#hotd thoughts

Especially in Daeron's case, Otto was thinking ten moves ahead. I am convinced that sending Daeron to Oldtown was Otto's idea because in so doing, he effectively handed House Hightower a trueborn Targaryen prince raised under their influence as an insurance policy to rally behind in case Rhaenyra ever successfully ascended the throne and decided to eliminate rival claimants. Daeron was being strategically positioned in Oldtown under Ormund's care rather than Gwayne's (even though Gwayne was the closest relative), because Otto knew that when all else failed, Ormund would use Daeron to fight the war out of his own ambitions and for personal gain while Gwayne would stick to chivalry.

Think about it:

Daeron has to marry to form an alliance with whatever house and he travels to the Lord, still disguised in Ormund's party. And, of course, as the pact is made and the details are discussed, not a soul thinks of the bride nor the groom, both left out of the discussion and slipping out of sight separately. Daeron is off by himself in the gardens when a young woman approaches him, asking if he is part of the Hightower's party.

"Aye, my lady."

"May I ask you what he is like? Prince Daeron, I mean."

"Why do you wish to know?"

"Because I am to be his bride."

This is her. This is the stranger he'll be married to and she has no clue who she's talking to...and Daeron cannot help but smile and play the role of Ben, the squire, who knows Daeron so well, talking up the prince quite a bit and teasing a little. They spend quite a lot of time together and Daeron finds that he and his lady are well suited to one another, liking her more and more by the moment. And she likes him too. He can tell that she's sweet on him, even as she gently avoids "Ben" making little flirtation here and there (which he also likes).

The visit ends.

The Hightower's must leave to attend to some business and, when they return, she and Daeron will marry. Ben says his goodbyes and asks for a small favor, her blue ribbon for luck in the war, and assures her that she and Daeron will be quite happy together.

"How can you know that?"

"Trust me, my lady, I know the prince better than most. He shall love you."

And she watches him leave, ribbon tied around his wrist, a little part of her wishing that Ben could have been more than a friend...imagine her face when he reappears later, the red from his hair gone and white curls down his shoulders, smiling at her in such a familiar way...and then she sees the ribbon tied around his wrist and figures it out, Daeron following her out to the gardens.

"You are a beastly creature!"

"And yet you love me still."

I guess Daemon and Rhaenyra are so popular because people view them as the new Jon and Dany — but to me, they feel more like the Stannis and Daenerys we never got to see — especially with how much show Daemon borrows from book Stannis.

The parallels are pretty surprising:

Both craved the approval of their older brother-kings — and both wanted to be Hand.

Both blame their brother’s death on the queen — and neither intends to let it go unpunished.

Both lack skill in diplomacy, and Daemon almost directly quotes Stannis after Oscar Tully points out how hated Daemon is by the local lords.

Both share a similarly dry, deadpan sense of humor — “a big chair made of swords” sounds exactly like something book Stannis would say.

If Daemon keeps channeling Stannis next season, I’m totally here for it — it really suits him!

P.S. Just watch them — a mere coincidence, but this is priceless.