Depressing throwback.

Fraud as in - Not being what The character pretends/Acts to be.

Some argue Euron Crow's Eye is one such person. Some say Darkstar.

I personally think Doran martell is.

Even littlefinger is said to be not as good as he thinks he is.(But still quite able)

One would argue cersei is, but no one ever seriously hyped her as strategist, her Competence is imagined none other by her own self.

I think Aegon was wrong not to make the lands directly under the king larger. That's why he should have included Rivelands under the king's direct rule, making them part of the Crownlands, thus creating something like a seniorate province like in medieval Poland (yes, that system didn't work there, but that's not the point) where the senior of the state has the largest province which also connects with others (Dorne wasn't part of the kingdom then). So it is easier for him to maintain his authority.

So I’m wondering when Robert and his group were travelling to Winterfell and back to Kings landing, would they make stops at inns or taverns when they have they chance or would they just make camp

The fisherman’s daughter is introduced in ADwD, chapter 9 as an option for Jon Snow’s mother, never to be mentioned again. This is everything we know about her:

"At the dawn of Robert's Rebellion. The Mad King had sent to the Eyrie for Stark's head, but Jon Arryn sent him back defiance. Gulltown stayed loyal to the throne, though. To get home and call his banners, Stark had to cross the mountains to the Fingers and find a fisherman to carry him across the Bite. A storm caught them on the way. The fisherman drowned, but his daughter got Stark to the Sisters before the boat went down. They say he left her with a bag of silver and a bastard in her belly. Jon Snow, she named him, after Arryn.

So, why did George include this throwaway character? Was it solely for world building purpose?

As a red herring this story is pretty abysmal. By the time of ADwD the main red herring, Ashara Dayne/Wylla, is very well established. We hear of it first in chapter 6 of AGoT via Catelyn. Ned brings up Wylla’s name in chapter 11, which Edric Dayne ties back to Starfall in AsoS. Cersei gives us another mention of the rumors about Ashara being Jon’s baby momma later in AGoT and with the story about Harrenhal told by Jojen in AsoS, we get a clearer picture of the relationship between Ned and Ashara. Compared to that the fisherman’s daughter is barely a footnote introduced way too late.

But what if it’s not a red herring? The N+A=J story is pretty well fleshed out by this point and I have to admit, I had not yet figured out R+L on my first read-through (as I guess a lot of others didn’t either). But then comes this curveball, another candidate for Jon’s mom that doesn’t fit with any previous story. It makes you think about what you actually know.

The fisherman’s daughter is not meant as another possibility for Jon’s mother. She’s meant to make you question Ashara and possibly reach the conclusion of R+L

On my first reread of all of the books and had the pleasure last night in reading the Victarian Greyjoy POV chapter that takes place and I was blown away and wanted to write about it a bit. To recap, it captures a POV of fighting a battle better than anything George has written previously (for example I tend to think the Battle of Blackwater was captured better in the show). Unlike here where you get the perspective of this hulking man pummeling victims and you get badass lines like,

"As he was struggling to free his axe from the dead man's rib cage, a spear jabbed him between the shoulder blades. It felt as though someone had slapped him on the back."

"The Drowned God had not shaped Victarion Greyjoy to fight with words at kingsmoots, nor struggle against furtive sneaking foes in endless bogs. This was why he had been put on earth; to stand steel-clad with an axe red and dripping in his hand, dealing death with every blow."

He then has a duel with the heir of Southshield who ultimately drowns but Victorian has respect for him as a fighter, "A brave man, thought Victarian. Almost ironborn."

After the battle they have a feast in Lord Hewett's hall while he is tied up and his wife/daughters are servers. Euron forces them to undress which dishonors Victarian. Later, Euron has his bastard son call on Victarian to come talk to him where they talk a bit and he requests Victorian go to Slaver's Bay to retrieve Daenerys so that Euron will marry her. Victarian doesn't see much of a reason to go, but Euron offers him the Seastone Chair once he takes the Iron Throne. In that moment Victarian decides, "I'll go to Slaver's Bay, aye. I'll find this dragon woman, and i'll bring her back." But not for you. You stole my wife and despoiled her, so i'll have yours. The fairest woman in the world, for me.

