#daemon was having none of that

[greeksorceress]

lucerys is trying his best to pretend that aemond is not participating in the tournament, refusing to look at anything but at his own shoes. it works for a while. ultimately, curiosity gets the best of him when he spies aemond trotting to their royal balcony from the corner of his eye. 

he raises his head and promptly realises he has made a mistake. 

aemond is already looking up at him. 

mounted on his dark stallion, all pale hair and black armour with the traditional three headed dragon emblem forged on the left side of his breastplate, he looks every bit of the targaryen prince he is and nothing like a treacherous hightower. 

lucerys visibly swallows, and it makes aemond smirk.

fuck, he looks regal. 

aemond beckons him with a finger.

jacaerys, who’s sitting right next to lucerys, scowls. 

lucerys ignores him and stalks towards the border of the balcony. he’s about to demand aemond to explain himself when the older raises his sword and holds it so close to lucerys’ face that he can feel the coldness of the steel against his cheek.

lucerys’ breath hitches. he’s panicking, and he knows it’s showing, because aemond dares to widen his grin as if he was proud of causing lucerys such distress. he probably is, the bastard. 

he doesn’t cut lucerys, though.

“would you kiss my blade, my lord strong?”

lucerys can’t even get mat at the dig, he’s too busy gaping like a fish. he adverts his gaze towards the sword and then dumbly looks back at aemond,“what...?”

“kiss it, lucerys. so the odds might be in my favour, but also in my fallen adversaries’ too”

“i don’t understand... if they fall before you, how does it make them lucky?”

the way aemond eye darkens at him sears his insides. 

“wouldn’t it be a thing of grace, my lord, if the last thing they feel before eternal rest is your kiss on their skin?”

lucerys’ heart is beating so loudly that it deafens him. 

aemond is exaggerating, he reasons. this is nothing but a joust tournament in honor of jacaerys’ eighteenth birthday. the purpose of all of this is not slaying, it’s just entertainment. 

still, he bends over the border and kisses aemond’s sword. he’s crouching down so much to reach the closest spot to the handle and aemond’s glove that he doesn’t have time to react before aemond’s free hand is on his chin.

aemond’s hold is firm but gentle, and it keeps lucerys’ lower lip trapped under his thumb. 

lucerys has the urge to close his lips around aemond’s finger. he feels his mother and alicent’s stares burning at the back of his head. he bites his own tongue. 

“would you kiss me, too? as a sweet goodbye, just in case i perish in the bout”

come back to me in one piece and i will give you more than a kiss, he wants to say. instead, lucerys replies, “don’t be silly, aemond!”

he leans in, anyways.

“that is enough” daemon cuts in. he’s using his voice, but he might as well have unsheathed dark sister, for lucerys and aemond pull apart immediately. 

[navree]

"rhaenys could have ended the war by dracarysing all the greens right there" yes because a distant relation to the throne deciding to barbecue an anointed and publicly positively hailed king and his entire family who is well loved within the city and in multiple other parts of the country for the sake of the succession of a far-away princess no one was ever on board with who hasn't been seen by the populace in literal years, her psycho husband, her three obvious bastards, and two toddlers from the psycho husband would go over super well with westeros and especially in king's landing where scores of the still-cheering population were killed for no reason by that same dragon who would do the barbecuing, because when targaryens act unilaterally without thinking of how the people would react there's never any problem, which is why the storming of the dragonpit and robert's rebellion were actually just collective delusions dreamed up by readers who hate rhaenyra and not key parts of the story and house targaryen's history that directly contributed to their demise and are intrinsic to the plot

truly team black stans are made up of only the most genius and media literate amongst us

[thequeenwechoose]

Daemon Targaryen in 2x02 House of the Dragon

[mydairpercabeth]

like stop banging you boss for five seconds and DO YOUR JOB CRISPIN

[witchqueenvisenya]

the purpose of making daemon's wife and daughter hate/distrust him is to fulfill the larger point showrunners are making that is house targaryen is always always fucked up even contrary to what we have in canon (at least re: daemon x rhaenyra and daemon x laena) because they don't really see alicent's children as targaryens therefore they must be given the onus of REAL complexity and empathy in this essay i will—

[imhereforthetryus]

I legit cant go a second without crying over the velaryon boys, everytime i see an edit or photo of them i tear up. Those poor sweet brave boys none of them reached manhood and all of them were the perfect heirs, and perfect people.

Can you imagine how Joffrey must have felt not even 13 yet and now knowing he the heir to both the throne and driftmark. Did they pass by luke old room, did they have their own funeral burial burning luke toys because they didn’t have a body to burn. Jace dying trying to save Viserys and Aegon, believing he failed his little brother once again. It breaks my heart, I can’t stop thinking sad thoughts of them.

