Have Courage and Be Kind

Aegon in the book, like all the characters in the book, is a bit two dimensional (as explained very elaborately here and here, F&B is an in universe historical text compilation and as such doesn't have many character arcs or details on interior personalities), but the thing I enjoy most about him is that he's genuinely a very layered person.

He's a drunk and a wastrel, yes, and a bit of a slut, but there's more to him than that. For one, there's a softness to him, in his affection for his family, in having a relatively healthy relationship with his sister-wife (they, a rarity for royal couples, share a bedroom, given that it's specifically mentioned that this stops when Blood and Cheese tears them apart), a clear affection for his children, and even children in general given his decision to spare Aegon III and Gaemon Palehair (a young boy whose mom claimed he was Aegon II's bastard and thus was ruling in his name until Aegon came back) give their youth, and a love for family that he takes seriously as his eldest. While not "confirmed" the only explanation anyone offers for Aegon agreeing to take the crown when he didn't originally want to (he specifically calls it Rhaenyra's birthright and said he would be a bad brother to her if he took it even tho she was a shit sister to him) is that Criston bluntly tells him that Rhaenyra will kill not just him but his brothers and his sons in order to secure the claims of the Strongs, and that's what tips him over the edge. He makes sure only Helaena is ever recorded as a queen, to honor her, after Rhaenyra dies, and he commissioned huge fucking statues to be built of Aemond and Daeron once he was back in King's Landing after they did. It adds a complexity to him that didn't necessarily need to be there, from a narrative perspective, but was integral to who he is.

Aegon is also an incredibly determined person. He's the one who pushed to be publicly crowned once he accepted the throne, and unlike certain others (Rhaenyra) he was no slouch in fighting for what he saw as his rights. He participated actively in the war, he defended his claim with his own body by participating in the battle of Rook's Rest, and he fought hard for that win. He's incredibly injured afterwards, enough to essentially give Aemond the Westerosi equivalent of both 25th Amendment privileges and the power of attorney, but he still managed to win, and he managed to recover, importantly so without help, as his brothers and advisors were busy with the war, Helaena was just completely incapacitated, and between taking care of her and taking care of Maelor and Jaehaera, Alicent wasn't able to help him. He's able to stay alive after Rhaenyra takes King's Landing and he has to flee, he's able to stay alive on Dragonstone and even get himself to Sunfyre (we'll talk about Sunfyre) in order to gain enough health to actually take back the castle and lay enough of a trap that he's able to get rid of Rhaenyra. He's still able to fight against Baela and Moondancer, and despite being grievously injured again (this time he full on shatters his legs and is never able to walk again) he still survives and still manages to keep himself in check without even taking any pain medication (it's pointed out specifically that he refuses milk of the poppy despite the extent of the damage he's suffered). Aegon is someone who fights and claws for every victory he has, who keeps on going despite how broken and bruised and bleeding he is, who will not stop until he has absolutely nothing left to fight for, or even to live for, it's why I subscribe to the theory that he killed himself, even then Aegon's going out on his own terms after he did all that he could. I think that's incredibly powerful in a character, that he is Thee Determinator and he's going to keep getting back up no matter how many times he's knocked down.

And I love his relationship with Sunfyre. I adore his relationship with Sunfyre. Sunfyre is the "character" who brings out the most loving side we ever see with Aegon, the most openly affectionate. Aegon might love his family but he appears to keep his feelings pretty close to the best unless absolute calamity hits, but he openly just loves Sunfyre so fucking much, and it's entirely reciprocal. He makes Sunfyre his standard, the thing that his side swears loyalty to, as intrinsic as himself, and Sunfyre is willing to do anything for him at great personal risk (since we know that dragons can, theoretically, disobey commands if self preservation takes over), given that he does fight for Aegon in every battle he's flown to in spite of the fact that he himself is also incredibly wounded. And when Aegon's missing and Sunfyre is still almost completely handicapped by his injuries, they find each other. Sunfyre manages to drag himself to Dragonstone, despite no one knowing where Aegon was, and why? In the book, it's literally theorized that Sunfyre, in spite of how brutalized he was, could somehow sense that Aegon's desperation, that Aegon needed him, and that was enough for him to figure out where he was and get himself to Aegon's side. And Aegon, the second he hears that there's a golden dragon roaming around on Dragonstone, ignores his advisors and gets himself to Sunfyre because, well, it's Sunfyre. And it's explicitly stated that they only both start actually recovering in tangible ways once they're together, that they weren't whole without each other and literally needed each other in order to get healthy again. And then Sunfyre fights for him again, and is mortally wounded, and it's the most heartbroken we ever see Aegon, at least in the records. We know that he was full of rage when his son was murdered, yeah, but here he's openly weeping and completely devastated, and grief stricken enough that he orders that Baela be executed, despite the fact that she's his full blooded cousin and that would absolutely violate the kinslaying taboo, to the point where he had to be very firmly talked out of it, that's how completely crazed he is by Sunfyre's death. It speaks to the depth of feeling Aegon has within him, his capacity for love, and more than anything that even at his lowest (Sunfyre's death comes on the heels of Aegon executing Rhaenyra by feeding her to Sunfyre, in front of her son, and it's one of the cruelest moments in the entire Dance) he still has these layers within him that allow him to be so much more than one note.

