Let's talk about the scene where they separate. Because I feel like a lot happens at once here and there are so many emotions.

So Sandokan, poor thing, just found out his parents were killed by the father of the woman that his is desperately in love with. And I am sure he did not expect himself to be in that situation. On first watch it kind of seemed like Sandokan had sent her away to appease the natives. But when I paid more attention, you get something different. When Marianne asks him what was wrong, why he was ignoring her, what is the first thing he says? That she should have gone home by now. He hesitates to tell her about her father until she keeps pressing. He doesn't hold against Marianne what happened to his parents, but he does feel guilty he dragged her into this, put her in a situation where she would have to choose. You see Sandokan knew that when everyone else had left him, Marianne was still there. Yanez walked away, she didn't. Sandokan knew that if he lied, she would hate him. He also knew that she would stay beside him to her detriment. So, what does he do? He tells her to ask her father. He beckons her to find out the truth. And once again he never forces her to do anything. Choose anything.

Then Marianne, after having the rug pulled out from under her (just look at her face when Brooke appears) is just froze. The man she loves just told her something she is having a hard time accepting, and he basically told her to go. Now I also think that Sandokan told her to go for her own safety. Brooke made a comment that Sandokan was not aware the Sultan was in hiding and posed a threat to Marianne, but I think Sandokan knew. And he wanted to keep her safe. Poor Marianne though had not fully taken one foot out her father's world. She is straddling both, and so, she caves and goes with Brooke.

It is a sticky situation, but Sandokan did the right thing by not lying to her. And Marianne made the only choice she could have with what had just been dropped in her lap.

I love how much he loves her hair.

It is a defining feature and it is everywhere, so he can't not touch it when he kisses her. But him tangling and bunching it up is my favorite!

Rhaenyra & Daemon

Rhaenyra= woman

"The boys who clung to me, who hid their little faces in my skirts... dead, so that I may sit upon a throne of swords?"