#but had she lived she would hate house Targaryen and only care about being an ultra conservative (lmao) martell

[aemondsbeloved]

Touch Starved Aemond

summary: touch starved aemond aka aemond slowly falling in love with his betrothed by her gentle touches he was deprived of all his life

warnings: mentions of Aemond’s eye injuring and chronic pains from it, childhood neglect, but mostly fluff I swear

As a child Aemond never grew up with loving touches.

His father grew absent when he was young. The only time he spent time with Viserys was when he would teach his Valyrian and the histories. And even when they bonded over their interested of the subjects it never led anywhere. He knew even then he would never be his half-sister the heir nor would he even be Aegon who got his mother and father’s attention.

The touches he got from his older brother were rough though not always unkind but Aegon is Aegon, Aemond would remind himself. Looking for guidance from an older brother like many others might find, as he saw with his two nephews, was not something Aemond would ever receive.

His half-sister was a ghost even when she lived in the castle to Aemond. She didn’t care about him and his brothers and sister, only her children. She did not like him nor did she hate him.

His sister Helaena did not like to be touched, even when their mother would go to hold her.

With Daeron in Oldtown he didn’t know if his younger brother would be the same as the rest, barely paying attention to him.

No matter how much he loved his mother her touch was gentle but overbearing. He didn’t want to let her down not like Aegon always did. He didn’t want to add to the stress in her life even when he was a child.

So while she was the only one to hug or touch him, it always felt like it came with the reminder of what he wanted to do to not let her down. Even as a child he felt like a soldier.

When he lost his eye he stopped hoping and wishing to be consoled or shown affection even. His mother was the only one who defended him, what did he even expect? For his father to defend him? Foolish. For his half-sister to admit he had been wronged by her child? Outlandish. For his brother to be there by his side when he was attacked instead of passed out from drinking in his bed? Idiotic. For Helaena to say anything? He could not expect her to. He should not expect anything from anyone.

From that day, he never did. He didn't say it outlaid but he hated being touched. He only allowed it from his mother knowing as he grew he grounded her and he allowed it of his sister, the rare times she might touch his arm when he talked to her.

Surprisingly enough, he allowed Her Criston to touch him. Pats on the back when he grew into a fine warrior was all he got and it was all he tolerated. His respect for the man allowed this and only this.

Now a man grown, Aemond was cold on the outside, a fortress that was unyielding to anyone who wished to breach it. For the longest time he only dropped the cold exterior he wore well around his mother and sister but he was just as unreachable. Dependable, yes, but unreachable all the same.

Naturally, when he was betrothed to a lady of an important house, apparently to cement ties between House Targaryen and this House of Westeros, he did not go into thinking he would find love. Or whatever the young ladies at court gushed about whenever a new knight came to the Red Keep.

Love was for maidens and handsome princes, not Aemond Targaryen, the one eyed prince.

He would respect you and make sure others did the same as you would be the wife of the prince. But even before he met you, Aemond knew that yours would not be a love match, how could it? But he would be better than his father, he would respect his lady wife.

He was not expected to meet you, a beauty who had smiled at him and never faltered from his stare that had been said was quite unrelenting. The very same stare that had sent ladies to the other side of the throne room during banquets and feasts had no effect on you at all.

He realized soon that you were full of surprises, pressing him to learn more about him even when he had been keen to not open up at all.

While he always gave you his arm, more out of respect than anything else, you had always held onto his so dearly, your thumb sometimes rubbing circles on his bicep where you held his arm.

He really didn’t realize the calmness your touch brought him until he had it.

Throughout your betrothal and leading up to your wedding in the Sept he did not tell you of his childhood, the absent father, siblings he should have been closer to but wasn’t, mother he loved but always felt the need to prove himself to. He didn’t tell you how he lost his eye even though he knew many at court knew.

It was when you were in the library together reading, as had become routine as you found that you both enjoyed reading and the quiet, as well as the time away from prying eyes.

That day the skin where his missing eye had once been had throbbed, a sharp and ugly pain that occasionally afflicted him. Some days it never bothered him, some days he left him not wanting to leave his chambers. Because of this he always carried an ointment that numbed the pain.

But that day when he felt the pain from his nerves, he dropped his book, clutching that side of his face as he grimaced.

He didn’t notice you moving, going to his side until he heard your voice asking him what was wrong.

When he said in a strained voice it was his eye, pulling out the ointment already, he was shocked to feel you grasping the hand that held the ointment.

At that he had opened his eye to look at you, still clutching the skin over his eyepatch as he considered you.

This was different as the earlier times in your courtship he had considered you. Before he had observed you half in suspicion this was a front, a way for you to get the cold prince to warm up to you. The other half of him wished it wasn’t a front, that you did care for him enough to want to know him but he had dismissed those thoughts.

But now, when you leaned over him and clutched his hand that tightly held the ointment, he considered you again. He knew he wasn’t hiding his shock and interest and maybe even something more — hope. But he didn’t care as he watched you.

And when his grip relented, your fingers ever so gently opened his hand, taking the ointment but not before caressing the skin of his palm and squeezing his hand.

It was all gentleness, something he had never known.

You moved to remove his eyepatch but his insecurities ever a voice so loud in his head had him taking hold of your wrist. “Don’t.”

And Gods be good you only looked perplexed.

“Aemond,” you had sighed, all understanding and care in your tone. “Your scar does not bother me. You are to be my lord husband, I will take all of you as you are.”

He knew you weren’t lying and released his hand on your wrist.

Your fingers were graceful and light as you pulled his eyepatch off of his head and just as nimble as they opened the jar of ointment and put it on the skin around where he had once had an eye.

Your gentle touch soothed him even with the throbbing pain. His eye did not leave your figure as his eye danced over your fingers, the concentrated look on your face, and the feeling of your touch.

Without thinking he put his hand to your waist, rubbing his thumb in circles as you had done to his arm on those many walks in the gardens.

When he realized his actions he stilled, not used to touching you so freely. You had always embraced his touch as bare as it was but he had never done the same.

Just as naturally as it was to touch you as it was when Aemond went to retract his hand but then you had stopped your movement, taking your hand over his and keeping his hand there. When you looked at him he swore it was a sly smile on your lips but your eyes were just as hopeful as he had secretly felt.

Something had changed that day. After that day in the library a touch was always being shared. A hand around your waist if you were alone, your arm in his, the tenderness that went beyond duty already blossoming.

Never before had Aemond wished for touch. But he longed to be near you always as your wedding date approached. He thought you knew this even if he did not say it aloud with the way you looked at him like he was the only one who could cure your ailments. How you leaned into his touch he sought out yours. Maybe your touch could alleviate the pain set so heavy on his shoulders, he thought in the night.

When you had married in the Sept he remembered the vows, your beauty that went beyond appearances, and how he loved the feeling of your hands in his. How he never wanted to let go.

During your marriage you had both slowly but surely fallen in love. It might have been at first sight it might not have been. All Aemond knew was a touch from you soothed his pain and tempered his anger.

When his brother said something unseemly or his nephews were in court and irritated him, a squeeze of your hand in his under the table tempered his anger. And when he was in pain your touch comforted him beyond all.

No one had expected Prince Aemond who had always preferred being alone in presence and mind to become known as the prince most devoted to his lady wife, so fond of her and worshipped her so ardently. Either way, he had found love in the lady who was once a stranger but showed him what love could be with her gentle touches.

And when you brought your first child into the world he swore he had never loved to hold something as beautiful before. What was riding Vhagar, truly a piece of the histories he loved so much, to this — a small child that was his, a testament of the love between him and his lady wife?

As he held them, loving even the sharp cries of someone so tiny and the blood of the dragon, he knew this child would always be loved. They would be held through triumphs and losses, the love of a parents touch always known. They would not know what it was to not have this love as a child. He didn’t have to swear it, he already knew it to be true.

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[aphrodisiac-siren]

Dynasty of Flames

Aemond Targaryen x Targaryen-Royce Reader

Summary: Being born into the most respected and equally feared houses in the realm made people look up to you as if you were a god and the devil himself, in equal measure. People say that when a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin; and when news of the birth of Daemon’s firstborn- a girl, spread, people could only wait in anticipation to see which side of the coin faced up during her birth. 

Warnings: Incest (duh), violence, blood/gore, swearing.

Part 1,

Part 2

"Who's that from?" Baela asked as she watched Y/N read a letter she'd received only a few moments ago by raven. It bore a seal that the older girl recognised all too well and by the look on Rhaena's face, she seemed to recognise it too.

"It's that one-eyed arseling" she told her twin.

After the incident that resulted in the loss of Aemond's eye, Daemon's entire family and Rhaenyra's left for Dragonstone where they were wed. Y/N quite liked the princess, her sons however were the ones she found slightly difficult to get along with at first. Especially since she hadn’t taken their side when all hell broke loose the night Aemond claimed Vhagar.

But over the years, they all started to grow comfortable around each other, though Y/N would have to admit that she still found it unfair that Luke never received so much as a stern scolding for what he'd done that night, granted it was unintentional.

"Why do you still write to him?" Baela asked, quiet annoyed at her older sister "He punched me"

"Didn’t you say you punched him first?" Y/N casually mentioned but then winced. She did not mean to take the prince's side over her sister's "Sorry I did not mean to- all I'm saying is, that happened years ago. He was only ten and I'm sure he's a changed man now"

"I agree people change" Rhaena wrapped her arm around Y/N's, as she politely spoke "but he did steal my dragon"

"He claimed Vhagar. I know it was mean of him to not let have your chance at claiming your mother's dragon but we all know he did not steal her" you corrected, earning another annoyed sigh from the girls "Oh come now, you know Dragons don’t just let anyone ride them. If she did not bond with Aemond, he would be burned alive"

"It annoys me that you still take his side. I know he's your friend but we're your sisters" Baela scoffed. This wasn’t the first time you lot had argued over this subject "he's arrogant and-"

"And the boy who paid with his eye that night. Keep in mind Luke was responsible for it and was let off the hook without so much as a slap on the wrist" Y/N interrupted. She hated fighting with her sisters "You know I love you girls, I would never choose anyone over the both of you but you do have to admit as much as it was unfair to you, it was equally unfair for him as well"

"I'm not doing this again" Baela arose from where she sat. She was the short-tempered one out of the three of them "I'll be in my chambers"

Y/N heaved a sigh as she watched her younger sister storm out. She would go after her but she was presently too keen on reading what Aemond had written to her. The older girl turned to look at Rhaena, who was the sweeter, more timid one. "Go talk to her will you? I'll find you both in a bit" Y/N said with a soft smile and Rhaena obliged to what her sister asked.

Once the girl left, Y/N once again turned to read what Aemond had written. They did not write to each other often, just a few times here and there to tell one another of a few things happening in their lives.

"...the last time I wrote to you, I mentioned that I had a rich-green emerald replace the empty eye socket. Well, I took into consideration of what you said about a sapphire looking much better so I switched out the green gem for the blue one and I must admit I like it better.."

Y/N smiled to herself.

"Y/N?" Daemon called out as he stood by the door, pullling away his daughter's attention from the letter "care to explain what caused yet another fight between you and your sisters?"

The princess sighed, something she was doing a lot lately. She put down the letter and turned in her chair so that she was facing her father.

"It's about my friendship with Aemond, kepa. The girls do not seem to approve of it" she told him as she watched her father slowly walk in and sit at the edge of her bed "I won’t deny that he can be a bit much, but everyone has flaws"

"Oh so that's the reason for the argument this time" he chuckled "and the previous time?"

"That was when they tried to defend Jace and Luke by saying Aemond called them bastards" the girl told him to which he reacted with a smug smile, something that had her puzzled "what’s funny about that?"

"I love my wife Rhaenyra and her sons the same way I love you girls but" he stood up to walk toward her and lowered his voice as he continued to speak "between the both of us, you aren’t naïve enough to believe that they’re.. legitimate, do you?"

Since Y/N was Daemon's firstborn and quite frankly the only one he truly loved when he was still married to Rhea, over the years he found that she was the only one he could trust with almost anything. He even found a few similar traits between the both of them and he hoped for her sake she would not grow to be as rash and impulsive as he could get at times.

"Well considering the fact that the King has announced he will cut the tongues of those who say otherwise, I chose to believe what Rhaenyra says" Y/N answered briskly to which her father rolled his eyes.

"Chose to believe" he repeated with an amused tone "a diplomatic answer. Yn gaomā daor mittys aōha kepa"

"But you don’t fool your father"

Y/N let out a huff in defeat. They had had this conversation before, even though Daemon never openly suggested that they were bastards. But now, he seemed to be quite forward and bold and Y/N knew there was no way of smart-mouthing her father.

"Daor, gaoman daor drējī pendagon issi drēje āzma zaldrīzoti" She answered in a hushed tone, afraid someome might walk in even though she was aware only her father, sisters and Rhaenyra knew the language "nyke gīmigon ñuha ōghar iksis mirrī similar naejot pōjon yn nyke jiōraton bona hen ñuha muña, pōja muñar sia se ānogar hen Valyria. Konīr iksis daor ñuhoso pōnta would jurnegon se ñuhoso gaomis lo īlis drēje āzma"

"No, I do not truly think they are true-born dragons. I know my hair is a bit similar to theirs but I got that from my mother, both of their parents were the blood of Valyria. There is no way they would look the way they do if they were legitimate"

Daemon smiled at this, quite proud that his oldest daughter was smart enough to see the obvious truth that his brother turned a blind eye toward. He knew that this only weakened Rhaenyra's claim but he'd managed to fix that by wedding her. The only thing that upset him now was that after Rhaenyra, it was Jace who was in line to inherit the throne and not a true blood of the dragon.

"Ziry should sagon ao qilōni iksis brōstan dārilaros tolī Rhaenyra iksis dāria" He told his daughter, rather seriously.

"It should be you who is named heir after Rhaenyra is queen"

"Me?" Y/N repeated, unsure of how she felt about where this conversation was heading. Sure, she wasn’t as close to Jace but he was her family now and she did not wish to steal something that was promised to him, even though it was never formally announced that he was Rhaenyra's heir.

"Iksā ñuha tala, se ānogar hen iā zaldrīzes" he continued "ziry should sagon iā Targārien va se dēmalion, iā drēje mēre. Daor matter skorkydoso kostōba hen iā ivestragon bona valītsos ēza toliot ao"

"You are my daughter, and the blood of a dragon. It should be a Targaryen on the throne, a true one. Does not matter how strong of a claim that boy has over you"

Y/N snicked at the wordplay he'd used. She knew he held some truth in what he said but what he was suggesting, it was rather bold. She'd never really imagined herself on the iron throne, not until this particular conversation. Still, she couldn’t and wouldn’t do anything that would hurt her now half-brother Jace.

"No point in discussing this" she promptly spoke "I have no intention of stealing something that isn’t mine"

"You’re not stealing, you’re claiming something that is rightfully yours. You are the oldest, the one who has upheld tradition and speaks the language of our ancestors, who I know will be an excellent queen" Daemon placed a hand on her shoulder "think about it and let me know of your final opinion on the matter. Only then shall I discuss with my wife the succession of her throne"

Y/N simply nodded in response.

