˚.⋆꒰১ Dylan Byrd ໒꒱⋆.˚

First of her name, Writer, Targaryen Loyalist, Keeper of Poems, Nerd https://archiveofourown.org/users/dylanbyrd

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

Table of Contents

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WRITING:

links to my entire works (AO3), unused/edited out scenes, etc

Melancholia’s Cage

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GUIDES:

aesthetics, visuals, and information guides for the general work/specific chapters.

CHARACTERS:

Maecella

Aerion

Maekar's Family

Staff and Courtiers of Summerhall

LOCATIONS:

Summerhall

Lys

CHAPTER BY CHAPTER

The Shadow of Lys

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[dylanbyrdthescribe]

[mournfulroses]

Patricia A. McKillip, from her book titled "The Book of Atrix Wolfe," originally published in 1995

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

"In all his cruelty, all his wickedness, he would disfigure his violence enough to hold her softly."

-- Melancholia's Cage Chapter 15 "You Burn Me"

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

CHAPTER 1: THE SHADOW OF LYS

chapter by chapter aesthetics + references for Melancholia’s cage

SPINA, LYS, AND SAINTS

“Each night, Spina knelt on her bruised knees, clasped those little hands, and prayed to the Divine with the fever of a sinner for those daydreams to come to fruition.”

SEA SICKNESS, KINGSLANDING, AND THE RED KEEP

"Spina didn't really know what they weren’t meant to do in this new city, not quite. Only that she looked rather silly in those stiff dresses they'd given her, like dressing up a doll."

QUEEN MYRIAH MARTELL AND HER LADIES

"The Queen Myriah was a rather beautiful woman with warm, tan skin and silky honey-brown waves cascading over sunset colored gowns that had little jewels sewn into them. Her golden crown of rubies and matching necklaces that wrapped around her chest like a shawl were enough to buy all the slaves Maecella had ever known. Her ladies were loyal, equally as lively, and therefore eager to hear about all the wonders of Essos."

SAPPHIRE HEIRESS VELORREA MAROQELLE

"A lyseni woman with Velorrea’s pose and grace was an exotic delicacy waiting to be devoured. Her sister hardly even had to try. They drank the Magister’s wine, and they drank her words. Sometimes, Maecella would catch her sister thickening her accent on purpose or pretending to forget the common tongue just so the companions would coo at her like some adorable little kitten."

THE NYMPH AND THE PRINCELING

“'I hear nymphs turn into trees. Can you feel this?' he grinned as he stabbed the tree. 'That is how you got that scar of yours. Someone sliced your tree right down the middle.'"

SONGS

LA PETITE FILLE DE LA MER - Vangelis

DOVE - Antihoney

DIE YOUR DAUGHTER - Susannah Joffe

NO ONE TO NOTHING - Mother Mother

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[sansa286]

Aerion spotting you in the crowd during a tourney right before he jousts, yells "This one's for you!" and then kills his fucking opponent.

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

r there any scenes or anything that you deleted that wouldve completely changed the story if kept in?

LOVE THIS QUESTION BECAUSE YES!!!!

FOUR major things:

Maecella was originally named Marcella and was openly lower-class. No pretending or anything. People were going to not like her because of her ranking despite her background, but it felt like too much of a stretch, and the 'Maecella' version helps with the ending more (this one literally changed sooo much it is insane)

Aerion was going to hurt Maecella in his sleep, which would've then caused a giant rift in their closeness

The events of Pandora's box were going to make Maecella 'fall ill' and not wake up for some time to force Aerion to be alone and realize his opinions of her

A young girl named Ami, also from Lys, was supposed to come and be under her wing for a bit and then die to mirror Maecella's upbringing, but that took the focus away from the main story.

HERE'S BITS FROM EACH:

Marcella of Lys. That's it. That's her whole title.

“Is this that mutt your brothers torment?” a girl with fiery red hair hissed. A girl who must've been her twin poked Marcella’s shoulder. “Although the mutts smell far nicer.” “There’s no use even trying to speak to it,” Rhae said as her face twisted in disgust, “I doubt she can even understand us. Perhaps if we bark?”

