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thephantomcasebook · 1 year

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I’m a pretty casual fan of ASOIAF, Lord of the Rings is more my style, but I’ve been reading some of the lore recently and I’m absolutely delighted by how many parallels and clear inspirations GRRM took from Arthurian legend. Aemond in particular caught my attention because he bears such a striking resemblance to Mordred in so many ways in terms of his role in the narrative. Mutual kill with his uncle? Check. Close relationship with an evil sorceress? Check. Mommy issues? Check. Doomed by the historical narrative? Check. Are you a fan of Arthurian legend? What are your thoughts?

Same.

I'm pretty steeped in ASoIF lore - though Martin continues to change the lore at convenience - but I'm a bigger Tolkien fan and nerd than G.R.R. Martin. Especially Tolkien's First Age Stories like "Beren and Luthien" & "Children of Hurin".

"Beren & Luthien" might be the greatest story ever told. Around Christmas I put that chapter on when I'm out doing Christmas shopping and when I'm out on my Birthday.

And "Children of Hurin" is one of my favorite books of all time - the audiobook as read by Christopher Lee is beyond epic. And has been one of the biggest influences on my writing.

As for Arthurian Legend, I grew up on it. My old man was a geek before the word really existed and he was into fantasy. So, I was introduced into Knights and Chivalry at a very - very - early age. Especially in the early-2000's when "Lord of the Rings" was big but there wasn't a lot of it available where I lived, my 11-13 year old self's want for Lord of the Rings anything sent me back down into the Arthurian rabbit hole.

I grew up with and still love "Excalibur" and the Merlin Mini-Series from the late-90's that Jim Henson and NBC did.

It's funny you bring up Tolkien and Arthurian Myth because I've written Downton Abbey fanfiction for years and a lot of the story series is based on "The Children of Hurin" by Tolkien and I used archetypes from Arthurian Legend for the characters. I steeped a lot of those Downton Abbey stories in an Arthurian mold and Tolkien sensibilities.

As for Aemond being Mordred.

Oh, you done done it now, my friend.

You got me started.

If I might expand your ascertain of Aemond being Mordred.

The way I see it is that Alicent is Guinevere and Criston is Lancelot. Aemond is most definitely Mordred. And Daeron is absolutely Galahad.

I would postulate that both Aemond and Daeron are the sons of Alicent and Criston's duality. Of course, I don't mean literally - but figuratively. They were both born after Alicent and Criston devoted themselves to one another, both were raised by the two, and both look at Criston is more of a father than Viserys. Unlike say Aegon and Helaena. Both Aemond and Daeron see Alicent and Criston as their parents.

Much like Mordred, I see Aemond as sort of the manifestation of all of Alicent and Criston's sins of envy and lust, not just of Rhaenyra's transgressions, but of their want for one another. Aemond bears Criston's hatred and Alicent's anger. He is a creation, a creature, of that darker and more human side of a virtuous and righteous idealistic veneer.

While, much like Galahad, Daeron embodies the ennobling features of Criston and Alicent's relationship. He is the dutiful and virtuous figure that his mother strives to be and the stalwart and just warrior that Criston tries to maintain. Making him the noblest of all knights.

While Aemond carries Alicent and Criston's humanity and flaws

Daeron bears their idealism and dreams.

The two showing the almost duality of their parent's two natures as a whole.

#House of the Dragon #Alicent Hightower #Criston Cole #Aemond Targaryen #Alicole #alicent x criston #Daeron Targaryen #Arthurian Legend #Arthurian Mythology

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