As much as I find A+C=D interesting I don't know how they would fit Daeron's story into the series. He couldn't have a dragon. The same thing with Helaena and Aemond, I believe the series is creating "something" with them, but in the book there is Alys Rivers who is an important character and lover of Aemond. I know the series has changes and like it, but I wonder how far these changes are beneficial to the plot of fire and blood...
No, I see what you're saying.
But the one thing you need to understand is that "Fire & Blood" is not a real history book, or actual view of events. It is hear-say from different sources. A Green Maester and a Perverted Dwarf's account of events from over 100 years ago that is compiled by a Maester who is terrified of the Mad King Aerys who is breathing down his neck while he's writing it for baby Viserys and Dany.
It is completely biased toward the Blacks, because, if it wasn't then Aerys would roast him alive with wildfire.
To understand the book, you have to read between the lines.
1.) After King's Landing falls to the Blacks, Daeron marshals one of the finest armies that Westros has ever seen. In the book, most of the accounts say that Daeron is leading the army, that he is whipping the Blacks asses up and down the south on his way to rescue Alicent and Helaena, Meanwhile Aemond and Alys are a two team wrecking crew that is setting the Riverlands aflame so no reinforcements can come to aid Rhaeynra in King's Landing.
There is proven accounts that two of Rhaenyra's best Dragon Seed Riders turn cloak on the Blacks because they were absolutely petrified of having to fight Daeron and Tessarion. Which tracks, because, the Dragon Seed Riders nearly pissed themselves after capturing King's Landing when Rhaenyra informed them that their service to her wasn't done till they fought and killed Aemond and Daeron.
Which none of them signed up for.
But the main author of the book continuously assures the readers - aka Aerys - that it's not Daeron leading the army that it is Ormund Hightower. He was the real power and leader of the Green's main army after Criston's death.
However, that conflicts with what is said about Ormund Hightower earlier which was that the man was a terrible leader and battle commander that needed Daeron's last minute arrival to turn the tide of a battle in which he outnumbered his enemies.
So, as a reader, you're supposed to understand that the Maester is purposefully trying to cut out the narrative that Daeron was a hero and champion. That he is constantly placating to Aerys that he was nothing but a green mama's boy and only ever won battles out of being lucky - despite every account saying otherwise.
Then, later on, the Maester says that Daeron was killed in a passive and mediocre manner - his pavilion fell on him or that some random soldier smashed his face in with a morning star, not knowing who he killed.
However, in that same battle, Tessarion - and Tessarion alone - starts fighting Seasmoke and Adam Hull on it's own ... without a rider. That Tessarion starts doing all these amazing and complicated moves in the battle ... without a rider. That later when Vermethor breaks loose and starts killing everyone - both Greens and Blacks alike - that Tessarion altruistically steps in to fight to the death "The Bronze Terror" to stop him from killing everyone ... without a rider.
So, either this Tessarion motherfucker is the most honorable and sentient dragon there ever was ...
Or, Daeron didn't die like a bitch and fought the - then - largest and most vicious Dragon in the world to save the lives of both his men and his enemies when it went wild.
Then, for fifty years both Rhaenyra and Daemon's descendants and the Stark regents feared Daeron's return, many - including the common people - believing that he was not dead and that he would have his revenge for "The Brothel Queens" and for Helaena's children.
Why would they think that if there was confirmation that some random ass Riverland soldier smashed his face in?
Cause he didn't die that night nor any afterward.
2.) In the book it is explicitly theorized that the split between Rhaenyra and Alicent came in maidenhood and had everything to do with Criston Cole.
It is pointed out that Alicent had been in love with Criston from the beginning. That she grew angry and Jealous when Rhaenyra picked him to be her Sworn Shield, and that their falling out had more to do with Criston rejecting Rhaenyra ... which is why she moved on to Harwin Strong.
For the next sixteen years, Ser Criston Cole wore Alicent's favor in every tourney and battle, was her sworn shield, that he was named Lord Commander by Alicent herself despite Rhaenyra trying to stop it. That Criston was extremely loyal to Alicent to the very end, never wavering once on being by her side.
Then, this joke ass crack head Maester actually spends time trying to question what exactly motivates him to be loyal to Alicent. Then, Maester Dipshit settles on that it was resentment against Rhaenyra.
It's cause he's been in love with Alicent since they were teenagers!
I wasn't even shipping them when I read the text and it was fucking obvious to me.
That's the problem with sticking to the source material. The writers of the show took that note literally and then made Criston's character be some one-note spurned lover till almost to the end of the season. But if you simply read between the lines, it's right there!
Criston was in love with Alicent, not Rhaenyra, the entire time.
By the time the writers figured that shit out, or George e-mailed them with the note, they had already ruined Criston's character by making him pine for Rhaenyra when all sources, except for the one bias one toward Rhaenyra, said that Criston said 'Begone Thot!' to her advances.
I'm not making a run at you, nonny. But what I'm trying to say is that you can't rely on the source material for anything but a guide line to events. When it comes to interpersonal relationship and quiet moments with characters, the book can't be trusted. It's like trying figure out what George and Martha Washington's marriage was like based on reading a High School History text book.
The stuff between Aemond and Helaena is probably coming straight from Martin himself. It fits with the rhyming history of Westeros of the unrequited or secret lovers between Targaryen Siblings. And more to the point, Targaryen brothers and sisters who are meant to be together often times share a psychic connection of some sort.
Alys Rivers comes after "Blood & Cheese" when Helaena loses her mind to the world ...
However, on the same day that Aemond dies, Helaena commits suicide that very night.
It's all there, nonny ... it's all there.
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