hair and costuming. The other dresses are inspired by 1680s French fashion and Tudor fashion because that’s kind of the head cannon for royalty in the ASOIAF fandom.

Bonus sloppy drawing of Laenor wearing one of Laena’s dresses (Laenor, baby I’m so sorry about your hair both in my drawing and the show):

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Reblog if you didn’t write My Immortal

We’re going to find the author by process of elimination.

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Rhaenyra deserved a Black Dress moment so I propose a scene at Viserys and Alicent’s wedding where she arrives late in one of her mother’s old gowns from the Vale, which she dyed black and red. Her dramatic entrance and rejection of her father’s marriage widens the rift between her and Alicent. Viserys obviously recognizes it as well so it is as if he is seeing Aemma on his wedding day, plaguing his guilty mind further. For Rhaenyra, it is an act of defiance and act of mourning.

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Redesigning Rhaenyra’s Costumes

Let’s be honest, her costumes were not giving what needed to be gave. I’m sure Covid impacted the fabrics that were available and how a thorough a job they are able to do fittings but the end result still wasn’t great. However, I did enjoy the ahistorical nature of it in that, much like GOT, you could not find direct historical inspiration for all the outfits. I tried to keep that in mind when I drew Rhaenerya’s outfits while also trying to keep it similar to her costumes in the show because I’m not redesigning ALL her dresses. I might redesign other dresses in the future, along with Rhaena and Baela.

1.Red Tourney- Great idea, terrible execution. it is so ill fitting with no structure whatsoever and it makes her look so frumpy. Which I know is not the intent because of her flared collar. Honestly, I’m not the biggest fan of the collar because it seems a little too advanced for the time period in the ASOIAF universe and Cersei would have certainly had an Elizabethan collar while queen. However, it is probably the most defining piece of the outfit so I had to include it. I also hope that it comes back in future appearances otherwise it would be such a bizarre design choice. Anyway, for my redesign I structured the collar a bit more, making it resemble a dragon wing. She has a blue-purple broach to represent her mother. The whole tourney is being thrown in her honor but Rhaenyra is really the only one thinking about Aemma. In a similar vein, Rhaenyra’s sleeves resemble armor with blue gems in reference to Aemma’s quote about a woman’s battle ground being the birthing bed.

2.Yellow Dress- This dress is inspired by the Byzantine period and by Rhaenys’s gowns. A lot of people on the show seem to favor wide necklines or off the shoulder dresses so I simply adorned hers with gemstones. Embroidery and sewn gems are also added because her dress was too plain and I think they tried to make up for it with shiny fabric. Plus all the men around her are obsessed with Old Valyria which I visualize as the Byzantine period and Ancient Rome so it makes sense she would incorporate Valyrian styles into her dresses. It is of course modernized with a medieval silhouette as she is expected to set the trends at King’s Landing. Matching the jewels is a simple gold circlet because Rhaenyra needs some casual crowns to wear around the house.

3.The Rose Gold Dress- Again, the idea was there but the execution wasn’t. This is the most medieval inspired of the dresses I redesigned for her. Since this is the scene where her and Alicent make up, she looks probably the softest we’ve seen her with light pink and a fabric belt. The fabric belt is inspired by Byzantine clothing. The bright red gems, tiara, the dragon scale dress and dragons scale lace under her rose gold dress do indicate that their animosity isn’t over but it is tempered for now. They simply miss each other that much. I emphasized the amount of gold she wears to contrast her older self who will wear more silver because it is a variation of black. I know she wears gold to match her dragon but she can’t wear black and gold without looking like a Baratheon I’m afraid.