"Oh and pack your things" he added "we have to leave for King's Landing, urgent business regarding Lucerys"

And with that, he left Y/N to ponder over the conversation that she'd just had.

Aemond was slightly confused to see everyone at court rushing about, cleaning or changing the drapes. It was as if it were announced that there was to be a wedding. A similar sort of chaos had broken loose a few days prior to Aegon's and Helaena's wedding.

He went to find his mother, to ask her why everyone was so pre-occupied with making the castle appear spotless.

"Is there something I've missed?" He asked as soon as he burst into the room "everyone seems half crazed"

"I was hoping to wait until supper to tell you" queen Alicent arose from her chair before she walked toward her son "There has been a certain, problem that has arisen. With the news of Lord Corlys' possible demise, the throne of Driftmark is left vulnerable"

"I thought my nephew Luke was heir, he is named lord of the Tides" Aemond stated the obvious "Is it one of those Velaryon girls who oppose his claim?"

"No, it’s Corlys's brother, Vaemond" Alicent told him "and i have to admit he seems to be a better fit for the throne"

"I take it there will be a hearing for the matter" The prince looked toward the fire that burned in the fireplace "In which I can only assume you will favour Vaemond?"

"Do you not support our decision then?" Alicent asked, quiet curious to hear her son's opinion on the matter though she knew he would back whatever decision she made.

"No, of course I do mother" he assured with a soft smile "We both know that Lucerys isn’t Laenor's son"

Alicent beamed proudly at her child, though she did not make it obvious that she was far too happy to dethrone Rhaenyra's son.

"I can only expect for Rhaenyra and Luke to be present here the same way Vaemond will be" he further inquired to which his mother replied with a 'yes'. This sort of ignited a hopeful spark in his chest "Will the rest of their family be joining us as well?"

Alicent knew he was asking her this with hopes that maybe the princess Y/N too would be returning to court. The queen was quite fond of the girl, but she wished her son did not have any sort of expectations regarding to wedding her; especially after that incident years ago, that cost him his eye. Her father Daemon was married to Rhaenyra now and that just further decreased Aemond's chances of asking for Y/N's hand in marriage.

"I do not know for certain but I would assume the entire family would be present" she told Aemond who only hummed in response, not showing any sort of emotion to the statement.

He had become rather cold and distant after he'd lost his eye, never letting anyone too close to him.

Aemond took his leave, heading back to his chambers. After all these years of only being able to speak to Y/N through words on paper, he would finally be able to talk with her in person. He wondered how she looked, if she was still a touch taller, or just as giggly and talkative. The last time he'd seen her was on the morning of her departure away from Driftmark, the very next day after he'd lost his eye.

Aemond had just been told, in the presence of his mother that he wouldn’t be able to live his life the same way he'd been living all these years. He would have to re-learn how to fight, how to ride and then there was mention of him not being able to fly Vhagar. After everything he'd gone through, he was being told that even after he'd acquired a dragon of his own, he wouldn’t be able to fly her. And then came the news of migraines that he would suffer from even after the wound was healed.

Aemond began to cry and then eventually began to scream out of frustration, demanding that everyone leave the room at once so that he might be alone.

Y/N, who was already on her way toward his chambers, heard the noise and went in and Alicent did not stop her; maybe she would calm him down?

"Aemond?" the princess softly called out, cautiously stepping closer.

"Leave me alone!" the boy snapped, still in a terrible mood but Y/N wasn’t going to listen that easily.

"I came here to see you-"

"I said go away!" he screamed at her and the girl did not appreciate it one bit, she was Daemon's daughter after all.

"I am going away!" she screamed back at him with such ferocity that it immediately silenced his temper tantrum "to dragonstone"

"What-" he quietened down as he processed her words. With the passing of Daemon's wife, he thought the man might return to King's Landing which would mean that even Y/N would return with him back home "You’re leaving, again?"

"I am" she reconfirmed it "I only came to say goodbye"

Aemond wanted to fling something at the wall out of frustration. He'd only just been reunited with her and now she were being taken away from him again.

"I don’t like your kepa" he grumpily muttered under his breath "always taking you away from me"

Y/N giggled at this, finding it adorable until her smile faded when she remembered that she was leaving him again. She noticed that during the entire conversation he did not look toward her and she knew it was because he did not want her to see the ghastly wound on his face. She took his hand in hers and leaned down to gently kiss his knuckles which made Aemond gasp with surprise.

"Kepa always used to kiss my injuries to heal them faster" she sweetly told him "I don’t think I can kiss your cheek without hurting you, so I hope a kiss to the knuckles will help"

Aemond smiled at her. He felt a pang of jealousy when she mentioned that her father used to try to help with the pain any time she hurt herself by kissing the injury. Meanwhile his own father did not care one bit about his loss of an eye. He did not even bother to come and see him the next morning.

He was glad Y/N did, it made him feel a little less unwanted.

A gentle smile spread across his face at the memory and he subconsciously looked down at the very same hand she'd kissed.

[asoiafcanonjonsnow]

JONSNOWFORTNIGHTEVENT2023

DAY 12: HOUSE TARGARYEN 🐉🏰: Jon Snow // Aegon V Targaryen

Hidden Identity

For the rest of his life—however long that might be—he would be condemned to be an outsider, the silent man standing in the shadows who dares not speak his true name. Jon IX, AGOT "To keep my hair shaved or dyed, and tell no man my true name," the boy said, with obvious reluctance. The Sworn Sword

Perceptive

"Father took the king down to the crypts this afternoon. The queen didn't want him to go." Benjen gave Jon a careful, measuring look. "You don't miss much, do you, Jon? Jon I, AGOT He flicked the gold coin back to Ser Uthor. Traitor's gold. Blackfyre gold. Egg said this was a traitor's tourney, but I would not listen. He owed the boy an apology. The Mystery Knight

Celibate Orders

"I want to serve in the Night's Watch, Uncle." "You are a boy of fourteen," Benjen said. "Not a man, not yet. Until you have known a woman, you cannot understand what you would be giving up." "I don't care about that!" Jon said hotly. Jon I, AGOT "It would have," said Egg, "but I spit it out. I don't want a wife, I want to be a knight of the Kingsguard, and live only to serve and defend the king. The Kingsguard are sworn not to wed." "That's a noble thing, but when you're older you may find you'd sooner have a girl than a white cloak." The Sworn Sword

Immaturity

"There is no shame in being a steward," Sam said. "Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life washing an old man's smallclothes?" Jon VI, AGOT So had Dunk. "We'll see how many men turn up at the tower . . . but whether it's five or fifty, you'll need to do for them as well." Egg looked indignant. "I have to serve smallfolk?" The Sworn Sword

Learning

"No. They hate you because you act like you're better than they are. They look at you and see a castle-bred bastard who thinks he's a lordling." Jon III, AGOT You are a squire born of noble blood, but you are still a boy. Most of them will be men grown. A man has his pride, no matter how lowborn he may be. The Sworn Sword

Growth

Jon smiled at him. "I'm sorry about your wrist. Robb used the same move on me once, only with a wooden blade. It hurt like seven hells, but yours must be worse. Look, if you want, I can show you how to defend that." Jon III, AGOT The boy considered for a moment. “I could teach them the arms of the great Houses, and how Queen Alysanne convinced King Jaehaerys to abolish the first night. And they could teach me which weeds are best for making poisons, and whether those green berries are safe to eat.” – The Sworn Sword

Stableboy

She might mistake him for a stableboy and hand him the reins of her horse. Jon ADWD. Your stableboy can stay with the horses.” "I’m a squire, not a stableboy,” Egg insisted. “Are you blind, or only stupid?” The Sworn Sword.

Sharp Tongue

"I'd have an easier time teaching a wolf to juggle than you will training this aurochs." "I'll take that wager, Ser Alliser," Jon said. "I'd love to see Ghost juggle." Jon III, AGOT

"I have my faith to warm me." The red woman walked beside Jon down the steps. "His Grace is growing fond of you." - Jon I, ADWD "I can tell. He only threatened to behead me twice." Jon IX, ASOS

Slynt slammed a fist on the table. "I heard you! Ser Alliser had your measure true enough, it seems. You lie through your bastard's teeth. Well, I will not suffer it. I will not! You might have fooled this crippled blacksmith, but not Janos Slynt! Oh, no. Janos Slynt does not swallow lies so easily. Did you think my skull was stuffed with cabbage?" "I don't know what your skull is stuffed with. My lord."

"Wild boar," said Dunk in a glum tone, "but who wants boar when we have good salt beef?" Egg made a face. "Can I please eat my boots instead, ser? I'll make a new pair out of the salt beef. It's tougher." The Mystery Knight

Unlikely Choices

"I am lord commander because my brothers chose me." There were mornings when Jon Snow did not quite believe it himself, when he woke up thinking surely this was some mad dream. Jon I, ADWD Soon thereafter, the "Prince Who Was An Egg" was chosen by a majority of the Great Council. The fourth son of a fourth son, Aegon V would become widely known as Aegon the Unlikely for having stood so far out of the succession in his youth. Maeker I, The World of Ice and Fire

Maester Aemon

"Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel," the old man had said, "the same counsel that I once gave my brother when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the Great Council chose him to mount the Iron Throne…Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born." The old man felt Jon’s face. "You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is a crueler one, I fear.You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born. Jon ADWD.

Empathy

Jon had to bite his tongue. He didn't want to know about Del's girl or Bodger's mother, the place by the sea that Henk the Helm came from, how Grigg yearned to visit the green men on the Isle of Faces, or the time a moose had chased Toefinger up a tree. He didn't want to hear about the boil on Big Boil's arse, how much ale Stone Thumbs could drink, or how Quort's little brother had begged him not to go with Jarl. Jon V, ASOS "They might be killed, ser. Wet Wat is still half a boy. Will Barleycorn is to be married the next time the septon comes. And Big Rob doesn't even know his left foot from his right."

Half

"—that I am half a wildling myself, a turncloak who means to sell the realm to our raiders, cannibals, and giants." Jon did not need to stare into a fire to know what was being said of him. Jon VIII, A Dance With Dragons Prince Aegon was the obvious choice, but some lords distrusted him as well, for his wanderings with his hedge knight had left him "half a peasant," according to many. The World of Ice and Fire Maekar I

Reformers

"The wildlings will remain upon the Wall," Jon assured them. "Most will be housed in one of our abandoned castles." The Watch now had garrisons at Icemark, Long Barrow, Sable Hall, Greyguard, and Deep Lake, all badly undermanned, but ten castles still stood empty and abandoned. "Men with wives and children, all orphan girls and any orphan boys below the age of ten, old women, widowed mothers, any woman who does not care to fight. The spearwives we'll send to Long Barrow to join their sisters, single men to the other forts we've reopened. Those who take the black will remain here, or be posted to Eastwatch or the Shadow Tower. Tormund will take Oakenshield as his seat, to keep him close at hand." He enacted numerous reforms and granted rights and protections to the commons that they had never known before. – The World of Ice and Fire

Face Opposition

Marsh flushed a deeper shade of red. "The lord commander must pardon my bluntness, but I have no softer way to say this. What you propose is nothing less than treason. For eight thousand years the men of the Night's Watch have stood upon the Wall and fought these wildlings. Now you mean to let them pass, to shelter them in our castles, to feed them and clothe them and teach them how to fight. Lord Snow, must I remind you? You swore an oath." ...but each of these measures provoked fierce opposition and sometimes open defiance amongst the lords. The most outspoken of his foes went so far as to denounce Aegon V as a "bloodyhanded tyrant intent on depriving us of our gods-given rights and liberties." – The World of Ice and Fire

[alicentsgf]

ok so fans who hate alicent LOVE to say shit like "book alicent was beefing with a child lol" totally unironically. and it just confuses me. like Bro... all f&b tells us is she Stopped Being Nice to rhaenyra after aegon was born (when viserys showed no sign of naming him heir). because, reportedly, she was originally kind to rhaenyra. apparently kind enough for at least one or two people to note a sudden change in demeanor.

and like im sorry. is it that crazy that when alicent began to understand rhaenyra and her own son were going to be pitted against each other in the future she chose aegon and distanced herself from rhaenyra? she wasnt "beefing with a child" like i feel thats so clearly just a little joke someone made thats been taken at face value and regurgitated. because its not true. or at least f&b gives us no indication of it - we're never told about her acting maliciously toward a young rhaenyra. in fact i dont think we're given much indication they really interacted at all. and anyway, wouldnt it have been worse for her to continue to keep rhaenyra close ? so she could try and manipulate her?? people make book alicent into this great seductress and manipulator and theres basically no textual evidence to support it. if anything i feel like alicent distancing herself shows she very possibly DID genuinely care about rhaenyra once, perhaps enough to worry her attachment might undermine her cause to prioritise aegon in some way. and this is only further supported by rhaenyra's decision to spare alicents life later when the rest of the greens became dragon snacks.

then theres the fact book alicent was the one who asked viserys to betroth aegon to rhaenyra. why would she do that? a woman from a house with such close ties to the faith no less. she asked when aegon was 6 and she must have known by that point viserys was likely never going to name aegon heir - imo she was exhausting options to try and protect her children. no matter what choices aegon made he had every chance of becoming a symbol others would use, forcing rhaenyra to make an example of him to maintain control. marrying them to each other would do a lot to avoid that eventuality. it was both a smart political match and what Targaryen tradition demanded. viserys was convinced alicent was only acting out of ambition which is why he rebuffed her, but we're repeatedly shown viserys is kind of an idiot. especially politically.

theres this Obsession with the idea alicents characterisation was changed so dramatically for the show. 'i wish they'd made her like book alicent' they did...? they made her a victim who is scared and anxious and bitter. theres nothing to suggest that wasnt who book alicent was. everything we know of her is filtered through layers of bias - her story told by men who dont give a shit what she felt or desired. and what? you dont like it because you wanted her to be some one dimensional villian? because doubling down of f&bs oft misogynistic, cardboard cutout representation of her would have been So great. like please, i get that so much of f&b can be interpreted a whole bunch of ways but 'alicent the evil step mother' is the most basic, boring interpretation. it shows no depth of thought at all. theres at least a few clues in there as to who she Actually might have been, if you bother to look.

its just insane to me honestly. you read that book and thought she was pure evil? this woman who doted on her daughter and grandchildren so completely that her grandson's murderers knew to find them in her rooms. this woman who spent her last moments embracing death, pining for her dead children and speaking fondly of the old man she used read to as a girl. its really not that hard to percieve book alicent as a trapped and embittered woman desperately scared for the lives of her children. seriously. where is the critical thought? the empathy?? im so tired.

[ameonds-dragonn]

Hotd modern au

I got inspired by @sansaorgana she made me fall in love with this au 🥰

For warning, this was something quick I made on my phone so probably ain’t great. But enjoy 💚

We’ve agreed that the Targaryens are rich as fuck, i think it’s old money like the Kennedy’s. Visryes is a huge lawyer and Daemon gives me Wall Street investors or CEO vibes. And Alicent is stay at home mommy that loves her kids. Nrya is Sahm as well but she modeled some I think, not runway model thou.

