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sansa286 · 1 year

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The Complexities of Vaemond Velaryon's Claim and the Succession of Driftmark

I was re-watching HotD S1E8 - "Lord of the Tides" and was reminded of just how complex the issue with the succession for Driftmark is.

SPOILERS: House of the Dragon, Fire & Blood, A Song of Ice & Fire books and Game of Thrones.

Before we begin: hats off Vaemond's actor, Wil Johnson. He did incredible as Vaemond, I hung onto every word he said. I could feel just how pissed off he was. Round o' applause for such an excellent actor!

Disclaimer: I'm neither strictly Team Black or Team Green. There are characters I like/find interesting on both sides. I also want to make it clear, that although I point out how Vaemond is right about some stuff, I personally don't really care about the circumstances surrounding Luke's birth as both Laenor and Corlys claimed him.

Let's get into this...

We know that Corlys has been mortally wounded during battle in the stepstones, which has resulted in a fever. He may not survive, so Vaemond believes now is the perfect time to make a case for him to inherit Driftmark, and not his *official* nephew Lucerys. He knows he'll have the backing of the Greens, as they have been looking for a window into knocking Rhaenyra out of the line of succession in favor of Aegon. It's a very "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" type of alliance. No one actually cares about one another, it's about one-upping a common foe together.

The argument being made by Vaemond and others, is essentially that Luke shouldn't inherit Driftmark because:

He is a bastard.

He is still very young (14).

He hasn't been raised on Driftmark.

I am quickly going to address the last two points:

1.) Luke's age doesn't matter. Children take their inheritance at crazy young ages all the time in-universe. Aegon III took the throne at 10. They rely on advisors, or regents (like Lysa Arryn being Lady Regent of the Vale until Robin comes of age), but they're still entitled to their inheritance. Fully disinheriting someone based on age is rather ludicrous.

2.) As Lord Beesbury pointed out, a person's abilities doesn't alter their entitlement to their inheritance unless it's something very serious or the current ruler decides against them for [insert reason here.] If abilities meant anything in terms of Westerosi succession then they sure as hell wouldn't be trying to put Aegon of all people on the throne. Obviously Rhaenyra could have done better by sending Luke as a ward to Driftmark under Rhaenys, but again, that doesn't matter enough to disinherit someone.

Now due to the taboo of accusing Rhaenyra of being unfaithful to Laenor, he can't outright say the first point, but it is still very much being said, and he and makes it apparent when he uses terminology like "Velaryon blood", and talk of "bloodlines." Vaemond insinuating that he is a better fit for Driftmark over Luke due to his Velaryon blood, is essentially pointing out that Luke has none.

In Westeros the simplest order of succession goes Lord --->Firstborn son--->Firstborn grandson and so on, following a direct line of descendants. We'll come back to this in a moment though, because it's not as simple as many would think.

After Corlys, the next Lord of the Tides was supposed to be Laenor, but due to his "death" it flows to Luke. While Luke was born out of wedlock, he has not been disowned as such and carries the Velaryon name through Laenor, his official father.

But the thing is, Vaemond is technically right. By laws of succession, due to Luke being a bastard, he shouldn't be the heir to Driftmark. And he by all accounts, is speaking the truth here.

But guess what? That also wouldn't make Vaemond the heir to Driftmark either!

Vaemond only gets Driftmark if Corlys has no other living grandchildren. If Luke were publicly outed as a bastard and stripped of all his titles and inheritance, they would not automatically go to Vaemond, but Baela and Rhaena. The law of succession always follows the line of the direct descendants of the eldest living male heir. Vaemond is not a direct descendant of Corlys, but their father, who has passed. Corlys is the current Lord of the Tides. Had Laenor passed away before Laena with no children on his own, then Driftmark would have went to Laena. With Laenor gone, and Luke disinherited, the claim then goes from Corly's grandson to granddaughter. That is how primogeniture works in Westeros and also why Rhaenys was even considered for the Iron Throne in the first place, as she was the sole living heir of King Jaehaerys and Queen Alysanne's firstborn son, Aemon.