[ihaveastorminme]

i know that everyone enjoyed otto laying it on aegon, and i may i be struck down right the fuck now for giving criston cole even one single inch of benefit of the doubt, because he deserves none and i cannot fucking stand him and his hypocrisy, BUT

i genuinely do wonder how different Criston's orders for Arryk are to Otto's own suggestion in season one [ep 9], to the lord commander. Otto said it himself, didnt he: 'go to dragonstone, be quick and be clean'. [the idea of a clean assassination is even possible when the poeple you'd have to kill are rhaenyra, jace, luke, joffrey, baby aegon and viserys - and probably and most importantly daemon - the oxymoron of that. the utter silence on that in that council ANYWAY]. How would that have gone? how is that different from what Criston told Arryk?

Is it because the tension is so much higher now, therefore the job harder? because honestly, having the lord commander go to dragonstone, be welcomed there by the woman he has guarded all his life since she was a girl, and then kill her and her entire family - idk man, that feels like a bigger betrayal than Arryk assassinating Rhaenyra, when Arryk has clearly declared his loyalty to Aegon and everyone knows where he stands. I mean, both are horrid, im not arguing for either having any merit. But why is Otto so adamant that the plan is stupid when not even a week ago it was HIS OWN PLAN? I mean, it IS a stupid plan, lets be real; because AT BEST it would only be Rhaenyra that Arryk would be able to kill and the war doesn't end with her and everyone knows it - is This the reason Otto calls it stupid?

Because i kinda do think that [even if he were 100% sincere in his displeasure and disappointment with the plan] he was kinda using the occasion to lay into Aegon and just, push his buttons to soften him up for guidance and manipulation. like, you did this stupid thing without consulting me, you need me, how dare you exclude me cant you see how much you need me. Making him feel small - disrespecting him as he always has - to make then Aegon want his approval? idk man

im not even gonna touch on the audacious audacity of this old man to go around and slander his grandson, who he has plotting to put on the throne ALL HIS LIFE, yet not once has he ever bothered to educate him to rule. suddenly not knowing how to rule is soly aegon's fault. hilarious. Anyway-

[ramblings-of-a-mad-cat]

Challenge: Aegon had to be King for his own survival. Rhaenyra would have killed him. And Alicent. Maybe not Helaena. DEFINITELY Aemond. He was protecting himself. AND he offered her the chance to p much keep living her life in peace.

Rebuttal: We have absolutely no evidence of this short of Otto's claims. And Otto is lying.

He saw firsthand what happened when a member of Rhaenyra's family tried to steal her inheritance. When Daemon occupied Dragonstone and declared himself Viserys' heir, did Rhaenyra resort to bloodshed? Did she use this as an excuse to try and kill Daemon? No. She called his bluff. She invited him to strike first. So when Otto tells Alicent that Rhaenyra will have "no choice" but to put her brothers to the sword, either he is suffering from memory loss, or he's lying through his teeth. He should know better than anyone that Rhaenyra is no kinslayer.

Here's the real truth. Otto realized that he couldn't control Rhaenyra. That she would not accept her position being taken away without a fight. He saw how easily she won over Daemon, how alike the two of them were. Just look at Otto's expression when Rhaenyra is flying away. He's realized that if it came to a fight with Rhaenyra, she'd have Daemon backing her. And that terrified him.

The story that Rhaenyra would preemptively murder her brothers to prevent any challenges to her claim is just that, a story. Otto uses it as justification for his plot to reject the succession. During the Green Council, he tries to have Rhaenyra and Daemon murdered so they won't challenge Aegon - exactly what he claimed Rhaenyra would do. Realistically, why would she ever do this in the first place? If she murdered her own brothers without any provocation, she would look like a tyrant. All the lords actually on her side would abandon her. Rhaenyra doesn't have a reason to harm Aegon unless he gives her one, and it's clear as day that he wouldn't do so on his own. She'd likewise have zero reason to hurt Helaena or Alicent. They have no real power. I suppose Aemond might be a problem, but again, only if he initiates. Rhaenyra isn't going to pick a fight with him.

The terms offered to Rhaenyra in 1X10 are, frankly, a complete joke. They offer her Dragonstone...which she already has. She's been living there, and now that she's queen, the castle belongs to Jace. They offer to re-confirm Luke as heir to Driftmark...even though he was already re-confirmed, just two days ago. Not to mention that Corlys survived, so the Crown really doesn't have jurisdiction over that anymore. Corlys will always choose Luke. Oh, and they offer to take her two youngest children as hostages. Sure, they don't call it that, but Rhaenyra's no fool, and it's plain as day that they would be hostages. Perhaps treated as guests, but taken for no other reason than to keep Rhaenyra in line. She's the rightful Queen, why should she entertain such nonsense? Oh, and they offer to spare any Lords who "conspired" against Aegon's ascent. Even though the story of Viserys "changing his mind" isn't well known, and these Lords would have simply been following the succession as they knew it to be. Get real.