Aegon is a pothead/frat boy obviously, he only parties at college. Not caring if he graduates or not, Vis probably pays the uni a shit ton of money. Every once in awhile he puts an effort for classes :) He dresses like a frat boy and a stoner had a baby. Slides 99.8% of the time, hoodies that have his frat house name Or university name on it. He owns one part of jeans and slacks(they stay at home 99%). Smells like cigarette smoke, small vanilla notes and whiskey. Knows he can get away with failing school, getting pulled over, screwing girls. He knows Alicent loves him bc he’s her first baby. He’s not dumb as people think he is. He loves his mama too but kinda takes advantage of it.

Aemond is a Harvard baby through and through! Most likely an English major, but he also gives me medical school vibes(personally for me). He puts school first, he knows not everyone can get into Harvard so he appreciates that he did. Ameond is the campus mysterious heartthrob. Girls and gays love him! He’s 6’5, blonde with shoulder length hair, wears leather and black clothing w/sliver rings. Little whore! Also he has his scar on his eye. Obviously dragons aren’t real for us. So Aemond and Luke didn’t fight each other over Vhgar. I’m thinking he lost it on accident, maybe Vis took him and Aegon knife throwing or one of the neighbors kids and him were playing with sticks or something. Personally the scar is what made fall in love with him. It’s him no matter what au it is. It shaped him to who he is as a person. He’s a huge mama’s boy! He don’t hide it either, he loves Alicent.

When he comes home from school for the summer and Christmas, he brings gifts for her and Heleana. Stuff he saw while he was out one Saturday, little trinkets, shoes, books. Anything that reminded him of his mom and sister. Also does this for his S/O, he’s just a sweet emo boy!

Heleana still loves her bugs and other creepy crawlers! We stan Helena the bug queen in this house 💚 she’s the quiet girl that is always reading a book, drawing in her sketch pad. Has earbuds in, but will take them out if anyone talks to her. Loves old English literature and plays. She loves NYC and broadway, she gives me NYU vibes. Definitely lives in NYC but goes upstate a lot bc of nature. Also I think she would be a witch or at least into paganism. Aemond is close to Salem, MA so he goes and gets her stuff from the shops. He has 6 tarot decks that he plans on taking home along with crystals and books he got for her. TSA workers hate Aemond bc he goes over the weight limit with his suitcases.

Alicent, my favorite mom! Okay so, Alicent was Vis’ sugar baby when she was 20ish. Went to school with Nrya and ended marrying her dad. But I don’t think they hate each other in this AU, probably not each other’s fans. I think Nrya and Harwin are together, probably met on a photo shoot set. Harwin was definitely a model or an actor in his day. Anyways! Alicent got pregnant with Aegon before the wedding, you could see her bump in her dress. Vis works 24:7 so Alicent got very close with Aegon as a baby. Aegon looks after her always has! She was very involved with school when the kids were little. PTA mom, sports mom, art/theater mom, she always supports her kids and their activities. Calls them each everyday to see what’s new, are you sick?, how’s the money looking? She used to feel insecure about being a young mom, but now she’s 43 and her kids are in college. She has so much free time now! Definitely the hot mom, also the cool mom(mean girls hey!). Alicent was meant to be a mother, she truly loves her kids and wants the best for them. She don’t give me toxic mother in law vibes

Nrya is the first child of Vis, so he is crazy over her. He’s still in Nrya’s lane, but he talks to the other kids moreish. Nrya became a model her junior year of college. Has been covers of vogue, vanity fair, a bunch of wedding mags. It’s how she met her husband, Harwin. They fell in love and had Jace, Luke, Joff, the twins. Definitely a boy mom but she loves being a mom.

[genz420]

The Fire That Burns With Us - Chapter 96: The Dance of Dragons.

Master List

Previous Part

138 -  Harrenhal

The news had not yet reached Harrenhal.  

The news that the Reds had taken the capital.  

That his innocent sister Helaena had thrown herself out her window in her grief.  

That the mighty dragon that is Morghon had been killed by Vermithor and the dragonseed Hugh Hammer.  

That the Blackwood knight had disappeared after the revelation of the death of Queen Helaena.  

That the all dragons in the dragonpit and the young prince Maelor had been killed.  

Or of what Aegon had done on Dragonstone.

Aemond had yet to know that the Velaryon fleet led by Corlys and Laenor was searching Blackwater Bay for any sign of Visenya.   But the mangled pieces of Silverwing, Vermithor, and Morghon had been littered on the water's surface. 

Aemond had returned to Harrenhal after receiving a letter from their forces that the rogue prince and the blood wyvern were approaching.   He was accompanied by a dragonseed Nettles and her dragon Sheepstealer, who seemed to be flying towards the Vale.  

The one-eyed prince would not allow his uncle to seize Harrenhal while they took the capital away from the greens.  Aemond was fully ready to embrace his name as Kinslayer.   To end the life of the mighty prince Daemon and his deformed dragon.  

He plans to remove Dark Sister from Daemon's soon-to-be-burned corpse and give it to Visenya, for she should wield the sword while he takes Blackfyre and the conqueror's crown.   A fantasy that the prince holds onto like a fool.  

Aemond hadn’t missed Harrenhal.  The only thing bringing him back was the thought that Daemon would try to have his children harmed and that he could end the Rogue's life.  But deep feelings in his stomach warned him that death would come, maybe not for him.  

The cold and bitter weather of the Riverlands was like a warning that he chose to ignore.  As the mighty prince dismounts his dragon, the feeling of impending death does not leave him.  That feeling only rises in his chest as he watches Daemon dismount Caraxes.  

The two dragons had both lived a long and eventful life.  Bringing greatness to House Targaryen and being blessed with some of the best riders the house has ever seen.  Vhagar is a seasoned war criminal who helped shape House Targaryen from a minor Valyrian house to one of the strongest Houses Westorest has ever seen.  Caraxes has bonded with Aemon and Daemon, fighting in the step stones and the Fourth Dourinsh War.  But most importantly, the two dragons have bonded throughout the years, flying together with Alyssa, Baelon, and Aemon and then Daemon and Laena.  But not the bond and feelings the Dragons had once shared are erased with the hate their current riders feel for one another. 

The older of the two was wearing his dragon armour, Dark Sister at his hip.  Daemon, too, was in the dark about the events happening in the East.  Caraxes lets out a whistling whine of disconnect as Daemon leaves his side.  Unlike his rider, Caraxes knew what was to come.  

The two self-proclaimed Prince Constorts did not waste any more time; the air was thick and foggy as the two left the safety of their dragon's side and met each other in the middle.  Both knew the fight would not start on land but in the air, another beautiful but tragic dance between dragons.   Unlike Daemon, Aemond was not clad head to toe in armour, the simple chestplate that Rob had gifted him.  

As the two reach each other, the tension rises with each moment they watch each other. Not long ago, each one of them held respect for one another and almost cared about the other.  Perhaps they would have been closer if things were different, if the Greens had never schemed for the throne, and Daemon had never left for Pentos.  For Aemond is Viserys son, yet he took after Daemon more than his own father.  

“You were a fool to come alone,” Aemond is the first to break the tension, his voice deep, commanding yet soft as velvet.  His tone is that of a man who knows the weight of his words but, yet Daemon can not help but think he sounds like a boy trying to command authority and power.  

Aemonds grip is like a viper on the hilt of his sword.  He was weighing the choice of drawing his sword and trying to end his uncle where they stood, but he did not have a valyrian steel sword like Daemon.  He wasn’t wearing armour to protect himself.  But surely he could be fast enough to draw his sword and drive it through Daemon.  He has the advantage of youth and possibly more rage.  Yet his body remains unmoving, and he almost looks like a beautifully carved statue as he glares at Daemon.  The eyepatch burning against his skin, the sapphire underneath forever cold, like it held the souls of those claimed in this war, for that fateful night on Driftmark was the reason this war had advanced so fast. 

Daemon shifts his weight onto one of his feet, his hands resting on the hilt of Dark Sister.  His hand wrapping itself around the pommel, he has killed hundreds of men with the sword and no doubt the next victim would be the boy in front of him.   A son for a son was not enough; he should avenge Lucerys by spilling the blood of his murderer. 

“Were I not alone, you would not have come,” Daemon retorts, far more relaxed than the younger Targaryen.  His shoulders were not tensed like Aemond's, and he could be mistaken for having a civil conversation with his nephew if it wasn’t for the matching grips on their sword. 

Daemon knew that he could unsheathe Dark Sister now, drive it through the younger's stomach, and be done with it. Vhagar might burn him to death, but Ceraxes would be safe.  Ceraxes would be available for his sweet Rhaena to claim.  

Aemond would have come even if Daemon was not by himself, and he knows that Daemon would have never tried to approach Harrenhal again if Visenya had not gone to King’s Landing.  A father is scared of his own daughter and what punishments he might face for daring to enter the Riverlands again.  

Aemond brings his lips together in a tight line.  Perhaps Daemon was right, but what could he have brought to make him waver in this fight?  The dragonseed he had formed a relationship with?  The Black Queen on his spoiled dragon?  Daemon had no more allies that would make Aemond nervous about killing.  No, he was the one with the allies.  He could have stayed in King’s Landing, told Visenya about his plan, and asked her to occupy him.  Brought Morghon and the Cannibal with them.  But he refuses to make his wife a kinslayer like himself.  

Both of them knew that going against one another was the only way they had a chance of killing each other.

“Yet you are, and I am,” Aemond tells Daemon, grip leaving the hilt of his sword as his arms apart and almost daring Daemon to unsheathe Dark Sister to kill him.  Aemond doesn’t allow his feelings to affect his voice, the slight nerves he feels for the battle to come.  Instead, he relaxes his shoulders to mirror Daemon and lets out a soft hum as a smirk creeps onto his face.  “You have lived too long, uncle,” 

Daemon puffs his chest out, eyes narrowing at Aemond as he speaks before slowly nodding, agreeing with him about the statement.  Daemon has lived out many people dear to him.  His mother, father, brother, grandmother, Aemna, Laena, his Strong Boys, and now his two daughters sired by Rhaenyra. 

Daemon had lived on borrowed time since he fought in the step stones.  

“On that much, we agree,” Daemon tells Aemond, giving him one final nod before turning his back towards Aemond, not fearing that Aemond might stab him.  Aemond spares his uncle one last look before he does the same. 

Both princes return to their dragons, praying to their gods for safety.  

Daemon prays that he will be able to return to Dragonstone to give his wife the good news of Aemond's death.  To see his daughters, all of them, once again.  To be able to watch his sons grow.  To bring justice to his son's death, to give justice to Lucerys.  

Aemond prays to also return to his wife to give her the news of the death of Daemon and Caraxes.   To remove the last power of the blacks.  To be able to watch his children grow up in the red keep.  To see his wife on the iron throne.  To send his brother to the wall and allow his sweet sister to finally be happy and safe.  To wear the conquered crown.  To mend the realm and prove himself worthy of the name Targaryen.   

But neither would have their prey answered.  It is as if the gods had finally punished them for the peace and happiness they had lived in and punished them for their sins.   

Because neither could return to their wives, the two Queens are now dead.  

Rhaenyra burned by her usurper brother and his half-dying dragon.  Aegon, the younger, forced to watch as his mother became ash and dragonfood.  Only leaving a few charred pieces of her left.

Visenya having a dragonriders death.  Killing the dragonseeds, Hugh Hammer, Ulf the white, and the two dragons Vermithor and Silverwing.  But also, in the process, ending her own life, along with one of her dragons, Morghon.  Both of their remains sinking to the bottom of Blackwater Bay, allowing Visenya to rest in the same waters as the rest of the Valeryons, just as she wanted.  The cannibal flew East after circling the bay for two straight days. 

Neither of them would see their children again. To watch their sons and daughters grow.  

Aegon, the younger, now traumatized after witnessing his mother's death.  Viserys is thought dead now in the lands of Lys.   Baela is scarred from her battle with Aegon.  Rhaena is safe and with her new hatchling.  

Laenor, Daenys, and Aenar are being held within the ruins of Harrnehal, which is within his eyesight.  If only Aemond had shared the gift of foresight, he might have climbed on his dragon, flown to Harrenhal, and brought his children to the now-claimed King’s Landing.  

On that day, the 22nd day of the 5th moon of 138 AC.  Aemond and Daemon, along with Vhagar and Caraxes, lost their lives.  The two sets fall into the god's eye once Daemon leaped from Caraxes and plunged Dark Sister in Aemond’s one good eye.  

The battle above the god's eyes would be the last battle of the Dance of Dragons.  The Blacks dissolved quickly into the Reds.  The Greens followed suit after the death of Aegon, the usurper on Dragonstone.  The red held the capital but without a queen, leaving the succession of the Spiky Chair up for debate to the three small councils. 

Once the arrival of the winter wolves and the Black Aly arrived in the shambles of King’s Landing, they made quick work of breaking the betrothal with Daenys and Rickon and instead betrothing Daenys with Aegon the Younger and Laenor to their daughter, Sarra.  

Daenys becomes the “first” legitimate queen of the Seven Kingdoms with her consort Aegon II.  A marriage that was closer to a friendship rather than a marriage.  Yet both still did their duties to the realm.  

Robert Tully denied the position of Daenys hand, instead returning to Riverrun to see his wife give birth to a daughter.  She was quickly betrothed to Aenar, who later became lord of Riverrun, with his wife, Catelyn Tully, taking most of the title's responsibilities—a match made by the gods.

Benjicot took the role of the hand of the queen instead, along with taking on the responsibilities of raising the three children, not allowing anyone to hold or be near them for close to three years after the war, fearing that something might happen to the last connection he had to Visenya and Aemond.  The Blackwood knight also protected the little Princess Jaehaera until she married Bloody Ben in secret one faithful day, becoming the lady of Raventree Hall. 

The dance of the dragons was the true downfall of the house, Targeryn, for even years after the war in peaceful times.  No house looked at the house the same; the death of the dragons allowed the once perfect marble of the house to crack and slowly, through the years, fall apart. 

-- --

Last chapter. I loved writing this story in the beginning as it was just a little daydream that my friend told me to write. I never thought that it would get this far, ever. I know that this story is cheesy, badly written, and probably full of plot holes I don't see. But I am dyslexic, and I never thought people would read this. Thank you all who have commented and read this far along. Truly the comments are the only reason why I didn't just give up on this story and delete it; they mean more to me than you could know.

-- --

Taglist: 

@tempt-ress @kassies-take

[star-girl69]

We Do Not Wilt - Chapter One - We Do Not Fall

Daemon Targaryen x Hightower!FemOC

a/n: this chapter is mostly just to provide background and introduce daemon and may’s love and her and alicent’s relationship. plus, who doesn’t love soft daemon???? just generally fluffy and cute and i hope you all enjoy!!

no warnings i think besides for may being sick, tell me if i missed anything!

—-

For once in his life, Daemon Targaryen felt helpless. Something horrible was happening in front of him, and he couldn’t do anything about it.

Lady May slept most of the day. Daemon supposed that was best, but it caused her to wake up in the night in such fits.

The sun was just rising now, and Daemon climbed out of their shared bed, just able to shush her back to sleep.