Males are favored, but not absolute. Sons and grandsons come before daughters and granddaughters. But all come before an uncle or aunt. The only time an uncle or another male relative takes precedent, is if his lord-brother or father declares him heir (Jahaerys with Baelon), or he usurps it (there are a few examples of this happening in the ASOIAF books, and even one during this period with Lady Jeyne Arryn, who should make an appearance in S2.)

The argument could go that because they're women they can pass on the Verlaryon blood, but not the Velaryon name. Somewhat true, however easily corrected, as there have been several examples of lords taking on their mother's surname when they're the heirs to a land or region (See: Maege Mormont.) Likewise, Baela or Rhaena could take their mother's surname, and their children can opt into taking the Velaryon name as well, and that would actually be expected.

So, Vaemond is right, but he is mostly wrong. And he is trying to rob his very own nieces, those of legit Velaryon blood, from their birthright.

This is why Vaemond is far from just someone concerned with his own house being snuffed out. He is playing the game of thrones, like everyone else. He just lost early-on.

When Rhaenys announces that she has agreed to wed Baela and Rhaena to Jace and Luke, that should've been enough to satisfy his supposed concerns: that house Velaryon would die out in both blood and name. Don't get me wrong, I do think Vaemond is legitimately concerned, that is apparent in his passion; but he also has his own agenda. The marriage of Luke and Rhaena would mean that the next heir to Driftmark would have the Velaryon name passed down through Luke, and Velaryon blood passed down through Rhaena. House Velaryon would be far from ending.

I know people (rightfully) harp on Rhaenyra for backing her son's claim to Driftmark over Baela and Rhaena. That is wrong, but at least she did insure that they would have power. Rhaena being Lady of Driftmark means that she will reside over the birthland of her mother (and given how Luke has been raised, I'm going to assume co-leader as well.) Baela marrying Jace means she will be queen one day, which will make her the second-most powerful person in the Seven Kingdoms by rank (and given her personality in the book, as well as the bits and pieces we get in the show and deleted scenes: also in practice.) As far as we know, Vaemond had no plans to give his nieces anything; he has his own wife, children and grandchildren at this point.

If Vaemond's only true concern was the survival of his house, then the arrangement for Luke and Rhaena, in theory, should be perfect to him. But what does he do? He doubles-down, makes a spectacle of himself and it costs him his life. Brutally, might I add. Even if Daemon didn't kill him, Vaemond would've left King's Landing tongue-less.

But, it didn't even have to resort to that. Daemon aside, let's just say that he still wants Driftmark for himself, there were smarter ways to react. I honestly think he should've just been more politically practical, and took a page out of Otto's book.

Otto took a big L in this episode. This court meeting was supposed to be the beginning of the end for Rhaenyra as heir. His plan was to get Vaemond to press the claim of Driftmark, with Otto sitting the Iron Throne in-lieu of Viserys, he would of course side with Vaemond no matter how good of a reasoning Rhaenyra made. Luke would be publicly outed as a bastard, which would then delegitimize Jace, and then Rhaenyra herself. Then bam, Aegon II is made heir.

But his plans are foiled when Viserys makes his surprise entrance. You can see the look on he and Alicent's face. They know they're screwed and Plan A is down the toilet. But they don't run around calling Rhaenyra a "whore" and rant to Viserys about how he has robbed Aegon. They sit back, observe and roll with the punches, because Otto is that person that always has a Plan B (as we see in the following episode.)

If Vaemond wasn't so wrapped up in his own ambitions, then he would've heard of the match, fake smiled at it, and then met with the Greens afterwards to plot another way on how he could get Driftmark. Hell, he could've even bargained with Rhaenyra for him to be made Master of Ships on the Small Council in the event of his brother's passing. But he doesn't, and the chips fell where they did.

Overall Vaemond is a tragic character, because he struggles with second-son syndrome similar to how Daemon and Aemond do. He does clearly care for his family, but wishes to find his own footing within it and is envious of his older brother for having the most power. I truly think he would have been fascinating to see if he would've become a political player for the Greens or Team Black, or did something all on his own. But alas, he wasn't that kind of character. Vaemond is similar to Ned Stark in the way that they both forget how to play the game and it ends up costing them greatly.

