#elia martell deserved better

[hieronymph]

Had to see another post in Elia Martell tag about how Elia is a silent victim and how we don't know if she was really angry or upset with Rhaegar's infidelity.

A woman who was a Princess of a progressive kingdom which values women for being more than child incubators

Had to move to a racist court to marry a man who was delusional and who forced her to become a broodmare and got her pregnant in quick succession even after she was bedridden

Had to deal with said husband being a deadbeat father who didn't protect her and their daughter from his racist father and stayed silent

Was kept as a hostage by her racist FIL so he can blackmail and extort from her brother to send her kingdom's men to fight and die in a war that wasn't theirs

This definitely sounds like something a woman from a progressive nation, who is ridiculed and treated with distrust for her race, would be ok with. Right?

There are so many blanks in the books about so many things yet we all come up with detailed and nuanced theories to

fill those blanks.

Yet, some of yall can't fill the very simple gaps left about Elia's response to her husband's infidelity, disrespect and forced impregnation.

You operate under this belief that GRRM didn't mention that she wasn't upset so of course, she wasn't angry at Rhaegar or his actions.

Sure that is exactly the way to digest whatever content GRRM writes.

Are yall deliberately this obtuse?

Please get out of Elia Martell tags with such shit takes.

[yitzvah]

They so easily reduce her to her frailness, to her inability to give the dragon fool a third child in three years— as though his sister was a mere broodmare. Nay, she was Elia Nymeros Martell, Princess of Dorne, the furture queen, the sharpest woman he'd ever known. She wielded her kindness like a poisoned dagger, and rare was the man who could persevere in the face of her sharp wit.

[dracodazaii]

im sorry but i can never be a lyanna stan guys.

just lemme explain.

obviously this is only if she willingly went w rhaegar

To begin with, the situation in its simplest form is that Rhaegar and Elia are married, amicable yet not in love, and Rhaegar runs off with Lyanna, causing chaos to ensue amongst the realm.

Even if no war occured and everything was fine, how can Lyanna try to justify running away with a married man, especially on the way to her brothers wedding which feels very selfish, even if Brandon didn’t want to marry Cat, like she still ruined their wedding day.

Not to mention, that running with Rhaegar meant that shes inserted herself into his marriage which is Elia’s place. How nonsensical it is to run away with a married man and somehow marry him!

There’s two routes people go to justify it, and I’ll explain why I think they suck:

1) E-R-L is a polygamous marriage: This is not appeasable to the realm at all! Nobody will accept that. The only reason Aegon+Rhaenys+Visenya were accepted was because they were conquering Westeros, and like you can’t say shit about the guys conquering you!! Also the Targs were on thin ice then, and Maegor also tried, and look what happened afterwards!

2) E-R was annulled and R-L are married: I don’t think this is reasonable at all. Considering that Rhaegar is only HEIR, just like Daemon, for example. Both wanted annulments and both need the permission from the King and/or High Septon, but also considering how the likes of Aegon IV couldn’t annul his own marriage, do you really think a measly heir could?! At least in Daemon’s situation, he had no children, but as Aegon IV and Rhaegar both had kids (Elia giving birth twice in 3 years) theres no grounds for annulment, and it would disinherit his children potentially anyway, or even start a second Dance. As soon as you have a second wife, whether polygamous, annulled or dead first wife, war will be almost inevitable between the potential heirs.

Also Ik its not possible.. but can we stop with the E/R/L shipping in a serious manner (crackship is fine but in canon is 😐)

Like genuinely thinking mid-20s Elia would want to romance a 14 year old girl, would be fine with her husband romancing said 14 year old, or join in together, is so crazy to me. Like, yes Rhaegar is very much in the pedo-realm but why would Elia also follow suit??!

And like not to be a huge Robert Baratheon stan here (i hate GOT era him) but you can’t deny that it is the rebellion+it’s repercussions on his life, that change him so heavily into this twisted abusive, pedo man. He was not a great guy pre-rebellion, he slept around, was loud and rowdy, but I feel like you can’t really say that Lyanna somehow predicted that he would be this abusive evil man, tbh it seems like she just disliked his promiscuity which is valid, but in doing the same to Elia, her point gets invalidated in my eyes.

