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toms-cherry-trees · 2 days

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“Oh Aegon abused Sunfyre by using him in battle, Rhaenyra didn’t do the same to Syrax so she’s better! It really shows her magical Valyrian blood is more powerful”.

No goofy, Rhaenyra didn’t use Syrax during the war because she was in pain.

She was physically recovering from a traumatic childbirth for most of the time and literally could not participate in the war effort the way Aegon did. It’s almost like that thematically falls in line with the misogynistic aspect of the dance.

The Greens use misogyny as a tool against Rhaenyra and the worst part is that her being a woman hinders her when she least expect it, almost as if validating the misogyny used to usurp her. It’s sickening.

In the misogynistic reality Rhaenyra lives in childbirth becomes just one more hindrance against her. A fact that was exasperated by the slow loss of her children who we know despite her many flaws she loved. It’s not that being a woman is a hindrance or being pregnant is a flaw - it’s the fact that in a misogynistic society it will absolutely be used that way and it is used against her time and time again.

Mind you the Greens aren’t the only ones who use misogyny as a tool. It’s the same reason Daemon’s sadism targeted Helaena and her children. Misogyny is easy and targeting Aemond or Aegon would be difficult. That’s why he sent B&C after her and her children because he knew that in a misogynistic society women in general are easily abused and it worked effectively keeping Helaena and her dragon out of the war effort because of the trauma that was inflicted upon her.

Turning a positive - the unwavering love these women had for their children into a - negative to be used against them.

Therefore robbing the Greens of a dragon rider and Queen the exact same way The Blacks must have felt after Rhaenyra was incapacitated by the Green usurpation.

Would Rhaenyra have likely still had a traumatic childbirth without being usurped, sure. Would she still been unable to participate in the war because of her traumatic birth, probably.

However I don’t think individuals typically see things that clearly especially when they’ve been wronged. Rhaenyra herself blames the Greens for the loss of her daughter and her rage throughout her traumatic birth.

Ultimately I think that’s much more interesting to think about rather than “my character’s blood purity is better than yours”.

Not to mention the using the dragon in battle is abuse to the dragon is the silliest argument I’ve ever seen. As if House Targaryen’s entire inception didn’t involve them using their dragons for their own benefit in war.

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toms-cherry-trees · 3 days

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I very seldom read modern AUs but this was just so sweet 🥹🥹🥹🥹 at least he's sorry and willing to make it all better ❤️‍🩹

From mistakes, we grow

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x fem!reader

Warning. angst, mention of pregnancy, divorce AU, modern AU, fluff

Summary: Two hearts, separated by a mistake made in haste. Aemond was never so determined to mend wounds as he wanted to mend the bleeding one of his marriage.

You sat in a neatly decorated conference room. The walls are white, and a glass front looks over downtown King's Landing behind you. The room was bright and oddly warm for a conference room of a law firm. Probably feng shui.

A large glass table separated you from your future ex-husband. Aemond, ever the notorious perfectionist, sat in a black three-piece suit and black tie. You wouldn’t have picked that combination out for him. You would have given him a little speck of colour like his favourite sapphire blue tie. But he wasn’t at home anymore. He had moved into a penthouse where his grandfather’s real estate company belonged. The blue tie hanging in your closet, alone and forgotten.

His hair was falling like a waterfall over his shoulders. Neatly tied back in the middle on the back of his neck. Not your preferred hairstyle, you liked his man-bun more. His bangs framed his chiselled face. A look that made your panties drop in an instant.

You closed your eyes momentarily, banning those thoughts out of your head. You sat in this room, in front of him, to finalise the divorce and tie the loose ends. Fumbling with the handle of your bag, you calmed yourself down a bit. The blue bag he had bought you with his first hard-earned money he received after his first case. He was so proud when he bought it for you. You had beamed that day too, as he told you he had won.

He never lost a case in his entire career. Your stomach churns at the reminder.

Your lawyer and his discussing the terms of the shared custody. Your daughter was only four. Still in kindergarten. None the wiser why daddy wasn’t home.

Your eyes focused on the skin of your thumb as you began to scratch it. Aemond wanted to reach out and stop you from tearing your soft skin. A bad habit you developed during your college years. His heart ached as he saw the blood oozing out of the small wound.

Your eyes widened as your lawyer argued with you giving up your career as a lawyer during your final years of law school because you had fallen pregnant. Your breathing became heavy, your hands clammy. The familiar weight on your chest weight heavy. „I need a break.“ You choked out softly. All eyes are on you.

You pushed your chair away and got up, rushing out of the conference room. You were all too familiar with this office. Aemond had been working here as a paralegal during law school, supporting your growing family. He had worked here since he passed the bar test and became a lawyer. Even got promoted to junior partner just six months ago.

Your heart hammered in your chest. Six months ago all this began. When he came home that night, kissing your cheek and telling you he was now junior partner.

He had promised to be home that night for Maeya’s first tooth she would put under her pillow. He wasn’t there like all the other times he promised to be there but wasn’t. Your daughter fell asleep with the tooth in her hand cradled to her chest. She told you over and over again that her daddy would come. And he would watch her but it underneath. It sounded like Maeya was convincing herself at that point.

But it wasn’t your disappointment of him not being there or that he forgot about it. It was the hidden disappointment in your daughter’s eyes that brought you to your breaking point. You couldn’t take it anymore.

You walked on, hearing his quick steps following you. He called your name several times. Trying to gain your attention. Reaching you right before you turned the corner.

“You told your lawyer~” You held up your hand. Aemond immediately stopped. “I need air.” Your voice was breathless and small, kicking his overprotectiveness into overdrive. His eyes widened as he heard your whimpering voice. The panic in your eyes. He nodded curtly before leading you to the office balcony.

