#aegon targaryen (gaemon's son)

[what-is-canon]

Post-Dance AU (because I hate how George decided to completely eradicate the Greens *cough* Alicent’s *cough* line)

Jaehaera survives the assassination attempt by Unwin Peake because that poor girl did not deserve that horrific end and that’s that.

She and Aegon III bond over time, because these traumatized kids deserve some happiness and you know what? Maybe they are the only two people in the world right now who understand even a semblance of what the other has gone through (Aegon watched his mother die, Jaehaera watched her twin brother be slaughtered) and maybe they both recognize that neither of them is responsible for what their families did to each other so why should they resent one another?

Over time they become a great comfort to each other. On the days where one is particularly gloomy, the other sits by them and holds their hand and they are content to sit in silence together and neither needs to say what they’re feeling because the other already knows.

They are both very close with Gaemon Palehair. He and Aegon are close for the same reasons as within canon, while Jaehaera believes that Gaemon truly is her half-sibling, her last remaining brother.

Eventually, Alyn Velaryon brings Viserys II home from Essos, but the boy comes alone (a 12-year-old boy married to a 19-year-old woman, yeah I think the fuck not, not in my history, and besides even if they had been closer in age Larra Rogare hated Westeros so let her stay in Essos like she wanted and live her own life there and be happy).

Like in canon, Aegon is somewhat neglectful of his wife and friend in the wake of his brother’s return, but Jaehaera and Gaemon understand his actions. Anyway, they still have each other for company. Viserys is incredibly distrustful of Jaehaera, and Aegon pleads with Viserys to be more understanding of their marriage and the comfort they have found in each other.

Aegon decides to hold a feast to celebrate Viserys’s return. Viserys spends most of the festivities with Baela and Rhaena, preferring not to fraternize with the daughter of the man who killed his mother. In the company of his sisters is Daenaera Velaryon (aged up in to be closer in age to Viserys because an 11-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl? It’s a no from me).

Daenaera manages to cheer Viserys with her happy nature, and he’s quite taken by how pretty she is. Unwin Peake, having never been exposed as the one behind Jaehaera’s assassination attempt (as is also the case in canon) brings his daughter to the feast in the hopes that she will catch the eye of Viserys, but Viserys has already taken a shine to Daenaera, ruining his plans once again.

The pair begin to exchange letters and (like Aegon and Jaehaera) bond over their losses. Viserys tells Aegon about his correspondence with Daenaera, and when Aegon tells Jaehaera, she decides to invite Daenaera to court as her lady-in-waiting. Viserys is delighted, and slowly begins to warm to Jaehaera.

As in canon, Aegon’s removal of the dragon eggs from the Red Keep causes a rift between the brothers. Unwin Peake continues to plot treason, conspiring to kill Aegon and Jaehaera so that Viserys may become King and take his daughter as his bride. But if his daughter is to become Viserys’s Queen, Daenaera Velaryon must also be removed. It is no secret by now that Viserys is very taken with the the girl, and intends to marry her.

Jaehaera and Daenaera eat the canonical poisoned tarts during a private dinner organized for the four. Aegon and Viserys narrowly avoid poisoning as they are delayed by a Small Council meeting. As in canon, Gaemon dies, devastating both Aegon and Jaehaera. The rift between Aegon and Viserys is mended as they help their respective ladies recover. Aegon and Jaehaera comfort each other through the loss of Gaemon, and Viserys proposes marriage to Daenaera, which she accepts. Oh, and Unwin Peake is finally exposed and executed (I still cannot believe this man escaped justice in canon, but not on my watch).

The four form a strong unit within the Red Keep and are, well, as happy as four traumatized young adults can be. They finally have the family each was deprived of at such a young age. Aegon eventually names Viserys his Hand, Jaehaera gives birth to Aegon’s five children, and Daenaera gives birth to Viserys’s three.

But unfortunately, canonical events must still come to pass. Aegon and Jaehaera pass away within months of each other in 157 AC; Daenaera dies some years later, and Viserys becomes his stern canonical self in the wake of her death. The crown passes from Aegon, to Daeron, to Baelor, to Viserys himself, to Aegon IV, who legitimizes the Blackfyres- who are now the descendants of both the Blacks and the Greens.

[bug-in-a-porchlight]

Sorry for ASOIAF posting but. New crack theory that doesn't really matter: Gaemon Palehair is Saera Targaryen's grandson

[stromuprisahat]

“No mother should ever have to burn her child,” the queen had said at the funeral pyre of her son Valerion, but of the thirteen children she bore to King Jaehaerys, only three of them would survive her, Aegon, Gaemon, and Valerion died as babes. The Shivers took Daenerys at the age of six. A crossbow slew Prince Aemon. Alyssa and Daella died in childbed, Viserra drunk in the street. Septa Maegelle, that gentle soul, died in 96 AC, her arms and legs turned to stone by greyscale, for she had spent her last years nursing those afflicted with that horrible condition. Saddest of all was the loss of Princess Gael, the Winter Child, born in 80 AC when Queen Alysanne was forty-four and thought to be well past her childbearing years. A sweet-natured girl, but frail and somewhat simpleminded, she remained with the queen long after her other children had grown and gone, but in 99 AC she vanished from court, and soon afterward it was announced that she had died of a summer fever. Only after both her parents were gone did the true tale come out. Seduced and abandoned by a traveling singer, the princess had given birth to a stillborn son, then, overwhelmed by grief, walked into the waters of Blackwater Bay and drowned.

Fire and Blood (George R. R. Martin)

Yeah, I'm sure Alysanne's age during the pregnancy had no effect on Gael... Especially since Alysanne almost died during her two previous births...

[thesilverlady]

Do you think that Gaemon is really Aegon's son? I wonder why would a lyseni sailor/merchant wants his son to be named a 100% targaryen name? Also the fact that Aegon has made Gaemon a ward of the crown

I have my doubts tbh.

On the one hand Aegon had a bunch of bastards so nobody's surprised.

On the other hand, Essie confessed under torture that gaemon's true father had been a silver-haired Lysene oarsman.

I've seen an argument to this that because Essie confession was done under torture it's "unreliable" because people are more likely to answer the way the torturer wants.

And while that's pretty reasonable, I can also see that Essie grabbed the opportunity in the middle of the crises and used her son's looks in an attempt to gain whatever power she could in order to change things.