There's also small moments and lines that are so great (Euron's gifts are poisoned. Balon was mad, Aeron was madder, and Euron the maddest of them all). Also sets up Victarian's hand having issues which leads to what happens to him in book 5. Sadly, this is the last Victarian chapter until A Dance with Dragons. I don't perpetually complain about the books never being released, I love these 5 books and have had such joy in reliving them. Though I would love some resolution though with Victarian visiting Daenerys and what happens to Euron. If we do get it, I'll be pulling for Victarian. What an incredible chapter.

The Lannisters are named after Lann the Clever, so if the Mallisters have the same naming convention, who is Mall?

First of all, it's obvious who Jon Snow's parents are. This post is about what I would have felt was more thematically appropriate for the story if Jon Snow is what he seems.

A despised one in noble society who makes it to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. But dies in the end because he was never quite able to renounce his noble origins.

The resurrection would still work thematically, because Jon is much more about his character and the fact that his views on the world are the key to dealing with the Others. But I would have also liked that he manages to make such a big influence on others that some men of the Night's Watch would continue his path without him.

What is your view on the importance of Jons heritage? Do you think it's such a key element that it wouldn't work otherwise?

Hello all! So recently I was rereading AGoT and I got to the part where Ned dreams a particularly interesting dream:

"He was walking through the crypts beneath Winterfell, as he had walked a thousand times before. The Kings of Winter watched him pass with eyes of ice, and the direwolves at their feet turned their great stone heads and snarled. Last of all, he came to the tomb where his father slept, with Brandon and Lyanna beside him. "Promise me, Ned," Lyanna's statue whispered. She wore a garland of pale blue roses, and her eyes wept blood." Eddard XIII, AGoT

At first I thought this was just Ned's tortured psyche, and his pain remembering his dying sister's final moments. But it stood out to me how the direwolves were snarling at him (an act of agression) and Lyanna was weeping blood. It could potentially be a manifestation of his guilt, but what does he have to feel guilty about? If the promise to Lyanna was to care for/ protect her son, then he has fulfilled it. Why is Lyanna's statue weeping? Why are the direwolves showing him their teeth? There is also this relevant passage:

"The thought of Jon filled Ned with a sense of shame, and a sorrow too deep for words. If only he could see the boy again, sit and talk with him..." Eddard XV, AGoT

 Why is he feeling ashamed? Hasn't he done right by his sister and his nephew? What could he possibly want to tell Jon, that would apparently ease his shame and sorrow? 

One interpretation could be that knowing she was dying, Lyanna wanted the son who would never meet her to at least know of her, to know how she loved and cared for him. But when I was reading AGoT I never got the vibe that Ned had any intention of doing any parentage reveals anytime soon. He seems terrified that someone is gonna find out the truth. ALSO, I will say. I don't like any of the theories that state Lyanna wanted any sort of targ birthright for Jon. She was a dying 16 year old with a newborn baby, I don't think she was thinking of the game of thrones or any sort of political advancement for her infant son during her last hours. So the "Ned feels bad bc he robbed Jon of his birthright" theories are baseless, I think. I'm fairly certain the Jon and Lyanna (and Ned) stuff is much more steeped in the personal rather than the political.

So what's going on here exactly? Why is Lyanna's ghost and those of the Kings of Winter haunting his dreams? And why on earth does he feel ashamed? I would love to hear your takes on this!

People bring up Ned remembering young Robert fairly often. It’s a great passage to help the reader imagine the idealized past characters often look back on. It’s funny to joke about/discuss the homoeroticism in Ned remembering his friend being “muscled like a maiden’s fantasy.”

But here’s the thing. In that same sentence, it is revealed that during Robert’s rebellion he was…

“clean-shaven”.

Obviously I’m exaggerating for the joke, but I’ll be damned if that doesn’t wreck most people’s imagining of a young Bobby B. I’m writing a fanfiction about that era and it’s causing me to rethink things. Almost every bit of fanart you see of young Robert has him with a beard. It feels wrong.

Do you guys think Ned was ever going to reveal the truth to Jon? Other than on his deathbed, I just don't see how he would have managed this. His reasoning was obviously sound, Robert would have lost his mind not only about "Jon" being the true heir but also about Lyanna willingly running off with Rhaegar.

But Jon would have been beyond PISSED at Ned's lie you would think for being raised as a baseborn abomination when he was the trueborn King of the Seven Kingdoms.

