Harwin Strong - Blog Posts

Crispy coleslaw bullies children because their mother rejected him, does that make him the snape of HotD?

I am being dramatic. Harwin would have said, "Mine is bigger" and run away ahahah

HotD episode 6 was astonishing, I had been unsure of the flow now that the first segment was over but I have been left completely satiated.

My mind was raging by the end of the episode and I couldn't help but awe at the subte portrayals the show holds mastery over.

Once again, the main theme of how a dragon can never be subdued is reflected so calmly yet powerfully.

The true power of House Targaryen over House Valerion.

We first see this in the conversation between Daemon and Leana at the table with the other lords. Laena's wish to decline the offer is ever so silently disregarded. The frame where Daemon's hand rests on top of Laena's, wearing a ring which symbolizes royalty.

We see this yet again, when Rhaenyra has been holding back her anger (even having tears in her eyes) and finally unleashes on Laenor and commands him to remain at her side.

The episode also reflected certain cruel ironies...

Alicent's children only wearing green, symbolizing their mother's banner of war still stands proud while Rhaenyra's children wear blue... the color of Ser Harwin's eyes.

Ser Harwin's created life due to his affliction with a dragon (targaryen), yet rather than being protected by it, he was killed by fire. (I really loved seeing him as a father and I wish we could've gotten more scenes of him with the boys).

Alicent trying to bring back Otto Hightower as the hand only gave light to one cruel fact...Even partiality is fair when it's in favor of our own.

Laena's death was by no means less than that of a dragon rider. While the battle she fought was different, I'm glad Vhagar honored her command. (Her death really brought me to tears) Nevertheless, I'm glad that Daemon refused to make a choice on her behalf. Atleast in that sense, he is better than his brother.

I have not read the books and all my interpretations are based solely on the show.

Link to previous post:

https://at.tumblr.com/strollthroughstars29/coming-to-the-feast/hzcat81w8qxu

labyrinth: one (preview)

a/n: daemon x rhaenyra x harwin

posting this little snippet because well.....I felt like it...the rest forthcoming this week 🔥

“It’s Laena.” Fresh wails sounded from the floor, Laenor’s fetal body bobbing with his sobs. “She’s dead.”

“How?” Harwin’s voice was taut, ready to defend at a moment’s notice. Rhaenyra shook her head to calm him, let him breathe. She wasn’t sure when it had happened—when she had learned to read his moods like they were her own, and he learned to read hers in return. Sometime around Luke’s birth probably, when she almost succumbed to the melancholia in the months after the delivery. He stayed with her almost round the clock, coming through the passageway in her chambers after her ladies and guard had bid her goodnight. He held her and whispered that everything would be okay. Even though they risked everything for those moments of comfort, for the joy in their sons eyes as they played with Laenor, for the family that would always be stained with his Strong blood, his Strong coloring.

That was why she refused to allow him to return to Harrenhal weeks ago, defying his father and refusing his birthright. Let them talk, she had said, they will whether we're together or not. Abandoning his family to be the lord of a half-destroyed keep while his father kept the king's council was not in his true interest. So he left King's Landing with young Joffrey under his protection while Rhaenyra and the rest flew on dragonback. He was devoted to her, and she trusted him. More than she could say for anyone else in her life.

He reached out to touch her face, drawing her attention back to him and away from the ugly shadows that followed them both.

“Childbirth,” she could barely say it. Her worst fear had come to fruition, not for her, but for her cousin. Her kin in more ways than one. 

Daemon’s wife. 

Daemon’s child within her. 

Daemon. 

Where was he? Mourning? Raging? Blaming himself? Probably a mix of all three if memory served her. She hadn’t seen him in years. Shortly after her wedding, he jumped into marriage with Laena and they rode off on dragonback to Essos. Last she had heard they were shacking up with a lord in Pentos, their two girls with them. While she’d seen Laena a few times at High Tide over the years, Daemon had always stayed behind. Hiding from his brother. Hiding from his duty. Hiding from her and those moments they’d shared when she was just a girl. When she swore he was going to do anything in his power to keep her by his side. 

But then he disappeared. 

A cough echoed off the stone walls. Her page stood at the door, kicking his feet, trying not to look at Laenor’s still shaking form. Rhaenyra nodded at Harwin, knowing her wishes would be followed. He bowed and crossed the short distance to her husband, hauling him up by the shirtsleeves.

“Come, my lord, let us go find Ser Qarl and maybe observe the boys and their swordplay.” Harwin supported Laenor as they left, his loud hiccups and sniffles reverberating long after their departure. 

Rhaenyra turned and smiled at her page, steeling herself for what was sure to be an omen for the coming days. 

“Your highness, the Blood Wyrm approaches.”

When you don't reply to their DMs

Volunteer as tribute

#you’re welcome

“ And I lost you (choose you). The one I was dancin' with....

And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet, it was (maroon)...

The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was (maroon).

And I wake with your memory over me. That's a real fucking legacy to leave.”

This song is SO Rhaenyra and Harwin.