Oh, I'm obsessed with it. There are layers of complexity there and their relationship informs their individual characters too.

A knight fallen from grace who finds his idealized values of honor and duty reflected in his lady, who has showed him enough grace to save his life twice, so he devotes himself to her completely.

A lonely woman who recognizes the courage and honesty it must take for a knight to admit he has broken his vow and granting him mercy, recognizing their shared values, making him her closest confidante and trusting him not only with her life but with the lives of her children.

Both outsiders in their own way. Alicent with few friends at court, no love from her husband, paranoia and fear for her children's lives driving every step. Criston coming from a minor house, being undermined every step of the way for being a "son of a steward," realizing he will never be taken seriously by his peers simply because of his station. Finding companionship, respect, trust, and love (yes, I do believe there is love there) in each other.

And another layer to that is how deeply entrenched Criston now is in Alicent's very world. He likely views her children as his own. Despite being a knight of the Kingsguard, and against all odds, he managed to find a family of his own. And the children themselves respect and trust him. Aemond confides in him and shows his vulnerability, Criston crowns Aegon, Helaena seeks protection and comfort from him in a dangerous situation. At this point, those are his kids as well. He is not only devoted to their mother, but he is devoted to them.

All of this spins into unwavering loyalty for his queen. He will not tolerate any insinuation that she acted with dishonor (rest in peace, Beesbury), and he will do everything in his power to not fail her.

And finally, the fact that they most likely do feel romantic love for each other but neither of them can act on it - it's delicious. At this point, nothing makes more sense than Alicent seeking love from the only man in the world who is devoted so fully to her with no ulterior motive. She deserves it! But she can't, because that would betray her values and it would betray his values. She would not do that to him. And him? No matter how he feels, he knows what it is like to lose his honor and soil his white cloak - he was about to kill himself the last time he was at a point so low. He will love her, he will die for her, he will protect her and her children with his life, but he cannot be with her.

Something simultaneously lovely and tragic about it.

I actually don’t have a definitive answer for this. 😶 If Daemon killed anyone, it would be Laenor. Whereas, Harwin and Lyonel are killed by Viserys.

On the one hand, it would make sense thematically if Daemon (or even Viserys) was responsible for those deaths. There’s a recurring motif in the book that Daemon’s (and Viserys’) selfish decisions are what leave Rhaenyra truly vulnerable and at the mercy of the Greens’ ambitions. The reason Rhaenyra became heir? Because of the conflict between the two Targaryen brothers. The reason Rhaenyra was forced to marry a gay man? Because Viserys wanted her to clean up his political mess and Daemon was openly speaking of bedding Rhaenyra. The reason Rhaenyra was left exiled on Dragonstone? Because Viserys ordered her confined to the island since he didn’t want to deal with the Black-Green conflict, thus allowing the Greens a foothold into securing King’s Landing for the eventual usurpation. The reason Rhaenyra was left abandoned in King’s Landing and had to flee for her life? Because Daemon made a selfish choice instead of returning back to the city to secure it for his queen like she needed him to.

So when it comes to the deaths of Laenor and Harwin (and by extension Lyonel), who Rhaenyra had created her new family with, I think it would be quite fitting if it all came to an end because of Daemon and Viserys.

House Strong were allies of Rhaenyra. They gave her a powerful foothold into King’s Landing. Lyonel was the Hand of the King. Harwin was described as Rhaenyra’s champion and “the foremost of the blacks”. While Daemon’s name is put forth as a possibility for Harwin’s killer, I don’t think he would have any reason to target Harwin. That’s because Harwin is not married to Rhaenyra and he was already sent away from her side. So I theorize that Viserys was the person who had Harwin killed. He is depicted as a vicious man who will go to any ends to hide the truth of Rhaenyra’s children being bastards. So when people become more outspoken about this topic, Viserys is the one who had Harwin sent back to Harrenhal and a fire was planned to eliminate him. Lyonel was only escorting his son and I don’t believe he was the intended target; he’s just an unfortunate casualty. But the end result of Viserys’ plan brings Otto Hightower back to court as the new Hand of the King and the Greens gain an advantage over Rhaenyra.

King Viserys further decreed that Queen Alicent and her sons would return with him to court, whilst Princess Rhaenyra confined herself to Dragonstone with her sons. Henceforth Ser Erryk Cargyll of the Kingsguard would serve as her sworn shield, whilst Breakbones returned to Harrenhal.

[…]

Lyonel Strong, Lord of Harrenhal and Hand of the King, accompanied his son and heir Ser Harwin on his return to the great, half-ruined castle on the lakeshore. Shortly after their arrival, a fire broke out in the tower where they were sleeping, and both father and son were killed, along with three of their retainers and a dozen servants.

