#battle at Rook's Rest

[forgotten-fossilised]

oh thank god for The Prophecy! without it I would've thought Rhaenys (and later on other tb dragonriders) burning countless people was bad. but it's not just for the crown, it's actually for the good of the realm! why?? because hundred years ago the colonizer who had also burned and killed people had that dream, so now Rhaenyra has the divine right to do the same (but hmm why her and not any other Targ? oh right bc her daddy said so without any further explanation. makes sense.)

so, the moral of the story is: war is bad, except when its fought by a Targaryen motivated by some bs prophecy, got it. the other is - team green propaganda bad, team black propaganda good

[mhsdatgo]

Vhagar and another dragon soaring the skies, both visible outside the windows in Aegon's poster and the ones in the Rhaenys and Corlys one respectively.

Could the second one be Caraxes? Or Meleys? A reference to the Battle Above the God's Eye or the Battle at Rook's Rest, where Rhaenys will eventually meet her fate?

[fadingstudentbananacookie]

Aegon II Targaryen - The Last Dragonlord

Mother / Maia Baia, House of the Dragon, Fire & Blood / George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Sword / George R.R. Martin, Bhagavad Gita / Vyasa, Sister Sable / T. Mountebank

The Coronation of Aegon II by Basitien Lecouffe DeHarme The Depiction of A Pheonix by Friedrich Justin Bertuch Ouroboros by zarathus Battle of Rook's Rest by iasve Baela Targaryen and Moondancer by Dough Wheatley

[fatum679]

Aemond the Unburnt

“Those closest to the dragons did not live to tell the tale. Those farther off could not see for the flame and smoke. It was hours before the fires guttered out. But from those ashes, only Vhagar rose unharmed”

Since childhood Aemond has not been afraid of dragons or dragon fire. He visited the dragons several times in Dragon lair.

Aemond was the only one who participated in the dragon battles and was not harmed by the dragon flames and was not burned by the fire.

Aemond may indeed be the only unburnable in Dance of the Dragons.

[andreadesantis3806]

The fact that Rhaenyra was right in her restraint to try and not send the dragons to war. ''When dragons flew to war, everything burned.'' She is right. We saw this episode as a clear proof, soldiers and bannermen will fight, lose, fight, fall upon swords, fire canyons all day but the moment a dragon or two appears, they are no friends or foes, they become one whole collateral damage and the battle ground is nothing compared to the now actual battle happening ove there heads. Dragon fire does not distinguish between friends or foes; it just...burns. The soldiers below; mere mortals can do nothing but get drenched in the rain of blood showering from the sky as Sunfyre and Meleys grapple at each other, cannot do anthing but move away as far as they can from the jets of flames, cannot do anything but panic and run as Meleys throws Vhagar down on the ground; the humongous form of the biggest dragon in the known world squishing everyone and everything like a boulder thrown atop a bed of flowers, They cannot do anything but run and scamper out of the way as Vhagar hauls hereslf up bounding across the field to fly up, her wing talons and feet squishing people like ants. They cannot do anythign but watch as Meleys crashes on a castle and completely destroys the side of it.

That is why restraint is a very necessary element when it comes to a war involving dragons, as Condal said. Impulsiveness or just pure unadulterated fury on dragon back has consequences that ripple through the entire Realm. But they are Targaryens. Their blood runs hot like the flames of their dragons, they are restless and chaotic. They know restraint, but not necessarily knows how to do so.

Also another thing, if they make the Hull brothers sired from Corlys, how are they dragon riders? Corlys is a Velaryon, wheraes Laenor was half-Targaryen so it makes sense to have them hail from Laenor despite his preferences. But dunno, there might be some targaryen ancestry in Corlys' line, as Targaryens and Velaryons are often known to mingle most than other houses, idk.

Also AEMOND'S VALYRIAN? AEGON'S HALF ASSED ATTEMPT TO ASSERT DOMINANCE ONLY TO SPEAK ABSOLUTE GIBBERISH?? I CACKLED.

BUT NO, I NEED RHAENYS BACK IF ONLY TO HOLD RHAENYRA BACK FROM DOING ERRATIC SHIT AS SHE WAS THE WISEST COUNCIL SHE HAD.

POOR SUNFYRE, THE WAY HE IS LITERALLY A PUPPY, BUTTING HIS HEAD AND KEENING AT AEGON, THEN HIS EVERY ATTEMPT TO STAY AFLOAT, AND PROTECT AEGON IM CRYING-

ALYS' SARCASTIC SCOTTISH ACCENT? IM ON MY FCKING KNEES

[itshaleyhey]

When you're both an Aegon and Aemond fan so now you're left conflicted after the Battle at Rook's Rest: devestated about Aegon's condition but excited for Aemond's Prince Regent era!

[addamvelaryon]

Princess Rhaenys made no attempt to flee. With a glad cry and a crack of her whip, she turned Meleys toward the foe. Against Vhagar alone she might have had some chance, but against Vhagar and Sunfyre together, doom was certain. The dragons met violently a thousand feet above the field of battle, as balls of fire burst and blossomed, so bright that men swore later that the sky was full of suns. 

Artist: iasve (deviantart)

[everythingoiezoie]

Is it just me but when the book said “The dragonflame had burned so hot that the king’s armor had melted into his flesh." I expected so much worse than what the show gave us...

I had just expected to want to hurl like during the greyscale removal... Maybe i thought Aegon would look like Viserys somewhat; half his face melted off like two-face.

[the-haunted-toybox]

[mejcinta]

Someone allegedly leaked the trailer details LMAO. Told y'all it wouldn't be long.

Here's a summary:

A June 7th release was also offered as a possible release date.