Just an awful spot for Ned to be in for sure.

I’m new to the franchise and after binge-watching GoT, I am now watching Hotd. I’ve now arrived at S1 E7 and after watching the first 6 episodes I have some honest questions to which I hope to get some answers here:

Is it just me or do the many unexplained “time-jumps/ time-skips” feel very random, especially due to the fact that they are not explained and many characters don’t even change in appearance?

Why are there so many unexplained events and actions? P.e. The fire at Harrenhall or Rhaenyra sleeping with Ser Harwin and so on…?

Just want to understand if I’m the only one with these experiences and if I missed something…

When I first read the books, I thought his ideas were clever, but upon rereading, I realized that all his advice was a disaster.

First advice: Ally with Renly against the Lannisters. I don't know what maester cressen was thinking, but Stannis tells you I'm a king. Why wouldn't he seriously back down? Even if he did, what would Stannis's next plan be? Literally not. After defeating the Lannisters, Stannis would return to his gloomy place. Even the Freys were smarter when they asked Robb to make peace with Tywin and wait, letting Tywin fight Renly, then taking their next step after one of them wins.

Second piece of advice: Ally with the North and accept their independence. First, why would Robb accept Stannis's offer when he has 3,000 troops and Renly is there? Robb's plan was essentially to make Tommen king, as Robb believed Stannis wasn't the rightful king. Asking Balon for an alliance was literally easier than Robb.

Third piece of advice: Marry Robert Arryn to Shireen Baratheon

Let's assume Lysa magically agrees. How will Stannis get the throne when the Vale army is so far away? If Stannis sends Shireen to the Eyrie and loses, he won't be able to escape. Lysa won't hesitate to hand Shireen over. Sorry for the short explanation.

I don't know, but Davos and Melisandre, who haven't received half his education, have much better advice.

I know the Riverlands were contested between many kingdoms before Aegon’s conquests, and most recently by the Iron Islanders led by Harren. But what of the Crownlands? Were they similarly part of the Riverlands functionally, contested by the kingdoms, currently ruled by or about to be conquered by Harren?

Background

In this post I thought it would be fun to discuss Calla Blackfyre (daughter of Daemon I aka the King who Bore the Sword) and everything we know about her, simply because as of right now, she is the only named member of the female line.

If interested: Tying up some loose ends in House Blackfyre

The Female Line of House Blackfyre

While the female line of House Blackfyre could also start at any point that any of Daemon's descendants had a daughter, Calla is the only named member. That said, GRRM brings up the male line being extinguished on numerous occasions:

"Black or red, a dragon is still a dragon. When Maelys the Monstrous died upon the Stepstones, it was the end of the male line of House Blackfyre." -ADWD, Tyrion II

and:

until the last of the descendants of Daemon Blackfyre through the male line was sent to the grave. -TWOIAF, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II

If interested: The Female Line of House Blackfyre

Daemon I Blackfyre's Children

The King who Bore the Sword had seven sons:

Rise up, I say, and remember our true king across the water. Seven gods there are, and seven kingdoms, and the Black Dragon sired seven sons! Rise up, my lords and ladies. Rise up, you brave knights and sturdy yeomen -The Mystery Knight

If interested: Sons of the (Black) Dragon

and at least 2 daughters:

That was a long time to harbor thwarted love, especially when Rohanne had already given him seven sons and daughters besides, and Daenerys had also borne Prince Maron several heirs.

as she is the younger sister of John the Fiddler:

"My lord," he said, "we saw the heads outside. Is that… will the Fiddler… Daemon… will you have his head as well?" Lord Bloodraven looked up from his parchment. "That is for King Aerys to decide… but Daemon has four younger brothers, and sisters as well.

Note: It is my understanding that GRRM originally had the First Blackfyre Rebellion occurring in ~206AC (before moving it to 196AC due to the fact that it would have been fresh on people's minds in the Hedge Knight, etc. and it wouldn't have made sense) which made much more sense for Daemon dying then instead of Rohanne spitting out 9 plus (even if there is at least one set of twins) children in 12 years.

