Lol, Rhaenra saying "the horrors I have just loosened cannot be for a crown alone" is the definitive proof that HOTD is NOT an adaptation of Fire & Blood. It's just a published fanfic.
This is not even a case of the show writers changing some major things and having different interpretations of the source material. No. They have literally invented a whole new story.
The ENTIRE point of Fire & Blood was about two royal brats willing to unleash horrors upon the smallfolk to win the Iron Throne. Yes, part of it was about a woman being denied power because she's a woman, but ultimately she is still an entitled, arrogant royal who is willing to let thousands of innocent people suffer just to get back what's hers.
Fire & Blood is an anti-war and anti-monarchy story. But now it's a story about a good, righteous queen who was unfairly betrayed and is forced to go to war to save the realm from itself and boohoo she's gonna get unfairly betrayed by the smallfolk too!!! đđđ
The story went from "royals from both genders will sacrifice the smallfolk for their own benefit" to "a good female royal will sacrifice herself to save the stupid and ungrateful smallfolk who don't deserve her" đ« đ« đ«
I bet GRRM is shaking his head and gritting his teeth now.
"And...someone cut down the fucking ratcatchers."
I want to start off with who I think laid Maelors egg
I think it came from either Morghul and Shrykos mating or just Shrykos laying an egg
We know that Shrykos is female and the only way to know that a dragon is female is if they lay eggs meaning at some point she laid eggs
According to the artist who illustrated the "Storming of the Dragon Pit" from Rise of the Dragon, Shrykos is "copperish" while many think of copper as a orange-ish color it CAN be green and if you consider that the name Shrykos likely comes the creatures "Shrykes" who are said to be beings with green-scaled skin that is hint to Shrykos possibly being green
So this could mean that Morghul and Shrykos or just Shrykos laid an egg and that egg was given to their bonded's little brother Maelor, it should also be noted that Maelors egg is not described as a cradle but rather that he was just given an egg
Maelors dragon egg was also described, very rarely are eggs described in this series especially eggs that "don't matter" later, so rare in fact I can't currently think of one
The description for the egg is also similar with the description of the last dragon
"Maelor's egg was pale green with swirls of silver."
"The last dragon was a green female, who lived in Kings Landing. She was small and stunted, with withered wings."
They are both green meaning that her egg likely wouldve been green and his egg likely wouldve hatched into a green dragon
According to this interaction between a fan and Elio in 2014, we might learn more about Maelor in the Dunk and Egg series if it's ever completed, this is also the series that mentions the last dragon the most so that is possibly why we could find out more about him
having one faction being written as only heroic and awesome and the other being written as only villainous and awful negates the original message of grrmâs original work, btw. itâs kind of interesting to see how these characters are written (the greens being a dysfunctional family who donât seem to like each other vs the blacks being given positive traits that belong to the greens in the books, or simply not writing things if the source material that could make the blacks seem not heroic) and how fans take this very seriously. itâs partly a result of the marketing strategy for season two, the whole âeveryone much choose a side thingâ because thatâs⊠not the point of this war, at all. but itâs also the writing and itâs very deliberately very obviously pro targaryen, especially with the whole âaegon conquered westeros for the good of the worldâ thing they have going on. which is an incredibly strange take. i think itâs really telling when you compare how the tragedies are written. rhaenyraâs loss of her children is obviously and rightfully tragic. her journey in episode one of season two was so tragic and so beautiful because you donât hear her speak until the end of the episode, when she finally realizes her son is gone. but you also have her riding a dragon immediately after giving birth to her stillborn daughter, who is never mentioned again, if i recall correctly, and that doesnât seem⊠possible. but with the greens, you have a very horrific and traumatic event via the brutal murder of jaehaerys being reduced to two silly men committing a crime, when that crime was the beheading of, like, a five year old. you then have his grandmother having sex while this is happening, in an attempt to blame her for it, which is genuinely so infuriating. idk why i made this post, i saw that season two wasnât even nominated for best television drama and i was just like. yeah i know thatâs right. you cannot expect an show adaptation of a very well-known series from a very well-known author to do well when you completely ignore the original source material and then claim your interpretation is better or the truth. itâs simply insisting on itself and itâs simply pissing on the tragedy of the dance of the dragons and itâs simply exhausting.
Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen - House of the Dragon season 2 trailer
Aemond baby, get behind me.
Summary: time traveler decides to live her new life out in the kingswood, avoiding the new world she finds herself in until an encounter with a certain one-eyed prince changes her life.
Warnings: dark!themes, dark!aemond, obsessive!aemond, book!aemond, no intimacy (smut starts with part 2), intro and first part are kinda a slow burn to introduce the storyline & character
Non-Canon Storyline: 3 years post war â greens won, Aegon's only son was k*lled and only has two daughters remaining, he cannot produce more heirs, Helaena is alive but depressed,Aemond serves as prince regent ever since Aegon got injured during the war and is chronically sick and getting weaker, Aemond is to inherit the iron throne soon, Aemond k*lled Alys Rivers along with all other strongs, Aemond broke the betrothal to Floris Baratheon when he became Prince Regent and won the war (Also, I'm not a native english speaker, please be patient with me)
Divider @targaryen-dynasty
< intro masterlist part 2 > (coming soon)
You wander around the woods, returning from another day of working in the city and coming closer and closer to your home when you start to feel uneasy, as if youâre not alone in the forest. You stop and listen, noticing the sound of footsteps close by. With careful steps you approach the sounds, noticing a head full of silvery hair between the trees and watching it carefully.
A man with an eyepatch, dressed in black leather clothes and carrying a long, sheathed sword on his hip. You monitor him carefully; his hands behind his back as he is gazing out into the treeline, he seems to be taking a stroll. But this deep within the forest?
You stalk him for a while, trailing his steps as you make sure to stay hidden. Too busy with staring at him you don't notice a branch on the ground, stepping on it and causing a loud *krack* sound.
The silver haired stranger turns around quickly, facing you and making eye contact. You know it's too late to hide now, as his lilac eye meets yours and a wicked smile forms on his lips
âHello there, little one. Are you lost?â
âI could ask you the same thing.â You say, looking him up and down more closely now. He doesnât look like someone that should be wandering this deep into the forest. You notice the tell-tale signs of a Targaryen. Youâve heard of them and noticed a few children with these features when you explored the street of silk once. But who exactly was this man standing in front of you right now?
His mouth twitches, eyes twinkling with mirth. âOh, I am not lost, little lamb. Simply having a nice stroll to take my mind off the stress of ruling. May I ask who I have the pleasure of finding so deep in the woods?â
âNo, you may not.â You answer, staying wary of the stranger. Youâre starting to connect the emblems on his clothes and scabbard with the ones youâve seen on royal guards patrolling the city before, this man must be one of the princes. âYou should leave. These woods arenât a place for a pretty prince like you.â
âMy, my, my. So confrontational. Why the defensiveness, my beautiful little lamb? Are you hiding something?â He steps closer to you, his voice now has a hint of danger in it.
âNo one wanders this part of the woods. Youâre better suited closer to the city.â You say, trying to sound more polite than before, quickly understanding the prince might not appreciate the disrespect.
âAh, yes, no one wanders this part of the woods. Well, that only makes me wonder how a pretty little lamb like you got herself as deep in here as I did. Unless, of course, you are not alone.â His eye leaves yours, scanning along the tree line before stepping closer once again.
âRelax, this is no ambush. Unless you keep on intruding on my space, then it just might.â You say sternly, hoping to play into his paranoia and get him to leave quickly.
âI do so wish I could believe you, little lamb.â His eye still scans over the tree line as his hand falls to the hilt of his sword. âHow do you expect me to relax when a beautiful girl like you is all alone in the woods? You couldnât have gotten this far without help.â
âI have. You donât think all that dirt and tools on me are for decoration, do you?â You say, gesturing to the axe tied to your belt, knifes dangling off the bag you carry thatâs strung over your chest.
âAnd what exactly did I catch you doing all alone in the woods, little lamb?â His voice is firm now, eye narrowing as he takes a closer look at you, trying to judge you.
You remain quiet for a few moments before deciding to answer truthfully. âI live here.â
âYou live here, little lamb?â His eye scans over you once more. âYOU live in the woods?â His voice is filled with equal measures of surprise and disbelief.
