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captdorkybadass · 1 month

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So, sort of knowing where this scene is set is making me want to reevaluate it and try and come up with what's happening and why. This is not Rhaenys being a pacifist or saying "don't go to war" - I mean, if nothing else, she's the one who dragged her husband out of bed to make him go and pledge for Rhaenyra. We left Rhaenys at the end of Season 1 during a moment of agency and a moment of action for the character: going to patrol the Gullet. She's in it. She's not flinching.

But being an active participant and being willing to fight does not automatically turn you into either a warmonger or bloodthirsty person. Being fierce in war does not mean inviting it, to the cost of everything.

We know that Rhaenys is going to be a large presence in the war: we see her on the wide shot sitting at the Painted Table, opposing Daemon. The idea that a "pacifist" or someone hesitant to be in the war would be sitting right by her Queen's side is a bit daft, when others could easily hold that place (not least Corlys).

The good chance is, looking at the outfits, this is on or around the funeral for Lucerys. I don't think it's specifically at the event, given that Rhaenys's silhouette on the wide shot seems a lot bulkier and floor length, so she's at least got some sort of outer layer on, if not a whole different outfit/possibly a dress (in other news: please give my lady more than one outfit for this season, I beg).

But either way, this is occurring around a time that Rhaenyra is in flux. Where her emotions are strongest. It's not at the start of the war - so it's not Rhaenys giving a preachy speech or telling her to turn back or whatever. Things have happened. Time has passed. Alliances have been made and quite possibly other things have occurred. A very important thing to note is: Daemon isn't there. He has left for Harrenhal and Jace has returned.

For the first time, probably, Rhaenys will have the chance to counsel Rhaenyra without Daemon's influence or presence. Daemon, who has been gung-ho about vengeance since Viserys popped his clogs and is likely no better now. Someone who feeds Rhaenyra's worst instincts.

Rhaenyra is inexperienced at war. She's never participated in one, never been close to one, never waged one. She's never been in this position of responsibility. There's a decent change she can romanticise it, even, given her father's tales of Valyria, the glorification of Daemon, her childhood wish to be a knight and ride to battle and glory and the righteousness of her cause and her claim as she sees it.

It makes sense for Rhaenys to have both an opinion on that and to offer council, given Rhaenys's own experiences. What Rhaenys is saying is that: there will be a cost. It will not be easy and Luke's death is not the worst thing that will occur, potentially. It will get messier and messier, she could lose more and more. Including Jace, who has just returned to them. And all of that, as Queen, will be on Rhaenyra's shoulders. She has to remain level-headed as opposed to being ruled by emotion and ruled by "the desire to burn and kill" because that way madness lies.

I think the order of the lines will go like this, with them being split up by either more dialogue from one or both of the women:

"When the desire to kill and burn takes hold and reason is forgotten.. we will not even remember what began the war in the first place." [...] "There is no war so hateful to the Gods as a war between kin. And no war so bloody as a war between dragons."

Rhaenys starts by looking into the middle-distance, not looking at Rhaenyra. She is empathising with what Rhaenyra is feeling and remembers experiences that she has been through that conjure up the same desire. The war has started, you see that in the language.

And it makes sense if Rhaenyra is feeling like she is starting this for Luke or starting it for her father or starting it for some noble reason for Rhaenys to keep that in check if she sees Rhaenyra veering towards revenge or vengeance without limit - something that is likely to come out at such an event as Luke's funeral and the aftermath of finding those remains (because a woman screaming over the remains of their burnt son, how could she possibly relate...).

But then she will turn to Rhaenyra. Then she'll look and say the next part which is, essentially: be certain. This war will not be easy, be just or be glorious. It will not be a crusade, it will not be idealistic, it will not go how Rhaenyra expects and at the end of the day, even if victory is assured, people may not like you for it. It will change you. It will have a cost.

That's not something to necessarily run away from or hide from. But it is something to keep in mind and be aware. Don't be consumed. Don't prolong it. Don't deny it. They are in it now. They are all in it. For Rhaenyra and she has to understand that. Whatever Rhaenyra decides, it affects everything. Whatever Rhaenyra is ruled by, it changes all.

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captdorkybadass · 1 month

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The only reason that I was able to say that you're not my equal is that I've known one thing to be true since the day we met. You have always been my better.

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