#jonnel one eye stark

[kellyvela]

I was looking at some Jonnel x Sansa posts on here , and I came across one individual (probably an anti) who posted a screenshot of a grrm interview. He was asked about possible historical parallels from fire and blood to asoiaf and whether that is intentional and he said he doesn’t consciously do it. The tags of their post was something like “grrm: Jonnel who??” While I’m a little worried that grrm said that, the interviewer was specifically asking about fire and blood, not a family tree. And no matter what, I’m still very convinced the Jonnel x sansa addition was intentional, it must have been - Jonnel having a stark mother called Lynara , known as ‘one eye,’ a half brother called Rickon, married to the only other sansa stark ever who just so happened to be the heir to Winterfell with a younger sister . Their marriage solving the northern succession crisis. Not having children from this union, meaning grrm added it in merely to convey a jon married a sansa in canon. The last minute addition; revising the draft JUST to add it in…. It can’t be a coincidence !!! I mean, there’s even a rhaegar frey with a son called jonos… that’s all intentional in my opinion - but now that I saw that anti opinion, this one interview is what they seem to cling to lol. I went on a massive blocking spree so I’m not sure if this is wholly the case but seriously, the similarities are tooooo intense it’s impossible to ignore

Oh I know that post, and I also know that GRRM interview.

That OP doesn't like jonsa, and call shippers "freaks."

That tag was: "[grrm voice] Who the fuck is jonnel stark" (🤡)

The interview in question is this one:

The GRRM answers in question are these ones:

Ashaya: So we were talking about how working on Fire and Blood is history and it’s very different to write. One thing that we like to highlight in our show is something called Parallel Lives, which is the idea that there are parallels in your histories to current characters. George: You stole that from Plutarch, didn’t you?  Ashaya: Yes. Yes, exactly.  Aziz: Absolutely. I read those all when I was a lot younger, fell in love with them, so good catch. I love to apply it to A Song of Ice and Fire.  Ashaya: So we’ve observed it in A Song of Ice and Fire. Have you found that in like writing Fire and Blood, that it allows you to maybe play with plotlines or arcs for the characters in the main series? Do you do that consciously?  George: No, I don’t.  Ashaya: You don’t!  George: It’s not consciously.

But the thing is that GRRM didn't end the matter here, he went on to say the following:

Ashaya: Interesting.  George: Certain similarities are inevitable.  Aziz: That’s for sure. George: If anything, I try to veer away from that, cuz I don’t wanna feel like I’m repeating myself.  Ashaya: But history just naturally repeats itself, so…  George: Yes, there are certain resonances in history, there are certain universals about humanity, people competing for power, people competing for love, lust. All of these things…  Aziz: Some of these things are a constant.  Ashaya: Sometimes people are like, that’s a stereotype or that’s cliche, and I’m like that’s because it’s true to the human experience, it’s just true.  Aziz: A person with a lot of power being paranoid? That happens a lot. That also applies a lot to real world history, or to homages. What about when you’re writing in an homage? For example, one of my favorites you’ve included in the Nightfort scene with Bran, there seems to be a lot of homages to Tolkien and the Mines of Moria in that scene, which I love a lot. Do you aim to do that or is that also accidental or maybe you have some thoughts on your process there?  George: I love Tolkien, and actually the Mines of Moria is one of my favorite sections of Fellowship of the Ring. And that’s my favorite of the trilogy, Fellowship. Not that I don’t love them all. I don’t think I was consciously trying to do that, but again, you don’t know. You read these things and they lodge sometimes in the front of your brain, but sometimes in weird corners of your brain where they pop up at some point. I did wanna make the Nightfort a sinister place, with its own legends. It was very old, it’s a very big castle crumbling. And I wanted to give it that sense that so many things have gone here. Now, which are true and which are not true? I always tend to look at not only other fantasy books and history, but like the real world here. Get me in trouble here for what I’m about to say, but we have these legends that some people believe are literally true in our religion. We talk about the Garden of Eden. Was there ever actually a Garden of Eden? Was there Adam and Eve or the flood? Noah and the flood. That’s a good one. That’s a great story. God was pissed off, he made it rain for 40 days and 40 nights. The entire world was flooded and everybody died, except for this guy Noah, who built a big boat and he got two of every animal on earth. I don’t know how the kangaroos got from down in Australia to the Middle East, but they did. 

See, anon? GRRM didn't say he doesn't do parallels, he said he does them unconsciously, that some things remain in his brain and some day just appear again and he unconsciously writes parallels, similarities, patterns, etc.

He also recognizes that certain similarities are inevitable.

Besides, from his answers, it is obvious that he has realized that he does parallels unconsciously, it is evident that he has reflected on it; but one thing he does consciously is to keep them 😉

~~~

All that said, I think the jonnel/sansa addition to the Stark Family Tree was consciously on purpose.

~~~

BONUS

Q: It is my impression that there are parallels between Westeros history and current events in ASOIAF. so in your opinion to what degree is George martin's history cyclical? Because we have a lot of parallels. For example with the current history and the dance of the dragons.

Elio: You know George even uses that line from talking about the the arms of house Toland, the dragon eating its tail, but it was from the Archmaester Rigney which is a reference to Robert Jordan the writer of the wheel of time, that history is a wheel or time as a circle. I think George certainly deliberately sees, creates parallels. I mean this is a very obvious example, you know if you read The World of Ice and Fire, you saw the family tree of the Targaryens, and the family tree for Jaehaerys and his offspring changes quite a lot when fire and blood comes out. Because George realized that he wanted to create a kind of parallel by introducing another Daenerys. and he said like, i like the symmetry of it, I like the the sort of the way. You could perhaps read it as reflecting on Daenerys's story, maybe. I wish it was true. I mean I think fans of Daenerys need to be really worried about what's going to happen to her. Although I guess Game of Thrones maybe has revealed kind of where things may possibly end. Again the journey is going to be very different. I think you know circumstances, things are going to be very different. So there's a journey that matters. But in any case, so yes I think George uses cycles and things a bit. He likes setting up parallels of events, he likes paralleling characters, he likes paralleling events, and he likes paralleling the past and the present as well.

Linda: I think certainly that when he fleshed out the details of Fire and Blood, even when he first did the sidebars for The World of Ice and Fire, and they just grew. We could see that, okay here he's looking at foreshadowing or commenting on current events by doing a similar scenario in the past and he definitely likes to play around with those aspects.

[Source]

