#alys rivers deserved better

[puffballlofdoom]

On "alysmond" and "helaemond"

For some reason, there’s a petty war going on between fierce “helaemond” and “alysmond” stans. Fr, I totally don’t understand why should those ships be mutually exclusive? If “helaemond” actually becomes the show canon, I can totally see Helaena breaking up with her brother-boyfriend after B’n’C. IMO Aemond’s recklessness and long-harbored, ill-concealed hatred for Luke , contributing to Jaehaerys’ tragic death is a reason enough for Hel to stay away from him, never mind how dear the siblings (with benefits) used to be to each other. In this scenario, Aeamond could pursue a relationship with Alys, never mind his previous (more or less romantic) engagement with Helaena…

In addition, if “helaemond” is confirmed, this subplot doesn’t necessary have to be some fabulous love story. I mean the siblings *may* have been getting along with each other pretty well , and I really enjoy the idea of young Aemond having a crush on his big sister. I find it really cute, that’s all. In my opinion teenage Aemond, doubtlessly familiar with the idea of “courtly love” (I’m guessing this concept could exist in the quasi-medieval Westeros), might have enjoyed performing the role of righteous knight, worshipping his “future queen” from afar , as if there was a “secret RPG session”, going on but in his head. Frankly speaking, the young !Knight Aemond and his !Lady Helaena don’t even have to get sexually involved and their “forbidden love” could remain just cute, childish crush, as the time goes by turning into mature friendship, mutual care and understanding. Perhaps older Aemond, driven with his sense of responsibility, would want to become a proprer father figure/ role model for his little nephews and niece? I like to think well-educated, smart  Aemond, familiar with the story of Daenys the Dreamer, and keeping his sister company more often than her joke of a husband, found out Hel was a Dragon Dreamer.

On the other hand, we cannot rule out Helaena and Aemond becoming lovers, but IMO such a scenario would be pretty dark. It seems to me it could happened only if the show version of Helaena remained childless after two or three years of marriage (yet again, I am speaking about the show counterpart of the FnB Helaena, who canonically bore the twins about a year after she had wed Aegon) and Aemond started to fear someone like Larys Strong would simply get rid of Hel, so that the WIDOWED crown prince could take another bride. So, Aemond shared his fears with his sister, and the siblings agreed they ought to cuckold Aegon in order to secure Helaena’s position as the future queen, and thusly save her life… It’s possible the righteous prince Aemond , loathing the mere idea of fathering bastards, could have secretly married his sister (it could have been a traditional Valyrian ceremony, which still wouldn’t make the whole situation any romantic).  However, even as a “secretly married” couple, who could grow to quite enjoy performing their “conjugal duty”,  Aemond and Helaena could remain but “siblings with benefits” (which sounds awful, but given they’re Targaryens, it kinda makes sense) and never develop romantic feelings for each other. In this scenario, they could be still sleeping together after Aegon’s heir had been born, just out of sheer need for comfort, closeness or affection, or simply willing to reduce stress, feel better or have fun.  Messed up as Helaena and Aemond seem, they could have perceived sex as yet another form of bonding…  Whatever could have been going on between the siblings, their breakup after Jaehaerys’ death appears inevitable.

 As far as Aemond’s relationship with Alys is concerned, I wouldn’t call it an overly romantic love story, either. Let’s say it out loud – in spite of her sharp wits, charms and whatnot, Alys was a prisoner of war and even if Aemond had fallen madly in love with her, I would risk saying she wasn’t in the position to truly reciprocate his feelings. Thanks to Alys’ good looks, the prince “generously” spared her life, there’s no two ways about it, BUT however “besotted” Aemond was with Alys, becoming his “war bride” literally meant she was chosen to be a freakin’ sex slave. In my honest opinion, the woman deserved better and I don’t believe she reciprocated his love. Alys certainly was not in the position to fully consent to be the prince’s paramour, although I can totally see Aemond developing genuine romantic feelings for her – however twisted it may sound. It seems to me in the very beginning, it was just about lust, but later on, the prince could have taken to the “witch” because of her personality and even become fascinated with her supernatural powers. Frankly speaking, I am not the fan of the “Alys casting a love spell on Aemond” theory. She might have been using her totally prosy, feminine charms in order to endear the prince to her, and thusly make sure she would be treated as well as she could possibly be under so dire circumstances. And no, I don’t mean Alys was just offering Aemond sexual favors. Intelligent person she no doubt was, the “witch queen” could do her best in order to forge an emotional bond with Aemond, too. For instance listening to what the prince had to say and showing him affection. Paradoxically, learning Aemond’s story could make Alys take to the prince at least a little, since in this scenario, she could realize in spite of coming from different social backgrounds, they shared a bunch of experiences. For instance, earlier in her life, unwed and pregnant Alys, born out of wedlock herself, had been no doubt an outcast – just like Aemond the Kinslayer, having blood of his close relative on his hands. Could it be a reason enough for Alys to start sympathizing with Aemond? Yes, indeed. In addition, the “witch” had lost both her child and their father – even if  we are not familiar with the details and the moment she met Aemond Alys was probably over it. If the “helaemond” theory is confirmed, Aemond gets involved with Alys when his first “girlfriend” is also like dead to the world, not to mention the fact his son and/or nephew died gruesome death.

Here, I would like to admit I am not a fan of fetishizing Alys’ age and deeming her a “milf”. The woman was certainly more than just her looks and age. If Aemond had actually loved her – which I find highly probable  - there must have been something more than just physical attraction! In addition, in the quasi-medieval world of Ice and Fire, girls in their early teens are considered eligible maidens, so in this universe, it isn’t out of usual for women in their late, if not mid-twenties to become grandmothers! Taking the fact FnB is supposed to be a historical source by a bunch of unreliable narrators, we don’t actually know how old Alys was. If we rule out the ageless witch/ red priestess theory, we could safely assume she was, for instance, in her 40s or 30s, but knowing the Westerosi customs, well, it is still possible she was just a few years older than then-twentyish Aemond. There is also an option Alys didn’t even exist and all the war bride/captor romance was made up by pro-Black maesters and scribes, willing to paint the prince in a negative light. After all making some lowly born wet nurse his wife, Aemond would insult House Baratheon, impudently breaking the pact which had to be sealed with his marriage to Lord Borros’ daughter. You just keep in mind both the Witch Queen and Aemond’s bastard son disappear  from the “historical chronicles” shortly after the Dance ends. In addition, stressing Alys’ alleged “old age”  could have made him look ridiculous in the eyes of Westerosi readers.

Personally, I prefer to imagine Alys existed, had prophetic skills and played a significant role in Aemond’s life. Perhaps at some point, she even developed some sympathy and twisted fondness for the prince (still her captor and, yes, her rapist) but never had second thoughts about having kept it to herself that Aemond would meet his end in God’s Eye and no one could blame her for it.

To sum up, I think shipping Aemond with Helaena does not automatically make the shipper anti-“alysmond”. In my view, adding one more (for want of a better word) romantic relationship to Aemond’s arc makes sense. It could be an interesting way to show how the character’s attitude towards his love interests and his interactions with them evolve as various experiences are shaping his personality. I would never pit Helaena against Alys. They’re two different women and the fact at some points of their lives, they happened to get involved with the same guy does not make them natural born enemies. In my honest opinion, if the show version of Helaena had a chance to meet Alys (here, I mean my own idea of this character, since we don’t learn much about her from FnB and her show counterpart is still a mystery), they would become… good friends.

[leafy-m]

alizayd for character opinion bingo 🧍🏽‍♀️

Thank you! 💖

Alizayd al Qahtani is the fucking best. There is no contest. He's empathetic, he's a sass machine, he's got a backbone made of righteous steel, he's a nerd raised to be a jock and was the best zulfiqari of his generation through sheer determination. He's the smartest (and tallest) man in the room that loves to help people and is also an oblivious social loser. He's a math genius and an economic wizard that outsmarted the Royal Treasury's best accountants as a teenager to secretly fund and make the Tanzeem's illegal transactions untraceable, and *During a Recession* got a millennia-old decrepit hospital to be completely rebuilt and functional in like 6 months. He also actually listens to people, and did possibly the most romantic thing in the series by building Nahri her private Cairo-themed office. He's self-sacrificing and self-denying to a fault and all he wants to do is fix things (and swim, and read), and he perfectly fits into soldier life and civilian life.

My man has the best character arc of the trilogy as he learns and grows past his early prejudice and indecision while sharpening his best traits. He is constantly reevaluating himself and his actions while still holding on to what matters to him, like his faith and his idealism that Daevabad can be improved. Even in the depths of his bitterness or grief, he always returns to trying to do the right thing, and not holding unrelated people responsible for the actions of others. He has the best motivational speeches in the series. His great grandpa is a crocodile and their scenes together are hilarious.

My man Alizayd has some Lord of the Rings: Return of the King-level epicness, in how he is descended from both Zaydi al Qahtani and the marid-blessed Armah. Zaydi, who rallied the djinn world against the genocidal Nahids and overthrew them to take Daevabad 1400 years earlier; and his ally Armah who commanded the marid to help take the city and Suleiman's Ring, and made the ultimate sacrifice by staying allied with the djinn. Ali is constantly compared to Zaydi in City of Brass and Kingdom of Copper, but there's this steady transfer of similarities to Armah in Kingdom of Copper and Empire of Gold, until Ali is truly representing both sides combined as he aids Nahri and a global army that he put together in three days to once again take back Daevabad from a genocidal Nahid. The man is a fucking legend, and with any other author or director it would unquestionably be at the forefront of the story. Instead it hides in background details foe readers to piece together, like it's barely worth mentioning.

This is because my man Ali also has the self-confidence/self-esteem of a shy beetle hiding six feet under the earth, and the author's subtle/vague writing style and inability to stand up for what she's trying to say when people misunderstand has created... how do I word this... A lot of wiggle room for bullshit?

Ali gets dragged a lot for being self-righteous and a fanatic, because characters that are threatened by him in the book call him that, and readers parrot it without any consideration or critical thought. Is it self-righteous to be against slavery? Or to create personal boundaries regarding drinking and premarital sex? Is it fanaticism when he argues against corruption, or practices his religion *in a completely normal way?* I dare say no! But Ali is both black and muslim, so he gets a shit load of shit from every corner, and with the author unable to really clear things up and too cowardly to even admit that Ali is her favorite character without immediately asking everyone to forget she said that (Oops. Also: no), it makes me very, very concerned for whoever ends up playing Ali in the Netflix show. Because if past is any pretext, he's definitely not gonna get paid enough for all the harassment he'll face. And if the author can't stand up for her characters and book themes now, how will she do it when the audience is much, much bigger and louder? :/

As much as I love Ali and his countless parallels with Nahri, and have a thousand headcanons for him (and a thousand fic & art ideas/wips), the series itself (or rather how it undid all its narrative themes in the end to appease loud fans who never understood what the series was trying to say in the first place, along with the author's blindspots regarding the Nahids/Daevas), has made me incredibly bitter. 🙃 I am someone who worships canon encyclopedically and remembers everything, and have come to the unfortunate realization that I cannot in good health ever read this series again.

So my beloved blorbo Ali exists for me in a weird dimension that I cannot really interact with anymore. Made worse because I still desperately want to see fandom stuff, but then also viciously tear apart everything I find. 💀

Idk how to end this. Thanks for the ask! ☺️

[darlingofvalyria]

❝I have these two great friends called Birth and Control.❞

part 06 | it's called a love bug, lovebug

chapter summary:

[ Sunday dinners are actually made for confessions. As Alicent braves it with a wine and a blush, you brave it too. With a boy and a view. ]

[ 2,963 ] [ series masterlist ] |best friend's brother!aemond targaryen x f!reader, ft. cregan stark x f!reader & aemond targaryen x alys rivers,

contains— angst - hurt/minimal comfort(?) - no kings, no martyrs, no betas.

a/n— alexa play it's all coming back to me now by celine dion. it might read a little stilted, i struggled a bit with this chapter as i wrote it in different times. ps. i didn't translate aemond's valyrian with intention. hope it still works? comment, reblog & like at will, mwa ♡

You had never heard of a more reverbrating sound than Helaena's smack to a poor, traumatised Daeron. "You toe licking, armpit looking, ugly garbage can!" Healeana shrieked, promptly dragging her youngest brother further away as you and Aemond scurried deeper into the safety of the darkness and shame, folded defensively onto one another, laughing your asses off.

"Oh my god," you exhale. "I am never going leaving this maze. I am going to live here, eating brambles and shit, and die here. Leave me now and prevail, Aemond. I will be fine. I'll haunt you in two to three business days."

Aemond chuckles from below you, unseen from your gaze, the mesmerised adoration he held as he can still feel his lips tingling from your desperation, still feel the curves of your body, the soft skin— he clears his throat, holding you steady by your hips before moving around until he's hovering over you as you adjusted your dress, eyes fluttering his with pressed lips trying not to laugh.

"I have a feeling dinner is ready."

