Nettles and Alys Parallels.
Finally the mistresses of our polysquare.
1. Witches: Both alys and Nettles are described as witches within the narrative. Both as accusations and explanations for who they are. With Alys, it's both at Harrenhall, and with Nettles, the accusation is at Maidenpool, and the description is in the Vale
2. Undetermined Age: Neither of their ages ar explicitly communicated in the narrative. Nettles is "no older than" 16 appearance wise, and Alys either is 40, looks young, or is an age much older than her appearance would lead you to believe.
3. Unnatural Allegience to Losers: Aemond Daemon mentioned. Yea, they kinda both stay beside their men with uncomfortable and concerning dynamics between them. Hate when bad bitches settles.
4. Wrapped around my Finger: Those men are also on their hands and knees for them. Between Daemon doting and seeming like he'd burn Maidenpool to the ground for her and Aemond torching the Riverlands with a pregnant Alys at his side, they're in their devoted era. The My Alys and Netty nicknames are unmatched.
5. Pregnancy: Both of their narratives uniquely contain pregnancy. For Nettles, a potential pregnancy almost costs her life, and for Alys, it gains her power after the dance. Little Hilbo is the 'rightful' heir to the iron throne at that point.
6. Bastard Daughters: They are both the alleged bastard daughters of House Strong and House Targaryen/ Velayron. In both instances, it's never said their direct relation. That part is left vague. In Nettles case, it's presented so vaguely to imply that she might not be of Valyrian descent at all.
7. Riverlands: Both their stories happen at a point in the Riverlands. Alys is always there, but Nettles specifically comes to the Riverlands and has her plot alongside House Targaryen severed there.
8. I go where you have yet to: Alys is the reason Aemond evades Daemon and Nettles. By whatever means, after flying every day, they never seem to get them, almost as though they are always ahead, and because of the destruction Vhagar is unleashing, Nettles always ends up where they were.
9. Dragons: They both seem to bind themselves to dragons in strange ways. Either actual dragons like Caraxes and Vhagar or in the ties the animals have to them and their riders (one day I'll look back at the dragon reflect your partner narrative) or in Nettles' case with her own tie with Sheepstealer. Alys is also pregnant with the "dragon's bastard."
10.Death to all Men: The men around them either die or have to consider that they will. With Nettles Daemon dies literally once she wasn't around, the Mootons have to contemplate death for protecting her or following orders, Corlys is sentenced for many things but also for defending her and Addam. With Alys, all the men of the house strong are killed, and Aemond dies with her at his side.
11. Older and Younger: They have a power dynamic of being the older and younger ones in relationships they find themselves in.alys as about 40 and Nettles is about 16 to their partners respective 20 and, 49.
12. I come when you go: As soon as Nettles departs from Maidenpool and the Riverlands, Alys returns into the narrative. Nettles' departure is the catalyst for Aemond's and subsequently Alys' return.
13. Power after the Dance: They both come into power "after" the dance. Alys has Hilbo, and as he's the 'rightful heir,' she commands him as such. This is also where we get the most explicit call to her Witch powers. Nettles is likened to a fire Witch and a deity amount the burned men clan of the Vale. Her power also comes from a "dragon" in a similar aspect as the power is most likely her dragon Sheepstealer.
14. Power dynamic: As the women in these relationships and neither of them being Dragon riding Targaryen princes, their relationships have an uncomfortable undertone of how much explicit consent can be drawn. It's not a conversation for this post but one to consider, respectively, and overall.
15. Mistress" Aemond is betrothed to Floris Baratheon at the start of the dance, making Alys his mistress and Daemon is married to Rhaenyra, making Nettles his mistress (allegedly)
16. Allegedly: They are both the alleged lovers of these men, respectively.
17. Fire and Water: Nettles is tied to fire as a dragon rider and the fire Witch. Where Alys' power is tied to water where she sees visions. Alys can also allegedly see visions in fire, and Nettles is thematically tied to water through Driftmark and the one battle she fought in, the Battle of the Gullet.
That's it. I love my girls.