The fits were horrible. They looked painful. Coughing that sounded wet and harsh, the pain that would overtake her back like a lightening bolt with each one. Lady May had always said she had a bad back. Daemon wishes more than ever that he was able to fix it. She would cough up some disgusting substance Daemon couldn’t care to name, simply hating it. All he needed to know was that this sickness- this curse- was making his wife terribly sick.

Daemon had promised to never let anything hurt her. And he would be damned if something as foolish as a sickness took his wife away from him.

He needed her. He loved her, so much, it consumed him. She tortured him just by the curve of her neck, the long locks she loved styling, the way she walked, talked. Everything she did did not go unnoticed by Daemon.

So, in the soft morning light, he looked at his wife. Laid flat, she looked as if she was laid out for a wake.

Daemon remembered when the sickness had started to get bad. How he had carried her limp body into bed, and maids had tried to prop her up on pillows. In this weird state she was in, something like a sleep, she fussed.

Daemon remember yelling at all the servants. Kicking them out. Forbidding anyone to touch her, lest they would face the fire of Caraxes.

When he had tried to prop her up, she fussed as well. He laid her flat, only one measly pillow under her head for support.

She looked dead. Like she was a body laid at a wake, and he was to say his goodbyes. He would not do that yet. He could not.

Daemon had been selfish. He knew that his wife would most likely prefer her own pillow, but Daemon was scared. Scared of losing the only good thing in his life. His shining star. His perfect, perfect wife.

So every night, across the room, Daemon would fall asleep on the daybed, holding her pillow. It smelled like her. If he was tired enough, it felt like her. Like she was pressing her face into his chest for warmth on an unnaturally cold night. Daemon would smile, tug her closer and think about how lucky he is to have her.

He would dream of her. Healthy. Happy. With him.

When he would wake up, it was to the horrid sounds of his beloved in pain. Her straining coughs, how she would groan and shuffle around in pain. He would run over to her, the light of the moon reflecting on her face.

“Daemon?” She would call, and he would answer. He would always answer. He would hold her as she writhed in pain, shushing her and give her some soothing tea that was supposed to help.

“My love,” He would whisper over and over again. As if he could bring her back with those words. A prayer to all the gods.

Daemon always thought he was a god. He could build cities and tear them down. He was powerful, the most seasoned warrior in Westeros. They would talk of him for years to come. The great Daemon Targaryen. Who conquered and ruled, who flew on the back of the great dragon Caraxes.

To be a god is to be immortal, and Daemon would never be forgotten. In a way, he would live forever, and he would be a god.

But Daemon knew. He was not a god. How could he be a god, if he couldn’t even protect his wife? He had placed her under the sigil of their house, promised to protect her.

And now she was laying flat on her back. Looking like she was dead.

Daemon reached over from where he was sitting at her bedside. He put his hand over her heart. Felt the steady beat. During the day, when she slept like this, it was how he knew she was still alive. He hated that. Hated that fact.

The door opened. Daemon didn’t turn around. He felt the footsteps ricochet through the floor.

“Prince Daemon,” The woman greeted. Lady Alicent sat on the other side of her sister’s bed.

Lady May’s father was Otto Hightower’s deceased brother. Lady Alicent was her technically her cousin, but they were as close as sisters, so they were called so. Alicent had visited her everyday since she fell sick.

Daemon didn’t have the heart to say anything back.

Alicent sat there, holding her sister’s hand. She thought of their childhood, spent at the family castle in Oldtown. After May’s mother had been taken by sickness when she and Alicent were very young, and her father had died by drinking and gambling himself onto the bad sides of many powerful people, Otto Hightower had took in his niece, promising to care for her.

In his own way, he did feel some pity for her. To lose both of your parents so young was a hardship. But she was a highborn lady. She and Alicent had many septa’s to care for them, and they had each other.

Now, of course, Otto Hightower had been sent back to Oldtown, no longer Hand of the King. Alicent and May had been distraught. He was both of their fathers, in a way. He had always provided for them, made them powerful. May was a Lady, married to a prince. Alicent a queen. They were forver in his debt, simply for their positions. But he had left them with a grave warning, as in his fashion.

Rhaenyra would murder Alicent’s children for the throne. Perhaps it was something the two had always know, every since their marriages, but simply hadn’t had the heart to accept. To hear Otto say it so harshly, so cruelly, the two were forced to believe it. To accept it.

It became their new code. Their new mission.

Protect the Hightower name. Protect themselves. Protect their children.

So, Alicent squeezed her sister’s hand. They were alone in the Red Keep. All they had were each other. Her eyes flicked to Daemon, his worried stare. Some part of her- and she hated this part- envied May. She had found true love with her husband. Alicent- well, she preferred not to talk about her marriage.

Alicent knew she would not be able to survive without May. She looked towards the ceiling.

Please, I beg of you. To the old gods, the new- whoever. Please, save my sister. I cannot do this without her. I love her, save her, save her, please.

—-

The next morning, Lady May opened her eyes. She looked around. The room was empty. Cold. Her eyes flicked to her sleeping husband on the daybed. Slowly, she sat up. Blood rushed to her head. She ignored it. Her feet gingerly touched the cold ground. She stood on shaky feet. She walked slow, and ignored it.

As she got closer, she noticed her pillow in Daemon’s grasp. He was a heavy sleeper, but easily picked up on noise for some reason beyond her. So as long as May was quiet, she could slip herself away from the cold of this room into Daemon’s arms without even waking him.

She leaned down, slowly pulling the pillow from his grasp. She set it in the floor, sliding into his arms. She pressed her face to his bare chest for a few minutes. He was warm, he was home, he was love, he was safety. Everything she needed.

“Daemon?” She called, and his eyes opened, instinctively flicking towards the bed. His brow furrowed when he found it empty. He tried to sit up, but found resistance in his arms.

Then he looked down at the face of his wife, and all was well again.

—-

[lya-dustin]

Someone will remember us

Chapter 27

Taglist: @arrthurpendragon @ocappreciationtag @fyeahhotdocs @stargaryenx

Gif by: @gameofthronesdaily

Cw:references to death

Unlike Jaehaerys and Alysanne or Daemon and Laena, Princess Aemma and Prince Aemond forced the realm to witness their elopement.

The Princess of Dragonstone and her family held a celebratory dinner to announce and celebrate the nuptials of her only daughter and it is said that Rhaenyra’s disapproval of the match was drowned out by the how well her children took the news.

“Aemma did always like him, mother, besides it is not as if she wed Aegon.” Jacaerys had pointed out when the future queen expressed her dislike of her daughter’s choice in groom.

“Do you think he still hates me for taking his eye?” young Lucerys had asked and no one was sure how to answer.

Perhaps the most surprising thing of all was the wedding gift Lord Corlys gave to his eldest grandchild.

---On Queen Aemma and Prince Aemond

“It feels like only yesterday I stood here welcoming all of you to the wedding celebrations of my daughter, Princess Rhaenyra, and the late Ser Laenor Velaryon. Now I stand here celebrating the wedding of their only daughter, the Princess Aemma Velaryon, and my son, Prince Aemond Targaryen.”

If the king struggled with his golden goblet, it did not show.

But the milk of the poppy had not removed his penchant for long toasts.

“The Master of Whispers told the Queen your charge suffers from an affliction, and I heard the King call her a dreamer.” Cole whispers to the Septa hoping their voices were drowned out by the people cheering thinking the toast had ended only for the king to resume.

The king goes on to tell an anecdote about the newlyweds, of when he presented them with their own copies of an ancient Valyrian Scholar’s thoughts on ethics when they were nine.

Rhaenyra had thought it a book too complicated for Aemma, and the queen had agreed with her, but the children then revealed that the king had been reading it to them after Aegon and the boys had bullied the two of them at the Dragonpit.

Baby’s first philosophy book, Laenor had called it with a laugh.

“The answer is yes to both, but if you breathe a word about the latter to your queen, I will make sure it is the last thing you ever speak.” Teora warned.

“I’m not a fool, Teora. I will not tell her, you have my word.” The Kingsguard accepted the wine offered to him reluctantly.

“It is watered down, it will not be as strong as it was then.” Teora assured him.

He had been scarred by battle and war, he was haunted by his actions or so she could assume by the way he reacted when he saw Aemma wearing Rhaenyra’s dress.

“With House Targaryen and House Velaryon united forever, we herald a second Age of Dragons in Westeros.

Tonight, is only its beginning.”

They raise their wine once the king reaches the end of his toast.

“What sort of man is your Aemond?” Teora probed the moment the knight let down his guard.

“A good one, he is a great swordsman, bookish like her and respectful unlike his brother. He would rather take out his other eye than hurt her, I can assure you of that.” The knight looks on at his boy with pride, he may sire no sons, but Aemond was loved and cherished by him as if he were his own blood.

The new couple would not care if the great hall was on fire, only they seem to exist to each other as they dance their first dance as husband and wife.

He is light on his feet, like all good swordsmen are.

“She is not dying, is she?” he asked as he saw them laughing at something Aemond had said.

“No. She will live a long life like Aegon the Conqueror and Jaehaerys the Concilitor did.” The septa assured her friend.

----

Aemma is so delirious with happiness that she cannot help herself and laughs at anything and everything.

“The Lord of the Tides regrets not being able to attend such a momentous occasion in person but hopes these gifts will make it up to the new couple.” Vaemond disliked how little they saw of his eldest brother, but he did his office of second in command well. Always did.

“For Prince Aemond, a sword that once belonged to one of the forty ruling families of old Valyria.” It was a beautiful thing, Valyrian steel like that of Dark Sister and Blackfyre, swords that had been crafted in the forges of the doomed realm.

The hilt was of dark grey steal and the grip black as jet as was the fine sheath that was made as if to mimic the night sky, but it was not the beauty and deadliness of the blade that stunned her, it was that the pommel and the guard held two sapphires the size of her thumb.

It was as if it had been made for him.

He had a name in mind, Aemma could read it in his husband’s face as he looked at the sword in awe.

Blackfyre was Aegon’s, Dark Sister was Daemon’s and now the Black Dread would be Aemond’s.

“A fine blade such as that deserves a name, son.” Viserys is the picture of fatherly pride, but Aemond feels odd at being its source.

“The Black Dread, I shall name it.” Aemond unsheathed it and let the dark steel of the blade shine with the light of every candle inside the Great Hall. “After the great dragon Aegon the Conqueror and you, my kingly father, claimed.”

“And they shall fear your blade as they once feared Balerion’s shadow.” The King nodded and lifted his goblet in toast to his son.

“Your grandsire greatly regrets not being able to present this in person, dear niece.” Vaemond motions for their Velaryon guards to bring forth a small but extravagant chest.

Aemma wondered what it could be.

There had been books last time, gorgeous jeweled candles the other and even one of the finest dragon saddles ever made.

What could it be?

“He gives you the gift of justice.” The guards open the chest to reveal a faded and badly embroidered ribbon and a lock of thick curly silvery gold hair.

“Your honorable father, Ser Laenor of House Velaryon, will finally be able to join our revered ancestors in the Isle of the Blessed.” Vaemond drinks in the shocked gasps of the guests and Aemma brought her hands to her mouth as she cried out in gratitude to this priceless gift the Seasnake has given them. “Ser Qarl Correy’s body will be taken to the Driftmark where the dragon Seasmoke will finish the rites and allow your father to finally rest in peace.”

“There is no greater gift my grandsire could have given me, my lord uncle. Aemma does not care if anyone judges her for this. “I gave a ribbon and a lock of my hair to my father before his death, his murderer kept them as trophies. Every breath Ser Qarl Correy took, forbade my father’s soul from reaching the Valyrian Afterlife. Now that his death has been avenged, my father’s soul will have the blessed peace he has earned.”

A weapon to make justice and an act of justice long overdue.

Justice.

Her grandfather’s wedding gifts to them were justice.

[the-truest-sentence-i-know]

i can't say hello to you and risk another goodbye

Fandom: House of the Dragon

Characters: Rhaenyra Targaryen x Daemon Targaryen (Daemyra)

Rating: T

Summary:  Daemon has returned – again – after being gone – again – and Rhaenyra just wants to know the truth of his feelings for her.

Word Count: 1.2k

ao3 | ff.net | wattpad

High in the clouds, wind whipping through her hair on Syrax’s back was the only place Rhaenyra could find peace. The corridors of the Red Keep were filled with gossip, and the Small Council meetings were just old men discussing things they would never ask for her input on, so why should she pay attention? Sometimes the only part of her birthright she cared for was Syrax.

She tried to push the thoughts away. It was peace she sought – and that included peace from her own mind.

But it would not stop churning. Today’s vexation was her uncle. He had returned – again – after being gone – again – and she didn’t really want to see him.

Syrax made a happy sound and Rhaenyra turned to see Caraxes coming after them, Daemon on his back. She groaned. The sky was endless; did he need to follow her?

She spurred Syrax on, who seemed to think they were going to play tag as she swooped through the sky, looking back at Caraxes as he followed.

There was a small island ahead, small enough that likely no one lived there, and Rhaenyra directed Syrax toward it. She landed long enough for Rhaenyra to hop off before bounding into the sky again to join Caraxes.

Rhaenyra knew her uncle would follow her, but it did not hurt to have a head start, so she stalked into the trees. The island was smaller than she had realized, however, and she soon found herself on the other end of the island, where Daemon was waiting.

“A lovely day for dragonflight, is it not, princess?” he asked.

“I was hoping for some solitude today, uncle,” Rhaenyra said wearily.

“Troubles on your mind?” he asked. “Your attempted suitors, perhaps?”

“They have been less troublesome since I mentioned I was most fond of written correspondence,” she said.

“And how many letters have you received thus far?”

“I don’t know. They make the most wonderful scraps for the fireplace in my chambers.”

Daemon laughed and Rhaenyra could not deny the spark it sent into her gut. It was a childish infatuation that she had tried in vain to quell. Whenever he left, she was sure she would get over it. But then he would return, and she was back where she began.

“It is good to see you smile,” he said. “I was under the impression that you were cross with me about something.”

Her jaw tightened at the reminder.

He looked at her curiously. “You’re still cross with me, then,” he said.

She hated how well he could interpret her emotions. Sometimes it felt as though he could see right into her mind and read her thoughts like one would read a book.

“I’m not cross,” she said.

“Then what are you?”

She hesitated. “I don’t know.”

“Are you not happy I have returned?”

“You will only leave again.”

“But think of this,” he said. “When I return again, I will bring you another gift.”

“I don’t want your gifts!” she burst out. “I want–” She huffed out a frustrated breath. “I want your honesty.”

“Honesty?”

“Does this mean anything to you?” she demanded. “Whenever you return you– you bring me gifts and you look at me the way that you do, and you speak to me as though you care about what I think. But then you always leave. And then I have to get used to no one caring again.”

He just looked at her, eyes pained.

“So, please, be honest. What is this?” She gestured between them. “If this is nothing, then tell me, so I can move on.” He looked away. “I do not want to spend my life waiting for you to return and then dreading the day that you leave again.”

When he met her eyes again, he looked almost afraid. Rhaenyra had never seen fear on his face before.