Also next point is the age-situation.

Now i know that obviously in a real life situation, a 14 year old girl is at no blame for the groomer actions of the adult…. however just look at how GRRM perceives this. like not as an “oh medieval girls married at 14, its fine” because they were still mentally children… but i mean how GRRM perceives relationships akin to R-L and characters by Lyannas age in ASOIAF-verse.

Ok so GRRM thinks R-L is romantic, which means that the groomer undertones aren’t necessarily meant to be there, and its meant to be more of a Romeo-Juliet situation (which heavily fucked over Romeos girl Rosaline ie Elia). He also believes Dany-Drogo and San-San is healthy, so I don’t think age heavily affects characters romantic feeling and actions much then.

Then if we see character Lyanna’s age, they’re treated as adults (yes some do have child impulses but overall adults). You have Robb acting impulsively like a kid, but ultimately being treated as an adult and being killed. I feel like even though they have kid impulses, they’re meant to get adult consequences for their actions.

Also ages as a whole is fucked up in ASOIAF in comparison to real world, like you have baby Rickon Stark going feral in Skagos, you have 3 year old Joffrey Velaryon/Strong squaring up to Aemond, and you even have 11 year old Benjicott Blackwood being an absolute beast of a warrior when in the real-world, he’d be just a kid, useless in defence.

[martellspear]

now why is the twitter fandom so against the notion that elia was a loved princess?

[fvckinaphrodite]

everytime i see rhaegar and rhaelya worshippers making up takes and theories i just wanna gauge their eyes out. you bitches are the vilest delulus when it comes to elia and her children. gtfo and kys already❗❗❗

[gothgleek]

I like to imagine after the Tourney at Harrenhal, Elia started wearing golden spines with her dresses, symbolizing how she will not be broken by her husband’s humiliation nor bow to his family.

My First Draft

[thewitchqueenofharrenhal]

I feel like I'm the only one at times who thinks both Elia and Lyanna deserved better. They were both victims of of targaryen assholes whose stories butchered by Dumb & Dumber.

I understand your perspective! I think you’re right that the show caused a lot of the issues and confusion.

Some Elia fans soured on show Lyanna being that she was aged up and knowingly left and then named her son the same name as Elia’s dead son 💀

Meanwhile Rhaeg…I mean Lyanna fans…Lmao. Let be real Targaryen Stans who “claim to love Lyanna” hate Elia because she gets in the way of their self insertion with Rhaegar.

However those folks would stan a pile of mierda if someone put a silver wig on it so what can I say 😭

Ultimately I am in agreement with you that both women died young and tragically because of their association with Rhaegar.

They both wholeheartedly deserved better than him. Lyanna deserved to stay in the North, happy with her family, able to raise her son when she was ready for one. ( I am in love with the idea of Howland x Lyanna). Elia deserved to be wed to a family that loved and valued her and been able to see her nieces, nephews and children grow up around her ☹️

I think you’ll find most ASOIAF fans are in agreement that both Elia & Lyanna deserved better, are not at fault for what occurred to them and are fans of both 🫶

[ladymarys-blog]

I don't trust in people who hates Elia Martell or Helaena Targaryen.

[wtfmalfoy]

never forget that the sun is the brightest star

“Elia.” It's exactly the third time her name has come to his lips and part of her wants to reach out and scratch it, rip the letter by letter out of him, stop him from having more and more of her… instead, she sits down, as calmly as she can muster, still staring at him. “I am immensely glad to see you well.”

This is too much, it takes all her strength to take a deep breath and deal with the dizziness that invades her body. There's relief in his words and it's almost insulting the way he leans toward her, trying to catch her hands before Elia pulls away, lifting her face, knowing how the emotions betrayed her in plain sight.