#vaemond velaryon #lucerys velaryon #baela targaryen #rhaena targaryen #corlys velaryon #rhaenys targaryen #otto hightower #rhaenyra targaryen #daemon targaryen #driftmark #succession crisis #house of the dragon #fire & blood #asoiaf #analysis #team velaryon #team black #team green #westeros is so annoying

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simp4aegon · 1 year

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GOLDEN HOUR

Aemond Targaryen x Morningstar!Oc /reader

Chapter One : The Angel, Her Misery, His Lover.

Warnings: Violence, Blood, NSFW, Romantic shit.

You can imagine yourself as Lilith well she is you and your time travel has gone right, or better for your happiness that you can’t find in the modern world where you lived. This is a crossover between Lucifer and HOTD.

Legends said that angels are made to protect God's creations, that they are god's favorite children.

You see them as the most beautiful thing, for they are the first one to live, The witness of his creations.

Wings, pair that symbolize power and freedom, soft to the touch but as sharp as blades that protected them.

Some chose to continue serving their God, those who stayed in light, some chose to go join the other side, known as the fallen and the neutral ones, those who chose life, who chose to love.

They have the power of light but one has the power of time and reality, and that angel is special to her kind.

Victoria was made up by a dude,

girl you wouldn't believe she's an old man who lives in Ohio,

I know victoria's secret, cashing in body issues.

In the modern day of 2022 Princess Lilith, Daughter of Lucifer Morningstar remembers how she argued with her father two days ago.

While she sings on stage as an internationally famous pop star, she realizes that her father wasn't there, to support her or to watch, her getting ready for later's event.

Wanting to prove her father wrong about her grandfather's creations; humans, Her life as a princess in the modern world of Los Angeles doesn't really please her.

“Daddy, You never paid attention to me! You never listened, you only listened to them to... to Trixie and Chloe, this is unfair, I am your blood, your flesh, Am I not?”

Lilith yelled as she threw her arms in frustration, as she walks towards her father in his throne of darkness. she then walks back and forth with her Dark Brown hair flowing in wind.

Lucifer's army, Knights of hell watched as she yelled at her father, something only she can do, or else those who try will suffer a fate worst that dying in the lake of lava.

Like what the princess called.

“Enough of this nonsense Lilith! There is no love for us, Love makes us vulnerable to anything, Do your things find a man to play with, Travel and stop bothering me for there are more important things that I have to do.”

Lucifer then looked at his daughter’s reaction.

"Important? Wedding plans? You're a hypocrite, you're a fucking hypocrite dad! you don't want me to find love but here you are marrying a damn mortal, admit it, I am the mistake you wish you never committed, you kept on telling me that I am not entitled of a man, a child, you rid me of the world, you rid me a chance of a family and now you're building one without me."

A reaction he never expected, He doesn’t understand why she craved love when she can have anything she wanted, He gave her everything she wanted.

"Didn't I gave you a career? You're a successful popstar! I gave you everything every material whims, give me a chance to find my happiness." He's selfish, egoistic fucker.

"What do you know about love dad?" Lilith whispers.

"What do you know? You're just a kid." Lucifer tried keeping his cool.

“You wouldn’t say that there is no love for me if I have my mom with me, you never searched for Mom, now you'll marry her! You promised it's you and me now her? HER? And her kid?.” With that Lilith roared louder.

Lucifer now understands his Dad, Lilith mirrored some parts of him that he now hated, That she became a rebel, but there are good parts, To Lucifer, she wanted to live.

That he was a hypocrite for denying his daughter and feeding her with information he now supports and wants.

"Lilith! I did not raise you, to talk like that toward Chloe! You'll refer to her as your mother and Trixie as your younger sister, Are we clear?. What I had for Chloe is genuine love." Lucifer slapped Lilith across the face and then harshly grabbed her shoulder.

"What about my mother? WHAT ABOUT ME?!" Lilith asked as she touches her right cheek.

That triggered something, it made those Fire opal eyes glow, something that shocked Lucifer.

"I'm sor-" Lucifer attempts as his eyes go soft.