"I also have a feeling your mother and grandfather knew exactly what we were doing minutes before and I fear I'd rather die here than face that."

He laughs, offering his hand and you take it regardless. "Then my mother would be glad. She didn't exactly feel the new bliss of couples between us."

You scoff. "Only because you treated me like you were cosplaying a Frost Giant." At his raised eyebrow and choked, surprised laugh, you blush. "Oh, get off with it. Your sister really likes the idea of Jotun!Loki and I am not one to kinkshame."

He strangles a laugh, peeling stray twigs from your hair. "I wouldn't dare assume. Let's go eat."

You tighten your hold on his hand, worry crescent on your forehead that Aemond straightens. "And talk?" As good as that felt, as perfect as puzzles sliding in together, you were past the age where burrowing it deep with the good parts and ignoring the pressing talks that need to be addressed.

And Aemond deserved better than that at least.

"Okay." He nods, swallowing. "Later, please."

"Okay." You try and reassure him with a smile and that seems to appease him, if a little.

Once Aegon had made five jokes concerning Daeron's loud rant— he was promptly shut up by his sister smacking him in the back of the head as soon as their mother was fretting in the kitchen and their grandfather's phone pinging for his attention, spoon on his mouth that might have been a medical nightmare — dinner went smoothly.

Daeron had successfully refused to look at your general direction, or his brother, or both since you sat together, churlish in giggles, in chatter and light arguments. Aemond kept taking the nicely marinated baby potatoes on his plate to yours once you finished up your own, and exchanged it with shuffling green beans to his plate because he loves them— it's nice.

It's more than nice. It's everything you could hope for when you think about dinner with your boyfriend's family. It's a softened thought that brews to yearning. You want this. You want be sat next to Aemond like this again, making jokes, piling food onto each other's plate, ribbing with his brother until he blushed then standing up against him when it got too far— seeing the smile he sends your way, endearing, loving, and for a moment, for this one realised moment built on lies and chuckle-fuckery ease, you let yourself indulge.

You joke about spoon feeding him dessert and blush as he envelops his soft lips over the spoon, Daeron and Aegon mimicking gags while Alicent is blushing, unable to stop a girlish giggle, a sound so surprised to her own person that she hiccups.

You are with him and you give yourself strength to break his heart.

Dinner finishes off with a lazy flick, Alicent and his father descending into business talks that usually included Aemond and though you tell him you can go hang out with Helaena— Daeron and Aegon deciding on playing The Last of Us in the game room because Aegon said he needed a good cry but also to shoot things — Aemond who had taken your hand sometime ago and has been brushing his thumb over your knuckles in a soothing gesture, implores you with a look.

You swallow and give a nod, trying for another smile that fails, noticing the moment Aemond sees it fail, his brow curling, lips pursing but doesn't say anything.

As he moves to lead, he pauses, turning back to you. "Where—?"

"Your room?"

Just as he nods, Alicent's soft and embarrassed, "Keep the door open, please," pulls you both to a blushing stop.

Otto— and Helaena rifling through ice cream in the kitchen — crow simultaneous, "Alicent," and "Mom!" as Alicent raises both her hands, the wine in her right sloshing. Though she is pink-cheeked, she maintains eye contact with her son while Aemond is struggling.

"I know you're old and smart enough, young man, and you are such a lovely girl," Alicent says to you, "and I would no doubt adore the grandchildren you will provide me—"

"Oh my gods," you stifle your giggles as Aemond makes a discordant sound in the back of his throat, like a cat hacking a saw. Otto is laughing into his wine while Helaena is making gagging noises in the background.

"— but I hope to have them when Aemond's at least graduated, so that he can provide well for you." Alicent nods, blinking. You can tell that the wine is catching up to her. "He's a good boy so I'm sure he'll do right by you. But I at least want you both to be married, of course, I would prefer if Aegon or Helaena got married first but—"

"— and that's my cue to stage left, folks," Helaena says, making a face as she grabs the entire tub of cookies and cream. "If anyone needs me, I'm in my room trying to find a husband so my baby brother can get married, gods forbid he carries on with bastards from his beautiful girlfriend— whomst, by the way, is my best friend, dunno how we're forgetting my credit in all of this."

Aemond shakes his head. "They're not sleeping here, mom, and providing you grandchildren is not in my agenda." He tugs your hand, smirking as he pulls you close only to whisper playfully, "Not tonight at least."

You shiver, laughing under your breath. "I dunno if you know this, but I have these two great friends called Birth and Control."

He breaks into a laugh and that, at least, eases the tension until you round up in his room, trying to give Helaena a meaningful look but you don't think she understands it with how she salutes you with her spoon, winking audaciously.

"Here." Aemond flicks the light on and his childhood bedroom brings a smile to your face. It's cerebral, the faint blue of his textured wallpaper, the perfectly lined books, even the framed achievements. But there's also the Oasis poster, the little figurines that you know is part of some Old Valyrian battle replica he collected when he was younger, even his old fencing gear and an exact photo of it alongside his club master, his grandfather, and family friend, Criston Cole.

"It's been a while since I've been here," you tease lightly. "It's kind of funny of your mom to think I'd be the first hot girl to christen your childhood bed."

He hums, turning away as he closes the door. When he turns back, he's rolled back his bottom lip between his teeth as he looks at you with sincerity.

"It wouldn't be much of a competition to beat. You were the first hot girl I'd ever got inside my room."

"Ahh. Right. Teasing you before your growth spurt was the highlight of my week."

Aemond let out an aggressive sigh as you laugh. "I was a senior in high school when I met you, riña, this is getting ridiculous. Borderline paedophilic since I had you moaning an hour ago."

You heave, slapping his arm. "Okay, stop, you made it weird now. Gross. Eugh."

"Promise you'll stop now?"

"Fine, I promise."

An awkwardness settles before Aemond nods at the double French doors. "Wanna talk on the patio? You've always liked my room's view than Lae's."

"Yeah," you grin.  "'Cos you got the only view of the lake."

"You can barely see it with the trees. And this darkness." Reason out all he wants, but he opens the door for you, and the cool air is crisp and nice against your warm skin.

You hold out on the ledge, squinting your eyes so you can see peeks of luminous bounce of the calm lake between dark sways of forest. Once in a while, it glitters and glimmers, making itself known.

"It isn't fully true though."

"What is?" Aemond fixes his elbows, warmth pressed against yours as he stares at a fixed point of nowhere. But you can feel his tension, feel his questions he's trying to be patient to keep in. You're glad for it. Grateful. Because it gives you enough courage to confess.

"I hung out in your room because I liked hanging out with you," you admit. "Teasing you was the highlight of my day."

"Gee. Thanks."

"I was more surprised you kept letting me hang out with you when I did nothing but annoy you."

"Why do you think that is, ñuha riña?" he asks softly.

"Because you're sweet?"

The way he's looking at you... it makes you breatheless. Especially when he moves to turn fully toward you, taking you by your elbows, and you close your eyes when he leans in expecting his mouth on you, your heart dancing in the palm of his hand because it feels so, so easy to trust Aemond with it, instead he presses his lips underneath your eye, nuzzling against your nose. It shatters and remakes your heart, making you hold onto his shirt for some semblance of comfort.

"Because I've always liked you," he whispers against your skin as if it's his best kept secret. "Because I'm weak when it comes to you. Because you," he breathes against your mouth, taking your bottom lip between his teeth and giving it a tug, "make it easy to want you."

A weak laugh escapes your lips and his mouth follows the sound as if he wants to swallow it, but you press a palm to his chest. He growls.

"Easy there, tiger, that didn't sound much like a compliment."

He pulls back, holding your face. "Sorry, shit, I didn't mean— I'm not good at this. I meant... you're unattainable. Not just as Helaena's best friend but... you're cool, you're fucking gorgeous and incredibly hilarious."

"Ñuha jorrāelagon." He breathes care into the word. The word is lost on me and I force my brain to pocket it like a love letter so I can search it up. "I never thought I could be here, touching you like this." Without warning, he moulds his lips to yours in a harsh, deep kiss. It's quick but it leaves you breathless, his voice coming up ragged. "Kiss you like this. It feels like I'm in a dream and I'm struggling to let go of it. So a while ago... after..."

You nod, pressing your forehead against his, unable to look at him in the eye. You focus on touching him, your hands sliding down, making him shiver when you go underneath his shirt, skating his side until you warm your cool fingers with his spine.

"That's the thing, Aemy," you whisper. "In your head, by your words, I'm always a version to you."

 He calls your name, leaning back and you're forced to see the confusion on his face.

"Helaena's best friend. Past that, an unattainable crush. Now a fake girlfriend. Someone you use to get Alys' attention, and who better than the unattainable crush? It's a pedestal, Aemy."

"It's not like that, that was a bad, convoluted—"

"But it's the truth, it's how I feel. And though that sucks, I understand." You take his hands as you step back and he's frowning harder, the lines deepen and his jaw is tight. "I knew what I was getting into, you know? But things change because I've changed."

 "It's Cregan, isn't it?" he snarls, tugging his hands away.

"Oh, you jealous idiot, it's you! We've gone over this, you incredible dumbass!"

"Me? How the hell is this about—"

"— because I love you!" you shout. Then stop, inhale. Blink. Aemond copies it. It's almost hilarious. "Or I know I can be."

He works his jaw, turning away. "I don't understand."

"Okay, here it is." You inhale. "Just listen and breathe for a second, okay? Okay? Don't turn away from me." You pull him back by his chin, smiling faintly at the pout you form. "Say you understand."

He sighs, taking your hand. "Yes, I understand."

"I can't compete with someone you've loved for so long," you start softly, staring at your conjoined hands wondering if this is the last time you'll get to hold him like this. "Without you showing you can love me for more than that. I can't compete with your own ideal happy ending if I'm not part of it. I won't. I refuse." Your smile is wry, it's heartbreak and it's strings. You wish you had the energy to scream, to act like a brat and demand his heart, his promises in gold-ink and pink-veined hue. It's what your heart wants.

But you're of big age. You've seen love in its spaces, how it takes root in people, how it affects the world around you.

And you know you cannot love him if he does not make the effort to love you in the same way.

Your heart is in your throat but the words come out anyway. "Because I love you, Aemy. And I know I can fight for you. I can fight for what we have. I can wake up tomorrow and choose to love you with the same degree, if not fiercer, if I could. And I could do that again and again. That's how love works. You have to wake up tomorrow, see me, and choose to love me all over again."

You smile gently, sadly. "I can't allow myself to be loved in halves. I've done that before, I'm not doing it again. Not even for you."

You bring yourself on your tip toes— damn tall, beautiful rat bastard — and brush your lips on the corner of his. His eye closed. "I'm not going to pressure you for an answer. Alys was... Alys is a big part of what you know is love, and I respect that. I understand that it'll be hard, but I need to know if you're willing to let go of it for me. Because I can promise you I can love you. But I won't. Not without assurance that you can try for me."

"What are you asking me?" he asks softly, straightening. There's a hard line going into his body, like a dutiful student given an assignment.

"I'm asking you to think if you can see past the little statue you've made of me. See me breathing. Alive, just like this." You press a hand to his face and retrieve it back before he can hold it. He shots you a look of betrayal. "I'm going home with Hel. You know how to message me, okay? Bye, dōna zaldrīzes."sweet dragon.

His eye flick upward, shock and heartbreak and confusion moulds and twists into such a beautiful blue, mouth agape trying to find words he can't find— and you smile wryly, turning away and leaving.

You get to Helaena's door quick, knocking soon after.

"Hmph!"

 "You're either getting choked by a robber or masturbating, and really Hel, I need you to make two grunts to tell me the former so I can bust down the door because I don't want to see you bust a—"

The door swings wide, Helaena's face in a comical irritation.

"That is so fucked up, I hope you know— hey, hey." Her irritation sweeps into a frown as you fail to contain your watery eyes. "What happened? What's wrong? What did Aemond do? Oh, that little twerp—"

"— it's not him, it's not him, chill, I just wanna go home, yeah? Get our cakes and go, please?"

Hel's frown deepens, eyes darting back to Aemond's door.

"Please, Helaena," you beg. "I'll tell you when we get home. I'll make us special drinks."

She takes your hand, determination wound tight with concern. "Sure thing, babe. Let's go."

When you make your hasty departure to her grandfather of all of them, Alicent already in bed and the other boys still in the gaming room, cakes in hand, you tow over Helaena's baby blue buggy— she leans over at you with a hand on the ignition, whispering as if she was afraid, "You— are you meeting Cregan tonight? After, I mean." Her eyes widen. "I'm not judging, I'd never—"

"No, no, I understand. You'd never judge me for that, I know. But no. Just you and me tonight."

She smiles softly. It's not like Aemond's but they don't look that apart that it still stings. "Love you."

"Love you too, lovebug."

Loving Helaena isn't hard.

Just as you know loving Aemond wouldn't be, despite it all. But it isn't you that has issues that needs handling, and you've put everything in his court now.

