#mother of dragons mhysa mother to us all

[madwomansapologist]

Daenerys + Mastermind

Taylor Swift Writing Challenge: Mastermind

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synopsis: Daenerys had to confess something to you, a sin that she carried alone for to long, but little did she know it wouldn't surprise you.

warnings: none.

Your city was liberated by her. The chain breaker. The conqueror. The mother of dragons. She saved your people, and after it she stayed to rule them. Daenerys brought justice to masters and workers: for some it means justice, to some it means care. They called her Mhysa.

Your master died during the revolt. She agonized, suffered until her last failed breath, and bled into the expensive sheets. You watched it. You didn't kill her, the other slaves did, but you watched every second. You were loyal to Daenerys even before knowing her.

Daenerys didn't kick the workers out of her new castle. She employed them, with fair contracts. And as the old palace master's seamstress, Daenerys gave you new and fair contract. She wanted you to sew her clothes. And so you did.

At first, your only interactions were when you needed to take new measurements and test the size of the pieces. As she was trying a blue summer dress, her serious expression made you swallow. "How did you learn to sew?"

With a pin, you marked the places you should press. The first time you marked her clothes with Daenerys using it, you were shaking the whole time. So scared of hurting her. 'My mother taugh me, as her mother taugh her." You don't shake anymore.

Daenerys spoke again as you knelt down to measure the hem. You saw her curling her toes. "Would you teach me?"

You bit your lip. "It would be a honor."

From the very first moment Daenerys saw you, something burned inside her. A new flame took over her entire body. She's a dragon, and you lit a fire inside her.

She can remember. You paralised, watching your old master dying, enable to do anything but stare. There was some sense of relief on your face, but she saw your hands shaking. You remind her of herself.

Daenerys would lever let chance determinate her path. You see, all the wisest woman had to do it this way. Society says women were born as pawn in every lover's game, but now Daenerys knows the truth: women were born to plan.

So, yes, everything was a choice. To keep your job, to change your quarters, to make weekly tests, to have you teaching her sew. None of it was accidental. Every unassuming touch, every supper with the employees, every second you spent talking to her about dressmaking, working to your last master, your life before her.

Daenerys heard songs about love. They didn't do justice to you.

When you played her, it was Daenerys idea. When you kissed her, it was Daenerys idea. When you went to bed with her, it was Daenerys idea. When you loved her, it was Daenerys idea. When you cried, it was Daenerys idea. When you stayed by her side, it was Daenerys idea.

Daenerys is the wind in every free-flowing sails. And she's the liquor in your cocktail.

But deep down she knew this lie-truth wasn't going to last. That she couldn't plan without feeling guilty. What wouldn't you think when you found out about everything she's done? What would you think of her?

That wasn't the first time she planned everything around her, but it was the first time she felt the need to confess. It felt like a sin. Like something you wouldn't forgive.

"Love is always a story about how once upon a time, the planets and the fates and all the stars alligned" Daenerys laid the groundwork. "Two people end up in the same room at the same time."

You left the glass on the bedside table and crawled closer to her. Your silence was a plea for her to continue.

"But what if I told you none of it was accidental?" Daenerys held your hand. She needed your touch to continue. "And the first night that you saw... nothing was gonna stop me."

And Daenerys would keep talking. She really would. She had a whole speech. But Daenerys saw a wide smirk on your face. You knew the entire time.

"A love based on chance. Mathematical chaos", you didn't try to hide your smile. "It' seen like a boring story."

GENERAL TAGLIST: @suakemi @notanalienindisguiseblink

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[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

Using Jon as a prop to undermine Daenerys,something which that godforsaken show did and certain fans still do,is annoying but so is erasing Jon's link to the Targaryens entirely because of whatever reasons.

Jon's Targaryen heritage is an integral part of his arc. While he had been raised by the Starks,one of the most important figures in his journey was Maester Aemon : A Targaryen.

Acknowledging him as a dragon raised by wolves,which he literally is,doesn't diminish Dany's significance as the scion of her house who brought the dragons back to life. Nor does it undermine the struggles she underwent.

Stanning these two in this fandom seems like a losing game.

I totally agree with you!

Jon is both a Stark and Targaryen in terms of heritage and it's also crucial that he was raised a Snow (he faced discrimination against bastards his whole life and that won't change his shaped personality even if it's revealed he was a Targaryen all along and/or if he's given the Stark surname).

I really don't get why people think that Jon being a Targaryen diminishes Dany's significance. Dany remains the mother of dragons, the person who brought back the dragons (aka the symbol of House Targaryen) and she will always be Mhysa, the one who freed the slaves. Likewise, Jon is the son of Ice (Stark) and Fire (Targaryen), the person Melisandre is seeing on her fires when she asks for a glimpse of their savior and the person who is gonna be revived on The Winds of Winter because he still has a crucial part to play in the events to come.

Both Jon and Dany are important to the narrative and not ONLY because of their heritage but also because of who they are as people and how they, unlike all the other leaders, actually care for their people and want to improve their life. For me, it's their caring personalities that makes them heroes and ones worth rooting for and not the fact that they are part of an important House (for a comparison, I wouldn't root for Viserys even if he was the last remaining Targaryen, lol).

Anyway, Dany herself doesn't really want to be lonely. She wishes she had someone to share her burdens with. She believes that the potential other two dragonriders of her remaining dragons will aid her to her quest and that together they will be the three heads of the dragon. I believe that this Dany will be delighted to find out that a son of her oldest brother survived. Especially when she finds out that this said son shares all these traits that have made her idealized her long dead brother in her mind. Similarly, Jon will be relieved to find out another leader who cares about their people. The potential their future meeting holds.

[istumpysk]

We always question that when Jon fell in love with Dany in show. I have another confusion since when Tyrion fell in love with Dany. And if he was so in love with Dany why he was suggesting to Sansa that they should remain married.

Beats me!

His relationship with Daenerys on the show never felt authentic to me, and like you said, it often contradicted the dynamics between him and Sansa.

This is the problem you create when you allocate parts of Sansa's storyline (the Jon romance, and the Tyrion love triangle) to Daenerys, while also needing to acknowledge the established history between Sansa and Tyrion.

That half-baked, last-minute insertion was complete nonsense. I'll eat rocks the day George turns his beloved Tyrion into an obedient lapdog, who is in love with his unhinged master. That would just make him another Jorah or Barristan, and what's the point of that? It would be redundant, and his perspective wouldn't bring anything new to the table.

Tyrion is the guy who mocked the idea of a savior.

Other slaves insisted that the guards were lying, that Daenerys Targaryen would never make peace with slavers. Mhysa, they called her. Someone told him that meant Mother. Soon the silver queen would come forth from her city, smash the Yunkai'i, and break their chains, they whispered to one another. And then she'll bake us all a lemon pie and kiss our widdle wounds and make them better, the dwarf thought. He had no faith in royal rescues. - Tyrion X, ADWD

Tyrion is the guy who became deeply concerned when he heard a red priest preaching her gospel.

Shouts erupted from the crowd. Women were weeping and men were shaking their fists. I have a bad feeling about this. […] Haldon Halfmaester had spoken of using the red priest to Young Griff's advantage, Tyrion recalled. Now that he had seen and heard the man himself, that struck him as a very bad idea. He hoped that Griff had better sense. Some allies are more dangerous than enemies. - Tyrion VII, ADWD

Tyrion is the guy who can recognize the psychology, fear, conditioning, and absence of alternative options that lead to a slave wanting to remain in bondage.

"Ghazdor's collar," the old man boasted. "Known him since we was born. I'm almost like a brother to him. Slaves like you, sweepings out of Astapor and Yunkai, you whine about being free, but I wouldn't give the dragon queen my collar if she offered to suck my cock for it. Man has the right master, that's better." Tyrion did not dispute him. The most insidious thing about bondage was how easy it was to grow accustomed to it. - Tyrion XI, ADWD

Tyrion is the guy with firsthand experience of slave owners infantilizing their slaves, to reinforce paternalistic authority and reliance.

"Bold Yollo. Bright Penny. You are the property of the noble and valorous Yezzan zo Qaggaz, scholar and warrior, revered amongst the Wise Masters of Yunkai. Count yourselves fortunate, for Yezzan is a kindly and benevolent master. Think of him as you would your father." […] "Your father loves his special treasures best of all, and he will cherish you," the overseer was saying. "And me, think of me as you would the nurse who cared for you when you were small. Nurse is what all my children call me." - Tyrion X, ADWD

x

"Let them come. In me they shall find a sterner foe than Cleon. I would sooner perish fighting than return my children to bondage." - Daenerys IV, ADWD

Despite my low opinion of him, I don't believe he's capable of being swept up by Daenerys.

Daenerys isn't his type, Sansa is. Tysha is. Shae is. Sex workers are. Penny would be, if he was sexually attracted to her. He seeks relationships where he can exert control, foster dependency, and provide protection and care.

Daenerys is too much like his sister.

[serialadoptersbracket]

Round 2, Match 3: Madoc vs. Daenerys Targaryen

Submitted kids:

Madoc: Jude Duarte, Taryn Duarte, Oak Greenbriar

Daenerys Targaryen: Drogon, Rhaegal, Viserion, Grey Worm, Missandei, the entire population of Slavers Bay

Propaganda under the cut!

Madoc:

1. “This ain't found family, this is forced family, 99% of all characters in their universe would have been better off without Madoc being anyone's parent at all--but with all that out of the way, impressively terrible though he is, he's no less of a dad for it. Peak evil family man here. He has three foster/adopted children--the lines are blurry here--starting with Jude and Taryn, miserable twin sisters extraordinaire, whom he, ahh, rescued from a difficult situation when they were young. Which is to say he murdered their parents in a fit of rage, evaluated the resulting scene, and decided that since they were his wife's kids and their actual parents were dead now, the responsibility of caring for them really fell to him. Later on, he got another kid by marrying, for complex political reasons on his part, a woman who brought an adoptive baby son, Oak (rescued from the corpse of his assassinated mother), with her. Madoc repeatedly uses his children as pawns, almost murders Jude a couple times, and kills one of Oak's birth parents too, but (and this is more condemnation than excuse) that's just in his nature, and he really does love his children, even though that generally makes them more screwed up. He's a very special adoptive dad and his parenting failures are spectacular.”

2. "His wife ran away with the blacksmith and took their daughter with her so he showed up at their house and murdered them, as you do. But then he felt really bad about leaving his ex-wife’s new kids alone so he adopted them and they had as fucked up a relationship as you would expect considering he murdered their parents. Also Oak, his second wife’s best friend’s son who she passed off as her son because his father was a prince. He’s there too and yes Madoc raised as part of his play for the throne yes he loves him (it’s complicated)

I find it very funny that his adopted kids (Jude and Oak especially) have these tumultuous complicated relationships with him like You hurt me I love you You’ll always be a part of me. Meanwhile his biological daughter Vivienne just absolutely hates his fucking guts."