Read more about it here:

~~~

Maybe it's not that unconsciously sometimes . . . .

🤭

[agentrouka-blog]

This might be the stupidest question alive but is there any significance of Aemond Targaryen (unsure of spellings still LOL) being a one-eye as well? (Referring to Jonnel one-eye stark and HotD and also, of course, Jon Snow). Thanks

Hi there!

I'm unfortunately a terrible person to ask about the older asoiaf history, since it's not my strong point.

Apart from Jonnel and Aemond there are other prominent one-eyed characters to consider: Bloodraven, Euron Greyjoy, Beric Dondarrion (probably others). There's the wolf One-Eye (into whom Varamyr wargs).

If you wanted to expand, you could even include Sandor whose face is strongly damaged, though his eye is unhurt. Or Jaime who loses his life-defining hand.

These characters tend to have things in common: strong inter-family conflict, unusual powers or strength, incestuous or otherwise "problematic" relationships with special female characters.

The notable exception is Beric, who lacks all but the unusual powers. Apart from him, there's a villainous angle to most one-eyes characters.

I think all of these characters are supposed to be variations on a theme of power, responsibility, temptation and conflict. Of the Starklings, Jon and Bran have the closest associations with losing an eye, with Jon veering closer to the Beric end of the scale (injury incurred in service of the greater good) and Bran probably preparing to sacrifice his "third" eye eventually, lest he follow in the footsteps of his dark mentor.

So, I wouldn't reduce references to just Jon, so much as viewing Jon as one example of several, and the fun is in looking at how the common themes play out with him specifically. Considering a one-eyed wolf and Jonnel (specific Jon hints) both connect to the female relationship theme (sister-wolf and the elder Sansa Stark) as well as questions of a transformative second life and Stark inheritance, I'd say that's a good direction to speculate.

[entitled-fangirl]

Luck. (P3)

Cregan Stark x reader; Robb Stark x reader

Summary: the reader finds herself enjoying the past with Cregan more and more.

There is light smut in this one. You have been warned.

Part 1, 2

Masterlist

.............................................

Only two days later did it happen again. 

She and Robb were in the crypt visiting Robb's ancestors for the first time since their marriage.

The torch lit up the dark cavern and only the sound of their footsteps and water dripping could be heard. 

Her head moved on a swivel, going to each statue that was placed in the crypt. 

"And that's my grandsire, Rickard," Robb said as he pointed to the statue. "Oh, and this one," he said as his eyes moved to another one, "my father's sister, Lyanna."

She stared at the statue of Lyanna. She remembered her father, King Robert, who had spoken about Lyanna. 

His only love.

"She's beautiful," she said quietly. 

"Aye," Robb smiled. "The statue hardly does it justice to be honest with you."

She nodded, letting her feet begin to walk further into the crypt. Her eyes landed on a statue of a man, burly and broad. "Who is this, Robb?"

"Brandon. My uncle," Robb said with a downturned lip.

Her brows furrowed as she studied the face of him under the torch light, "He seems like he's never known a smile."

Robb couldn't help the light laugh that left him, "I don't think he did to be honest, my love." He let out a light sigh, "my mother was suppose to marry him."

Her eyebrows shot up and she turned to him, "What?"

"He died at the hands of the Mad King, along with my grandsire. They were trying to protect Lyanna."

Her eyes softened, "I am sorry. That cannot be easy to live with."

He shrugged lightly, "It is the past. So be it."

"That does not make it lighter of a burden."

"No," he said as he chewed the inside of his cheek. "No, I suppose it doesn't."

He held out his arm to her, and the two continued their walk. 

As Robb pointed out various people, the were walking closer and closer to the eldest of the Starks. 

"Rodwell. Barthogen. That one is Jonnel. All brothers and Lords of Winterfell." His eyes roamed the statues he'd seen a million times before. "Raya. Mariah." 

It was a lot to take in for her. At least 300 years of history sat in these caves.

"Benjin, Brandon, Cregan, Eric…"

Cregan. 

Her head seemed to perk up at that. "I'm sorry. Which ones?"

Robb grinned, pointing them out again. "Benjin, Brandon, Cregan, and that one is Eric." 

Even from far away and by mere torchlight, she'd know the form of that statue from anywhere.

"My lord!" A voice called down the dark crypt.

Robb sighed, "Forgive me, love. I'll deal with this. Here." He handed the torch to her, "I'll return quickly. Do enjoy your time here."

She took the torch, feeling his lips brush a gentle kiss to her forehead before he walked away. 

Her eyes were glued to Cregan's statue. 

She forced her feet to take careful steps to the stone carving. 

It was a decent resemblance, she knew that. It seemed that his statue guaranteed him a longer life than she had seen, noting the changes in the face of it that could've only been made through time. 

He lived to be much older. 

He was no boy when she had seen him, no. But this in front of her? Was a man who had seen it all.

She looked back down the direction Robb had left before a soft sigh left her. 

She reached up, gently brushing the cheek of the statue, ignoring the dust that collected on her fingers. 

"You're not as handsome in stone," she mused in a whisper. 

When it seemed Robb wouldn't be back for a while longer, she lowered herself to the feet of Cregan's memorial to sit. 

She turned herself away from it, moving to lean back on the feet of his statue. She closed her eyes as tried to relax as she leaned back.

She let out a grunt as her back met the cold stone floor.

Her eyes shot open.

The crypt was a lot darker. 

She pushed herself up, looking around in confusion. 

Cregan's statue wasn't there. 

Most of the statues weren't there. 

Every newer statue Robb had shown her only minutes ago was nowhere in sight. 

She stood with the torch, cursing lightly. 

Of course, it had to happen again.

…

After a while of losing her way in the dark, she managed her way back out of the crypts.

In the middle of a heavy snow. Winterfell wasn't far if she hurried. 

The snow was thick and she was hardly near wearing the right boots for it. 

In her time, it hadn't snowed in almost two weeks. But here? It seemed to be the first snow of the winter. 

She pulled her thin cloak around her and placed the hood over her head. 

It was going to be a long trek.

…

Nearing the doors of Winterfell, one of the guard's eyes widened, "My lady!"

He ran to her, "Are you hurt, my lady?"

She was shivering. She moved to speak, but her jaw chattered too harshly, so she shook her head. 

He nodded, "C'mon. I'll get you to Lord Stark myself."

The man shrugged off his cloak, throwing the heavy furs over the girl. 

They made it into the castle walls in no time, and a message was sent to Cregan. 

The guard forced her to the nearest fireplace, barking at servants to arrange for hot cloths. 

She stood shivering by the fire when Cregan entered. 

He stormed in, throwing the door open loudly. When his eyes met hers, they held a concern look to them. He quickly moved to her and took her face in his hands with a firm grip, "What were you thinking?"

"I was… I…" She tried to speak. 

"Gods, you're freezing! C'mere."

He held her to his chest, the warmth radiating off of him as it always did.

"Why were you out there?"

"I… I'm sorry…"

He sighed, "You're here now. I suppose that's all that matters."

…

"Where are you?" She asked with a giggle.

Her feet moved quickly, nearing the wardrobe she was sure younger Brandon was hiding in. 

She pretended to look around for him, and she smiled when she heard his giggle come from the wardrobe.

She ripped open the doors, laughing when she heard his playful scream. 

He made a run for it, moving down the hall at a fast rate. 

She ran behind him, determined to catch the boy and win the game. 

She rounded a corner, seeing him gone. 

She looked around as a small crease came to her brow. 

Perhaps he was too good. 

Or maybe she had returned. 

Brandon came from behind her, tackling her down. She grunted from the force, catching herself with her hands with a laugh. 

She twisted her body around to grab him in her arms and pin him down. 

"I win!" She panted. 

"Hardly." He teased. 

She scoffed and let him go, now sitting up. "I had you pinned."

"Yeah, but you were losing before."

She chuckled, "I don't believe that's how the game works."

He grinned, pushing her down again and trying to tickle her now.

She let out a shriek as he did so, but it was quickly gone when someone picked the boy up off the ground.

"Attacking my lady of Winterfell?" Cregan teased. "That's treason, boy."

Brandon wriggled in his brother's arms, "She started it!"

"Does not matter. I side with the lady." Cregan smirk grew, "Perhaps I should teach you a lesson."

"No! NO, Cregan! No, don't!" He giggled. 

Cregan turned to Y/n, "What do you think, my love? Shall the boy be punished?"

She sat up on the cold floor, "Do be merciful today, my lord. He's just a boy."

He grinned, "My lady has spoken." He set Brandon down and ruffled his hair, "But I'd best not see you attacking her again."

Brandon grinned with mischief, "Yes, my lord."

Cregan playfully pushed his head away, "Go on, Brandon."

The two watched him run off before Cregan's hand moved to help her up. "You two have much more energy than you should."

She smiled and brushed off her dress, "You say it as if it's bad."

He pulled her to him, "Only when I hear your shriek across the castle and I fear for you."

She scoffed, "It was not that loud."

He chuckled, "I assure you it was."

She flushed, "Apologies, Cregan."