You began to shiver, a sign your adrenaline was wearing off. He took off his jacket, laying it over your shoulder. You looked at him with a soft smile. A smile he missed so much in the last months. He felt alive again standing in front of you.

“I told my lawyer I gave up law school to take care of Maya. I never said I regretted it. Because I don’t. But apparently, she thinks I do.” You walked over to the railing, watching the busy streets below. “You know I hated law school. But my parents made me do it. You gave me an out. A bit unconventional but I never regretted it. And you know how much I love my flower shop.”

Aemond smiled softly as he listened to you. Your parents had pressured you into law school. Wanting you to fulfil their fucked-up legacy of a lawyer dynasty.

He remembered the day you told him you were pregnant. It was during a stressful exam month. Your period was late. You put it off due to stress, it had happened before. He took your word. Believing you, it was your body, even if he had your period marked in his calendar.

You had screamed through the apartment. Jumped around in glee as he stood in the doorway of the tiny bathroom. How you had sung so happily that you were with his child. His anxiety disappeared as you fell around his neck and kissed him passionately.

He had never seen you so relieved as the day you dropped out of law school. Not even after giving birth.

“I know.” He mumbled softly. Standing next to you. Close but not touching you.

“I can’t do this.” You whimpered again. The corners of your eyes fill with tears.

Aemond looked down at you. His eyes trailing your shivering body. The need to hold you close grew the longer he stared at you. “Can’t do what?” There it was, the moment of truth you had been waiting for. “I don’t want to get a divorce. It was stupid. I don’t know what ran through my mind. This mess is all my fault.”

As he saw this beautiful woman ramble on about how she had caused all this he couldn’t take it. You had sacrificed so much for him and his career. You, who would have become a great lawyer if you wanted to? Even better than him.

Instead, you worked in a rundown flower shop next to campus until you could afford your own. Not wanting to take his money or the money from his trust fund you both swore only to touch for your daughter.

His heart broke into millions of pieces as you blamed yourself for the divorce. “Stop, darling.” The term of endearment fell from his lips so effortlessly. He held your shoulders, softly squeezing them as he heard your hateful words.

“It was my fault. I am a workaholic who forgot a lot of milestones in our daughter’s life. I am the one who took you for granted. A mistake I made time and time again. Regretting it every day but still I continued.” He took a deep breath. His body shaking in anger at himself. “My darling, you are incredible and flawless. Don’t you ever blame it on yourself when you should blame me? My love, my heart, my world don’t you dare go to that dark place when your anger should be on me.”

You looked up at him. Your tears falling down your cheeks. “I can never hate you.” Your voice cracked as you sobbed. Aemond finally pulled you into his chest, not caring for any makeup stains from your tears leaving stains on his shirt. He needed you to know you are loved. Wrapped up in warmth.

“I can’t do this without you.” You sobbed again. Your face pressed into his chest. “I don’t want to do it alone.”

Aemond tightened his arms around you. “You won’t. I will cut down on my office hours. I can work from home now. A small perk of being junior partner now.” He kissed the top of your head. “Not that I will be working so much when I am home. I’ll take care of the household while you are gone. By the way, you need to teach me how to cook. I have been eating takeout and convenience food for the last six months.” His voice was sheepish like a boy telling his parent he did something wrong.

Your small giggle warmed his heart. He kissed the top of your head once more. “I can help you with that. I will be at home a lot too.” You looked up at him with a teary smile. You never looked more beautiful to him than in this moment.

A pale silver-blonde brow was raised as your words rang in his head. “Why? Is everything okay with the shop? Did I do something wrong? Did you lose it?” He spiralled down a hole. His mind was racing if he had done the right calculations for you. If he had missed something.

You had never been good with numbers. Always give him your finance books and bills to go over it until the late hours. He never minded. Knowing he was helping you pursue your dream like you did with his.

“No, the shop is fine.” You mumbled sheepishly. “I will take a break to raise our kids.” His mind stopped reeling and he looked down at her. Only now he felt it. The telltale of a small bump hidden under a thick wool sweater.

“That day…” You swallowed thickly at mentioning that fateful day. “So many things clashed. Mae was so overexcited about her tooth. An order had not been delivered on time. There was a bridezilla trying to rip me off. I was nauseous the whole day and I found out I was pregnant. And you were not there when I needed you. I was not in the right mind when I demanded the divorce.”

Aemond’s heart broke once more. He had come home late, slightly drunk and had nearly gone straight to bed if Sara hadn’t stopped him and told him her piece of mind that night.

You pressed yourself tighter to his chest. “I called you so many times before I hung up again in the last months. I was so scared I hurt you so much that you hated me.” He remembered those calls. Always picking up and waiting for you to talk only to hear the click of the phone as the call ended.

“I am sorry I was not the best at the moment. I know I buried myself in my work and rarely left it at the front door. I let you down even if I swore I wouldn’t. My darling, I never wanted to be my father but I had become him. Taking you and Mae for granted even though you are the ones that spur me on.”

He leaned down, kissing you deeply with all the love he held for you. “Love, I will move mountains if I can’t be there for you at the moment. I would never abandon you, Maeya or this little one ever again.” He leaned his forehead against yours. “And if I do, I will personally ask Baela to frame me for anything and put me in jail.” A small chuckle escaped you at Aemond’s words. His cousin, a pretty damn good detective in the King’s Landing police force, would do it in a heartbeat. You were her best friend and the godmother to Maeya.

“Let’s go back inside, burn the papers, pick up our little girl from kindergarten and get lunch at the Dornish restaurant we all love so much.” He whispered, kissing your forehead once more. You closed your eyes. Relief washed over your body as Aemond guided you out of his workplace. Holding on to him and never letting go again.

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