Daenerys Targaryen:

"Is there any better example of a serial adopter than someone who has adopted an entire city? Daenerys not only is the ""mother of dragons"" with her three dragons being her magic children, but she's also adopted soldiers, polyglot preteens, and old man renowned for his honor, and three cities worth of freed slaves. She takes her responsibility as their mother (or ""mhysa"" as used in the books) extremely seriously, giving up her goals of reaching Westeros to help ensure that her freed children are able to function in Meereen (notably the books handle this situation much better than the show but the show's cultural impact is too big to ignore)"

[agentrouka-blog]

Dany loosing her child twice is implying something. When Dany got pregnant with Rhaego, her and Drogo decide to conquer the Westeros and the price Dany willing to pay. She then goes against the nature and use blood magic to revive her husband and looses her baby. Then she burned a woman alive to bring dragons. When she miscarried second time as you mentioned that she chooses fire and blood by rejecting peace. Because she chooses to Mother of Dragons, she rejected Myhsa of people.

The symbolism is pretty obvious in that there is a clear dichotomy between being mother of humans and mother of dragons.

She had no control over her fertility problems. There are multiple potential reasons that made the loss of Rhaego inevitable, and the grasslands miscarriage probably so, and all of them ultimately lead back to dragons and how they affected her ancestors dating back to Valyria and right down to Viserys' abuse of her. That's a cruel legacy she had no say in.

But the Mhysa role is the one she chose for herself. The one that she tried to embrace in opposition to her previous indulges in violence and conquest. In opposition to her own dragons. That's the one she herself rejects in this chapter. Right on the heels of discovering her "moon blood" and avoiding the conclusion of a miscarriage, she juxtaposes Hazzea (the human girl, forgetting her name) with the Mother of Dragons.

And she chooses the dragons.

Confronted with the choice between two fundamentally incompatible potential legacies that she could use to compensate for the loss of her fertility, she chooses the dragons over the people.

The miscarriage and infertility is a prompt, if you will. It's the equivalent of Bran's paralysis, which will confront him with the choice between immense power (even the power to prevent his own injury) and the opportunity to do the right thing and save others at his own expense.

You have to choose.

Dany keeps choosing the dragons.

[fandomficsnstuff]

Little Dragon - Epilouge

Summary: You’ve ruled King’s Landing for nine years, almost ten, when the return of someone you thought lost, finally returns, if only for a moment.

(Warnings: FLUFF!!! Happy times! The son is named after Rhaego, Daenerys’ child which she lost, hope that’s alright with everyone<3)

High Valyrian is in cursive

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Rhaego, slow down! You’ll trip and fall” you called after the raven haired boy as he ran ahead of you down the stairs, your dress bunched up in your hands as you hurried after him, a frown on your face as you did your best to catch up to the little boy of five. “Rhaego!” you called as you saw him disappear behind the corner, a heavy sigh leaving you as you hurried after him. This way led to a small harbor barely anyone used, not since the restoration of King’s Landing, a more secure harbor being built on top of the old one, so this one was barely used, if ever. You hurried around the corner, only to come to a screeching halt, your eyes wide as you stared at the massive beast. Gods, he had grown even more. You knew they never stopped growing but he was massive… you’d guess Balerion the Dread was only a little bigger than him now. “Rhaego-”

“Look Mhysa!” Rhaego called loudly as he stood right in front of the massive creature, nearly at it’s feet as it peered down at you and you felt a tinge of sadness run through you at the sight of him. “Rhaego… could you come over here?” you asked softly, the little boy doing as told, walking over to you and you eyed the creature you had dearly missed as you kneeled down, cupping Rhaego’s cheek in your hand as you smiled at him. “Go find your father, don’t bring him here, do you understand?” you asked in a soft voice, the boy nodding and you kissed his forehead before sending him off, standing back up, your neck straining to look up at him. Hesitantly you reached your hand up, watching him as he lowered his head and when your fingers brushed against the scales on his much bigger snout you felt tears build up in your eyes. “You came to say hello? After all these years, did you miss me? I missed you too…” you whispered, stepping closer to the dragon as it lowered it’s head even more, it’s eyes almost closing in pleasure and joy at the feel of your arms wrapping around it’s snout, which you were barely able to do with how big he was. “You’ve grown, Drogon… is Mhysa at rest? Did you take her to old Valyria?” you asked softly as you pressed your forehead against his snout, just as you used to when you were a little girl, unaware that despite your orders not to, Rhaego had fetched his father, spouting stories and tales of a huge beast waiting for his mother, the queen, dragging him along to the secret spot at the far back of the Red Keep, near the waterfront. You looked up at Drogon, his sad eyes making you nod as you softly stroked his snout “I know… I miss her too, but she’s home, finally, her true home… thank you…” you murmured, continuing to stroke the harsh scales until Drogon suddenly lifted his head, baring his many teeth and wrapping his large tail around you, the very tip so big that you couldn’t even see who it was he was protecting you from but when you heard Rhaego’s voice talking to someone your eyes grew wide and you crawled over his tail to stop in front of him, hands raised towards him in an attempt to avoid what was seemingly about to happen. “No, no it’s okay, it’s okay” you whispered quietly, looking over your shoulder at Walder, whose eyes were wide in horror, your son pushed behind him protectively, Walder gripping his sword at his side and you quickly shook your head. “No, love, no. Come, it’s okay, come” you beckoned him, holding your hand out and Walder gulped, kneeling down and telling his son to stay put before walking hesitantly towards you, Drogon baring his teeth at him, making him stop once more.

“Your sword, love” you stated softly, Walder gulping before taking it off and throwing it to the side, carefully and slowly approaching you, taking your hand in his as you pulled him gently to your side. “Husband, this is Drogon… my brother” you introduced softly, Drogon peering down at him with suspicious eyes and you looked back up at him, the hand raised up towards him slowly beckoned him closer and he listened, lowering his head enough so you could place both yours and Walder’s hand on his snout, Walder flinching at the rough feel of the hardened scales. “Drogon… this is my husband, Walder… and our son, Rhaego” you introduced, the small boy having sneaked up to hide behind you, peering up at the dragon as it blew out hot air into your face, making your braided hair blow back briefly, making you grin at him and chuckle “yes, after our mother’s son…” you murmured, gently petting his snout as Walder hesitantly retreated his hand, looking at you in shock. “How-... how can you- you can understand it- I mean, him??”

“I don’t know actually. I just-... my mother had a bond with them, from the very start, when they hatched… she burned alongside them, born anew… I guess… I had just been freed when I met her dragons… I suppose it could be argued that-... that maybe being reborn figuratively, in some way, gives one a bond to them… an understanding. I thought I had forgotten it but-...” you cut yourself off, looking down as Walder nodded “you still felt it?” he asked, seeing you nod with a sad look in your eyes. Over the years of your marriage he had only grown kinder and more loving, you had a worry that after an heir, a son, he’d grow distant, as you heard arranged marriages often did, but he had only grown more fond of you and your son, always telling him a story before putting the little prince to bed, joining you in your shared bedchambers to enjoy his time with you, in whatever way he could. “Yes, very much so. I’ve felt it throughout the years but-... I didn’t think I’d ever see him again” you admitted, smiling up at the dragon as it closed it’s eyes at the feel of your touch, a smirk forming on your lips as you looked at Walder. “Have you ever ridden a dragon, my love?” you asked seductively, Walder blushing as he smirked at you “none beside you…” he trailed off, his eyes moving to the large beast and he gulped lightly “but I believe I am more happy at your side than his” he joked lightly, a chuckle leaving you as you looked back up at Drogon. “I-... can you watch Rhaego? I just--... just a quick flight, if Drogon wants to” you asked softly, looking from Drogon to Walder and back again to Drogon, the dragon already readying itself, making you smirk and Walder smile “don’t think I could stop you even if I wanted to… are you sure it’s-... safe?” he asked nervously, a smirk tugging on your lips as you chuckled, already climbing up the giant creature, settling right behind it’s head, peering down at him “safe? My love, I used to jump from Dragonstone to land on Rhaegal as he flew by, I jumped from the side of a ship and onto the back of a dragon, I’m safe” you called with amusement, Walder picking up Rhaego and stepping back as far as he could, watching Drogon move out into the sea, large amounts of water splashing and creating large waves as he moved far enough that taking off wouldn’t destroy the Red Keep. Then, he spread his wings and excitement filled you, a familiar sensation of joy and expectation filling you and you held on for dear life, Drogon taking off straight out of the sea, which had only reached the top of his feet.

Sam, who was pushing Bran, and Tyrion had just reached a platform in the gardens when a massive shadow clouded the sun, a large wind sweeping over them and both Tyrion and Sam looked to the sky, expecting the rise of a harsh storm, until they heard it. The sound that could be mistaken for sails flailing about in a storm out at sea, only sails didn’t roar so loudly that it felt as though the ground shook. Both Tyrion and Sam stood in shock and a little bit of fear, Bran smirking as he watched it fly out over the sea, covering the massive horizon with seemingly only his shadow, before he turned around, wing dipped just into the water and when he neared them, both Tyrion and Sam feared the worst but Drogon pulled up just in the nick of time, a large wave caused by the tip of his wing splashed oevr the three of them, drenching them from head to toe as though they had been dropped out into the sea form the skies above, a cheering and laughter coming from the dragon as it swept over King’s Landing, flying high above, soaring until the dragon moved higher and higher and higher and then it steered back out over the sea, seemingly just soaring, enjoying the presence of the queen above it, Tyrion and Sam both trying to get water out of their ears while still watching out for the creature, yet Bran just smirked, drenched from head to toe but it was like he didn’t notice. “The dragon has come home” he stated in an even voice, Tyrion spitting out some water that had dripped into his mouth from his long curly hair, wringing out his beard before looking back out at the black dot that soared and flew and turned about on the horizon “will it stay?” he asked nervously, if the people of King’s Landing thought this massive beast would stay, they might start to fear their new queen, fear that she’d burn down King’s Landing, as her mother had.

“No, the winged dragon will not even be here for a full day” Bran admitted in the same dull voice, his eyes turning to the father and son who were both watching in awe, the ghost of a smile on his lips as he watched them “but an age of new dragons are on the rise” he stated before looking back out over the horizon, hearing a distant roar from Drogon.

[priestessofcreation]

There is literally no reason to think this. None. I’m just fucking around with the idea.

The Faith of the Seven worships as follows: the Father, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, the Smith, the Warrior, and the Stranger.

In this impromptu essay, I will try very badly to fit our characters with these seven. Now GRRM said that his “unofficial five” are: Dany, Jon, Tyrion, Arya, and Bran. We can play around with a few other core characters, but for this sake, I am going to go with Sansa and Jaime.

The Stranger - Arya I am starting with this one because it is the most obvious connection you can make. Arya's journey is literally about death. She experiences grief, brings death on others, and is on track to experience a metaphorical death via the Faceless Men training. Her house is dead, so to speak. Her parents are dead. Most of her family is dead. In the final season, there was even a part after the annihilation of King's Landing where she saw a white horse come to her aid. In Biblical Scripture - Revelations - the horseman, Death, rides a white horse. No one else could rightfully take this role.

The Maiden - Sansa Sansa is widely known to fit the Maiden archetype in many different ways. From the naivety and inexperience of the maiden, to her role in other people's stories. She's "the maiden" for Tyrion, Sandor, and Littlefinger. She is literally the damsel-in-distress for most of her story. And her innocence inadvertently threw her whole family under the bus by going to Cersei (no one talks about this for some reason). Her story is literally about her loss of innocence and learning how to still be herself, while contending with all the darkness in the world.