Aerion sleepwalks (and by that I mean almost kills her)

He reached out again with a tenderness Aerion didn’t know he was even capable of and held onto one shoulder and her lower back, forcing her to sit upright. He prayed to the gods, to her damn saints, that she couldn’t feel how badly he was trembling. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. “No,” he whispered. “Just breathe.” Lady Maecella curled in on herself as she forced the air down her throat. She weakly tried to push Aerion’s hand away, and he swatted her off instantly. A particularly strong gag sent her nearly headfirst into his shoulder. “Slowly.” He carefully searched her for any further evidence of harm as he easily moved her around. Where else? What else had he done to her?

Maecella's turn to pass out

Aerion carefully fixed the fallen strap of her chemise and lifted her head to brush all her hair to the side. She hated sleeping when it touched her shoulders. She felt cold and light in his hands like a one-winged dove he had once found fallen from its nest. If not for her breathing, he might think she was dead. “Come on now,” Aerion said to the darkness, “I know you’re faking it, so you don’t have to pack. Get up, bird.” For a moment, he thought it would work. She always came when he called. She appeared even when he didn’t.

Ami... hey, at least she never died!

Then, between them, was Rhae’s birthday present: a girl. A seamstress, actually, who was a prodigy trained by Marzilli herself. Ami dressed comfortably in a single-layer cotton gown in a dusty periwinkle with little yellow florals embroidered around the wide, square neckline and bell-shaped sleeves. She looked like a little field mouse atop a flower as she caught Maecella’s stare and then quickly averted her eyes.

There's honestly SO MUCH. Like, I have entire chapters and scenes just GONE. But I just wanted to share the main concepts, at least.

:)

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

your aerion headcanons/ the way you write him in ur fic is SOOO awesome i love them so much ahh, are there any little headcanons u keep in the back of ur mind when u write??

THANK YOU! And yes, actually....

his natural body temperature is warmer, he's basically a walking furnace

his 'madness' was caused after his mothers death because of the truama of the event (in my fic, he is the one that finds her!)

romantically... he bites, gives gifts, and acts like a cat in terms of on/off affection

light sleeper only because of dragon dreams, passes tf out and snores otherwise

posessive over everything, a bit of a hoarder (like a dragon)

Caraxes is his favorite dragon

Wanted to be some sort of preformer as a child because he likes attention and spectacles (his mom used to sew puppets for him)

and therefore attacked the woman at the puppet show in ashford mainly for that reason, because she was not only 'insulting' dragons but also because she reminded him of his mom + the unfairness of it all + lost childhood dreams and all that....

There's more but that's all the ones I can think of off the top of my head!

:)

[lunamonchtuna]

— Sylvia Plath, quoting an acquaintance in ‘The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath’

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

GUIDE TO MELANCHOLIA’S CAGE

CHARACTERS PT 4: Staff and Courtiers of Summerhall

(ones that are mentioned, at least.)

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QUICK INFO: Summerhall is a private residence in a secluded location rather than a busy keep on a city, meaning the staff is smaller, more tight knit, and much more permanent. Household knights are sworn to the keep or the individual royal, handmaidens form close friendships, and everyone had a well established routine.

Higher-ranking roles are highly coveted, especially in a smaller residence, since they offer the opportunity for a more intimate connection with Maekar's family and, therefore, a status benefit.

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HANDMAIDENS

Handmaids for the Targaryens are selected based on status and political connections/alliances. Under the princesses, they learn court skills and serve as the princesses' chief female attendants.

Lady Lidia Tyrell (to Princess Rhae):

Princess Alina Martell (to Princess Daella):

OTHER: Lady Agnes of Highgarden (to Princess Rhae), Lady Edith of Rosby & Lady Ami Toland of Toland (to Princess Daella)

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KNIGHTS/GUARDS/SQUIRES

Knights stand at gates, doors, and halls and have rotations around the castle to ensure safety. the household guards are fewer than most keeps because of the type of residence. Squires train under the princes who have been knighted and come from noble families.

CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD: Ser Dillen of Hasty

KNIGHTS:

Ser Elden of Tallhart (sworn to Prince Aerion)

OTHER: Ser Wate of Rosby, Ser Yorkel of Maidenpool, Ser Donnel of Duskendale, Ser Roland of Crakehall, Ser Manning of Oldtown Ser Jase of Brownhill, Ser Theodore of Brownhill (more and implied)

SQUIRES:

Henry Celtigar (sworn to Prince Aerion)

(Aerion has a few squires but this is the only one mentioned by name because he actually lasted the longest...)

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HEAD ATTENDANTS

The attendants manage the individual prince’s staff, accompany them everywhere, and attend to their personal affairs, such as dressing and organizing their chambers. They are chosen for political connections and alliances and are traditionally male (chamberlains and gentlemen).

Lord Warbel of Duskendale (to Prince Maekar)

Lord Cedric of Kingslanding, Ser Markos of Riverrun (to Prince Daeron)

Lady Maecella Maroqelle of Lys (to Prince Aerion)

Ser Jory of Highgarden, Lord Barnabey of Hayford (formerly to Aegon and Aemon, now serve as needed/generally)

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HOUSEHOLD AUTHORITY

Manage the entire household and staff as well as educate the children.

STEWARD: Ser Alesandar Rowan of Duskendale

CASTELLAN: Ser Jon Wellec of Oldtown

MAESTER: Maester Melaquin

SEPTA: Septa Ellanor of Oldtown

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GENERAL STAFF and STAFF AUTHORITIES

manage the servants in their respective areas, report to the steward.

MISTRESS OF THE KITCHEN: Miss Joan

MASTER OF HORSE: Master Hugh of Graves

CASTLE SMITH: Master Ralph of Dutton

MISTRESS OF ROBES: Miss Anne of Thorne

MISTRESS OF MAIDS: Miss Goda of Harte

General staff includes kitchen staff, maids, laundresses, stable hands, and porters. They share duties across the keep, but if some are favored by a royal, they will stay in that circle under the Head Attendant/handmaiden. Servants also take after the higher-ranking staff.

AERION'S SERVANTS: Peter, Ana, Eric, Evan, and Simon - Report to Maecella and loyal to her only. Nicknamed her Swallows/bluebird/pests by Aerion.

LAUNDRESSES: Edith and Lillia - twin girls that collect gossip

(THIS POST was heavily referenced when making my staff. If you want more info on the roles check it out, it is more historically accurate rather than med. fantasy.)

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

GUIDE TO MELANCHOLIA’S CAGE

CHARACTERS PT 3: Maekar's Family

Prince Maekar Targaryen and Lady Dyanna Dayne and their children Daeron, Aerion, Aemon, Daella, Aegon, and Rhae Targaryen

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PRINCE MAEKAR “THE ANVIL”

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LADY DYANNA DAYNE OF STARFALL

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DAERON “THE DRUNKEN”

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AERION “THE MONSTROUS”

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AEMON

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DAELLA

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AEGON “EGG”

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RHAE

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[dylanbyrdthescribe]

GUIDE TO MELANCHOLIA’S CAGE

CHARACTERS P2: Aerion

Prince Aerion Brightflame of house Targaryen, son of Prince Maekar, Blood of Old Valyria

QUICK INFO: pale cool tone skin, purple eyes, white short hair, sharp/angular features, athletic body type, Valyrian blood, Dornish mother, second eldest of his family

FACE:

“His eyes were a deeper indigo than she thought, and she could now tell the gold embroidery of his velvet doublet was made of little shooting stars. His skin was pale like hers, though cooler-toned to the point where his veins shone blue in his hand.”

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 1 “The Shadow of Lys”

FASHION:

DAILY:

“His thick velvet doublet looked like scales in the right light, the gold-and-black embroidery along the edges mimicking intertwining thorns.”

