Honestly, Falia Flowers comes across as if she's completely lost the plot. She turned on and had fun torturing her own family (I know they treated her like a servant, but still) for an invader she had just met, thinking she wouldn't be harmed, even though Euron's sadistic streak is staring her right in the face when she met his own brother, Aaron, and for some bizarre reason, she seems happy about Dany, an obviously more important queen, being brought into the picture. Why would she be happy about having to share her supposed true love with the dragon queen? Is she stupid? insane? Or being coerced, maybe even warged by Euron?

Background

Back in 2019 after the series finale of Game of Thrones, GRRM made a blogpost titled "An Ending" in which he discussed the finale, series ending as well as some of the differences between book and show (Butterfly Effect). While mentioning some of the different book characters' fates GRRM referred to Young Griff as "Aegon VI". George obviously isn't intentionally giving away plot points on his blog, but this could have been a small slip of a future plot point (or obviously him just talking about Young Griff in general with no real meaning behind it). In this post I wanted to discuss this SSM, as well as some of the other evidence for Young Griff being named King Aegon VI.

So Spake Martins (SSMs)

Here is the SSM I referenced in which GRRM calls him Aegon VI:

I am working in a very different medium than David and Dan, never forget.   They had six hours for this final season.   I expect these last two books of mine will fill 3000 manuscript pages between them before I’m done… and if more pages and chapters and scenes are needed, I’ll add them.   And of course the butterfly effect will be at work as well; those of you who follow this Not A Blog will know that I’ve been talking about that since season one.   There are characters who never made it onto the screen at all, and others who died in the show but still live in the books… so if nothing else, the readers will learn what happened to Jeyne Poole, Lady Stoneheart, Penny and her pig, Skahaz Shavepate, Arianne Martell, Darkstar, Victarion Greyjoy, Ser Garlan the Gallant, Aegon VI, and a myriad of other characters both great and small that viewers of the show never had the chance to meet.   And yes, there will be unicorns… of a sort… -SSM, An Ending: 20 May 2019

which is interesting as a potential slip, simply because of how GRRM has referred to him previously:

Meanwhile Jhiqui, Aggo, Jhogo, Jeyne Poole, Dalla (and her child) and her sister Val, Princess Arianne Martell, Prince Quentyn Martell, Willas Tyrell, Ser Garlan the Gallant, Lord Wyman Manderly, the Shavepate, the Green Grace, Brown Ben Plumm, the Tattered Prince, Pretty Meris, Bloodbeard, Griff and Young Griff, and many more have never been part of the show, yet remain characters in the books. -SSM, Last Year (Winds of Winter): 1 Jan 2016

and:

The decision was made four/five years ago to eliminate characters like Lady Stoneheart, Quentyn Martell, the Young Griff arc. When you eliminate all those subplots, you simplify things and bring it to an end where it is. -SSM, Joe Interview: Aug 2019

and:

I have legions of secondary characters, not POVs but nonetheless important to the plot, who also figure in the story: Lady Stoneheart, Young Griff, the Tattered Prince, Penny, Brown Ben Plumm, the Shavepate, Marwyn the Mage, Darkstar, Jeyne Westerling.  -SSM, A Winter Garden: 8 July 2022

and worth noting that GRRM is aware of the nickname fAegon:

Ashaya: Like people, I hate when people use the term Faegon, because it’s very spoilery and not necessarily accurate. I just call ’em Young Griff, but that is a term that people use.
Aziz: Yeah. Shortened version of fake Aegon – had you heard that term before?
George: Yes, I have. And it does indicate that they have already made their decision.
Aziz: They’ve taken Tyrion’s hint, like yeah, I dunno about this. -SSM, George RR Martin in Conversation: HOW Interviews GRRM!: 25 Aug 2022

The Mummer's Dragon

While getting shade of the evening induced visions, Dany sees:

Glowing like sunset, a red sword was raised in the hand of a blue-eyed king who cast no shadow. A cloth dragon swayed on poles amidst a cheering crowd. From a smoking tower, a great stone beast took wing, breathing shadow fire. . . . mother of dragons, slayer of lies . . . -ACOK, Daenerys IV

which in the next chapter gets expanded on more:

"A dead man in the prow of a ship, a blue rose, a banquet of blood . . . what does any of it mean, Khaleesi? A mummer's dragon, you said. What is a mummer's dragon, pray?"
"A cloth dragon on poles," Dany explained. "Mummers use them in their follies, to give the heroes something to fight." -ACOK, Daenerys V

and Dany is warned by Quaithe about him:

"No. Hear me, Daenerys Targaryen. The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal." -ADWD, Daenerys II

this is seen by many readers to be a vision of Young Griff in King's Landing after he rides in to save the day as Varys tells Kevan:

A savior come from across the sea to bind up the wounds of bleeding Westeros.” -ADWD, Epilogue

If interested: The High Sparrow and Young Griff & Young Griff and King's Landing

The Future of the Iron Throne

The boy king, Tommen I currently sits the Iron Throne although his reign probably won't be very long (I argued here, that he will get poisoned by Tyene Sand via the High Sparrow's blessing). It is also possible that his sister Myrcella could be crowned too (although it can be argued she already has been) before her upcoming death (a third golden shroud). Note that Cersei has not physically sat on it yet (except in dreams).