“Uncle, please,” she nearly begged. “Tell me I have been imagining things. Tell me you do not care for me in that way. Tell me–”

“I cannot,” he said.

“Why not?” she asked.

Daemon closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. “Because it would be a lie,” he said softly, looking at her with such openness in his eyes that Rhaenyra felt like the breath had been punched from her lungs. She reached up to touch his face, but he turned away. “We shouldn’t,” he said, then amended. “I shouldn’t.”

Rhaenyra set her jaw. “Why not?” she asked again.

“Your father wouldn’t approve,” he said.

“You and I have both done many things he didn’t approve of,” she countered.

“People would talk.”

She looked around at the empty shore and the vast empty sea. “Who? I think that Syrax and Caraxes will hold their tongues.”

He smiled lightly, then shook his head. “You’re a child.”

“No,” she said. “That’s not fair. You don’t get to play this off as though you’re protecting me. You’re afraid.”

He stepped in close again. “Afraid of what?”

“I don’t know exactly,” she admitted. “But I can see it in your eyes.”

He was breathing heavily now, eyes dropping to her mouth more than once as he looked at her. Finally – finally – he took her face in his hands and kissed her.

In the rare moments that Daemon had allowed himself to think of himself and Rhaenyra coming together, he had wanted a gentle, soft first kiss. This was anything but. This kiss was frantic and breathless; he poured all those months of wanting and frustration into it. He no longer feared that his desire would scare her, now he just wanted her to know it.

Kissing was a lot like dragonriding, Rhaenyra decided. It sent energy coursing through her body like blood, it silenced thoughts of anything else, and made her feel like she was on top of the world. Daemon kissed her with such fervour it was all she could do to keep up.

He had her up against a tree now, hands gripping her waist tightly. It was all so much that it took a moment to sink in, but when it did, Rhaenyra couldn’t help but smile.

Daemon pulled away, a grin playing at his lips as well. “What?”

“You want me,” Rhaenyra said, somewhere between disbelieving and smug.

Daemon’s eyes darkened and he moved in close to whisper in her ear. “I’ve gone nearly mad wanting you, princess,” he murmured. “I dream of you every night and when I leave you, I have to tear myself away.”

Rhaenyra held him close to her. “So don’t leave,” she whispered.

He pulled back again so he could look her in the eye. “I will never leave you again,” he vowed.

Rhaenyra felt more weight lift off her shoulders than she ever knew was there. The enormity of her relief nearly brought tears to her eyes. “If you do,” she said. “I will come on Syrax to hunt you down.”

“I would expect nothing less,” he said and kissed her again.

They coupled in the meadow under the trees as their dragons soared overhead. They splashed in the stream and then let the sun dry their naked bodies, and then coupled again. It was not until night began to fall that they realized how many hours had passed.

As they dressed and called to their dragons, Rhaenyra did not ask what would happen now. Daemon was still married, and he had been right about her father. But all that seemed unimportant now. Those were obstacles they would overcome when they came to them. All that mattered was that Daemon was here, and he was not leaving.

[aemondsbeloved]

From The Tides [Part 3]

pairing: (platonic) Lucerys Velaryon x reader, future Aemond Targaryen x reader

summary: When you finally get your first look at Aemond Targaryen, you hate what you see. Alicent Hightower has no idea what to make of you, Queen Rhaenyra’s new handmaiden (4.4k)

notes: last chapter where Aemond and reader don’t even really interact I promise lol

Your days in the Red Keep felt like the childhood game you had played by the water where you would run up to the water as the tide retreated and waited for your older sister to pull you back lest the worn down leather of your boots touched the water.

In other words, it was a lot of depending on others to guide you and keep you safe even though the tide would eventually return and you would be unable to evade it.

The danger might have retreated but the threats were still there. Your Queen seemed to trust others and believed the words of submissiveness of the kin who had betrayed her. The only one she did not trust was this Otto Hightower who still stayed at the castle.

Your Queen and her sons were your sister’s hand that pulled you away from the water but you knew that the tide would come as the sea was predictable unlike men.

That morning, like the sixth before this one in this new castle in the Red Keep, was the same this early in the day. You braided Rhaenyra’s hair and dressed her while she talked to you. At some point Daemon would enter.

“Something must be done about that cunt,” Daemon entered the room as he spoke, voice clear and rising to anger.

Unlike the times early on at Dragonstone you did not falter your movements of weaving the Queen’s hair when he would enter. Since living in the Red Keep her days had been busy and time could not be wasted, not even for Daemon.

You were used to language like this even before he spoke. Your father was a man of kind words but his brother had been swearing like a sailor might have.

While Queen Rhaenyra said nothing you paid little attention to Daemon as you finished her braids, moving to the jewelry she would be wearing.

“We cannot kill Alicent’s father,” Rhaenyra said calmly like this was a conversation that had happened many times already. “We have been over this.”

“He is able to live and walk these halls,” Daemon hissed. “He makes a mockery out of you.”

You put in her earrings, two fine rubies as she rebuffed him. “He has been stripped of all titles,” she reminded him. “He is not the hand, he has no titles, he has nothing.”

“He has power. We should have sent him to the wall or at least to Oldtown.”

“Alicent begged me not to.”

The look he gave his wife was withering like he was ready to say something insulting before his gaze flicked to you as you placed the bracelet of rubies and onyx on Rhaenyra’s wrist.

“Tell me Lady Y/N, if a man had been plotting to overthrow you for two decades, wanted to kill you and your children, and was a lecherous cunt, would you let him breathe?”

You look at him amused. He didn’t seem to care about that funnily enough. “I am too lowborn to merit such an enemy, your Grace.”

He huffed, but you continued while putting on her necklace. “As I understand it as her Grace has told me, it is important for the former Queen to wish to support our Queen. If Alicent Hightower wishes to support Queen Rhaenyra not only out of survival for her children but out of gratitude, then it will be easier to keep the favor of other houses that supported the usurper.”

He hummed, now listening to you. “There will be no gratitude if we sent him to the wall but if her Grace sent him to Oldtown he would plot against her.”

He laughed, almost truly amused. “Better to see the plotting than wait to hear of it,” he said, looking at you with appraisal. “You are too clever to be a fisherman’s daughter.”

Without missing a beat, you looked at him with a knowing look. “How lucky I am that her Grace honored me with being her handmaiden then.”

For the first time you did not mean this as a jape. You were lucky. Luckier still that you got to serve a good queen.

“If that will be all, Daemon,” Queen Rhaenyra said as she stood up, voice annoyed but not majorly. You had begun to see this is how their relationship was, arguments without fail but fondness overpowering all. “I have matters to attend to. I have matters to discuss with Lord Corlys now that he is well enough to get out of his chambers.”

As she left you went to move out of the room, knowing you were to go to the maidens tending to the Queen and King Consort’s sons Viserys and Aegon, but Daemon held an arm out. He cast you a serious look and you stared back not sure what to expect. You had never been alone with the consort before.

“Has the Queen warned you of the usurper?” He asked, voice grave.

You knew he meant Aegon the elder’s way of hurting women in the Red Keep. You nodded stiffly. “She has, your Grace. I have been told to not be alone in a room with him. Instructions I have no idea of ignoring.”

“Good,” he said shortly, looking down at you. “If anyone tries to harm you, come to me at once, Lady Y/N.”

“I will, your Grace,” you told him, grateful but not intending on taking his offer up. While you didn’t want to be alone with someone like Prince Aegon, of whom you had seen a glimpse of only, you did not want the consort’s violence to be with the excuse of yourself supposedly being harmed. “As I told the Queen, it will be best if someone like the usurper does not find himself alone with me. He may regret that if I am lucky enough.”

He laughed dryly then turned, striding out of the Queen’s rooms. No doubt to do something for her Grace but what you never did ask.

When you left the Queen’s rooms, you saw Ser Erryk outside.

“Ser Erryk,” you greeted. “Should you not be with the Queen?”

“Her Grace has asked that I attend to you when someone else is not around, my lady.”

“Alright,” you said hesitantly, not sure why Queen Rhaenyra insisted on this. You started to walk down the hall. “I am going to the nursery to see to it that Viserys and Aegon are being cared for as is expected. Once that is done I am to visit Lady Baela and Lady Rhaena while Queen Rhaenyra attends her small council.”

“Yes, my lady,” he said, moving to your side as you walked to the part of the castle where the nursery was.

It was strange for you to have a man in armor follow you, especially as he had not liked you at first meeting. Company was company, you supposed.

“Please call me Y/N,” you told him, chancing a glance at him and seeing him nod tersely. “If we are to spend much time together in the castle, I am glad it is you.”

He looked perplexed. “My father once said that a true friend is someone who did not always find himself fond of you. Shows change and truth, he said. Whatever that meant.”

He laughed. “Fathers often speak in riddles. They want to teach us lessons, my lady.”

“Y/N,” you corrected, a smile on your face. “Mine certainly did teach me many a lesson.”

The rest of the journey was silent but it was a comfort to you. In the nursery the children were being well cared for, to your relief. Viserys and Aegon both had that silver hair and were cheerful children and so sweet. It was a good thing to see them cared for well.

“All is well?” Ser Erryk asked when you met him outside the doors to the nursery.

You nodded. “I have to see Lady Baela and Lady Rhaena, do you know where they might be?”

“Both are in Lady Baela’s rooms having tea I heard,” he told you as you walked to the part of the castle where Lady Baela’s chambers now were located. “There was talk of them inviting Princess Helaena but I am unsure if this is true.”

You said nothing in turn, taking the tame to taake in the tapestry lined walls that you passed to get to them.

You heard Baela before you saw her as she stood and said your name when you entered her rooms. Rhaena was smiling brightly as she sat.

“I am so glad you could come and join us,” Baela said earnestly. “You are very busy lately. I swear I have not seen you since we arrived.”

You did not say anything when you were ushered in your seat. Rhaena had poured you a cup of tea and you knew you would never get used to the finery and the grandness of such trivial things.

“It has been a lot to get used to,” you admitted. “I do what I can for the Queen.”

“She is lucky to have you,” Rhaena said earnestly.

You smiled gratefully as Baela agreed with her sister. “I heard you might have invited Princess Helaena.”

The sisters shared a look. “We thought of it after seeing Aegon,” Baela said, sounding very upset. Like her father she seemed to barely reign in on her anger. “But Rhaena said we should wait a little longer, let her get used to our presence. Helaena is sweet, a shame her brothers are the worst of men.”

“Baela—” Rhaena said warningly even if it was true.

“Aegon is a drunken man who sleeps with servants and whores more than his wife,” she said harshly, setting down her tea cup. “And Aemond—” she scoffed. “A thief and a kinslayer, how honorable a young man he is.”

“Aemond did not steal Vhagar,” Rhaena said quietly. “And Lucerys lives, he is not a kinslayer.”

The younger sister’s kind words barely calmed Baela before she seemed to remember you.

“I am sorry,” she said, still agitated. “We have taken so much of your time already. I know the Queen will need you soon.”

“No apology is need,” you said honestly. “But I should go, you are right. Queen Rhaenyra will be out of her small council meeting soon, I must attend to her.”

Smiles were exchanged as goodbyes and you left. Baela’s words rung in your head over and over again. Thief and kinslayer. While you had only glimpses of Prince Aemond you decided Baela was right in her words.

There was no redemption for someone like him.

It was nearing a week since you arrived at the Red Keep and peace treaties between your Queen and her usurper brother had begun. When she told you how she knew that the only way to keep Alicent loyal was to protect her half-brothers and sister, you had often thought of the younger children of your Queen’s father.

A usurper, a kinslayer, and a princess who even Queen Rhaenyra called her sweet sister.

The princes could not be trusted, at least that is what everyone had said around you.

“What do you think of Alicent Hightower?” You asked Ser Erryk as you were alone in the halls of the Keep for the first time this whole morning.

He looked at you puzzled, not expecting that question but the thoughtful expression on your face made him answer. “She cares for her children it would be more than fair to say no matter what they may do.”

His cool words made you think of the usurper. “I have heard many bad things about Prince Aegon,” you said lowly. “I have been told to never find myself alone with him and that he is a drunkard and worse.”

“Sound words,” he confirmed, nodding in greeting as the Grand Maester passed by you both.

“I have yet to cross pathes with her,” you admitted. “I have seen glimpses of her sons and nothing more.”

“Your days are busy,” he replied, walking step in step with you as you neared the throne room. “It could be a mercy that you only have glimpses of the princes. They are different from Prince Jacaerys and Prince Lucerys, not a shred of honor on them unlike your friends.”

You hummed, a frown tugging at your lips. He glanced at you as you reached the doors of the throne room before he added, “Princess Helaena is often in the gardens now that her duties are slim to none other than taking care of her children. She may welcome the company.”

You turned your head, inclining it with thanks. “Your words mean a lot ot me, Ser Erryk.”

He said nothing as the doors of the throne room were opened for you.

Members of the small council emptied into the throne room. Your timing was impeccable you thought with a smile to yourself as you stood on the side of the room.

Over the past days you had grown to identify who was who in the Queen’s small council. Many of the heads of her council had changed as half of them had been planning to usurp her right to the throne but the only one who stayed wa Tyland Lannister. Why you never did ask.

But now you recognized him as he left the chambers of the small council into the throne room where you stood. His golden hair and colors that matched his house were obvious enough but it was the women next to him who had long hair that was a deep red and half pinned back wearing a green dress that caught your eye.

You somehow knew this was the Alicent Hightower that your Queen mentioned more often than not.

This woman looked worried, anxious even and reminded you briefly of your mother on the days you had gone fishing with your father when the storm’s were at their worst. That was a look of a woman expecting the worst and when safety was given the worry never really left her.

“Lady Y/N,” Lord Corlys’ voice was as loud as it was pleasant as it greeted you. He might have been on the other end of the hall but his voice had captivated everyone’s attention.

In his striding towards you he did not seem to care the looks of the other council members. You had meet his steps halfways.

“Lord Corlys,” you said kindly. “I did not know you had returned so early from Driftmark.”

You had grown to known Lord Corlys during the weeks at Dragonstone but truly it was not until you got to the Red Keep. He had been made Hand of the Queen and you cared little for titles and the valyrian blood everyone else seemed to hold highest above other traits, but you valued him for his loyalty to Queen Rhaenyra and her sons who were dear to you.

He had spent the last five days in Driftmark with your friend Luke, in hopes that it would raise his confidence in his future post.

“How is he?” You asked without formality.

He chuckled under his breath. “Queen Rhaenyra on the throne has proven that status does not always matter to get power. I think he may yet start to see that. His mother is the first Queen Regent of Westeros and he is the prince a dragon could not kill. He will make a fine Lord of the Tides.”

You hummed, recalling how you had heard that nickname. “And does he enjoy being called near unable to kill?”

“Of course not,” he leaned in as he replied humorously with a smile. “But it will remind others House Targaryen and Velaryon are not so easily destroyed.”

You didn’t miss the way he looked over his shoulder to where Tyland Lannister and who you believed Alicent Hightower were standing.

“Why is her Grace keeping him on the council?”