He shook his head, "None of the sort. It's quite nice to hear your laughter throughout the halls."

She looked up into his eyes, studying them, "I'm glad."

He grabbed her chin, holding her in place, "You know, I've been missing you, as of late."

"Have you?"

"Aye. Quite fiercely."

Her eyes turned playful, "Well, I'm right here."

His darkened, "That you are."

He picked her up bridle-style with ease. She shrieked at the sudden movement and held onto his shoulders. 

"Scared I'll drop you, pretty?"

Her wide eyes met his. 

He grinned, "I've not dropped you before. I'd be a fool to now."

He began to walk down the halls of Winterfell, nearing their chambers. He threw open the door and playfully threw her onto the bed. 

He shut the door and locked it before moving next to her on the bed. "How long before they'll require our attention?"

"Who, my love?"

"The North."

She grinned, "A few minutes, I'm sure."

He gained a predatory look, "I can use a few minutes wisely."

She turned her head towards him, "You haven't yet."

He grinned, pulling himself over her and kissing her deeply.

She let out a groan at his suddenness and kissed back fervently. 

He pulled off his clothing piece by piece without breaking their connection. 

She thanked herself for choosing a dress with ties at the front today, for now Cregan was eagerly yanking at them, pulling them out from the corset. 

He began to kiss down her neck, grinning when he hit a spot that made her moan.

"Can I have you, my love?" He asked against her skin. 

She sighed and closed her eyes, "Please."

He growled, capturing her lips again as he pulled her small clothes off, moving from her only to get it over her head then continuing as before. 

His fingers moved under them, tracing her thighs teasingly.

"C'mon, Cregan."

He smiled against her lips, "Yes, my lady."

He moved two fingers into her, watching the groan leave her lips. 

She could hardly think of Robb at this point. 

She let out shaky breaths as his fingers pumped in and out of her. 

"Ugh… Cregan…"

He grinned, "I know. I know."

He kissed her again, curling his fingers into her, catching her groan with his mouth. 

A knock sounded at the door, "My lord?"

Cregan's jaw clenched as he pulled himself up, not withdrawing his fingers, "What?"

"You're needed at the petition, my lord."

He grinned, curling his fingers again, watching her try to hold in a moan. 

"I'll be there momentarily."

He pulled his fingers out as he pulls himself away from her with a dissatisfied groan. 

He grabs his tunic, pulling it over his head as he looks over to her. 

She's staring up at the ceiling in thought. 

He smiles, kissing her cheek. "Join me?"

That's strange.

Robb never asked her to join for petitions. He always said there was "No reason to worry a lady with trivial things."

"You don't have to, of course."

She shook her head, "No, I… I would like that."

He nodded, his teasing smile returning, "Get dressed then, pretty. We've got the North waiting on us."

She sat up and kissed him, "Can't keep them waiting then."

Hopefully, the North was not waiting for her return to Robb.

Who knows when that will happen again?

.......................................................

Taglist: @rlblackbarbie, @rebeccawinters, @happinessinthebeing, @abaker74, @helo1281917, @idonotknowenglish, @zizouu23, @aelora-a, @twinkletwinklenotastar

[ilreleonewikiart]

TDIOBCB challenge - day 20: drunk confession

Cregan Stark and Ilka Harclay (OCs)

I see this illustration as a fevered confession rather than a drunken one. I hadn't initially planned to draw this couple, as they are recent creations and their significant moment happens off-screen at the end of the story. However, I became attached to Cregan and his third wife, Ilka, whose backstory I found fun and interesting to develop. Given the heavy inbreeding in the story, I wanted to introduce a character who marries outside the family. 

Plus @kiraliaart beautiful portrait of Ilka inspired me to include them in this challenge last minute.

Lady Ilka Harclay is the only daughter of Lord Rickard Harclay and Lady Dalla Harclay, a woman of the Free Folk. She has three older brothers: Roger, Cley, and Robard. Unlike most women of the North, Ilka has pale blonde hair and light blue eyes, traits common in her mother's tribe. She eventually becomes the third and final wife of Cregan Stark. Near the end of TDIOBCB she rescues Cregan from a snowstorm that separates him from his men. With the help of her brothers, she brings him to her father's castle, where he is nursed back to health. Encouraged by her father, who sees this as an opportunity to elevate their family's status, Ilka takes care of Cregan with the intent of seducing him and convincing him to make her his lover. Cregan, immediately captivated by her beauty, begins to fall in love with her. Ilka, too, starts developing feelings for him, and one night, aided by wine and the heat of the moment, they share a kiss and something more. Being a man of honor, Cregan decides to marry her. A week later, he returns to Winterfell with Ilka by his side, and on the same day, he takes her as his wife. They go on to have five children together: three daughters (Lynara, Lysara, and Sarra) and two sons (Jonnel and Rickon). Although Ilka doesn't appear in the main storyline of TDIOBCB, her presence is felt in the aftermath.

[amadholes-lostre]

Honestly, one of the dumbest arguments and criticism Team Green has against Team Black/Targaryen is that they're imperialist, racist/nazi (?), practice incest, and intolerance to other religions.

And I'm like: do... do you understand all your criticism to Team Black/Targaryen are actually what Team Green does. Cause you forgot, Team Green are Andals and they are all what they accused Team Black. The Andals invaded and killed many First Men millennia ago. They called Northerners and First Men savages and tree worshipers (literally Northerners seceded from the 7 Kingdoma because the many ill treatment from the Andals). Andals cut down and burn weirwoods which are sacred to them.

Andals still practice incest; the Doctrine of Exceptionalism allowed Targaryen to practice sister-brother wedding, that it. Andals and the 7-faith tolerated many incest marriage like Tywin and Joanna Lannisters, who are first cousins. Jonnel married his half-neice Sansa Stark which was acceptable by both Andals and First Men.

You also can't say Targaryen force their culture onto Andals and First Men because they very much assimilated to Andals culture. They converted to the 7-Faith to appeal to them. (I against this. I think it will be interesting if there are far more Valyrian houses. I already have an idea this, with the Crownlands being called Valos with 25 Valyrian Houses. And Targaryen keep pissing them off to appeal to the Andals, especially Jaehaerys who kept passing the crown to the males instead of Rhaerys).

The Team Black Targaryen deserves many of their criticisms, but you cannot look at me in the eye and say they're far worse than Team Green because they're not. If they actually follow Valyrian culture, neither Viserys or Rhaerys will be king nor queen because, by Valyrian law, it will go to Rhaena (daughter of Aenys) and then her daughter Aerea.

[istumpysk]

The Jonnel/Sansa foreshadowing is so funny because the rightful lord of Winterfell "Rickon Stark" dies, prompting a dispute over the lordship of Winterfell. To end the conflict, Rickon's half-brother Jonnel "One-Eye" Stark marries Rickon's heir Sansa Stark, who also conveniently has a younger sister next in line for Winterfell. Jonnel and Sansa also have no children and barely have any impact on the plot, making the inclusion of their union even more unnecessary and hilarious.

The reworking of the original draft, and last minute inclusion of this marriage is so devastating for them and hilarious for us.

"Here's the completed Stark family tree! ... wait, let's add this one little thing."

Laugh out loud.

[astradrifting]

Hi! Were there any perspectives in the ASOIAF fandom that made your eyes roll? If there are, what made you say so? Thanks!

[mostly written in 2021, and posted very late. Sorry nonny!]

woof, this could open up a can of worms. I'm almost afraid this is a bait ask but I'm also very willing to run my mouth online about ASOIAF, and I love making fun of dumb theories, so let’s go!

Every time someone says that Jon and Dny are the song of ice and fire, my soul dies a little. Enough said.

I also hate the idea that parallels between ASOIAF history and the events of the books don’t matter. Not to state the obvious, but Westerosi history isn’t real. No part of it actually happened organically, GRRM has manufactured all of it, so everything must have been written with a purpose. I don’t buy that it’s just all world-building, because if parallels are obvious to us, they must be a thousand times more so for the man actually writing it all, and the army of editors who are probably helping him keep it straight.

There is absolutely no way that anything about Jonnel ‘One-Eye’ is a coincidence. Half-brother to Rickon Stark is obvious enough, but then we have his mother. Lynara sounds very similar to Lyanna (side note: a jonsa baby named Lynara would be adorable), but the real link is that she was born a Stark - all of the women on the family tree are listed under their maiden names. Her relation to her husband Cregan isn’t specified; it would have been so easy to have her be from another random house, or even a Karstark, yet what George wanted to convey is that Jonnel has a Stark mother, as well as a Stark father who happened to be heavily involved with the Targaryens.

Another fun thing linking Jonnel to Jon! Jon’s first relationship was with a red headed girl, who claimed that they were married because he’d stolen her. In the same conversation where she’s called half fish…

“You know nothing, Jon Snow. I’m half a fish, I’ll have you know.”

“Half fish, half goat, half horse…there’s too many halves to you, Ygritte.”

