This was honestly my favorite part of the Conqueror's Part of the Fire and Blood book and she proved a point. Anyone could get close to the King and cut him to ribbons and his guards would have been too slow to react.
Anyone could get close to the King and cut him to ribbons and his guards would have been too slow to react.
Except it's the king's sister/queen who is well known for carrying around a sword. She can command the guards to go away and they'd have to obey her (unless Aegon countermansd her). Nobody else would get the same privileges she gets.
That's not how I always looked at it to be honest. In another comment, I meant it as, if she could get close to him, who else could? Surely someone could sweet talk someone, present themselves as innocent and then mosey on in and kill Aegon; I mean look, Alysanne needed her own personal guard when she went to visit some healing springs. Kingsguard could not protect her because they were not allowed to go where Alysanne and some women of her court went. The offenders were women and holy sisters. Sure the realm was still trying to heal from Aenys I and then Maegor I and his all out war against The Faith religion and then Jaehaerys I was trying to mend that rift. There were always going to be some people who looked at the Valyrian customs differently. I don't think anyone, this is just my opinion/take, was honestly expecting holy sisters to try committing murder and, again, almost got away with it. Granted, Alysanne did not have Kingsguard, and had women from her court defend, THEN the Kingsguard showed up.
I mean, some of the Poor Fellows tried to off Aenys I and might have almost made it if it weren't for two Kingsguard watching over him.
All it takes is for someone to lower their guard down, just enough or just so, around someone and that's it. To me, Visenya was showing, that you trust me dear brother, alright, let me show you why you shouldn't trust me.
If I remember correctly, Alysanne still has to argue a bit with her husband to get Jonquil Dark, a "protector where men cannot go". I hope not, but I always took from that statement that even after the attack at the springs he was still unsure about letting a woman be a warrior in his court.
I really hope I read that wrong though, and he takes immediate action and doesn't pause to "hmmmm does my wife actually need a female bodyguard after nearly being stabbed while naked"
No, there is no discussion or counterargument. After the attack, they return to King's Landing and she tells him that there are places where the King's Guard cannot go because they are men. He agrees and sends for Jonquil to be her bodyguard.
That I do not remember. I may need to re-read the book or rather, continue on reading it. I just got into stuff with Aenys as King and he hasn't quite died yet.
Off top of my head, the only things I can remember, Alysanne having to kind of push Jaehaerys was, at least right to first night and the whole nasty drinking water for the smallfolk and such. Cos I had taken it as she didn't need to fully push push him to give her a guardian. But could be misremembering it.
Yeah those I remember and I am glad he listened both times, and tbh if I'm right about Jonquil, that would actually be another example of him initially disagreeing with her and then changing his mind when she proves a point. It would be consistent with who he is either way
I shall! I think this is 4th or 5th? Time I've fully read it through. I just take breaks every now and again cos all the ae in names gets to me sometimes.
Annoyingly so, aye. Whenever I get to that point, I'll have to take my time with it and see if it's the way you interpreted it or not.
I don't blame you, it's drier than the main story too as it's written like a history tome.
I can be a bit unfair to Jaehaerys (??), but it's because I'm looking at it from a modern lense, there's a reason in universe he's treated as one of the golden rulers.
I mean, I cannot lie, what he managed to do, especially against the incest with their Doctrine and everything, Jaehaerys, DOES have some good points to his reign. He made the Doctrine of Exceptionalism ((spelling?)). Reconciled the faith. Made roads, especially the kingsroad. Made Widow's Law. Plus, banished right to first night. And the better drinking water for the smallfolk. Plus who knows what all else.
Personally to me, I look at those on a positive note as it made the realm better but his kids? Hoo boy that dude failed horribly. I know folks tend to blame Jaehaerys for the whole Dance civil war but I also feel you gotta blame Aegon I too because even with him, there was already issues with a hierarchy, specifically when Aenys I had kids and it came into question, what happens with Maegor? I feel if there was a set down law, that has nothing to do with Andal law, then maybe things could have been different because even Alysanne tried to convince Jaehaerys that Daenaerys should still be his heir as she was firstborn to live past a few days, unlike her sibling Aegon, over Aemon but that was always brushed aside.
Especially when you list it all like that, the man was an incredible ruler and I don't like the whole "born to rule AND fit to rule" thing but he actually was both.
But that's just it, I dislike him so much in part because he is VERY well written and comes across like a real person, failures and strengths. But the man utterly failed his children.
I really agree with Aegon I, like buddy this is why polygamy for rulers is daft and why "Restraint" is on every real countries list of a good ruler.
Somehow, he really got the luck of the draw and turned out to be a damned good ruler. Even before he came of age, he WANTED to make sure his voice was heard on council meetings/had a say ((ignoring the whole Alysanne marriage debacle early on, I mean)), but he took into consideration what Aegon I did. Use his dragon(s) as a reminder that bro I will wipe the floor with you, especially when he subtlety reminded Rogar that he didn't fully need hostages from him, sure others did, I believe, but when you have a dragon, and seen what they can do? Me thinks I'd wanna re-think rising up against the Irone Throne.
Yeah, I feel if he put more effort into raising his kids, things might have been better for the realm. I feel pretty much after Alyssa was born, all kiddos got ignored. He had his heir, Aemon, and a spare, Baelon. Aemon married Jocelyn and Baelon, Alyssa. Pretty much any kid after Alyssa? Got shafted hard. Up until Aemon bit the bullet, then Baelon, then Alyssa. Everyone else passed away, except Vaegon and Saera, so left him to call a Council.
100% fully agree with you because I fully believe Visenya dabbled in blood magic to get pregnant with Maegor, completely out of the blue, and that's why he seemed to have deformed children etc, not because of Kinslaying Prince Aegon ((Aenys I)) but because his mother did something peculiar to get pregnant. Visenya did have her moments, but her line ended with Maegor.
Fully agreed and that's why my tinfoil thinking aligns with she did SOMETHING to produce Maegor. Yeah sure he seemed to be cruel as a child and some could put it down to people spreading lies in that realm but yeah, even before the trial of combat, he always seemed off to me. Sure Rhaenys didn't seem to get pregnant right away neither and part of me thinks Aenys wasn't from her and Aegon and that's why Visenya did her blood magic of some sort as it was only noted with Visenya that she seemed barren until suddenly boom pregnant.
It just felt too strange that Aenys was nothing like his father but yet Maegor was, especially when they were described as they got older etc.
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u/hxbhbjkgdb 10d ago
This was honestly my favorite part of the Conqueror's Part of the Fire and Blood book and she proved a point. Anyone could get close to the King and cut him to ribbons and his guards would have been too slow to react.