I can't help but think [Spoiler (click to open)]Rhaenyra letting Vermithor going HAM on the dragonseeds was a way to eliminate her and Jacaerys' challenge to the throne. She didn't tell them that they didn't have to claim the dragons like she told Ser Steffon Darklyn. She just left them alone and had her guards keep them from getting out.
I guess it's possible she thought it through that much. I think it's more likely that she just doesn't think of the "lowborn" as people beyond her generic duty to avoid mass bloodshed throughout the kingdom and their strategic value to her.
Interesting, I never thought of the sequence like that beyond it sort of being a torturous gauntlet for the would-be dragonriders. 🤔 Rhaenyra has slowly been letting her darker and more ruthless side emerge.
What sense does that make? They were random nobodies leading nothing lives who barely believed they were descended of Targaryens, as evidenced by Ulf finally admitting that he didn't know if it was all true or not. They posed no serious challenge. [Book spoilers]And before you say anything about Trystane and Gaemon, I think how their claims ended is proof enough that this isn't a serious concern for Rhaenyra. She's just extremely lost in the Valyrian Gods sauce and thinks she's chosen and that even with the slaughter, riders will rise up as divine proof that her cause is just. She was willing to go forward with her plan knowing it would be a bloodbath, not because she cared about their challenge but because she's morally compromised by her self-belief.
I agree that the scene was mostly a demonstration of Rhaenyra "extremely lost in the Valyrian Gods sauce" and her subsequent willingness to sacrifice smallfolk in service of her Cause, but I do think it's possible that, while not being a serious concern, it might have been lurking in the back of her mind that the fewer dragonseeds around to potentially cause trouble the better? [Spoiler (click to open)]But yeah, I'm probably reading too much into Jace's ominous "and what if one of those Targ bastards you raise up decides he wants to rule", and he's just foreshadowing certain betrayal, not hinting at anything deeper. tbh I have to keep reminding myself that while I as a reader, know about certain variables of this war like Trystane and Gaemon, Rhaenyra et al don't have that foreknowledge, so I can't impose my omniscience on them.
It's hard to imagine that specific reason mattering to Rhaenyra when she doesn't really account for them until Mysaria convinces her that they're useful to her cause. It's almost like they didn't exist to her until that moment. So, I don't think it could even be part of her subconscious thinking -- unless there's an element to it where she's fine with the miscellaneous dragonseeds dying so that they're eliminated from the dragonrider pool, unable to be appropriated by the Greens to claim whatever's left of the wild dragons, for example. But I really think she's so privileged (I say lovingly!) that she doesn't consider lowborn dragonseeds a threat.
I do think Jace is hinting at exactly what you guys are talking about, though, but I don't think Rhaenyra really hears him. She's already on some "But I cannot gainsay that which the gods have laid before me" Chosen One type shit 😭
True true, Mysaria has effectively been the voice of the smallfolk this entire season, and without her urging, Rhaenyra would have barely given them any political consideration.
Yeah, and it's interesting to see how it's all unfolded post-meeting in the Sept. As Rhaenyra is huffing the fumes of divine ordinance, Alicent is slowly losingmyreligion.mp3 🫠
[Spoiler (click to open)] I mean, Joffrey/Cersei got about every one of Robert's bastards killed. Then there's the Blackfyre rebellions, which yes, only happened because Aegon the unworthy legitimize his bastards.
But in this case, a bastard having a dragon not only legitimizes Targaryen blood (e.g., Jace, Luke and Joffrey), they could cause a dance of dragons within.
And if the small folk don't like Aegon II, Aemond or Rhaenyra? They got one of their own to take their place.
I don't include Gaemon and Trystane in this because they don't count; they don't have dragons.
I hope I'm making sense. Lol! I just woke up.
ETA: But you're right in that Rhaenyra is in some "it's the gods' will" space. But I also think Jace planted a seed that will ignite her distrust and paranoia, and that will come with consequences.
The thing about Cersei n them is that they were just so much more cynical and insecure. I don't think Rhaenyra makes mental space for that, especially when the real threat is coming from within her own family. They definitely can be a threat though, you're 100% correct.
I find the Blackfyre Rebellions especially interesting if you read it as Daemon being Aegon's son with Daena (who, if women were able to inherit, surely would've been queen in her own right) and Daeron being Aemon and Naerys' son. Both bastards but coming from different lines/claims. Aegon really made a mess there, but it's kinda got a kick to it.
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I can't help but think [Spoiler (click to open)]Rhaenyra letting Vermithor going HAM on the dragonseeds was a way to eliminate her and Jacaerys' challenge to the throne. She didn't tell them that they didn't have to claim the dragons like she told Ser Steffon Darklyn. She just left them alone and had her guards keep them from getting out.
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I guess it's possible she thought it through that much. I think it's more likely that she just doesn't think of the "lowborn" as people beyond her generic duty to avoid mass bloodshed throughout the kingdom and their strategic value to her.
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I do think Jace is hinting at exactly what you guys are talking about, though, but I don't think Rhaenyra really hears him. She's already on some "But I cannot gainsay that which the gods have laid before me" Chosen One type shit 😭
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Yeah, and it's interesting to see how it's all unfolded post-meeting in the Sept. As Rhaenyra is huffing the fumes of divine ordinance, Alicent is slowly losingmyreligion.mp3 🫠
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I mean, Joffrey/Cersei got about every one of Robert's bastards killed. Then there's the Blackfyre rebellions, which yes, only happened because Aegon the unworthy legitimize his bastards.
But in this case, a bastard having a dragon not only legitimizes Targaryen blood (e.g., Jace, Luke and Joffrey), they could cause a dance of dragons within.
And if the small folk don't like Aegon II, Aemond or Rhaenyra? They got one of their own to take their place.
I don't include Gaemon and Trystane in this because they don't count; they don't have dragons.
I hope I'm making sense. Lol! I just woke up.
ETA: But you're right in that Rhaenyra is in some "it's the gods' will" space. But I also think Jace planted a seed that will ignite her distrust and paranoia, and that will come with consequences.
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I find the Blackfyre Rebellions especially interesting if you read it as Daemon being Aegon's son with Daena (who, if women were able to inherit, surely would've been queen in her own right) and Daeron being Aemon and Naerys' son. Both bastards but coming from different lines/claims. Aegon really made a mess there, but it's kinda got a kick to it.
You are making sense by the way!
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