(ASOS, Jon V)

this conversation is already jonsa gospel as foreshadowing because of “half-fish”, but the horse part was always a little strange to me. As far as I remember, they didn’t have a prior conversation about her loving horses or riding particularly well, so that was seemingly out of left-field.

Well Jonnel’s second wife was a Ryswell - their sigil is a black horse’s head with a red mane.

pictured: the jonsa agenda winning again

The idea that Stannis will take Winterfell isn’t as personally annoying to me, all these dudebros have very detailed, tactics-based reasons to believe he’ll win I’m sure (something about a nightlamp?), but I just think it doesn’t do anything for the narrative, nor does it make sense with either his arc or Jon and Sansa’s.

Winning Winterfell will put Stannis in a position of strength, give him a base of operations in the North that’s not on loan from the Night’s Watch, and would probably lead to most of the Northern houses swearing allegiance to him, as Manderly has already promised to do. Why would a man in that position ever choose to burn his daughter, his only heir, alive? That is literally one of the few guaranteed book plots we have, so IMO speculation about Stannis all needs to work backwards from this end point; it’s ugly and horrible, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to stomach reading it, but it’s the only ending to his arc that makes sense.

Kinslaying reoccurs time and time again in Stannis’ arc. Kinslaying for his own personal benefit, no less. In his first appearance in ACOK, he listens to Selyse suggest that he kill Renly, then stands by whilst Melisandre kills Maester Cressen, his surrogate father. Cressen raised him and loved him like a son; yet if he had killed Melisandre instead, Stannis would have lost the power she wields for his benefit, the main reason he has a chance at the throne. Later in the book, he implicitly allows his brother to be murdered so that he could gain the Stormlords that had rallied to Renly instead of him (anyone trying to argue that the shadow wasn’t technically Stannis so technically it wasn’t kinslaying will be put in the naughty corner for excessive pedantry). In ASOS, he’s willing to sacrifice his nephew, an innocent 12 year old under his guardianship. He says it’s for the realm, for duty, but really it’s for his destiny. What is the life of a bastard boy against a kingdom so close to his grasp?

It’s escalation. Each time so far he’s had a layer of deniability, but he’s not going to have that in the end. Ordering Shireen’s death himself, murdering his daughter in some desperate bid to secure victory over the Boltons, will be the final step off the cliff. Maybe he’ll have some military victories before that, smarter people than me have no doubt discussed the parallels to the Greek myth of Agamemnon sacrificing his daughter Iphigenia, but I have no doubt Stannis’ story is headed only towards tragedy.

….Turns out that I do have a lot of feelings about Stannis. But to get back to my original point, Jon and Sansa taking Winterfell back together, travelling through the North doing the work and proving themselves as worthy rulers, makes a lot more sense for their future roles in the story than Stannis winning it all for them. It’s also much more affecting and thematically resonant, so I refuse to believe D&D entirely made up that storyline.

I also inevitably end up rolling my eyes whenever I'm bored enough to go onto r/asoiaf, there's always a bad take right on the front page. One that annoyed me enough to go into @istumpysk’s inbox and kickstart my jonsa blogging was one asking what the point of R+L=J even is, because it never amounted to anything and just muddled up J/D being “the song of ice and fire”.

While it gets so close to the point that it’s funny, there’s no way the “song” is going to boil down to a relationship, let alone JD. I would almost buy Jon and Dænerys being the song of ice and fire if Jon actually were just Ned’s bastard, all ‘ice’. Hell, if he really wanted to make a relationship the song of ice and fire, he could have cut out the middleman and made Jon a trueborn Stark from the start - make them starcrossed lovers from warring families, truly ice and truly fire. Utterly boring, but thematically coherent at least. A major point of Jon’s character is that he is both - and something a lot messier than that besides, as a bastard.

It's not all bad on r/asoiaf though, when I went back to look for that post I saw another about how the Titan of Braavos is a Pacific Rim-style mech that will come to life to fight any dragons coming to the city, a theory that I will be championing from this moment henceforth.

Wait, nevermind, in that same thread someone said that Jaehaerys is the sexiest Targ name, so r/asoiaf is immediately cancelled again. That's another fandom perspective that makes me roll my eyes, the idea that Jaehaerys is in any way an acceptable name, especially as Jon's ‘secret’ name.

This 👏 is 👏 Targaryen 👏 propaganda 👏

Just look at it!! How do you even pronounce that? The hill I will most definitely die on is that this name is ugly.

[eismaedchenxiii]

What the Weirwood Knows, Chapter 3

Summary: 170AC, forty years after the end of the Dance of the Dragons, the realm has enjoyed a long peace. Serena Stark, granddaughter of King Jacaerys I and Lord Cregan Stark has come into young adulthood and has been thrust into the serpentine politics of King's Landing and the southron lords. Armed with only her wits, her loyal friends, and her dragon, she must learn to navigate this unknown territory--lest she lose it all.

Previous Chapter: Chapter 2

Characters: Stark!OC x Targaryen!OC. I would say 85-90% of the characters are original with 10-15% characters from GRRM's writings. Some of the names are lifted from canon family trees. The Targaryen!OC is a very OOC, self-indulgent mixture of Aegon III and Aegon IV. Make of that information what you will. This takes place in an AU where Jacaerys was crowned king of the Seven Kingdoms after the Dance.

Word Count: 4.4k

Warnings: brothels briefly mentioned, alcohol (Please let me know if I've missed anything!)

Author'sNote: "<Text>" denotes dialogue in a foreign language, such as High Valyrian that I did not have an exact translation for.

For the second time in as many days, Serena stood outside the gates of Winterfell with her family. Except, unlike the last time the castle had assembled, Prince Aegon joined them, standing to the side of Lord Cregan. He stood out like a resplendent raven in his pure black finery.

Serena had not seen the prince gracing the halls of the castle with his presence since the impromptu feast held in his honor. She knew a room had been made up for him—as was the case with every royal guest—but when she inquired about his disappearance, Ser Brandon had played uncharacteristically coy.

”He left for the winter town after dusk. When Gerrit and Fergus asked if he required an escort, he declined. Acted as if he knew where he was headed.”

”Winter town? There’s nothing to do there.” Most of the small village just outside of Winterfell’s walls had left to return to their farms and hovels after the ice had begun to melt.

”There are…certain things a man can do there to entertain himself.” A rosy blush bloomed across his nose. When pressed, he refused to say anymore. Serena didn’t understand why. She wasn’t so naive as to not know what a brothel was. She just didn’t understand why someone would want to trudge through the cold mud in the dark to visit one.

Just hours ago, scouts had spotted the royal carriage train coming up the kingsroad and sent word to prepare the welcome party. The castle staff and the lord’s family had been thrown into an organized chaos to prepare. Lord Cregan and all his present family had gathered in the castle courtyard. Cregan, of course, stood at the front, flanked by Princess Laena and Prince Aegon. Serena and her sister stood close to their mother. Although they weren’t in her sight, Serena knew Missy and Brandon were somewhere in the assembled crowd.

Serena attempted to stand somehow casually and regally, but she grasped her hands in her sleeves nervously, hoping her mother didn’t notice. Laena currently had her hand firmly on Sansa’s shoulder. Ten minutes ago the girl had begun to fidget and shift her weight from foot to foot. Serena couldn’t blame her—waiting in the chill was less than fun. 

Serena heard a sigh behind her. She risked a look over her shoulder and saw Ser Lucien Vypren, her aunt Mariah’s new husband, rolling his eyes as he spoke quickly in his wife’s ear. 

“Is there a reason all of us needed to be present for the wait?” the riverlander knight hissed. He shivered and rubbed his gloved hands up his arms. “My cock is going to freeze off before I—“

A growl silenced him. Serena saw that her uncle Jonnel was shooting a glare in his good-brother’s direction. The look seemed to work, as Ser Lucien’s flapping mouth turned into a tight frown. During the entire exchange, Mariah had stood passively, saying nothing.

The exchange behind her had drawn her attention for so long that the lead carriage was in sight of the gate. It was a beautiful work of craftsmanship—a blaze of red, gold, and black against the grays and browns of the landscape. It was pulled by a team of pure black horses, their coats shiny and heads held high. Intricate dragon designs graced almost every inch of barding. With all of this splendor before her, it was hard for Serena to not feel so very small in its wake. 

The carriage finally shuddered to a halt, and two footmen in black-and-red tabards swiftly appeared to place a block at the door of the carriage. They stood at attention as the door opened to reveal Queen Baela Targaryen. 