And yet you can't deny your hope.

TAGGED: @snowprincesa1 @gemini-mama @fan-goddess @snh96 @valeskafics @opheliaas-stuff @tempo-rary-fix @fantasticpeaceharmony @diannnnsss @iamavailablesstuff @spinachtz @at-a-rax-ia @bespinnn @tsujifreya @moonlightfoxx @kemillyfreitas @joyouart @bananzaa @honey-on-mars @alexa4040 @cinnamonbambii @wintrr13 @wxb-slingrr @astroswift @queenofshinigamis @helaenaluvr @kaetastic @jxdgodfrey @laniii-on-your-left @watercolorskyy @microwaveallthedemons @kazuyatokue @herfantastyworldd @averyyreads @urmomsgirlfriend1 @bellstwd @jiminie-08 @ttkttt @nockerin @backyardfolklore @random-ocity @hc-geralt-23 @vendettasblog @cicaspair418 @malynn @anehkael @schadenfreude-and-sarcasm @honey132

[fanficapologist]

I… am getting slightly suspicious hahaha I feel like this chapter is meant to make me have a bit of sympathy for Alys only because I’ll absolutely hate her when she does sleep with Aemond in his POV chapter. And then feel vindicated when she does kick the bucket in 78. 👀

But uh, yeah, this chapter is interesting because I feel like it humanizes Alys a bit. So, in canon, I don’t know much about her. But I’ve read some theories regarding her being a wet nurse and for that to happen, she had to have been frequently pregnant without actually letting the child develop full term, just so her body would produce milk. Now these pregnancies could also imply it was against her will, like what she said in this chapter. I don’t like Alys, call it jealousy or other but her backstory in ODAM is both sad and tragic. No one deserves that to happen to them.

And hot take, but I am with Alys on this one. Maera is speaking from a place of privilege because Alys had stated that being high born in itself gives Maera options that wouldn’t be accessible to Alys. For instance, had Maera been a simple servant in the Red Keep, I doubt anyone would bat an eye if Aegon forced himself on her. But because she’s high born, she gets to have a sworn shield, etc. In a way, I do understand why she wanted to grab any opportunity (manipulating Aemond) that could grant her a better station. When the cards you’ve been dealt with all your life are shit, I imagine you’d do anything just to get a taste of comfort. However, that does make her dangerous because we don’t know the extent of what she’s willing to go through.

Still, Maera’s powerlessness and anger is valid because at some point, Aemond had clearly trusted Alys enough and so did the council of Lords at Harrenhal. And she’s right about her life being a gilded cage because even if you are well-off, it does come with its own sets of challenges. And apparently, her status as his wife isn’t enough to get Aemond to listen to her because short of her words being canon law, one would think Alys was a god with the way she behaved.

But yeah, we’ll see about Aemond’s POV hahahahahaha

The great thing is about this is is two things CAN exist at the same time. Alys did have a hard life and does have a point about Maera’s privilege and that as a high born lady, Maera has no idea what struggles common-born women face. Yet we can still condemn Alys for her actions.

I’ve taken some themes from the original Game of Thrones and mixed it into ODAM-

- Daenerys and Khal Drogo/ Maera and Aemond: both husbands did unspeakable, unforgivable acts to their wives. Both women love their husbands yet have to live with the trauma these men have caused them forever.

- Mirri Maz Duur (healer from season 1) and Alys Rivers: These witches have had horrible things happen to them, and have gained power how they can, but we condemn them for their actions against the characters we love e.g. Mirri killing Drogo and Alys’s whole fucking plan so far.

[vivacissimx]

o resident viserra scholar 🙇‍♀️what kind of relationship do you think saera and viserra had? do you think either of them thought of each other with affection or envied each other after saera's exxxplosive exit? feel free to not answer if you don't want to!

RESIDENT VISERRA SCHOLAR *explodes*

I like this question, I've thought a lot about this specific dynamic because it's impossible not to when considering Viserra. Saera is the favorite of her father, thought of affectionately by her brothers, and the bane of her mother & sisters. Viserra's relationships inside of her family pale in comparison so you start to see through that contrast that attention from Jaehaerys & Alysanne has become a very limited resource at this point. Saera ('fierce and stubborn') has as much as she has because she demands it, something Viserra (equally willful but 'she never screamed and she certainly never cried') does not. The first thing that jumps out at me is competition between the siblings.

I enjoy that personally, because if Aemon & Baelon's relationship is described as competitive but deeply loving, rich off the plentiful familial love they grew up on — Vaegon & Daella's lacking love yet their individual 'happiness' nonetheless secured by their attentive parents — it makes sense to show the dark underbelly of that family structure through siblings like Saera & Viserra. What happens when the river runs dry? The survivors scrap over the leftovers.

Each of them had plenty of non-familial attention, particularly sexual attention from men and boys starting from their youth. Both of them were willful, a bit arrogant, sly, and rebellious, and both of them had a certain disdain for the men who desired them. It makes sense considering the ridiculousness of the fact that even at 2 and 6, the prime concern regarding them was their possible marriage (to Vaegon). Born & raised to be brides.

Did they have any common ground due to that?

Honestly, I don't really see it - Saera being four years older and having a superiority complex doesn't endear me to thinking she would be the type to care much about Viserra. Spending time around each other, sure — having some inside jokes & sibling scuffles, that seems realistic.

Post-Saera's flight... look, Saera was put under guard in the Red Keep. Publicly disowned. Her lovers humiliated. Then afterwards, packed off to Oldtown where she faced beatings and deprivations that someone of her nature never experienced before. Saera lost all faith in her parents and was forced to exchange sex for money to create a life away from everything she'd ever known. (Oh but Jaehaerys would have ended her punishment eventu—according to who? And why would Saera believe that after a year and a half? I know we're meant to think her spoiled and impatient but she was a scared teenage girl who didn't trust her parents to care for her, parents who ruled over the entire continent. Have sympathy for this, or don't, but she has the right to a perspective.)

Did Viserra envy her that? No. There was a pretty clear message in Saera's punishment for Viserra: this could happen to you.

While I'm tempted to think Viserra probably heard of Saera's fate and thought 'well that won't happen to me because I'm smarter/know better' that doesn't change the fact that, when betrothed, Viserra tried to get out of it by seducing Baelon. A son who Jae & Aly loved, a man known for being a loving partner, and a husband who could protect her from anyone. Such a specific choice!

Did Saera think of Viserra? This I can guess even less but my hunch is that she was just like nah fuck 'em about all members of her family, didn't necessarily blame them all but would've had a 'they should have helped me' chip on her shoulder (fair). The most I can imagine is her hearing of Viserra's death and thinking her parents deserved that, perhaps even feeling vindicated in her choice to escape Westeros by any means.

[johannawesterling]

I think it's good Daeron will be at Harrenhall instead just popping out of nowhere. His story won't be that limited as in books which is good. And I like it that Alys will be working for him, better him than Daemon lol, and it might introduce us to Strong family better because there is also this new castellan since Larys is obvously in KL. And naturally this will make all stupid anti alysmond takes vanish, I've already seen comments about leak with Emily Beecham when people there on Tumblr said Yeah, she flirts with Daemon, wants to sleep with him as Mushroom said in books that she tried to seduce Daemon and they cling into this for dear life. And then they turn around and say it's good if Aemond rapes her as war price because she tried to sleep with Daemon before so she deserves it. That makes me sick.

But, with Alys working with Daeron, it has great potential. Daeron goes to KL, leaves Alys, his ally at Harrenhall and maybe, just maybe, when Aemond wants to fight Daemon, Daeron tells him bro, there is a woman, Alys Rivers, who has been working with me since the beginning of the war, she even helped Larys add fire to kill Lyonel and Harvin, she is on our side, don't kill her. And then Aemond arrives, decides to kill all Strongs and spares Alys because of what Daeron told him (maybe Alys says to him that she is the only one who is loyal to Greens and the rest of her family is pro Blacks) and then they talk and he is like: You really killed your father and half brother? And ALys is like: You see I was a kinslayer when you were still a child. And that's how they connect, 2 kinslayers, that's just a glorious way to go.

Anon, are you a writer on the show? This is incredible. And it reminds me of the character description for Alys when Gayle's casting was announced. "A healer with a secret." Her secret is she played a hand in the deaths of Lyonel and Harwin, and her having a connection with Aemond both being kinslayers? I freaking love it.

This is great. It gives Daeron and Alys more to do, it pushes Aemond towards his ending of the God's Eye but has it make more sense rather than him just going off to die or have all the glory for himself. It makes it all the more tragic imo.

That leak also said that Daeron kind of bonds with Alys about being outsiders of their own family. He was sent away at a young age to Oldtown, he never got a chance to be with his family, and Alys was ostracized and abused by her family for being a bastard. That would definitely help Daeron trust her as well.

I freaking love this. Thank you for sharing. I really hope this is what comes to pass.

[aemondsluvr]

other woman (chapter 2)

summary. it seems everytime you try to spend time with your husband and children, he turns down the offer, so you went to spend time with his brother instead

pairing. aemond x fem!targaryen!oc, a little aegon ii x fem!targaryen!oc

warning.

pt1 pt2

after the commotion that morning, Reina was called to dine with her family for lunch, receiving the news by her handmaiden, she stormed out of her chambers holding her head high as she made her way to the dining hall.

unfortunately, bumping into Aemond and Alys on the way, so this is the Alys girl. Reina thought to herself, it was her first time ever seeing the girl. Alys’ long black hair, and beautiful green eyes, she is beautiful. no wonder Aemond cannot get over her.

“she looks like a witch” she muttered very quietly, hoping no one heard her.

“Wife.” Aemond spoke without any emotion, greeting her “Aemond, Lady Rivers” she did the same, not even trying to hide her disappointment. “princess,” Alys bowed at her showing a half genuine smile.

“lady Rivers, i heard so much about you” she showed a thin smile, Aemond knew where this was going, he knew how his wife had a sarcastic personality. “good things, i hope” “oh of course,” she hums.

“though, i had heard that you were a bastard of Lord Lyonel Strong? or maybe i heard wrong” Reina squinted her eyes, her. index finger tapping her lips, “well, i cannot help it but tell you, Aemond. i had never thought of you as a man who would love a Strong bastard, seeing at how much hatred you had for my siblings. it is very unpredictable of you” she let out a laugh, seeing Aemond’s face furious is entertaining to her.

“i do not think it is your business to question my birth, princess” Alys replied, her tone making Reina stunned, “well, you know, people nowadays. spreading such false rumor about one’s birth, tsk tsk” she shook her head, “i know princess, there is so many things wrong with the people” Alys agreed, “you are right Alys, especially stealing a married man? can you believe it!” Reina has her eyes wide before clapping.

oh, the look on Aemond’s face makes Reina want to laugh hysterically. “well, i must not bother you anymore, for mother had called me in for lunch. it was great meeting you, Lady Rivers” Reina let out her most beautiful smile anyone has seen, “you too, princess” Alys bowed before they walked the opposite direction of each other.

“whore” Reina rolled her eyes muttering the words as she walks closer to the dining hall.

opening the doors of the dining hall, she was greeted by her mother-in-law, Aegon, Helaena and her children. “good morning, Reina. come sit, we have been waiting for you” said Alicent, Reina took a seat across Aegon, seeing his face after that night makes her want to throw up.

“where is Aemond?” Alicent looked around, “i saw him with his whore” Aegon said, day drinking again. “now that i think of it, i have never seen you sober, brother” said Reina looking directly at Aegon.

a smirk grew on Aegon’s lips “i could try, if you want me to” “no thank you”

Alicent cleared her throat “Aegon, what whore?” “mother?” “Aegon, what whore?” she raised her voice a little. “the black haired girl, the one with green eyes. the um” he snapped his fingers trying to remember the name “oh! oh! the witch!” he smiled.

Alicent sighed, looking at Reina who looked back with disappointment, “i’m sorry Reina, i truly am.” she held the younger’s hand, “it is alright mother, he could do whatever he wants. for he is prince” Reina sadly smiled, “you do not deserve this, i will speak to him about the matter” replied Alicent.

“mother, i think it is better if we just let it slide for the mean time.” “Reina, you’re his wife this is unacceptable-” “he’s happy, mother. i had never seen him this happy since then, she makes him happy.” Reina interrupted Alicent.

“you do not deserve this, my daughter” she squeezed Reina’s hand.

Reina spent the afternoon out in the gardens with her children, “Aeron! Aeron! no!” Reina and Odette chased the little boy who was running to a pond, but before he could a pair of hands carried him.

“gotcha” the guy laughed, Reina sighed out of relief, walking closer to the person. “thank you, Aegon” she smiled lightly at him. “no worries” he gave a smile back, “fish! fish! i want fish!” Aeron pointed at the pond, “what do you want? hm?” asked Aegon.

“fish! fish!” Aeron kept pointing, “you want to play with the fish?” Aeron nodded, “i’ll have the kingsguard fetch some fish food for him.” Aegon said to Reina then calling the kingsguard.