He turned back to you with a sigh. “Lannister is an important house and they will have to be faithful to her Grace. If he was a second son from a minor house it might have been a different story,” he informed you before giving you a knowing look. “But as I hear, it is better to see them plot against you than hear of it.”

You laughed in truth at that, shaking your head with no malice. “Our King Consort loves to talk,” you chided.

“Today her Grace informed the council of her decision to keep Otto Hightower in the Red Keep, a decision Alicent Hightower was grateful for. Tyland Lannister was also informed he would get to keep his position on the small council and therefore his titles. His servants did change overnight though it seems.”

You were slow to the way of court but knew that meant these were servants loyal to Queen Rhaenyra who would report of everything.

“Most of the council that were not with us on Dragonstone were surprised at this and how her Grace came to this decision but I was not,” he told you, a serious expression on his face. “We are most thankful for it regardless from who it came.”

“I give the Queen honesty and nothing more.”

“For that we should all be grateful,” he replied and as he said that the doors behind you had opened.

You heard the footsteps but did not turn around but Lord Corlys eyes moved with the figure. The one with long silver blonde hair swept past the room to the woman in the green dress and Tyland Lannister.

So, that was Alicent Hightower, and that was surely her son Aemond Targaryen.

When you saw him you thought of your friend and the fact that he had tried to kill him. Queen Rhaenyra’s mention that Aemond claimed it an accident did nothing to stop your anger. Lady Baela was not wrong to become anger at the mention of him.

“I would tell you who that was but I can tell you already know,” Lord Corlys said.

You nodded, the movement rough and stiff. “I do,” you said quietly. “He is why I found Luke on the shores of the waters my father and I would fish.”

There was no kindness in your voice, not a single trace. Maybe you had poor luck, you decided, as the woman in green must have felt your stare and stopped her movements, looking at you. The Lannister followed suit, eyeing you with confusion and looked like he was trying to put two puzzle pieces together.

The kinslayer turned his head around and despite Lord Corlys clearing his throat hoping to make your stare less harsh or rather nonexistent you did not comply. The room was large and the distance between you both vast but it did not feel that way at all.

You wondered if he knew who you were, not for want of it but just to know if he realized you were the friend of his blood he had tried to kill. His scrutinizing gaze was heavy, ladden with contempt you thought as his lips thined.

He took his eye off of yours first, maybe due to Queen Rhaenyra entering the throne room with Consort Daemon behind her. To your surprise, Daemon stayed back while Queen Rhaenyra went to where Alicent stood.

“Everyone has heard by now of Queen Rhaenyra’s handmaiden,” Lord Corlys was once again informing you, speaking under his breath as he too looked at the queen go to their former enemies. “It has been a slow process but by now everyone knows you are from no great house. Of course, this led to people asking why would her Grace put a common born girl no older than Prince Jacaerys in the position of handmaiden. Nearly everyone knows it is because you saved Prince Lucerys life.”

His eyes flicked to yours before adding even quieter, as if no one should hear it but you both, “Very few know of your loyalty to the Prince and his family. Be wary, my lady. Some will think you are easily swayed and bought even.”

“Then they are lesser men who only know of the value of gold, not real loyalty,” you said quickly, voice hard and unforgiving.

“That may very well be true.”

Hours later well into the afternoon, you were in the chambers of Queen Rhaenyra as you readied her for the feast hosted for Lord Corlys and Prince Lucerys return from Driftmark. It also ushered in a celebration of the peace between Alicent Hightower and Queen Rhaenyra with the hopes of peace between their children, though mere indifference would be just as good to both women now.

While you braided your queen’s hair into a more lavish style that befitted a queen, Alicent Hightower was in her rooms, Tyland Lannister there at her request.

“Did you see that person with Lord Corlys?” She asked him worriedly from where she stood by the chair he sat in.

“I did,” he said with a sigh. “Queen Rhaenyra’s handmaiden and I am told, trusted advisor, though we can only wonder why. She is all but Prince Jacaerys age, barely older than the younger Prince.”

Alicent shook her head as the man seemed vaguely unbothered. She had accepted her new position, one more generous than she expected after such betrayal, but still, she worried.

“She is common, lowborn to be sure.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “That story has made its way through the court already. Have you not heard to yet, my lady?”

Obviously, she had. It did seem easily to not believe however. “Tell me of it,” she replied.

“When Prince Lucerys fell from his dragon Prince Aemond himself believed him dead with his dragon. After all, who could survive such a fall into those waters. Sailors from Storm’s End tell tales of the rough waters. No one could survive them.”

Of course she had remembered. She remembered everything about that night — how her son had come home shaken in such a way he seemed a stranger and told her it all in her rooms as the rain from his travels soaked the floor.

Aemond had come back with a betrothal to one of Lord Borros daughters and an alliance but had killed Rhaenyra’s son. Or at least they thought.

“The month after his disappearance it was clear that everyone thought him dead. We cannot know how Queen Rhaenyra and Consort Daemon reacted but they did not make any action.”

That was true as well. It was a long month and while her father made alliances and sent ravens, Rhaenyra had done nothing. Until another raven was sent to Alicent, one that said Lucerys was alive even though Aemond tried to kill him. She promised Alicent mercy if Aegon gave up the throne. An offer that would not be repeated twice.

Despite her father’s insistence to do no such thing, Alicent had gone to Aegon telling him he must bend the knee. He did not hesitate to ignore his grandsire’s instructions and followed his mother’s command.

“No one really knew how he survived until Queen Rhaenyra came to the Keep and took the Iron Throne. She did not arrive with them, of course, but many had seen her moving about the Keep. Sometimes she was seen by Lady Baela and Lady Rhaena’s side in deep conversation, other times by the Queen and even Consort Daemon. When she is near the Princes it is clear who she is.”

Alicent looked at him gravely knowing the words before they left him.

“She is the lowborn girl, allegedly a fisherman’s daughter. It is said Lucerys fell to the waters but did not sink, instead floating to the shore. There he was found by this girl and saved. A month later they go to Dragonstone and the Queen suddenly has a son again. How does Queen Rhaenyra reward this lowborn girl? Maybe a bag of gold to feed her family for a long time would suffice.”

“No,” Alicent replied. “Not for Rhaenyra. A bag of gold is never enough for such loyalty.”

“Loyalty,” Tyland murmured. “More powerful than gold, perhaps. Whatever happened this girl is no common daughter now. She is a lady and has the trust of those most powerful in the Realm.”

“This troubles me,” Alicent admitted, folding her arms and trying to gather herself. “The way she looked at my son in the throne room. I have never seen such ardent—” she cut herself off, words failing.

“Hatred.”

“Yes,” she confirmed. “I can only think of why she would be so bold to stare down a prince in front of us all with that loathsome look in her eyes. Prince Lucerys must be very dear to her. It is the only reason why she should look at my Aemond so harshly after what happened after Storm’s End.”

“That may be so,” he was inclined to agree. “Rhaenyra is our queen now and all we can do is adapt to the times. Your sons may yet have places at court if we play our cards right and they already have safety. Even your father has his life and will get to see his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

“Rhaenyra is merciful,” Alicent agreed. “How she came to that decision is beyond me but I dare not ask lest she send him to the Wall. But I do not like not knowing those in the court. Her handmaiden is a mystery I do not desire to unravel behind closed doors.”

He hummed in agreement. “A close eye on the lady will be needed to be sure. Only time will tell who she is and how she may help our cause. What did Prince Aemond say after seeing her?”

“Nothing, of course,” Alicent said. “He has led me to believe he would not care of someone looking at him in such a way but it was a slight. He has never let such slights go before and I do not believe he will start now.”

“The Queen’s handmaiden may have a level head and even temper,” he said hopefully. “Your son is a prince and she a handmaiden. It would be unseemly for her to treat him as her equal with a display like today.”

“Time will tell,” Alicent said with great uncertainty.

He repeated her words with too much confidence. If only they had heard Lord Corlys words earlier to the handmaiden.

Very few knew of your loyalty to the Queen and her family.

+

taglist: @itsghostgirlyo @rosaryos @cullenswife​ @whatafreakingloser @witchofthenorthstar @m-indkiller @somemydayy @malfoytargaryen @bellameshipper @targaryenmoony @regandjamielola @tarrgaryenss​

comments and reblogs are always appreciated <3

[zoyazenik]

🍊 🍋 💚 for vaella

🍊: What is your OC’s favourite meal? Snack? Dessert? Drink? Any reasons behind this besides liking how it tastes? What is your OC’s most hated food? Stuff they can’t stand to eat or drink?

As much as I’d love to say that Vaella’s a big foodie, she’s really not. However, being a Targaryen means she is used to more refined, expensive tastes and she does relish in such things. She adores a good feast, fresh cooked boar, a beautiful bread roll, and all typical feast fix ins. She loves a good horn of ale, the strongest you have, and some old aged wine from the Velaryon stashes. Vaella really dislikes sweets, she’s much more of a savoury person, and absolutely hates anything lemon flavoured.

🍋 : Does your OC act petty and jealous easily? What sort of things make them feel like this and do they experience guilt for getting so worked up? How do they deal with these emotions when they get them? If your OC doesn’t feel like this often, why not?

Contrary to what most may think, Vaella is not a jealous person. She doesn’t care enough to be jealous, once she has you, your hers. However, to her core Vaella is an incredibly self deprecating and self sabotaging person; she thinks of herself as a horrible being, and because of this, she often feels as though she is not enough for those she loves. This is especially prevalent when her and Gareth finally begin to see each other, as Gareth is such a shining source of sunlight, and Vaella thinks of herself as a monster.

💚 : Talk about some of the traumatic events in your OC’s life. These events can be ones that have happened to them or a loved one. These events can be minor or major.

Vaella’s life is full of tragedy. There is death and grief around every corner she turns. Her first loss happened before she was even born, when her father was slain in battle. Rhaenys is an excellent and loving mother, but the death of Alistar Huxley left a heavy toll on her, and in doing so, left a mark on her daughter. Vaella grew up being told the stories of her father and the Great Huxley house, and the story of his death - and from the moment she could understand his story, she internalized it. Vaella was the only living person with Huxley blood, and she needed to live up to the name. She killed her first man when she was ten and two; a man that had tried to force himself upon her sister, she’d chocked the life out of him and grinned as he took his last breath. The more lives she took, the darker her heart became - forever tainted by death. And then she lost her sister, and soon after her brother as well. There was not a person alive that Vaella loved, who would not succumb to a gruesome death. And maybe it’s her fault, at least she thinks it is - it is the universe righting her wrongs. For each life she has taken, they take one from her.

[sweetestpopcorn]

what are your reasons to love rhaenyra? don't get me wrong, i adore her as well. i just wonder what's your personal reasons, what made you love her? i believe our loved ones are kinda our reflections, that's why i'm asking it

Hi there! 🤗

Well, actually I don't have anything much in common with her X'D at least nothing that's worth a note or particularly relevant. I usually am also quite bothered if I see too much of myself in a character, especially things I don't like about myself. Or even if a character looks like me physically it usually bothers me and I can't get attached to them. I don't have any self-esteem issues btw, I am just not that interested in myself.

When I read or write about something I don't want it to be about me. I don't like characters because they are self-inserts. I neither like myself that much, nor think myself to be that interesting - sorry not sorry. When I read or write is to escape my every day life, not to live through a character. It's not about me in these moments. In these moments I forget about me, and I have other people to concern myself with. And if I write about X character is about X character (at least how I see them) not about me as X character - no hate about the self-insert genre but that is neither something I like, am interested, in or would ever read. Like boo, I don't care about you sorry. I care about X character. Same to me, I don't care about me right now, it's all about X character.

As to why I like Rhaenyra, I have petty reasons and deep reasons. I will start with the petty reasons first.

So, petty reasons why I like Rhaenyra:

She has the BEST name evah! Seriously, when I got in asoiaf like 10 years ago I remember checking the name of every Targaryen woman, and I immediately loved her because I loved her name so much. Yes, I am this petty. I will love a character just because I love their name and I will not love a character as much if I dislike their name. #sorrynotsorry

I love her dragon's name as well, Syrax, so f_cking cool!

She was called the Realm's Delight, like WOW. Just WOW. One of the coolest things anyone was called.

I remember reading TWOIAF book and going through the Targaryen family. Freaking everyone in there was married to their brother, and then Rhaenyra comes along and was married to her uncle instead. I thought that was like different so I stan.

Her portrait in TWOIAF.

She's a Targaryen.

She was baby Aegon's and Viserys's mama.

Now, actually legitimate reasons why I like Rhaenyra:

I love that she was the youngest person in her House (that we know of) who claimed a dragon (i.e., she was 7 years of age).

I love that she went through so much yet not even once victimized herself. She just kept on going. One of the most resilient characters in Fire and Blood hands down, who died cursing her brother instead of crying or begging.

I love that after everything she went through and all the pain she faced that in the end she "won".

I love her story in the sense that it is a true lesson of the price one pays for being born without a penis. Because don't be fooled, this was Rhaenyra's biggest crime: She was a woman.

I love how much of a romantic she was, how she never stopped loving her first love (i.e., Daemon).

I love how good of a mother she was.

I love that she told her father and his council to f_ck off, made her own decisions and slept with men she cared about (i.e, Daemon and Harwin), not the man they tried to force on her. She had balls and I really do appreciate this about her. I don't like dutiful characters, they irk me to no end.

I love how emotional she was, it makes her seem human. Very human.

I love that she, like Daemon, was a fine conneisseur in the art of not giving a f_ck.

Her relationship with Daemon.

The fact that she was the only Queen in her own right of House Targaryen.

The fact that she was traditionally very feminine (e.g., vain, romantic...) despite having a very masculine role in society and living surrounded by men.

I feel very sorry for her and for how lonely she was for so long. There is a real irony in her in the sense that she was the most desired women of the kingdoms yet she was given to a man who did not desired her.

She didn't try to make herself seem something she wasn't; she didn't hide who she was.

She's very unique. No other character was like her.

All in all, I find the character of Rhaenyra very amusing in all of her different characteristics. Both Daemon and her evoke in me the feeling of "Who are you people?!" and "What's wrong with people?!" which I find very entertaining in fiction.

Rhaenyra's human, complex. Her story is very bitter with a pang of sweetness, and I really do appreciate this. And a character like her should resonate with every woman out there, because again, she is the perfect example of someone who is villainized because of her sex, both in the story and in fandom, since people's critical thinking capacities when reading about her are so (SO) limited. But you know "intellectuals" will "intellect", and most men won't be able to see past their prejudices to understand her. She is without a doubt one of the most villinized characters of Fire and Blood and the fact that people sleep on this is... well actually not at all surprising in a fandom where *insert word of choice here* can't even understand Daenerys like 🤦‍♀️ I am tired. Many people should just stick to Disney imo, but hey free country.

So in sum, no, I don't like her because I identify with her. I like her because she has a cool name, is amusing, feels very real, and has a very cool story.

Much love to you ❤

[raya-rhaenyra-ahsoka]

Why Daenerys Should've Stayed Longer in the North Than Attack Cersei Too Soon (Which is a dick move, really) PART 2

This is a continuation from my other post, as promised. Here’s the link to Part 1 here.