The Mother - Daenerys The biggest reason for this choice is her title - "Mother of Dragons." However, this goes deeper. Dany lost her son, "birthed" dragons back into the world, and after freeing Slaver's Bay, was effectively referred to as "Mhysa" by the enslaved masses. Despite her innate Targaryen nature and her ultimate goal to conquer Westeros... to the people who appreciate her, they view her as kind, as fair, as a queen... and as a mother. Archetypically, queens are considered the "mothers" of their realms. And I'd even go so far as to say that Dany's kindness vs cruelty arc could very well be compared to the dual nature of a mother. Nurturing, tender, loving vs protective, rageful, ruthless... when it comes to her children, and how the world treats them. Dany has taken anyone who is an outcast and downtrodden and taken them under her protection, as a "mother" does with the innocent. Her struggle, ultimately, is of conqueror vs mother. We could get into deeper gender discussions, but I'll leave it here.

The Father - Jon I really played around with this one. At first, I thought maybe the warrior... but nah, man. The Father. As Dany is rising, so is Jon. The difference is that while Dany contends with life (among the living masses, as well as dealing with fire), Jon contends with death (winter and the others). Dany can afford to be a little wild in her journey because the world she is fighting in is filled with living people who can change things with her, if they so choose. Jon, however, is the "shield in the night" and the one thing - along with his fellow soldiers - standing in the way between humanity and complete annihilation. In tarot, the Emperor is the Father Figure so to speak and he is the one who maintains order, structure, and stability in his kingdom. If the Queen is the kingdom's mother, then the King is the kingdom's father. Now don't get me wrong, Jon's chosen vocation is the black. But later he becomes king. And even later on, in the show, he kills Dany. He does this all in service of maintaining structure, order, stability. Life. He is maintaining the status quo, because the alternative is us ceasing to exist altogether (at least, according to the source material thus far). And yes, Jon never wanted to be king. But he did want to protect people and in a way, that is what a king - the FATHER - does.

The Warrior - Jaime "It is better to be a warrior in a garden, then a gardener in a war." Jaime's whole arc is learning to be a knight. A real knight. Not the twisted and morphed version that Westeros has forced on him. He is learning about honor and humility. He is learning to open his heart. Jaime is a lover, but he had to drown that out a long time ago. And if he yearns to be his real self, then he needs to find a way to balance both. And he is! His interactions with Brienne have changed him. He is developing a stronger desire to be a father and he is losing his attachment to Cersei. He was going around Westeros doing good deeds without any mention of his name. As he opens his heart, so too does he become a better knight. Being a lover means he loves... and that is what a true knight is all about. They protect life, they don't reign down death. That quote up above doesn't just stop with knights though. The best warriors are ones who are aware of the power of the weapon hey have in their hands - when to use it and when to sheath it. It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war. But that means you have to be sensitive of when to use your blade... and that is what Jaime is learning.

The Crone - Bran No, Bran is not old. No, Bran is not a woman. But he is effectively gaining enough magical knowledge to perhaps fit into this role (like I said, I really have to work at this). A crone is an elderly woman with a lifetime's worth of wisdom and knowledge. She understands the world and its magic. And more importantly, she understands the veil because she is nearing closer to death than any of the figures... except for the Stranger. However, in the study of magic, you don't have to be near-death to understand the veil and what is beyond it. But to be clear - Bran did almost die. He lost movement in his legs and he was in a coma for 3 months. He had communication with the Three-Eyed Crow, where his third eye was opened. The contact with magic probably saved his life. The contact with the dead probably left Bran altered permanently. Crones are wise and are very often portrayed as not being all there. We can safely say that in the second half of the TV series, Bran was, uh... not there. He is not a woman. But in the end, he ended up in the same place as the archetypical crone. How it will go in the books is, of course, up for debate.

The Smith - Tyrion Bare with me on this one. The Smith in Greek Mythology was Hephaestus. He had a disability that caused him to be rejected by most of his family. He used cleverness and his own skill to get back at the people who harmed him (his mother). He has a soft spot for people othered by society, including the common folk. He was forced into an uncomfortable marriage. Who does this sound like? Obviously, Tyrion is not a smith. The man doesn't get his hands dirty. His vocation is politics and knowledge, as opposed to Hephaestus being an OBVIOUS craftsman. Tyrion also wants to be at the center of the viper pit, whereas Hephaestus is perfectly happy in his volcano. Its not a perfect comparison, but the struggles... are there. If you squint, both of these men have had to work their asses off to gain any respect at all. They had to make themselves indispensable with their skills. You saw what happened when Tyrion was no longer considered "useful." Physically, yes, Tyrion has never worked as hard as a smith. But the amount of effort these othered individuals had to put in to be taken seriously... is comparable to the sweat and swing that a smith experience everyday.

[veworgive]

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#Zombie and medieval games steam update#

#Zombie and medieval games steam series#

Some are a little different than Dying Light, but still provide a healthy dose of undead carnage and are capable of keeping players occupied for quite some time. In the meantime, there are plenty of other great open-world zombie games to keep players busy, most of which can be played on current gen consoles. Given how long they've already waited though, a few more months shouldn't be all that bad.

#Zombie and medieval games steam mod#

Flans Plane Mod Crafting Recipes - Blogger.

#Zombie and medieval games steam series#

Fans of Valve s Portal game series will definitely love the Portal Gun mod for Minecraft. The good news is, it will be arriving later this year, although fans will have to wait until the very end of 2021 before finally getting their hands on it. 28 minutes ago &0183 &32 All sorts of weapons from the US, UK, The Soviet Union, Japan and Germany from World War Two. There are so many zombie games these days, and even zombie DLC packs, it’s hard to choose what to play. The top rated games you can find here are RimWorld SteamPeek Rating: 11.3 ranked 27, Oxygen Not Included SteamPeek Rating: 10.8 ranked 9 and Banished.

#Zombie and medieval games steam update#

Whether you like your zombies fast and rabid or slow and clumsy, there is no end to the array of zombies on offer in today’s video game market. List of the top Colony Sim games: The top results based on the latest update are The Colonists Score: 2.2, Dawn of Man Score: 2.0 and Life is Feudal: Forest Village Score: 2.0. 'Awesome ambiance with a great finish' is the primary reason. Daenerys Targaryen also known as Stormborn, Dany, Khaleesi, Mhysa, The Unburnt Queen of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and of the First Men Queen of Meereen Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea Breaker of Chains Mother of Dragons to now become a playermodel of her mh. Updated June 12, 2021, by Tom Bowen: After countless delays and years of development, Dying Light 2 finally has a solid release date. RELATED: 15 Zombie Games That Are Obviously Better Than Resident Evil. Age of Empires 2, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Mount & Blade : Warband are probably your best bets out of the 19 options considered. The most obvious of these is the first Dying Light, but there are plenty of other similar games to check out for those who have already played it. Below, we’ve listed the best co-op games on Steam. RELATED: Games That Were Supposed To Come Out In 2020 That Never DidĪlthough the delays are frustrating, anyone who's itching for an open-world zombie experience can still find plenty of other great examples on modern consoles. It can be about escaping zombies or even robbing banks and rigging elections co-op games are spread across genres. It takes time to create these massive open-worlds, especially ones where certain choices can have huge consequences. One of the big reasons is due to the ongoing quarantine, while the other can likely be attributed to normal setbacks in video game development. Dying Light 2 keeps getting delayed for one reason or another.

[ofthepyre]

Daenerys having stretch marks on her belly and scars on her shoulders from where her dragons would perch, carrying permanent reminders of all her children, even the one she lost.

[ladyofbraavos]

“Mhysa, they called her. Someone told him that meant Mother. Soon the silver queen would come forth from her city, smash the Yunkai'i, and break their chains, they whispered to one another. And then she'll bake us all a lemon pie and kiss our widdle wounds and make them better, the dwarf thought. He had no faith in royal rescues.”

(Tyrion X, ADWD)

“Sometimes he wanted to slap her, shake her, scream at her, anything to wake her from her dreams. No one is going to save us, he wanted to scream at her. The worst is yet to come.”

(Tyrion XI, ADWD)

Dany tended Ser Jorah's wound herself, and it began to heal. (Daenerys I, ACOK)

She kissed Irri's hand where Drogon had bitten it. “I'm sorry he hurt you. Dragons are not meant to be locked up in a small ship's cabin.” (Daenerys II, ASOS)

Yesterday a wagon had been overturned and two of her soldiers killed, so today the queen had determined that she would bring the food herself.

-

Dany walked right past him. There was an old man on the ground a few feet away, moaning and staring up at the grey belly of the clouds. She knelt beside him, wrinkling her nose at the smell, and pushed back his dirty grey hair to feel his brow. “His flesh is on fire. I need water to bathe him. Seawater will serve. Marselen, will you fetch some for me? I need oil as well, for the pyre. Who will help me burn the dead?” (Daenerys VI, ADWD)

“You swore to me that the fighters would be grown men who had freely consented to risk their lives for gold and honor. These dwarfs did not consent to battle lions with wooden swords. You will stop it. Now.” (Daenerys IX, ADWD)

Lions. They were going to set lions on us. It would have been exquisitely ironic, that. Perhaps he would have had time for a short, bitter chortle before being torn apart. (Tyrion XI, ADWD)

[asongofstarkandtargaryen]

Dany Month: Politics

Most people on Planetos associate leadership with power. Daenerys is a poweful Queen - arguably more powerful than her foes- with her three dragons, and her huge army. However, an ideal leader shouldn’t just be powerful but also dedicated to serve their people. 

Daenerys is called “Mhysa” (mother) by her followers because she is the queen who cares. That’s why she freed Unsullied - who later decided to follow her campaign out of their own free will- from their masters and also freed all the slaves in Astapor, Yunkai and Meereen.

She has inspired hope to the powerless people as one of Tyrion’s chapters in ADWD reminds us:

Mhysa, they called her. Someone told him that meant Mother. Soon the silver queen would come forth from her city, smash the Yunkai'i, and break their chains, they whispered to one another.

And then she'll bake us all a lemon pie and kiss our widdle wounds and make them better, the dwarf thought. He had no faith in royal rescues.

Tyrion might not believe in a royal rescue (and for a good reason ,this man has witness a lot of cruel monarchs) but that’s exactly what Daenerys does once she realises that defendless people are about to be killed by lions in the fighting pits: 

"You swore to me that the fighters would be grown men who had freely consented to risk their lives for gold and honor. These dwarfs did not consent to battle lions with wooden swords. You will stop it. Now."

The king's mouth tightened. For a heartbeat Dany thought she saw a flash of anger in those placid eyes. "As you command." Hizdahr beckoned to his pitmaster. 

Because Daenerys won’t allow cruelty towards to innocent people, let alone being done “for entertainment”.

Another passage from Tyrion’s pov also illustrates how helpless people from other territories believe in Daenerys, the Breaker of Shackles:

Should you reach your queen, give her a message from the slaves of Old Volantis." She touched the faded scar upon her wrinkled cheek, where her tears had been cut away. "Tell her we are waiting. Tell her to come soon."

Finally, I wanted to add a passage from the chapters after Dany rode Drogon in the pits and went missing. While she’s away, the Lord Commander of her Queensguard and her close advisor Ser Barristan Selmy has a difficult time navigating the crisis in Meereen. But when he thinks about what actions Daenerys would have taken,  he’s certain that she would want to protect her people:

Her children were the freedmen. Mhysa, they called her, all those whose chains she broke. "Mother." The Shavepate was not wrong. Daenerys would want her children protected.

Because Dany always prioritizes the good of her people over her own needs. That’s who she is. The liberator of slaves. The Breaker of Shackles. Mhysa.