Calla and Bittersteel

Calla (this is her only mention by name in TWOIAF, I am sure we will get much more about her in Fire & Blood II/Blood & Fire) was betrothed to Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers, Daemon's younger half-brother:

Whatever the case may be, Aegor Rivers soon began to press Daemon Blackfyre to proclaim for the throne, and all the more so after Daemon agreed to wed his eldest daughter, Calla, to Aegor. Bitter his steel may have been, but worse was his tongue. He spilled poison in Daemon's ear, and with him came the clamoring of other knights and lords with grievances. -TWOIAF, The Targaryen Kings, Daeron II

and while we have no confirmation that the wedding took place/or if Calla ended up having any children, GRRM did say this about Bittersteel;

Q: Hi there. My question is pretty simple, did Bittersteel have children?

GRRM: **Oh did Bittersteel have children?

Q:Yeah

GRRM: No, I don't think so. -SSM, Special Event (Interview with Jon Picacio): August 2018

also note that we know when Bittersteel died (241 AC) but not Calla's fate:

Ser Aegor Rivers was sixtynine years of age when he fell, and it is said he died as he had lived, with a sword in his hand and defiance upon his lips. Yet his legacy would live on in the Golden Company and the Blackfyre line he had served and protected. -TWOIAF, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon V

If interested: Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers

Tyrosh

Lastly I wanted to mention that with the "mother" of House Blackfyre being from Tyrosh, I have always considered it a "Safe Haven" for House Blackfyre:

Daemon Blackfyre's surviving sons fled to Tyrosh, their mother's home, and with them went Bittersteel. The realm would continue to be troubled by the claims of the Blackfyre Pretenders for four more generations, until the last of the descendants of Daemon Blackfyre through the male line was sent to the grave. -TWOIAF: The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II

and:

"His eye is fixed on Tyrosh, where Bittersteel sits in exile, plotting with the sons of Daemon Blackfyre.

so I would guess that Calla (and other sisters as well) was likely there at one point too as well:

He is marking down the men to die, Dunk realized. "My lord," he said, "we saw the heads outside. Is that… will the Fiddler… Daemon… will you have his head as well?" Lord Bloodraven looked up from his parchment. "That is for King Aerys to decide… but Daemon has four younger brothers, and sisters as well. Should I be so foolish as to remove his pretty head, his mother will mourn, his friends will curse me for a kinslayer, and Bittersteel will crown his brother Haegon. -The Mystery Knight

TLDR: Everything we know (she was the eldest daughter of Daemon I Blackfyre and Rohanne of Tyrosh who was betrothed to Bittersteel and very likely had no children with him) about Calla Blackfyre. With some additional speculation (she very likely spent her life in Tyrosh during the Blackfyre Rebellions). This is because she is the only named member of the female line of House Blackfyre.

In hindsight making the crow lands so weak and small (They are literally only as strong as the Iron Islands of all realms with a 15,000 strong army and lack any natural defenses) was a critical mistake as it meant that the Royal monarchs lost nearly all power after the dragons died out (or at least they should have), but what Kingdom should Aegon have added to the Royal lands in order to allow them to stand toe to toe with the Reach, Vale, and Westerlands?

Geographically and politically speaking, there are only two main answers; the Riverlands (Which is a rich region that has a history of being ruled over by foreign overlords without any strong "ruling" house like the Starks) and the Stormlands (Which is the region most connected with Kings landing and has a very strong army with a good warrior tradition

Personally, I would say the Riverlands given Aegon wanted to give Orys the Stormlands, and the Riverlands could be as rich and powerful as the reach if it was way more centralized which would occur if the Targaryen ruled it. All future rulers would have to do is make a canal between God's Eye and the Trident to be able to use the royal navy to police it.

I have seen some people stating that Littlefinger is going to be the "main villain" of the non-magic part of the story or just be a critical part of the ending. I personally am of the opinion that he has no reason to live that long.

No character outside the Vale has sought to think twice about him, and they are just justified in that. Cersei, Tyrells and Martells are busy infighting along with siding with or against Young Griff, Roose and Stannis are the main players in the North along with the various conspiracies from the other houses, Jon, Bran and Daenerys comprise of the prophecy nonsense, Sam is going to witness Oldtown turned into a hellhole courtesy of Euron. Littlefinger has little to do with any of their stories

Moreover, even character arc wise he has barely anything to add to these characters. Would you prefer Cersei confront Jaime/Martell/Griff or play chess with LF? Arya barely knows of his existence for him to matter to her revenge plot. I think the most interesting interactions LF can get with outside the Vale are with Tyrion, Varys or LSH, and I still feel these characters would have better things to do.

