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Why Was Rhaenyra Wrong in the Matter of the Strong Bastards?

Rhaenyra's sons were to inherit the throne after her. If the legitimacy of these children was questioned, Rhaenyra's future would also be questioned.

Viserys didn't resolve the rumors. He suppressed them. Dragon eggs were placed in the children's cradles. Dragons hatched from the eggs. This was a very powerful sign. It was as if even the dragons were confirming the children's Targaryen blood… BUT…

Politics doesn't work with magical signs alone. Even dragon eggs might not convince people when they don't want to believe.

Could the Dance have been prevented here? No. It was difficult. Nothing the King could do could cover up the truth about these Strong bastards. He knew this, so he tried to silence people by suppressing them, but it should not be forgotten that Rhaenyra's illegitimate children are a crime of treason according to the laws and traditions of Westeros.

If Rhaenyra had given birth to her children knowing full well that they were "bastards," and hadn't claimed their legitimacy, the Greens would have had a weaker argument. At most, rumors would have spread about "a queen who fathers bastards," and they would have tried to disqualify her from the throne.

But Aegon also had bastards, and the lords of Westeros were no different. So, clinging to such a claim would have been a weak point for the Greens. Ultimately, any criticism leveled against Rhaenyra regarding bastards would have been directed at them as well.

The important thing was that Rhaenyra had given birth to legitimate children, and that this was undeniable. Frankly, in my opinion, even her marriage to Laenor was flawed from the start for this very reason. It was an open secret that he was indifferent to women. It was obvious he couldn't father children.

Therefore, Rhaenyra's giving birth to bastards is not surprising; it may even have been inevitable. Furthermore, even if she hadn't made this choice, the problem of "Rhaenyra has no heir" would have arisen. The Velaryons, too, succumbed to their greed, as you can see. They knowingly married off their sons.

So, at this point, I think there was no turning back for the Dance, but ultimately, if the Strong issue hadn't arisen, Rhaenyra might have had a stronger hand, at least the Greens wouldn't have been able to push back on the "bastard" issue, since "bastards inheriting" is a sensitive issue for the houses of Westeros.

Imagine, after a while, another bastard might act, thinking, "I can inherit my house's fortune too," and cause further internal house wars by using this as a precedent. It's not something that would benefit the lords, and it's unacceptable, especially for the ladies, as they would worry about their children's inheritance.

The Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQdxG6SOVSw

The night the bird had come from Winterfell, Eddard Stark had taken the girls to the castle godswood, - The heart tree there was a great oak, its ancient limbs overgrown with smokeberry vines; they knelt before it to offer their thanksgiving, as if it had been a weirwood. Sansa drifted to sleep as the moon rose, Arya several hours later, curling up in the grass under Ned's cloak. - Eddard, AGOT

#arya stark #asoiaf #ned stark #sansa stark #game of thrones #gotaryastark #grrmartin #asoiaf art #twow #house stark

Rhaena and Alysanne's relationship over the years . . .

Fourteen-year-old Princess Rhaena Targaryen spends time with her one-year-old sister Princess Alysanne Targaryen.

Rhaena Targaryen fell into deep depression after her friends and Androw's deaths. Queen Alysanne Targaryen, heavily pregnant with Prince Aemon, tried to comfort her dear sister while Aerea Targaryen begs to be taken back to King's Landing.

"You do not take what's mine! I was supposed to be the queen but Aegon is dead! All of my husbands and friends are dead! You have my throne! Content yourself with it! Get out and leave us be! Aerea belongs here with me in Dragonstone."

"Daenys I Targaryen" by @wweskywalker for my fanfiction "Truly the Mother of Dragons" 🔥 Thank you again for your amazing work on these commissions!

The youngest of the triplets and second born daughter of Daenerys I Targaryen was the dark haired Daenys. Save a single lock of silver, her hair was that of her father - a dark and curly mane that grew longer as she grew older. But her resemblance to her mother was undeniably apparent to all who saw her - a dark haired Daenerys born again, the same violet eyes, the same shaped face, even her voice sounded like that of the Dragon Queen.

Daenys was named for Daenys the Dreamer, of House Targaryen of Valyria of Old, and like her name sake, was a Dreamer - she was said to live halfway between this world and the that of the Gods, and walk amongst visions like like a shepherd does their flock. She was bound to the she-dragon, Dreamflame - a stunning violet and shining copper beast that had been Daenys' companion since her own birth. Daenys, while bound to Dreamflame, was also unusually close with all the hatchlings - even Daenyxes and Nightweaver, who were to be bound to Rhaenyra and Aemon, would respond to her calls and commands. She would speak and sing to the dragons, and it was said hers was the fairest voice in an age or more - but whether this was due to her vocal ability, or the way her ethereal tones themselves that calmed the dragons and men alike, was unclear to those who heard tell of it elsewhere. She would come to hatch more than a score of dragon eggs in her lifetime, and would be credited with more discoveries of secrets lost from House Targaryen than any has or likely will be again - whether due to long lost discoveries on Dragonstone, her dragon dreams, or possibly, as some small folk guessed, told to her by the dragons themselves.

Daenys was usually adorned in intricately stitched violet gowns, or sometimes white ones, and wore jewelry of bright silver with amethysts, sapphires, and pearls. She had several rings she always wore, including the silver and pearl ring of her late mother, and another with stones matching the Valyrian hatchlings eggs that was gifted to her by the Red Priestess, Mekarie.

Daenys would only train with a bow, seeking the truest aim she could muster, and while avoiding violence at the same time. She openly detested hand-to-hand combat and training, but she would eventually carry a hidden dagger to quell the concerns of her siblings, who worried about her peaceful nature making her a target for their foes. A bejeweled and newly forged Valyrian steel blade designed by Rhaenyra and Aemon, it was crafted by one of two living smiths in the world still able to forge it. They gifted it to her on her 12th name day, and she named it "Dragon's Claw".