[lives4lovesworld]

warsofasoiaf is the biggest clown/incel and I hate that he is a BNF, despite being known for his excessive hate and misunderstanding of Daenerys (x) and favoritism towards Stannis. The man is so utterly biased it's s not even funny anymore. Yet, he is seen as neutral. So... he has earned himself a 🔥roast🔥

Although my prediction for Sansa usually goes in a different direction. As I said before, I think she won’t be a mother to kings, but rather a mother to kingdoms. (x)

I love how he so obvious stole Dany's theme as the healing and saving mother ("Mother to us all", Mhysa, Maela, Aelalla, Qathei, Tato, "Is our Mother dead?", "... this Mother of Dragons, this Breaker of Chains, is above all a rescuer.") and just gave it to Sansa.

A guide of policy and relations, a trusted friend to kings, and a political power in her own right. (x)

None of that is set up. NONE. Sansa has been a political, supervised hostage paraded by her captors since ACoK, and since ASoS is even believed dead.

It's a mystery what he (and others) all expect from the two tight-paced books to come for a passive secondary character, especially when Sansa has yet to reclaim her identity before any of these grandiose ~speculations~ can "happen". A most disadvantageous identity that does not allow her to be an autonomous player so many want her to be.

Despite this fandom's insistence of the opposite, as confined political hostage Sansa was never taught or amassed any experiences that would make her "a guide of policy and relations" nor was ever able to built relationships to become a "trusted friend to kings". GRRM has so far done everything in his might to prevent her from becoming "a political power in own right" through her gender, her place in the succession, her status as DEATH/DISAPPEARED/wanted by the Crown, being accused as traitor & kingslayer, her marriage and Robb's Will. It all prevents a hypothetical political phoenix rise so many already treat as canon.

warsofasoiaf presents this post as a "prediction" based on the last books, but calling this his personal wishfullfilment and endgame for Sansa and what she will do/learn/meet in the two books to come would be more accurate.

The common theory is that Sansa will learn and gravitate toward politics, and I agree largely with that assessment of her arc. My prediction of Sansa is sort of a spin on the classic twist ending. The Lannisters, the Tyrells, Littlefinger, were all using her for her claim on Winterfell, so I think it’s a delightful little twist if instead, she turns that around and has ties to Casterly Rock, Highgarden, and the Eyrie. (x)

What ties? What ties does Sansa supposedly has to Casterly Rock? Her marriage to Tyrion Lannister? A marriage that is only treated as canon and taken in consideration when it serves Sansa by the fandom? Her supposed ties coming from Tyrion Lannister, who needs to win his right to Casterly Rock by force and establish himself as political authority back, therefore all oaths by and to him (thereby his marriages) after he has been declared as wanted by the crown for regicide, treason and kinslaying?

If Tyrion succeeds in such, and if Sansa miraculously manages to reclaim her identity and does not attempt to annul their marriage (given the faith’s ableism and both the groom and bride being declared to have committed numerous severe crimes would be futile) and he takes her as his wife again, she would simply be his Lady wife at his side.

All of this (excluding Tyrion's rise to power) is highly unlikely, but even in these theories Sansa would have a hard time winning the most basic respect of westmen due their houses' bloody history.

What supposedly ties does Sansa have to Highgarden? The two te parties Margaery Tyrell invited Sansa to? House Tyrell's two week long scheme of a marriage between her and Willias Tyrell? After Sansa's wedding to Tyrion, she was shunned and dropped like a hot potato by them.

All noble houses of the Vale have stronger ties to the Eyrie than disgraced, disinherited, dead believed Sansa Lannister through her kinship to Robert Arryn and her late aunt Lady Lisa TULLY.

Swiping castles and building a massive power base to subdue her enemies though, isn’t Sansa Stark. (x)

That's entirely an assumption given that no one knows what Sansa would actually do with true power, given that to have such she would have to be independent first. But yes in theory (which is the only place demure, conforming Sansa would even dare to hold so much power typically only reserved for men) she likely would remain as passive as possible.

So instead, I channel that through her natural compassion and ability to forge relationships to shape my prediction. (x)

Sansa having "natural compassion" is entirely subjective, however since Sansa remains a hostage without allies and friends throughout the entire course of the series, proclaiming her to have a "ability to forge relationships" is rather delusional. So far, Sansa seems to have forged only a genuine bond with Sandor Clegane, everybody else; Dontos, (paid by LF,) Petyr Bealish, Margaery and her ladies' only interest in her were/was for their own personal gain. Unlike her siblings, Daenerys and Tyrion she has yet to inspire loyalty in even one individual or build a bond.

"So Sansa becomes a political force, but her ties and her character instead turn her into a diplomat, adviser, and trusted confidant of the other kings." (x)

An endgame built upon HCs upon wishfullfilment. As already said, Sansa is unlikely to become "a diplomat, adviser, and trusted confidant of the other kings" her so called "ties" are non existing or so minor that they are insignificant, and all already mentioned, current obstacles diminish all of chances of her to ever become an independent "political force".

Thus, Sansa is no queen (what she wanted in the beginning), but in a way, she’s greater than a queen could ever be, holding influence and sway from Dorne to the Wall. (x)

At this point it is just straight up writing fanfic. On what basis is the prediction made that Sansa will evolve from the dependent, invisible pawn she is now to a power house, influencing the entire continent of Westeros?

It's also quite amusing that if taken these words out of context, they would actually describe Daenerys: A She-King in her own right, as never seen before, inspiring people across the continents, but also inspiring fear and hatred (due to her slavery abolition agenda), that has shocked the world like never before and is prophesied to lead the world through darkness.

As I’ve mentioned before, I see Sansa as a diplomat, councilor, and liaison between all the kingdoms herself, the de facto political head of Westeros when it comes to trade agreements, defensive pacts, and so on. (x)

So now Sansa has ties to ALL kingdoms? HOW? "The de facto political head of Westeros"? Straight up fanfic at this point, and BNFs and neutrals have the audacity to present such as objective analysis. How does one jump from wanting Sansa to become independent to predicting she will become "the de facto political head of Westeros when it comes to trade agreements, defensive pacts, and so on." Trade agreements and defensive pacts? Based on what? What has Sansa done, which decisions, pacts and agreements has she been involved in that would indicate anything like that? Sansa has done nothing in terms of politics on her own. She not once had to puzzle over rations, trade or defense like Jon, Dany or Tyrion had.

The other part is because I like the idea of Sansa turning the struggles of her earlier plot into advantages. (x)

Only with Sansa, huh?

Everyone had been trying to use her as their ticket to Winterfell, so instead she turns it around and uses her ties to others as soft political power. (x)

Again, WHAT TIES? The ones non existing or the ones entirely theoretical? Girl had two ties at best; to Winterfell through her birth and to Casterly Rock as Lady Wife to Tyrion Lannister. Both have been diminished through her brother's royal declare and the crown's condemnation of Tyrion

However, given that her arc does indeed involve surpassing Littlefinger, it’s important for her to sustain her natural compassion and thus channel that power through it. (x)

Sansa 'overthrowing'/ 'outsmarting'/ 'surpassing' Petyr Bealish while so popular that it has been canonized already, still entirely remains a HC. One not likely to happen for the matter.

It gives her sort of what she was looking for in the beginning, the idea of being Queen of Westeros, but it also is a delightful twist on her being a political pawn to make it work for her. (x)

Ah, yes it would be quite "a delightful twist" if Sansa ends up as somewhat being the Queen of the Westeros as she was originally meant to become as wife to Joffrey. How very subversive. And it would only be one if it's Sansa to make "being a political pawn [to make it] work for her". 🤡

[torchwood-99]

Falsehoods about Dany easily disproven by the text

Dany is arrogant

Dany calls herself a monster, worries constantly about the choices she makes as a ruler, blames herself when things go wrong even when she could not have avoided it.

Dany is bloodthirsty

The problem with Dany’s leadership in Meereen is that she was too gentle and conciliatory towards the slavers as she just gave them the chance to regroup and regain their power. She avoided bloodshed after the initial sack and was desperate for peace. Her one act of bloodthirstiness was in response to seeing hundreds of innocent children brutally murdered in an attempt to mock her. 

Dany only uses the slaves to fight her battles

Dany does not stop freeing slaves after she has got an army. She frees the elderly, the infirm, bed slaves and other non-combatants and invites them into her train. She gives them food and sustenance which she could have kept for her soldiers. She specifically goes to cities where there is no army for her because she intends to free the slaves there, regardless of how useful they are to her.

Dany also refuses all offers of wealth and ships and alliances (Yunkai, Qarth, Dorne) because it means turning her back on the freedmen who would fall prey to slavers if she left at this point.

Dany expects to be worshipped by everyone

Dany knows that Illyrio was lying to Viserys about the Westeros people crying out for their true king. She regularly endures insults from nobles about her savage Westeros blood and she just sits there and grits her teeth. She outright hates it when the slaver classes call her Mhysa at the Dragonpit because she does not wish to be their mother.  

Dany never learns from her mistakes

Dany is motivated to stay in Meereen because she outright refuses to have another Astapor of Ereoh on her conscience. She knows that she needs to stay behind and help establish peace.

Dany only cares about the throne

Daenerys longs for her home. Like every other noble she believes in her birth right, but she also believes it is her duty to protect people. She listens to everyone who comes to her to plead their cases, marries a man she cares little for in order to safeguard her people. When a terrible sickness breaks out she goes out among the ill and suffering. Instead of using her ‘magical dragon blood’ to consider herself superior to them, she takes it as meaning she has no justification to turn a blind eye from the suffering that surrounds her. She locks away her dragons, the symbol of her power, because a little girl was killed.

Dany does nothing to rebuild Mereen

Dany instigates trade with the Lhazareen after the Mereneese nobles scorched the fields, planted crops, married one noble, took the advice of the Green Grace, took noble children as her hostages but treated them well so that they began to grow fond of her, all the way seeing off insurrections and invasion. She does all of this before she is even an adult.

Dany is selfish and doesn’t know how to love

Dany is delighted at the chance to buy gifts for her entourage. Dany; a fourteen year old child bride and rape victim risks standing up to her Khal and his blood riders in order to mitigate the suffering of their captives. Daenerys holds Doreah in her arms as she dies. Dany is sickened by the cruelty of the slave trade and puts her own quest on hold in order to fight it. Dany comes to love Missandei and wants nothing more than to protect her. Dany is affectionate towards her cupbearers/hostages and refuses to harm them even after her councillor insists she must. Dany refuses to turn her back on the sick who come to her walls, and tries to help them in whatever way she can.

[rainhadaenerys]

Daenerys and her growing discontent with the peace in ADWD

For Daenerys Targaryen Appreciation Month 2021

Day 1: Favorite books, chapters or arcs.