Reina watched them in awe, looking at how Aegon plays with her son and daughter, she had never seen Aemond like this. maybe because whenever she tried to, he would say he wanted to spend time with them alone.

“look! look! the fish is eating it? did you see?” Aegon sat on the grass, with Aeron sitting on his lap and Aeryn sitting beside them. “fishie fishie, here. food!” Aeryn threw the fish food at the pond, she laughs while clapping her hands when she saw the fish eating it quickly.

maybe during that time, Reina forgot what happened to her and Aegon, maybe he is actually a good guy when he’s sober.

“mama! look! look! fish!” Aeron giggled, covering his mouth with his tiny hands, “you must go and play with them, princess” Odette elbowed her with a smile.

Reina walked over to them, kneeling down beside Aegon and Aeryn. “here mama, you feed” Aeryn handed her mother some fish food, Reina threw the food over sat the pond, “yay!”

the cold air hitting their faces, Aeryn’s hair began covering her face, “Aeryn darling look at you! your hair!” she teased her daughter, Aegon and Aeron joined in, “oh Aeryn, your hair is covering your face! i cannot see it anymore!” said Aegon, Aeron laughs at his sister.

after a few laughs Reina began combing her daughter’s platinum hair with her fingers. “my beautiful daughter”

Reina grabbed more fish food from the basket, but she only grabbed one in her right hand.

“look, alright?” Reina grabbed one of the fish food, holding it over the water, after few seconds a fish jumped out. The fish ate the food but also bit her finger, “ow!” she held her finger close, shaking her hand to get rid of the pain.

Aegon immediately grabbed her hand, “are you okay?” he examined her finger “i’m fine, it was nothing, my King.” she tried to take her hand back but Aegon refused. “i told you. no formalities” Reina nodded.

“we should go to the maester, i see a cut” Aegon massaged the palm of her hand and finger “no need, Aegon. It was just a small bite” she gave him a sweet smile. tucking her hair behind her ear.

“fine, if you say so” Aegon continued playing with Aeron and Aeryn.

a cough was heard behind them, both adults turned seeing Aemond with his hand behind his back.

“o-oh, husband,” she stood up quickly, dusting off the dirt from her dress. “brother” Aegon nodded still carrying Aeron.

“why are you home so early? you usually come back before supper” Reina has a thin smile, “i came back with toys for our children” said Aemond, no smile no anything. “Aeron, Aeryn, your father is back with some toys” “toys!” the two siblings diverted their attention from the fish pond to their father. “daddy! miss you daddy!” Aeryn ran to him.

Aemond smiled carrying his daughter, a rose fell from his back. Reina noticed the rose “you miss me? really?” Aeryn shyly nodded “yes daddy” she hid in her father’s neck, “well, i miss you too my daughter” he placed a kiss on top of her head.

what a daddy’s girl.

“come, Aeron. i had brought many toys for you. do you want to see it?” Aemond had his other hand out, waiting for his son to reach it. Looking at Aegon who is carrying Aemond’s son.

“dad! toys!” Aegon places Aeron on the ground, he runs to his father holding his hand. “mama? come!” Aeron motioned his hand, calling for his mother. Reina have a look at Aemond then at Aegon.

“i will catch up with you later, okay?” Aeron nodded. they walk into the palace, into Aemond’s chamber.

“why did you stay?” “i do not feel like wasting my time with Aemond” she shook her head. “then, may i take you out for a walk around red keep?” a hand stretched out. “gladly” she placed her hand softly on Aegon’s.

[aemondsloverrrrr]

other woman (chapter 2)

summary. it seem everytime you try to spend time with your husband, be turns down the offer, so you went to spend time with his brother instead

pairing. aemond x fem!targaryen!oc, a little aegon ii x fem!targaryen!oc

warning.

pt1  pt2

after the commotion that morning, Reina was called to dine with her family for lunch, receiving the news by her handmaiden, she stormed out of her chambers holding her head high as she made her way to the dining hall.

unfortunately, bumping into Aemond and Alys on the way, so this is the Alys girl. Reina thought to herself, it was her first time ever seeing the girl. Alys’ long black hair, and beautiful green eyes, she is beautiful. no wonder Aemond cannot get over her.

“she looks like a witch” she muttered very quietly, hoping no one heard her.

“Wife.” Aemond spoke without any emotion, greeting her “Aemond, Lady Rivers” she did the same, not even trying to hide her disappointment. “princess,” Alys bowed at her showing a half genuine smile.

“lady Rivers, i heard so much about you” she showed a thin smile, Aemond knew where this was going, he knew how his wife had a sarcastic personality. “good things, i hope” “oh of course,” she hums.

“though, i had heard that you were a bastard of Lord Lyonel Strong? or maybe i heard wrong” Reina squinted her eyes, her. index finger tapping her lips, “well, i cannot help it but tell you, Aemond. i had never thought of you as a man who would love a Strong bastard, seeing at how much hatred you had for my siblings. it is very unpredictable of you” she let out a laugh, seeing Aemond’s face furious is entertaining to her.

“i do not think it is your business to question my birth, princess” Alys replied, her tone making Reina stunned, “well, you know, people nowadays. spreading such false rumor about one’s birth, tsk tsk” she shook her head, “i know princess, there is so many things wrong with the people” Alys agreed, “you are right Alys, especially stealing a married man? can you believe it!” Reina has her eyes wide before clapping.

oh, the look on Aemond’s face makes Reina want to laugh hysterically. “well, i must not bother you anymore, for mother had called me in for lunch. it was great meeting you, Lady Rivers” Reina let out her most beautiful smile anyone has seen, “you too, princess” Alys bowed before they walked the opposite direction of each other.

“whore” Reina rolled her eyes muttering the words as she walks closer to the dining hall.

opening the doors of the dining hall, she was greeted by her mother-in-law, Aegon, Helaena and her children. “good morning, Reina. come sit, we have been waiting for you” said Alicent, Reina took a seat across Aegon, seeing his face after that night makes her want to throw up.

“where is Aemond?” Alicent looked around, “i saw him with his whore” Aegon said, day drinking again. “now that i think of it, i have never seen you sober, brother” said Reina looking directly at Aegon.

a smirk grew on Aegon’s lips “i could try, if you want me to” “no thank you”

Alicent cleared her throat “Aegon, what whore?” “mother?” “Aegon, what whore?” she raised her voice a little. “the black haired girl, the one with green eyes. the um” he snapped his fingers trying to remember the name “oh! oh! the witch!” he smiled.

Alicent sighed, looking at Reina who looked back with disappointment, “i’m sorry Reina, i truly am.” she held the younger’s hand, “it is alright mother, he could do whatever he wants. for he is prince” Reina sadly smiled, “you do not deserve this, i will speak to him about the matter” replied Alicent.

“mother, i think it is better if we just let it slide for the mean time.” “Reina, you’re his wife this is unacceptable-” “he’s happy, mother. i had never seen him this happy since then, she makes him happy.” Reina interrupted Alicent.

“you do not deserve this, my daughter” she squeezed Reina’s hand.

Reina spent the afternoon out in the gardens with her children, “Aeron! Aeron! no!” Reina and Odette chased the little boy who was running to a pond, but before he could a pair of hands carried him.

“gotcha” the guy laughed, Reina sighed out of relief, walking closer to the person. “thank you, Aegon” she smiled lightly at him. “no worries” he gave a smile back, “fish! fish! i want fish!” Aeron pointed at the pond, “what do you want? hm?” asked Aegon.

“fish! fish!” Aeron kept pointing, “you want to play with the fish?” Aeron nodded, “i’ll have the kingsguard fetch some fish food for him.” Aegon said to Reina then calling the kingsguard.

Reina watched them in awe, looking at how Aegon plays with her son and daughter, she had never seen Aemond like this. maybe because whenever she tried to, he would say he wanted to spend time with them alone.

“look! look! the fish is eating it? did you see?” Aegon sat on the grass, with Aeron sitting on his lap and Aeryn sitting beside them. “fishie fishie, here. food!” Aeryn threw the fish food at the pond, she laughs while clapping her hands when she saw the fish eating it quickly.

maybe during that time, Reina forgot what happened to her and Aegon, maybe he is actually a good guy when he’s sober.

“mama! look! look! fish!” Aeron giggled, covering his mouth with his tiny hands, “you must go and play with them, princess” Odette elbowed her with a smile.

Reina walked over to them, kneeling down beside Aegon and Aeryn. “here mama, you feed” Aeryn handed her mother some fish food, Reina threw the food over sat the pond, “yay!”

the cold air hitting their faces, Aeryn’s hair began covering her face, “Aeryn darling look at you! your hair!” she teased her daughter, Aegon and Aeron joined in, “oh Aeryn, your hair is covering your face! i cannot see it anymore!” said Aegon, Aeron laughs at his sister.

after a few laughs Reina began combing her daughter’s platinum hair with her fingers. “my beautiful daughter”

Reina grabbed more fish food from the basket, but she only grabbed one in her right hand.

“look, alright?” Reina grabbed one of the fish food, holding it over the water, after few seconds a fish jumped out. The fish ate the food but also bit her finger, “ow!” she held her finger close, shaking her hand to get rid of the pain.

Aegon immediately grabbed her hand, “are you okay?” he examined her finger “i’m fine, it was nothing, my King.” she tried to take her hand back but Aegon refused. “i told you. no formalities” Reina nodded.

“we should go to the maester, i see a cut” Aegon massaged the palm of her hand and finger “no need, Aegon. It was just a small bite” she gave him a sweet smile. tucking her hair behind her ear.

“fine, if you say so” Aegon continued playing with Aeron and Aeryn.

a cough was heard behind them, both adults turned seeing Aemond with his hand behind his back.

“o-oh, husband,” she stood up quickly, dusting off the dirt from her dress. “brother” Aegon nodded still carrying Aeron.

“why are you home so early? you usually come back before supper” Reina has a thin smile, “i came back with toys for our children” said Aemond, no smile no anything. “Aeron, Aeryn, your father is back with some toys” “toys!” the two siblings diverted their attention from the fish pond to their father. “daddy! miss you daddy!” Aeryn ran to him.

Aemond smiled carrying his daughter, a rose fell from his back. Reina noticed the rose “you miss me? really?” Aeryn shyly nodded “yes daddy” she hid in her father’s neck, “well, i miss you too my daughter” he placed a kiss on top of her head.

what a daddy’s girl.

“come, Aeron. i had brought many toys for you. do you want to see it?” Aemond had his other hand out, waiting for his son to reach it. Looking at Aegon who is carrying Aemond’s son.

“dad! toys!” Aegon places Aeron on the ground, he runs to his father holding his hand. “mama? come!” Aeron motioned his hand, calling for his mother. Reina have a look at Aemond then at Aegon.

“i will catch up with you later, okay?” Aeron nodded. they walk into the palace, into Aemond’s chamber.

“why did you stay?” “i do not feel like wasting my time with Aemond” she shook her head. “then, may i talk you out for a walk around red keep?” a hand stretched out. “gladly” she placed her hand softly on Aegon’s.

[horizon-verizon]

It's always funny how most greens claim not to care about bloodlines yet they keep praying Condal will leave Jaehaera alive at the end of the show and make her the mother of Aegon's children in show!canon so therefore their favorites' line has some relevance. Sure, Jaehaera was innocent and didn't deserve to die but let's face it, everything that happened to her happened thanks to her family's hubris and desire for power. At the end of it, she couldn't even be named queen regnant because her own side fought against a woman's right to inherit. On the top of that, she's then killed by another green loyalist, Unwin Peake, who wanted his own daughter to become queen. It's a very fitting conclusion to the greens' storyline and a proper end to Aegon II's line who himself wanted to end Rhaenyra's line, let's not forget that (can't they see the irony here?).

But there's more and this thing is even more insane: they also believe Alys and Aemond's bastard son is going to play some big role or will have some relevance in the future. Apparently, they're fine with bastards as long as they belong to their side! They actually theorize that Aemond's son founded house Whent, making him the ancestor of Catelyn Tully and the Stark kids. Why would GRRM even do this??? What would be the point of the Starks having Aemond's blood? Now some of them genuinely think that would justify Arya killing the Night's King and Bran becoming king (because they would have Targ blood) but that's crazy and stupid. GRRM's ending will also be different than what D&D did in the show. All of this is very laughable considering many of the same people are also Targ antis. They hate the Targaryens yet they stan Aemond (and Aegon II) and wouldn't mind the Starks having secret Targaryen blood because it would belong to Aemond. Let's face it, the best case scenario for both that kid and Alys is for them to disappear and never be heard of again, maybe he grew up to be an adult and had lowborn descendants of his own, maybe not, but he certainly did not found house Whent, that makes no sense and there's no support for this in the books. Alicent's line is gone and done for.

Summarizing a lot of points made huh?

"GRRM's ending will also be different than what D&D did in the show."

