#but everyone’s like what! Viserys died?? Alicent must have murdered him | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

drakaripykiros130ac · 3 months

Text

“The Greens are political masterminds compared to the Blacks.”

How many times have you heard this bullshit?

Their political incompetence is exactly what cost the Greens their victory in this war, and what gained Otto Hightower the gold medal in the “worst Hand in the history of Westeros” Olympics. And if you ask me, Criston Cole should have the silver for that one.

So, we’re talking about a faction who has been plotting to usurp the rightful heir, Rhaenyra Targaryen, for many, many years. They had so much time to prepare, and so many advantages: Alicent being queen and Otto being Hand, not to mention Rhaenyra and Daemon were away on Dragonstone for many years.

The Hightowers could have swayed things in their favor before Viserys’ death, and failed. They had to shuffle about, beg the Tyrells, send Aemond to Storm’s End with marriage promises etc. all after Viserys died. Lol. What have they done during those 10 years Rhaenyra was away on Dragonstone? They sat on their asses and did nothing. Not even prepare their puppet, Aegon Hightower.

Now, let’s list the Greens’ many, many mistakes:

1. Usurping the throne, instead of minding their own business and returning to Oldtown. Alicent doomed her entire line (children and grandchildren) with her schemes and thirst for power.

2. Not having Aemond and Daeron married by the time of the Dance. Boy, they really blew it with this one. Aemond was 20 when the Dance started and Daeron was 16. They could have been well married by the time Viserys died, and the Hightowers could have secured great alliances in time.

Rhaenyra’s sons were much younger than Alicent’s, and yet years before the Dance, she had Jacaerys and Lucerys betrothed to Baela and Rhaena, securing the Velaryons (a great power House) on her side for good. And certain people still have the nerve to say she did nothing.

Not having Aemond and Daeron married by the time of Viserys’ death, was a missed opportunity, which proves Otto and Alicent’s stupidity. They had the power, and Viserys was easily swayed, and they still screwed up big time.

3. Failing to get the support of their own liege lords, the Tyrells.

4. Failing to get the support of the Red Kraken and by extension, the Iron Islands. I mean, so few people realize that Daemon was the politically savvy one, knowing how to turn the Red Kraken against the Greens by appealing to his thirst for bloodshed. The Greens offered him the position of Master of Ships and he refused them, in exchange for a chance to stick it to the Lannisters. So basically, Daemon offered the Red Kraken nothing, compared to the Greens, and still managed to sway him to his side. That must have been so embarrassing for the Greens 😂.

5. Killing Lucerys. *claps* Well, done, Aemond One-Eye idiot. Before this, Rhaenyra was still determined to make peace with her half-brothers and half-sister, despite the usurpation, but not after they shed first blood and murdered her son. Hell no. Even Alicent and Otto were angry with Aemond for this one, because they knew how badly they screwed up.

The problem is that both Otto and Alicent lacked the intelligence to keep a bloodthirsty, idiotic maniac like Aemond in line. Not to mention that the one on their team holding their only ace-card, Vhagar, was this bloodthirsty, idiotic maniac.

6. Aegon Hightower choosing Criston Cole as his Hand. 😶 When I first read this part in the book, I was shocked. Definitely did not see that coming. Dismissing Otto as Hand (for the second time), I understand, considering that he really exudes incompetence. But what exactly went through the usurper’s puny brain when naming Cole as his Hand is beyond me. He is a military man. He is no political mastermind. Far from it. He is dumb as wood. He spent his entire career life kissing Alicent’s behind and only rising in ranking because of his hatred for Rhaenyra (because a young girl of 14 refused his advances).

There is a reason why Rhaenyra chose Corlys as her Hand, and not Daemon (like everyone expected her to).

Criston Cole led his forces in the Riverlands and got himself killed when facing the Winter Wolves. He didn’t even use his position as Hand. He just wore the pin.

Seriously, this has to be one of their dumbest moves. If I were in this usurper’s position, I would have chosen Tyland Lannister as my Hand, certainly not the overly subjective and creepy Incel who kisses my mother’s behind for a job.

7. Burning the Riverlands…for no good reason. *claps* Once again, let’s applaud Aemond’s idiocy. Basically, he decided to burn the Riverlands because their lords sided with Rhaenyra. That’s it.

Because of his stupidity, he basically secured the entire Riverlands on the side of the Blacks even after Rhaenyra’s death. The Riverlords fought for Rhaenyra’s son instead of agreeing to make peace with the Greens.

8. Choosing the Triarchy as an ally. What exactly made them think that they would gain any points by allying themselves with a great enemy of the people of Westeros? These are foreign savages that Daemon and Corlys have been fighting for years, and the Greens got in bed with them. Bringing an army of dangerous foreigners in a civil war is high treason against the Realm.

