You know, if I was put in charge of hotd and was given millions of dollars to make a f&b fanfic, I would keep it mostly accurate, but there would be one major change I’d be tempted to make.
Silverwing was Alysanne’s, who had been so heavily tied to themes of sexism and the cycle of misogynistic abuse towards women and girls, I feel like it only makes sense for Silverwing’s next rider to continue in those themes.
And also, instead of Ulf just randomly demanding Highgarden for some fuckin reason when Hugh declares himself king, she would marry Hugh and they would style themselves as king and queen.
Yes that means we wouldn’t have Rhaenyra rejecting Daemon’s suggestion that lord Stokeworth’s young daughter inherit his lands and marry Ulf, but nothing much comes of that, as the Stokeworths do shelter Rhaenyra as she flees King’s Landing, and you can still have that discussion in regards to Hugh and Rosby’s daughter, which is the one that has more tangible consequences.
It would also be compelling, in my opinion, if the decision to turn on Rhaenyra wasn’t just about money, lands, and respect, but also because they petitioned Rhaenyra, asking to be allowed to marry and start their own house, and she refused them, saying they were too valuable politically and she needed to keep them unwed so she could offer marriage to them as a reward for her allies. The Hightowers however, gave them permission to marry and offered them the Beesbury castle, Honeyholt, to take as their seat.
And just to go full on OC, make her blind too.
A blind beggar girl from Dragonstone, who claims to be descended from Gaemon the glorious. Shes an alcoholic who lives on the street surviving on handouts from friends and the sept.
Her hair is silver white and her eyes a pale cloudy grey. Looking at her, you could tell that she was once very beautiful, but years of homelessness and alcoholism had left her with rotting teeth, blemished patchy skin, and a gaunt body.
When she first claimed Silverwing, she trembled as the dragon sniffed her, then she screamed and tried to flee when Silverwing closed her jaws gently around her and lifted her off the ground and to her back, she only stopped screaming when Silverwing dropped her and she felt around, realizing she had been dropped directly onto the dragon’s saddle.
How does a blind girl fly a dragon without crashing into everything? She sees through Silverwing’s eyes. Whether it’s some kind warging, or just evidence of a strong dragon bond, is up to interpretation.
I would also have her die before Hugh, not after sleeping through the battle. She’s poisoned and Silverwing goes crazy, Hugh finds her slumped over at a table and tries to wake her, assuming she’s only passed out, and Jon Roxton enters and we get the iconic dialogue before Hugh’s death.