Finally, Aegon acting in self-defense based on what he was told might have been his motive in the book. But in the show, it's very clearly a case of enjoying the attention. He feels validated and seen by the crowd. It's the first time he is actually shown to enjoy being King and maybe even start to want it.

[silver-dragonborn]

Daemon: *experiences visions, seeing ghosts, talking to the walls, etc* There's something wrong with me!

...You don't say?

[eschercaine]

Am I the only one who doesn’t like Rhaenyra and Alicent’s friendship on the tv show?

On the books... yes, they initially got along. That is until Alicent gave birth to Aegon and Aemond. And when Viserys I died, Alicent usurped her stepdaughter and placed her son on the throne.

If Rhaenyra has a friend, it’s not Alicent. It’s Laena Velaryon.

Whilst Princess Rhaenyra misliked her stepmother Queen Alicent, she became fond and more than fond of her good-sister Lady Laena. — The Rogue Prince

And Rhaenyra attended her during the birth of her child.

And in 119 AC, when Laena found she was with child again, Rhaenyra flew to Driftmark to attend her during the birth. — The Rogue Prince

I’ve been reading some passages from the books on A Search of Ice and Fire and Rhaenyra and Laena were best friends, indeed. They visited each other on dragonback with their husbands. Daemon and Laena were not in Pentos, they were in Driftmark.

So... this “droll tragedy” on the tv show never happened.

With Driftmark and Dragonstone so close, Daemon and Laena oft visited with the princess, and her with them. Many a time they flew together on their dragons, and the princess’s she-dragon Syrax produced several clutches of eggs. — The Rogue Prince

I don’t know how the directors, producers, showrunners, and the writers come up with “Rhaenyra and Alicent are besties” WHEN LAENA VELARYON IS RIGHT THERE.

And Laena’s death on the books is much better than what is shown in House of the Dragon.

After three days of delirium, Lady Laena passed from this mortal coil. She was but twenty-seven. During her final hour, it is said, Lady Laena rose from her bed and made her way from her room, intent on reaching Vhagar that she might fly one last time before she died. Her strength failed her on the tower steps, however, and it was there she collapsed and died. Her husband Prince Daemon carried her back to her bed.

I hate that the Ryan Condal and Sara Hess did Daemon dirty. Yes, he had done terrible things, but he loves and cares about Laena.

Afterward, Princess Rhaenyra sat vigil with him over Lady Laena’s corpse and comforted him in his grief.

Honestly, when I read it, I wanna see all of it come to life on screen but I guess I expect too much.

I’m disappointed that they wasted their friendship and replace Laena with Alicent instead.

And again, if they want to be true to the books, why not just... put it out there?

[thesilverlady]

Hello, I would like to know some headcanons of Rhaenyra and Alicent, the black queen and the green queen, things like their favorite colors and food, their personal relationships and which father they looked like the most.Did they really get along in the past? Does Alicent always hate her? Were they envious of each other? Which was the most intelligent and beautiful?

hello and thank you for your ask! I'm really digging their rivalry and dynamic and lord knows how much I like to think about the short lived days when they were getting along.

Before starting let me disclaimer: these are just my headcanons. Obviously anyone can disagree and have different interpretations. These are just what I have in mind for these two.

bk Rhaenyra & bk Alicent headcanons/dynamic

food wise I don't have much to say much because I barely pay attention to asoiaf meals but with no proof other than my gut instinct, I feel like Rhaenyra has a serious case of a sweet tooth. Girly loves anything that's on the sweet aide. Meanwhile I think Alicent might have been into some spicy food, both to be contradictory and because she grew to enjoy it.

Did they really get along in the past?

We know from f&b that for a short period of time things were okay between the two. Rhaenyra celebrated when her father got married and Alicent kissed her and called her daughter. So safe to say that's a nice start. We have to keep in mind however that Alicent was only 18 and Rhaenyra was 9. Getting along with that age difference would differentiate compared to how it'd be of they were in the same age range.

Did Alicent always hate her?

This might be a hot take but no, I don't think Alicent always hated her. As funny as it is to poke fun at her having a beef with a child (which she did), i think the hate Alicent grew to have wasn't there from the start.

This is the section we get from f&b:

The amity between Her Grace and her stepdaughter had proved short-lived, for both Rhaenyra and Alicent aspired to be the first lady of the realm…and though the queen had given the king not one but two male heirs, Viserys had done nothing to change the order of succession. The Princess of Dragonstone remained his acknowledged heir, with half the lords of Westeros sworn to defend her rights.