9. Burning Bitterbridge. The Reach was the Hightowers’ home, and not only did they fail to gain the support of the Paramount House there, but they also turned many of their bannermen against them. Well done. *sarcasm*

10. This one is one of my favorites: trusting the Goldcloaks. Otto Hightower knew perfectly well that the Goldcloaks were Daemon’s men, and despite making some changes and putting his son, Gwayne, as second in command, Otto still managed to get played and the Goldcloaks turned on the Greens when Daemon arrived in the capital.

The smart thing to do would have been to disband the Goldcloaks when the usurpation happened. The decision to keep them lost the Greens the capital.

11. Proposing to call a Great Council only when realizing that they were losing. So, once Rhaenyra took the capital, only then, did Alicent propose to call a Great Council. Why couldn’t she suggest that before usurping the throne? Alicent’s stupidity got her the nickname “Queen of Chains”.

12. Trusting the Dragonseeds who betrayed Rhaenyra. Seriously…how stupid could they be? Don’t they know that people who betray once have a tendency to do it again??? The Two Betrayers wasted no time and turned on the Greens soon after because they wanted the throne for themselves.

13. Trusting Larys Strong. This creep got his own family killed for the sake of power. He has no morals and is just like Littlefinger. Once he realized that the Greens were losing, Larys turned on them and most likely participated in poisoning Aegon the Usurper.

14. Refusing to name Aegon the Younger heir and sue for peace with the Black armies after Rhaenyra’s death. This basically guaranteed the Greens’ permanent defeat.

15. Trying to convince her eight year old granddaughter to kill her husband lost Alicent any freedom rights after she lost the war, and she spent the rest of her life in isolation and madness.

So, seriously, people who say that Otto and Alicent are politically intelligent need to get a clue and read the book.

227 notes · View notes

lya-dustin · 1 year

Text

Someone will remember us

Chapter 48

Cw: mentions of death, infant death, murder, casual use of the word r*pist, and typical hotd/got stuff

Taglist:@stargaryenx @mercedesdecorazon

Gif by @imagine-all-the-things

“Aemma is a dreamer.” Rhaenyra confronted Vaemond the moment he arrived in her chambers in Dragonstone.

“She is, did she tell you herself?” the Leviathan asked in suspicion.

They would never be friends, they would never care for each other, but they were allies.

In a different life, he would be dead and fed to Syrax, or so Aemma’s vision six moons ago had said.

“My father told me. Aemma was counseled against telling me by Rhaenys and Teora. They feared the nature of her visions could affect my health.” She can’t help but laugh at the irony.

Her little Visenya would be born dead, scaled and malformed due to poison, Jace would die trying to save Viserys from the Triarchy’s fleet and Luke would die over Strom’s End.

Aemond and Daemon would take each other out of this world, Criston Cole would be killed by a rain of arrows, Helaena would kill herself after her the death of her two sons and Alicent would die alone and imprisoned after having outlived her children and grandchildren.

Visions of doom her Aemma had been cursed with since she was eleven years old.

But one vision did not come true, so they are not completely without hope.

“I am sorry for your loss, your highness. I know the pain of losing a child.” He offers his condolences.

Daemion had died last year, he had been the eldest, barely twenty-five with a wife but no children to speak of.

He had been Laenor’s faithful squire, his shadow, knighted the morning of the funeral.

“May our children rest with our sacred dead, my lord.” The princess said.

------

“No.” Aemma crossed her arms like a petulant child.

Aemond had warned her that Aemma would refuse to bend the knee before he left, but Alicent needed to try and sway the girl to their side.

She has a dragon; she is the Princess of Dragonstone now, Rhaenyra’s own heir. If she bent the knee to Aegon, it would bring many to their side and ensure a peaceful surrender.

“If you swear fealty to Aegon your family may bend the knee and there will be no war, Aemma.” Alicent did her best to convince the obstinate young lady.

Aemma laughed at her words, “War will come either way, do you think my mother’s supporters will let her put everyone’s neck on the chopping block without a fight? You do know your father and his council intend to kill us all no matter what horseshit he promises you?

What will you do when he puts Aemond to death because he’s a threat to your sweet rapist son?”

The girl is adamant that Aemond will be amongst the pile of bodies Aegon will sit on. It would never happen, Aemond was loyal, as loyal as Criston and she had raised him to be.

She uses the word rapist like a knife, cutting her at every turn and ruining what little love the people have for Aegon.

He was good at revelries, but selfish and unforgiving. A drunk, a lecher and weak.

He trained when he had to, but was mediocre at best, or so Criston would say.

But after Aemma whispered about how he forced himself on maids as young a four and ten, the courtiers and the smallfolk spoke of him in disgust.