The edicts issued in Gaemon's name are pretty reasonable and it's things you'd expect a poor woman who works as a whore would want to change.

As for why Aegon kept him as a ward... Well, he had no heir at the time other than his daughter and the entire war was based on the fact they couldn't let a woman, Rhaenyra ascend to the throne. The greens couldn't switch and do with Jaehaera what Viserys I did with Rhaenyra. So taking in a bastard that had the Targaryen looks and was claimed to be his son was the next best thing. He could be used later politically once the war would be over. Not to mention Aegon's injuries prevented him from producing any future children so again, Gaemon made a useful pawn to have around.

[horizon-verizon]

The Targaryens were of pure Valyrian blood, dragonlords of ancient lineage. Twelve years before the Doom of Valyria (114 BC), Aenar Targaryen sold his holdings in the Freehold and the Lands of the Long Summer, and moved with all his wives, wealth, slaves, dragons, siblings, kin, and children to Dragonstone, a bleak island citadel beneath a smoking mountain in the narrow sea. At its apex Valyria was the greatest city in the known world, the center of civilization. Within its shining walls, twoscore rival houses vied for power and glory in court and council, rising and falling in an endless, subtle, oft savage struggle for dominance. The Targaryens were far from the most powerful of the dragonlords, and their rivals saw their flight to Dragonstone as an act of surrender, as cowardice. But Lord Aenar’s maiden daughter Daenys, known forever afterward as Daenys the Dreamer, had foreseen the destruction of Valyria by fire. And when the Doom came twelve years later, the Targaryens were the only dragonlords to survive. Dragonstone had been the westernmost outpost of Valyrian power for two centuries. Its location athwart the Gullet gave its lords a stranglehold on Blackwater Bay and enabled both the Targaryens and their close allies, the Velaryons of Driftmark (a lesser house of Valyrian descent) to fill their coffers off the passing trade. Velaryon ships, along with those of another allied Valyrian house, the Celtigars of Claw Isle, dominated the middle reaches of the narrow sea, whilst the Targaryens ruled the skies with their dragons. Yet even so, for the best part of a hundred years after the Doom of Valyria (the rightly named Century of Blood), House Targaryen looked east, not west, and took little interest in the affairs of Westeros. Gaemon Targaryen, brother and husband to Daenys the Dreamer, followed Aenar the Exile as Lord of Dragonstone, and became known as Gaemon the Glorious. Gaemon’s son Aegon and his daughter Elaena ruled together after his death. After them the lordship passed to their son Maegon, his brother Aerys, and Aerys’s sons, Aelyx, Baelon, and Daemion. The last of the three brothers was Daemion, whose son Aerion then succeeded to Dragonstone.

Fire and Blood, by George R.R. Martin pg 4-5

[libraryoffandomsuniverse]

Being Rhaenyra Targaryen's husband would include:

Masterlist

Okay this is my 3rd time uploading this, because tumblr was being a whiny bitch. This turned out much longer than I expected and I'm already planning on writing more in this au. I combined book and show canon, although I kept the Velaryons as black. I also renamed some of Rhaenyra's children and gave her 1 more.

This is not team green friendly or kind to Alicent. At all. Reader is a petty bitch who adores his wife and whose love language is murdering their enemies in various secret ways.

Warnings include murder, forced infertility (Viserys), Rhaenyra and Reader scheming for the throne.

You're the oldest son of Rhaenys Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon. Greatness is in your blood.

You're proud - how can you not be? You're the oldest son of the Sea Snake and The Queen Who Never Was, the heir to High Tide and the next Lord of Driftmark. You're the second rider of Silverwing, after Queen Alysanne. You are cunning and clever - everything your parents could wish for in a son. You have a lot to be proud of.

After fighting in the Stepstones and being knighted, you emerge as one of the chief candidates for Rhaenyra's hand.

The brothel incident still happens in this au and Rhaenyra still sleeps with Criston.

When your betrothal is announced, you both agree to do your duty. And although you aren't Daemon or Criston, you are still handsome and a warrior. Doing her duty will not be difficult for Rhaenyra.

You quickly fall in love, much to both your surprise. Rhaenyra falls first, your loyalty and ferocity in defending her sneaks past her defences.

You fall harder, her wit and hidden darkness, the type that matches yours, pulls you in. Her soul speaks to yours and feels familiar on some level.

By the time Jacaerys is born, you're incredibly happy and in love with each other.

Your darling boy is quickly followed by Lucerys, Baelon, Aegon, Gaemon and eventually (after a few years) your twin daughters Visenya and Aemma.

Your royal apartments are rarely quiet because of your children. They adore their mother's hugs, love to hang off your shoulders and follow you both around the Red Keep like little ducklings.

Being the best dressed couple in Westeros. Rhaenyra likes it when you match and often coordinates your outfits to do so. Sometimes it's matching her dress to your doublet, other times it's more subtle like you wearing ruby beads in your locs to match the precious stones in her bodice. It makes her feel like you're on a team and she knows you feel the same way, judging from the little smirk and raised eyebrow you give her when you see her and the maids going through your wardrobes.

You and Rhaenyra love to gossip together. It mainly happens in bed after you make love. She tells you the latest rumours her ladies in waiting told her and you reveal the scandals you heard from your manservant and squires.

You encourage her to be more visible to the common folk. You know that if she has their love, then any attempts to usurp her will fail. Your little family becomes regular fixtures in King's Landing as you explore the city and restart Queen Alysanne's charitable ventures. Rhaenyra starts heading sessions for women to raise any issues.

You know it's working when you hear people talking about the Realm's Delight and the Sea Dragon and praising your efforts in improving their lives.

The sight of you both racing your dragons high in the sky is a frequent occurrence. It started as a way to unwind after the small council meetings. As your family grew, your children joined in, strapped into yours or Rhaenyra's saddles. When they grew old enough and their dragons were big enough, they followed you on theirs.

Dividing your time between Dragonstone and the Red Keep, although visits to Driftmark are also regular events.

Laenor frequently pops in to visit and spoil your children.

Corlys and Viserys both compete to be the favourite grandparent, but you and Rhaenyra know that Rhaenys is the real favourite. For the sake of peace, you won't reveal it.

Despite Daemon and Laena staying in Pentos, you keep up a regular correspondence with them. You even arrange to meet in Driftmark with your children a few years into your marriage. Your children bond quickly, while the adults watch on and tell stories.