âI do.â You say affirmingly. âAnd Iâm not fond of guests.â
âA woman alone in the wild? No man to protect her? No family?â His disbelief is evident in his voice and expression. âI cannot imagine how a beautiful woman like you has endured out here.â
Upset at his words, you feel anger starting to boil deep inside of you. Women in this time are still property to be owned, another reason why you decided to live out here, away from society. âCut the feigned sympathy. I live just fine out here.â
âBut is it really living, little lamb? Living in the wild? Surely a woman of your beauty must desire the comfort and luxuries of civilization. Do you feel no desire to start a family, to have someone care for you and protect you?â His tone seems kinder now, almost caring, although his disbelief is still clear and you cannot shake the feeling of danger coming from him.
Suspicious at his invasive nature you raise an eyebrow. âWhat is this? A tea party to exchange gossip?â
âOh no, little lamb. You are a most fascinating creature and you have sparked my interest. I am merely trying to find out more about who you are.â
âIâm not interested in conversation-â
âNow, now, little lamb, weâve come this far already. It wouldnât be very polite to turn down a crown prince like this.â His eye narrows, an obvious predatory hint in his voice as his hand tightens on the hilt of his blade. âItâs appalling for a citizen to turn down their crown prince, my dear little lamb.â
You tighten your jaw, nervous at the sudden turn this situation has taken but unwilling to comply with his orders. âI am not a citizen of yours-â
âEveryone is a citizen of mine!â His words are soothing with anger as his patience has reached its limit and he pulls the blade from its sheath. âNow come closer little lamb. Iâll help you back to the city where you belong, where itâs safe.â He begins to stalk towards you, his dark gaze fixed upon you.
You take a few steps back before you turn around and start running, using the the fact you know these woods like no other to lure him away from where your home is before skillfully outmaneuvering him in the thick forest, hiding successfully in a small cave. The silver haired man tries to follow you, you can hear him yell profanities and curse words as he struggles to keep up with you, eventually getting caught up in the thicket and falling behind. "Damn you!" Aemond shouts as he breaks free of the branches and finds himself standing in a clearing with no sign of the little Lamb in sight. Where the hell did she go? Damn this forest. Damn her.
He inelegantly shoves his sword back into its casing, taking a last long look around the scenery before begrudgingly turning around to make his way back to the city.
The rest of his day is plagued by thoughts about her, remembering every single detail about his encounter with this strange, wild little Lamb. She lives in the woods all alone, with no one to care for her? Surely, he thinks to himself, no one would truly want to do that.
She did seem awfully skilled at maneuvering the trees and avoiding my chase. Could she truly be completely alone? He wonders, staring into the lit fireplace of his chambers, his finger mindlessly tapping along the rim of the almost drained cup in his hand. His interest in the little lamb was definitely piqued. He would venture out into the woods to find her again once his duties allowed him to.
time skip / two weeks have passed
Things went back to normal after the encounter with the stranger, you didnât see him again, but you did make sure to be extra cautious about your surroundings at all times, avoiding all travelers for the time being.
Youâre sitting on a boulder in the river, only your ankles in the water as you sharpen your axe using whet stones from the river while waiting for the fish you caught this morning to finish smoking. Youâre deep in thoughts as when you notice an unusual rustling of leaves behind you and catch a glimpse of the familiar silver head through the trees.
Here we go again.
The silver haired man had been stalking the Kingswood once again as he had done for several days since he encountered the strange little Lamb the first time. Searching for any hints as to where she lived, so that he could go back and speak with her again.
His hope was running low when then he finally saw her again, sitting in the river, tending to her tools. His heart skipped multiple beats, he couldnât quite explain why he felt like this.
Still, she is the only one this far into the woods. No one around to protect her, just like when he had met her last time. This woman was a mystery he was most eager to solve. He slowly and deliberately stalked over to her, taking great care to be as sneaky and quiet as possible.
Even though you had noticed him immediately you keep focusing on your tool, pretending you hadn't noticed him as he approaches, hiding behind the last tree that provides him with cover before he would have to step out into the open.
"What is it you want?" You ask after a while, your voice loud and clear while your eyes are still focused on the task at hand. His attempts to remain hidden are more amusing than anything else.