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 4 “Cinnamon and Raspberry”

RIDING/ARMOR:

“…the front resembling a skull that could be either a man or a beast. His thick, scaled armor was menacing, and the spikes poked at her as she set it atop his head. He looked nightmarish, with no evidence that something alive resided under all that metal.”

—Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 3 “Silver and Gold”

BEDROOM:

WEAPONS:

SONGS:

AERION'S WALTZ - Jeremy Brauns RED SEX (RE-STRUNG) - Vessel, Rakhi Singh MEMORABILIA - Nine Inch Nails BLOOD EVERYWHERE - Knives Out!

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

GUIDE TO MELANCHOLIA’S CAGE

LOCATIONS P2: Lys "The Lovely"

"A mercantile city, Lys is built on a fertile island considered a paradise by Valyrian dragonlords. The sunny island is fertile with palm and fruit trees, and the surrounding blue-green waters are filled with fish"

—"Lys" A Wiki of Ice and Fire

LOCATED:

In the Free Cities of Essos, off the coast of the Disputed Lands. The city is small, with uneven/rocky/mountainous lands. The ocean is warm, and the beaches are pebble or rocky rather than sandy. Inspired by Mediterranean locations, mainly Italy, Turkey, and Greece.

— “Lys" A Wiki of Ice and Fire

PEOPLE/CULTURE:

Port city that focuses on trade... wealth determines your status.

3:1 slave population - the upper class is few and lavish

Known for beauty, pleasure, art, and music. Valyrian blood runs thick, meaning even smallfolk tend to be beautiful

Language Inspiration: Sicilian and Greek

"...their lingering Valyrian blood, which resulted in two distinct ‘breeds’, as they said. The women were sorted into two groups, Argentu or Oru. The first was for the golden-haired, clear-eyed ones who were always starving to maintain their slender figures, and the other for the fair, olive-skinned, dark-haired girls with earth-toned eyes and full lips."

—Melancholia's Cage Chapter 3 "Silver or Gold"

ECONOMY:

slave trade, wine, olives, grapes, fish, fine silk, perfume, and poison

known for courtesans and pleasure houses

people and beauty are commodities

The children of iron collars, wine, and silk had only daydreams under olive trees of what might exist beyond this tiny island of sweet wine and crucified men. They took everything else, leaving them with not even the innate ability to own their own body, mind, or soul. Your name was stolen first.

—Melancholia's Cage Chapter 1 "The Shadow of Lys"

FASHION:

Thin, flowing fabrics (mesh and silk), usually pastels, very colorful in the upper class

Lots of jewelry and veils, drapery

Upper class will sew jewels in their hair, dye their skin with oils/stains, khol makeup, and jewels on teeth

"The woman’s spider-like lashes were painted dark blue and framed her even darker blue irises like a bug begging to break free. Her pink lips smiled wide, jeweled caps among the shaved-down white teeth."

—Melancholia's Cage Chapter 1 1 "Pandora's Box"

POLITICS:

"Lys is ruled by conclaves of magisters, chosen from amongst the wealthiest and noblest men of the city, with the First Magister as the preeminent figure. The gonfaloniere is an elected military leader." — "Lys is protected by high walls and hired sellswords. A city dominated by wealth rather than by birth, Lys is where trade is considered a profession more honorable than arms."

—"Lys" A Wiki of Ice and Fire

SONGS:

LA MARITZA (ITALIAN VERSION) — Sylvie Vartan

BRUTUS (INSTRUMENTAL) — The Buttress

CARIBBEAN BLUE — Enya

(Visuals other than geography are inspired by ancient Greece + Middle East <3)

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

GUIDE TO MELANCHOLIA’S CAGE

LOCATIONS P1: Summerhall

QUICK INFO: Maekar Targaryen is the prince of Summerhall and was gifted this castle as his personal seat (whereas it’s usually used as a summer vacation-type location). It’s significantly more intimate than Redkeep, as it lacks visiting nobility (other than handmaidens and the like) and is more comfortable than Dragonstone, given its open atmosphere.