I wonder if he will continue to make Arya kill an Other (there is no Night King in canon). I already disapprove of Bran becoming king, but I do like the idea of Arya killing some Others.

Back to Aemond. Alys Rivers openly claimed the boy next to her was Aemond's son, yet we hear nothing more about them and no man came out and claimed he was the son of Aemond Targaryen.

So where is this kid? Either:

he died after that incident from any number of things

he lived but after Alys protected Harrenhal -> they left never to be heard from again and she never told him about Aemond

OR he was just a random kid she used and left be after the whole thing was done

If she publicly claimed her son was Aemond's, she probably would have also told this kid who he was. In the second possibility, this son never knows who Aemond was to him, therefore he could never found his own house, or in this case House Whent. And in the first, he would have had to advertise--even a little--his parentage to even form and solidify said house.

Even if they are a bastard, one needs to prove (in case the need should arise) they have some sort of familial tie to a noble house to even be considered a minor noble house. Jon Waters, bastard son of Eleana Targaryen and Alyn Oakenfist, was the father of the man who changed his last name to "Longwaters" and founded the minor noble house of Longwaters. To keep that nobility (however minor it may be), it would work better for that founder and the later members of the house favor to not keep the identity of their founder's ancestors a secret and advertise it as much as possible if a monarch can't oversee that.

Without revealing Aemond and the parentage, no minor house to form. And it's not likely that--if the boy survived past childhood and was Alys and Aemond's child--that the reveal himself without having a sense of his own safety, and it certainly wasn't the time for him to do so when Aegon III was king and Unwin Peake was his Hand. Even so, Aegon was not a bastard, while this kid would be. So Aegon has a better claim to the throne. What would the point be, to a thinking child like this one?

[puffballlofdoom]

My first hotd crack meme

[aegor-bamfsteel]

The Shie*a Seastar stanning from targ nation is so funny to me because it's just so on brand for them. A character with little to no characterization outside of being described as hot and having two important men running after her. It's almost as if targs are literally only in it for the self insert power fantasy and aesthetic of stanning light eyed blondes lmao.

Few things about historical ASOIAF is liable to make me angrier than Sh1era Starfish. I’m a fan of a house with not a lot of explicit characterization (House Blackfyre), so I don’t have much of a leg to stand on when criticizing people who stan minor characters; however, Sh1era is one of my least favorites because her SSM says that men killed themselves after falling from her favor, which, considering my experiences with mental health and suicidal ideation, is so pointlessly awful on a personal level you rarely get with ASOIAF campy cartoon villains (like Aemond or Alys Rivers). But then some of her fans mocked me a few times for pointing out she suicide-baited, hypocritically saying it’s just an SSM so we don’t know what happened (when they don’t give House Blackfyre or Daena Targaryen that courtesy), or even that the men deserved it (which is such noxious victim-blaming I hope they never have a family member going through mental health issues). I don’t think Aegor “ran after Shiera” since there’s little hard evidence to indicate such, and considering he’s a favorite, I resent her fans reducing the traumatized revolutionary to a scorned lover (of course tagging and refusing to take down posts when called out on it), when he had much bigger, more meaningful motivations for his actions (but that would require the Tàrg fans to consider their faves treated others like trash and we can’t have that). But then they have to Woobify her, calling her “morally gray” when she has literally no redeeming qualities; while comparing Daena to a torturing murderer (Rhanyra, when it’s their fave Elaena who has more similarities), saying Bethany Bracken should’ve known better than to anger A4, expressing the desire to kill Rohanne in her tag…but that’s okay because those women are on the “bad side” while Sh1era is “good” just like her paramour. When you call yourself a fan of Sh1era, don’t claim the moral high ground over those who like House Blackfyre. Most of the time I act like she doesn’t exist and considering how she’s a not-very-good red herring and satellite love interest for Bl00draven, it’s laughably easy to do.

[notyour-valentine]

A Fair Exchange XVI ~ Aemond Targaryen x Reader/OC (Angst)

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Summary: Rhaenyra's explanation leaves her with more questions than answers and in their pursuit, she turns to a lot of different sources

Warning: bullying, blood, mention and threat of violence and death, mutilation, mention of torture and death, childbirth, injury, misogyny. Expect canon conforming tone and language. (18/21+)

[Series Masterlist]

Previously

Part XVI

She wrapped her scarf tighter around her shoulders as she stared out into the darkness.

It was cold out here, with the winds tugging at her clothes and the salt filling the air, but she far preferred that to the warmth of her chambers.

In truth, she preferred anything to the smell of smoke and the flickers of fire. This mere thought alone made her stomach turn.

The Prince that was Promised.

Her mother had told them about him, explaining Aegon’s dream, and Viserys’ too

But another woman’s words echoed around in her mind.

Did not Daenys dream?

The last time they had filled her with blank terror as she thought herself in the clutches of a mad woman, but now there was only dread.

Aegon’s dreams, Viserys’ dreams, Alys’ flames and her dreams - they were different, but they were too similar for her to dismiss.

Far too similar.

A Prince that would come, and a hero who will yet be. Words on a blade and stories already written. A cold winter, and a deep darkness. Fire and blood and a flaming sword.

Jace’s steps tore her from her thoughts so violently, he quickly apologised for startling her before bracing himself on the banister of her balcony.

He sighed, his head lowered and his shoulders slumped.

“So,”, he finally said, “Do you believe what she said?”

She did not respond, at least not before he sighed once more and turned.

Her brother, her twin - a face she knew better than all others, apart perhaps her mother’s. And he looked so much older than they were, a man grown, a man weighed down by war, worry, and concern.

Him tired, and her scarred. What a sad picture they made.

She reached out, her hand finding his shoulder as she pulled him in for an embrace, her head resting against his chest.

“She wouldn’t lie to us.”, she whispered into the night, feeling Jace tense.

“That’s not what I meant. But do you think that those dreams are real? Aegon’s dream? And Viserys too?”

Daenys’ dream, Aegon’s dream, Viserys’ dream, Alys’ dream

She buried her face in his chest as her tears came.

Jace, startled by her reaction, stroked the back of her head.

“Don’t be scared. Even if it's real, it won’t happen to us.”

But it will, she thought. Alys told me.

She told her of the darkness and the cold, and the Targaryen that would face them.

‘The ground itself cracked with frost, but nothing could freeze that river of blood.’, that was what Alys had said, but not just of a Targaryen.

Her mother had told her because she asked, and Jace, because he was her heir, because she was supposed to pass it on from heir to heir.

Jace was her heir, but Alys had spoken of her blood.

Perhaps it was a mistake, her blood so close to Jace that she had been wrong, but if she wasn’t, then…

But if those dreams were true, then what of hers? Of her other dreams? Her dreams of silverhaired corpses, of slain boys on a field of blood, of a warhammer carving in a Targaryen breastplate, of the dragonskulls, of Rhaenys.

“How did you know to ask Mother?”, Jace wanted to know.

His words made her heart clench.

If another had asked her she could have told a lie, or say nothing at all, but it was her brother who asked her and he deserved her truth.

It took all her strength of will as she pushed herself away from his embrace, her heart thundering in her chest.

Her shaking fingers clutched his and she realised how warm they were as they clasped hers.

“You mustn’t think me mad.”, she told the buttons on his coat in a whisper. “But I was told, at Harrenhal. I was told.”

“What?”, Jace asked.

She nodded and sniffled like a little child. And then she took a deep breath.

Telling him equally more and less difficult than she had thought.

Jace listened without interrupting her, without even giving a sign of how her words may or may not affect him. That unnerved her, and so she just continued, telling him all she remembered. Most, however had come in quick flashes, so her account was neither reliable nor complete, even to her, but she did try.

She told him of the Isle of Faces and the nightmares she had, that it was the second time she had had them. She told him of the burning castle and the woman giving birth, of the handsome man who took his eye and drank wildfire, of the man with the hood and his white arrows that brought down a black dragon, of the two silverhaired boys lying in a field or blood, with the one still trying to reach the other even though an arrow was lodged in his throat.

She told him of the boy on Dragonstone, swearing vengeance, and the Watcher on the Wall taking his oath.

And she told him of the silverhaired boy who looked like Lucerys, of the dragonskulls and of Rhaenys.

She told him of the other dreams she had, of Tyseleys in the night, and how she woke every day with the taste of blood in her mouth, of how she had made for Harrenhal and how the woman had rescued her, had cared for her in every way -

Retelling it made her realise how foolish she had been, the way the woman had treated her.

And then she told him what Alys had said to her, of flames and dreams and visions and bloodlines, and a Prince that would be born, who had been foretold.

She didn’t tell him that Alys said it would be her child, or that it would be the blood spilling from the one eyed dragon that wouldn’t freeze.

For a long while after, Jace just looked at her.

“Well you have to say something now.”, she mumbled, her voice strained from all the talking she had done. “Do you believe me?”

“I do believe you.”, Jace said, reaching out and taking her hand, his thumb stroking over her knuckles. “But I’m not sure I believe that woman, though.”

His voice was laced with venom.

“But it fits!”, she argued.

“It fits because you want it to fit.”, Jace insisted, reaching out and cupping her face. “It’s the same thing people always say - a hero that comes again, that wakes from his slumber, that comes down from the mountain, or back from underground. Every culture, every people in history has it - when I was in the north, they sung a song of a horn to waken giants again. The same story, whether it is heroes, princes or giants. We’ve heard it a thousand times before, so we believe it.”

She bit the inside of her lip and chewed on it.

“Rhaena said that the Priests of R’hllor see things in their flames too.”

Jace offered her a small smile.

“And how in Seven Hells would a Red Priestess end up as a wetnurse in Harrenhal?”

That was a question she had no answer too.

Jace shifted closer to her.

“She was trying to gain your trust, to advance herself somehow. That’s why she took care of you, that’s why she tried to build a relationship with you through Ser Harwin and she told you these lies because she wanted you to keep needing her.”

“If she wanted advancement, she could have turned me over.”, she said.

“It is far more profitable to be your friend than your enemy.”

“What of my dreams then?”, she demanded to know, anger bubbling up inside her. “She can’t have made them up.”

She had had both types of dreams far before meeting her.

“She wouldn’t have needed to.”, Jace said. “Look at what you’ve been through - woundfever, lack of food, nightmares. Of course it takes it’s toll and I hate that it does but that doesn’t mean your terrors are real. They are just nightmares. Surely all of it comes with the injury.”

Wanting to argue, she already opened her mouth, but she couldn’t find the words.

Lucerys had nightmares too from Storm’s End, Rhaena had told her. And lack of food turned people mad left and right.

Still, she wasn’t convinced.

Her brother squeezed her hand and encouraged her to look up, which she only ever did with great reluctance.

“We have a real war to win. Right here, right now”, he reminded her, “not some mythical one against the darkness or the cold in some distant, far away future.”

Then he offered her a soft smile.

“But if you are concerned, then we can go to Harrenhal and question this woman, once the dust settles and our mother is securely on the Iron Throne to find out the truth of it. The end of the world can wait until then.”

~

Aemond had been waiting for her, which he preferred not to think about, but he had.

Again, she was wearing one of these long sleeved high collared gowns, more white than gray this time around.

He couldn’t say that the look flattered her. It washed out her skin and made the circles around her eyes seem even darker.

“Good morrow.”, Aemond said, wincing slightly as he stood.

Out of instinct, he realised, not out of intention.

“Do your ribs still pain you?”, she asked, her eye glanding down at his side.

Aemond hummed.

“T’has improved.”

But while talking about his ailments in regards to his eye was one thing, talking about the incident was another.

“Shall we?”, he asked, and nodded towards the table.

He was halfway there when he realised she wasn’t following, so he too stalled.

She seemed lost in thought, her fingers picking at the hem of her sleeve as her gaze was focussed on everything and nothing.

Only when he called her name, did she look up, startled like a doe, before she took a deep breath.

“Apologies.”, she sighed.

But instead of joining him at the table, Aemond watched her walk towards the window.

It had been barred to prevent his possible escape, leaving only little room for air or sunlight to fall in.

Aemond watched her every move, unsure of what she wsa doing, or how he should respond to that.

“You have always hated Dragonstone.”, she mused as her fingers picked at the edge of the wood.

“I haven’t hated it.”, he said after a while. “But this place was never as familiar to us as it was to you. King’s Landing is my home. This is yours.”

Those few times they had been here, he could count on one hand, and each and every time Rhaenyra, Laenor, Viserys and everyone else made sure to remind them that this was not their place.

“King’s Landing is not our home.”, she said, her voice trembling. “It’s not supposed to be our home. Not even Dragonstone.”

Her words made no sense to him, but instead of asking, he watched her shake her head and rub her temple.

“We only came here because of Daenys and her dreams.”

He inhaled sharply as he understood.

She did not mean them as people, but them as Targaryens, as Valyians, which was curious, since she had never taken an interest in history.

“Aegon was born on this island, and Rhaenys and Visenya.”, she said once more, “standing at the council table, making his plans to conquer Westeros because of Aegon’s - “

Cutting herself off, she looked at Aemond with such intensity he took a step back.