But who knows. Time will tell if this leaker means what he says.

[horizon-verizon]

I've seen some say that in the book Aemond apparently also wanted to marry Helaena. Is it true ?

There is no overt, specific moment where Aemond goes, "I want to marry Helaena" nor anything that shows that he was attracted to her in the book (he wasn’t).

But looking at his character, you can conclude that Aemond never took the idea of marrying Helaena seriously to actually seek it out or follow it up with action. Helaena was for his older brother Aegon (II), not him and this was decided by Alicent/Otto, who are also the ones telling him to support his brother’s claim. Aemond follows (even if he did some stupid shit all on his own to feel powerful).

If Aemond ever wanted to marry Helaena, it would be because of what @goodqueenaly says why Alicent wanted Helaena to marry her abusive, rapist son Aegon II. And he would have kept it to himself.

Basically, if Aemond ever wanted to marry Helaena, it would be for power and not because he genuinely liked her:

emphasize their Targaryeness; incestuous marriage as a Valyrian/Targaryen custom 

"A brood of children, as Targaryen-looking as their father (and maybe mother, assuming Helaena shared those Valyrian features), would directly undermine Rhaenyra’s position. Both Aegon and Rhaenyra were dragonriding children of the Young King with arguable legal claims, both were married to suitable and dragonriding partners - but only Aegon could boast children that were indisputably Targaryen, a guarantee that the dynasty would not falter in a generation”

Aemond does display a need and hot desire for power and a claim on throne, as we see how he acts after Jacaerys Velayron dies and Aegon II is bed-bound after confronting Rhaenys Targaryen in the Battle at Rook’s Rest:

Contemptuous of his half-sister Rhaenyra, Aemond One-Eye saw a greater threat in his uncle Prince Daemon and the great host he had gathered at Harrenhal. Summoning his bannermen and council, the prince announced his intent to bring the battle to his uncle and chastise the rebellious riverlords.

He proposed to strike the riverlands from both east and west, and thus force the Lords of the Trident to fight on two fronts at once. Jason Lannister had assembled a formidable host in the western hills; a thousand armored knights, and seven times as many archers and men- at-arms. Let him descend from the high ground and cross the Red Fork with fire and sword, whilst Ser Criston Cole marched forth from King’s Landing, accompanied by Prince Aemond himself on Vhagar. The two armies would converge on Harrenhal to crush the “traitors of the Trident” between them. And if his uncle emerged from behind the castle walls to oppose them, as he surely must, Vhagar would overcome Caraxes, and Prince Aemond would return to the city with Prince Daemon’s head.

Not all the members of the green council favored the prince’s bold stroke. Aemond had the support of Ser Criston Cole, the Hand, and that of Ser Tyland Lannister, but Grand Maester Orwyle urged him to send word to Storm’s End and add the power of House Baratheon to his own before proceeding, and Ironrod, Lord Jasper Wylde, declared that he should summon Lord Hightower and Prince Daeron from the south, on the grounds that “two dragons are better than one.” The Queen Dowager favored caution as well, urging her son to wait until his brother the king and his dragon, Sunfyre the Golden, were healed, so they might join the attack.

Prince Aemond had no taste for such delays, however. He had no need of his brothers or their dragons, he declared; Aegon was too badly hurt, Daeron too young. Aye, Caraxes was a fearsome beast, savage and cunning and battle-tested…but Vhagar was older, fiercer, and twice as large. Septon Eustace tells us that the Kinslayer was determined that this should be his victory; he had no wish to share the glory with his brothers, nor any other man.

Nor could he be gainsaid, for until Aegon II rose from his bed to take up his sword again, the regency and rule were Aemond’s.

(Fire and Blood; The Red Dragon and the Gold)

*EDIT*

(separate post) And how he acts when Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, burning the riverlands.

The Quote of Alicent Promising Aemond will Come Back to Help Her and Take Back KL

The Quote of Aemond Refusing to Go with Criston Cole, Join Up with Daeron and the Hightowers, Leave Harrnehal, and Insulting Rhaenyra,

The Quote of Aemond Spending his Time Razing the Riverlands Instead of Helping Helaena or Alicent or Joining Daeron/the Hightowers

*END OF EDIT*

Those people need to go back and read each line of the Dance account of Fire and Blood 5 times before going to the next one.

[royallypinks]

Helaena confronting Aemond was my absolute favorite moment this episode.

She always seems to be in her own head, unaware and maybe even disinterested of what's going on around her. No one would've expected her to notice.

And now it's her who first brings up what no one dares to say. She goes and straight up asks Aemond if finally getting his throne was worth nearly killing their brother - who is also her husband - leaving him to suffer in one of the most terrible ways, scarred and in pain forever.

I honestly love that it's Helaena because it proofs that just because someone isn't saying anything does not mean they aren't listing. She listens, she notices, she knows. And she is brave enough to straight up ask Aemond about it.

I honestly love her.

[desmond-the-queer-dragon]

Vhagar is so fucking funny. Slowly getting up only for Aemond to be like “let’s wait” and for her to toss her grumpy ass back down like “Gods, Visenya, can we go?”

[beautifulsweetschaos]

Sunfyre curling in towards Aegon in an attempt to save him 😭 now that’s true love.

Sunfyre is probably the only being that’s ever loved Aegon 🔫😭

[fatum679]

Aemond the Unburnt

𝕱𝖎𝖗𝖊 𝕮𝖆𝖓𝖓𝖔𝖙 𝕶𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖆 𝕯𝖗𝖆𝖌𝖔𝖓

[ewanmitchels]

You must send me, Your Grace. Meleys is your largest dragon and no stranger to battle. I will meet Cole.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON [2.04]