That said we know that GRRM had this to say regarding the Iron Throne:

I know who's gonna be on the throne in the end. I'd better not say. There'll be a few people sitting on it before the answer. -SSM, Emmy Panel: March 2013

If interested: Future Characters on the Iron Throne

TLDR: I expect Young Griff to take King's Landing and be crowned Aegon VI by the High Sparrow (before being defeated by Dany). In 2019, after the series finale of A Game of Thrones, GRRM may have slipped up when he called Young Griff by the name, "Aegon VI". Not in that he is a true Targaryen (he is a Blackfyre/Brightfyre imo) just that he is going to be crowned.

And this is throughout the main books since if not the immediate answer would just be Baelor for obvious reasons. Its not just the Faith of The Seven, just piety in general for whateve respective faith

Let's imagine Tyrion perspective in the likely Winds of Winter scenario. He finds the Daenerys, reclaims his Targaryen heritage and tames a dragon, becomes one of leading figures in the conquering host returning to Westeros, clamoring for revenge, fire and blood, and then he finds Aegon already crowned, loved by smallfolk, one who already defeated and pardoned his sister, maybe even grateful to him for his good advice. Daenerys is stunned too obviously, but she maybe is still not ready to cross the line of fighting just for conquest, probably at least considering making peace and marrying(though there maybe a situation with Aegon already married, the only recourse being bringing up polygamy.

And then Tyrion remembers all the little details in his journey and at some off-hand mention of mummer 's dragon prophecy by Dany he puts it all together:
1) Golden company allying with this supposed Targaryen, especially when leaded by long time rival house(he already brings this up in ADWD).
2) Illirio insistance on only male line dying out.
3) Varys and Illirio clearly working together but then him spying and sending assassins against Dany, and the latter selling her out to the Drogo.
Etc, maybe something additional from the new novel.

It would be a great example of motivated reasoning and serve as a good way to show how smart and at the same time immoral Tyrion is at the moment. Do I think it's the likeliest option? No, not all, there are many other ways to find out, if it even true. But it is a funny one, making Tyrion stand in for the audience.

I’ve been a fan of ASOIAF since the TV show came out & I’ve always loved the POV structure, particularly imagining what additional POV characters storylines would be like to fill in some blanks we have in the books. This has turned into a bit of a personal project where I want to retell essentially the same story but from all new POVs. I’m not much of a writer but enjoy the puzzle of planning this, I thought some people here might find it a fun read!

Some storylines are covered a lot less, some a lot more & some of the same storylines from new perspectives. This is all just for fun but part of the fun for me has been working out how to make this lore/canon accurate (with some creative liberties). I think my timeline works & although not everything is even suggested in the canon, I don’t think anything is specifically disproven. Let me know if anything seems wrong, I’ve been taking some use of theories I like & using random ideas that I think could work to fill in blanks.

This is how I think a retelling of A Game of Thrones could go as well as my reasoning why I have chosen each of the POVs.

POV Character Choices

For AGOT I wanted this to be the most similar to the original books but with the POVs I have chosen this will naturally diverge from the main series for ACOK. I have given myself some rules for this project, some are ones I feel are the same as the original books:
• No POVs used in ANY of the actual books (eg no Sansa, Theon, Melisandre, Kevan, etc)
• Excluding Kings (loose rule as I do make 2 exceptions but I think for good reason, no Joffrey, Tommen, Stannis, Balon, Renly, Robert)
• Excluding “villains” (characters I’m considering almost too evil for POVs, no Joffrey, Ramsay, Euron mainly)
• Excluding characters I am perceiving as “knowing too much” (I see Tywin, Roose, Olenna, Howland, Varys & Littlefinger in this category)
• Prologue/epilogue must die in their chapter

I also wanted to sort of mirror the main series but I want to include a prologue & epilogue for every book because I think it helps tease the plot lines I’m not covering. So for The Shadows of Summer I have 8 main POVs as well as a prologue & epilogue. I’m definitely bias towards characters I like but would be interested to hear who people would add.

For example, I really wanted to include Margaery Tyrell but decided against because she doesn’t have a lot going on in AGOT - she may be introduced down the line though. Honorary mention to Sandor Clegane who I think could’ve been a good addition but didn’t want more than 8 POVs.

Prologue: Jon Arryn - obvious reasons
1. Robb Stark - 1 of 2 potential Stark POVs, almost functions like Ned & our lead, forced into a leadership position
2. Rickon Stark - the 2nd potential Stark POV, warging exploration, parallel to Bran
3. Jeyne Poole - young girl northern POV, covers a lot of Sansa content then much later Theon
4. Myrcella Baratheon - fun contrast to Arya/Sansa, the royal court POV & another youngster, our window into the Lannister side of things with no Tyrion, contrast with lower status Jeyne
5. Brynden Tully - covers a lot of Catelyn content as well as Lysa, our Tully POV, also just a cool guy
6. Loras Tyrell - an interesting angle for another Kingslanding POV & Renly’s plotting
7. Aegon Targaryen - massive departure from the main series but wanted to contrast Daenerys POV without showing her storyline as her storyline is one of two that feels the most like it can’t be retold from someone else
8. Val - similar to Aegon I want to show the wildling side of the wall to contrast with Jon’s storyline, Aegon & Val almost function as gender flipped Jon & Dany.
Epilogue: Mirri Maz Duur - a window into Dany’s storyline & magic

Chapter Breakdown by POV

Prologue: Jon Arryn
Reveals his knowledge of “the seed is strong” & plans with Stannis to have Sweetrobin fostered at Dragonstone. Lysa poisoning him & hints at an affair with Littlefinger. Pycelle treating his “illness”.