The man was startled but quickly covers his reaction with his typical demeanor, standing proud with his hands behind his back as he steps out of the tree line and approaches the mysterious beauty carefully, as if trying not to startle her. She had quite a sharp ear. Although, he should have known better. If this little lamb had survived by herself in the woods, hearing the noises of the trees and animals was a skill she must have honed greatly.
Once heâs only a few feet away he stops abruptly, contemplating his choice of words before he speaks in a friendly yet stern manner. "You are quite perceptive little Lamb."
He remains quiet for a while. Youâre still focused on your tool, not looking up, as you probe him further. "Speak. I know you've been following me for a while."
âI was simply fascinated with your lifestyle after our last encounter, that is all." He comes a few steps closer, enough to look at her properly, but not so close as to make himself a threat. "Why do you live out here, by yourself? Away from civilization and society?"
"Because I wish to do so." You say, now leaning forward to wash off the freshly sharpened axe in the river water.
"But is there no other reason little Lamb? You do not get... lonely? You do not yearn for society or friends? This forest is cold, dark, and dangerous." The mans voice seems filled with what seems like genuine concern for your welfare.
"The forests seem like that only to those who aren't welcome in them." You say, now looking up at him for the first time this conversation. "What do I get out of sharing my life story with you?"
Aemond's eyebrow quirked slightly at your words. Your words were not aggressive but they were not exactly kind or welcoming either. âYou get to answer your crown prince a few questions that have been gnawing on his mind for a while. Who could say it wouldnât be worth it?â
âI could say. The less people know about me, the better. Easier to stay hidden that way.â
Aemond stays silent after she says that, thinking over her words in his head. Stay hidden from what? From whom? What could make her feel that she must remain hidden... "Tell me, my little Lamb. Who are you hiding from?" Perhaps after finding out that one thing, he can put this obsession to rest.
"Men like you." You answer, now shifting your attention back to your tools, reaching back into the river to fetch out another whet stone to sharpen a big knife now.
"Men like me?" His eye narrows. " I am no threat to you. What could possibly have led you to believe that? You are alone so deep in the woods and I have not shown you any hostility... yet."
"No hostility?" You say laughing. "Chasing me with your sword was what then? A local friendship ritual Iâm not familiar with?"
"Oh, I was simply trying to get you to stop and talk to me. That is all." He says, a small smile gracing his lips at her words. He found her laughter quite endearing.
âDidnât work very well now, did it?â
"No I suppose not," His smile grows slightly, he finds this strange little Lamb's demeanor quite intriguing. He was never great at interacting with women, but this one seemed comfortable in his company, at least somewhat. Even if she was also incredibly untrusting and suspicious of him, or of men in general. He looks at her intently, savouring her smile as he knows his next words will wipe it right off her face again.
âI want to know more about you. I will not leave until you tell me more.â He says and as predicted, her cheeky smile gets replaced with a frown again.
âI told you, I wonât-â he interrupts her quickly, almost pleading with her, âI know, I know. But I need to know. I cannot rest at night. I will not tell anyone about you. Whatever you tell me, it will not have any consequences, I swear it.â
You sigh deeply, pondering his words. You couldnât care less for telling your story, the possibility of sharing too much lingering in the back of your mind. Then again, perhaps this is just what you needed. Sharing a bit of your true self with someone after having to carefully craft a fake persona and uphold it for the past two years. âFine then. What is it you want to know?â
His eyes light up at that statement as he takes his time deciding which one of his many questions he should ask first. âYour accent, it seems out of place. Are you not from here?â
You immedily begin to regret your decision to talk to him, struggling to find a way to phrase the truth in a way it doesnât sound too outlandish. âNo, I am not. I come from a land far away, you wouldnât know it.â
âDid you come alone?â
âSort of. I came here with others but they⊠forgot me. Or maybe they are just unable to return. I wouldnât know.â  You say, looking out into the flowing river as you remember.
âForgot you? Why would your family just forget you?â
âThey werenât my family. They were⊠people I knew. We went here and they left, never to return, at least not until today. They probably told my family I died.â What had they told your family? You often wondered it. The changes of the seasons and moons made it easy for you to tell how much time had passed here, in this world. Did as much time pass back home? Was your family even informed of what truly happened or were they waiting back home for a sign of life that would never come, with no way of knowing your fate?