Queen Baela, although only in her fifties, used a cane to assist her as she stepped out of the carriage. Her cane tapped on the block as she stepped, and one of the footmen held out an arm for her to settle onto the dirt ground. Serena was glad it had not recently rained or snowed and the ground was mostly solid. As she walked toward the gathered Starks, she pulled her white fur-lined cloak tighter around her body. 

“Seven hells, it’s cold. Let’s dispense with the pomp and ritual and move into the Great Hall, shall we?”

Serena had had little prior experience with her grandmother, or any of her mother’s family. But she very quickly discovered that her preconceived picture of the queen of the Seven Kingdoms was lacking.

After her arrival, the queen had ushered herself and a small retinue inside to warm themselves. With a quick bow, Prince Aegon swiftly moved to his aunt’s side and offered his arm. Leaning down, he whispered a few quick words in her ear. Whatever it had been, it had made the queen smile.

When the doors to the Great Hall were closed and those assembled were finally enclosed in the warmth of the surrounding fires, Serena finally felt herself relax a little. She felt like a wolf pup settling into the safety of its den, secure from any dangers outside.

Queen Baela, flanked by three of her ladies, stopped to examine the Starks before her.

Serena’s mother, more timid than she had ever seen her, stepped forward. “Mother?” her voice barely raised over a soft murmur.

 In seconds, Baela had moved to her daughter and grasped her in a tight embrace. Laena wrapped her own arms around her mother in return. The two women stood in place for several moments, simply existing and breathing in the same air after so long apart. Serena stood silently and observed her mother be the most vulnerable she had ever seen. After an indiscriminate amount of time, the queen pulled away to gaze upon her daughter properly. She gave a small laugh and a sniffle, and pushed a lock of Laena’s hair behind her ear that had fallen loose. Tapping her cane on the cold, gray stone, she turned to Serena’s grandfather.

”Cregan,” she began wryly. “Gods be good, you’ve gotten old.”

“And yet, you are the same as you’ve always been, my queen.” 

The queen smiled at Lord Cregan, offering a hand gloved in white kidskin to be taken by the Warden of the North as he bowed. The skin around her violet eyes crinkled as her eyes searched the faces of Serena’s family. 

Besides Serena, her sister, grandfather, and mother stood most of her half-uncles and aunts born from Lord Cregan’s marriage to the late Lady Alysanne. Jonnel, the spitting image of his father in youth, stood close behind his lord. His wife, Lady Robyn of House Ryswell, stood silently near her good-sisters Mariah and Lyanna. Edric, the next eldest son, stood off to the side a few paces away from his family, eyeing the scene with apprehensive black eyes. 

When at last Baela’s gaze fell on her and her sister, Serena felt herself blush. “My beautiful granddaughters,” she sighed, walking toward them. 

With a tap of Serena’s hand on her shoulder, Sansa joined her sister in a deep curtsy, reciting the words they had been relentlessly taught by their mother for this day. “Welcome to Winterfell, Your Grace.”

Baela had taken off her gloves and raised a brown hand to stroke her granddaughters’ faces. “You both look so much like your father as I remember him.”

Serena saw her mother stiffen. “I think we favor our mother too. Perhaps not in look but in spirit,” Serena said in her most polite tone. She saw Laena soften at her words, a small smile flashing across her lips.

The queen chuckled. “I would say so. All the best parts of your forebears. I will be wanting to see your dragon as well.” She patted Serena’s cheek as she spoke. 

“Of course, Your Grace. I’ll land him in the courtyard for you to see if you’d like.”

“I’d very much prefer you didn’t,” her grandfather spoke up. 

Baela laughed and leaned her weight on her cane. Upon closer inspection, Serena was able to examine the cane and see that the ornate dragon’s head had been carved out of a piece of weirwood. The artistry of the carving held Serena’s attention long enough for servants carrying a myriad of trunks and other luggage to enter. Some servants carried sacks full of grain and other foodstuffs.

“A gift from the king,” the queen waved her hand at the flurry of action behind her. “It will not be said that House Targaryen are not good guests. We are dragons, not locusts.”

Lord Cregan once more, awe in his gray eyes. “Many thanks, Your Grace. This is a mighty gift indeed. We can’t possibly repay this–”

“Don’t grovel, Cregan, it's unbecoming. Let me feast and drink tonight and we’ll consider it even.”

*************

Whereas the feast held in Prince Aegon’s honor had been of a more sedate affair, the true welcoming feast for the Targaryens was nothing of the sort. Every inch of the Great Hall had been draped with crimson and black finery and every table was covered in the most sumptuous of foods. A great roast pig was displayed below the lord’s dais, pieces being sliced off to fill the plates of the guests of honor first. The castle as a whole had been restricting their meals for weeks to provide for their royal guests. This event, coupled with a harsh three-year winter, had left many bellies–highborn and low–rumbling on several evenings. 

Now, at the dais, sat the queen in the high seat of honor. Lord Cregan and Princess Laena sat on both sides of her, with several members of House Stark and Targaryen flanking either side. Prince Aegon sat beside his cousin, sometimes whispering a comment in her ear and engaging in polite conversation. Serena, sitting next to her sister on the other side of her grandfather, could see that her mother had not become more comfortable in her family’s company. 

“My Lord Cregan,” Baela put down her fork and licked her lips. “Your youngest boys–are they well?”

“Barth is being fostered at Last Hearth, and Lord Manderly took Brandon to White Harbor. Hopefully, they come back having learned something.”

“Hard to think they’re old enough for fostering. I remember when they were but little boys. And Sarra, I heard she had lost a babe?”

At the mention of his and Alysanne’s eldest child, Lord Cregan's eyes fell to the table. “Aye, Your Grace. A year ago. She’s with child again and near as ready to give birth. Otherwise, she and Lord Karel would have come.”

“I am very sorry to hear that. When you lose a child, part of you dies with them, and you never recover. I’ll send a raven to Karhold with my regards. I wish her well.”

Serena kept quiet and listened during her conversation. She had eaten her fill of food and had begun sampling some of the wine the queen had brought north with her retinue. It was stronger than she was used to, and with a sour taste that coated her throat every time she swallowed a mouthful. 

Before the wine had been served, the most curious thing had occurred on the other end of the table. A servant–a Targaryen servant, in black and red–had brought forward a bottle to offer to the queen and her Stark hosts. Serena could barely hear the servant describe the vintage over the din of the Great Hall, but she did catch him describing it as a “sweet Dornish red with notes of dark oak and cherries.” Almost everyone present requested a taste, a rarity to see so far north and inland. Everyone, that is, except for the Prince, whose demeanor changed as soon as the servant uttered the word “Dornish.” He pointedly refused a glass and instead requested a mug of northern ale. His stormy disposition had not adjusted since as he sipped his ale, frowning at the taste.

It was an odd thing to see, but Serena was not overly concerned. At least he had not stared at her during the feast. Actually, he had not so much as looked at her since the queen’s arrival. No matter, there were more important things to think about. 

Excusing herself, Serena pulled away from the dais, goblet in hand. She had seen Missy’s dark head bobbing through the crowd and had decided to seek her out. Weaving between people—northerner and southerner alike—she finally found her friend grasping her goblet and in conversation with two finely dressed highborn ladies.

As Serena approached, she recognized them as two of Queen Baela’s ladies. One, a girl with red hair tied in intricate plaits turned her thin, angular face towards Serena as she closed in. Her dress was a dark silver color, and as she turned, Serena could see the fine details of the beading and embroidery on her bodice forming the shape of a brilliant blue swordfish. A Bar Emmon…if I’m remembering correctly.

The other girl was harder to place. Her black dress was striped in bright yellow and her curly brown hair was tied in a black hairnet jeweled with small topaz stones. She spoke so quickly at Missy that her small lips seemed to blur at the speed. Whatever the topic was, Serena could tell Missy was not remotely interested as she sipped her wine. When her Bar Emmon companion cleared her throat, she stopped mid-sentence with a squeak. “My lady!” 

Both ladies curtsied and bowed their heads at Serena. Serena allowed herself a small smile—she could get used to this. “My name is Cosella Bar Emmon,” the red-haired girl began. “And this is Beatrix Beesbury.”

Beesbury. Of course. ”Please, don’t let me interrupt,” she glanced at Missy. “It seemed to be a riveting conversation.” 

Missy’s dark eyes widened, and she gave a nod, smiling politely. “It was. Lady Beatrix was describing their journey up the kingsroad. Not a single detail spared.”

”Oh? I do hope you didn’t run into too much trouble.”

“Well, not much, my lady…as I was saying to Lady Melissa, I…um…” Lady Beatrix, previously so animated and verbose, struggled to find her tongue. Luckily for her, Cosella stepped in.

”What Beatrix was saying is we were harried by mountain men as we passed the Mountains of the Moon. The carriage train was caught between the Green Fork and the mountains. They would attack, then retreat into their holes to hide. They proved so elusive, Prince Aegon could not rain fire upon them from above. Ser Amaury, Ser Robin, and Ser Jon took some men to flush them out.”