Robb Stark
1. Eddard beheading the Nights Watch deserter & finding the direwolves with Jon.
2. Bran & Tommen practicing sword fighting & his confrontation with Joffrey.
3. The hunting trip with Eddard, Robert Baratheon & co, they return to find Bran in a coma.
4. Rickon following him around, the tower fire & the Catspaw assassination attempt on Bran.
5. Acting as Lord of Winterfell, Bran waking up & Tyrion visiting returning from the Wall.
6. The wildlings attack & capture of Osha.
7. Calling his banners & marching South.
8. Arrival at Moat Cailin with his army.
9. The Twins crossing negotiations.
10. The Whispering Wood battle & taking Jaime Lannister prisoner.
11. Riverrun & being declared King in the North.

Rickon Stark
1. The arrival of the Royal Court at Winterfell.
2. Immediate reaction to Bran’s “fall” (Cersei, Jaime, Catelyn).
3. Jon, Ned, Sansa & Arya leaving.
4. Attack in the crypts, Shaggydog locked up.
5. Wolf dreams & going to the crypt, being found by Bran/Osha.

Jeyne Poole
1. Journey on the Kings Road south, Vayon Poole, Mycah & Lady situation.
2. Hand of the King tourney, crush on Beric Dondarrion.
3. At court with Sansa with Ned ruling.
4. Locked away with Sansa.
5. Taken by Littlefinger to a brothel, given the identify of “Lady Snow”, bastard of Harwin.

Myrcella Baratheon
1. Being told about Jon Arryn’s death, interactions with the royal family, Lysa & Robin have fled Kingslanding.
2. The Winterfell feast, dancing with Robb.
3. The morning after Bran’s fall, breakfast with the Lannisters.
4. Kings Road, Cersei interactions, arrival at Kings Landing & introductions to more of her family (Tyrek, Rosamund, Lancel)
5. Hand of the King tourney.
6. Playing with Tommen, Joffrey bullying Tommen, later come across a “boy” (Arya) chasing cats.
7. Eddard Stark’s beheading.

Brynden Tully
1. Lysa & Robin Arryn’s arrival at the Eyrie & potentially the letter discussed.
2. Conflict with the clans, Mya Stone, Vale Lords introduction.
3. Catelyn & Tyrion arrival in the Vale.
4. Resignation of his post, leaving the Eyrie.
5. Approaching & arrival at Moat Cailin with Catelyn.
6. Scouting at the Twins.
7. Arrival at Riverrun, interactions with Edmure Tully.

Loras Tyrell
1. Kingslanding with Renly (gay!) before he leaves to meet the host heading south.
2. Loras vs Gregor with Sandor intervening.
3. A letter from Olenna, him & Renly discuss the plot to replace Cersei with Margaery.
4. Beric chosen to stop Gregor over Loras with Ned as HotK.
5. Robert Baratheon dead, fleeing Kingslanding with Renly.
6. Arrival at Highgarden, introduction to the Tyrell family.
7. Renly & Margaery wedding, Renly declared King, Brienne of Tarth introduced.

Aegon Targaryen
1. Haldon Halfmaester giving him a history lesson on Westeros, Targaryen’s & potentially the Blackfyre’s. Currently being hosted by Lynesse Hightower in Lys (another contact of Illyrio’s).
2. Lynesse delivers news from Illyrio about Daenerys wedding to Khal Drogo, sword practice with Jon Connington.
3. Jon Connington discusses Rhaegar (gay!), Septa Lemore being mysterious, news of Viserys & Robert’s deaths means they are to travel to Illyrio.
4. Leaving Lys for Pentos.

Val
1. Meeting Mance with Dalla, Mance talks about visiting Winterfell. Doesn’t trust Mance.
2. They come across signs of the Others & Wights, possibly the remnants of Will & Waymar Royce original prologue. They decide to take action.
3. Helps Mance gather wildling leaders, free folk politics, Val recruits Jarl & begins a relationship. Tormund introduced. Dalla & Mance relationship developing. Val & Mance building trust.
4. Val has recruited Harma Dogshead, Mance sorts a dispute between Harma & Rattleshirt, Ygritte & Orell introduced. Ends with Mance holding a meeting with the leaders so far and announces his plans to go south.

Epilogue: Mirri Maz Duur
Her anger towards the Dothraki & revenge on Daenerys, later her burning in the pyre. The final line would be hearing the dragons screech as she burns alive.