^ This paragraph comes after being told of Alicent giving birth to Aegon, Helaena and Aemond and we find out that in 109 AC Otto who was a hand at the time pushed so far for the "issue" of succession that he was stripped of his chain of office.

This happened a year before Aemond was born, so on terms of timeline I think that's when the "getting along" period run out. I can go into more details into what I believed happened but to keep it short; Helaena was a suitable potential bride for Aegon II. if Rhaneyra wasn't in the picture, Aegon would be the heir, with Helaena most likely his future bride and that would be Alicent's happy end. However, Viserys persisted in keeping Rhaenyra as his heir - even after Alicent gave him Helaena. Alicent could have thought that maybe Viserys simply didn't want Rhaenyra for Aegon for x delulu reasons and thought by giving him a daughter it'd get him to finally see her vision that her son should be the heir since he now has a future bride to be match with.

Viserys' insistence was what set her off. And because it's Westeros and blame always goes on women, in Alicent's twisted mind it was the 12-year-old Rhaenyra who was at fault for being favored.

Does that sound logical? no. But Alicent is a very hypocritical character

were they envious of each other?

In the section I quoted we're old that "both Rhaenyra and Alicent aspired to be the first lady of the realm" and while I can definitely see this developing into a rivalry when Rhaenyra is a teenager. I cannot envision 12 yr Rhaneyra trying to top Queen Alicent in public image.

We know that Rhaenyra was already a very beautiful child who grew into an even more beautiful woman. 12 year of age for Westeros probably counts as a "blooming" age where girls grow into womanhood. So the attention Rhaenyra already had takes a different direction and ofc Alicent is jealous because she's only a human and her stepdaughter's existence pisses her off by that point; her husband is set on keeping her as his heir, everyone sings praises for her only for existing and now they also start desiring her.

in Alicent's mind it's illogical (along with other more insulting phrases) so she tried to compete with working on her own image even more. And of course Rhaenyra eventually noticed it and because they were already in a bad place nothing would keep her from fighting back. But I truly believe their early years of the so called "competition" was Alicent's one-sided beef.

Which was the most intelligent and beautiful?

Most beautiful was hands down Rhaenyra. We have so many moments where her beauty was brought up. If there was even the tiniest of chances of Alicent being more attractive the narrators of f&b wouldn't have missed out. They already attempted something when Rhaenyra gained weight due to her pregnancies and Alicent remained slim.

Still doesn't change the fact that all the songs, titles and fighting was done for Rhaenyra.

Now intellectually, that's a bit of a challenge. I adore Rhaenyra but we never had the opportunity to see her in action.

She made some smart choices when Viserys started getting sicker and she opted for her own people to take care of him (it showed her observation and understanding that something was stirring) but when the war was started she was already so emotionally beat up due to her miscarriage and then lucerys death... And it never got better because her children started dying.

She didn't have the opportunity to shine because emotionally she was getting multiple hits and she was a person acting more on emotion than sense.

So, I don't know. On the other hand, Alicent was smart enough to know to take advantages of moments she could twist in her favor (like Viserys death), she knew instilling hatred for Rhaenyra into her children's minds would pay off, and she knew the spot to hit her step daughter when she'd try to harm her public image. So safe to say the woman wasn't dumb.

Of course Rhaenyra gave back as much as she took. So I truly do think with a clear mind she could show to be smarter. When it comes down to it, Rhaneyra is a very emotional person (hence naturally more vulnerable), whereas Alicent is a guarded person, acting on logic and ambition.

[helaenas-queen]

The writers are definitely fucking the whole season for both teams.

[navree]

and i'm supposed to believe that, after having seen rhaenys run driftmark by herself (along with having seen her mother ride the most fearsome dragon in the world AND hearing about how rhaenys was denied the crown) and learning how to do it from her, baela's totally okay being nothing more than jace's fucking consort while harwin strong's fuckass kid gets to steal her and her sister's and her mother's birthright inheritance out from under her? get out of here with that

[alicentflorent]

tbf I don't think anyone is right for the throne. None of them truly care about the kingdom they just want what they feel entitled to

I agree. They are all willing to literally burn down the world and risk the lives of their loved ones over that damn chair while the people they are supposed to care for as rulers are starving and getting killed as a result of the war(crimes). We can argue all day about who deserves it more, who started it and even do the twilight-esque team thing, but at the end of the day, there are no winners of the dance. It brought out the worse in everyone and the truly Innocent victims (smallfolk and the young children involved) are the ones we are meant to sympathise with most

[soyboywenzie]

for all the parroting about loving evil characters and wishing they were worse and hating the morality argument, team green does not like the fact that their favs aren’t well liked, nor cared about that much 😗

[branwendaughterofllyr]

I am once again having thoughts