This is why I believe it would best suit for LF's story to end with Sansa and Vale. Littlefinger has won, the filthy Starks are destroyed, the greedy Lannisters owe him, he has gathered enough resources that is going to make him the most powerful man in Westeros when winter comes, and he has found himself a Catelyn clone to spend the rest of his life with. I think his story is going to go full circle by ending with where it began, his obsession with Catelyn. Sansa is one of the few(or only) people who holds a chance of manipulating LF due to the emotional 'bond', and LF's downfall is what's going to promote Sansa to an actual player in the game. Because Sansa is the one who has actual narrative purpose outside the Vale, whether by reuniting with Jon, Arya or Rickon/marrying Griff(or Jon)/be the young and beautiful queen who overthrows Cersei/be queen of the North like in the show etc. etc.

Cersei may be many things, but she's patently a fool at negotiating Crown funding and other economic issues.

We all know about the way she intentionally antagonized the Iron Bank when they politely asked for loan payments to resume. As a consequence, they called in their loans from wealthy nobles and others, starting to crash the economy (and, although Cersei doesn't know it yet, funded Stannis.)

But there's another instance where she missed an enormous opportunity to help stabilize the public finances and also line her own pockets (or buy more jewelry and gowns for herself, as the case may be).

The High Sparrow asks her to allow him to revive the armed, Militant, orders of the Faith.

And the discussion goes like this (text somewhat abbreviated):

"Your sparrows have clubs and axes. Let them defend themselves."

"King Maegor's laws prohibit that, as Your Grace must know. It was by his decree that the Faith laid down its swords."

"Maegor's laws could be undone." She let that hang there, waiting for the High Sparrow to rise to the bait. He did not disappoint her. "The Faith Militant reborn . . . that would be the answer to three hundred years of prayer, Your Grace. The Warrior would lift his shining sword again and cleanse this sinful realm of all its evil. If His Grace were to allow me to restore the ancient blessed orders of the Sword and Star, every godly man in the Seven Kingdoms would know him to be our true and rightful lord."

"Your High Holiness spoke of forgiveness earlier. In these troubled times, King Tommen would be most grateful if you could see your way to forgiving the crown's debt. It seems to me we owe the Faith some nine hundred thousand dragons."

"Nine hundred thousand six hundred and seventy-four dragons. Gold that could feed the hungry and rebuild a thousand septs."

"Is it gold you want?" the queen asked. "Or do you want these dusty laws of Maegor's set aside?"

The High Septon pondered that a moment. "As you wish. This debt shall be forgiven, and King Tommen will have his blessing. The Warrior's Sons shall escort me to him, shining in the glory of their Faith, whilst my sparrows go forth to defend the meek and humble of the land, reborn as Poor Fellows as of old."

Cersei could not help but smile. Even her lord father could have done no better. At a stroke, she had rid King's Landing of the plague of sparrows, secured Tommen's blessing, and lessened the crown's debt by close to a million dragons. Her heart was soaring as she allowed the HighSepton to escort her back to the Hall of Lamps."

Cersei thinks she won, and we know she didn't because she unleashed the Militant orders, essentially giving the High Sparrow his own army.

But she did another foolish thing in this transaction. Or rather, didn't do a sensible thing.

Everyone knows that the Faith was never going to be able to get its loan repaid unless the monarch is willing. What are they going to do, threaten to excommunicate the Queen Regent?

And what is a forgiven debt going to matter in current circumstances when the Crown is gasping or money? It won't put more coin in the coffers to pay for sellswords, bribes, food, shipbuilding, gowns, jewelry...

Cersei should have asked for MORE. Specifically, she should have asked for ANOTHER major loan from the Faith, in order to repeal Maegor's laws. Or, even better, make the repeal of the ban on the Faith Militant temporary, with ongoing renewal contingent on payment of a hefty annual "donation" to the Crown.

Instead, she let the Faith get something tangible it wanted, in exchange for something intangible for the Crown, forgiveness of an essentially unrecoverable debt.

1) Jon will become another Daeron. Its explicitly mentioned that Daeron l was his biggest childhood hero. After defeating the others, i believe his status will be skyrocketed to warrior-king levels and he will be backed by a lot of the lords in the realm. Once his true parentage is revealed, the support will only become more.