”They’re kingsguard,” Beatrix added, the curls loose from her hairnet bouncing as she spoke.

”Any casualties?” Serena asked, legitimately curious.

Cosella frowned and scrunched her nose. “However am I supposed to know that? I was in the wheelhouse with Her Grace the whole time. I was more annoyed that they left Ser Mervyn behind to guard us.”

”He’s in love with Cosella.”

”Shut up Bea.” Cosella glared at her friend. “He’s kingsguard, and old. Just an up-jumped reachman who gained his position due to being the bastard half-brother to the Master of Laws.”

Missy and Serena stood silently, sipping their wine. Serena’s head was starting to grow fuzzy, she’d need to slow down soon.

”The mountain clans are most fearsome.” Missy interjected. “But honorable in their way. They trade with each other, rule over each other, they have their own traditions going back to the Age of Heroes. Some are not so different from ours.”

“They are savages,” Cosella spat.

”And heathens,” whispered Beatrix.

Both Serena and Missy, educated by a castle maester, understood that there was a difference between the mountain clans that clashed with the knights of the Vale of Arryn and those who swore fealty to the Lord of Winterfell in the north. Lord Cregan’s first wife, Serena’s grandmother, had been a Norrey from the high mountains north of the wolfswood. But it rankled Serena listening to southron ladies fret when there were far worse things than a mountain man. The “heathen” comment had turned both girls’ knuckles white as they gripped their goblets, too.

”Mountain clans are not so fearsome,” Serena ventured, emboldened by the sweet wine in her cup. “The ironmen are far more terrifying. Unlike the mountain clans, they don’t lack numbers or commanders. They come in their ships and raid all along the coast from Bear Island to the Shield Islands. They steal women and take them back as saltwives. Then they put castles to the torch, killing everyone within.”

”W-what’s a saltwife?” Beatrix’s lip trembled, her round face looking more childlike.

”Like a slave, but worse.” Missy’s eyes bet Serena’s. “Lady Morgane Flint was taken during a raid last summer.”

”Whatever happened to her?” Cosella asked. She did not seem as terrified as her companion, but she was chewing her bottom lip most nervously.

”She waited till the captain and crew had gone to rest and escaped. Killed the men with an axe and leapt off the ship. She swam all the way back to shore and reunited with her father at Flint’s Finger.”

Beatrix had grown pale and Cosella had looped her arm through her friend’s. Both girls had gone deathly silent as their eyes darted back towards the dais. 

“That was such an…interesting tale! Bea, don’t you think we should see if the queen requires us? I believe we’ve indulged for long enough, don't you agree?”

”Yes…Yes, Cosella, I believe you are right.”   

They both curtsied hastily and hurried away, lifting their skirts to move swiftly through the crowd back to the queen. When they arrived at the dais, Serena could see Cosella whispering to another girl with a Bar Emmon swordfish on her dress. They both made glances at Serena and Missy with less-than-happy looks on their faces.

”Was that cruel?” Missy asked. 

“Did you want to listen to them disparaging wicked ‘heathens’ any longer?” Serena raised her cup to take another swallow of wine, only to find it empty. Sighing, she placed it on a tray carried by a servant striding past them. 

“No.” Missy turned her back to the southerners at the dais. “It was rather rude.”

”Exactly.”

”It will only get worse when we go to King’s Landing, you know. We will be the outsiders,” Missy sighed as she eased herself onto a bench that had just become vacant. “With nary a surface around us not covered in a seven-pointed star.”

”I know, I know.” Serena groaned as she sat beside her. She gazed at her dear friend and spoke quietly. “You can always stay here if you’d like.”

Missy looked taken aback by her words. “You don’t want me with you?”

”No! That’s not what I meant. What I’m saying is, you’re right. Things are different in the capital. I cannot guarantee people will be kind just because you are with me. I cannot even be sure people will be kind to me just because I marry the Prince of Dragonstone.” 

Missy still looked hurt. “My place is by your side.”

”My duty is to my family. I don’t have a choice in leaving,” she said sadly. “I’m opening a way out for you if you’d like to take it.”

Missy looked at Serena with her giant, brown eyes. It was not often, but there had been times in the past when her friend had looked at her and Serena could see her grandmother staring back at her. This was one of those times.

”I’m coming with you. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Smiling and lovingly taking hold of Serena’s arm, she continued. “Furthermore, we both need to keep Brandon out of trouble.”

They both laughed, and Serena looked around at the walls of Winterfell’s Great Hall. The gray stone was alight with the warm glow of candles and braziers, and her people surrounded her laughing, drinking, and dancing together. She felt like a piece of stone being hewn from the masonry, chipped away but leaving parts of her behind. 

Clattering from the dais brought Serena out of her thoughts. The queen had risen from her seat and was bidding goodnight to her hosts. Her three ladies trailed behind her as she left, Cosella and Beatrix seemingly recovered from the frightful storytelling. Many other guests made to take their leave as well. There was not much point in celebrating the queen’s arrival when the queen herself had retired.

”Gods be good I’m exhausted,” Missy sighed.

Serena echoed the sentiment and made her way out of the Great Hall by way of one of the hallways that would lead to her bedchamber amongst the other rooms. Before she could be free of the crowd, she heard her name trilling over the noise of the feast breaking down. 

“Serena!” She turned to see Sansa hurrying after her. “Wait for me!”

Serena groaned in exhaustion. “What is it?” She tried her best not to sound mean.

”Can I stay in your room tonight?” She asked her sister meekly. “I don’t want to be alone. There are too many strangers here.”

Rolling her eyes, Serena took her by the hand. “There is no one here who will harm you. You know that, Sansa.” But as she looked at her sister’s gray eyes beginning to bubble up with tears, Serena relented. “Fine. But you must sleep. No fooling around. Do you understand?”

”Yes! I promise!”

*************

Sansa did not, in fact, fall asleep quickly. It seemed that the excitement of the feast had given her a second wind while Serena attempted to shrug off her dress and take apart the many braids in her hair by herself, her head beginning to feel heavy with exhaustion mixed with too much wine. It took until she had changed into her nightgown, climbed into her bed, pulled up the covers, and rolled over for Sansa to see she was serious about getting some rest. It was after she stopped grunting in response to Sansa’s pestering that she finally heard the candle being snuffed out and felt the smaller body of her sister slide into bed beside her. After a moment of silence, Sansa’s whisper penetrated the darkness.

”I don’t like the prince.”

Serena was taken aback at the girl’s words. ”Oh? Did he mistreat you at the feast?” Truth be told, she had barely seen the odd man during the festivities.

”No.” Sansa buried her nose into the furs, not meeting Serena’s gaze. “I just don’t like him.”

Serena held her sister a little tighter. She felt her heart ache for her. Sansa was twelve, but in a lot of ways, hadn’t begun to grow up in the same way Serena had. She hadn’t yet bled and still seemed to have the heart and mind of a little girl. Serena hoped beyond logic that she would stay that way for a little while longer. 

After a few more beats of silence, Sansa asked in a whisper, “Do you have to get married?”

She means, ‘Do you have to leave me?’ The words rolled in Serena’s head like dice in a cup. “Yes. It’s my duty.” The last word, “duty,” caught on her tongue like a burr. 

“That’s stupid.”

”That’s life.”

The girls laid in silence for as long as it took for both of them to start drifting off to sleep. Serena withstood the cloying tendrils of slumber the longest, only succumbing when her sister’s breathing slowed and turned to soft snores, but as she was beginning to fall into the deep she felt her sister jolt. She put her hand comfortingly on Sansa’s arm and held her close.

Since she was very small, Sansa had rarely had a night not interrupted by dreams. Serena could remember when she was barely three-and-ten, and her sister had begun to climb into her bed when she was awoken by her nightmares. When pressed about what she had dreamt, Sansa would be as an iron lock, shaking her head silently—sometimes even beginning to weep. 

Their mother had taken Sansa to Maester Manfrey to see what could be done about her daughter’s affliction. The maester’s learned opinion was that without knowing the manner of the dreams, there was naught to be done to cease them. It was then that Sansa revealed that her dreams were a series of scenes and images that made no sense to a small child. Sometimes it was a flock of crows coming to attack her, at times she was being hunted by a shadowcat while riding a great hind, but the most striking of all, and the dream their mother paid most mind to, was the dream where two great dragons—black and red—battled above her, only to crash down in flames. 

Princess Laena had forbidden Maester Manfrey from using milk of the poppy to send Sansa to a deep, dreamless sleep. She had gotten it in her mind that Sansa could be what the sorcerers of Old Valyria had called a “dreamer” and that her nonsensical nightmares were really portents from the gods and were not to be interfered with. Serena didn’t much care what a “dreamer” was, but she could see the growing darkness under her little sister’s eyes morning after morning when she had failed to fall back asleep. It broke her heart, but there was very little she could do about it without offending their mother.