“Do you, husband?” Her words are like poison seeping between her teeth and she hates him for turning her into this. There was a time when she only knew sweetness and gentleness, but such blessings seem far away, far from her touches, her sneers when a little laugh escapes “funny that you say that, I had a little feeling that your mind couldn't be further away, than reflecting my well being.”

chapter two available - read here

[hieronymph]

According to rhaeger stans cheating isn't bad and lyanna desreved protect more then elia because she is the woman he loved and he didn't abandoned because he send them to dragonstone

The racism and misogyny of his stans

Lizard Prince and his Lizard fans 🙃

Don't you know?

Rhaegar has a free pass for pedophilia, racism, misogyny, rape, forced impregnation and making lives hell in general by actively doing it or being a bystander when he could have done more.

I think I am starting to see that it's just easier for some white people in every fandom to just completely not register the struggles or the trauma of a WoC or a PoC.

I saw it with Bonnie in TvD. I haven't even seen the whole series and I don't want to.

I have curated my fandom experience to just not interact with such delulu fans. Misogyny is bad enough in real life. I can't deal with that here as well in a place that's supposed to be an escape.

Fandom experience has become so much better since then. I suggest that to every Elia fan out there. It's hard being us.

[moongirlgodness]

Ashara is Lemore that's it this is the post

[dracodazaii]

Ruination In The Name Of Love

actions have consequences as lyanna and rhaegar learn

The young mother watches idly, caressing her stomach, as the newcomers trudge along through the throne room. One set of eyes filled with a resigned sense of shame, the other filled with a murderous rage.

“Your whoreson of a husband has much to answer for!” roared the burly young man as his companion looked onwards through the room in anticipation, as if in wanting of another group to enter the chambers.

Ned Stark in attempt to placate his wronged brother-in-arms spoke softly in pity, “Robert, calm yourself. Princess Elia is not to blame for the mistakes of the prince and my misguided sister.” Yet the youthful Lord Baratheon could not contain his fury and he trembled with rage, unable to resolve the conflicting emotions within himself.

“Misguided! She either was willingly seduced by a married man or was naive enough to run off with Rhaegar for an unknown reason. But regardless she has much to answer for!”

The solemn princess replied, “Lord Baratheon, you are not the only person here wronged and in need of answers. We are allies in pain.”

She continued further, “Worry no more, your anger can be remedied soon as I have recieved word from Dorne that Lady Lyanna is on her way to Kingslanding along with my kingly husband.”

Both Eddard Stark, Robert Baratheon and their entourage of northern men froze their anger and set aside their disgruntled grievances, as if to pause their confrontational attitudes until the aforementioned figures showed up.

“Alright. I’ll settle down. I was irrational in my anger to you Princess, and for that I’ll apologise but I cannot apologise for the fury I will release when your husband and his new mistress arrive.”

“My Lord I cannot find blame with you for that, as I believe I may act the same. Do not think this sinful situation hasn’t filled me with rage too. You and I were both especially disgraced by the immoral actions of our promised spouses.”

A maid rushes in from the outer exterior of the royal building, “Queen Elia, there’s a carriage outside, carrying the Kingsguard along with King Rhaegar and a young woman!”

The statement prompted a roaring temper within Elia Martell. Her mind filled with tension.

The unanswered questions that lingered within her mind for months would now get fulfilled and she could find tranquility in life again, with her children in peace.

“Alas, it appears that the time is now, for my husband and his mistress to fulfill our questions and queries.”

The large golden framed doors roared opening, releasing the image of the band of heedless individuals

A figure, hunched back as if in in shame lumbered on to the central group of characters, hand held in the palm of the silver-haired King Rhaegar while the three accompanying Kingsguard stood beside firm and steady, unlike the others in the room.

“Lyanna!”

“You bastard Rhaegar! Explain Yourself!” the strapping black-haired man bawled with an ever so strong tenacity.

Armoured men rushed fast in front of both Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen, protecting the individuals in preparation for a fury-filled Baratheon.

“Arthur, Whent, that’s enough. Baratheon I have nothing to explain to you.” The Targaryen man spoke in a declarative firm stance.