"You did not raise me, grampa raised me, Not you not Chloe not anyone! You don't get to touch me like that!" Those fire opal eyes glowed while her selcra turned black, it scared Lucifer.

She once wants to find something he avoids to help him realize, Something that he's afraid of, Like what he does to Chloe, Chloe Decker.

She kinda regrets the fact that it it turns out the way she doesn't intended to.

But he's hypocrite, Now he's getting married, to her.

'Why does she wants to be a human? Or does she? She doesn’t need love, She needs me.' Lucifer thought to himself those words.

Lilith wasn’t spoiled, Lilith just understands what she wants and that is to love, Lilith can’t find love in the modern world where she lived for almost two billion years of her existence.

With no lust for the throne where she’s meant to torment people, Lilith figured out that needed a man, to love, to cherish as humans do. Lilith wanted a family, not temporary happiness her father calls a One Night Stand.

Wanting to prove that her father's a hypocrite, to tell him everyday.

She snaps from those thoughts, While singing her songs her tears slowly fell, she realized what she wanted. With those tears, in an instant, it rained with loud thunderstorms, a reason for her to leave with the guards protecting her.

Other people tried to take pictures with her but failed.

But a man gave her a white handkerchief, which she took but never got a glimpse of his face, due to bodyguard blocking her of the view.

"Thank you."

Lilith stood there with bitter laughing, drinking her fifth glass of wine and listening as people gave their wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Morningstar.

She felt so fucking alone in this world.

Lilith tried not to create a commotion with her emotions, she remembers she's higher that the angels in the reception area.

You're a fucking seraphim.

"You okay?" Her uncle Amanedee asked giving her a slice of lemon cake which she politely refuses, Same with Castiel and Gabriel who gave her foods.

"I hope you and mom a happy life together." Trixie smiled as she gives the microphone to her new step sister.

Lilith refuses but Maze gave her a nudge and a gentle smile. With that Lilith took the mic and went on stage holding her eight glass of wine.

"To the both of you, Congratulations, live your lives to the fullest starting this night without any problems or...." Lilith didn't finish, Amandiel was quick to pick up those cryptic message his niece left the moment she passed the mic to him then walked out of the reception.

God, her grandfather gave him a sad look, His first grandchild, feels sad, in exchange of his favorite son's happiness.

He can't read her, No one can, Just like his sister.

Lilith went back to her hotel, headed to her bathroom as she filled her gigantic tub with ice as she pointed her finger at the candles where it lits themselves. She stared at the tv screen which showed nothing but static.

Lilith wished to prove him wrong, that angels and demons are entitled to love just like humans, that she too is entitled like him to Chloe.

That it's not only about duty to protect her Grandfather's creation but to also love them.

“Sanguis animæ meæ suscipe me ad fata mea, sanguis cordis mei, salus mea et judicium meum.”

Lilith chanted those words while crying as she soak herself, and let the water consume her, to wash away her worries and to bring excitement to her journey.

Wanting to forget that she doesn't have a place here anymore, That her father has his new family, with new baby on the way with Chloe.

Her anger, her sadness, her pain, her grieve, her longing for a mother she never met.

A mother who's name she never knew.

The mother who left her the moment she was born.

The lights flicker and died but the fire from the candle remained still. Thunder roars at the sky as lightning strikes in the darkness.

Lilith doesn’t care if she needs to create a new world or travel with time or reality, or various timelines or even worlds, only to find her love.

'If Wanda Maximoff can make herself happy, so am I' Lilith smirks as she let the water consume her.

The water had it's tint of red violet color the moment she sank.

"Baby? Can we talk? I'm so sor-" Lucifer said behind the door but then felt that there's something wrong, he then kicked the door open.

The young girl vanished the moment the fire of her candles died, Comes her father when walked into her hotel's master bathroom, With no signs of the princess of hell.

It made him worry, he felt the guilt.

That made him sob to his friend Maze, To help him with his daughter whom he loved.

"She's missing, Maze she's missing, call Chloe, my daughter is missing," Lucifer yelled at his friend beside him, With visible worries written on his face.