ALLIES FROM THE SOUTH

The Stormlands. With Dany recently legitimizing Robert Baratheon’s last living bastard, Gendry (Yay!), and appointed him as the new Lord of Storm’s End, I think he had pledged his loyalty and full support to her.

Now since the Baratheons are the overlords of the Stormlands, it ultimately makes the Stormlands part of Dany’s new rule in Westeros. And if the Stormmen questioned Gendry’s legitimacy, there are two people who can back him up: Ser Davos Seaworth, a landed knight, and Ser Brienne of Tarth, literally the heiress to Evenfall in Tarth Island. Both of whom are from the Stormlands and have served the late Baratheon lords, Stannis,

and Renly, respectively.

TV show-wise, Gendry had taken over Edric Storm’s plotline. Edric Storm was another one of Robert’s many bastards and it was him who Ser Davos saved from being killed by Mellisandre in the books, not Gendry. Gendry himself was grateful to Davos for saving his life and he sort of stepped up as his own parental figure. I also think Gendry reminded Davos of the son he lost during the Battle of Blackwater Bay.

As for Brienne, she and Gendry never shared a conversation in the show, but in the books, he even saved her life. Brienne came from Tarth, an island in the Stormlands, where her father Selwyn Tarth is lord and one of the many bannermen of the Baratheons of Storm’s End. Brienne came across Gendry in the Inn at the Crossroads while she was searching for the Stark girls. When she saw him, she literally thought he was Renly because of his striking resemblance to his uncle. Their exchange went something like this:

Brienne: Oh my god, Lord Renly?!

Gendry: Uh, what? Lord? Lol no, I’m just a smith.

I wished it happened in the show, it would’ve been funny.

Dorne. There isn’t much plot regarding Dorne in the show. (Again, f*ck D&D for ruining a great sub-plot of the story!) But in the books, the Martell heiress, Arianne was the ultimate feminist icon. She supported and fought for Myrcella Baratheon’s claim to the Iron throne over her younger brother, Tommen, and she hoped that the rest of Westeros would follow after Dorne’s right of inheritance regardless of gender and order of birth. But no! They disregarded that seemingly important plot that even George R.R. Martin was disappointed about the changes. (We hear you, George!) Nevertheless, Arianne would’ve supported a queen, yes. But between Daenerys and Cersei, she’d probably go with Dany mainly because of their family ties. In case you forgot, Rhaegar’s late first wife, Elia Martell, was Arianne’s aunt. Also, because of what happened to Elia and Oberyn Martell in King’s Landing, the Martells practically loathed the Lannisters. In the show, Oberyn Martell’s paramour Ellaria Sand, and his bastard daughters, the Sand Snakes, hated the Lannisters, that’s why they sided with Dany. But with all of them dead and House Martell now extinct, I think the new prince of Dorne would’ve allied himself with a tamer ruler, not one who plays with wildfire. (Note: this is when Dany stayed in the North and did not march south yet.)

Spies. In the Art of War, the use of spies implies gaining knowledge of the enemy, knowing their motive and their next move. With Lord Varys the Spider in Winterfell, who’s still serving under Daenerys, has its advantages. Vary’s networks of spies or as what he called them, his “little birds” are literally scattered across the seven kingdoms.

His little birds are actually children, and appearance-wise, cannot be easily identified as spies. With his intel, they could easily formulate a plan to defeat Cersei.

DEFENSE AT SEA

 If Cersei couldn’t do it by land, she’ll go by sea. Which, Daenerys of course, have the appropriate fleets to defend, covering both the Narrow and Sunset Seas. Here's a map:

(Source: pinterest.com)

Enemies to the East. If Cersei will be stupid enough to attack through the Narrow Sea by sea, Daenerys has the fleets to defend. The Northern fleet, a.k.a the Manderly Fleet of White Harbor and the Arryn Fleet in Gulltown in the Vale will join forces.

Enemies to the West. And if they invade through the Sunset Sea, they’d have to pass the Iron Islands, where Yara Greyjoy’s Fleet will intercept them, with the help of the Mallister Fleet in Seagard.

Who would win depends. The only other person that’s probably as good as Euron at sea is his niece, Yara. The rest of Dany’s fleet would have to get lucky or outnumber the number of ships in a fleet.

At this point, you’ll probably be like, oh, what if they steer clear from the fleets and enter the North’s weakly defended areas? Okay, that job falls to the castles nearest to their borders. The northernmost castle is the Last Hearth, the seat of House Umber, which is practically already deserted. On the south is Greywater Watch, which has the strongest defense out of all four cardinal directions. On both east and west hold the seat of two branches of House Flint, with Widow’s Watch on the east, and Flint’s Finger on the west (Again, refer to the map above). Once they see Cersei’s fleet, they’ll inform the people in Winterfell.

People tend to forget that Daenerys has the only air support with her dragons. So when she hears about this, she’ll easily burn the enemy fleet with one dracarys away.

That is, if Qyburn hadn’t installed that big-ass crossbow in one of the ships, then she’ll have to be better at dodging them. It gets better if Jon’s willing to help her with Rhaegal, but we’ll never know.

OUTNUMBERED AND SURROUNDED

The map shows the Crownlands and its neighboring kingdoms of the Vale, the Riverlands, the Reach, and the Stormlands. (Source: pinterest.com)

Territories. With Cersei sacrificing Casterly Rock to tighten her grip on the Iron Throne, she technically had also sacrificed the Westerlands, which meant everything north of King’s Landing is Dany’s territory now. With Dany’s army and territories secured, the Crownlands, where King’s Landing is, is technically surrounded by the Vale, the Riverlands, the Reach, and Stormlands. I included the Reach because, well, she roasted the Tarlys and took the remaining men to her cause with a choice, bend the knee or die in a blaze of glory.

Armies. Dany has the combined armies of North, Vale, Riverlands, Westerlands, Reach, Stormlands, and maybe Dorne, plus, the Unsullied; fleets of the North, Vale, Riverlands, and Yara’s fleet from the Iron Islands; and the only air support, her two remaining dragons. Cersei on the other hand, just had the army of the Crownlands, King’s Landing’s City Watch, the queensguard, plus, the Golden Company without elephants; and Euron Greyjoy’s fleet.

I think it’s obvious that Dany outnumbers Cersei’s army, by a lot. And at this point, Dany has enough allies to lay a siege on King’s Landing.

DAENERYS VS. CERSEI

Let’s discuss the difference in the personalities and motives of Daenerys Targaryen and Cersei Lannister.

They both have blond hair, are the only girl among three siblings, and are queens in their own right. But that’s where their similarities end.

Cersei currently sits on the iron throne, and she is loving the perks that came with it. Endless Power, which meant she can do whatever she wants and not care about what people think, like sleeping with her brother. With the news of Dany coming back to Westeros, she sees her as a threat and wanted nothing more than for Dany to disappear so she could stay in power.

Daenerys, however, claims that being the queen of the seven kingdoms is her birthright, as it was the Targaryens that reunited the whole continent of Westeros. Of course, it’s still power, but at the same time, she sees it as a responsibility as well. (With great power, comes great responsibility. Wow, I’m quoting Spiderman now.) She believes that as a queen, it’s her job to take care and provide for the needs of her subjects and even makes an effort to hold court as she listened to their demands. She also thinks that slavery is a big no-no, so she freed them.

The key to becoming a great leader is finding the balance between being loved and feared by your subjects. Cersei is more likely feared than loved. She also doesn’t care about her people, a fact that she admitted to her brother, Tyrion once. Daenerys most likely had the scale tips on balance, with her being equally loved and feared by her subjects. She’s loved because she actually takes time to listen to the people’s needs, and feared because she could take you out using her dragons with one word.

If Dany did lay siege on King’s Landing (again, we aren’t counting her major mad queen moment), the only thing Cersei can use against Dany is the people living within the city walls. Cersei might have heard that Dany’s been freeing slaves in the cities surrounding Slaver’s Bay, and figured out that she has a soft spot for the common folk.

In conclusion, if Daenerys had simply waited out and took her time planning and gathering allies and supplies against Cersei, she would’ve been successful in her campaign to retake Westeros. But then again, we aren’t the writers for this show. In the end, they had Jon battling through himself while he chooses to reply with either of his two favorite lines, She’s my queen or I don’t want it. Or that Sansa and Arya doesn’t like Dany at all and think that she’s a power-hungry, dragon-riding bitch. Or that Bran doesn’t give a f*ck about anything. So, yeah. What do you guys think?

[sayruq]

Yeah, the GC wanted to help Dany because they were under the impression that she would be joining Aegon - the joining of both Dragons, but the black one being the dominant one. With the line of the Targaryens becoming Blackfyres. So why did Varys undermine Rhaegar at Harrenhall?

If Varys wanted Aegon on the throne, he have had his solution right then and there, without him having to do anything. Let Rhaegar depose Aerys with the help of the Great Council, have him under lifetime house arrest and there you have Aegon as the heir to the throne (if he wants to speed up the process at any point, just poison his pedophile ass and become his regent) Much more simple than to undermine Rhaegar, helping Aerys to stay on the throne, leading to the inevitable conflict caused by his sanity and nearly extinguished the entire Targaryen line.

I haven’t mentioned Serra, she may be a Blackfyre not. Aegon may be related to him in other ways, a nephew, distant cousin etc.

Gee, it’s incredible Varys would mention only Rhaenys dying, it’s like… wow, he’s smart enough to plant seeds ahead of time! Meaning it will be more believable when he arrives.

Oh and in two decades, Varys and Illyrio never thought to reach out to the Martells that “hey guys, we have your nephew right here, we’re planning to eventually aid his retaking of the throne, maybe you wanna help out?” Instead of letting them know last minute, when they have no time to think this over or weigh their options

Yeah because Varys didn't want the Martells to become involved in Aegon's life until it was time for war. Did you not hear his speech to Kevan?

"He is here. Aegon has been shaped for rule since before he could walk. He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, he speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them. He has lived with fisherfolk, worked with his hands, swum in rivers and mended nets and learned to wash his own clothes at need. He can fish and cook and bind up a wound, he knows what it is like to be hungry, to be hunted, to be afraid. Tommen has been taught that kingship is his right. Aegon knows that kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them."

Varys wanted someone who could be modelled into the perfect feudal king- a man who knows how to rule and who understand the struggles of the smallfolk. If the Martells were involved, Aegon wouldn't be raised on a boat. He is the Prince of Dorne's nephew and a claimant for the Iron Throne. Secondly, if Varys could fool JonCon, who knew Rhaegar better than the Martells brothers, why can't he fool Martells? Thirdly, if Varys didn't want to bring in the Martells because Aegon is fake, why is JonCon reaching out to them? You seem to believe the Martells can figure out if Aegon is real or not despite never having met him before so why risk it?

As for the Golden Company, they were going to help Daenerys with the war of Meereen and put both her and Aegon on the throne. Being a Targaryen didn't make them hesitate. Even if she was going to become a Queen Consort, they were still willing to fight for and with her. If GC hate the Targaryens and were willing to only follow the Blackfyres, Aegon, the supposed dominant Blackfyre, wouldn't have had to convince them to drop the plan. He could have just ordered them and they would have been very happy to leave the Targaryen to her fate. Again, it doesn't matter because the only thing the GC want is to go home.

Varys didn't want Aegon on the throne because he supports the Targaryens. How do you not understand Varys' motivation? He doesn't care about Rhaegar and esp since Rhaegar's actions led to a war that got thousands killed and Rhaegar still went on to fight for Aerys. That goes against Varys' idea of a dutiful king.

Aegon knows that kingship is his duty, that a king must put his people first, and live and rule for them.

When Rhaegar died and Aerys' days were numbered, Varys turned his attention to Aegon and his desperate mother. With the right words, he now had access to a baby who will one day become king if Varys plays his cards right and instead of being raised like the typical Westerosi noble man, Aegon will live among commoners and learn how to earn a living with his hands. Varys seems to think this is key to Westeros becoming a better place than it currently is.

Varys sees himself as a man who must do terrible things in order to make Westeros a better place for the smallfolk. He'll raise a child the 'proper' way and then start a war using the Dothraki in order for Aegon to get a clear path to the Iron Throne. All the deaths will be worth it if Aegon can be a good king afterwards. Rhaegar would simply not qualify because he:

started a war out of lust (Aegon in comparison is a virgin)

believed in prophecies (Varys hates magic)

fought for a tyrant when the chance to dethrone Aerys presented itself during the Rebellion (and as far as we know, this is one of the times Varys didn't stand in Rhaegar's way)

Rhaegar would never have Varys' support. He might present himself as the ideal Crown Prince but Varys would know better. That's why he had little problem telling Aerys the truth, that and Varys knows that he has to be useful lest he gets fed to the fires like everyone who displeases Aerys.

Had Varys put Rhaegar on the throne, as far as the eunuch is concerned, there was no reason to believe that Aegon wouldn't turn out as bad as his predecessors or that the cycle of war wouldn't continue esp if Rhaegar's planned to raise his child with Lyanna in the Red Keep.

[reginarubie]

The difference between Anakin Skywalker and Daenerys Targaryen ~

Alternatively why, in my opinion (and I refer only show-wise and movie-wise) one is the fall of a hero and the other is the rise of a tyrant.

Under the cut more.

Now, I have stated more than once that it is possible that in the books Daenerys Targaryen will pull an Anakin Skywalker so still burn KL maybe for a honest mistake as she battles against fAegon or maybe because of a fit of rage (she is prone to those and it's canon) and will try to redeem herself during the Great War maybe even dying in the pursuit of her redemption.

Still, even if that was the case, there's a reason why I absolutely love Anakin Skywalker as a character as the fallen hero who died for love and a reason why I like Daenerys as a multi-facets characters but I do not love her.

Now, both characters have done unforgivable things. I don't hide from that, I mean Anakin killed all of those younglings and who knows how many people is his years as the Emperor henchman, Daenerys killed, burned, crucified and had children tortured (book) or fed her supposed opposititors to her dragons (show).

Yet, while their stories might be similar, if Daenerys really does burn KL and dies trying to redeem herself, I feel the heart of their stories in fundamentally different.

Anakin and Daenerys both start at a low point. Both are sympathetic in the beginning of their journey. Anakin is a slave in a far off planet at the edge of the galaxy while Daenerys is an exiled princess living off the courtesy of strangers who wants something from the last Targaryens, a girl who lived in poverty and often followed by assassins.

Both are compassion-filled or so it seems in the beginning.

Both feel strongly, wether it's fear, love or hate in all the arc of their journey. Both are rejected and only a person believes in them.

Anakin, no matter all he has done as a nine year old is rejected by the Jedi council and only Qui Gon Jinn believed in him being the Chosen One. Same as Daenerys is rejected by the lords and ladies of the continent as the true queen as they support the Baratheons or Starks or whoever else but her and only ser Jorah believes in her.

Then Qui Gon Jinn is killed and Obi Wan steps up.

Ser Jorah is discovered for his treachery and exiled and ser Barristan takes his mantle.

So far similar journey.

Anakin kills all the tusken; children, women and men. All of them to avenge his mother.