There was a shine in her eye and pain in her gaze, but whatever she looked for, he could not give it to her.

“Walk with me.”, she finally said.

“Walk where?”, Aemond wanted to know, the same moment the guards tried to interfere.

“Princess, the prisoner is not allowed to - “

“The thick air makes my head hurt so we will continue someplace where you can breathe.”

The guards, much like Aemond did not know what to say to that, and so he followed her, with one guard on either side.

Her steps were certain but slowed by her foot. It was still bothering her.

Aemond had never asked about the cause for this injury, but he did not doubt that she could have gathered it on clumsiness alone.

She knew her way around Dragonstone better than he did, of course she would, this was her home, and so within only a few steps, she had guided him to the battlements.

It was strange - all this daylight and wind.

While he had heard the waves, the noise had been muffled by walls and wood, but now he truly heard it. And he tasted the salt in the air as he inhaled deeply, even despite the pain, because the sting in the side of his chest was little compared to the joy of breathing fresh air again.

The wind tickled his face and for the first time in a long time, Aemond felt a semblance of peace, or at least relief.

He hadn’t even noticed how much he had missed it, nor had he ever realised how beautiful the coast off of Dragonstone was - an endless horizon. The waves that crashed against the rocks now would soon turn their tide and head east - to Braavos, and Myr, Lys and Tyrosh even.

And if he turned his head, he could head home.

For a while they walked in silence, passing guards and servants who gave them queer looks.

Aemond, despite his injuries, had to slow his steps for her foot, which still dragged behind her slightly.

Unlike him, she did not take in her surroundings, instead twisting her hands and tugging at her sleeve.

So Aemond did not attempt to initiate a conversation. Instead, he looked towards the Dragonmont, that giant beast of a volcano that housed the dragons, both tamed and free.

Vhagar would be there, he knew. It was a while off, but not too much.

Still, there was no chance at escape, not with so many guards and a few closely watched gates between them.

Not yet, Aemond thought, not now.

But perhaps, in future, walks on the battlements could turn into walks on the beach. Then they would be far closer.

One more reason to be on his best behaviour, he realised.

“Aemond,”, she asked softly, in a voice so quiet the guards could not hear. “After you lost your eye…Did anything happen with your dreams?”

“Dreams?”, he asked, glancing down at her.

She was staring at her restless hands, or at least looking down at them.

“Yes.”, she whispered, “did they…change?”

Aemond hummed as he inhaled the salty air once more.

“Like my vision when I am not sleeping you mean?”

He hadn’t thought of that before, but he would have noticed.

“I don’t suppose so, no. They stayed the same.”

She chewed on the inside of her lip.

“And what about the topic? Did the topic of your dreams change?”

Now he did stop.

Of course, he thought.

Night after night he had dreamt of the darkness on Driftmark, of the feeling of eight fists raining down on his chest, of the sand in his eye and the pain - the pain.

And there was always Lucerys’ scream to haunt him, like a battle cry of his own, as in the distance, Vhagar had roared.

Sometimes he still dreamt of it, of every detail, of the smell and sound.

And he always woke shaking, as if he were still that little helpless boy, from these nightmares, even if it was a childish thing to consider them as such.

“No.”

She bit her lip harder and nodded, shifting on her feet and tugging so hard at her sleeve he feared the material may give away.

He could see her chest rising and falling rapidly, with shallow, frantic breaths.

It was the way Helaena breathed when she was overwhelmed by company, during those particularly loud or long days at court, mere moments before it would all become too much.

But unlike with Helaena he couldn’t reach out and pull her away, or make excuses to get them to a dark, quiet place.

It wouldn’t be allowed and he doubted it would even be welcome, especially since her nightmares would undoubtedly contain him too.

How could they not?

And yet here she was asking him for help if so only indirectly, help to fight the terrors in her sleep, which he had conjured up.

“There is sweetsleep.”, he suggested, wanting to elaborate on the dreamless sleeps it could provide but also the dangers of consuming to much and getting the body used to it.

He couldn’t though, as she cut through his attempts with another question.

“What of Vhagar?”, she asked, a sense of desperation in her gaze as she lifted it up to meet his. “Did she…change your dreams after you lost an eye?”

“Well, yes.”, Aemond said, uncertain how such a question could require such urgency. “I dreamt of her.”

How could he not? He now finally had a dragon of his own.

“W-what do you dream about?”, she demanded to know, her hands twitching as if her life depended on his answer.

Aemond glanced down at them in confusion.

“Mostly flying.”; he admitted, letting his eye drift to the guards.

They were close enough to see the look on her face but too far away to truly hear their conversation - not that they thought he was putting her in this state because that really wasn’t his intention.

“Flying?”, she asked immediately, demanding more.

“Obviously.”, he muttered. “Taking flight on a dragon is an incredible feel-”

“Taking flight on a dragon?”, she asked, cutting him off once more.

“Yes, that’s what I said.”; Aemond insisted, “Why do you ask?”

Her face fell and she swallowed hard.

For a moment, he thought she might begin to cry, her eye brimming with tears as she brought a shaking hand to her lips.

Then a shout echoed through the air, making them both turn their heads downward to the courtyard where it was coming from.

Aemond spotted the nursemaid first, holding Aegon’s hand, and then the little flash of white hair and red cloth as Viserys ran across the yard towards them.

The moment his eye found the boy, who had been calling out to his sister and waving as he ran, he tripped and fell, hands, knees and face hitting the dark ground.

There was a second in which everyone held their breath and then a wail of pain and sorrow as he pushed himself up into a sitting position.

She rushed towards the stairs and Aemond followed on instinct.

On the steps she struggled with the weight and tangle of her skirts, and the thick material they were made from, and so Aegon reached him first.

Crouching down, he first tried to remove the hands from his wailing brother’s face. Then, when that was to no avail, he stepped behind him and tried to reach under his arms and pull him up.

Viserys was as uncooperative as could be and slumped back down in another dramatic wail as if the world was ending.

“Oh Sweetling, it’s alright!”, she assured him.

As soon as she had reached the end of the steps, she dropped her skirts, not caring one bit that the dirt turned the pale dress darker.

Now the little boy could stand easily, rushing towards her with outstretched arms and an open mouthed cry as tears streamed down his reddened face.

She crouched down just in time as he flung himself at her with full force, so much so that it knocked her back.

Aemond reached down to catch her in case, but her hand caught her balance.

By that time Viserys had already climbed up to wrap his arms around her neck and bury his face in her chest, still wailing.

She wrapped both arms around him and hummed before kissing the side of his face.

For a moment she just held him, stroking his hair and rocking him from side to side, before she tried to soothe him.

“Let me see, hm?”, she asked.

Viserys leaned back and stretched his reddened palms up to her to see.

She took them and brushed the dirt away with her thumb.

“Now we can either go to the Maester,”, she told him calmly, “or I can I kiss it better.”

“Kiss it better!”, he insisted.

She gave a grave nod before bringing the hands to her lips, kissing each in turn.

About four or five kisses later, she looked at her brother.

“Better?”, she asked.

In response, Viserys lifted up his knee.

“Oh I see!”, she said, brushing the dirt off of them too.

“I tried to get him up!”, Aegon argued.

“I saw that!”, she told him, stroking his cheek and offering him the sweetest smile.

“That was a kind thing to do, well done.”

Aegon nodded solemnly, but he did seem to stand a little taller, especially as she kissed his cheek.

Then she kissed his knees better too, but when she tried to put him down on his own to feet, Viserys reached for every part of her he could, to hold onto her.

“Up! Up!”, he argued.

“Oh Viserys.”, she sighed, but he pouted at her and batted his eyelashes.

She winced in pain as she stood up, with the weight of her brother in her arms, struggling for balance.

Aemond reached out to help steady her, his fingers just barely brushing her back, but she had already managed it and made for the steps, Aegon clutching her gown as he went with them.

And all Aemond could do was follow, as her every step was a struggle.

It would have been nothing for her to put him down and make him walk, he clearly could, or to hand him off to the nursemaid, but somehow she wouldn’t.

At the foot of the steps, she hesitated, uncertain of how to approach it.

He reached out his hand in a silent offer and for a split second he thought she might actually take it, but then she shifted Viserys onto the side of her hip that would allow her to steady herself on the wall, even if it meant putting his weight on her injured foot.

Aemond did not know if it was out of disgust or fear, but he couldn’t help but notice how empty and useless his hand felt and how wrong it looked to see her struggle up the steps without his aid.

~

Part XVII

Thank you so much for reading! I'd love to hear your thoughts xx

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[darlingofvalyria]

❝You don't think I can please you?❞

part 05 | we're really in it now, darling

chapter summary:

[ Everything comes ahead at a hedge maze because. . . hedge maze. ]

[ +18 MDNI ] [ 4,517 ] [ series masterlist ] | best friend's brother!aemond targaryen x f!reader, ft. cregan stark x f!reader, aemond x alys rivers

contains— angst, a lil smutty but no full whorishness, ya'll good - i should really put idiots in love as a tag shouldn't i - nsfw: grinding + some sexy, sexy second base lmao - no kingslayers, no rogues, no betas.

a/n— i hope ya'll forgive me. comment, reblog & like at will, mi luvs, mwa!

You don't really know what you were expecting come Sunday. Once you started to 'ehh' 'hmmm' and 'maybe's your way through random moments with Helaena after the radio silence from Aemond— your best friend put her foot down.

"Fuck him," Helaena grumbled. "You've been going to Sunday dinners before he was even born, you are not backing down now."

 You snorted. "That's wildly inaccurate."

"Point still stands. Fuck. Him. You deserve my mother's tiramisu cake. He doesn't get to take that from you." Her eyes widen as if trying to instil her determination into your system via eye contact. "You are not going to let him take that from you."

You nodded. That's at least a point to pro you can stand by. Though she can't cook to save her life— Alicent's words, not yours — the woman sure can bake. It became therapeutic for her, she once said. How measuring ingredients and kneading dough to patiently folding cream after another kept her mind quiet and her hands busy.

"My faith strongly does not advise rage shooting, you know?" Alicent once hummed.

"Did you mean 'range' shooting?"

"Oh?" she nodded absentmindedly, smiling. "Yes, that too."

"That's true," you mused. Tiramisu cake was her mother's specialty. Every Sunday, she has all attendees pack up at least one cake per person and you and Hel usually stave off bites throughout the week until the next Sunday comes.  "I deserve some tiramisu cake, gods be damned it."

"Plus, if you come with me, we'll get two cakes to take home instead of one." She wagged her finger. "We count as two separate entities with one fridge, it's our greatest privilege."

"Daeron calls it preferential treatment."

"I am her only daughter, of course I get preferential treatment."

"As you should, bestie."

Even when you've stopped struggling with choosing if you were going or not, your mind is never faraway from thinking about Aemond. You wonder if he's finally gotten back with Alys was a bad train of thought, while an even worse train of thought is how soft his lips were and how he holds your hair to pull you close when his tongue glides across your bottom lip.

You blink, shaken from the thought. Bad. Bad brain. Stop it.

And repeat. At this point, it was safer to think about Alys and Aemond.

According to previous cycles, by this point they'd be at the height of their newly blossomed relationship— all sweet kisses and heated looks, unable to stop touching each other much less act a little bit better when they're trying to leave a group function to fuck their brains out — so you wouldn't be surprised to see come Sunday that he arrives with Alys— both of them tall, gorgeous with just enough undertone of smirky, smarmy tension that would make you want to stab your own eye out — pointedly ignoring you or whatever happened between you and him.

It hurt to think about sure, but what else did you think was going to happen?

That call made a space the size of a puddle that turned into a lake, welled deep with unresolved feelings and untouched topics. More questions than answers, drawing lines both of you were too scared to tug and see.

It's big enough to notice, and both stubborn enough not to anything about it.

You tried. Well, you almost did. In the weird hours of the day when your brain and body are more physically disjointed so rationality gives way to adrenaline. Most of the time, this is during working hours. You, checking your phone, running around his profile with your thumb a few times, biting your lip as your mind blanks and your body fights to call him. Or leave a message.

Before your mind and body reconnects and you fling your phone as far away from you as possible.

It's weird. You've never fought with Aemond before. If this was considered fighting. You've been disappointed in him, gotten angry and annoyed with him, but someone always, always offers an olive branch.

Every time you think about that call, you close up, your annoyance flares, and you shove your phone away.

In your amicable defense, this was primarily his problem. You weren't truly dating. He made it clear every choice he was making was en toward the agreed conditions were of making his ex jealous enough to take him back, yada yada yada.

Even if, possibly, you wanted more, he made no actual steps to make it known that he was considering it too.

Funny stares on your lips don't count. The only sabbatical from sexual adventures Aemond got were the breakup round with Alys, and as established before, they got it on pretty frequently.

Another thought bubble about Aemond's lips pops in your head, the mint from his toothpaste and the coffee from his black with no sugar, no milk, the way he seemed to suckle on your sighs—

Gods. Damn. It.