“Maybe so, but at least you can explain your dubious actions to your lawful wife and to the brother of the woman you stole!”

“He didn’t steal me! I went willingly with Rhaegar, I love him!” screeched Lyanna in defence of her paramour, who continued holding her hand in comfort, glancing only at his beloved mistress.

The Stark man gazed at her in mortification, reassessing his thoughts regarding his sister. The seemingly innocent yet wild, willful wolf of a girl, now responsible for a war of mass atrocities and the deaths of her household’s bannerman, her father and beloved brother similar in temperament to her.

“How dare you say that, do you have no sense of duty? Running of with a married man with no shame whatsoever!” The lawful wife retorted as the Stark wolf-child gaped, both in shame at the retort of her lover’s wife and in astonishment at the prominent bump beneath her dress.

“I’ll admit I may have been hasty in my chance to run away from my betrothal but my love for Rhaegar is true and cannot be denied! The Gods themselves have witnessed our love and gave their blessings, while you clearly shame yourself carrying a bastard child!”

Both Ned, Robert and the royal entourage looked back in bewilderment. How possibly could the Princess- no the Queen be carrying a bastard, and how could Lyanna claim a man already married.

“By the Old Gods, Lyanna! How in Westeros, could you ever marry Rhaegar?” The betrayed Stark man retorted, pain clear in his enunciation, as his brotherly ally stood palpitating in rage.

“A man already, married! How could this be possible!”

The wolf-girl retorted, “True love prevails beyond all, and i would certainly not be claimed by your boarish oaf of a friend when I had fallen for my husband Rhaegar.”

The Martell women snorted in sound both filled with laughter and incredulity, “Is that how you tricked this willful stupid girl, with tales of love and fantasy.”

“Your so-called love story is not a beautiful tale to be told to maidens in want of love for centuries, Rhaegar; It is a ruinous story told to willful children, not to overreach themselves and be selfish. You caused thousands of deaths and burrowed this harlot into our marriage and yet you have no shame whatsoever!”

The aforementioned man finally spoke his thoughts, “Elia, my dear, this was needed for the realm. Marrying a women of ice descent will help our kingdom to greatness in the wars ahead and she could help me recreate the Conquerors, in place of your inability!”

This statement left Elia Martell in a state of shock and laughter, “You blind fool, don’t think I’ve forgotten that you crowned this adulteress while I was carrying Aegon. This excuse for children insufficient and regardless, if you had used your eyes to glance at me, your wife, instead of standing by comforting your whore, then you would be able to see that I am clearly with child once more!”

The lavender-eyed man detached his sight from Lyanna and saw the stomach of his lady-wife, clearly signifying that she had done her duty once-more.

The Stark girl then came forward with a snide gaze, “Clearly this child is a bastard!”

“My beloved Rhaegar would never dare lay with you. Not when he had already discovered me, his true love, Jenny to his Duncan!”

The Targaryen King looked down away from the view of both his lawful wife and illegitimate second wife. Hiding his head away as if not wanting to continue the conversation.

“Rhaegar tell me this isn’t true!”

“It mustn’t be!”

“She’s Dornish anyway, so even if you think it could be yours, who knows how many men this old hag had laid with!” Lyanna screeched with a fury fuelled with her incessant denial.

The sombre man replied indignantly, “Watch your tongue Lyanna! She is my wife and that is my child you are debasing!”

The wolfgirl looked back and forth between the two royal spouses, heatedly moving in anger, while her brother and once-betrothed watched passively.

Robert jeered in a dismissive tone, “That’s exactly what you deserve. You caused this with your actions and you reap what you sow.”

“He betrayed his lawful wife with you, and you dare think he wouldn’t do the same again. Belief in true love didn’t stop him, so finally realise your mistakes. This so-called love killed your father and Brandon, and look where it’s gotten you.”

He walks out the throne room, done with the scandalous actions of the girl he believe he once loved.

The Stark girl slowly loses her sense of entitlement, with the disengaging actions of the man who cause her to act so rashly.