Daenerys crucifies all of those slavers - without even holding an investigation to see who of them has offered their child slaves to crucify them (again, the investigation before passing a sentence was done since the time of the romans, so around the time of Old Valyria in asoiaf). She does the same as Anakin when she burns down KL.

At first we see Anakin actually regrets or feels bad for what he did. He cries because of that, because he is grieving. He cry about it to Padme and she consoles him (not gonna delve into the Padme/Jon possible parallels right now) about it and he seems off for the better after it.

Daenerys does the same. Because she is grieving (ser Jorah, Missandei, Viserion, Rhaegal, Barristan, at least show wise) she burns down KL and kills everyone. Children, women, men, elderly, soldiers, civilians. She does not feel sorry for it. She does not cry. She gives conqueror-speeches. She basks in the fact that she has gotten the Iron throne (not that she has had revenge for the people she lost).

Why? Because their fall stems from different seeds.

Power for Daenerys.

Love for Anakin.

Anakin is pushed into the Dark side by rejection of his feelings by the Jedi council - he searches the guidance of Yoda and the only reply he gets is to learn to let go, but to a boy who has fought tooth and nail to finally have and loves so absolutely... I mean, if I was afraid of loosing someone and one to whom I went to get help told me to let go...I wouldn't take that counsel - but mostly because of love. He loves Padme and his fear of losing her is so great he is ready to condemn his whole soul to save her.

the Dark side then twists him and he wants power. But the root of Anakin character is love. In fact it's that same love he has arbored for his wife that pushes him right back in the light side by saving the galaxy and what has remained to him of her. His children. Her children.

He is a man of love. First and foremost.

What is Daenerys goal? The Iron throne. Power.

In the show she burns KL because she is grieving and the people rejects her, keeping to call Cersei queen and asking her help to be saved from Daenerys. That's what triggers her.

Otherwise, if it was only revenge against Cersei she would have went straight to the Red Keep. She would have not rained fire on the streets.

Power. She wants the Iron throne and the people of Westeros to accept her as their queen. They don't. She'll use fear to get power.

So, even if in the books the order of events gets reversed and Daenerys burns KL before dying trying to find redemption during the Great War still her character won't hold - at least to me - the same degree of feeling as the character of Anakin did.

Anakin actions always sparked from love. And not self-love, but love towards others (his wife and his children).

Daenerys actions always sparked from self-love (she believes she is to be loved and accepted and hailed as queen by everyone just because she is herself) and wants for power. What else of good was left to her character in the beginning she slowly lost when she choose time after time to use Fire and Blood instead of planting trees.

Just a side note.

Take the reaction of Padme and Jon and confront them. When Anakin kills the tuskens because of his grief he cries and she consoles him. When he kills the younglings and is twisted by the Dark side she shakes her head and still asks him to stop, to just be with her and leave behind the rest. He is too far gone. Jon goes to Daenerys and asks her, when he sees her feeling good and powerful for her conquest, if she has seen what she has done; but she is un-repeteant. She does not care. So Jon does not ask her to stay with him and just be with him, stop her dream of conquer the world to "free it", no when it is clear she is too far gone he plunges a knife in her chest (still horrendous the way it was written) to protect those he loves. His family.

Jon is the Anakin Skywalker in a way. He does not give in to the allure of the Dark side, even when he is tempted - he knows Daenerys loves him and would never kill him if he stays by her, or so he believes - no, he takes a step back and for those he loves (his siblings) he kills her the same way Anakin took a step back and killed Palpatine to save his son and his daughter because he knew he would die anyway and that Leia, if Luke kept saying no, would be the next.

So...

... Anakin was a hero who fell and rose (in a way, he is still a morally grey character to me)for love.

Daenerys was felled by love (in the show, as she loves Jon and because he choose those he loved most over her), but as Drogon points out to us what killed her was not love or fear. It was power, the cause of her fall, was the Iron throne. Was wanting it more than returning home to that house with the big red door and the lemon tree outside her window.

This is why I love the Anakin Skywalker from the movies, and why I like Daenerys as the multifaceted character she is, but she does not inspire in me the same degree of appreciation as Anakin Skywalker does.

[hchollym]

Aerion x Viserys - We Finally Got Our Dragons

I couldn’t help myself. I will go down with this crack ship  🤣

Warnings: Afterlife, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Sexual Content, Explicit Language, Age Difference

Read it on AO3. 

____________

Most people think that a person finds peace after they die. Aerion would tell you differently.

The Targaryens have their own “exclusive” afterlife, stuck for eternity with only one another for company. While he's glad that they all appear as they were right before they died and not as they died (for then he would have a hole in his throat and be unable to talk), it still does not change the fact that he’s stuck with these shits forever. Most of his relatives find enjoyment (or at least contentment) here (seeing as half of them are married to each other), but for others – like Aerion – this place is a special kind of hell.

He died drinking wildfire. It certainly wasn’t his finest moment, nor was it something that he wants to remember, given the resulting pain. And yet, his family will never let him forget it. They torment him about it daily, as if he hadn’t already suffered enough.

“Oh look, it’s the Prince Who Thought He Was A Dragon,” they sneer at him whenever he walks by. It’s not as if he’s the first Targaryen to think of himself as a dragon and die because of it. What about all the other fools who got themselves killed trying to hatch a dragon egg? Why aren’t they mocked as he is?

Even his own father sighs disapprovingly when he sees him, as if Aerion brought him embarrassment. It makes Aerion scoff. His older brother was literally known as “Daeron the Drunken” and yet Aerion is somehow the stain on their family name? It’s absolutely ridiculous. His brothers ignore him (he hears their comments about Aerion the Monstrous, and really, when are they going to get over it?).

His own son, Maegor – who joined them when he got into a fight with the wrong person at a tavern – won’t talk to Aerion, because he blames Aerion’s “madness” as the reason he never got the throne. How ungrateful can you be? Maegor wouldn’t even be alive without Aerion.

His bitch of a wife isn’t much better. She refuses to allow him into her bed, and her brother and father are more than happy to guard her chamber door. To be honest, it’s not a huge loss though; she was annoying anyway, always crying and whimpering and screaming while he was trying to enjoy himself. Still, it’s the audacity that angers him.

You would think that the ancestors would grow tired of insulting him after so many years, but it appears that there is not nearly enough exciting news to go around here, so the taunts and insults go on year after year. Even the “Mad King” doesn’t get scorned as much, because people seem to either fear him or feel pity for his insanity.

Aerion tries to ignore most of the ridicule by keeping to himself, which is thankfully easy to do in this endless hallway with infinite corridors and chambers, but that doesn’t completely stop the talk from reaching his ears. He’d been humiliated, angry, and defensive for the first decade or so of these disrespectful comments, but after more than 60 years, he’s just sick and tired of it.

So when the others stop talking about him and begin insulting another, one they mockingly call "the last dragon" and "the beggar king,” Aerion is initially relieved, and then intrigued. He questions his father, who will at least answer him (albeit grudgingly). When he hears the tale of this Viserys, he feels an instant kinship that takes him by surprise.

He’s never felt like he could relate to someone else before, but the fact is, Viserys thought himself a dragon and he too died for it in an excruciating way. The other man was treated like shit in life and now again in death by his own family (Aerion knows the feeling), and his own sister had him killed in a cruel twist of irony.

Aerion’s glad that the attention on him has finally stopped, but he finds himself unexpectedly feeling sympathy for Viserys – an emotion so foreign to him that it took him a while to identify what it was. Perhaps it's because they share similar deaths (though by vastly different means), or that Aerion knows what it's like to be humiliated by the hypocritical ancestors, or because he knows what it’s like for your own family to turn on you.

He hears that Viserys' mother won't even give him sympathy because of how he treated his sister, but so what? The bitch killed him. Why are mothers always so quick to defend the weak? Aerion’s own mother is still angry at him for his treatment of Aegon, but he doesn’t think he has anything to apologize for. Why should he be “nice” to pathetic people? Daenerys should have been grateful that Viserys raised her after they fled King's Landing. Aerion would have sold her immediately to the highest buyer and bought himself a nice house until he raised his army to take back the throne.

He hears through the gossip that Viserys locks himself inside his chambers to avoid the others, which Aerion also understands. He's not entirely sure why he decides to go see him, but perhaps it's because he’s sick of being judged and looked down on, and Viserys seems like the one person who won’t do that.

He makes his way to Viserys’ chambers, holding his head high and ignoring the looks he gets along the way, only to find that the others have painted slurs on the door, and Aerion feels disgust at their tackiness. How old are they? Five? He opens the doors without knocking and sees a man sitting on the bed, his elbows rested on his knees and his head in his hands. When the figure looks up, his expression one of annoyance, anger, and pure exhaustion (a combination which Aerion knows well), and Aerion is struck by just how young he is.

For some reason, he pictured Viserys as close to his age, but he couldn't have been more than 25, though Aerion guesses it’s actually closer to 20. He's practically still a boy, and Aerion feels a hot wave of rage rush through him. This is who they are tormenting for making mistakes when he was exiled in Essos (by no fault of his own), trying to care for an ungrateful sister who eventually murdered him? Honestly, and they thought he was monstrous!

"I'm Aerion Brightflame," he starts before Viserys can get upset at his intrusion. He refuses to give up using that name; the ancestors can go fuck themselves. Viserys' expression clears, and he blinks in confusion before frowning warily.

"What do you want?" He asks suspiciously, and Aerion shrugs nonchalantly.

"I know how these shits can be when they decide to harass someone. Fuck them. You don’t need any of these bumbling fools. You and I, we're still dragons," he assures Viserys, not entirely understanding why he feels compelled to do so, but Aerion knows that he still is a dragon, regardless of how everything ended, and he’s willing to say that Viserys is as well out of solidarity for the mutual enemies/family. Viserys looks shocked before scowling.

"Clearly not, seeing as melted gold killed me, and fire cannot kill a dragon," he points out bitterly, not even mentioning Aerion's own failures, for which Aerion feels unexpectedly grateful for. He sits down next to Viserys, and he finds it hilarious how the other man looks alarmed and ready to flee.

"And how many others have been killed by fire when trying and failing to hatch dragon eggs? We're still Targaryens. We’re still dragons, no matter what those stupid sea cows have to say.” Viserys' expression changes from one of shock to hesitant gratitude. It's a look that Aerion is not used to having directed at him; fear, anger, and even lust are common emotions he’s used to seeing when people look at him, but never gratitude. It makes his stomach churn oddly.

After that, they form a strange bond of companionship. They spend most of their time in one of their chambers (it’s easier to avoid the others that way), but occasionally they venture out to the other rooms with alcohol or food. They don't need either, but it provides them with a distraction to the never-ending boredom. They even throw knives sometimes, though Aerion had to teach Viserys because he never learned.

Their conversations start by talking about all the people they hate and are angry at (of which there are many). Then it changes to their time in Essos (the good, the bad, and the ugly). And finally, they talk of their own failures; the feel of the gold burning through Viserys' skin and hair; the way the wildfire scorched Aerion’s throat and blinded him in pain. They talk of how humiliating it was (and still is), and of their disappointment in the way their lives turned out.

It's odd, because Aerion has never felt the urge to share his thoughts with anyone - no one was ever good enough or would truly understand (until now) - but he finds that it's actually rather nice. He quickly decides that he hates Viserys’ brother Rhaegar – he started this whole mess and yet he still looks at Viserys with disappointment, and it makes Aerion want to burn him. And Viserys quickly decides that Maegor is being selfish by hating his own father. Aerion’s found an unexpected ally in Viserys, and it’s the first time he’s felt anything other than miserable since his death.

...

Maybe it happens because of their surprisingly easy companionship, or maybe it’s because they are so isolated from everyone else (no one else seems capable of getting along with them), or maybe it's even simply because it's been years since Aerion slept with someone. Regardless of the reasons, they somehow end up in bed together. Aerion doesn’t know exactly how it happened, but he’s not complaining.

Viserys accepted being the bottom quickly enough, and Aerion found out later that it's because it wasn’t his first time; he’d been forced to sell his body in order to survive at his lowest points in exile, and Aerion’s never felt protective of anyone before, but he feels it now for Viserys. He also feels irrationally jealous that someone else dared to touch what is his, and yes, he has come to think of Viserys as his.

Viserys is wonderfully responsive, biting his shoulder, scratching his back until he bleeds, moaning and cursing loudly, urging him to go faster and harder. It makes Aerion’s blood sing, his thoughts fuzzy, and the heat envelop him all over until he’s nearly drowning in it.

But it's Viserys’ eyes that really send Aerion over the edge. The pale, lilac orbs dilate in lust, but there's also anger, determination, and hurt in them. Viserys has a vulnerability in his eyes that Aerion would have thought had been destroyed years ago, but somehow it remains, and it's both intoxicating and addicting to see.

When Aerion finally decides to try bottoming (because why the hell not? they're dead, and he’s bored and ready to do something new), he finishes embarrassingly quick. It's better than he ever imagined; fire seems to completely consume him, so hot and bright that Aerion feels like he might pass out. Viserys' cock rubs against a place inside of him that causes sparks to shoot throughout his entire body, and all he can do is pant and gasp as he clings to Viserys for dear life, thinking that if he weren't already dead, then this would definitely kill him because it's too much, but he wants it more than anything.

Viserys never mentions his premature response, and they don’t talk about the fact that Aerion starts to roll them over more and more so he can wrap his legs around Viserys' waist, urging the other man to fuck him. He's relieved by Viserys' lack of acknowledgement, because even in death, he still has his pride, and it's embarrassing how much he loves to fall apart underneath the younger man.

And when Viserys guides Aerion to ride him like a stallion for the first time, Aerion screams himself hoarse, and it suddenly reminds him too much of the wildfire burning his throat, and he starts to panic, so Viserys holds him until he calms, but they don't talk about that either.

...

When Daenerys does finally show up, Aerion becomes insanely angry. She's cold and distant, though she does try to talk to Viserys, and Aerion wants to kill her. How dare she?! He refuses to let her see Viserys until the younger man finally tells him to leave them so they can speak.

Aerion feels something hot and ugly churn in his stomach at that, and he waits by the door until Daenerys leaves, looking only barely fazed. He instantly goes inside to see Viserys' eyes shining with angry tears. He still hasn't gotten good at hiding his emotions yet, and truthfully, Aerion kind of hopes that he never does.

"She hatched the dragons. The fire didn't kill her," Viserys says angrily, but there's also jealously and pure despair there, and Aerion doesn't like it. He pulls Viserys into his arms and kisses him soundly until Viserys pulls back and leans his head on Aerion's chest, sighing heavily.

"Why her?" He asks, though the unspoken why not me? is obvious.

"Because the gods are cruel," he answers honestly, because she didn’t deserve it more than either of them.

"But it doesn't change things. She's here now, just like us, with no dragons. Fuck her, and fuck all of them. We are still dragons," Aerion continues vehemently. He feels Viserys swallow and nod, as if trying to convince himself.

"We are dragons," Viserys says shakily before gaining confidence.

"We are dragons. And while she's here alone, I have you now; my own dragon," he finishes stubbornly, and Aerion feels a rush of something that he chooses not to examine further at those words. He tightens his grip on Viserys and kisses the top of his head.

"And I have you. Looks like we both finally got our dragons."