ADWD is my favorite book for Daenerys, because of its political storyline, and because of Dany's growing discontent with the peace she forged and wanted so much. Unlike what many in the fandom seem to think, Dany's growing discontent with the peace is not because of some "violent nature", but because of her compassion and learning. She starts to realize that the peace is hurting her freedmen, and that the peace is not sustainable because the slavers are untrustworthy and could attack her at any moment, as can be seen in the quotes below:

She had not forgotten the slave children the Great Masters had nailed up along the road from Yunkai. They had numbered one hundred sixty-three, a child every mile, nailed to mileposts with one arm outstretched to point her way. After Meereen had fallen, Dany had nailed up a like number of Great Masters. Swarms of flies had attended their slow dying, and the stench had lingered long in the plaza. Yet some days she feared that she had not gone far enough. These Meereenese were a sly and stubborn people who resisted her at every turn. They had freed their slaves, yes … only to hire them back as servants at wages so meagre that most could scarce afford to eat. Those too old or young to be of use had been cast into the streets, along with the infirm and the crippled. And still the Great Masters gathered atop their lofty pyramids to complain of how the dragon queen had filled their noble city with hordes of unwashed beggars, thieves, and whores. - Daenerys I ADWD

~

It was not that Dany harbored any love for Yunkai. She was coming to regret leaving the Yellow City untaken after defeating its army in the field. The Wise Masters had returned to slaving as soon as she moved on, and were busy raising levies, hiring sellswords, and making alliances against her. - Daenerys I ADWD

~

“There may be another choice. The Yunkai'i can be persuaded to allow all your freedmen to remain free, I believe, if Your Worship will agree that the Yellow City may trade and train slaves unmolested from this day forth. No more blood need flow.”

“Save for the blood of those slaves that the Yunkai'i will trade and train,” Dany said, but she recognized the truth in his words even so. It may be that is the best end we can hope for. – Daenerys IV ADWD

~

“His Grace is dreaming, but I cannot sleep. On the morrow I must bathe in blood. The price of peace.” – Daenerys VIII

~

Dany scarce touched a bite. This is peace, she told herself. This is what I wanted, what I worked for, this is why I married Hizdahr. So why does it taste so much like defeat? - Daenerys VIII ADWD

~

“It is only for a little while more, my love,” Hizdahr had assured her. “The Yunkai'i will soon be gone, and their allies and hirelings with them. We shall have all we desired. Peace, food, trade. Our port is open once again, and ships are being permitted to come and go.”

“They are permitting that, yes,” she had replied, “but their warships remain. They can close their fingers around our throat again whenever they wish. They have opened a slave market within sight of my walls!” – Daenerys VIII ADWD

~

The Brazen Beasts did as they were bid. Dany watched them at their work. “Those bearers were slaves before I came. I made them free. Yet that palanquin is no lighter.” – Daenerys IX ADWD

~

They stamped their feet and slapped their bellies and shouted, “Mhysa, Mhysa, Mhysa,” until the whole pit seemed to tremble. Dany let the sound wash over her. I am not your mother, she might have shouted, back, I am the mother of your slaves, of every boy who ever died upon these sands whilst you gorged on honeyed locusts. – Daenerys IX ADWD

~

The boar buried his snout in Barsena's belly and began rooting out her entrails. The smell was more than the queen could stand. The heat, the flies, the shouts from the crowd … I cannot breathe. She lifted her veil and let it flutter away. She took her tokar off as well. The pearls rattled softly against one another as she unwound the silk.

"Khaleesi?" Irri asked. "What are you doing?"

"Taking off my floppy ears." - Daenerys IX ADWD

~ ​​

"It is such a long way," she complained. "I was tired, Jorah. I was weary of war. I wanted to rest, to laugh, to plant trees and see them grow. I am only a young girl."

No. You are the blood of the dragon. The whispering was growing fainter, as if Ser Jorah were falling farther behind. Dragons plant no trees. Remember that. Remember who you are, what you were made to be. Remember your words. 

“Fire and Blood,” Daenerys told the swaying grass. - Daenerys X ADWD

[sayruq]

have you seen this? https://twitter.com/demarcus74_/status/1477338785293774856?t=eAy0BG0ZJtxqQPZ7fVNizA&s=19 lmfao

the tweet

dany stans in the replies fighting for their lives. one of them even posted an illustration to 'prove' the scene wasn't racist in the books when it clearly was

On the morning of the third day, the city gates swung open and a line of slaves began to emerge. Dany mounted her silver to greet them. As they passed, little Missandei told them that they owed their freedom to Daenerys Stormborn, the Unburnt, Queen of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and Mother of Dragons. "Mhysa!" a brown-skinned man shouted out at her. He had a child on his shoulder, a little girl, and she screamed the same word in her thin voice. "Mhysa! Mhysa!" Dany looked at Missandei. "What are they shouting?"

"Mhysa!" they called. "Mhysa! MHYSA!" They were all smiling at her, reaching for her, kneeling before her. "Maela," some called her, while others cried "Aelalla" or "Qathei" or "Tato," but whatever the tongue it all meant the same thing. Mother. They are calling me Mother.

the city states of slaver's bay took slaves from all parts of essos and beyond. the idea that all the slaves are white is so laughable because they're not, far from it in fact.

finally, those stans using grrm's quote (when he was trying to evade criticism) where he compared the slave system in his book to the roman system rather than the american chattel slavery don't realise that it still doesn't make daenerys good because we're not arguing about the slave systems, we're saying the slaves are not white and dany is presented as a white saviour and that's why that scene was so revolting. plus the romans took slaves from africa too lmao.

[aboveallarescuer]

#that happens even when the person isnt trying to argue that shes a mad queen/villain but that she has both 'good' and 'evil' in her#and is meant to fail#(e.g. that meta about how dany is a tragic shakespearean hero; which annoys me more bc it sounds convincing when you don't remember what#happened in the books very well...

Can you talk more about your problems with that essay? I thought that it sounded plausible... I don't want those things to happen to Daenerys, but I don't trust GRRM either.

Anon, thank you for this ask and sorry for the delayed answer. I was already planning to write several posts as a response to the arguments of “Daughter of Death: A Song of Ice and Fire’s Shakespearean Tragic Hero” (which you can read here), but I couldn't find the time or motivation for that lately, so thanks for giving me the opportunity to counter-argue it in a single answer. I tried to be brief by summarizing some of my notes and by linking to a lot of metas instead of repeating all of their points, but the response unfortunately ended up becoming long anyway.

In the context of that essay, Dany is considered a Shakespearean tragic hero because the writer thinks she fits five requirements: 1) Dany’s chapters contain supposedly deliberate references to Shakespearean plays; 2) Dany is “torn by an internal struggle”, namely peace versus violence or companionship versus rulership or home versus the Iron Throne, all of which also drive the external conflicts. Choosing the second options will lead to her demise; 3) prophecies and “influential accidents” - that is, events that “have roots in a character’s motivation”, as well as “the sense of ‘if only this had not happened’” - will “heighten and exaggerate [tragic flaws that] already [exist]” in Dany; 4) Dany will (according to the essayist’s speculations) take actions that produce “exceptional calamity” and her demise will be “her own choice and doing”; 5) Dany “[rose] high in position” and is “an exceptional being”, which sets her apart as a character that fits the mold of the Shakespearean tragedy because her reversal of fortune will highlight “the greatness and piteousness of humanity”.

I would argue that the points that the essayist made to justify how Dany supposedly fits these five requirements are all very skewed.

1) When it comes to requirement 1 (Dany’s chapters contain supposedly deliberate references to Shakespearean plays), the essayist is conveniently cherry-picking (as they often do throughout the meta). Bran Stark wants a dreamless sleep just like Dany: “Sweet, dreamless sleep, Bran thought.” (ACOK Bran I); “That night Bran prayed to his father’s gods for dreamless sleep.” (ACOK Bran II). Indeed, @marinabridgerton argues that that’s most likely tied to the fact that they’re the two characters most heavily associated with prophecies. Even Sansa is said to have a dreamless sleep: “Sometimes her sleep was leaden and dreamless, and she woke from it more tired than when she had closed her eyes” (AGOT Sansa VI). And yet, where are the essays about how these quotes are teaching the readership to interpret Bran’s and Sansa’s characters, storylines and trajectories based on Shakespearean tragedies?

2) When it comes to requirement 2 (Dany is “torn by an internal struggle”, namely peace versus violence or companionship versus rulership or home versus the Iron Throne, all of which also drive the external conflicts. Choosing the second options will lead to her demise), the essayist is right to point out that those dilemmas exist. However, they portray Dany’s struggles in a way that makes it seem that 1) there are “good” options (peace/companionship/home) and “bad” options (violence/rulership/Iron Throne) for Dany to take and that 2) choosing the latter ones will lead to Dany’s downfall. There is a lot to question about these assumptions.

2.1) When it comes to Dany’s conflict between peace versus violence, the essayist takes everything that Adam Feldman’s series of essays “Untangling the Meereenese Knot” says for granted when it shouldn’t be. I’m not going to delve into all the problems/inaccuracies/double standards with those essays. For our purposes here, it’s enough to say that they: 1) dichotomize Dany’s identity into mhysa and mother of dragons to argue that the former represents her desire for peace and the latter her violent impulses; 2) assert that the peace was real; 3) conclude that, by rejecting the peace, the Dany of ASOS is gone and from now on she’s going to be a very different person because she will have chosen to follow her violent impulses.

As already argued before, though, 1) Dany’s character can’t be dichotomized in that way because these facets - mhysa and mother of dragons - actually complement each other (as @yendany made clear in her most recent meta). Because Dany was the mother of dragons, she was able to act as mhysa way before she was hailed as such, which we see, for instance, when she kills the Astapori slave masters to free the Unsullied. Both of these identities manifest Dany’s fierceness when faced with great injustices. This is why, in ADWD, locking her dragon children prevented Dany from properly defending her human children… She needs to integrate both parts of her identity to be able to protect them. But Feldman couldn’t recognize that because 2) he accepts the peace deal that Dany made with the slavers as valid. Doing so would mean, however, ignoring the re-enslavement and suffering of thousands of marginalized people, which GRRM continually emphasizes in Dany's and Tyrion’s final ADWD chapters (read more about this here and here) to hammer home that the peace is false for prioritizing the slavers over them. Finally, 3) Dany is not a violent person nor does she have violent impulses. Feldman decontextualized the moments in which Dany uses violence from the standards of her time and place (read more about this here and here and here and here) to portray them in a more negative light than how they are actually meant to be viewed. Additionally, he conveniently left out all the moments in which Dany chooses to be merciful, from when she spares Yunkai and most of the Meereenese slavers (she didn’t do the same in Astapor because she was outnumbered and needed to protect her retinue) to when she doesn’t punish people who threaten or disrespect her to her face (such an envoy who spits at her face, a boy who tries to attack her, Xaro after he says he wishes he’d killed her), to give a few examples (read more about this in @rainhadaenerys's comprehensive meta). I would argue that Dany’s conflict is less about peace versus violence and more accurately about her tendency to be merciful versus her desire for justice (which, especially in the particular context she finds herself in, is unattainable without violence). In fact, I would go further and say that it’s distasteful to characterize Dany as someone “violent” or with “violent impulses” when, so far, she’s only used violence to a) defend and protect victims of (physical and systemic) violence and/or b) in circumstances in which her actions are no more problematic than those of any other leader of her world. And yet, the essayist portrays them as if they were (“To choose indiscriminate destruction over peace tends toward the evil”).

It’s also convenient that the essayist only talks about fire negatively (“Dany wields unmatched power that can “make or unmake at a word”—Dracarys—villages, armies and kingdoms”, “in the words of Maester Aemon, “Fire consumes.””) when it's also connected to life, rebirth, healing and enlightenment. And dracarys in particular is explicitly associated with freedom by the narrative while Dany frees the Unsullied (her decision, in turn, is associated with her future actions in the War for the Dawn). But acknowledging these things would make it harder to portray Dany as a Shakespearean tragic hero.