4.Meeting in a Maternity Gown- I liked the original dress except for the front lacing and the white fabric. I don’t know why they made her wear white so much. I know they needed a pale fabric to show her lactating in this scene (🙄) so I kept it a pale gray since it’s still aligning herself with Team Black. In my redesign she’s wearing pale gray in softer fabric as she is probably seeking something comfortable post giving birth but it’s still regal enough to stand toe to toe with Alicent. She’s also wearing a variation of a French hood because that is what she wore at her coronation and she’s trying to maintain the idea of herself as heir. Instead of a front lace corset detail- which I assume was for breast feeding purposes because why would someone either handmaidens wear something that needed tying in the front?- I gave her a robe and belt. She’s aware of the rumors about her sons so she wears some of Laenor’s house colors to dissuade those rumors. Sort of like, “See how happy we are? I’m wearing his favorite color!” The gray and blue are House Strong colors though so she is showing her love for him as well. But both are so overwhelmed by her house colors, it barely registers. Rightfully so as she is representing herself during the council meeting. I added more dragon emblems because I loved her dress in the teaser trailer for season 2.

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The Wedding of Rhaenyra and Daemon

I need all the love for this one because I super-focused on it for over half a day without pause. What sleep schedule? I had the unstoppable urge to draw these two menaces. If you want me to make more things like this the endorphin rush of positive feedback will need to be stellar XD. Second bird with this stone is that I actually drew an unprompted man for the HotD series. Can’t be getting too predictable with only pretty ladies.

For this redesign I wanted to reference and build off of Rhaenyra's Heir outfit. So while it's not exactly the same they should feel like they are pulling more from the "ancient Valyerian" (Byzantine-esque) fashion than the styles that Alicent is currently wearing in court. Extra points if you an spot the references to Empress Theodora (again + her Emperor). Oh and because I make the rules in these redesigns: Corlys is Black and Rhaenyra isn't Hollywood sized. I can pull from the books and the show as I please! So I wanted to include her long single plait (styled after a previous Queen) and her generous curves in these post-time jump illustrations.

I am the artist! Do not post without permission & credit! Thank you! Come visit me over on: instagram, tiktok or check out my coloring book available now \ („• ֊ •„) /

https://linktr.ee/ellen.artistic

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Rhaenys Targaryen, "The Queen that Never Was".

( Get ready for a lot of Targaryens in this series because there are almost no other important characters. ) Princess Rhaenys, married to Corlys Velaryon, is the cousin of King Viserys I Targaryen. She was passed over as her father's Heir in the prologue. Her loss sets the precedent that complicates the future succession scramble (the plot of the show). Her gown is based on Byzantine fashion but exaggerated for style points. She is dressed in light teals and whites of her husband's House with wave patterns and lots of pearls. I hope to make pearls a much bigger thing for the Velaryons in general. My aim was to have her be exceptionally regal, but without the show's awkward bumpit crown thing. (Also she is supposed to have black hair but the show ignores that bit so... we are rolling with Targaryen silver.)

I am the artist! Do not post without permission & credit! Thank you! Come visit me over on: instagram, tiktok or check out my coloring book available now \ („• ֊ •„) /

https://linktr.ee/ellen.artistic

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On Alicent Hightower and Criston Cole

"My oath has been broken; I have dishonored myself. I deserve no consideration. But if, as a clement queen, you are inclined to pity, I would ask only this: that rather than gelding me and having me tortured, you would sentence me mercifully to death."

Alicent kept Criston's secret for over a decade. She could've used it against Rhaenyra, which would've resulted in Criston's torture or death, but instead she choses to forgive Criston for his sin and for breaking his vows and gives him a second chance. Alicent has no reason to protect Criston and gains absolutely nothing from it. She forgives him out of pure altruism, compassion, and sympathy.

But why does Alicent sympathise with Criston? When he confesses his sin to her, Alicent sees herself in Criston. She recognises someone who shares the same values as her: honour and duty. She understands that Criston regrets what he did and holds great importance to his vows as a member of the Kingsguard, just like Alicent holds great importance to her vows as the wife of the King of the Seven Kingdoms. She knows she could've been in Criston's place, perhaps the thought of breaking her own vows has already crossed her mind... Also, Alicent is a very empathetic and sensitive person by nature.