When Sansa turned to Serena, her eyes were open. “I’m sorry I woke you,” she apologized quietly.

”I wasn’t asleep yet,” Serena lied. “Would you like me to get you some dreamwine from Maester Manfrey?” As much as she wasn’t fond of procuring medicine out from under her mother’s nose, Sansa had slept soundly the few times she had gotten it for her. Surely, there would be no one roaming the halls so late after a raucous feast to tell on her.

”Yes…I think so.”

Serena nodded and slipped out of bed. With what little light came through the window, she padded around her room until she found her slippers, nearly ramming her toes into the hearth. Groping around, she reached her thick robe at last and pulled it on, relishing the soft warmth it gave. Looking back, she took a moment to gaze at her sweet sister, the moonlight casting a glow across her tranquil face.

[branwendaughterofllyr]

I don't understand how anyone can dismiss Jonsa as a canon ship when we literally have a Jonnel/Sansa pairing hidden in the Stark family tree for no real purpose whatsoever (they have no children). There's literally a marriage between Jonnel who has a half-brother Rickon after whose death, the lords rally around him as Lord of Winterfell and Sansa Stark, Rickon's heir, who has a younger sister and a Manderly (fish related sigil, devoted to the Seven, southern heritage) mother in the books

And not mention the weight of the narrative, the rebuilding of WF, and George's incest kink.

In all honesty anon, I don't mind or think that people doubting Jonsa is bad thing. Everything's fair game until ADOS comes out. None of us *know* the ending. Even I, the most devoted and loyal of Jonsas, know that there is a possibility that Jonsa will not be canon. (But, like, it totally will).

The thing that grinds my gears is the complete denial of the possibility of Jonsa. I remember back in the dark days when Jonsas were the boogeyman of the fandom, the madwoman in the attic that everyone tried to deny existed. Any piece of evidence, no matter how eyebrow raising was dismissed, and honestly, it still is for a lot of book fandom. And that what annoys me, because way flimsier theories have gotten traction, while the Jonsa foreshadowing gets kicked to one side.

(I actually told my flatmate about Jonnel One-Eye and Sansa Stark I, and she said, and I quote "that you're reaching" and proceeded to doubt when I explained Rhaegar Frey and his son Jonos. It was very amusing conversation since my flatmate is a sans*n. Who's reaching, really?)

[juliaswickcrs]

oops another oc: introducing serena stark the breaking of the world

the lives of King Viserys and Queen Aemma were more secret than the passages of the Red Keep, known to few but witnessed firsthand by one. 

The Lady Serena Stark of Winterfell, younger sister of Rickon Stark and ward of Lord Rodrik Arryn of the Eyrie. Fostered with the Lady Aemma in her youth, the girls were closer than friends, and oft considered each other the sisters they never had. 

They’d been together for everything. From Serena’s first blood to Aemma’s first girlhood love, to the very moment Prince Viserys arrived in the Vale for a Tourney celebrating the birth of Aemma’s nephew and the ascension of her half-brother Jonnel Arryn as heir. 

The Maesters would say it was love at first sight for the young couple, but only Serena Stark knew the truth. And she would take that secret with her to her grave beneath the crypts of Winterfell.

Until Aemma calls her to King’s Landing to help support her through her newest pregnancy, and with an ulterior motive Serena never expected from her chosen sister. 

Her brother Bennard warns her of vipers that lay in the south, waiting to nip at her heels and poison her in her sleep, while Rickon simply waves her off without a care in the world, too focused on his heavily pregnant wife and his lack of an heir. 

But Serena does not find herself among vipers, nor dragons. Rather, she finds herself intrigued by the courtly games the lords and ladies of the south play, with a desperate need inside her to join them. But perhaps most unusual of all, she always seems to find herself under the watchful eye of the Hightower itself, and those green flames follow her wherever she goes, never moving, never turning, never submitting. 

A man like that could tear the world apart, she thinks. 

And he did. 

BONUS

this is for me and @kingsmakers​ only, although I know @bisexualterror​ will also appreciate it.

[kellyvela]

I'm not a Jonsa shipper, but I would call myself a Jonsa ally because I love how mad it makes the rest of the fandom, but the one thing that raises my eyebrow is the Jonnel 'One Eye' Stark and Sansa Stark pairing in the Stark family tree lmao. It's either the most obvious foreshadowing ever or trolling from GRRM there is literally no other explanation lol.

Also, I love how people never want to bring it up because if there was a Jonnel Stark and Arya Stark/Danaela Stark (lmao) marriage in the family tree we would never hear the end of it....like ever.

Yeah the Jonnel-Sansa change that GRRM made in the Stark family tree is one big hint 👀 to something that may happen in the main series.

But, since Jonnel-Sansa was an advuncular marriage of an uncle and his half-niece, the jonerii bunch claims that, at best, it foreshadows another advuncular marriage between an aunt and her nephew.

Then I wonder what they think about George changing Jaehaerys list of children to put a daughter called Daenerys that died of "shivers" while he was writing Fire and Blood Vol. I???

Thanks for your message :)

[blissfulphilospher]

I posted the AI pictures of Jonnel and Sansa on Ao3 fic but it has seemed to be vanished in air. So here they are. 

Lady Sansa Stark of Winterfell 

The one who was her father's heir and should have been the first reigning Lady Stark of Winterfell, Warden of North but instead has to become the consort of her half uncle. 

I am damn sure other Sansa, our Sansa would become the first reigning Lady Stark of Winterfell. 

Lord Jonnel 'One Eye' Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of North

He became his brothers heir. Just like Robb made Jon his heir passing over Sansa and Arya. And he married his half neice... Weren't First Men against incest? His actions gives Daemon Targaryen vibes... 

[horizon-verizon]

We can’t fault Alicent for disliking bastards. She has been taught that they are inherently untrustworthy and bad for being born out of wedlock. As modern viewers we know that isn’t true, but Alicent the character does not. From her perspective, bastards are going to inherit the throne over her own trueborn sons that she dutifully bore the king. Viserys treats his literal trueborn sons poorly and favors his bastard grandsons. That is very offensive to Alicent, understandably.

A)

The Mormon book at one point teaches its followers to regard black people as "stained" and people designed or fit to be eternal servants of white people from this life until the next. The Roman Catholic church actively contributed to the missionaries and conquistadors conquering and enslaving native populations.

No.

B)

Alicent doesn’t “dislike” bastards. She despises them and is fine with them dying horrible deaths. QUOTE #1 and QUOTE #2.

She refers to Blood and Cheese with Jaehaerys and Maelor…as if her own son Aemond didn’t intentionally kill Lucerys Velaryon.

As if the Blood and Cheese episode–harrowing and immoral as it was–didn’t happen as a response to Aemond killing Lucerys.

As if Alicent herself didn’t call for Lucerys’ eye after Aemond lost his in the same principle of eye-for-an-eye before Rhaenyra called for the Aemond’ “sharp” questioning/torture for accusing her sons for being bastards, which would endanger their very lives:

Afterward, King Viserys tried to make a peace, requiring each of the boys to tender an apology to his rivals on the other side, but these courtesies did not appease their vengeful mothers. Queen Alicent demanded that one of Lucerys Velaryon’s eyes should be put out, for the eye he had cost Aemond. Princess Rhaenyra would have none of that, but insisted that Prince Aemond should be questioned “sharply” until he revealed where he had heard her sons called “Strongs.” To so name them was tantamount to saying they were bastards, with no rights of succession…and that she herself was guilty of high treason.

(Fire and Blood; A Question of Succession)

Gyldayn (in-universe writer of Fire and Blood) says “mothers” as if it was just Alicent who ignored Viserys and pushed first for a child’s mutilation.

Rhaenyra did not call for torture and she did not call for Viserys to punish Aemond. She demands that he be questioned on where he heard the info, for Viserys to be firm with him, disciplined him.

And she doesn't do this because she always hated Aemond. She does it because Alicent wanted Lucerys’ eye, no real fair judgement, and to shield her own child (when he deserved Viserys' admonition).

As if she herself did not encourage her son to hate the Velaryon boys, which lead to Aemond’s hatred of the Velaryons boys. Which lead to Lucerys’ death.

Despite what Alicent says about Rhaenyra's sons dying at war, Lucerys didn’t actually die in a real battle because he didn’t engage or meet with Aemond, trying to escape and persisted in trying to avoid Aemond. Jacaerys was the one who died in the Battle in the Gullet.

Joffrey, after Alicent says what she says in the above quote, died when he tries to ride Rhaenyra's dragon Syrax and literally fell to his death trying to stop the King's Landers from destroying the Dragonpit and killing all the dragons in it.

C)