LOCATED:

Dornish Marches / Stormlands are very isolated and surrounded by lakes, forests, and rivers. Neighboring towns are too far to be frequent.

Prince Maekar’s royal residence was a never-ending maze, sprawling across rolling green hills and made up of tall towers, open archways, and windows as wide as the walls. Just like the castles from the intricate fairy-tale illustrations in those storybooks she watched the princesses read, Summerhall was guarded by a massive forest rather than swords.

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 2 “The Smell of Summer and Stone”

INTERIOR:

“Warm light poured into every room, every so often tinted by the colorful stained glass artwork. The library itself was three stories tall, and she nearly broke her neck trying to peek in as they walked by.”

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 2 “The Smell of Summer and Stone”

EXTERIOR:

"A beautifully manicured courtyard, full of statues and water fountains, sat at the center, and the lush garden beyond led to a magnificent godswood."

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 2 “The Smell of Summer and Stone”

ROOMS:

SONGS:

LA PETITE FILLE DE LA MER - Vangelis WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO GO? - Ridgeclub DOVE (DOLL VER) - Antihoney EASY TIGER - Depeche Mode

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

GUIDE TO MELANCHOLIA’S CAGE

CHARACTERS P1: Maecella (MC)

Lady Maecella Maroqelle, the Black Rose of the Great Vine Houses of Lys, Sworn Lady to Summerhall, Head Attendant of the Prince Aerion Brightflame of House Targayren.

QUICK INFO: Pale olive toned skin, large green eyes, long wavy/curly dark brown hair, straight arrow shaped nose, heart shaped face, ‘dancer’ body type. From Lys (Essos), Valyrian blood

VISUAL INFLUENCES: heavy mediterranean influence, mainly italy, greece, and turkey. her face structure resembles an owl and her body language/type is like a ballerina: strong but slim, angle, quick on her feet, rigid posture

FACE:

“The curls sticking out around her heart-shaped face were like ruffled feathers, and her pointed nose was exactly like the bird’s slender beak. The viridian irises within her wide, downturned eyes looked white whenever the light caught them just right.”

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 14 “Fixation”

FASHION:

DAILY:

“She wore dark and angular doublets and stiff skirts embroidered in his colors and personal arms the way one might display a banner on a battlefield. Her dark crimson headcovering resembled a dragon’s tail most days, and on others her braid appeared as black scales”

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 8 “The Nest Atop the Windowsill”

RIDING:

BEDROOM:

Formerly Dyanna Dayne’s solar in Summerhall, located on the far end of the highest floor directly next to Aerion Targaryen’s chambers, the two rooms share an adjoining door and terrace. Smaller and less extravagant than the other rooms. Oak furniture, mismatched decor, and limited personal items are kept in a chest; an altar is hidden in a cabinet.

ALTAR:

heavily inspired by Lithuanian grass weaving and folk art!

“Kept hidden from the world was a great altar of tiny carved bones arranged in protective swirls, held together by tightly woven withies. Bells, chimes, roots, dried flowers, broken stained glass, torn fabric, and owl feathers were woven between the bones as dew drops atop a spider’s web.”

— Melancholia’s Cage Chapter 11 “Pandora’s Box”

SONGS:

"PULLDRONE" - Ethel Cain "VACILLATOR" - Ethel Cain "SHAME" - Mitski "THATORCHIA" - Ethel Cain "GATS" - Susumu Hirasawa

[dylanbyrdthescribe]

Melancholia’s Cage

Maecella’s false flesh stuck to her like a suffocating, endless summer. It was as thick, ugly, and ill-fitting as her iron collar once was. She knelt every morning, wrapped those prayer beads tight enough to kill, and hissed under her mouth, feeling dry. O Sanguine Saint, unto thee I yield my agony and fealty. Pardon my lamentations. Lead me hence, from the sin of frailty. She liked to wrap that rusty necklace around her neck so tightly that it made her dizzy. The way it cut into her skin made her remember. The smell of blood and copper. Metal on flesh. The weight around her ankles and neck. Crown of thorns atop her head.

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works