Alicent lets Criston, go. Then comes Rhaenyra's wedding. Ser Joffrey approaches Criston and tells him he knows about his and Rhaenyra's secret. Already psychologically distressed, Criston beats Joffrey to death in a fit of rage. This is the last straw for Criston who goes to the Godswoods and decides to take his own life... until Alicent appears and calls his name, like a divine entity coming to rescue him.

Between episode 5 and 6, we know that Alicent bestowed Criston as her sworn protector. This is when their bond starts to form.

Alicent and Criston are very similar, and this is how they bond. Both are determined people, who think it's necessary to live by values like honour and duty to succeed in life, no matter how much they must sacrifice on the way. Alicent takes her duty as wife and queen seriously. She devotes her life to her husband Viserys and gets nothing in return. She gives him four children whom he neglects, and he even forgets her name when he's a bit tired. Similarly when Criston broke his vows and sacrificed his honour for Rhaenyra, she gave him nothing in return.

Criston seems to care a lot about Viserys' mistreatment of Alicent and her children. He becomes a paternal figure for them, and for Alicent, he becomes a partner. Criston helped Alicent to raise her children.

Alicent and Criston's connection is very deep. In my opinion, Criston has romantic feelings for Alicent, but he knows he can't act on them for both their sake. She saved his life, an act he is immensely grateful for. He cares about her and even kills Lord Beesbury at the Green Council because he accused Alicent of regicide and kinslaying. Whether or not those feelings are requited, it's unclear to me. Alicent seems to be aware of the ambiguity of their relationship when she says, "Everything you feel for me, as your queen" in episode 9, to which Criston responds, "I will not fail you". This exchange seems to be the closest they've been to declaring their feelings to each other. It doesn’t matter whether those feelings are romantic or platonic, there is undeniably a very deep love between them.

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This gif made me shiver, because for a second, for JUST one second, she looks like a girl. She looks like the girl in ep 1 and 2, young and full of life and and…and then she turns around, and you see that pregnant belly, and you realise she hasn't been that girl for a very long time.

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Viserys definitely could have married and had spares without threatening Rhaenyra's claim in one of two ways:

1) Marry a foreign noblewoman. That lady's family would have to muster up an army and transport it across an ocean and somehow get it there in time to claim any territory, a costly and logistically nightmarish prospect. No noble House would tolerate a foreign invasion and that cause would be dead on arrival. Plus you get some potentially good trade treaties out of the deal.

2) Marry the daughter of that era's equivalent of House Baelish. I don't care how sexist the nobles of Westeros are. They are not going to bow to the grandson of Lord Pigfuck of Castle Nothingburg over the daughter of an Arryn of the Vale. It would completely threaten their entire dynastic hierarchy.

Instead, he chose to marry a Hightower of Oldtown, one for the oldest, most respected, and wealthiest families in Westeros.

Viserys is at fault for the Dance. Everything the Hightowers did up until and after his death was what any House of their status would do.

This. Was. Viserys's. Fault.

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If Rhaenyra actually tried to have a good relationship with her siblings

Rhaenyra:

Aegon:

Rhaenyra:

Aegon:

Rhaenyra: Sooooo you want to go for a dragon ride?

Alicent: He’s two!

Rhaenyra: I don’t know! What am I supposed to fucking do with him?!

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if anyone has money to spare for donations, im forwarding more links for palestinian aid

CareforGaza is a nonprofit that provides direct aid to Palestine, and you can donate directly here

Operation Olive Branch is a document that lists evacuating families that need assistance, which gives information on the families, the urgency, and tracks the progress of their fundraisers

eSims for Gaza lists very clear instructions on how to purchase e-sims to keep them connected, they are urgently in demand

Here is a project that distributes feminine hygiene kits directly to Gaza

Mutual Aid Diabetes has channels set up for you to donate insulin and medication to diabetics in Gaza, as well as lists fundraisers for diabetics seeking to evacuate

please keep sharing and adding links on this site, please add more if i'd missed any, and please don't stop talking about Palestine.