Being married to the heir to the Iron Throne isn't easy and there are many people who would see that Rhaenyra never becomes Queen.

As her consort, you consider it your duty to make the path easier for her.

Your first victim is Criston Cole. After murdering Joffrey Lonmouth, you expect him to get punished. The news of Queen Alicent accepting him as her sworn sword leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, particularly when you have to break the news to Laenor.

Along with your pride, one of your greatest attributes is how protective you are of your loved ones. Joffrey was Laenor's lover as well as one of your good friends.

It takes a little while to plan, but one day gossip erupts about Criston being found drunk in a brothel that's particularly debauched, even by the standards of King's Landing.

You seize your chance and tell your goodfather that perception is important, that such a knight like that cannot be allowed to guard the royal family, especially the Queen. Viserys ignores Alicent's protests and Criston is gelded and sent to the Wall.

Speaking of Viserys, you know that any sons he has will be pitted against your wife.

You also know that his health isn't very good.

You decide to help him by giving him a tonic that your mother swears by, along with some lotions and creams. "Two drops of this with your morning meal every day and you'll soon feel better, Your Grace," you persuade him. "And wouldn't it be wonderful if you could meet your future grandchildren?"

Your father told you once you could sell water to a fish, such was the power of your silver tongue.

Viserys' health does improve after taking the tonic and the lotions that are massaged into his skin fix most of his pains.

However you failed to mention that the tonic and lotion both have herbs which cause infertility if used over long periods of time. Your mother only uses the tonic, and does so sparingly.

Viserys and Alicent only have Aegon and Helaena as a result of your actions.

You and Rhaenyra work hard to charm lords and ladies to support your cause.

You go on progress across the realm, flattering and courting all the noble families you meet.

It quickly becomes known that to be one of Princess Rhaenyra's ladies in waiting is a boon for attaining a fortunate marriage. In turn, you surround yourself with ambitious lords and their sons who want to advance their own interests.

It's a delicate dance, but you were taught how to make alliances by your parents, plus your charisma and ability to speak to anyone makes you one of the most popular members of the royal family.

Any attempts Alicent makes to gain allies for her son are countered by you and she can't stand you.

She tried to make Rhaenyra bring Lucerys to her when he was born, but you shut that down. "I wasn't aware that the Queen was in such poor health that she couldn't come herself to meet the newest member of our family," you say with a mocking smile. "The King is already coming to meet his grandson and I'm sure he would wish for Her Grace to join him." The sour look on the Queen's face when she finally arrives, only to find Viserys holding your baby boy, is a sight you'll remember for weeks to come.

You're Rhaenyra's greatest weapon and she despises how popular you are. You weren't supposed to be this politically adept, your children weren't supposed to be that lovely and polite and Rhaenyra was not supposed to be the heir when Viserys already has a son.

She says so to Larys Strong, who decides to do something about it without telling her.

You survive the pathetic assassination attempt because of a loyal servant.

Rhaenyra finds out what happened and she is furious. When she finds out Larys did it? He's a dead man walking.

His body is found in a secluded corridor at the bottom of the stairs. It's fairly obvious that he slipped and fell in a tragic accident - the servants had only finished cleaning and polishing those stairs the day before.

You thank your wife for avenging you with a sapphire necklace and several rounds of insatiable sex that eventually results in your son Aegon being conceived.

Unfortunately Lyonel Strong takes this as his chance to resign as Hand and return to Harrenhall, something you and your wife are unhappy about. You will miss him and his unwavering loyalty and fairness.

You miss him even more when you find out Otto Hightower is returning to King's Landing to be Viserys' Hand again.

The return of her father emboldens the Queen, although you and Rhaenyra are more than a match for them, both during the Small Council meetings (which you are Master of Ships) and outside them.

Eventually though, you decide to take care of the problem, although your wife cautions you to be careful.

A year after becoming Hand again, Otto Hightower is dead. His health had been declining for some time, even before he returned to King's Landing, but the poison you'd had your spies slip into his furniture and clothing certainly made his end quicker.

You knew he had a food taster, so you had to be careful to make it appear natural. A quiet conversation with Daemon had pointed you in the right direction.

Although it appeared to be natural, you knew that Otto's last days were a living hell. A fitting end for such a man.

With his death, you recommended Viserys make Lyonel Strong Hand again or even name Rhaenyra to be the Hand, as preparation for her future role.

His decision to name Rhaenyra as Hand is one of the only good decisions he's made.

It gives her more experience in governing the realm, particularly when he starts to become more frail.

After several years of this, she is confident in her role. She will be a magnificent Queen and you're truly honoured to be her consort.

[alienoryva]

A targaryen name that only used by one person in the family ;

Aenar (Father of Daenys the dreamer)

Daenys (Daughter of Aenar the exile)

Maegon (Son of Aegon & Elaena/grandson of Daenys the dreamer & Gaemon the glorious)

Aelix (Son of Aerys/great-grandason of Daenys the dreamer)

Daemion (Youngest son of Aerys/great-grandson of Daenys the dreamer/father of lord Aerion/grandfather of the Conqueror siblings)

Aenys i (only child of Aegon the Conqueror & Rhaenys)

Aerea (Daughter of Aegon the uncrowned & Rhaena Targaryen/twins sister of septa-princess Rhaella Targaryen)

Maegelle (Sixth child of Jaehaerys i & Alysanne)

Vaegon (Seventh child of Jaehaerys i & Alysanne)

Viserra (Tenth child of Jaehaerys i & Alysanne)

Valerion (Twelfth child of Jaehaerys i & Alysanne)

Gael (Youngest/thirteenth child of Jaehaerys i & Alysanne)

Rhaenyra i (Daughter of Viserys i & Aemma Arryn)

Helaena (Daughter of Viserys i & Alicent Hightower)

Baela (Daughter of Daemon & Laena Velaryon/Twins sister of Rhaena)

Jaehaera (Daughter of Aegon ii & Helaena/Twins of Jaehaerys)

Daena (Eldest Daughter of Aegon iii & Daenaera Velaryon)

Naerys (Daughter of Viserys ii & Larra Rogarre)

Rhaegel (Third son of Daeron ii & Myriah Martell)

Maekar i (Youngest son of Daeron ii & Myriah Martell)