[…]

The most disturbing possibility was advanced by none other than Grand Maester Mellos, who muses that the king himself might have given the command. If Viserys had come to accept that the rumors about the parentage of Rhaenyra’s children were true, he might well have wished to remove the man who had dishonored his daughter, lest he somehow reveal the bastardy of her sons. Were that so, Lyonel Strong’s death was an unfortunate accident, for his lordship’s decision to see his son back to Harrenhal had been unforeseen.

When it comes to Daemon orchestrating Laenor’s death, the suggestion was put forth in Mushroom’s testimony, which was years after the Dance of the Dragons. In this situation, Laenor needs to die first in order for Daemon to secure his marriage to Rhaenyra. I always find it noteworthy that the conflict between the Blacks and the Greens reaches a new peak at Laenor’s funeral, in which Rhaenyra’s sons are openly referred to as bastards (rather than the rumours simply being whispered behind their backs). With their father alive, Rhaenyra’s sons were protected from the rumours. But they lose that shield with Laenor’s death. If Daemon is really behind it, then he would’ve simply paid off Qarl to do the deed.

Mushroom, as always, favors the most sinister theory, suggesting that Prince Daemon paid Qarl Correy to dispose of Princess Rhaenyra’s husband, arranged for a ship to carry him away, then cut his throat and fed him to the sea. A household knight of relatively low birth, Correy was known to have a lord’s tastes and a peasant’s purse, and was given to extravagant wagering besides, which lends a certain credence to the fool’s version of events.

The argument against Daemon’s involvement in Laenor’s death (and even Harwin) is how come he didn’t do it from the very beginning? When Daemon was first widowed, and Rhaenyra was only about a year into her marriage with Laenor, it was an opportune time to orchestrate an assassination. If Daemon wants to marry Rhaenyra for political gain, then why was he okay with her siring several sons with another man, therefore leaving any potential sons he has with her much farther down the line of succession? If Daemon wants to marry Rhaenyra for love, then how is he okay with Rhaenyra being in a relationship with another man? Why did he get married to another woman, wait to be widowed for a second time, and only then orchestrate an assassination? There’s also the fact that Corlys was funding a manhunt to find Laenor’s killer, but no evidence was traced back to Daemon; if it had been, there would have been a great deal of conflict there.

If he does not get what he wants, he will refuse to give his allegiance.

Corlys married Rhaenys under the impression that his bloodline would have a claim to the Iron Throne. When Jaehaerys denied his wife’s claim to the Iron Throne, Corlys cut ties with the royal family. For nearly 2 decades, house Velaryon kept their distance from the politics of King’s Landing. In order to bring house Velaryon back into the fold, Viserys had to offer them a second royal marriage.

Though this new royal marriage ends up going awry, Corlys does not compromise his family’s position. While he does accept Rhaenyra’s bastards into his family, he never officially declares any one as his heir, because they are clearly not of his blood. Rhaenyra had to resort to violence and eliminate any competition in order to sway the situation in her favour. The betrothals between Corlys’ grandchildren might be Rhaenyra’s brainchild, but the person who benefits most from it is actually Corlys (with Rhaenyra in fact losing any chance of making any powerful marriage alliances elsewhere for her heirs).

During the war, Corlys is very willing to drop support for Rhaenyra and so, concessions are made by Jace to bring him back into the fold. Since more than half of Rhaenyra’s army is composed of Velaryon soldiers, Team Black desperately needs Corlys, and they all know it. Rhaenyra only established her Small Council when she took over King’s Landing, but Corlys was made Hand of the Queen much earlier to appease him, through Jace’s efforts. Corlys forces Rhaenyra to accept “Laenor’s bastards”, making her appearing like a cuckolded woman in the public eye. It’s these bastards, born to a commoner, that are declared official heirs to Driftmark over the trueborn princes the Queen gave birth to. It’s also Corlys who holds the most control during council meetings, with Rhaenyra choosing to follow his opinion more often than not.

In his negotiations with Alicent and the rest of the Green Council, Corlys repeatedly refused to bend the knee, until his demands are met. He and the Green Council remain eternally at odds with each other. In the end, Corlys does bow. In return he gets restored back to his position as Master of Ships, secures a full royal pardon for his family and other allies, is the deciding factor in determining the new heir to the Iron Throne and the subsequent royal marriage, and has Baela freed from captivity.

What everyone deserves. I may not know exactly what true love feels like, but I certainly know what it is not. It is not deception or wandering eyes, or a role to be fulfilled. I cannot marry you because I cannot betray myself. (…) You [Kate] say you have spent your life trying to give me everything I lacked, but really, you simply gave me everything you really wanted for yourself, as though my life were not my own. I did not ask for any of it, Kate. So, today, I can be sure that what I leave behind is not my loss. It is yours. Your dream, your plan, your feelings that I had merely borrowed. Today, you have lost your power, while I have made up my own mind. And that is victory enough for me.

#sure jan

+ bonus: Sophie calling him out on the lie

Girls, you shall not abuse your sister in this household. [...] We have all been acting in an uncouth way of late. With the excitement of dual pregnancies and a surprise engagement, we have all quite forgotten ourselves.