Focus.

That last call?

You're a grown ass woman. You're allowed to do whatever you want with whomever you want, and you're not going to make Aemond Targaryen's steely silence of what— disappointment? Of your choices? Of your choice in Cregan Stark and Cregan Stark Jr? Of what you were doing? Sure he was faithful to the Seven, a good old religious boy raised by his momma, but it doesn't make him a saint. Just because he's clinging to the vestiges of first love thinking it could very well be his last doesn't make him holy, or warrant enough to judge you for getting your little you some good dick.

Life is hard. Good dick is hard to come by!

So. Yeah. Days leading up to Sunday was radio silence and way too many thoughts circling your head like vultures, eating away at logic and rationality, and stubbornly still, you refused to make contact. If it's not out of pride, it's out of hurt.

Because he could apologise, but Aemond wasn't known for his apologies.

But then you remembered the flowers, the tulips, and now you just felt sad. Moping, getting annoyed, and trying to get through work without breaking your phone speeds the week in a blur.

Come Sunday afternoon, Helaena was coming to pick you up from her shift at the vet— the beauty of having a vet bff is the Russian roulette of pictures; you never know if you're about to get cuddly new patients with big, sad eyes and pouty snouts or her newest c-section win without any attempts of a blur — so you could get to her mother's house together, you decided to go for the nines with your outfit.

A sweet summer dress later, some gold gladiator sandals half off from your favourite but largely can't afford shoe boutique that you swear you were always going to wear to make up for the insane price (thank the gods Alicent didn't have a no shoe policy because it takes fifteen minutes to get them on and you cannot be on the floor, on her house, with Aemond around, rolling around like a hot potato on the entry way trying to get a fucking shoe on), dusted and prepped in you're fancier version of makeup, and was just finishing off your hair— using the good mousse whilst blaring Disney epics — when knocking came.

You freeze.

On one hand, it could just be Helaena, forgetting her keys again somewhere as she had done so numerous times before, but there hadn't been a slew of expletives or her impression of a cool, clinical voice saying, ''Tis I, the Stranger, have come for thee soul! Open up I gotta pee, woman!' so you got a pretty good guess on the alternative, sending your heart into a stutter and get smacked with a well deep of yearning.

You miss Aemond. You miss hanging out with him, even just having him on video call whilst you prepped a late dinner and he's working out his thesis defense, too late for either of you, but catching another's eye in the tiny phone and sharing a comforted grin. You miss being called my lady in a language that means so much to him, miss bumping shoulders and smelling his crisp scent of cologne and laundry.

Miss his lips, his very soft, very delicious lips—

"Gods damnit, woman, keep it together," you murmur to yourself. Another series of knocks, ever patient, and you're moved by body not mind as breathless giddiness yanks the door open—

Only to fall flat.

"Oh." You can't hide your disappointment at the curly blond with the smirk for centuries. "Aegon. I didn't know it was you."

"Yes, the expressive disappointment in your eyes could bring a man on the edge to his downfall, I must say," he jokes hoarsely, a little hurt. "Not even a hi Aeg. I've missed you Aeg, or— hey Aeg! You look good enough to eat!"

It's Aegon. Not Aemond. Or Helaena. Helaena and Aemond's older brother, Aegon. Party rocking, cocaine hiding, sweat and someone's lipstick smelling Aegon. You like him despite his whorishness because he's funny, because he's sweet when he wants to be, and he always, always gets you a funny mug when he comes back from wherever he came from.

You blink a couple of times, laughing awkwardly as you give him a quick hug. He still smells the same, with the lightest tint of sun in him from his days at the beach not so long ago no doubt.

"Sorry, sorry. Hi Aeg, I've missed you Aeg, and yes, you do look good enough to eat, Aeg."

He hugs back tighter, smothering you in the denim jacket he's wearing and the curly edge of his white blond hair. He's got a new piercing and smells of new perfume.

"So do you, princess," he says as you step back and he appraises you appreciatively. "Those shoes can step on me any time."

"I will never."

"You will never," he says chirpily, moving back with a teasing grin. "Let me guess, you were waiting for my uglier version to come by and got too overwhelmed by the majesticness of me."

'"Majesticness isn't even a word." You snort. "And Aemond is not your uglier version, you don't look that alike."

He raises an eyebrow as you blink. Fuck. "Dear me oh my, I meant Helaena, babe. When did Aemond get into the mix?"

You shove his shoulder, huffing as you pick up your keys and bag, forcing him to step back as you lock the apartment, trying to give yourself grace from his burning, teasing stare. "As if Helaena didn't tell you." You finally turn to him, lips pursed at his faux innocent pout. "Helaena tells you everything."

"She might have mentioned a thing or two about a thing or two." He bumps your hip as you both get into the elevator. "Imagine my surprise when Lae-lae tells me of a wondrous development between her two favourite people that involved a breakup, some gift-giving shenanigans, and kissing." He gasps dramatically as you groaned. "I leave for what— a month or two and suddenly you and Aemond are making out? Babe, I must say, you're doing the tongue tango with the wrong brother."

 "He's not the wrong brother, also the tongue tango? Really?" you snap suddenly. The wrong brother comments always irk you because you understand that it's a sensitive issue to Aemond, as well as Aegon himself.

But it's a bait you realise too late because Aegon Targaryen enjoys hauling truths from people in steps and tricks, uncaring if he takes a stab or two to get there as you meet his gaze against the reflective wall, positively smirking.

"Really now?"

"Why are you even picking me up? I thought you were in Oldtown."

"Already sorted. Hel wanted to make sure you get there in time, she's going to be late... After all your earlier ride backed out didn't he?"

Your mouth pursed, annoyance prickling at your edges as the elevator pulled into the lobby. "I don't want to talk about it, where's your car?"

He whistles, languid and all the time in the world on his shoulders with just the hint of smug. "It's a thirty minute ride, babe, you're going to spill."

You shoot him a withering glare. "Not if I have say in it." For emphasis, you yank his door and slam it. Fuck his new Maserati.

"Mature!"

Thirty minutes is more than ample time for Aegon Targaryen to weed his way into your brain like the worst case of earworm (like a stupid ass commercial jingle that just. Won't. Stop) that by the time you reach his mother's, you were ranting.

"—like I get it, saying I'm going out with another guy to get some good dick after confirming that we're going to your mother's for Sunday as a date is bad, but we're not really dating! He said so himself! He pressed the issue of it not being a real thing! And he didn't attempt any—"

"— any communication at all," Aegon echoes, stretching his legs as he stood. "Not a sorry or anything."

"Anything!" you bolster, slamming his door again that is less about him and more about the aggressiveness. "I know that he's bad at apologising, or facing things that are hard, choosing to stew in it and act all shitty to people, I just... I thought he'd at least tell me. Doesn't that warrant our friendship?"

"Hm. Ever think that's precisely why he struggles with you?"

"What does that even mean?"

"That he cares about you, so he struggles more with expressing himself."

You turn to him, cocking your head. "When did you get so wise, oh Gandalf?"

"A Seven focused rehab facility can do that to you," he muses wistfully. "There was this nun that says verses when she orgasms."

You make a face. "Love the fun fact."

"You're welcome. But back to point, isn't the issue also the fact that you never tried to make contact with him either?"

"Well. Yeah. Because..."

Aegon squints at you sympathetically. "Because you're scared of rocking the boat because of how much you like him?"

"Not, well," you hesitate. "Not like that precisely..."

"How much you're capable of liking him?" Aegon smiles wryly. "You had a crush on him, I remembered that at least. When Hel first introduced you to him, you couldn't stop teasing him until he lit up like a Christmas tree. I knew you liked him since then. You called him pretty half the time, and I started to realise it was less about his reaction but how you actually see him, and speaking as the naturally cherub, pretty boy of the family, I find this highly, highly offensive."

You pinch his cheeks, wounding your arm over his shoulder. Aegon was built like a linebacker with less muscles that aren't postern, with wide shoulders and a strong body that's too easy to lean against.

"You're pretty too, Aeg," you coo. "But he's just..."

 "If you say ethereal, I will vomit right in my mother's petunias." He makes a face. "How about this. The problem is that you think Aemond doesn't like you back."

You frown at him. "I know Aemond doesn't like me back."

"Oh, sweetie," Aegon coos, sympathy and pity swirling in his smug, smug smile. "I'm so glad you're pretty."

You pinch his sides until he squirms. "Fuck you, what the hell?"

"What I'm saying is, let's test that, you know? Because that's the only variable you aren't sure with?"

You sigh. "Aeg, even if he does, I'm not going to pounce—"

The door swings open, and there he is, of pretty boy face and good boy posture because his mother raised herself a good, devout boy who doesn't know what a slouch is because he's not an ape— and is he wearing his leather jacket? Of course he's wearing the leather jacket and you know that smell, that spiced cologne with the leather and his natural scent and fuck, Aemond is looking at you, looking at his brother, and the open expression, the shock, that smidge of relief— shutters to an icy politeness.

Aegon because he's Aegon, pulls you closer, his mouth curling into a grin that only says trouble, forcing Aemond to straighten up his already perfect posture in preparation for whatever his brother has in mind and his stare is white-hot on the conjoined appendages between you and his brother— and Aegon lands a wet, smacking kiss on your cheekbone.

"Had to pick up your girl, baby bro, I mean what kind of—" his blue gaze finds his mother descending the stairs, peering out to see on who it was, and you're frozen, waiting for the bomb to drop and simultaneously unprepared for it, "— boyfriend has his brother pick up his girl? Good thing you got a good excuse, huh? Oh, hey mother dearest! Your favourite son has come back!"

As Aegon leaves your side with a cheeky little wink, you bit your lip at the frosty look on his face that makes you feel like an absolute idiot and fills you with rage all in one go. Because Aemond has never looked at you like that, like you were at fault and acting like a child, but that you also want to jut a finger against his chest.

"Did you have a nice talk with him on the drive over?" he says, jaw hard.

"I didn't tell him," you hiss, taking the hem of his leather jacket instead of his hands enough so you can pretend to kiss his cheeks because his mother is right there, eyes wide at that two of you as Aegon gave you a discreet thumbs up.

"Helaena did. Get over yourself, your mother's—"

 "Aemond?"

As he freezes and Alicent calls your name, you plaster the best smile you can make as you twine your fingertips with his.

"Smile."

"Hm."

When you leave his side to greet Alicent, you make sure to stomp on his stupid shoes.

As soon as you've finished your mandatory greetings— even with Otto Hightower, Aemond's grandfather, who merely raised his eyebrows at the apparent new status of you and his grandson, Alicent having to blink multiple times, wrangling positives as she kept shooting her son looks while he stood like a block of ice behind you — Aemond takes your hand by his own volition, tangles your fingers too tight, and starts tugging you along like a bouy.

"Are you a child?" you hiss, trying to pry your hand as insistently without outright yanking, Alicent already sending you both concerned looks at a news that she called 'oh, that is wonderful!'

"I am younger than you," he murmurs back, holding you tight.

"Oh, fuck you."

With a defeated huff, you take longer, heavier strides and stomps so you're the one dragging him.

It's all illusion of control built on pettiness because you're still being navigated, it's more just pride at this point, but you don't care, and when he scoffs right back, you felt at least a pinch of a win.

And then he, of course, matches your strides so fucking easily.

"Freaking horse-legged motherfucker," you mumble. You don't know if he catches it, or you're imaging the soft, surprised noise that's both a snort and a laugh.

He winds you around the hallway, an unbreakable trajectory to the backyard, dragging you past an easy eye view from the dramatic, floor to ceiling windows and trespassing straight into the hedge maze because of course they had one of those.

"Really? Here?"

"Do you want to be ogled up by my mother?" he says in a nauseatingly chipper voice. "Is that what you and Aegon are planning with all this, hm?"

You twist out of his grip, walking deeper on your own until your eyes are swallowed by the darkness. When you turn to him, your eyes adjust, only seeing the silver of his hair, so different from his black leather jacket and dark green jumper. You don't see his expression or his sharp gaze.

"Planned this? Seriously? Nothing since coming here had been planned, Aemond," your voice has bite and if your eyes had adjusted faster, or if you could see better, you would see the flinch he makes, "if it had been, this certainly would be the last of my fucking choices. Or do I have to remind you of the fact that we were supposed to go together? Oh right, things change when you drop a call out of fucking nowhere!"

"I—fuck." He moves around, a hand through his hair as exhales in frustration. "I didn't... think you'd want to go with me. That Sunday plans had been cancelled."

"And you didn't think to message? I mean it's not like we're friends in literally every social media." You try not to sound hurt before taking a deep breath, offering your palms up. "I didn't—don't even know what the issue is, Aemond. Were you so offended that I was sexually active that you just had to rudely drop the call and not talk—"

It's maybe the darkness, or intuition but you can bet half yours savings that Aemond Targaryen is blushing.