Aelor (Son of Rhaegel & Alys Arryn)

Aelora (Eldest Daughter of Rhaegel & Alys Arryn/Twins of Aelor)

Daenora (Youngest child/daughter of Rhaegel & Alys Arryn)

Valarr (Eldest son/child of Baelor the breakspear & Jena dondarrion)

Matarys (Youngest son/child of Baelor the breakspear & Jena dondarrion)

Rhae (Youngest daughter/child of Maekar i & Dyanna dayne)

Rhaelle (Youngest daughter/child of Aegon v & Betha Blackwood/grandmother of Robert i,stannis,renly Baratheon)

Rhaegar (Eldest son/child of Aerys the mad king & Rhaella)

Shaena (Second child/Eldest Daughter of Aerys the mad king & Rhaella)

🪻

NOTE: I didn't add the Targaryen name which only uses additional alphabet but the spelling is same (Saera & Shaera / Aemon & Aemond)

[witchthewriter]

𝐷𝑎𝑒𝑛𝑦𝑠 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑂𝑙𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑟𝑖𝑎

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑯𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒓𝒚𝒆𝒏

INFP

Ravenclaw

Neutral Good

Pisces Sun, Cancer Moon, Aquarius Rising

Daenys Targaryen, better known as Daenys the Dreamer, was the daughter of Aenar Targaryen. He was a nobleman from the Valyrian Freehold and the Lord of Dragonstone.

When Daenys was still a maiden, she had a powerful prophetic dream; the doom of Valyria. Her dream showed fire, and plenty of it. Burning everything in its path.

In 114 BC, her father, Lord Aenar Targaryen, listened to his daughter and sold all their holdings in the Valyrian Freehold and moved his family to Dragonstone.

When they left Valyria, the family took five dragons; including Balerion. When the Doom came twelve years later, House Targaryen was the only family of dragonriders left.

Following tradition, Daenys was married to her brother, Gaemon, who became the Lord of Dragonstone. Their children were Aegon and Elaena Targaryen.

Aegon married his sister, Elaena, and together they had two sons: Maegon and Aerys Targaryen. Aegon and Elaena also had a younger sister who married a petty lord.

Aegon and Elaena inherited the lordship of Dragonstone from their father and mother, they jointly ruled Dragonstone and were succeeded by Maegon. When Maegon died, he was succeeded by his younger brother, Aerys Targaryen.

Aerys Targaryen had three sons, Aelyx, Baelon, and Daemion Targaryen. Aelyx inherited the lordship of Dragonstone from his father and was himself succeeded by Baelon. Then Baelon inherited the lordship of Dragonstone from Aelyx and was himself succeeded by Daemion. Daemion became Lord of Dragonstone after his two brothers. He was succeeded by his only son, Aerion Targaryen.

Aerion Targaryen was a member of House Targaryen during the Century of Blood, the only son of Lord Daemion Targaryen of Dragonstone. He was married to Lady Valaena Velaryon of Driftmark and together they had three children: Visenya, Aegon, and Rhaenys Targaryen. Aerion was also rumored to have fathered Orys Baratheon on an unknown woman.

Additional information via details in the show.

Daenys was Balerions' first ever rider. At the time he was only the size of a horse (was 2 or 3 years old. Born in Old Valyria, taken with House Targaryen to Dragonstone).

Daenys claimed Balerion the night before her dream of the Doom.

[thetullystark]

thank you again @riotarttherite!! i love these amazing portraits <33 this is how imagine the next gen after the dance to look like when their adults (im aware visenya was a still birth and we have no idea what happened to alys/aemonds son but imagine them here happy) the rest are mentioned in f&b but don’t get enough recognition 

From Left to Right—

Meagon Rivers bastard son of alys and aemond, Gaemon Palehair bastard son of aegon ii

Laena Velaryon daughter of baela and alyn, Visenya Targaryen daughter of rhaenyra and daemon

Leyla Hightower daughter of rhaena and garmund, Ceryse Hightower daughter of rhaena and garmund

Lianna Hightower daughter of rhaena and garmund, Aerea Hightower daughter of rhaena and garmund

Alyssa Hightower daughter of rhaena and garmund, Rhaella Hightower daughter of rhaena and garment

[goodqueenaly]

Why do you think Aemma Arryn never claimed a dragon? She was half Targaryen and when she married she was officially part of the Targaryen family, so there wouldn’t be any dynastic/political reasons for her not to have one. Do you think it was cultural differences from being raised in the Vale, health issues from her constant pregnancies, or worries about Viserys being seen as weak because his wife had a dragon and he didn’t (a la Rhaena and Aegon), or a combination of all of these reasons?

Number one, Aemma spent her first 11 years of life not just as an Arryn, raised in the Vale, but specifically as an Arryn of the Vale whose connection to House Targaryen was ancestral and dynastic rather than contemporary or draconic. Because Daella died almost immediately after giving birth to Aemma (thanks to her shithole husband Rodrik), Aemma almost certainly experienced no direct Targaryen influence in her infancy or childhood. To the extent young Aemma understood her place in the Targaryen family tree, she may only have known that she was the daughter of a younger daughter of King Jaehaerys and Alysanne, a cousin of the royal line more akin to whatever paternal relations she herself may have had among the families of the Vale (through prior generations of Arryn daughters’ marriages) than to a core member of the Targaryen royal family (and indeed, that extended Targaryen connection would go unmentioned, somewhat historically inexplicably, when Rhaenyra made her claim). Consequently, Aemma may not have expected or believed she was entitled to a dragon in the same way, say, her cousins Daemon and Rhaenys, and to a lesser extent her future husband Viserys - all growing up at court as male-line Targaryen princes (and a male-line Targaryen princess) - may have done. 

Number two, there was very little precedent in the royal Targaryen family for its princesses being married to Westerosi aristocrats, much less how dragons might be distributed to a princess' children in such a scenario. While such marriages do seem to have happened to some extent prior to the Conquest - see for example that claimant at the Great Council of 101 AC, who cited his descent from “a younger daughter [of Gaemon Targaryen] and the petty lord she had married” - the royal Targaryens before the Dance celebrated very few exogamous marriages for Targaryen princesses. Princess Rhaenys was the only case where the children of a Targaryen princess and a non-Targaryen had dragons of their own, and this situation was quite specific: Rhaenys, who herself was a dragonrider and had a significant claim to the throne, had married not just a Valyrian relation, but the most powerful Valyrian relation the Targaryens had, at the acme of his own authority and magnificence. Conversely, while Rodrik Arryn was certainly no hedge knight or commoner, he did not boast any of the same Valyrian credentials Lord Corlys did; too, Daella herself had no dragon of her own, and so no experience on dragonriding to encourage in her daughter (even if she had lived to do so, which of course she did not). 

