For The Past Year, Many People Have Seen Helaena Being Averse To Physical Touch As A Sign Of Her Hating

B&C not haunting the narrative is the most horrendously bad writing choice in this entire show.

Hell, even Luke's death is not haunting the narrative as it should.

What gets to hunt the narrative? The goddamn memory of Viserys. Oh, and the fucking ratcatchers, too.

Season 1 from Alicent's POV:

You wake up one morning and your mother is dead. You are told to ask no questions. Your father didn't use to pay much attention to you, but now he calls you to Red Keep. Maybe you will be useful. The King has an only daughter after all, close to your age. You like it there, and you become friends with the King's daughter. But then, her mother dies. You are not allowed to relive the grief of losing your own mother or grieve with your friend, because suddenly, the Queen is dead, and that leaves up space for another. Your father says so. More importantly, the King's Hand instructs you so and tells you to be the King's friend. "But we don't have anything in common," you say, "He very well could have been my father," you think. No matter. "You should wear one of your mother's dresses." And you do. And you try hard not to say the wrong thing, but you don't know whom you should please and you're not allowed to be yourself. "What would Rhenyra think? What would father think? What would the King think? What would The Seven think? What does that mean for me?" you wonder. You are advised to not talk about what you are doing to anyone. Oh, and don't tell your best friend you are secretly meeting with her father. Let this poison your relationship. Your King tells you so.

It has now become known that the King wants a new wife. You pray you'd get out of this somehow, but you realize that he wants you. Now, what will you do? Well, your father would be pleased and proud for once. Viserys would make you his Queen. Maybe Rhaenyra will understand? Maybe this is what you want too? No, don't think about what you want. It doesn't matter anyway. The King has declared that he will marry you.

The wedding is on. You see Otto's eyes glowing with pride and his smile is beaming. Rhaenyra does not even look at you. It pains you so much and you want to tear up but the King is watching. The feast is over and your father calls you to his chambers. He tells you about your duties as the King's wife. "If your mother was alive, she would know how to best put this," he says, as he explains that you have to yield to Viserys' desires. Yes, he uses that very word. So you do that. You go to your husband when he calls you. He says he will try to be gentle with you, but you loathe his very touch. Somehow it feels so wrong; he is your friend's father, and he is twice your age. But he is the King. And you are a Queen now.

The days pass without Rhaenyra's friendship. When did you stop dreaming? When did you stop being a little girl? Why can't you roam the halls again, arms linked together? Oh. You suddenly find out why. You are pregnant. You are a big girl now. Your first thought is to tell your friend, go to Rhaenyra, and share the news with her. But she wouldn't like that. Then who can you tell? Who else do you have to share such big and important news with? Your father doesn't need to be told, he guesses right away and calls you to him. "You will have to be very careful now," he says. "Queen Aemma had lost six children." Somehow, everyone is suddenly more attentive. Not to you, but to your royal womb. You panic when it's time to give birth. Everything is so new and terrifying. Viserys is happy. It's a son! You send word to Rhaenyra, to meet her baby brother. "I hope that is alright?" you think. "It's not like my son will be heir to the throne. That's still Rhaenyra's."

Your father hits you with the stark reality, however. Your children are growing up in an uncertain future with Rhaenyra as heir, constantly vulnerable to the threat of war. You still try and support her, you trust her, and you encourage her father to find a suitable match for her. But she lies to you. Or does she? You can't be sure. She is serving you half-truths. Does she really think you are stupid and you will not find out that she is no longer a maiden? How can you trust her again after that? If she is lying to your face, then why wouldn't she threaten the lives of your children if need be? No, you need to act. Your father was right. It's you or her.

Ten years have passed and you can still see through Rhaenyra's lies. She still thinks you are a fool, doesn't she? Of course none of her children are Laenor's! Why can't nobody else see that? But you can. Because you used to be friends once. And as usual, she is getting what she wants without questions and she avoids all consequences, whereas you have to fight for all you have, alone. She will always have Viserys' support, and you will always have four heirs. It's not about you and Rhaenyra anymore, but about the survival of your family. Yet, you still want decency and honor to prevail, and you want to serve the realm above all.

At this vulnerable time when you need council the most, your informant over the years finds a way to cast his net over you. Did you really think he was being a genuine friend, and that he would not want anything in return? Now you could be implicated in two murders. How did you end up in this situation? Larys becomes another person to whose wishes you should comply.

Then the most tragic thing of all happens. Your son, Aemond, is maimed. He loses an eye. You have never felt more excruciating pain at the sight and a flaming rage toward those responsible. It was Lucaerys, Rhaenyra's son. He should apologize. She could show she's sorry and deeply saddened over what happened. But no, she manages to use the incident to position herself as the victim. "Is she for real now?" you think. "How can she be so heartless, so cold, so cruel? Doesn't she know what I have lost, all in her hands? Does she really have the nerve to pretend that she is offended by mere words, while MY SON LOST AN EYE? She really knows no limits, does she?" And you finally snap, and you hurt her. You have never done this before, and now you see her blood trickling. Goodness, it's really her blood you spilled!

