No matter what happens in tonight's episode, rhaenyra and daemons relationship is something even bad writing can't take away from us, at least if we choose the important parts for ourselves.
I remember how I felt watching their first scene in Season 1. That moment in the throne room. The chemistry. The moment they locked eyes and spoke High Valyrian for the first time. How he put the Valyrian steel necklace around her neck, and how that necklace became her anchor in so many ways for such a long time.No matter what
"You already have a wife/ Not of my choosing" /" I'm right here Uncle, the object of your ire."
Rhaenyra retrieving the dragon egg daemon stole, knowing exactly what to say, not scared, even mocking him and making clear that she sees right trough him.
Them under the weirwood tree. A dance between what is said and everything that is not.
The way they walked hand in hand through the city. Him leading her into the pleasure house. The way he kissed her for the first time and then got scared when he realized how much he truly desired her, that she got to him right there, wanting him back.
Rhaenyra wanted him. Him. She saw him. She knew him. And she still wanted him, falling so hard for him only to be pushed away, left alone and hurt once again, never knowing that he had asked for her hand right then and there.
But in the he always found himself unable to truly stay away.
"Take me to Dragonstone and make me your wife."
Her words mocking him again and begging him at the same time. The confidence. The pain. The loneliness. The longing. And him cursing that night for years because, once again, he had left her alone.
"I am no longer a child."
And when they met again, it was all still there.
But this time she had grown. A woman. A woman who had been with another man. A woman who had fought the battle at court and the battle of birth that took her mother, enduring Alicent's humiliation while always feeling so alone. Unseen. Not truly.
Because no one could truly see her the way Daemon could, just as only she could truly see him.
And even though time had passed, she had not outgrown her feelings for him. No. She still wanted him by her side, and this time it was her choice. Her deciding that he was the one she wanted as her husband. And for once, it felt as though a missing piece had finally fallen back into place.
"We were always meant to burn together"/ "Wed her to me in the tradition of our house."
That scene is still so powerful to me. The eye contact. The blood on both of their lips. The kiss. The intimacy of the ritual. Her deciding that this was what she wanted. And him no longer running away.
Them being at Dragonstone. Daemon's happiness when he came to tell her about the new dragon eggs, before hell broke loose once again and the news of Viserys' death arrived.
Rhaenyra losing their child, screaming for him, while he did what he always does whenever he feels words are not enough, even when they may be exactly what is needed.
The way he placed the crown on her head for the first time. The way he knelt before her, even though there was still a part of him screaming,"It should be me."
The way he was the one who told her about Lucerys' death. The way they held hands.
"May I be free for even one hour of the constant refrain of Daemon, Daemon, Daemon."
The fight after Blood and Cheese. Her words. Being the one knowing what to say to hurt him. His anger. Him leaving once again. The stubbornness. The battle Daemon had to fight with himself.
But while he tried to keep his distance him, she was with him every step of the way. Hunting him. Lingering in his dreams. And no matter what he did, there was no escape. Not from her.
"Leave me again..." / "You are the true Queen, Rhaenyra."
Rhaenyra coming to Harrenhal, not exactly sure what to expect, making it clear that she would no longer accept this behavior. Even though, deep down, the words he finally said to her were exactly what she had been longing for.
"She has me." / "The Queen is my wife."
Daemon being the one who finally got through to her after losing Jace. Her being unable to do anything to stop it. Locked in. Once again robbed of making her own decisions. Confronted with losing yet another beloved son and sinking back into the darkness, just as she had begun to climb out of the hole Lucerys' death and the betrayal had left her in.
Him finding the right words. Speaking to her once again in their language. Showing her that this time he is there, that she is as he said the true queen. And his wife.
That this time he is at her side. He knows he can not take her pain away but maybe helping her carrying it with her. Showing her that he will do whatever needs to be done.
"Stay close, Rhaenyra." / "This is the moment you become Queen."
Them walking into the Red Keep as a unit, taking back "our house." Him clearing the path for her without her having to say a word. Him giving her Dark Sister so she doesn't have to use Jace's sword, giving her the chance to finally step into action herself and reclaim a small piece of herself by killing Otto.
And finally, her walking toward the Iron Throne to sit on it for the first time, even though she feels that the price she paid, losing two of her sons was far too high. But Daemon is still there. At her side.
And he does everything he can to support his wife, to help her be Queen and to be seen as such. Restless and chaotic. The blood of the dragon. Burning together.
"there is only one who can walk that path with her and she chose him long ago... they have ever been two sides of a coin".
(Even though the writers seem determined to ignore that every now and then and even if this show is messing their relationship up even more than they already did .)
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