By the way, anon, by this argument, are you yourself for or against the incest that the Targs practice? Did you know that the same religion that Alicent is devoted to allows first cousin marriage, which we (some of us ASoIaF fans) modern Westerners still count as incest? 

Many Lords come from first-cousin marriages. An example is Tywin Lannister and his cousin-wife Joanna Lannister, Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion’s mother.

Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion are all incest babies. Cersei and Jaime only took it one step further.

In the north, Serena Stark married her half uncle Eric and her sister Sansa married their other half uncle Jonnel. So any and all their kids are incest babies. Yet the Faith or any of the members within never once protests that the Starks are all abominations. 

D)

And we see by the very existence of framing, language, and circumstances of Jon Snow -- how GRRM writes about him -- that ASoIaF is very critical of the very concept of bastardry.

E)

This idea of “dutifully bearing children”....anon, are you a ult-conservative? Do you want to restore feudal patriarchy?

Do you also find it acceptable that women’s bodies are pushed into this role of children-bearing? And have you not read the same ASoIaF texts that I have that show the consequences of such pressures and social assignments?

Aemma Arryn?!

F)

You: “Viserys treats his literal trueborn sons poorly and favors his bastard grandsons. That is very offensive to Alicent, understandably.”

HERE is why Viserys protects Rhaenyra. Aside from the fact that he just ses her as worthier and doesn’t let her gender define her worthiness in the exact same way as most fathers do (not the best dad, but better if only in this one way).

Meanwhile, Show!Alicent believes she should usurp the King’s chosen heirs because Rhaenyra doesn’t act “womanly” and that her own kids have penises. 

Meanwhile.....she is going against the law and the precedent of King’s word is law....while saying she is for customs. And Book!Alicent does it more for power than anything, still going against the law and custom while using the her sons’ gender towards power.

No, she is not for customs so much as what customs can do for her, her children’s, and her house’s power and ambition.

It’s “offensive” for Alicent to be this hypocritical and think herself in the moral right. This is a sinister, “subtler” type of evil.

G)

Alicent knows her religion, but sure fucking doesn’t know her history. And you obviously don’t know either medieval or ASoIaF history:

a.

In real life early medieval history, what determined a child’s legitimacy, even with their parents not being married to each other, differed in different regions at different times in medieval history.

Wales–before the Norman conquest of it and its incorporation into “England” around 1093–had “bastard” meaning a child whose father doesn’t acknowledge and all children acknowledged had equal legal rights. That included the right to share in the father’s inheritance.

before the 1200s in France, England and Spain, it was being born to the right parents–whether they were married according to the Church’s doctrines and rules–that made a child seem more worthy of inheriting their parents’ lands, properties and titles.

several early medieval kings – Charlemagne as an example– had concubines, mistresses, etc. who mothered children that were very much a part of these kings’ lineages.

there was also a real concern behind this was that kings can marry and annul/divorce a lot easier or how their parents’ resources could provide for the child’s future vassalages.

it wasn’t until more and more medieval lawyers used Church doctrines of marriage to draw up reasons for some illegitimate children to not inherit some lands and rights, such as the Anstey case of the 1160s (if you doubt this wiki page, look through its references listed below).

“There is very little evidence to suggest that an interest in keeping illegitimate children from inheriting noble or royal title outweighed political or practical considerations in the same way that the policing of illegal marriages sometimes did.” (The Wire)

b.

This post by @theblackqveen HERE.

c. Other Traditional Rights, Ideas and Practices of Westerosi Lords

dishonest about their own origins (Andals) to make as if Westeros was their “promised land” whereas it was most likely to escape Valyrian dragonlord families (one of whom would have been the Targs)

right of the first night practiced openly... girls had to run away from home (and never come back) only likely to suffer even more to make a living for themselves and frequently sold themselves into slavery because of it –> out of the belief that these lords were “blessing” these girls and their families with their “spirit” and any child born out of this rape –> Ramsay Bolton –> despite this being contradictory to their Faith of the Seven official tenet compelling mutual fidelity between the two genders (yes, rape is not consensual sex, so one does not cheat if they rape -> that's another knock against this society, to consider rape as "cheating" on either the victim or the perpetrator's end)

ironborn kidnapping young girls and women from their homes to take as sex slaves and “salt wives” out of this belief that it made their warriors “stronger”

d.

Bastards like:

William the Conquerer

Elizabeth I

Jon of Gaunt’s children

Benedict Rivers/Benedict Justman

and the (rumored) Orys Baratheon

...all history-making, culture-shaping illegitimate persons (one definition of “bastard” or another)

H)

Finally, read this POST by @nobodysuspectsthebutterfly.

[atopvisenyashill]

In a AU where Rhaenys and Visenya had their sons more or less at the same times (lets say, a three years agegap) and instead of Rhaenys dying in Dorne, was Visenya. What do you think it would change between the whole dynamic of them? Do you think Rhaenys would shelter Maegor as if it was her own? Or they would keep him in Aegon's keep but obviously, making the favoritism towards Aenys very clear?

Well I mean...obviously the relationship between Rhaenys and Visenya is different because a) they're sisters b) they married Aegon at the same time and c) it seems clear in canon that the only thing holding Aegon and Visenya together was Rhaenys which must mean Visenya had at least a passing fondness for her sister that she did not have for Aegon BUT......

What does Alicent do when her children are born and Rhaenyra goes from being a sweet stepdaughter to a threat in her eyes? Does Lynara Stark fight for Sansa's right to inherit or her own son, Jonnel's? Does Corlys push for a granddaughter to inherit or his own son, his own blood? I'm sure Rhaenys would love Maegor and treat him well, and I would imagine that Maegor and Aenys get along a bit better as children because of this, but Rhaenys is also likely very clear that it's Aenys who is first in line, Aenys who is her priority, Aenys who is her own flesh and blood. Maybe as a why of trying to make things up to Maegor, she convinces Aenys to betroth Alysanne and Maegor (and wouldn't that be a treat lmao) but otherwise, I imagine Maegor grows up feeling similarly that he's not enough, that he has to prove himself worthy of his father's legacy, etc. It might even make things more tense as the boys age; Maegor truly has no one while Aenys is king and has a pretty Valyrian wife, a male heir with a female dragon rider for him to marry, their father's love, their father's crown, and even his mother still. However Rhaenys attempts to smooth things over, it's definitely going to be a tense relationship regardless.

[dwellordream]

Heyy bestie, I just read your fem Aemond story, and I am obsessed with how you wrote everyone. Lesbian Sara snow THRUTH! Aemma being gay is amazing too, and Cregan being "yknow what this marriage won't be too bad" he is gonna let her burn half of the kingdom down, isn't he 😭 also the eye thing. Uhm. On brand with the whole bloody Stark thing ig😭 I gotta ask, are they gonna have a few kids, or will she die before that, like canon? (.....I'm terrified of whatever child they'd create. Not even the Boltons would get on that level of goth edginess)

Aemma and Cregan go on to have three daughters (Shaera, Alys, and Rhae) and one son (Jonnel). Much like his mother, Jonnel winds up losing an eye under some mysterious circumstances, and succeeds his father Cregan when Rickon dies prematurely during the Second Dornish War. Aemma survives the Dance, but Vhagar does not.

[istumpysk]

Why do you think the fandom still considers Jonsa to be a delusional ship despite the Jonnel "One-eye"/Sansa stark, pact of Ice and Fire and Ashford Tourney evidence? The two are extremely compatible, are constantly mirroring each other and fulfilling unsaid, repressed fantasies of romance and chivalry that their counterpart holds. Not only would it make sense narratively and become immensely satisfying to read, but it is also a solution to the multiple political hurdles in their path

Many reasons!

Some don't find it delusional at all, which is why they're so aggressive towards it. Some realize Jon and Sansa being paired dramatically increases the likelihood that Daenerys is an antagonist, and they don't like that. Some have the wrong ideas about the author and incest, despite an outline existing that directly counters their beliefs. Some don't want to move off an ending they settled on years ago, because admitting you're wrong is too difficult. Some believe the author is nihilistic, and has no desire to inject innocent romance into his bleak dark world. Some are deliberately ignoring the fact the author intended for these characters to be five years older, and don't want to acknowledge his story probably hasn't changed regardless of their ages. Some don't like Sansa. Some don't like Jon. Some are unfamiliar with most of the evidence. Some just follow the collective thoughts, ideas, and opinions of the majority.

Most will fall into one of those categories, anon.