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When Dragons Disobey Their Riders

Hi all! I wanted to comment on something that recurs in both Fire and Blood and A Song of Ice and Fire: Instances of dragons blatantly disobeying their riders, often even after multiple attempts by their riders to correct them. If you look at the context of the scenes where this occurs, I think it actually does a lot to show us the level of intelligence and agency that dragons have. Most importantly, in all of the scenes I'm about to discuss, the dragon is not disobeying their rider out of malevolent intent. They are actually trying to protect their rider, and think that their rider is making a request that would put them in danger.

Our first mention of this is with Alysanne Targaryen and her dragon Silverwing, in Fire and Blood. Alysanne is up North, by the Wall, and attempts three separate times to direct Silverwing north of the wall, but Silverwing refuses each time. Some people think Silverwing was wary of the cold, but I think this is unlikely since otherwise she would have refused to come that far north entirely. I think it's much more likely that Silverwing knew some freaky magic was going on beyond the Wall, and that it could be very dangerous for her rider.

Our second mention of this is with Area Targaryen and her dragon Balerion, in Fire and Blood. On her first ride with Balerion, Aerea disappeared for over a year, and both rider and dragon returned severely injured. Aerea's illness in particular was just straight up terrifying and very gorey, and she eventually died from it. Because of this, it's suspected that Balerion actually took Aerea to Old Valyria and that they encountered some freaky magic there. At this point in time, Aerea was trying to escape and go home, and there's a popular theory that Balerion, doing his best to obey her request, took her to the place he thought of as his home.

Our third mention of this is with Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax, in Season 1 Episode 10 of HotD. When dragon and rider are being pursued by a much bigger dragon, Lucerys is unable to calm Arrax down, and he attacks, which eventually leads to both of their deaths. Arrax is quite young, and he very obviously did this because he was feeling cornered and threatened, and felt like he had to defend himself and his rider.

Our fourth mention of this is with Aemond Targaryen and his dragon Vhagar, in the same episode, right after Arrax's attack. If you go back and look at GIFs of what this attack actually presented as, note the side the attack came from. Arrax flames Vhagar's entire head, and he does it from her left side-- the same side where her rider is blind, specifically because Arrax's rider blinded her rider. It's no wonder Vhagar retaliated; she felt that her rider had been attacked in a very vulnerable place by the same person who made her rider vulnerable and never demonstrated remorse for doing so.

Our fifth and final mention of this is with Daenerys Targaryen and her dragon Drogon, in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. For those of you who watched Game of Thrones, I'm talking about the scene in Mereen where Drogon rescues her from the assassination attempt in the fighting pits. Daenerys wants to remain in Mereen and continue to try to handle the conflict there, but Drogon ignores her commands and flies far off into the wilderness. As far as Drogon's concerned, Mereen isn't safe for Daenerys, so why should she want to stay there?

I think these instances all point to dragons being intelligent, but not enough to really understand politics--that, or they don't care. Vhagar doesn't understand or care that killing Arrax and Lucerys will cause a war; just as Drogon doesn't understand or care that Daenerys wants to remain in Mereen to rule. They prioritize their riders' wellbeing and demonstrate that they don't always think their riders know best. This makes a ton of sense especially for the older, more experienced dragons, who probably had to make more decisions during combat in order to keep their riders alive rather than just waiting for commands.

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How season 8 utterly failed in the attempt to demonize Daenerys

For Daenerys Day, marking the anniversary of that horrendous finale, I’m making this post to talk about how the show utterly failed in vilifying Dany. So I want to discuss every argument used to say that Dany was “villainous” in season 8, and see if they were really “villainous”.

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