2.2) When it comes to Dany’s conflict between companionship and rulership … Again, the dilemma exists, but not in the way that the essayist presents it. What I mean is that they go out of their way to make it seem that Dany’s loneliness was the main factor driving her decisions, such as the liberation of the Unsullied (“She feels for the forced loneliness of the Unsullied, and it is loneliness that convinces her to commit violence in the plaza to free the slaves—just as it is in loneliness she chooses violence amidst the Dothraki Sea.”)... And not, y’know, her compassion and sense of justice (“Why do the gods make kings and queens, if not to protect the ones who can’t protect themselves?”), which are rarely acknowledged in this essay even though it’s arguably the main aspect of Dany's characterization. Why does the essayist do that? Because, since they are arguing that Dany is a tragic hero, they need to present Dany’s loneliness both as the reason why she achieved greatness and as the reason that will lead to her demise when she (supposedly) starts distrusting people, closing herself off and choosing violence (“the moral conviction she feels for her abolitionist crusade is part of the greatness that is also her tragic trait [...] She feels for the forced loneliness of the Unsullied, and it is loneliness that convinces her to commit violence in the plaza to free the slaves—just as it is in loneliness she chooses violence amidst the Dothraki Sea.”). As I said, however, doing so requires downplaying Dany’s compassion, as well as ignoring the fact that she does not close herself off to people in ADWD, nor is there any sign that this was seeded as a serious issue for her in future books (especially considering that her governance is meant to be contrasted with Cersei, the character who actually does close herself off to people. But more on that below when I talk about why Dany doesn’t fit the essayist’s third requirement).

Also, singling out rulership in particular as a reason for Dany to feel alone is conveniently selective (“Returning to Westeros means ruling Westeros - and ruling means loneliness”). All the major characters have reasons to feel lonely and isolated in their society because GRRM chose to focus on the underdogs. Their social standings are already enough to make all of them feel alone. As he said, “Tyrion of course is a dwarf which has its own challenges. Dany is an exile, powerless, penniless, at the mercy of other people, and Jon is a bastard”. You can also throw in Arya for being a young girl struggling to adhere to gender norms and Bran for being a disabled child. And that is just one example… There are a myriad of reasons and situations for various characters to feel lonely and isolated, but the essayist specifically chose to talk about how rulership causes that for Dany. And, considering that the essayist thinks that Dany’s rulership -> growing isolation and loneliness -> her ultimate downfall, it really feels like they’re punishing Dany narratively for acquiring and wielding power. Which leads me to the next point...

2.3) When it comes to Dany’s conflict between home and the Iron Throne, I would argue that that’s not really a conflict. Dany (like any feudal leader) believes she needs to retake the Iron Throne to stay in her homeland just like the Starks believe they need to retake Winterfell to stay in their homeland. Whether Dany finds herself at home in Westeros or not is irrelevant to that fact. And yet, the essayist only presents the former as being in the wrong for fighting for her birthright. However, as it's been already explained before, the Starks’ claim to the North isn’t morally righteous. They only have dominance over the North because, for thousands of years, their ancestors fought against, drove away and killed most of its indigenous population (the Children of the Forest), as well as multiple families who were also vying for control over the region. With that in mind, Dany fighting for her birthright isn’t any more problematic than the Starks enjoying the lands and privileges obtained with conquest and bloodshed, as well as the labor of peasants. One could argue that GRRM may have a double standard against Dany in this case (though it's been argued before that he doesn't intend to present the Iron Throne as a source of greed and evil like how fandom presents it) because of the order of the events and depending on whether he holds Dany accountable for more problems for waging her war than the Starks for having done/doing essentially the same thing, but that’s not what the essayist is doing. Instead, they a) take for granted that Dany is doing the wrong thing for fighting for the Iron Throne ("To delay the call of the North and continue to divide an already weakened realm is to give into dark desires.") and b) center all their speculations about her eventual demise based on that belief.

Ultimately, I would argue that none of these three dilemmas - peace versus violence, companionship versus rulership, home versus the Iron Throne - come with easy answers. When it comes to the first conflict, it’s important that Dany prioritizes the lives of the slaves over the privileges of the masters, but that causes more war and bloodshed. When it comes to the second and the third conflicts, it’s worth noting that the first options (which the essayist presents as the “good” ones) are actually the selfish paths for Dany to take. After all, she would rather live a normal life with a husband (companionship) in the house with the red door (home) - “She would rather have drifted in the fragrant pool all day, eating iced fruit off silver trays and dreaming of a house with a red door, but a queen belongs to her people, not to herself”. But, as the quote shows, instead of choosing these selfish goals, Dany accepts the burden of rulership and the fight for the Iron Throne because of her duty towards her people and ancestors. And, while this path leads to war (either in Meereen or in Westeros, though the former is morally righteous and the latter, while not inherently justified, is not any more problematic than Robb fighting for Northern independence), power is also the means through which Dany can make changes that benefit the common people.

With all that said, it’s ironic that Dany fans are often accused of flattening her character or her choices when it’s actually her detractors or “neutrals” (like the essayist) who do so - they are dead set on portraying Dany’s available options as either “good” or “bad” and on speculating that choosing the latter ones will lead to her downfall, but the text actually gives her conflicts in which all the options have their pros and cons.

The essayist also makes a mistake that isn’t really up to interpretation or difference in opinions. They say that, in AGOT Daenerys III, “after admitting this difficult truth [that Viserys will never take back the Seven Kingdoms], Dany assumes the goal for herself (and at the time, her son)”. That is incorrect. In AGOT Daenerys V, moments before Viserys’s death, Dany says she would have allowed him to have the dragon eggs because “he is my brother … and my true king”. Jorah doesn’t think she should still acknowledge him as such, but she tells him that “he is all I have”. So no, Dany hadn’t assumed the goal for herself at that point, she only took over his campaign in her son's name (not hers) after Viserys's death. But the essayist needs to exaggerate Dany's ambition to justify her demise, since they speculate that “in that hurt and betrayal, all that will be left - she will think - is the crown”.

3) When it comes to requirement 3 (prophecies and “influential accidents” - that is, events that “have roots in a character’s motivation”, as well as “the sense of ‘if only this had not happened’” - will “heighten and exaggerate [tragic flaws that] already [exist]” in Dany), the problem is not in cherry-picking or in double standards against Dany, but rather in the essayist’s lack of knowledge about Dany’s characterization. It’s simply not true that Dany’s distrust of people grows to the point that she closes herself off to them. Instead, I would argue that Dany is actually portrayed as someone with a healthy distrust of people. We know from the books (1, 2, 3, 4) that she finds it unlikely that Barristan, Grey Worm or Missandei would ever betray her, but that she doesn’t think she can rely entirely upon Reznak, the Green Grace, the Shavepate, Hizdahr and Daario. Do Dany’s doubts about these people’s intentions lead her to, as the essayist says, “push people away”? No. Through almost all of ADWD, she (wrongly, though understandably) believes that "until [freedmen and former masters stand together, Meereen will know no peace". Accordingly, Dany is willing to listen to the counsel of all of her advisors (both the ones she trusts and the ones she distrusts) to ensure that she makes informed decisions. To give some examples:

Dany allows “well spoken and gently born” people (i.e., not the typical condition of most former slaves, who are glad that Dany freed them) to sell themselves into slavery and imposes a tax each time men chose to do so like how it happened in Astapor (ASOS Daenerys VI). By making this decision, she agreed with both Missandei and Daario.

Dany employs the Unsullied to ask the Blue Graces if someone showed up with a sword wound and to ask butchers and herdsmen who’s been gelding goats (ADWD Daenerys I). By making this decision, she disagreed with Barristan.

Dany chooses not to punish any noble in response to the murder of Stalwart Shield and only increases the amount of gold for whoever gives information about the Sons of the Harpy (ADWD Daenerys I). By making this decision, she agreed with Reznak and disagreed with the Shavepate.

Dany gives up on banning the tokar and wears it herself (ADWD Daenerys I). By making this decision, she agreed with the Green Grace.

Dany (rightly) refuses to reopen the fighting pits for a while until she later relents in the name of the peace with the Meereenese nobles (ADWD Daenerys I, II, III, VI). By making this decision, she disagreed with Hizdahr, Reznak, the Green Grace and the Shavepate and agreed with Missandei.

Dany delays the choice of a husband until it becomes necessary later (ADWD Daenerys I). By making this decision, she disagreed with Reznak, the Shavepate and the Green Grace.

Dany chooses to pay the shepherds for the animals that they say their dragons ate (ADWD Daenerys I). By making this decision, she disagreed with Reznak.

Dany pays Hazzea’s father the blood price (i.e., one hundred times the worth of a lamb) for her death, lays her bones to rest in the Temple of the Graces and promises to pay for his children each year so they shall not want (ADWD Daenerys II). By making this decision, she disagreed with the Shavepate.

Dany allows the Shavepate to torture the wineseller and his daughters for information about the Sons (ADWD Daenerys II). By making this decision, she agreed with the Shavepate.

Dany imposes a blood tax on the noble families to pay for a new watch led by the Shavepate, takes the gold and the stores of food of any nobleman who wishes to leave the city and keeps two children from each pyramid as hostages instead of letting the nobles go unpunished after nine freedmen were killed by the Sons (ADWD Daenerys II). By making this decision, she agreed with the Shavepate and disagreed with Reznak.

Dany has Barristan and Groleo and his captains and sailors to inspect Xaro’s ships (ADWD Daenerys III). By making this decision, she agreed with Barristan.

Dany chooses not to go to Westeros despite being offered ships to do so (ADWD Daenerys III). By making this decision, she disagreed with Barristan.

Dany doesn’t kill her child hostages despite the Sons’ ongoing attacks (ADWD Daenerys IV). By making this decision, she agreed with the Green Grace and disagreed with the Shavepate.

Dany agrees to marry Hizdahr if he’s able to give her ninety days of peace in Meereen (ADWD Daenerys IV). By making this decision, she agreed with Hizdahr, the Green Grace and Reznak and disagreed with the Shavepate, Barristan, Missandei and Daario.

Dany refuses to gather the masters and kill them indiscriminately (ADWD Daenerys IV). By making this decision, she disagreed with Daario.

Dany doesn’t allow the Shavepate to continue his tortures due to their unreliable results (ADWD Daenerys V). By making this decision, she agreed with Hizdahr and disagreed with the Shavepate.

Dany refuses to use her dragons in battle (ADWD Daenerys V). By making this decision, she agreed with Reznak.

Dany decides not to take the field against Yunkai (ADWD Daenerys V). By making this decision, she agreed with the Shavepate and disagreed with Barristan.

Dany brings the food to the Astapori refugees instead of sending someone else to do it (ADWD Daenerys VI). By making this decision, she disagreed with Reznak, the Shavepate and Barristan.

Dany burns the dead among the Astapori refugees, bathes an old man and shames her men into helping her (ADWD Daenerys VI). By making this decision, she disagreed with Barristan.

Dany refuses to allow Hizdahr’s mother and sisters to inspect her womb and to wash Hizdahr’s feet before he washes hers (ADWD Daeneerys VI). By making this decision, she disagreed with the Green Grace and Reznak.

Dany decides to marry Hizdahr by Ghiscari rites and to wear a white tokar fringed with pearls (ADWD Daenerys VI). By making this decision, she agreed with the Green Grace and Reznak.