Chapter Order

My order of chapters that I am fairly sure works with the established order of events:

Prologue (Jon Arryn), Myrcella I, Brynden I, Robb I, Aegon I, Rickon I, Myrcella II, Robb II, Rickon II, Aegon II, Robb III, Myrcella III, Rickon III, Loras I, Robb IV, Jeyne I, Val I, Myrcella IV, Brynden II, Robb V, Jeyne II, Myrcella V, Loras II, Val II, Brynden III, Robb VI, Loras III, Myrcella VI, Brynden IV, Loras IV, Jeyne III, Robb VII, Val III, Rickon IV, Loras V, Robb VIII, Jeyne IV, Brynden V, Aegon III, Robb IX, Loras VI, Brynden VI, Robb X, Myrcella VII, Rickon V, Jeyne V, Aegon IV, Loras VII, Brynden VII, Val IV, Robb XI, Epilogue (Mirri Maz Duur).

Some of this is obviously my own invention but a lot can be verified - eg Mance meeting Dalla after leaving the Winterfell feast. Some I’ve completely made up, Lynsesse Hightower with Aegon for example but gives a fun parallel to Jorah.

Also particularly happy with myself for Jeyne Poole going undercover as a Northern bastard at Littlefingers brothel, it feels very GRRM to me - parallels Arya & Sansa’s fake identifies later: Sansa as Littlefingers bastard; Jeyne later pretends to be Arya; Jon being mocked as “Lord Snow” like Lady Snow being a bit tongue in cheek at a brothel; Catelyn becomes Lady Stoneheart & the story being that she is Harwin’s bastard connects her to the BWB & Stoneheart.

I’m working on book three & already have book two planned out using the same POVs as above & two new ones - any guesses who they might be? Let me know if anyone is interested in where I go from here!

Okay guys, so this is just supposed to be a fun post, im not claiming anything. Just a detail I found that may be funny regarding the blackfyre claim. That being, that if the idea that Daeron is a bastard is true, it still might not mean daemon is the heir. As, there's a possibility, that Balerion Otherys is the heir. I know that his birth is uncertain, but I find it ironic if this were actually true. Plus a little cool that Aegons heir is named Balerion. And that the very concept blackfyres fight for may be a lie as is. It just feels like an ironic twist that fits the story, and it was a fun fact I found and wanted to share.

Again, I dont want to start an argument or claim he was the actual heir or anything like that, so please dont take this that way. Its just a cool little detail.

Baelor loved Daena deeply, but he loved the Seven even more. And so, the more he loved her, the more he feared the desires within himself.
Daena loved Baelor just as deeply, but she was betrayed by the man she loved. And so, the more she loved him, the more her love turned into hatred.

I have to confess, I only recently read a fic about this pairing, but Baelor × Daena is such an intriguing pairing to me. The two of them have so many striking parallels.
1. They both have reason to believe that the other loves someone else
Daena admired Daeron greatly, so much so that many people might think she loved Daeron rather than Baelor.
Baelor, meanwhile, was also greatly admired by Rhaena.
This is not a perfect parallel, of course.
Daeron was more handsome, so it would hardly be surprising if Daena were attracted to him. But Baelor himself was also admired by Rhaena, who was more sensual and alluring than Daena.
Now imagine that Baelor and Daena truly loved one another, yet each believed that the other had someone else in their heart.
Baelor might have thought that Daena loved Daeron.
And Daena might have believed that Baelor loved Rhaena.
There is something deeply tragic about that: two people who love each other, yet neither dares to believe that they are the one truly loved in return.

2. Even their epithets seem strangely parallel
Daena the Defiant.
Baelor the Blessed.
There is something almost poetic in the contrast.
She is the woman who defies.
He is the man who devotes himself completely to the Seven.
She refuses to be bound by the world around her, while he willingly binds himself to his faith.
They almost seem like opposite reflections of one another.

3. Their smiles
Daena has a smile that is described as though it could dare anything.
Baelor, meanwhile, has a beautiful smile.
It is only a small detail, but I find it strangely fitting that the smiles of both characters are singled out in their descriptions.

Events that might support this interpretation
1. Daena wearing white to tempt Baelor.
Daena deliberately wore white to seduce Baelor, which becomes particularly interesting when we consider how desperately he tried to suppress his own desires.

2. Daena could have escaped, yet she always chose to return to the cell where Baelor kept her imprisoned.
She could have fled.
She could have reclaimed her freedom.
Yet she repeatedly chose to return to the very cell where Baelor kept her prisoner.
That makes me wonder whether something stronger than the walls around her was keeping her there.
Perhaps, despite everything, some part of her still longed to be near him.

3. Perhaps Baelor’s decision to help Naerys while keeping his own wife imprisoned only deepened Daena’s resentment.
From Daena’s perspective, that might have felt like another betrayal a cruel reminder that he could show compassion to another woman while denying his own wife her freedom.
Perhaps that only made her love curdle further into bitterness.
And when she finally had the opportunity, Daena raped Baelor.✌️😌
Perhaps it was not simply lust or revenge, but the violent culmination of everything she had been forced to swallow: love, humiliation, jealousy, longing, and rage.