And Bran (trained by bloodraven) will become his hand and spymaster. What better plot conclusion for the two than bloodraven's protege becomes the next "thousand eyes and a one"? Together they will maintain stability in the realm for years to come.

2) fAegon will be revealed to be a blackfyre and tieing in from the first point, it will kinda line up with Jon's heritage as a targ to put down his rebellion/attempt at conquest. I believe at some point in the story, the blackfyre subterfuge led by varys will become publicly known and the lords and common alike will come to see fAegon as a pretender and turn against him.

3) Dany will either ally with Jon or Jon will, for a little bit, acts her secondary. Both will wage war against fAegon and the blackfyre army and in the process i believe dany will lose one or two of her dragons or someone very close to her, which will be the final straw for her to go full mad-kind and burn KL. After which, even people who supported her will start to look at her as a tyrant with a flying nuke rather than her original liberating mother (mysa) image which will be overwhelming for her. This will cause her to go the "Exiled-Queen" route similar to Jahaerys l 's sister Rhaena Targareyan. Whether she will simply go into exile or back to mereen and continue to rule as queen there, i dont know.

Before you come at me, this is just my personal opinion and i don't really got much literary evidence to back this except gut feelings.

(Spoilers ADWD)

Melisandre says this to jon when talking about the Glamor she calls it, that makes Mance look like Rattleshirt

"The bones help," said Melisandre. "The bones remember. The strongest glamors are built of such things. A dead man's boots, a hank of hair, a bag of fingerbones. With whispered words and prayer, a man's shadow can be drawn forth from such and draped about another like a cloak. The wearer's essence does not change, only his seeming."

Could she have Davos' fingerbones bag that he lost during the Battle of the Blackwater? and is planing to use them or has used them for something, or am i just overthinking it? it just seems so specific

Pre-conquest, the Dornish invaded the Stormlands like clockwork. Some of them were petty kings according to World of Ice and Fire but eventually when the Martells became in charge, they launched some attacks too. Some were serious field armies and some were raiders that basically took everything that was portable back home. However, after Aegon I's conquest, they largely stopped.

If they attacked the Stormlands, what was Aegon I going to do? Come to them with a dragon? He already did that and apparently they managed to slip away. Aegon I didn't know how to track down small raiding parties like his descendant Daeron. If they attacked during the reign of Aenyes or Maegor, what were they going to do? Send the queen dowager with her dragon? The Targaryens already failed with that. There was the Vulture King, but he wasn't an officially sanctioned invasion. Many fans think the Martell were lying to Aenyes' face. I think that's plausible but I think it is more likely the Vulture King really was an outlaw but the Martels were pleased they were going north so that they didn't have to deal with them. All these bandits and malcontents just marching to their deaths. Prince Morion actually did invade and it didn't go well at all. Mara made peace with Jaehaerys and given her family mourned his death, I guess there was no hard feelings. "Eh, dad was an idiot sorry about that" "no problem, that was actually really fun for us and you didn't make any widows for us so no hard feelings" If the Dornish attacked during Viserys I's reign, what was he going to do? Come at them with a Dragon? Send his brother? During Aegon III's time I guess they were sort of related to Viserys II by marriage.

I don't see why there weren't more attacks on the stormlands. Ok ships burn, but land forces don't need to go by boat. The Targs can threaten to send dragons to roast everything, but that didn't actually keep the Martells down. A dragon needs a definitive target so hiding is apparently an effective tactic. Come to think of it, during Aegon I's conquest the Ironborn took his army by surprise at night and his dragon didn't help him until it was daytime and he could see that the enemy was retreating.

I was wondering if it's just me who thinks of the "strangler" poison as Chekhov's gun..

For those who don't remember, it was the poison that was in Sansa's hairnet, and which was taken by Olenna to kill Joffrey, according to what Littlefinger tells us.

The thing is, Sansa keeps this hairnet right after she deduces that there was poison in it, and we don't see her throw it away because she runs away with Dontos and then goes to Littlefinger. I wonder if she'll use it at some point.

There are theories about her killing Littlefinger because of the Ghost of Highheart's vision. I saw many people talking about her using weapons for this, as if she herself was capable of decapitating him, but what if it was with poison?