Number three, once Aemma married Viserys, she seems to have had little opportunity to pursue dragonriding, even if she herself had wanted to (which we have no sense of - more on that below). While Viserys did apparently wait two years - massive eyeroll - to consummate his marriage to Aemma, she was still pregnant a number of times between 95 AC (when approximately the marriage was consummated) and 105 AC (the year she died, following the birth of the short-lived Prince Baelon), with “several miscarriages and the death of one son in the cradle over the course of her marriage” (plus the births of Princess Rhaenyra and that same Prince Baelon). If we don’t know exactly how many times Aemma was pregnant (as we do with, say, Queen Rhaella, and can speculate with Lysa Arryn), I would guess that Aemma was pregnant roughly at least six times in these 10-odd years, at least three of which pregnancies went to term and ended in the births of children - quite an exhausting and physically taxing schedule for Aemma. Whatever her interest level in actually having a dragon of her own, Aemma was likely not in a position physically to try to claim a dragon in these years. 

Of course, the problem inherent to the conceit of Fire and Blood Volume 1 - and I mentioned this the other day - is that we’re almost always kept at arms length from the interior thoughts and feelings of any given character. This problem is compounded for Aemma by the author’s unfortunate penchant of using some of his female characters as little more than walking wombs, who exist solely to give birth to more important characters. Aemma might have been given a name (more than can be said for some of her narrative sisters), but her role in the story is limited to being married off as a prepubescent child bride, enduring seemingly (if not actually) annual pregnancies (including more than one pregnancy loss), and then dying in childbirth. Did Aemma have any sense of her own (at least theoretical) draconic inheritance? Or was she, as GRRM via Gyldayn frustratingly portrays her mother, infantilized to the point of almost total inaction, unwilling to engage in any pursuits except marriage and childbearing? We’ll never know, because neither the format of F&B nor, I would guess, GRRM himself seems interested in the answer. 

(Again, I need to emphasize that I am not talking about That Other Show and will block any discussion of That Other Show.)

[starogeorgina]

Violent delights

Warnings: Swearing

Pairings: Jacaerys Velaryon x oc

1.12

“Try not to pull, princess; the chains will become tighter if you do.”

“Thank you, Ser Arryk.”

The knight gives you a sympathetic look before going to stand beside another knight of the kingsguard by the entrance to the room. You were surprised that Ser Arryk was showing you any kindness at all, considering he was on the side supporting the usurper. Perhaps it was because his twin brother bent the knee to your mother or because he knew how devious the greens really were.

Daemon had accompanied you from Dragonstone to the Keep in disguise before bidding you farewell. A few moments later, you ditched the disguise and allowed yourself to be taken, which is how you found yourself in the tower of the hand, awaiting Alicent’s arrival. The moment Otto clapped his eyes on you, he ordered the knights to put shackles on you. He claims it was to protect the king. Your sudden arrival had interrupted a counsel meeting. Ser Tyland Lannister and Larys Strong both kept glancing at you, looking visibly uncomfortable.

The doors to the room open, and Alicent enters, looking in complete shock at your presence. She mumbles something to her father before sitting down beside him. It must have dawned on her that if you could get this close to the keep unnoticed, then others could easily do the same. She took in a long, deep breath, eyebrows furrowed as she took in your appearance. If it weren’t for your Targaryen features, you could have been easily mistaken for a beggar from the streets of flea bottom. Eventually she asks, “Lyarra, what are you doing here?”

“Hopefully to bend the knee to the rightful heir to the iron throne,” Otto says, his voice oozing with arrogance.

“Tell me, years after proclaiming my mother as heir, did my grandsire, King Viserys, not sit Prince Jacaerys upon his knee while sitting atop the Iron Throne and say, ‘One day this will be your seat, lad.’ In front of his entire counsel?”

Neither Alicent nor Otto answered your question.

The dowager queen toys with the necklace hanging around her slender neck, the symbol of the faith of the seven. With her hair neatly braided back and dressed in a modest green gown, she looked like a lady, but only someone who knew Alicent like you did could see her true venomous nature.

Otto breaks the silence. “King Aegon and prince Aemond shall be returning to the keep soon. Bend the knee, and they will be merciful.”

“I shall do no such thing. The blood of my sweet brothers is on their hands.”

“Bastard blood, shed at war,” Alicent replies.

Her words cut deep, but you don’t give her the satisfaction of shedding a single tear. “The more you talk freely, the more others will see who you really are. Lucerys was just a child, as was Gaemon.”

Otto leans in and whispers something in Larys ear, to which the clubfoot shakes his head. The older man looks taken aback. “Prince Gaemon is dead?”

“Assassins were sent to Dragonstone to slay one of my sons, but they killed my brother instead.”

Their reactions have you stumped. It seems nobody in the room was aware of this, which could only mean Aegon and Aemond were no longer seeking counsel and doing whatever they pleased. Alicent presses her forehead into her hands and says, “May the mother have mercy on us all.”

You can’t contain the scoffs that leave your mouth, “the mother.”

The former queen glares up at you with tears in her eyes, no doubt out of fear of the chain of reactions her sons had set in motion. “Faith in the gods—”

Something inside you snaps—how dare she preach about faith when she herself was an ungodly woman? With tears in your eyes, you hiss, “Your son, your king, raped and defiled me, and my faith in the gods did nothing to stop it. My faith did nothing to stop the loss of my son.” Tears fall freely from your tired eyes as years of pent-up emotions start to bubble over. “My mother made Jacaerys and Lucerys swear under the eyes of the Seven to go as messengers, not as warriors, before they left Dragonstone. I assume your sons did no such thing, Alicent.”

Alicent looks hollow, as if nothing you’ve just said registers in her brain. “Take the princess to her former quarters. Make sure she doesn’t leave the room.”