My theory
Just to make this clear, I’m not a Blackfyre stan. “A bastard is a bastard.”
I believe Daena never slept with Aegon IV.
The only man she ever slept with was Baelor.
And I believe Daemon is Baelor’s son.
Part of the reason I believe this is that I think George may deliberately make Baelor the only man Daena ever slept with, so that when the truth is eventually revealed, there can be no real doubt that Daemon is Baelor’s son.
Perhaps Aegon claimed Daemon as his own son because he wanted to torment Daeron to break his spirit and destroy him emotionally until the very last moment of his life.

And perhaps, in his own twisted way, Aegon IV truly loved Naerys.
The tragedy is that Naerys never loved him in return.

Who knows? Perhaps there was even an incident between them reminiscent of Cersei and Robert where Robert called out Lyanna’s name while in bed with Cersei.
Perhaps Naerys, in the same way, once whispered Aemon’s name instead of Aegon’s.
And perhaps that was the moment something inside Aegon broke.
Maybe his hatred of Naerys did not begin with the crown, the court, or even their unhappy marriage.
Maybe it began with the realization that he could possess her body, her title, and her crown but never her heart.

Artist:
Baelor × Daena: jota.s.art | Instagram

Something I haven't discussed very much is who in Westeros could end up supporting Dany when she arrives. Typically the way I've seen the second Dance unfold involves Dany being completely rejected by the Seven Kingdoms either because they don't care about the conflict or are SO in love with fAegon. Considering that Rhaenyra had considerable support during the Dance, I find it unrealistic if Dany received zero support.

NOTE: The Westerlands & Iron Islands won't back her for obvious reasons & the North & Vale are likely to be occupied with different conflicts.

Crownlands

• House Velaryon

• House Stokeworth (via Bronn)

Given the close relations between the Targaryens & Velaryons, I can see either Monterys or Aurane siding with Dany. Stokeworth would back her because Bronn ought to know not to fight against the side with dragons.

Riverlands

• Harrenhall (via Bonifer Hasty)

• House Blackwood ?

• House Mooten ?

Bonifer had a doomed love with Rhaella so he's bound to support her daughter. Though given he is only the castellan with a hundred men it won't be much help for Dany. The Blackwoods have got ties with the Targaryens so Tytos could easily decide to back her. The Mootens remained loyal in the rebellion & its Lord is a coward but if his daughter isn't in Maidenpool then I see him not risking it.

The Reach

• House Tyrell

• House Fossoway

• House Oakheart?

In the event Mace Tyrell dies in his upcoming clash with the Golden Company, I can see the remaining Tyrells’ side with Dany. Garlan's marriage to Leonette would bring in the Fossoways. The Oakhearts would only be if Dany were to go to war with Dorne, & as Arys's death has been blamed on Darkstar I'd like to think his mother would not ally with the Dornish. NOTE: I didn't name the Hightowers, Redwynes, Tarlys or Rowans; just because the Tyrells might back Dany doesn't mean all of their bannermen will.

Stormlands

• House Wylde

• House Morrigen

• House Mertyns

• House Tarth

• House Estermont ?

• House Caron?

• House Baratheon?

The first five Houses have had their castles seized by the Golden Company. As Lady Mertyn clearly dislikes both them & JonCon, I think she speaks for the other lords currently imprisoned in their homes. So I can see them support Dany so she can get rid of their captors. Baratheon & Caron would only happen if Dany legitimised both Edric & Rolland Storm, if she doesn't then they'll be of no help.

Dorne

• House Dayne (via Edric)

As a convert to Rh'llor & Dany hailed his champion, it's easy to see Edric Dayne declare for her. Though there is a chance he'll be a lord in name only & thus unable to rally soldiers to her cause.

If the Targaryens since the time of Aegon the Conqueror to Daenerys: all gathered for a big family brunch. How would it go? Who would get along with one another? Who would be squabbling with one another? And who would the family pray that they never show up?

My answer to the last question are Maegor the Cruel, Aemond the Kinslayer,and Aerion Brightfire

The title is pretty self explanatory what will he look like after he's resurrected?

What is or are your favorite party/feast moments in the saga, whenever it is during or after a wedding, a tourney, a ceremony or a simple feast or banquet?

I really enjoyed the Harvest Feast in Bran's second ACOK chapter, which saw the introduction of crucial Northern characters such as one of my personal favorite Wyman Manderly, Mors and Hother Umber and Lady Hornwood and showed a rare insight in Northern politics and also planted several seeds such as the Hornwood succesion crisis as well as the new Northern navy.

The Purple Wedding as well, if because of all the players and fan favorite characters present, Tyrion deducing that Joffrey is the one who ordered Bran's death, the irony of all the gifts given to Joffrey such as Oberyn giving him a scorpion brooch which was surely his way to troll and subtly threaten him and the Lannisters or all the weapons and jouster gifts despite Joffrey being such a cowardly non-fighter and that he would surely have never taken part in a joust because of the risks as well, and Joffrey and Tyrion's confrontations and Joffrey's death.

We have to understand that GRRM is the creator of that world, he controls everything. He loves all the characters. And the prophecy was just his plot device to give the story a bit of Greek tragedy or Shakespearean feeling. It also made readers keep guessing and arguing with each other.

The prophecy was meant to be ambiguous and probably will not have a definite answer in the end. The biggest prophecy in Westeros is The Prince That Was Promised. It has already split the fandom into Dany camp, Jon camp, even Rhaegar camp. I find it strange that some fans desperately want their favorite character to be TPTWP.