How can things ever be right now that she has that visible proof? Yet, you still think she would make a great queen. That is, until Viserys tells you that "Aegon" should be King and that you must "unite the realm against the cold and the dark." You are the only one who can do it. Now what? Once again, you face a dilemma. Should you stand by Rheanyra as heir, or should you trust Viserys' dying words? Can you really trust that Rhaenyra will ensure the survival of your children, after all her lies? And what is really best for them, and for the whole realm? Before you even have time to think, your father and the Small Council tell you that the succession is settled and that Aegon is to be crowned King. Once again, the desires of others precede yours. They want to kill Rhaenyra! Now, that's too much. You could never consent to anything like that. You were once friends and still--you still don't know how you quite feel about her. But you know you could never be the one to kill her.

The Silent Sisters cover up Viserys' body and you can finally mourn him, along with your lost years of innocence. Your abuser is finally dead. But your ordeals are not over yet. You will have to crown Aegon as King, this is the only way. Rhaenys violently disrupts the coronation and now you know that no one is safe. She will go to Rhaenyra, and Rhaenyra will react. Did you do the right thing? Did you try and protect your children and the realm as best you could? Time will only tell. You are used to the twists of fate after all. But one thing is certain: nothing will be the same again because you are the Green Queen and she has the blood of the dragon.

My hot take on the AOTNR project: A huge portion of the "tHiS iS sOoO dIsReSpEcTfUl tO tHe AuThOR" commenters actually don't care about it at all, and instead they either:

a) feel insecure that their canon ship may be somehow threatened by this doujinshi,

b) liked the original ending, but hate to be disagreed with (or need to be validated) and feel threatened by the amount of people who could potentially sway to the fanmade one (...or even simply start to see some plotholes/illogicalities in the original one).

Obviously, not everyone is like that, but I swear - for some, it's just so painfully obvious that their stance on the project stems from some weird insecurity issues...just get a grip. It's a fanfiction, and, despite the absurd claims some people make, nobody is forcing it on you. There are 93737282928272 other fan-made projects, be it stories, comics or animations online, it's really not that deep. You don't have to look it up, read it or interact with its fans. You don't have to flaunt how you didn't read it (obviously!) but saw the screenshots and thought it was terrible. You don't have to mock the people who enjoyed it or the team who worked on it. You're not cool, neither some knight in shining armor. You just look ridiculous, if not even desperate.

Now, I'm a huge advocate for polite discussion and constructive criticism. If you read the work and see any issues with it, it's okay to talk about it or simply voice your opinion in a civil way. However, if you do it the way stated above, then that's kind of pitiful and maybe you should rethink why are you so insecure about a piece of fiction...🤷

condal was like: you know d&d were so clever and smart

What the actual fuck??

Alicole banging at the start of season 2?

Am I dreaming? (If I am, don't wake me up.)

Jokes aside, I am reaaally happy about this. Our girl Alicent deserves some joy in her life, especially knowing what is about to happen.

Though I do pray that whatever goes on between them occurs after b&c, or at the very least, not during it.

The last thing I want to see is Ali being horrendously punished for thinking about herself for the first time. Also, you know, Alicole, Alicent and Criston antis would have a field day, hating on them for getting it on as Helaena and her kids suffered.

(As if their beloved blacks weren't responsible for this tragedy in the first place but whatever.)

We should also take into account the fact that Alicole acting on their feelings after b&c would add a lot more meaning to their relationship in general.

Two souls broken by grief, finding comfort in one another by completely forgetting about their duties and positions after years of repressing what they felt.

I'm all for it

This👆👆👆

Here's a toast to the HBO Targaryen wives who were made Targaryens by men who didn't love them

Aemma Targaryen deserved better

Alicent Targaryen Deserved better

Rhea Targaryen deserved better

Laena Targaryen deserved better

And Elia Targaryen most of all, deserved so much more better

Because if you're going to take your a-hole husband's last name and are expected to relinquish all that made you you while he makes it clear he's only there to get whatever use he can out of you. Then you sure as heck deserve better

queen of westeros

Mommy I kneel

mother...............

Poor kids really, 0 thought was put in their feelings towards their parents remarrying so soon, they deserved better :-/

I will never be over the kids' reactions at Daemon and Rhaenyra's gross Valyrian wedding. Jace looked so hurt. Luke was crying and had to be comforted by the maester. Rhaena and Baela were so lost and confused. Those kids deserved so much better.

Every found family should have