—

Once in your old quarters, you were allowed to sit on a platform that overlooked the gardens of King's Land while an emergency meeting took place. Of course, you were still in shackles and had knights watching your every move just in case you tried to escape. However, you were no longer alone; Larys had come to tell you of the latest casualty in the war for the throne, the princess Rhaenys. Your grandmother had flown into a trap set up by Ser Criston Cole, and she was attacked by both your uncles as they rode upon their dragons and killed both her and her dragon.

Your heart ached; you loved your grandmother and would miss her forever.

“Might I ask why you suggested that Princess Helaena and her children leave the keep?” Larys asks.

“An eye for an eye, a son for a son. Lucerys shall be avenged,” you click your tongue. “Those are the words spoken by my stepfather, Prince Daemon, and as much as I agree my brother's death should be avenged, I do not wish to see harm come to Princess Helaena or her children.”

He raises his brows, and Larys looks deep in thought before speaking again. “I suppose that makes sense, especially since you’ve now made yourself a hostage here, so it’s likely the red keep will come under attack.”

Daemon told you it wouldn’t take the clubfoot long before he came to you, under the pretense of trying to make peace, which would be why Larys made a point of having food and tea brought to you. He probably thought he could lure you into a false sense of security and, in the end, learn something he could use against the blacks.

“Under attack?”

“Oh yes,” he says before taking a drink of tea. “Once word spreads among the small folk that Rhaenyra’s daughter, the beloved princess Lyarra, is being held within the keep, they are likely to start questioning their loyalties. And as you came here on your own accord, I’m assuming it won’t be long before your husband, mother, and stepfather come to rescue you, bringing fire and blood in the process.”

Before you can say anything else, Criston enters the room, followed closely by two serving girls, who both had their heads hanging low. You notice one of the girls holding a dark emerald dress and scowling, which amuses the knight. “The king wishes for you to wear this. He will be gracing you with a visit after attending the feast celebrating his most recent victory.”

Larys uses his stick to help himself stand and says, “I shall leave the princess to it.”

Criston nods his head in Lary's direction before addressing you. He removes the shackles. “I have a theory, princess, that the reason your brother was mistaken for one of your sons was because your children are no longer on Dragonstone.”

You smile up at him and say, “say another word about my children, and I’ll have my husband feed you to Vermax.”

Criston smirks. As he turns to leave the room, he speaks to the servants, “Make sure she is bathed and dressed by nightfall.”

—

As you approach your quarters, returning from the dragonpit, you hear the sounds of a child’s screams echoing down the hallways, and guilt begins to stir inside you. Leaving your daughter to go dragon riding was something you had second-guessed, but your mother assured you nothing bad would happen in the short time you were gone and insisted that riding Viserion would be good for you.

Your pace quickens the closer you get, fear etched into your features. When you enter the nursery and see that Aemma is not in her cot, you start to panic until you hear Jacaerys hushed voice. “Your muña will be back soon; she’d never go far without you. She loves you so much. We both do.”

Quietly, you walk into another room to see Jace holding Aemma in his arms, sitting by the fireplace, singing her a lullaby, and caressing her hair as her eyes start to close over. Smiling, you observe the sweet moment between them. Aemma was at the age when she was learning what words meant and observing the world around her, including who her parents are.

You walk up behind Jace and crouch down enough to kiss him on the cheek, which causes him to blush. “She woke up from a nap upset,” he whispers. “I think she was looking for you.”

You smile. “I think she was looking for her kepa, and now that she’s found him, she’s settled.”

Jacaerys eyes become glossy. As far as you were concerned, from the moment you first kissed Jacaerys on the balcony, he was Aemma’s father, but you understood why he needed reassurance.

Jace places an arm around your shoulder, and you sit to cuddle in beside him and your babe. “I love you,” you say quietly. “I don’t tell you that enough, but I really do love you and our family.”

You’re pulled from your slumber when you hear a clattering noise. Opening your eyes, you’re greeted by the sight of the usurper cursing as he picks up his cup, which he had knocked onto the ground, before refilling it. You keep your eyes tightly shut to hold back the tears. Now that the moment has come to put Daemon's plan into motion, you wish you’d never left Dragonstone. You longed to be back in Jacacery's arms, watching as your children played together on the beach of your home.

You’d fallen asleep sitting on one of the leather chairs and were in that deep of a sleep you didn’t hear him enter. It felt like déjà vu; you and the room had both been ‘readied' for Aegon. Plenty of wine was brought before his arrival, and the oils that he liked the smell of were brushed through your hair.

“Can I ask you something?”

Aegon rolls his eyes and says, “If you must.”

“If I had left here and married some lord who raised Aemma as his own, would you have cared? Or do you only want to hurt Jacaerys?”

“Do you know what they call my half sister? The whore of Dragonstone, as I recall. Rhaenyra Targaryen, the mother of bastards.” Holding up his cup towards you, when you shake your head, he scoffs, “Gods, I forgot how boring you could be. Give me one good reason why you won’t drink with me.”

“My milk is still coming through.”

He scrunches his nose up in disgust. “I forgot you just had another little b-a”

“Don’t you dare say it!” you snap. The tight fabric of the dress you are wearing rubs against your skin as you move to sit on your knees on the ground beside him. Deep down, you still wanted to believe Aegon wanted to be a good person, but you knew that wasn’t true; it was just a lie you told yourself. “My children are not bastards; all of them are Velaryon’s.”

Aegon looks disinterested, returning his attention back to the wine in his hand. His eyes were becoming heavier, and his body language was more sluggish.

“So why did you really come to the keep? I’m assuming you don’t want to bend the knee; do you want to remember what it’s like to be pleasured by a man?”

“Why aren’t you more angry with Alicent for letting me take Aemma and making her a bastard?”

His face falls. “She is my mother. She was doing what she thought was best for me.”

Alicent and Aegon’s relationship was something you’d never understand or feel the need to question, especially since he had you wear a gown that closely resembles the ones his mother wears. Tears well in your eyes, “my nephew can keep his bitch, but I will keep my daughter, or I will have their heads. Did you really say that?”

“Yes. Is the girl still on Dragonstone?”

“I’ve sent Aemma far away from Dragonstone to keep her safe.”

The tension in the room changes as Aegon becomes angry at your answer. He goes into graphic detail about how he planned on torturing Jacaerys, mainly by hurting you. It was clear he had no intention of stopping the war until every member of the blacks were dead. Just as Daemon predicted. The list of monstrosities committed by the Greens included rape, kinslaying, usurpation, and treason, and it would only grow as time went on.