"Where is she Lucifer, where did she go?" Maze responded as she kneels beside the bath tub and touched the water.

She can't sense anything, Lilith is not only prominent when it comes to using her angelic grace but also in her demonic ones that she uses when only in need.

They forgot that she was the mother of witches, Maze knew that Lilith wanted to empower women, so she gave them blessings against men who tried to violate them.

God was against it at first but agreed.

"I don't know, I think she performed a ritual, She went somewhere else, I yelled at her earlier, two or three days ago, slapped her accross the face and I didn't mean it, I wanted to say sorry but when I came inside her room she was missing." Lucifer facepalmed as he pinches his nose bridge.

"You do know that she has a concert this month right?" Eve took her to butt in.

"You're fucking concerned about the concert when she's missing?" Maze rolled her eyes.

"And she's missing, Great." Lilith is a popstar in 2022, A well-known popstar who's missing.

"And you slapped my granddaughter Samael? Did I raise you to be like that? I took your burden of raising her, the only thing I ask for is your love and compassion" God calmly placed a hand on his shoulder

"Stop putting the blaming only on me, only if you didn't lock her away, we could've raised her." God, their father was disappointed who walked away in search of his favorite granddaughter.

A warm peaceful day in King’s Landing was disturbed when King Viserys woke up in a good health, His illness was cured and when he stands up from the bed, He looked in the mirror and then at his hand and face, and hair.

By the Gods, His youth and strength were restored so that he doesn't need a cane to walk.

King Viserys thanked the Gods for it and prayed that this isn't a dream and this isn't temporary, That when he woke up the next day, He'll still be healthy and strong.

Even going to the extent of sacrificing a live animal as his form of thanking God or anyone who did that to him.

It shocked the maidens and his wife Queen Alicent who suggest that it was a result of witchery but King Viserys dismisses the vile rumors and sees it as a blessing by the Gods, he wanted to test the limits when he and Queen Alicent heard the news of a young woman found floating in the bodies of water by the fishermen.

They wanted to see the young woman that they found.

Prince Aegon alongside his brother Prince Aemond watched as their people carried the said girl and wrapped her with towels, She was beautiful in his eyes.

She was worth the reason for him to stop training at the moment with Ser Criston Cole.

“Nice tits.” The prince whisperer when he earned a nudge from his brother who was younger than him, He saw how focused Aemond's eyes to her.

Aemond's eye inspected the beauty. "Bring her to Reds' keep, we’ll question her once she wakes up, That woman might be sent to cause damage to us," Aemond ordered Ser Criston Cole as they brought her to the Castle carried by the knight.

"Look at her breast brother, you can't lie that she doesn't arouse you." Aegon teased Aemond who swallows thickly.

She looked like a threat but deep inside he felt something different while watching her, She was wearing a white nightgown with her nipples visible due to being soaked.

“Someone’s lusting over the girl, Don't worry I do too, I can't wait for her to wake up, see what that cunt does.”

Aegon laughed as he followed the knight and Aemond followed him back, He admits he can’t wait to hear her whereabouts but was more excited about bedding her.

“I won’t fall for a witch.” Aemond defends himself, he swallowed again.

He admits she's beautiful with those porcelain-like skin, Red lips like blood, and hair as dark as ravens.

She reassembles the princess in their bedtime stories, Snow white with a thin waist and large breasts.

“Who says she’s a witch then? Maybe she was sent by the Gods to bring pleasure to us, can't wait to deflower her sweet cunt brother.” Aemond gave him a side eye, Annoyed with his brother's intentions.

“You won’t touch her, witch or not.” There he left his brother and walked faster, He somehow regret calling her a witch, for judging her.

Maybe she's just pretty.

He knows one thing; He won't let Aegon stip her honor.

Walking back and forth, King Viserys tries to think of a reason behind this, This is the first time they had a floating body of a woman in the Kings landing,

“Poor little girl, Who would do such a horrible thing.” Alicent pitied as she caresses the young girl's wet hair and used a dry towel to carefully dry its hair.

“Born between the light and darkness shall she choose the light. Love and affection is the desire, A shining beauty in the stars that glow to the darkness.”