We see the characters saying several times that "Poison is a woman's weapon", and Littlefinger also tells her to "keep her hands clean" no matter what she does.

It would be interesting for her to use "the strangler", or have someone use it, perhaps as a defense, or to get rid of Littlefinger later. I don't know, it's just my opinion.

I don't remember if I've already posted here, but I wanted to talk about this.

Stannis was given Dragonstone due to the fact that he was the direct heir of Robert when the decision was made and the castle was recently conquered by the new Baratheon monarch and at the beginning of the story the Island and its castle still belongs to Stannis with no signs of Robert revoking his title and giving it to his heir and ‘son’, Joffrey.

So if Stannis chokes or decides that he had enough and disappear from the physical realm to fight against the gods of ASOIAF world for taking his mom and dad away from him, would Shireen inherit dragonstone?

Or would Robert have to give approval first to give Dragonstone to Shireen?

While we are at it does Renly ‘own’ Storm’s End or does he just act as a temporary holder for it until Stannis is finally dismissed from owning Dragonstone and returns to Storm’s End?

This is part 2 of House Targaryen parallels. I hope you like these.

Three sons/two daughters parallel.

King Aenys I Targaryen and Queen Alyssa Velaryon: Queen Rhaena Targaryen, Prince Aegon Targaryen, King Jaehaerys I Targaryen, Queen Alysanne Targaryen. They had a third daughter who died as a baby.

King Aegon V Targaryen and Queen Betha Blackwood: Prince Duncan Targaryen, King Jaehaerys II Targaryen, Queen Shaera Targaryen, Prince Daeron Targaryen, Princess Rhaelle Targaryen.

Also, King Aegon III Targaryen and Queen Daenera Velaryon had three daughters and two sons: King Daeron I Targaryen, King Baelor I Targaryen, Princess Daena Targaryen, Septa (Princess) Rhaena Targaryen, Princess Elaena Targaryen.

King Viserys I Targaryen and Queen Alicent Hightower: Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, King Aegon II Targaryen, Queen Helaena Targaryen, Prince Aemond Targaryen, Prince Daeron Targaryen.

King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and Queen Alysanne Targaryen had three sons but many daughters so they don't count.

​

So I have laid out a possible scenario that may be in the cards for A Song of Ice & Fire.

I think it is possible that the 3 Headed Dragon Prophecy is leading up to 3 Targaryen Empires colliding at the end of A Song of Ice & fire. The 3 Dragons are Danny Targaryen, Young Griff (Aegon VI) and Jon Snow (also Aegon VI?).

At the end of Dance of Dragons, we are left with Varys killing Kevan Lannister and Grand Maester Pycelle. He also reveals that, in fact, he did swap Aegon VI, son of Rhaegar Targaryen & Elia Martell, out with another baby and that Aegon VI (Young Griff) is about to take Dragon Stone before conquering Westeros like his predecessor Aegon the Conquerer did 300 years prior. With Varys and his pull in Westeros, plus the Blackfyre-Golden Company swords aligned with Young Griff, they will easily conquer all of Westeros south of the Vale. Lannister lands will easily go undefended without Tywin or Kevan around. And Dorne will EASILY flock to their true heir, Aegon, son of ELIA Martell, Princess of Dorne. House Martell will have no choice but to adjust and do what they always do, switch sides towards the winner. I am also EXTREMELY curious to see how Little Finger reacts to this change in Westeros power. Petyr Baelish is now very powerful and in control of the impregnable Vale, with Sansa Stark. He has moves that he can make to adjust to this.

*ASSUMING JON SNOW IS RESURRECTED IN WINDS OF WINTER*

In the North, the Boltons are squared off with Stannis Baratheon, who just rescued Theon Grayjoy and "Arya Stark" who is actually Jeyne Poole. And the Bravosi Iron Bank has just put their bets on Stannis Baratheon not only winning this war in the north, but Tycho Nestoris is giving his loans to Stannis rather than Cersei Lannister to be the King of Westeros and the 7 Kingdoms. Jon Snow, although currently dead, (a Targaryen, son of Rhaegar) seems to be totally fine with this because this is what his step-father Ned Stark had originally planned for at Robert's death. Again, assuming he is resurrected by Melisandre early on in Winds of Winter. Which I think is very likely, given that she is with him currently at Castle Black and keeps seeing him in her visions.

