Hampop

He’s sat there, grappling with the fact that he just killed his own brother. By all rights, he should blame Aerion for starting this mess, for attacking the puppet girl. But he doesn’t. He seems to blame Ser Duncan, but that’s Targaryen honor talking. He knows it’s Aerion’s fault— and so it’s ultimately his own fault.

He didn’t intend to kill Baelor. He loved Baelor. He and his brother were close. Their relationship was strong and built on years of trust and friendship.

And then Egg comes in. And he’s clearly here to kill his brother. And the look the Maekar gives him…

Incredulous, and in disbelief. Not “what are you doing” but “Could you? Would you really?” And he already knows the answer.

How did this happen? How are his sons strangers to one another— worse than strangers— when he and Baelor were so beloved to one another? How is it that he’s grieving the death of his brother so wholeheartedly while his sons plot fratricide?

It’s no wonder he talks so fiercely about ‘Blood of the Dragon’ and Targaryen honor when he sees it put under so much strain.

This scene is so good. It’s so good that it makes that final scene, where Egg sneaks off without his father’s permission, mildly infuriating. Because it’s so so clear that this moment is pivotal. That no matter what Maekar’s first reaction is to hearing Dunk’s condition to take Egg to squire, he’d come back to this moment and ultimately change his mind.