faye

I feel like "Maekar, Lady of Winterfell" Baelor mentally refers to Winterfell as "Fucking Winterfell" and Bronwyn as "The Wall Made Flesh" whenever they're brought up around him after the story is over (to Baelor, Bronwyn is basically a living wall of ice between Baelor and Maekar).

Aside from Daeron II, Myriah, Baelor, Maekar, and Bronwyn, does anyone know that Baelor is the fire that wasn't chosen when the songs and stories about the dragon who chose frost over fire are sung and told? RIP Baelor being unable to ban said songs and stories in King's Landing when he's still heir and when he becomes king, lest it look suspicious, and having to hear the very popular songs and stories constantly, no matter how every single time he hears them, he has to have a straight face while it feels like the greatsword Ice is ran through his heart.

When Valarr is born, and his silver streak is noticed, does Baelor think of him as the child of himself and Maekar that never was and never can be? Does he make it clear to Valarr early on that his future consort will be one of duty, so he shouldn't bother following his heart, in an effort to prevent him from going through what Baelor himself has to suffer through?

Damn y'all someone decided it's crying hours over here in Maekar of Winterfell universe!!! FUCKING WINTERFELL!!!!

SO THIS IS AN EXCELLENT FUCKIN QUESTION and MAYBE readers may be more adept at analyzing their feelings and reactions? perhaps? but ima take a stab at it

In Meet Your Measure, we see nothing of Baelor's inner conflict until he makes his confessions--just the pain he's put upon Maekar, who is incredibly lonely for several years and is actively cut off from a stable and noble source of love while his brother tries to discern if he will be able to live up to his duty (both to the throne and to maekar, considering his conviction that he will inevitably seek to control and therefore abuse his brother if he takes him to wife)!

In Maekar of Winterfell, Baelor is visibly tortured by his feelings. If I've read Meet Your Measure, I know from the beginning that Baelor wants Maekar badly. Even if I haven't, I watch as he's forced to confront his own feelings when Maekar, mere months after his presentation, is BETROTHED TO ANOTHER who is very obviously good for him; Baelor is forced to give up on Maekar as it's made clear he will be happily cared for elsewhere, and Baelor is basically robbed of the opportunity to choose Maekar. This Baelor doesn't commit the sin of being invisible in his feelings. Even Mama Myriah comes in and explains the dilemna in a nonjudgmental, sympathetic way. And who can help it coming straight from Myriah's mouth??????>?