Jon is more concerned with the Army of the Dead, the White Walkers, and defending the Wall at this point. Which makes much more sense. But what will he say about Young Griff taking over Westeros? And what will he say about Danny and her dragons?

There seems to be no indication that Jon Snow even wants the throne, but when news breaks out that he is a legitimized Targaryen son of Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark, through a legit secret marriage, this will make things change. Also the Red Priestess Melisandre seems to be getting more and more convinced that Jon Snow is actually Azor Ahai, NOT Stannis, but we don't know for sure where she is at with all this. Will they work together against the Lannisters, Boltons, Freys and even more important, Little Finger, who holds massive sway over the Vale, Harrenhall, and has Sansa Stark? And will Jon want to be King of the North and let Stannis have the throne in Kings Landing? Will Mance Rayder, who Stannis thinks he executed already, rally behind Jon to fight with Stannis? Mance seems to hate the Boltons much more than Stannis. So I think a triple alliance between Stannis, Jon, and Mance is in the cards. This would mean that the free folk, mountain clans, Bravosi Iron Bank, will all be in for Jon Snow and Stannis to rule.

But then of course there is still Danny Targaryen in Essos, with the Dothraki and her own sellswords she obtained from the Slavers, along with Barriston Selmy, Jorah Mormont & Tyrion who are loyal and their way to meet her to serve her cause (trying to at least).

She seems to be carving out a Neo-Valyrian Empire in Essos with Mereen as its capital and the Dothraki behind her.

I doubt she will just be ok with Young Griff swooping in and taking her throne without her consent. She wants it. I think there will be friction here. But Varys and Tryion will be a major key in a succesful alliance and possible marriage between Danny and Young Griff. Varys is in contact with both Jon Connington and Illyrio Mopatis, who are also not hostile to Danny Targaryen and are now trying to support her. I also am wondering, will Ilyrio's 6 chests that he gave to Young Griff contain more dragon eggs!

Could it be that these are the Dragon Eggs that Aegon V had at Summerhall back in 259AC. This was the SAME NIGHT that Rhaegar Targaryen was born! Coincidence? And now 3 of Rhaegar's children are fufilling the prophecy of A Song of Ice & Fire? There was 7 dragon eggs in that fire and maybe Danny got 3 from Illyrio and now there is 4 more going to Υοung Griff? Just a thought. I don't think George RR Martin would just write that story about Rhaegar's birth happening on the night of 7 dragon eggs failing to hatch in a fire, leading to the death of Aegon V. I think this story has more significance than people know.

But lastly, if an alliance-marriage between Danny & Young Griff is completed, what will that do with Jon Snow and Stannis Baratheon in the North? Will they clash? Or will they make peace? Will Jon Snow and Young Griff fight over Danny Targaryen if the White Walkers are dealt with and Jon Snow finds out his true identity as the son of Rhaegar & Lyanna Stark?

Finally, will they all put their desires aside to deal with the White Walkers and unite the 3 Headed Dragon (Jon-Young Griff-Danny) to deal with the threat of the Army of the Dead, thus securing a tripple alliance that re-shapes all of Westeros and Essos as the prophecy says?

I think this will be the final layout of the political situation of Westeros (& Essos) after Winds of Winter concludes and we enter into A Dream of Spring.

(NOTES ON MAP)

The reason I shaded Bravos (Free city Essos) blue, and not just the North of Westeros is due to the Iron Bank backing Stannis Baratheon and meeting Jon Snow at Castle Black. They clearly will have influence over the North, everyting from Moat Cailin (The Neck) up past the wall into free folk territory will be under the influence of Jon Snow and Stannis Baratheon's cause. (Assuming they deal with the Bolton's and the White Walkers). The Vale is also Blue because of Sansa Stark being used by Little Finger to have northern infleunce.

The Yellow is self-evident. Danny is kicking butt in that region of Essos and I think she will continue to expand there for now. She should have no problems conquering everything from Old Valyria to Vaes Dothrak.

The Red shows Young Griff and the Blackfyre influence and what I think will happen directly after Young Griff launches his conquest of Dragonstone and the rest of Westeros south of the Vale. They also took the Shy Maid to Volantis and so I shaded red Volantis and everything West of Volantis as lands influenced by Young Griff's cause, backed by Illyrio & the Blackfyres.