Why? I mean, if indeed she or he was, what's that got to do with anything?

It's GRRM who decides who gets the power to bring back the dragons and who can resurrect.

That kind of plot armour and supernaturalism is not the reason we love this character.

I would like to argue that as people living in the 21st century, we should realise that the so-called "TPTWP Prophecy" is probably just a bluff. One radical idea is that it's a way for the ruling class to justify themselves and to control people. Aegon used that to justify his invasion. Rhaegar used that to justify his coup attempt. Targaryens have been using it for centuries to justify their own supremacy. Probably Dany and Jon will use it too.

And it's also strange to think that the fight that determines the life or death of the whole continent somehow depends on one person.

It's absurd.

Please do remember that GRRM is an atheist.

Why would he write the story like this?

The irony is that the amount of discourse between readers because of this prophecy is uncountable.

They spend lots of time trying to come up with an interpretation that somehow could elevate their favorites. But they fail to realise the purpose of the prophecy in the first place.

So I would like to remind everyone again: There is No GOD but GRRM in ASOIAF.

The Prophecy was nothing but a plot device. Do not read too much into it.

And more importantly, who is TPTWP is not relevant to your judgement of a character.

It does not matter who was, is, or will be TPTWP.

The Real TPTWP is those who answered the calling to struggle for a higher purpose.

Even if they did not win, their spirit lives on.

To quote TR's "Man in the Arena":

Those who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

I have a friend who’s a big fan of the show and I’m trying to get him into the books. Any good chapters (GOT - TWOW) I could show him to get him hooked?

Before you guys downvote me to hell and call me a delusional Dany stan, I am only looking to have a genuine discussion

NO I am not saying that Daenerys is the MAIN character of the books, but rather the character which the title “The Song of Ice and Fire” is referring to.

Reasons why I think you could argue she is:

- We all know that the most important plot in ASOIAF is the Long Night, and GRRM has already confirmed that “Ice and Fire” refers to Daenerys + her dragons and the White Walkers.

- The entire Targaryen family and history was made primarily as her backstory, and was then branched off into “Fire and Blood.” Daenerys is meant to be the antithesis of house Targaryen, and is the main parallel of Aegon the Conqueror. A lot of Targaryen history is kinda written as a foil to her arc, to show how she is different compared to her ancestors.

- Daenerys has an EXTREME connection to magic and prophecy, I mean if you follow the “Prince that was Promised” prophecy it matches up with her more than any other. (even though I believe the prophecy is more complicated than that). She quite literally brought magic back into the world with the birth of her dragons, which is why the warlocks of Qarth wanted them so badly.

- The House of the Undying visions foreshadow SO many future events, such as Daenerys slaying the lie that is Young Griff’s heritage (The Mummer’s Dragon, Slayer of Lies), the Red Wedding, etc. We also see Daenerys being surrounded by the undead, and Drogon saving her.

- Her story seems so disconnected from the rest, so why would GRRM specifically choose to include the story of a girl all the way at the edge of the world with little connection to the rest of the POVs? Not to mention that as the books go on, she is becoming more and more relevant in almost every other POV.

I feel like no matter what, Daenerys is clearly being set up not to be the ruler of Westeros, but to be the one to see past the lie that is the Iron Throne and probably sacrifice her life to save humanity from the White Walkers. I don’t think she will go mad, but she will take a darker turn and be viewed as an evil usurper to the Westerosi, who will likely hail fAegon as their beloved King who took down Cersei. I also believe that Jon Connington will blow up Kings Landing, and it will be blamed on Daenerys.

What do you think?

Whenever people talk about Sam being brave, they usually bring up the Other, the dragonglass dagger, and the fact that he managed to survive things that would have broken most people.

But I think his finest moment is quietly engineering Jon's election as Lord Commander.

Look at what he's actually dealing with. Cotter Pyke and Denys Mallister are experienced commanders who despise each other. Neither is getting enough votes to win, neither will step aside for the other, and Janos Slynt is gaining ground while they waste time.

Sam walks into this situation with no authority whatsoever.

He figures out that telling either man to support his rival is pointless. So he approaches them separately and presents Jon in completely different terms. To Mallister, Jon is a well-educated young man raised at Winterfell, someone who understands how to deal with lords. To Pyke, he's a proven fighter and a bastard, which is practically a selling point when you're trying to annoy Mallister.

Then Sam lies to both men about whom Stannis intends to appoint if the election fails.

And the remarkable thing is that he's absolutely terrified while doing it.

Randyll Tarly spent years trying to beat courage into Sam because he couldn't imagine a son who didn't command respect through physical strength. Yet here is Sam, frightened out of his mind, doing something that requires an extraordinary understanding of pride, prejudice, and political leverage.

He's not suddenly become fearless. He knows exactly how angry these men could get if they catch him lying, and he goes through with it anyway.

There's also something wonderfully uncomfortable about the morality of it. Sam is deceiving his superiors and manipulating an election. It's not a neat little lesson about honesty triumphing. It's a frightened young man deciding that letting Janos Slynt take command would be worse.