“There’s the Aegon I remember. Cruel and selfish.”

“I can have your tongue removed for that.”

“Hmm,” you say, getting to your feet and stepping away from him. “I used to think I was a good person; I tried to be anyway. But what I’ve learned over the years is that I’m willing to do anything to protect my family.”

Aegon attempts to reach for you, but his arm falls to the ground. He slurs, “What did you do?”

“You want to take my daughter from me, tried to have my son killed, and have now just confessed to planning to kill my husband.” Tears roll down your cheeks. “I can’t let you do that.”

You walk towards the part of the wall that has a weirwood tree engraved on it. You run your fingers over the smooth edges before pressing on the middle of it to open it.

“Lyarra, you stupid bitch, get back here.”

You let out a deep sigh before stepping aside to let two men enter the bed chamber. Blood and Cheese, two rat catchers who had been hired by Daemon to seek revenge for Lucerys You weren’t sure what the full plan entails; your only part was to get them into the keep, then escape. You glance back at Aegon, who has now passed out. Soon as the wine was brought into the room, you put the sleeping aid given to you by the maester on Dragonstone into the cup beforehand, knowing the first thing Aegon would do when he arrived would be to drink.

You pick up the disguise that’s been left on the opposite side of the secret door; you need to change before you stare, going down the hidden hallways and far away from whatever you’d just set into motion.

[nobodysuspectsthebutterfly]

While the pre-Aegon I targs receive almost no focus in any published material, how do you think it may have changed in precedent at the Great Councils if there was a ruling Lady of Dragonstone in the ancestry? When I first read F&B, I almost thought there would be a retcon with the Valyrians to be Salic / Agnatic and that would factor into the precedent of the great council of 101. There’s also a pro-daemon argument for agnatic seniority up to Daemon that I would’ve loved to have GRRM explore

Oh, but there was a ruling lady of Dragonstone:

Gaemon Targaryen, brother and husband to Daenys the Dreamer, followed Aenar the Exile as Lord of Dragonstone, and became known as Gaemon the Glorious. Gaemon's son Aegon and his daughter Elaena ruled together after his death. After them the lordship passed to their son Maegon, his brother Aerys, and Aerys's sons, Aelyx, Baelon, and Daemion. The last of the three brothers was Daemion, whose son Aerion then succeeded to Dragonstone.

And we know that Elaena was a Lady in her own right and not just her husband's, because Aerys and Daemion and Aerion had wives, but they aren't spoken of as "ruling together". Therefore Aegon and Elaena's situation must have been with her on the same level as him. But alas, that didn't seem to help much with later succession arguments.

I suppose there might be an agnatic seniority argument, but I can also see that they specifically factored in female heirs and "a daughter before an uncle" of male-preference primogeniture:

As the glad tidings of Rhaena’s birth spread across the land, the realm rejoiced…save, perhaps, for Queen Visenya. Prince Aenys was the unquestioned heir to the Iron Throne, all agreed, but now an issue arose as to whether Prince Maegor remained second in the line of succession, or should be considered to have fallen to third behind the newborn princess. [...] The boy, named Aegon after his grandsire, was born to Lady Alyssa and fathered by Prince Aenys. [...] While many still debated whether Prince Maegor or his niece, Rhaena, should have precedence in the order of succession, it seemed beyond question that Aegon would follow his father, Aenys, just as Aenys would follow Aegon.

BTW, if you're interested, you can see an essay by an actual lawyer stating that the precedent of the Great Council of 101 was no legal precedent at all.

But anyway, you're not the only one who wishes F&B had gone into far greater detail about various legal and social decisions of the Targaryens. @goodqueenaly has gone into it at length, in particular about the politics of matchmaking, and the lack of it in F&B...

[gulnarsultan]

This idea was inspired by @floatyflowers blog.

You are the precious Princess of House Targaryen. You are the first and only child of Daemon Targaryen and Rhae Royce. Both are perfect parents for you. You have silver-colored curly hair that reaches down to your back, smooth pale skin, expressive eyes, one gray and the other violet, and a full, curved body. You are very close with your cousin, Crown Prince Rhaegel, your best friend. You see him as the best cousin and friend. However, he sees you as a lover. He believes the two of you were made for each other. King Viserys and Queen Aemma love you very much. They see you as the girl they never had. Rhaegel is very determined to keep other men away from you. The pure feelings he has had for you since his adolescence are replaced by obsessive and dark feelings after a while. You two like to go on rides with your dragons together. Rhaegel's male dragon Syrax and your female dragon Saphira are like a married couple. He learns that Otto is making plans to marry his daughter (Alicent) to him. Alicent is just a friend to him. Otto decides to take action before starting his plan. He explains to his family that he wants to marry you. The King and Queen welcome this request. He talks to Daemon and Rhae about it. All that remains is to hear your opinion. Before you leave your room to go to dinner with your family, Rhaegel is visiting. Honestly, you're mad at him for doing such a thing without telling you. Rhaegel tells you everything. Honestly, you know the King's hand is cunning enough to do such a thing. Rhaegel gets on her knees in front of you. Because you care so much for your cousin, you give him a hug and comfort him. You say you will agree to marry because you can't stand her being so miserable. After all, you think that marrying your cousin would be a better choice than marrying a man you've never met. Your wedding is taking place soon. The wedding is very ostentatious and organized with no expense spared. Otto is not at all happy with this decision. Rhaegel is determined to get rid of him soon. After getting married, Rhaegel begins to show her tendencies. He won't let you leave the palace and ride your dragon when he's not with you. She says she did everything for you when you confronted her about it. Rhaegel is trying hard to get you pregnant. He doesn't listen to you even if you say it's too early for the child at first. Rhaegel takes care of you every single pregnancy. It gives him great pleasure to see you puffing up with his baby. Rhaegel would never raise a hand or insult you. His weapon is manipulation. Your marriage is blessed with seven healthy children. Rhaegel is a good father to your children. Rhaegel is crowned King after King Viserys abdicates earlier. He never hesitates to kill others for you. When it comes to you, Rhaegel is passionate about assassination, threats, blackmail, torture and killing. It pampers you and your children to the fullest. He is a very devoted husband to you. You can ask anything from him. But never ask to break up with him. The eggs that Syrax and Saphire have together are laid in their cribs when your children are born. Not only does Aemond's egg hatch. Your husband helps your son Aemond bond with Vermithor. Being stuck with your husband Rhaegel isn't all that bad in a way. It allows you to correspond with your mother and relatives and let them visit you.