Aemond is quiet for a while, processing this information. âHow long have you been here?â
âIâve been here two winters already, the coming one will be my third.â
âTHAT long?â He blurts out, mind racing. âYou have survived here alone all this time, out in this forest, with no family or friends? How?â
A slight smile tugs at the corner of your lips, amused by his disbelief. âYes, I have. Iâm friendly with some of the farmers around here and some merchants. I was fortunate, really, that I was stranded here with a few tools and a bit of money.â
âThat could not have been enough to make you survive here. The winters can be hard, as can be nature itself. I donât know a single woman that would be able to survive like this even with all the tools in the world.â
âI suppose youâre right.â You shrug. This is your normal, all you knew for most of your life, you often forget just how unusual it really is. âI come from a family of farmers. We lived far out, away from civilization, and I learned a lot about nature that way. I am, or was, my parents only child. I spend many years of my childhood in the forest with my dad. He was an avid fisher and knew all the ways around the forest, while my mom taught me all about her knowledge of herbs. She was a healer of sorts.âÂ
Your smile returns as she recalls all her fond memories of home. Oh, how you wished youâd never left the farm. âThey bred, trained, and sold horses too. I was strapped to a saddle on my own horse before I could even walk.â
His face shifts from one of shock to one of sympathy. He could tell by your words and the tone your voice takes that you missed home dearly. âAnd you have no way back?â
âNo.â You state plainly. Do you? Truthfully, you do not know, but you surely hope you do.
âWhy? If I give you coin for passage, can you go back home?â
âIâm afraid its not that easy.â You huff, struggling to make up an answer to this question. âUnless they come get me, I have no way back. I⊠Iâm done talking about this.â You say, now shaking your head.
He wants to press further but understands he shouldnât, not if heâd like to keep you talking. âWell then⊠What are you planning to do here then? You canât just stay out here forever.â
âWhy not?â You conter. âIâve gotten comfortable out here. I know my way around the woods and can survive quite well out here. Iâve come to appreciate my little life out here quite a lot, actually.â
âIs this really life or is this survival? What about finding a family of your own, what about children?â
You sigh deeply. âI may not have answers to all those questions yet, but I do now Iâm content here for now. I have no duties here, no bills to worry about. I just need to figure out my next meal and get to enjoy nature the rest of the time with all the peace and quiet it offers me.â
The change of topic strikes a chord in you, one you didnât realise was as sensitive as it seems to be. The prospect of having to live out the rest of your days in this time is one that seemed more and more realistic and the question of what you would actually do for the next twenty, forty, sixty years of your life was one burning in the back of your mind more and more frequently.
âIâm done talking for today. You may leave now.â You dismissed the prince, frustration growing inside you.
He is not happy about this, his expression shows this as much as the tone of his voice. âLeave? I just arrived. You canât just send me away.â
âI do not wish to tell any more stories.â You state. Just as he begins to talk again you turn to face him quickly, looking at him for a few seconds before proposing a compromise. Maybe you just needed some time to gather your thoughts and calm the inner turmoil you can feel bubbling deep inside your chest right now. âHow about this: If you can find me again, I will answer you more questions. Anything you want.â
His jaw clenches as he lets out a long sigh. This is not how he wanted this conversation to end but he could tell from her expression that she seemed exhausted and the prospect of getting to ask anything he wanted seemed tempting enough to agree. âFine then. I will seek you out again soon, but I will not rest until I have all my answers. You must swear you will not avoid me again.â
âI swear it.â You answer, a reassuring smile on your lips. âHave a safe travel back, my prince.â
She had been speaking so freely all this time that hearing her address him properly caught him off guard for a moment. He stands still in place, watching her a bit longer, before begrudgingly turning around to leave after bidding a small goodbye.
As he walks away you turn around slightly, watching the swaying of his silver hair until it disappears completely between the trees. A long, deep sigh escapes your lips as you resume your tasks for the day, thinking about all the questions he asked and what you really wanted from your life now.
You were honest, you did love your life as it was now, but sometimes the solitude did get to you as well. A craving for the love and closeness your family had brought you. As much as you cursed the prince when you had first met him, maybe having his attention on you could be a good thing after all.