The more I reread that chapter, the more I think Randyll didn't just underestimate his son. He failed to recognize that Sam had the makings of a very capable political leader.

He just wasn't the kind of leader Randyll wanted.

“The Sphinx is the riddle, not the riddler.”

The smallfolk in ASOIAF are clueless and careless about the world.

The nobles were right: if they can vote, then dogs should vote too.

The smallfolk are a funny bunch. Many of them are illiterate, and their whole life is about eating and dying. They probably have no business or interest in politics, nor do they have the slightest idea of what is happening. They do not understand the concepts of honor or loyalty, and they do not care.

All these qualities have been demonstrated countless times.

No matter which House you support, the smallfolk will always be that annoying bunch: stinking, stupid, ruthless, and fickle. They have no respect for anybody. Only strength can prevail.

One thing I cannot get over is what happened during the Battle of the Trident. Rhaegar Targaryen was struck down, and the rubies from his armor went flying. Then, for some reason, men from both armies decided to start picking up the rubies that had once belonged to somebody else.

Let me tell you how ridiculous you have to be to decide to do that.

First of all, in a life or death situation, how stupid do you have to be to think that you can actually keep those precious jewels? This is not a treasure hunt! This is war! It does not surprise me that we have no account of these stolen jewels other than some of them being picked up by others along the river afterward. We can probably assume that many of those who were busy scrambling for jewels did not get to keep them. They probably started fighting among themselves soon afterward.

Maybe I can understand why soldiers from the opposing camp decided to engage in this stupid activity, because the Crown's forces were in disarray after the Prince's death. But what the heck were the soldiers from the Crown's own forces doing? Their own prince and commander had fallen, and all they did was loot his rubies.

Well, that shows us what kind of people they were. They had no idea why they were fighting, no idea of the importance of this struggle, and no willingness to carry on the fight.

It was them who scrambled for Rhaegar's rubies on the Trident. It was them who cheered for the victors and welcomed Robert to the Iron Throne. It was them who sacked King's Landing.

Dare I say, It was them who killed Jon Snow and it will be them who will kill Dany.

The biggest bums are not always the leaders who make the decisions. Sometimes, the biggest bums are the public. Yeah, I said it. The public sucks, fuck hope.

They do not deserve the Prince That Was Promised.

They deserve Tywin Lannister

It’s easier to change yourself than to change the type you’re attracted to.

Just to be clear, this post isn’t meant to be a joke or a troll post. I’m going to use an example from hentai with an NTR theme to convey the feeling of pain and helplessness I’m talking about.

Jon is going to become a Bad Boy, and Dany is going to become a Baddie.

The reason Jon will become a Bad Boy and Dany will become a Baddie is because that’s exactly the kind of person both of them are attracted to.
Jon likes women who are “fierce, not weak,” women who aggressively pursue men, to the point of “stealing a man,” while also having a good heart. (Val had always behaved well until she encountered Shireen and said that Shireen should die. That made Jon see Val differently from before.)
Dany, meanwhile, likes men who are “fierce, not weak,” dangerous, ferocious, not boring, and still good-hearted. (Daario had the bodies of the children taken down from the stakes on the road to Meereen so that Dany would not have to see them. That act only made Dany fall for Daario even harder.)
Jon is currently a Good Boy, and a Good Boy is boring compared to a Bad Boy.
Dany is currently a Good Girl, and she doesn’t fit Jon’s type because she prefers to be the one who gets “stolen” by a man, rather than being the one who “steals” the man, like Val or Ygritte.

As for why I think Jon will become a Bad Boy and Dany will become a Baddie:
For Jon, I think there will eventually be some incident where the Free Folk, the Night’s Watch, and the Queen’s men end up killing one another. Or perhaps we’ll get a scene where Shireen or Gilly’s baby is burned as part of a ritual.
Jon, trapped inside Ghost, would be unable to do anything because nobody knows that he is actually Jon. (The feeling would be similar to an NTR hentai scenario where the heroine’s lover is powerless and can do nothing but watch the heroine being taken by the villain.)
I think an event like that would be enough to make Jon stop being a Good Boy and turn into a Bad Boy.
As for Dany, I’m pretty sure she’s going to be betrayed by the Harpies, especially Hizdahr. If Daario betrays her as well, I think that would be more than enough to make her stop being a Good Girl and become a Baddie.

And there’s another reason why I’m 100% confident that Jon will become a Bad Boy, although I’m not as certain about Dany.
Jon has been taught about the Free Folk tradition of “stealing women” ever since he met Ygritte, and that idea has stayed with him to this day.
Jon once thought to himself when Stannis was trying to arrange for him to marry Val:
“I would need to steal her if I wanted her love…”
Dany, meanwhile, once thought about how she wanted Daario to come and steal her away from her wedding:
“If he loved you, he would come and carry you off at swordpoint, as Rhaegar carried off his northern girl…”
These two parallel thoughts make me completely convinced that we may eventually get a scene where Dany is about to marry Willas Tyrell, Trystane Martell, or someone else for the sake of an alliance. (I’m 100% convinced that Aegon VI will die before Dany reaches Westeros. There will be no Dance 2.0, 100%.)
But then Jon will come and steal Dany away to become his wife.🐺😏

And I’m even more convinced that this scene is going to happen now. The probability has gone up to 1,000,000%.
Because in The Mad King, there is a scene where Lyanna uses her greensight to enter Rhaegar’s dreams, pressuring, teasing, and tempting him into coming to steal her away from Robert. This makes me believe that this scene is essentially a preview of what Dany may do in a similar situation.
And if something like this really happens, Jon will become a Bad Boy by stealing Dany, while Dany will become a Baddie by pressuring Jon into doing it.