Aegon was not liked by the smallfolk, no matter how much she and Helaena did, they never cared for him.

They will hate him more when winter comes and the resources set aside for it have been consumed in the war Otto Hightower has started.

“That will never happen, Aemma. Aemond is Aegon’s second and he is my father’s blood.” The queen wasn’t sure who she was reminding.

Her father wouldn’t kill Aemond, he was his grandson, there was nothing more accursed than a kinslayer.

“That won’t matter to him, all Aegon would need to be told is that he must choose between his brother or his sons.” The girl countered and then turned to begging, taking her hand and placing it on her belly.

“Let me go, let me take Silverwing and put this to rights. If not for my sake then for your grandchild’s.”

The queen falters when she feels the babe kick as if he were commanded to, as if to emphasize that he too is alive.

“I cannot.” Alicent said sadly. If Aemma leaves, what will happen when Aemond goes after her?

A child comes before a brother, what is duty when it means sacrificing your own child in its blood and tear soaked altar?

“Then you have my answer, your grace. I will not swear fealty to Aegon, you may break my legs and force me down, but I choose to die with honor than live in disgrace."

----

“Where is Jeyne?” Helaena asked when the new handmaids served them tea.

“Gone, likely dead. Your dear mama came this morning and replaced my household with them.” Aemma tries to be nice, but today is one of those days where she cannot help being a bitch.

“Will you go to the coronation? You are the only one who believes me about the beasts under the floorboards.” Helaena whispered and yet it is not enough to stop the maids looking at her with pity.

They think she is insane, even her own mother believes she has a touch of the Targaryen madness. Makes for a miserable life.

“Let’s see the coronation will be held in the Dragonpit, dragons are under the great open hall. Do I have it right?” Aemma did not answer her question, but Hel will have forgotten with the solving of her riddle.

She likes riddles and puzzles, figures the Gods would speak to her in such.

“The Red Queen will be merciful, but the Green King will not be when they dance.” The princess, no, the queen nods and elaborates.

She means her grandmother, Rhaenys will be killed by Aegon. She will escape to Dragonstone after showing him mercy.

Gods, of course Aegon will not show mercy. Aegon who has never been kind a day in his life, Aegon who will see it as an insult and seek for a way to make Rhaenys regret not killing him when she had the chance.

“Gods have mercy.” Aemma said bracing herself for a life of agony thanks to Otto and Alicent.

“The gods have no mercy, that’s why they are gods.” Helaena said with a resigned sigh. Only Alicent actually has faith in the Seven. Prays and believes in them and all that.

----

He comes back to find his wife dressed in riding garb.

“I am going to leave this place and you can either stand aside or come with me.” Aemma declared as she struggled lacing her boots on.

“How do you plan to get past the dragon keepers and the guards?” he asked kneeling to lace up her boots.

Aemond shouldn’t stop her, she is safer with Rhaenyra than here, but he has always been selfish.

Aemma was his wife, his confidant, the only other person besides Helaena he can confirm loves him unconditionally.

But she is not safe, and that should be his priority.

After the coronation he is to retrieve his brother, Daeron, from the Hightower and take him to Storm’s End where he will be offered to Floris or Ellyn Baratheon in exchange for an army.

Should they come for her, he will not be there to stop them.

Fuck. Fuck it all.

“You are not stopping me, why?” she asks in suspicion.

Because I am still thinking over, he wants to answer.

“Your highnesses, the Queen Mother is here to speak with you.” One of the maids, the ringleader and one he instinctively knows ratted Aemma out before he even returned, said as his mother waltzed as if it were just another morning.

“For your own safety and that of my grandchild, I am afraid I cannot let you leave.”

#aemma velaryon #someone will remember us fic #asoiaf fanfic #aemond targaryen x velaryon!oc #house of the dragon #oc fanfiction #asoiaf au #ocappreciationtag #fyeahhotdocs

18 notes · View notes

not-so-lost-after-all · 1 year

Note

My solution for the Daeron problem is to simply make him an Outlaw that Viserys decreed could never be mentioned again in Court - his name erased from history.

Sentenced to death by exile.

My whole thing is that when he was a kid, he and a girl that he had a crush on where playing among the pavilions of a big tourney. By bad luck or happenstance, they accidentally stumble in on Rhaenyra and Harwin having sex. Rhaenyra basically goes completely Cersei - "They saw us!" - as in - "Harwin get them, quickly!" and Harwin starts chasing the kids, trying to get them.