"It... gods, no it's not... I wasn't offended that you were sexually active," he says softly, evenly. He clears his throat. "I don't... mind that you're... sexually active. I actively... support it. Even." He coughs. Swallows. Curses.

If you don't feel like your heart is pounding in your throat you would have laughed. You had never seen the boy this flustered before that it's affecting his words, because Aemond has always been the most well spoken person you know.

"Is it about Cregan? Do you have something against Cregan?"

His eye flutter close. "No... and yes."

"I don't understand, Aemy," you whisper, defeated.

He sighs. In the dark, you notice a movement. His hands flex. It's a habit he's had since you've known him. It's instinct. The way you reach out, finding a piece of his leather jacket until you find your way to his hands, running your fingers over the bones and ridges, his sinew and skin. There are callouses from his fencing, running your thumb over his knuckles.

He's frozen first before he sighs, melting through the warmth you share with him.

 "I have nothing against Stark," he finally says. "It's the fact that you were still having sex with him that I found unfair." He steps closer until you can see his face better, the struggle in him can be told through the furrow in his brows and the press of his pillowy lips, red and wet as if he had bitten through it. "I... understand that we're not really together, but I couldn't... not feel as if it wasn't right. As if I wanted it to be me."

His hands finds your arms, eye closing and gently placing his forehead against your own. At first you panic, your body trying to make your brain decide do you like this or not but it's Aemond, and he's warm, gentle, sweet almost. It's familiar and new at the same time. It's warmth you recognise, skin you will know anywhere, but in a way that you've never felt him before.

You close your eyes and breathe with him.

You know that this is rare. That this Aemond is reserved for people he loves and cares about, but with his forehead against yours, with his hands holding you steady, rubbing a comforting thumb over your skin that felt just as for him as it was for you, breathing you in and exhaling you out. A single breath between two bodies.

"I don't know if I can agree to that, Aemy."

"What?" He pulls back, hurt pulling taunt your favourite pair of lips. "Do you like Cregan more? You don't think I can please you?"

"That's not—"

His hands closes on your face, cupping it in his palms as you stare, wide-eyed at the blue fire lit up in his eye. His breath brushes your lips, making them tingle.

"Push me away if you don't want it," he says before his eye closes and he takes your mouth against his own, swallowing your gasp then pulling you away again, eye glinting.

"Push me away, ñuha riña." His voice is so soft, words crisp while your body thrummed in a single, frantic heartbeat. When you don't move, too shock, thoughts tangled, he smirks.

With his teeth, he captures your bottom lip, grazing it. When he feels you shudder, eyes fluttering, he chuckles meanly.

"Push me away as if you don't want me." He tilts your chin up as he looks down on you, eye confident in its lust. His thumb brushes your bottom lip. "As if you don't feel everything I do."

"Fuck you," you manage to exhale as you grab the back of his head and devour him just as you did at the restaurant. He groans, using his other hand to feel your side, pass your one breast, giving it a firm squeeze that makes you gasp, tongue clashing, legs tangling as you push and push and he pulls you to him, his back hitting the prickly hedge. It's teeth and tongue, breaths twisted in one air as you used each other like lifelines, like enemies in a swords match.

It's feverish and passion, infuriating want that gives. Because when you dominate the kiss, tangling his tongue with your own, yanking him down and down as if you want him to reach every part of you inside, he bends and follows. And when he pulls you, tangles your hair and takes every gasp and breath, you surrender.

He groans when you suck on his bottom lip, pulling away just enough to spit out, "You taste so much better than my dreams." His mouth moves down and down, leaving a path of heat as he suckles at your neck, practically ripping the buttons of the top of your dress as he slides down and grunts in pain.

"A-Aemy?" Your eyes flutter. "Your back, shit—"

"Fuck that." He tugs you down until you land with an oomph! on his lap, your chest at his eye level before he drags them back to your gaze. "Tell me to stop."

You shake your head, tangling your fingers in his hair. "No."

"Good."

Your back arches, supported in his hold, as he starts sucking the skin lower and lower, another hand massaging your tit that pools hot down your core until his hand, warm and solid, sinew and bone, and Aemond Aemond Aemond, slides between your bra and cups your breast and his hand is so big, and it feels so good that you start grinding on the hard length you feel right at your—

An ear-splitting shriek freezes the both of you. You and Aemond pull back, hand still on your tit.

"Wha—"

"Ew, ew, ew! Mom said you were fighting! FIGHTING DOES NOT EQUATE FUCKING IN THE MAZE, YOU FUCKING CLICHES!"

TAGGED: @snowprincesa1 @gemini-mama @fan-goddess @snh96 @valeskafics @opheliaas-stuff @tempo-rary-fix @fantasticpeaceharmony @diannnnsss @iamavailablesstuff @spinachtz @at-a-rax-ia @bespinnn @tsujifreya @moonlightfoxx @kemillyfreitas @joyouart @bananzaa @honey-on-mars @alexa4040 @cinnamonbambii @wintrr13 @wxb-slingrr @astroswift @queenofshinigamis @helaenaluvr @kaetastic @jxdegodfrey @laniii-on-your-left @watercolorskyy @microwaveallthedemons @kazuyatokue @herfantastyworldd @averyyreads @urmomsgirlfriend1 @bellstwd @jiminie-08 @ttkttt @nockerin @backyardfolklore @random-ocity @hc-geralt-23 @vendettasblog @cicaspair418 @malynn @anehkael @schadenfreude-and-sarcasm

[katrantsasoiaf]

As someone whose Admittedly Impossible Dream Fancast for Alys was like... Eva Green, but specifically with hair and costumes roughly styled after her all-too-brief performance as Morgan in Starz's Camelot (the show itself had SO MANY flaws, but damn if I didn't completely obsess over her in that role for the one season it lasted!), THANK YOU for being so refreshingly reasonable about Gayle Rankin's casting! I don't think I've ever watched anything with, but I've heard she's a good actress and she's great with eerie, witchy roles, and personally, I think that's all that should matter.

Honestly, my only complaint is that I would have LOVED for Alys' actress to have a bigger, more visible age difference with Ewan. Not just for the obvious "Aemond likes MILFs"/"Alys is more experienced and tops him" jokes, as amusing (and inspiring if, like me, you like that sort of thing in your ships... ;)) as those can be, but also because it would have just been so nice to see a 40+ actress play a seductive, powerful character hooking up with a cool, younger male fan favorite many people (me included, lol) find hot. I get that Alys is supposed to look youthful, but depending on context, "youthful" can mean anything from "so babyfaced they keep getting mistaken for a teen well into their 30s" to "they have such an energy and such a lively, charming personality that people keep forgetting their actual age" after all...

Then again, I, too, would have also loved for older!Rhaenyra and Helaena to be played by fat people, thus putting on screen two fat female characters whose problems don't revolve around them hating their bodies, other people hating their bodies, or whether their bodies are or can be considered attractive. Still, Emma and Phia are both doing amazing jobs, and as well-cast as everyone's been until now, I don't doubt it'll be the same with Gayle and I'll be able to enjoy her performance... while waiting for industry conventions to slooowly change!

i also watched starz's camelot and had very mixed feelings about the show overall, but i adored eva green as morgan pendragon so much. so she was always who i imagined as alys when i read fire and blood. and i understood why many people felt the same way about katie mcgrath after watching her also as morgana in bbc's merlin. alys rivers just has really big morgan le fey energy, right down to her son.

i have never seen gayle rankin in anything. but she is supposedly a good actress who has played roles with witchy vibes. an pictures and edits of her with black hair as selling me on her casting more and more. i am sure she will do wonderful in the role. my biggest issue was those posts comparing pictures of gayle rankin and a fancast for alys, which was clearly posing gayle as unattractive and dumpy compared to the more conventionally attractive actress. which is just gross. it was gross when they did it to emma, and it sucks that the same cycle is repeating with gayle. they both deserved better.

i am terrified for the actress cast as nettles.

in regards to the rest of the casting, i agree with you entirely. milly, emma, and phia are great, i love both of them and none of this is a reflection of my feelings about them as actors. but rhaenyra and helaena are the only targaryen women who are explicitly described as bigger than a pencil. grrm specified that rhaenyra was "pudgy" as a girl and "stout" as a woman due to her multiple pregnancies, but she is still considered desirable. helaena is similarly described as "plump", but is adored. their canonical descriptions being ignored by both the showrunners and fans is disappointing, but not surprising.

i have strong feelings about some of the casting, but i still found it to be one of the shows greatest strengths. and i have no doubt that these newest additions will continue to elevate the show (the only one i actually recognize was freddie fox as gwayne hightower, he was the king of sweden in hulu's the great and i am excited for him).

[wakeofvultures]

j for neither snake nor dragon 🤞

J: Write or describe an alternative ending to [insert fic]

Okay, yeah, I should have seen this coming! Anyway, this will be a really long ramble that is not very well organized.

There is certainly an AU in the works where everyone in the Greens live (except Otto and Criston because we needed some war casualties), so you will have to be satisfied with a description for now.

This AU fic would probably be tagged Angst with a Happy Ending if that is any indication of the contents. I think the prologue actually might be posted on this blog somewhere.

Basically, Elayne saves Helaena from jumping, and Rhaenyra being in a slightly better mood that specific day incidentally saves Elayne from the chopping block. Elayne gets sent to the Black Cells instead.

Aegon finds her there thanks to Tyland Lannister informing him that someone else was in the Black Cells.

The Civil War basically wraps up while Elayne recovers.

Aemond and Elayne get to resolve their unresolved emotional issues where Elayne thinks that her platonic husband abandoned her to marry someone he actually loves while she was a prisoner.

Helaena gets to surprisingly be a little mad at Aemond for the above emotional conflict. Protective! Helaena is sweet. She's still distraught about everything, but after losing Elayne and then finding her again, this jostles her into a bit of action to be protective of both Elayne and Jaehaera.

Aegon is just happy everyone is alive honestly.

Daeron's recovering from the war somewhere probably. (Since he currently has not appeared in the show, idk what to do with him)

I debated about having the dragons die here, but I decided that Dreamfyre and maybe Vhagar get to make the author's life easier due to politics.

We probably get an in-text Helaena and Elayne Valyrian wedding.

There's a subplot about Larys being a dick to Elayne. (Since I am basically spoiling the fic at this point, he's the reason that it took the Greens awhile to realize she was in the Black Cells)

The middle part is not super planned out, but the ending is the Greens trying to resolve the aftermath of a civil war.

House Tully except for Elayne gets to take the Black (RIP Kermit and Oscar). Most everyone else on the Black side is executed or taking the Black, but Aegon III specifically is forced to take the Black first and they hold all others in King's Landing before sending them North. Rhaena and Baela get to be Silent Sisters. (I debated keeping Rhaena and Baela around to explore their characters more, because they deserve it! But I feel like the Greens would land on the more pragmatic side of sending them away and having them take vows.)

Now, at the end of the fic, we have A Situation, because Jaehaera is Aegon's heir now. There are whisperings of further strife because well, Jaehaera's a girl. Aemond at this point has a son with Alys Rivers but uh... do the nobles dislike placing the son of a bastard woman on the throne. Elayne and Aemond probably eventually have the kids I imagined they'd have, Aerion and Daenys.

Aerion is probably heir to the throne according to most nobles.

I'm a little unsure how I want to resolve this issue, because everyone involved would probably not want to marry Aerion and Jaehaera given that they are practically siblings given their weird family situation, and Aegon is not down for another round of incest. He hates the idea. Elayne knows its the most pragmatic solution but also hates the idea.

I think it would be really funny if these guys literally fought a war invalidating the female claim to the throne and then put Aegon's daughter on it. True hypocrisy, love that for them. Honestly, they probably just end up putting Elayne and Aemond's son on the throne to avoid Targaryen in-fighting in future generations.

Alys' son/descendants gets Harrenhal for however long the curse and cosmic forces allow.

Elayne's daughter/descendants gets Riverrun.

The events of Westerosi history is henceworth changed (because Butterfly Effect) and we probably never get the Game of Thrones events. If we did however, I imagine Robert's Rebellion goes completely differently because House Tully is likely still closely tied to House Targaryen (while Aegon and Elayne were committed to the not doing anymore incest, I feel like there would at some points still be an effort to "keep Valyrian bloodlines pure" and House Tully and Strong would be good contenders for future Targ marriages)

Anyway at the end of this hypothetical fic, there is probably a historical excerpt to see how Elayne is remembered in Westerosi history. She would be markedly more documented than in Neither Snake nor Dragon

—

My stumbling block for working on this AU is that I don't want to get attached to my own interpretation of Alys Rivers, and then have her show version be completely different (I already expect this possibility with the Muppet Tullys and perhaps in some way with the Greens).

I've tried cutting Alys' appearances in the fic down to a minimum but it feels strange to do that!

—

Anyway, there is also The Elayne Survives the War but Ends up Dying of Winter Fever AU in 132/133 AC. It is always a thought that I think about for how absolutely unfair it is. It's such a terrible AU timeline.

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