Rhaegel and Princess (cousin) childrens ;

Baelon

Gaemon

Aegon

Helaena

Aemond

Daeron / Shaena (twins)

[lizzie-queenofmeigas]

Rhaenyra is considered a worst ruler then aegon but go off I guess.

She was named “Maegor with tits” and no other Targeryan was ever named Rhaenyra. That’s how much she sucked and was hated.

Aegon is not remembered fondly, but he was 100% not “one of the worst kings”. He’s not remembered like that in history. He was the one to clean the city after Rhaenyra left it. He wasn’t cruel or unjust to his people.

Aegon and viserys lives because grrm wanted daemon son on the throne. All of Rhaenyra’s children that are not fathered by daemon dies. Jaehaera’s death is completely unnecessary imo, but if anything her death is a “punishment” to alicent. Aegon was already dead when jaehaera was murdered.

Nothing will change if the show will let jaehaera live. Y’all are too excited to watch children be murdered.

Rhaenyra was nicknamed that only because she raised taxes. And Rhaenyra is only remembered like that because she was a woman.

Aegon was indeed cruel and unjust. He treated the smallfolk terribly, wanted to mutilate a child, and was okay to beggar the realm for his own pride. He was needlessly cruel (Gaemon's mother, Gerardys, the rat catchers)

Now, a little lesson. Rhaenyra was created before Daemon, and her son with a Targaryen male (later being Daemon) was always going to take the throne. Daemon was created FOR Rhaenyra. Aegon II was never going to end up on the throne and his bloodline was never going to survive.

[coineagan]

Princess Saera Targaryen

Daughter of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen.

Sister of Prince Aegon Targaryen, Princess Daenerys Targaryen, Prince Aemon Targaryen, Prince Baelon Targaryen, Princess Alyssa Targaryen, Septa Maegelle Targaryen, Archmaester Vaegon Targaryen, Princess Daella Targaryen, Princess Viserra Targaryen, Prince Gaemon Targaryen, Prince Valerion Targaryen and Princess Gael Targaryen.

At the age of 17, Saera led a life in scandal in Westeros. Her father eventually found out of her actions and confined her to a tower cell but she escaped and found passage to Lys where she took service at a pleasure garden.

She was the mother of three bastard sons, each fathered by a different man. In HOTD, one of them was revealed to be Hugh Hammer.

[atopvisenyashill]

George Is A Coward For Never Doing Gay Incest

an incomplete list of gay incest he could have done, it was right fucking there come onnnn

Rhaenys/Visenya you are telling me lesbian icon Visenya who hates her husband and lives completely separately from him for decades but somehow managed to live with him while Rhaenys is alive wasn’t in love with Rhaenys? that the paternity of both aenys and maegor is questioned and we get nothing to delve into how that affected the relationship between the sisters? cowardly!

Viserys/Daemon, i’m gonna be honest EYE consider this canon and there’s nothing george can do about it, like daemon beats the messenger who told him viserys remarried bc he’s so mad and that’s NOT gay rage over how much he wants to be his brother’s wife so they can be aegon and visenya and conquer the world together, even while daemon flaunts his privileges as a man?? nah i see right through gyldayn’s heterosexuality.

Aegon II/Aemond, you're telling me Aemond calls himself protector of the realm while his brother is dying of his wounds but specifically doesn't call himself king, and Aegon throws Aemond a party after Aemond kinslays and helps kicks off the war and those two weren't fucking?? whack.

Baela/Rhaena, Baela has this amazing, bad ass, ultimately completely useless stand off that ends in the deaths of two dragons, eventually married to an uncle/cousin who cheats on her constantly, and is completely shut out of politics aka she gets Rhaenyra-ed, and meanwhile Rhaena gets two husbands that adore her, a dragon, and significant respect from the Lords, I am telling you there is some sort of psychosexual obsession here in how in order for Rhaena to rise (and HEAL), Baela must fall and suffer, and Baela "trying desperately to be Daemon's mini me" Targaryen wouldn't get obsessive over this.

Aegon III/Gaemon Palehair is possibly incest given we don’t know who Gaemon’s father is, also i know there’s an awkward age gap but see: my gay little hands and characters i like, also, there’s weird age gaps everywhere and aegon ii was old enough to have a bastard closer to aegon iii’s age if george had been less of a coward smh. so much here in the way gaemon’s crown is torn from his head along with his mothers and he’s forced to serve the monarchy, only to fall in love with the living embodiment of every painful memory gaemon has, of aegon resenting the crown on his own head bc if he’d been the fourth born son he could have never married and lived his life with gaemon, with his brothers, with his mother, but now they’re stuck in these roles that are going to devour them whole and he can see it coming but he can’t stop it!

Daena/Elaena, listen, two sisters with bastards who choose different sides of a war because daena has only ever found freedom with the traditional, racist fucks that want to crown her son so she throws her lot in with them because she will not be a prisoner ever again dammit and elaena was only ever freed when daeron allowed her an outlet for her immense intelligence and she’s in love with a dornish man who opens her eyes to the prejudices at court, and under all that are two girls who only ever found peace in the maidenvault through their small, stolen kisses and raising their bastards together, a little odd family forced together by the madness of their brother completely split apart by the madness of court LIKE??? HELLO?

Baelor Breakspear/Maekar, think of the POSSIBILITIES of how the monarchy is purposefully stepping away from incest only for two brothers so dissimilar to find an attraction between them they don’t understand, Maekar always jealous of all that Baelor is given while Baelor longs for Maekar’s relative freedom and they refuse to say what they really mean, how they really feel, and Baelor dies by Maekar’s hand IT IS GIVING ALRIGHT

Jon/Aegon VI, I will be pushing this literally until the day ados comes out and my whole “they gave show!dany aegon’s plot in the stormlands, the reach, and dorne which means jon/aegon is going to be full of homoeroticism and we will get a scene where Jon calls Aegon a child and Aegon throws a petulant fit in front of his unknown half baby brother” theory gets jossed. and if he doesn’t do it he’s a coward AND I STAND ON THAT.