“I’m disappointed Lyanna.”

“Our father and brother died for you. What was it even worth?”, retorts her cherished brother as he too then strides out of the room, rapidly with a fast pace away from the disastrous meeting scene.

The northmen then rapidly follow, lleaving Lyanna alone with the silent dutiful Kingsguard, her husband and Elia Martell.

“I can’t dare to stand here this longer. Your disgraceful actions have shame me too long.”

“I must care for the children; I’ll leave you with your so-called wife Rhaegar.” The now-Queen treads out, heels clanging on the polished floor as her extravagant dress flares itself outwards in chase of her fast steps.

“Elia, wait!”

I love you! This was all for the good of the realm, let me explain, my dear!” Rhaegar bellowed after Queen Elia, pursuing his wife rapidly while she abandoned him as he once did to her.

Lyanna was left alone.

No Husband.

No true love.

No brotherly love. Not even fatherly love.

Alone in her thoughts, contemplating the decisions that got her here. A war all in the name of true love, yet Rhaegar ever so callously abandoned her in favour of his true wife.

Not even Robert Baratheon wanted her anymore. Her actions led to the misery of all.

And all, including her when all she wanted was to love, with a pure all-encompassing love.

But it was a lie. Poor little Lyanna.

Misguided and alone, no family or lover. Only destruction stays with her, the only companion of the wolf-girl, while she ponders her life, with distress her only ally.

[martellspear]

“Princess Elia was a good woman, Your Grace. She was kind and clever, with a gentle heart and a sweet wit”.

my princess never did anything wrong, genuinely one of the sweetest asoiaf characters and deserved the entire world george martin i am outside your door

[fvckinaphrodite]

I cannot understand the rationale of "Good Stepmother Elia" or "Catelyn loves Jon Snow" fics where, because of the patriarchal and oppressive institutions, Elia and Catelyn are forced to live with their cheating husbands and, are expected to raise their husband's bastard born out of the infidelity that could pose a risk to their children's inheritance. I love Jon, but Catelyn's hesitance regarding him was valid. He wasn't a son, and he was the source of insurmountable shame to her.

I couldn't have put it better myself, honestly. Those fics disgust me. I find them disturbing and repulsive with the way they turn Catelyn and Elia into Jon's cheerleaders LMAO AS IF. I'm sorry but some of these authors just love to turn every female character in ASOIAF into plot devices for Jon's story.

You will not believe how many fics I've read in which Robb always insists to push both Sansa and Arya further down the inheritance line, and the Northern lords and ladies just nod along and agree like a bunch of baboons and how Catelyn just have to suck it all up. Sometimes there is even a fic or two where Sansa insists that Robb points Jon as his heir to mark her so-called "development" when the narrative brings her to the Riverlands after escaping King's Landing, and in the process, ruining a mother-daughter relationship forever. Guess what's gonna happen? Yep. Robb dies and Jon becomes king with Sansa as his ever faithful advisor. Sometimes even Sansa is pushed away from the North and decides to stay in the South because Gods forbid she ever touch the Northern throne again. Lmao.

Or, you know, the favorite of all Rhaegar Wins AU, fics where Jon becomes the next king after Rhaegar because Aegon is gay and conveniently doesn't want the Iron Throne🥺

I'm a Jonsa stan. I love me some fics with angst; Sansa's struggle to overcome the fact that Jon's existence hurts Catelyn, etc. But there's a line for everything. For example, I fucking refuse to read Jonsa fics where Catelyn is so demonized one would think she constantly beat him when he's a child or told him to become a servant or a stable boy or something. And of course, Sansa gonna defend him with her whole chest and worships the ground he walks on. Lmao Unbelievable. What a way to degrade a female character, to turn her into a plot device--a cheerleader for their hero. Well done.

[fatedtruths]

cryin thinking about how elia before the rebellion was kind and gentle but confident and calm and self-assured . a princess in her own right . and then after the rebellion she is still kind , and she tries to be gentle , but she is angry and scared and paranoid and it fundamentally changes how she sees the world .