Helaena whispers in the corner of Aemond’s chamber while playing with a butterfly with broken wings that made Alicent and Aemond look.

The Queen ordered her maids to dry and changed the girl's clothes, She’s still unconscious so they do not know things about her, who she is, or how she got there.

“I will order an execution for the one responsible for this poor girl's torment the moment I heard details of it.” King Viserys pitied the young girl as he sat beside her and gently caressed her hair.

He reminded her of when Rhaenyra, His favorite when was a young girl and decided that she is welcomed to their homeland.

“Mother, Aemond had a theory that it was a punishment, Killing such a beauty. That she’s a witch of their homeland or some whore.” Alicent looked at her son Aegon as she held the young girl’s hand which is cold, She ordered more wood for the fireplace to keep the girl warm.

“Aemond? You shouldn’t throw vile accusations without the truth, does this looks like a witch to you?” King Viserys showed his visible disappointment with his son Aemond.

Aegon then smirks at Aemond while he's drinking his wine.

“What makes you think of that Aemond?” Alicent asked.

“Her unnatural beautiful mother, I mean look at her face and body, witches have smaller waists or maybe she was sent by other kingdoms to do harm to us, To father.”

Aemond defended himself while looking at the sleeping lady, He took off his coat to wrap it around her.

“See Aemond, Do not judge a beautiful girl like her. If you feel an attraction, admit it, There’s no need to throw vile accusations, Just wait till she wakes up, you'll see what that mouth can do.” Aegon teased, as he keep on teasing his brother with dirty jokes.

Aegon too is enticed by her beauty.

Alicent gave his son Aegon a firm look, A glare, for speaking those words in the presence of the king. She knew what Aegon meant and his reason to defend the young girl is to bed her.

Dirty intentions.

“And she’s not a tool of your desire brother, I admit I did call her a witch but not a whore, I demand she stay here with me.” Aemond gave him a stern look again, He knows what he wants with the witch, and he won’t let that happen.

“I shall return to my throne, Aemond keep an eye on her, Alicent order the maids to prepare food once the girl wakes up, Aegon you’ll order other people of our kingdom about the girl, understand? Let your brother stay here alone. Helaena you're free to stay with the girl too if you'd like.” Aegon nodded at his King's father, He wanted to be the one to take care of the girl.

"Hmm," Aemond said in response.

King Viserys wanted to make sure that the girl feels welcome, To feel at home at least, it reminded him of when Rhaenyra was a young girl, she was pure and good, He didn’t want to accuse the girl of anything like his son Aemond and Aegon.

With his duties, Aemond chose to follow the king’s commands to watch the girl while everyone leaves.

"You are the fruit of light and darkness, New bringer of light to my-." Helaena smiled at her new friend and took off her emerald ring to place it on the sleeping girl's finger.

Aemond listened, as his sister kept on calling the girl 'Darkness'

"You look more pretty with the ring, wake up so we can be friends." Helaena hugged the sleeping girl.

"What do you mean by darkness?" Aemond had enough of the name-calling and decided what her riddles meant. "You don't know?" Helaena asked in surprise.

Before Aemond could reply Helaena left his chamber in a such rush that left him with the girl. Aemond locked the doors from his chamber, He then sat on the tool beside the bed.

The peach garment that belonged to Helaena suited her better with her dark hair, He held her hand which is ice cold, He placed a light kiss on it and whispered.

"I'm sorry for accusing you of being a witch my lady, maybe you are a siren, Because we found you on our lake." Aemond smiled to himself as he watches the girl sleep with her steady breathing.

He'll make her his wife one way or another.

"I promise to protect you, To be a loving husband to you and you only." He leaned closer to place a kiss on her cold lips and then forehead.

He can't deny the attraction, What caught his attention was the white and gold feather from her white nightgown that he kept.

It was a very sharp, blade-like feather that cut through his thumb that suddenly healed, He'll keep it as a lucky charm, some kind of a talisman.

"Witch or not, I'll do anything to be your love or be your sacrifice." He kissed her knuckles again.

(LISTEN TO INFINITY)

#aemond targaryen #hotd aemond

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