Dany allows Hizdahr to reopen the fighting pits (ADWD Daenerys VI). By making this decision, she agreed with Hizdahr, the Green Grace and Reznak.

Dany goes along with a peace agreement with the Yunkish slavers in which she’ll let Yunkai and Astapor reinstall slavery if they leave Meereen intact (ADWD Daenerys VI). By making this decision, she agreed with Hizdahr.

Dany holds court in order to, among other reasons, meet the Westerosi men that came over from the Windblown (ADWD Daenerys VII). By making this decision, she agreed with Daario.

Dany doesn’t accept Quentyn’s marriage proposal because she doesn’t want to abandon her people (ADWD Daenerys VII). By making this decision, she disagreed with Barristan.

Dany doesn’t ride a horse in a tokar to meet Hizdahr (ADWD Daenerys VII). By making this decision, she agreed with Missandei.

Dany decides not to sound out the Company of the Cats (even though she wanted to) because Barristan says he's untrustworthy (ADWD Daenerys VIII). By making this decision, she agreed with Barristan.

Dany attends the reopening of the pits (ADWD Daenerys IX). By making this decision, she disagreed with Missandei.

Dany allows the Brazen Beasts to guard her because she wants to show that she trusts them so that her people can trust them as well (ADWD Daenerys IX). By making this decision, she disagreed with Barristan.

Dany prevents Tyrion and Penny from fighting against lions with wooden swords. By making this decision, she disagreed with Hizdahr.

I didn’t include all of Dany’s decisions because she makes many of them on her own and/or without someone explicitly supporting them or opposing them (in fact, many of the ones above were made without any advisor giving her their feedback, but I listed them if they’re seen agreeing or disagreeing with her onpage anyway). That being said, note that Reznak is the one that Dany is most suspicious of (because he perfectly fits the description of one of the treasoners), but that five of her decisions follow his recommendations, in contrast to Barristan (the knight who she actually trusts and who keeps all her secrets) only having his advice followed twice. Also note that Dany “trusted Skahaz more than she trusted Hizdahr”, but she agreed with the former three times and disagreed with him eight times, in contrast to having agreed with the latter four times and disagreed with him twice. The list clearly shows that Dany listens to everyone’s feedback (including from people she distrusts), considers it carefully, makes her own decisions and handles dissent extremely well. Her actions reflect her own words (“A queen must listen to all. [...] One voice may speak you false, but in many there is always truth to be found”, “It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone”).

There is, however, one character who is seen only listening to people who agree with her and who distrusts and closes herself off to almost everyone - Cersei Lannister. And it’s especially worth noting that Cersei is meant to be “directly contrasted” with Dany, that the author was “doing point and counterpoint” with them and that each of them is meant to show “a different approach to how a woman would rule in a male dominated, medieval-inspired fantasy world”. In other words, Dany and Cersei are narrative foils, but Cersei’s traits are being transferred to Dany in this essay.

Also, I could just as easily create an entire narrative about how Sansa will end up closing herself off to people based on what we see on canon. She thought she could trust Joffrey, but she ultimately couldn’t. She thought she could trust Cersei, but she ultimately couldn’t. She trusted Sandor, but he left her. She tried to trust the Tyrells, but they ultimately disposed of her after she was no longer necessary. She tried to rely on Dontos, but he was a disappointment and was ultimately murdered. She doesn’t trust Littlefinger, but she needs to stick to his side because she has no better option. She considered telling the Vale lords her identity, but she doesn’t trust them. All of this feeds into Sansa’s distrust of others and will lead to tragic consequences. Indeed, as Sansa herself says, "In life, the monsters win". I bet that the essayist would find this whole speculation biased considering that they favor Sansa's character. But then, why is only Dany singled out as the one who is going to meet her demise even though it’s made clear that she continues to trust people through and through?

The essayist needs to say that Dany starts distrusting people to an unhealthy degree (“As Dany gains more power, [...] her focus on the treasons causes her to push people away, widening the gap between rulership and companionship”; ”The more power she gains, the greater her isolation and likely her fear of betrayal. The fear of betrayal is, of course, human. But GRRM has stated that he likes to turn dramatic situations up to 11, which is necessary to create the Shakespearean tragic hero. Dany’s fear must be larger than life.”), as well as to judge her campaign to take back the Seven Kingdoms based on double standards (“Dany’s great sin within the story’s moral order will have been focusing on the war for Westeros against Aegon VI before she turns to the enemy of the North”) compared to the Starks. If they didn’t do so, there wouldn’t be a reason to justify Dany’s demise. If they didn’t do so, the entire speculation that she’s a Shakespearean tragic hero falls apart. But saying that something is true doesn’t necessarily make it true, you need to provide the textual evidence (which they barely do … They assume that the reader will take almost everything they say for granted. After all, since there’s a prophecy foretelling that Dany will be betrayed three times, of course she’s going to distrust people way too much from now on).

There’s also another aspect of Dany’s relationship with prophecies that the essayist portrays inaccurately. They say that “the effect of this prophecy on Daenerys is multifaceted” for “[promising] greatness” (which, along with the also inaccurate statement that “part of Dany’s pursuit of the Iron Throne is born from a sense of destiny”, implies that Dany wants to be great or that she thinks of herself as great, none of which are true) and pushing her “further from the people who surround her”. I already questioned the latter statement, and the former is inaccurate too. After all, Dany has doubts that there are men in Westeros waiting for the Targaryens to return. The birth of the dragons has to do with the fact that Dany was able to put two and two together with clues from dragon dreams and Mirri's words, not because she thinks she's exceptional. Dany is not really sure that the red comet was meant for her. She followed its direction because the other paths weren't reliable and, even in Qarth, she's unsure that it was meant to guide her to success. Then she never thinks about it again. I'd expect otherwise from someone who thinks they're exceptional. Dany is surprised when told by Quaithe that she's the reason why magic is increasing in the world and never thinks or brags about it after their interaction. I'd expect otherwise from someone who thinks they're exceptional. Dany doesn't think she won any victories in the House of the Undying, she credits Drogon for burning the Undying Ones. She only allows Jhiqui to add a bell to the end of her braid because "the Dothraki would esteem her all the more for a few bells in her hair". Dany refuses to sit on the throne inside the Great Pyramid's audience chamber and chooses to sit on a simple ebony bench that the Meereenese think does "not befit a queen". Dany refuses the offer to have a statue in her image to replace the bronze harpy in the Plaza of Purification. I'd expect otherwise from someone who thinks they're exceptional. Dany is highly self-critical and, later in ADWD, thinks that she "was as clean as she was ever going to be" after taking a bath because she holds herself accountable for the upcoming slaughter in the opening of the fighting pits. I'd expect different from someone that thinks they're exceptional. Dany doesn’t think that the people who came to the reopening of the pits wanted to see her - “it was my floppy ears they cheered, not me”. I'd expect different from someone that thinks they're exceptional. Most of Dany's titles (the Unburnt, Mother of Dragons, Mhysa, Azor Ahai, etc) are given to her by other people, they're not self-proclaimed (not that there's a problem if they were, I'm only saying it to reiterate that Dany doesn't think she's exceptional). The ones that she assumes on her own are the ones that anyone who believes in birthright (i.e., everyone in her time and place, regardless of family, regardless of whether they're Targaryens) would assume.

4) When it comes to requirement 4 (Dany will (according to the essayist’s speculations) take actions that produce “exceptional calamity” and her demise will be “her own choice and doing”) … Well, we now enter the realm of speculation. It’s not impossible that Dany “will feel like a villain to the Westerosi, as she burns their villages and crops ahead of a hard winter” in the future. The problem here, once again, is in the double standards. Look at the way the essayist describes the likely reascendance of the Starks in the upcoming books - “With the death of “good” characters like Ned, the injury of innocents and moments such as the Red Wedding, ASOIAF as a story is not concerned with justice. But as the story progresses, we see that the way Ned ruled his people and raised his children contrasts with characters like Tywin and his methods. Much of the North seems to continue to rally behind the idea of the Starks, some with less “honorable” methods than others, while Tywin’s legacy begins to fall apart. Like in Shakespeare’s tragic world, there appears to be an order that arcs towards a higher idea of goodness that instills a dramatic satisfaction”. Like I said above when I questioned requirement 2, the Starks’ claim to the North is no more justified than Dany’s to the Seven Kingdoms. They have the advantage of having had their rule normalized throughout the thousands of years they ruled the North, but it doesn’t change the fact that, because they’re feudal lords, they still maintain a system rigged in favor of the nobles that promotes social inequality and extreme lack of social mobility. It doesn’t change the fact that there's no righteous form of feudalism. But only Dany is criticized in that sense by the essayist - “By nature, power breeds inequality, when one party has the ability to decide the fate of another. That inequality creates distance. As a queen Dany wields absolute power over the rest of her subjects and her court”. Which is pretty infuriating not only because the Starks are also morally grey in the sense that the essayist describes, but also because GRRM specifically mentioned that Daenerys is the ruler "who wants equality for everyone, she wants to be at the same level as her people". Additionally, if Ned left a legacy that motivated his people to fight against his enemies, so did Dany with the former slaves. But the essayist needs to ignore all of that to paint Dany as a Shakespearean tragic hero.

Even if we don’t take into account what TWOIAF reveals about the Starks’ ancestors, the main story itself often paints House Stark’s actions in a negative light. We see a peasant spitting at the mention of the Starks and saying that things were better with King Aerys II in power. We're told that Northmen looking for Jaime on Edmure’s orders burned a village called Sallydance and were guilty of rape and murder. It’s no wonder that the High Sparrow mentions the wolves along with the lions as threats to the septas. Also, thousands of soldiers died indirectly because of Robb’s decisions, as well as lots of people who remained north and became vulnerable to raping and pillaging due to his inability to hold Winterfell. And finally, when winter comes, the smallfolk will be affected by the actions of the northmen, who (like Dany might do in the future) already helped to disrupt the harvest and to leave the continent short on food. And yet, why is their future success framed as “an order that arcs towards a higher idea of goodness”? Why is Dany the only one who is said to be “giv[ing] into dark desires” by “divid[ing] an already weakened realm” when the Starks (framed as the heroes in the essay) did the same thing? This double standard gets infuriating when one remembers that Dany is the one fighting a war in the name of the disenfranchised (even though she is not connected to them by blood or lands or oath of fealty and doesn’t gain anything by helping them), while the Starks are (and will be, if they want to retake Winterfell) fighting a war because of personal injury (which, sympathetic as it may be, doesn’t justify the damage that they caused to the smallfolk). It gets even more infuriating when, as @rakharo pointed out to me, one remembers that, while Dany is trying to right the wrongs of the Valyrians by ending slavery in Slaver’s Bay, none of the Starks have acknowledged, much less tried to make amends for injustices perpetrated by the First Men against the Children of the Forest. It gets even more infuriating when one remembers that Aegon the Conqueror united Westeros in preparation for the War for the Dawn (something that GRRM himself confirmed), while the Starks’ ancestors conquered the North solely because of their greed. That's why Dany’s story can’t be effective as a tragedy: she’d be punished for starting to do what everyone else was doing after doing more than almost everyone else was doing.