He thought his mind would be calmed after speaking to her but to his dismay, the opposite had happened. His head is filled with questions still and worse so, genuine worry about her wellbeing. Yes, his little lamb had survived well by herself, but the confirmation that she was truly alone out there was deeply unsettling to him. When he is laying in bed that night, he realised just how little he knew about her. He didnât know where she lived â did she have a house or did she sleep under the stars? He had never even asked her name. What would it be? If she is from far away, it surely was exotic.
He keeps tossing and turning that night, the picture of her smiling face filling his mind, even more so when he closes his eye, as if he can see even clearer when the world isnât distracting him. He tries to sleep but he swears he hears her laugh, still as clear and comforting as it had been when he heard it the first time. A sound so sweet it could lull him to sleep, if only there wasnât the gaping emptiness next to him, reminding him of your absence, of the fact youâre all alone out there. If something happened to you tonight, would he ever find out? He could not bear the thought of it.
His night stays restless. He falls asleep again and again, dreaming vividly about the way your cheeks rounded when you smiled at him, about the freckles on your nose, the small dimples that appeared under your cheeks when you smiled and over your lips when you pursed your lips in dismay at another thing he said.
It was improper, he knew that much. For a prince, the heir to the throne, to be so enchanted by a forest dweller. Nevertheless, his heart skipped a beat every time he had laid his eyes on her. His mind went back to think about all your interactions at every chance it got, even in the midst of important meetings. He was a devoted and proper man; he knew better and yet, something about her felt so fundamentally right that a future without her seemed wrong.
When the first rays of sunshine broke though his windows he had made his decision. He would go to see her again and this time, he would not leave her behind. He could not. He will find her and bring her â well, where? Somewhere, anywhere he knows she is safe, where he knows he can find her whenever he wants to see her. He will figure it all out, he will find a way to make this work.
His feet soon carry him through the castle, unaware of where he is going until he finds himself in front of two wooden doors. The kings, his brothers, chambers.
Currently editing the next part, that one will be 18+! Second series about Aemond x reader coming soon as well (currently proof reading chapter one)!
In the showâs desperation to make Rhaenyra the hero, they have actually made Rhaenyra the worst character which is a travesty because book Rhaenyra is one of the best ASOIAF villains in my opinions
What went wrong with show Rhaenyra? Well for one thing, they are never going to make her the villain, it seems. Despite the end of season 1 making it seem like they were going that route. But looking back at season 1, we should have seen this coming
Rhaenyra didnât kill Laenor, she let him escape. Rhaenyra didnât feed Vaemond to Syrax, she had no say in his death. They donât make it clear what she means by wanting Aemond to be âquestioned sharply.â Sheâs innocent in all the above
And not only that, but they have set the story as a feminist crisis and not a succession crisis. This was the worst misstep they could have taken. Because not only Rhaenyra immediately sympathetic, but there is no chance they can go the book Rhaenyra route now because it would misogynistic. Imagine: A story about a womanâs power and throne being taken from her because she is a woman. A victim of the patriarchy. And then she becomes a tyrant and proves the sexist men right. That would be a terrible story
The book is not feminist story about a worthy woman being abused by the patriarchy. Itâs about how power corrupts people. And Rhaenyra is the biggest villain in the story. If they went the book Rhaenyra route, she would be rewarding her council for Blood and Cheese. She would say âI will have my throne or my half brotherâs head.â She would never offer to go Rookâs Rest, just tell Rhaenys to go. Book Rhaenyra and show Rhaenyra are two completely different people
And here is why Iâm worried about season 3. There is no way to adapt the Rhaenyra Triumphant/Overthrown chapters without making her the villain. So either they are going to the book route and have people break out in anger the same they did with Daenerys, or somehow make it not her fault
Either way, they have written themselves into a corner
So basically House of the Dragon is Ryan Condal's masterclass in how NOT to adapt a book for television.
This show could have been epic and that's really sad.
Iâm about to get called a âbig old mean internalized misogynistâ for dragging Sara Hessâs public statements again but the contrast between saying âa character being fat is just negative biased propaganda against themâ âŠVS⊠GRRMâs recent statement where he said being âfat is not offensiveâ publicly⊠couldnât be more chefâs kiss for me.