And the books have a similar event as well.
The Night’s King was seduced by the Corpse Queen. This is basically the very first example of a Bad Boy and a Baddie in the series.✌️😭

Artist
SnowStorm: @casszanova | X

Hello all! Following AKOTSK, my partner became interested in getting to know the series better along with the deeper lore. We were going through quite the jeopardy phase at the time so I decided to make us a jeopardy game to play so that he can learn and we can have fun at the same time. I've got a lot of material but I'd like to open the floor to more suggestions. I'm looking for question recommendations, category recommendations, answers, if you want to put what value you'd judge it at (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) you are more than welcome. He's quite the beginner so keep that in mind but don't be afraid to challenge us. Anything helps! Hopefully this is fun

So those are your gifts from me, my sweet Sansa . . . Harry, the Eyrie, and Winterfell. That's worth another kiss now, don't you think?

Littlefinger laid out his plan to Sansa. She is to marry Harry, reveal herself to the Lords of the Vale, and then take Winterfell with their support

However, as we've seen repeatedly in this series, plans explained in strenuous detail rarely come to pass. In Sansa's story alone, we have the plan for Tyrion to put a child in her and take the North, as well as the plan for her to marry Willas

So what could go wrong?

Harry the Heir

Near the keep, she ran headlong into Ser Lothor Brune and almost knocked him off his feet. "Harry the Heir? Harry the Arse, I say. He's just some upjumped squire."

The theory that Harry dies in the tourney, which is the literal next chapter in Sansa's storyline, isn't new. He's not especially skilled, yet he's participating in a tourney. You also have this quote from Sansa, who hopes for exactly that after he embarrasses her

And may your horse stumble, Harry the Heir, so you fall on your stupid head in your first tilt.

While this idea is generally accepted, what happens next, however, isn't. A key thing to understand is that everyone expects Sweetrobin to die soon

Petyr arched an eyebrow. "When Robert dies. Our poor brave Sweetrobin is such a sickly boy, it is only a matter of time."

And as far as Jaime is concerned, the consensus is essentially the same

Jaime remembered little Robert from King's Landing, still sucking on his mother's teats at four. "Arryn won't live long enough to breed."

Whether Sweetrobin actually dies or not is irrelevant. What matters is that people expect him to die soon, and they'll act on that presumption

So

• Harry dies at the tourney

• Sweetrobin is expected to die soon

Under these circumstances, what is Littlefinger's next move?

Going North ASAP

Lysa intended for Sansa to marry Sweetrobin. While Sansa cannot currently marry again because her marriage to Tyrion is valid and has not been set aside, the fact that it was unconsummated means it can eventually be annulled. A betrothal to Sweetrobin, while revealing Sansa's identity, would therefore be the fallback option in the event of Harry's death

However, this gives Littlefinger a reason to go to Winterfell and the North ASAP, even with Winter here.

Given Sweetrobin's health, they don't know how much longer he has left. They therefore need to make use of any betrothal to the boy to secure the swords needed to take Winterfell

In universe there a lot of characters who we hear about through their reputation/how they are perceived before we even actually see them on-page. Like Tywin Lannister and Stannis Baratheon in AGOT.

Who do you think is most deserving of/lives up to their reputation. Personally I feel like Stannis has earned his:

Stannis bristled at that. "I defeated your uncle Victarion and his Iron Fleet off Fair Isle, the first time your father crowned himself. I held Storm's End against the power of the Reach for a year, and took Dragonstone from the Targaryens. I smashed Mance Rayder at the Wall, though he had twenty times my numbers. Tell me, turncloak, what battles has the Bastard of Bolton ever won that I should fear him?"

Like love or hate him, Stannis has probably one of the best military records in Westeros. Even Tywin Lannister respects him despite the fact that he smashed at the Blackwater.

And alternatively who is the biggest fraud in the series? Personally I feel like Littlefinger is riding on luck a lot rather than ability.

Catelyn…
And this is canon, too. I didn’t make up or invent any of these words or lines.✌️🦁

He forgot his responsibilities as a father to his children.
He forgot his promises to Cersei.
He forgot his Kingsguard vows to King Tommen.
He forgot his Kingsguard vows to King Aerys.

But he never forgot his oath to Catelyn…

He went so far as to give Brienne his Valyrian steel sword, Oathkeeper, so that she could protect Sansa. And when Brienne told him that she had found Sansa, Jaime was willing to put himself in danger without hesitation.

He may have forgotten so many of his other vows and responsibilities…
but he never forgot the promise he made to Catelyn Stark.

Catelyn is the most important thing in Jaime’s entire life.🤔
Does the Lion want to swallow the Trout?

Artist:
JaimeCat: MathiaArkoniel | DeviantArt