5) When it comes to requirement 5 (Dany “[rose] high in position” and is “an exceptional being”, which sets her apart as a character that fits the mold of the Shakespearean tragedy because her reversal of fortune will highlight “the greatness and piteousness of humanity”), again, we’re in the realm of speculation. But there are some things to question as well. First, the essayist validates the criticisms that Dany “too easily ascends to a position of power” by using them as proof that she’s a tragic character. But that’s not really true, which becomes clear with a few comparisons: the Starks lost their father, mother and older brother throughout the story because of the Lannisters, which Dany also did; but her losses go beyond them: she also lost another brother, her first husband and her first child. The Starks had their direwolves given to them, Dany had to use her intuition and then literally walk into a fire to birth her dragons. Aegon the Conqueror used dragons to take Westeros, Dany conquered three cities without barely using hers. Jon Snow’s conflict in ADWD involves conciliating the Free Folk and the Night’s Watch after he makes decisions favoring the former group, while Dany’s involves conciliating the freedmen and the slavers after she makes decisions favoring the former group, which has a worldwide impact; Jon’s conflict has relatively low stakes (because it hasn’t involved the Others so far), Dany’s conflict leads to “half the world” wanting her dead. As these examples show, Dany suffered more losses than the Starks. Dany had to do a lot more than the Starks to find her animal companions. Dany became a conqueror primarily because of her military strategies and resourcefulness without relying on dragonfire like her ancestor. Dany faced greater opposition than her male counterpart Jon so far. As we can see, gaining power and retaining it has not been easy for Dany at all. Every single one of her accomplishments has been earned. But it sure is interesting that Dany’s supposed future tragedies must stem from her actions, but that her victories aren’t given the proper credit and acknowledged as being a result of what she also did as well.

And then the essayist declares something even more inaccurate: that Dany “overcame each obstacle that came her way” and that “Robb and Jon paid for their mistakes while Dany did not” (which, to the essayist, is evidence that “Dany’s fall is meant to stand in contrast as something grander than just one slip-up”).

First of all, Dany clearly did not overcome every obstacle that came her way. Saying so means ignoring all of her ADWD storyline (and it’s funny how Dany's detractors go from saying that she’s overpowered and hasn’t suffered consequences to accusing her of being a bad ruler precisely because she dealt with the negative consequences of her choices, lol). To recap, Dany had an indirect part in the wars outside Meereen because she left the Yunkish slavers’ wealth intact, which leads to terrible consequences - multiple city-states and sellsword companies joining forces against her, Astapor’s fall, the pale mare’s outbreak, the emergence of refugees from Astapor outside her city and the upcoming Battle of Fire. Dany had an indirect role in the wars inside Meereen because she left most of the Meereenese slavers alive with most of their wealth intact, which leads to terrible consequences - the Sons of the Harpy’s attacks and dozens of freedmen’s deaths. Additionally, Dany had an indirect role in Hazzea’s death because Drogon was allowed to roam freely and she had no way to train him or her brothers. All these problems culminate in Dany agreeing with a peace deal that, as already explained here, was inherently unjust for prioritizing the slavers over the freedmen. Dany had to learn that, as much as she wants peace and to plant trees, there are situations in which she can’t be merciful because violence really is the only way to achieve justice for the disenfranchised. (On the flip side, that’s one of the reasons why I’m critical of the theory that Dany accidentally burns King’s Landing. When she was merciful, as I just listed, great tragedies occurred (which is fine, it was a realistic exploration of what happens when you abolish slavery and try to do good). When she used fire and blood, great tragedies will occur too? Even though she would be acting just like the Starks or any other feudal lord by fighting for her birthright? The theory narratively punishes Dany in a way that it doesn't do with the Starks, which is why it's no wonder that it was created by someone with Stark/Stannis biases. Additionally, it validates the common belief that Dany is only meant to be a wartime queen, even though she’s already showed that she’s a good peacetime ruler.)

Second, is dying the only way to pay for one’s mistakes (considering that only Robb and Jon are listed as examples of characters who did)? I don’t think so. Consider Sansa. Didn’t she pay for the mistake of going to Cersei to tell her of Ned’s plan? I would say she did. I would say the author agrees - “Sansa was the least sympathetic of the Starks in the first book; she has become more sympathetic, partly because she comes to accept responsibility for her part in her father's death”. Similarly, Dany had to accept her indirect responsibility for the tragedies that I just listed (Hazzea, forgive me; No marriage would ever bring them back to life, but if a husband could help end the slaughter, then she owed it to her dead to marry.; “I should’ve gone to Astapor. [...] I am the queen. It was my place to know.”; “What kind of mother has no milk to feed her children?”). I would argue that Dany and Sansa both paid for her mistakes, which were acknowledged, made them suffer and influenced their character developments. But the essayist needs to say that Dany didn’t pay for them (or that she had an easy rise to power) to help to paint her as a Shakespearean tragic hero.

6) Now that the essayist’s five requirements have all been questioned, I would also like to mention positive prophecies and speculations related to Dany that are never brought up in this essay.

First, Dany is AA/PTWP/SWMTW. That was heavily foreshadowed (read more about it here) and built up to and, if it doesn’t happen, it frankly would be bad writing. After all, haven’t readers praised GRRM for the foreshadowing of Ned’s death (e.g., a stag having killed the mother direwolf in the beginning of AGOT)? Haven’t readers praised GRRM for the foreshadowing of the Red Wedding (which we see from Tyrion’s to Theon’s to Dany’s chapters)? And yet, the essayist thinks that Dany’s death will cause “the forces [to] become more even, making victory less sure, or the Others surpass the side of the living in strength” and that “the White Walkers gain Drogon, becoming one-on-one but with the White Walkers having the larger dragon.”

Second, Dany and Bran both have dreams in AGOT leading up to their magical awakening. Bran needs to fly to escape from the “cold” of the darkness below, while Dany needs to run from the “icy breath behind”. Both of these dreams culminate with Bran and Dany learning to fly and accepting their magical destinies, which will be important in the War for the Dawn. And yet, the essayist thinks that “by understanding that the concept of warmth is tied to companionship, we can understand that the cold, “icy breath” must represent the opposite: loneliness” to justify Dany’s demise. Instead, it's clear (especially considering the parallels with Bran) that "icy breath" is an allusion to the Others. But they can't acknowledge that Dany will have a crucial role in the War for the Dawn, otherwise their entire speculation falls apart.

Third, Quaithe was presented as the third of the three Qartheen envoys (after Pyat Pree and Xaro) that came to find Dany in Vaes Tolorro, which heavily implies that she breaks the norm and is the one person that Dany can trust. And yet, the essayist takes for granted that Quaithe’s “narrative connection to betrayal is already established”.

Fourth, Dany might as well be the prophesied betrayer, not the one who’s betrayed by three people (after all, she’s already been betrayed by more than three people - Jorah, Mirri, Pyat Pree, Xaro, Brown Ben, the person that gave her the poisoned locusts, etc). It would fit with the pattern of Dany being an active participant in the prophecies rather than a passive one (e.g. Dany is AA/PTWP, not the one who gives birth to the AA/PTWP or the one who dies as a sacrifice to AA/PTWP) even though, at first, the readership is expected to think otherwise. And yet, the essayist takes for granted that Dany will be betrayed because otherwise their entire speculation falls apart.

Fifth, Dany is foreshadowed to have a positive relationship with Jon because “the blue flower” from the “wall of ice” filled the air with “sweetness”. And yet, the essayist needs to say that Dany "[will push] Jon away [...] from fear of betrayal and hurt” and from worries that he might be a “usurper” (nevermind that they are mischaracterizing Dany as someone overfocused on retaking the Iron Throne and who closes herself off due to prophecies, none of which are not true, as I already showed above) because otherwise their entire speculation falls apart.

7) Finally, I would also like to ask: what’s the point of giving Dany a storyline like this? Not only because it would be unearned due to the double standards and the changes that would have to occur in her characterization, but also because Dany has a special place in the narrative. She is 1) one of the two women (along with Asha) claiming power in her own right and the only one that we actually got to see rule, 2) one of three Chosen Ones (along with Bran and Jon) and the only female one, 3) one of two POV revolutionaries (along with Jon) and the only female one (and the one whose storyline arguably has the most political messages since she’s fighting against human slavery), 4) one of two POV female rulers (along with Cersei) and the only one who’s been depicted as competent (because she subverts the Good Princess Evil Queen dichotomy), 5) one of two Targaryen conquerors (three, if Young Griff does indeed take Westeros) and the only female one - “Aegon the Conqueror with teats”, 6) the only major mother who isn’t sure to be doomed and/or hasn’t gone mad, 7) one of two Targaryen queens regnant (along with Rhaenyra) and the only remaining Targaryen woman who gets to have power after a long line of Targaryen women - Rhaenyra herself, but also Rhaena, Aerea, Rhaella, Daenerys (Alysanne’s daughter), Rhaenys the Queen Who Never Was, Baela, Rhaena of Pentos, Daena - who were disempowered. GRRM already has a terrible history with female leaders in particular. If he causes the downfall of another one (especially one who is also one of the five main protagonists) for such unearned reasons like the ones that the essayist laid out, there would also be sexist implications. It would make the only she-king that we saw wielding power onpage overly defined by violence and destruction in a way kings don't have to be depending on their actions, it makes the only competent POV female ruler look incompetent in comparison to the other POV male rulers and it makes her conquest a disaster while the other male Targaryen conqueror (two, if Young Griff takes Westeros) gets to succeed. And yet, death by childbirth is the only speculation that the essayist calls out as problematic (“death by childbirth is a uniquely biologically female phenomenon and would be punishing Daenerys for her sexuality”).

8) What I find insidious about essays like this one is that they pretend to be unbiased (I do not argue for the death of Daenerys as a judgement on her ethical/moral goodness as a character nor of the world she inhabits. I argue it on the strength of her characterization and story, that she should be able to encompass such intensity and greatness as to be considered as complex as all these other single-name headliners in literature.) even though they really aren't. To recap, the essayist portrays Dany as someone with "violent" impulses even though she's a merciful person in general, accepts the peace deal with the slavers as valid even though it prioritizes the slavers' privileges over the lives of marginalized people, only talks about the negative connotations of fire, downplays Dany's compassion and sense of justice, argues that Dany is losing her ability to trust others even though she isn't, says that Dany is negatively affected by promises of greatness even though she isn't, argues that Dany had an easy rise to power and didn't pay for her mistakes even though she did, paints Dany's campaign to take the Iron Throne in a negative light without doing the same with the Starks having dominance over the North and ignores Dany's foreshadowing as AA/PTWP, as well as her special place in the narrative. So it’s not that Dany stans are unable to accept Dany’s mistakes and flaws, it’s that people who dislike her can’t understand her characterization or acknowledge the double standards against her or accept her particular place in the story. At the end of the day, an essay like this one is no better than jonsa metas mindlessly hating on Dany because, just like them, as @semperty and @niniane17 made clear, it also creates speculations with the intent of making Dany self-destruct and become irrelevant to pave the way for their preferred characters. The only difference is that it's more successful at appearing "neutral" to someone who doesn't remember what happened in the books very well, especially because Dany has become a polarizing character for a variety of reasons and it's easy to buy into the Appeal to Moderation fallacy.

Also, as I said before, the fact that these Twitter 'neutrals' all misunderstand Dany's characterization, downplay her struggles and judge her by different standards actually makes me somewhat hopeful that she's getting a better ending, because how can their speculations come true if they don't know Dany at all? But then, it's hard to trust GRRM.