Eventually, cornered, Daeron turns and tries to fight Ser Strong with Tourney weapons - being Ser Criston's squire. And while they're fighting, Lord Beesbury's son - alerted by Rhaenyra to help Ser Harwin apprehend 'a thief' sees an kid beating the shit outta of a half-drunk Harwin Strong with a tourney morning star. So he - drunkenly - picks up a spear and makes to hurl it at Daeron, not knowing who it is. The girl, at the last minute, steps in the way to protect Daeron and she's impaled by the spear.

The girl dies in Daeron's arms and in true Criston Cole fashion, goes into a murderous rage and runs down Lord Beesbury's son who is trying to flee the scene after murdering a little girl. But just as he is getting to the royal tent and the protection of the Royal party, Daeron grabs a hatch and throws into Ser Beesburys back felling him in front of everyone - Alicent, Viserys, Rhaenyra, Laenor, Corlys, Aemond, and Helaena - he hacks Ser Beesbury to death in murderous rage whole the whole court - including Lord Beesbury - watches in horror.

Eventually, he is arrested for murder and is brought before Viserys on the Iron Throne. It is agreed that while he did murder Ser Beesbury, that the knight did kill a little girl and that the young prince was simply carrying out the King's Justice. So they agree to send him to Otto in Old Town to squire for him.

However, in stunning and uncharacteristic move, Rhaenyra argues that the punishment is too lenient, that Daeron must face the King's Justice for murdering a Lord of the Realm. This shocked the King and terrifies Alicent. But Rhaenyra is now pregnant and Daeron saw her with Ser Harwin that night. In a shouting match with Alicent, Rhaenyra claims that what Ser Beesbury did was an accident, but what Daeron did was willful murder. That if Daeron is allowed to walk than what would the common people think - that there's one law for the King's son and another for them? Is that what Viserys wants people to think of his realm, his reign ... his legacy!

Alicent begs Viserys not to do it, to see reason. He is a child, her child - THEIR CHILD. That Ser Beesbury killed a little girl, Daeron's friend, and what would any one of them do in his position? But Rhaenyra reminds Viserys that Ser Criston had murdered Ser Joffery at her wedding in a similar violent and savage nature and he did nothing then as well. That he owed her and Laenor a debt of justice that he surely will not let go unpaid!

After a long moment of helpless silence, Alicent is restrained by Ser Criston who looks afear and wild with anger when VIserys sentences Daeron to death by erasure. That he his stripped of the name Targaryen, of the title of prince, and is to be erased from history. That he may take food, sword, and horse, and be banished forever from the King's Court - that death will find any who aid him. That no one in court or in this city will be allowed to see him leave. Then, Viserys orders Ser Criston to 'get him what he needs ... and burn the rest of it'.

Thus, either to the Wall or to Essos is all Daeron permitted to go. And he and Tessarion leave in the night with only a farewell from Criston and Aemond - who would take any punishment to say his final goodbye - riding off with Tessarion flying like a vampire bat after him ... never to be seen nor spoken of ever again.

Thus, eight months later, during 1x06, we now understand why Alicent and Criston are the way they are to Rhaenyra and her children. Cause, to protect her own secret affair, Rhaenyra had Daeron not just banished by erased from existence.

That's how I'd handle why no one spoke of Daeron ... cause they were not allowed to by Royal Decree. But now that Viserys is dead and Aegon is king, Alicent can send word to all corners of the world for Daeron to come back to Westeros ... come back to her.

Sorry for the long ask ... I just had to get that off my chest.

Let me just point out that it would not be uncharacteristic for Rhaenyra at all - that would be the third time she staged (or at least tried to) Alicent or her kids to pay for HER fuck ups. You probably see that Alicent´s suprised reaction to the inaction of Viserys when it comes to Aemond´s eye wouldn´t make sense if she already lost one son to his blind favoritism. Man, she would probably send assassin´s after Rhaenyra right after episode 7 and start poisoning Viserys (if not her, then Otto), not to mention any goodwill in episode 8 would be laughable. Now, you still might be on the right track and there was an ugly event involving Daeron - not connected to Rhaenyra - explaining why Daeron is out of the court and not talked about. Well, it is still more likely that Daeron was simply sent to the Oldtown by Alicent to spare him the dirty politics at the court. The fact that nobody at least said something like "We should send word to Daeron that father is dead" in episode 9 suggest that the showruners still thought that Daeron doesn´t exist in the series before GRRM convinced them otherwise. I wonder why they were so much against it. SPOILERS Daeron coud provide some sweet action scenes with Tessarion. He could die on Tessarion, in flames, fighting Vermithor. Hell, he could even survive as the only one of Alicent´s children before she says her goodbyes to him and sents him to safety until peace is restored. Because them making Aegon a rapist and thus condemning him for a big part of audience forever tells me they would botch the Shakespearian tragedy of the greens anyway and aren´t even aiming for it.

#daeron targaryen #house of the dragon

5 notes · View notes