I painted Rhaenyra Targaryen and Harwin Strong as Hellelil and Hildebrand from Frederic William Burton's The Meeting on the Turret Stairs. I struggled a bit with this painting, but it's my first master's study, so I'm actually proud of finishing it.

FYI this is available as a sticker on redbubble! Only a sticker because I made the original illustration in a weird size.

so wholesome 😌

Anyways, one of my favourite interactions in 1.06 is Lucerys asking ‘father’ to hold Joffrey and both Laenor & Harwin reacting without hesitation.

gif credit: @fireandbloodsource (x)

Jace you're NEVER beating the mini male version of Rhaenyra allegations

I feel like Ser Criston would be very offended to know how highly Senya thinks of Rhaenyra and Ser Harwin and he’ll resort to outlandish plots to become the favorite haha

(canon senya barely knows anything about ser harwin so im going to answer this in the context of senya as alicent and viserys child au)

oh senya loves ser harwin! she loves her sister so much! senys spends so much time away from her brothers and with jace (because jace makes her feel warm and safe! just like her sister <3) that she is always around ser harwin.

he's always carrying her and calling her "little princess" fondly and it makes her giggle, she proudly proclaims to anyone who listens that ser harwin is her favorite knight! and ser criston takes that personally.

of course, senya loves ser criston too, alicent is extremely attached to senya so it's only natural that she sees ser criston often but she doesn't like the look he gives her eldest sister so she's less close to him than ser harwin.

criston takes it so personally that he waits until senya is there and watching and then he eggs harwin into beating him up just to prove to senya that ser harwin is nothing more than a brute.

it has the opposite effect, senya is much more concerned about ser harwin, she's never seen him so angry before! she cowers behind her mother and whispers "is ser harwin alright? he's so upset! he's never upset!"

alicent is so angry that they're upsetting her precious child. rhaenyra has a maid bright senya to her to say goodbye before harwin leaves.

"you're leaving...?" senya looks up at him with teary eyes, clutching a bundle of flowers in her hands. "I... I'll miss you too much! my favorite knight can't leave!" she insists, small hands clutching at his clothes.

"goodbyes aren't forever, little princess. I'll return and i will send letters, won't that be fun?" he asks, trying to cheer her up.

"yes, won't it be fun, sweet sister?" rhaenyra, presses her hand on senya's shoulder softly as she sniffles and buries her face in ser harwin's clothes.

"I... i was going to save these flowers for jace! but you can have them! so you can remember me!" senya insists, happy that ser harwin takes the flowers.

she's said to see him go and she lets rhaenyra hug her softly as she affectionately leans into her sister.

rumors later said that ser harwin died clutching onto a bundle of flowers. hearing that, senya wept in her mother's embrace.

Dragons are a girl's best friends

big brown eyes. long dark hair

rhaenyra targaryen. you have a fucking type

Guuys i'm back! And with the finest team black arguments in town! Today our contestant is:

"Alicent is an evil bitch for trying to expose Rhaenyra's sons as bastards, she could have gotten them killed!"

This one is surprisingly popular amongst the blacks, but unsurprisingly dumb. And I'll say why:

First things first, can someone explain to me the reason behind everyone's belief that the strong boys would be killed for this? They are just kids, who took no part in Rhaenyra's lies regarding their legitimacy. The poor children actually believed they were Laenor's sons! (Well except Jace but whatever.)

The real culprits in this mess are their parents, who willingly had them while being fully aware that if exposed on their bs they would be punished. The boys wouldn't be harmed at all, the worst thing that would happen to them would be losing the Velaryon family name, becoming Waters, and getting kicked off the line of succession.

Sucks for them but definitely better that a sword in the neck.

Speaking of their parents. Nyra would have to be disinherited for attempting to put her baseborns on the throne, cheating on her spouse and generally bringing so much shame to the royal family.

Sucks for her too, but you know, reap what you sow girl. You knew the risks.

The one who would actually face serious consequences would be Harwin, for sleeping with the princess and all. Normally he would probably have to be executed, but not before being given the chance to take the black, which he would definitely pick.

So yeah, sucks for you sure, but you keep your head, your dick, and only lose your inheritance. Lmao on second thought this would be a better alternative for him, Larys wouldn't have to kill him to inherit, and he'd be freezing his ass on the wall instead of burning it in Harrenhall.

Happy ending for Lord Strong.

And with that said Alicent would not be causing the deaths of innocent kids and would be able to secure the future reign of her son, so why exactly would that make her an evil selfish bitch? When has trying to avoid your children's inevitable execution at the hands of their half sister been a bad thing?

Team black only really wants Ali to bend over and die, just so that their feminist queen can take over lol. They unironically demand a woman to give up all her agency for someone else, how progressive of them.

Funny how I made this long ass post explaining how Nyra would have to face the consequences of her actions for once in her life but obviously this would only happen in an au where Vizzy was an actual competent king who didn't just live to give his "only child" all that she asks him to.

In our timeline he would just keep denying their bastardry and cutting tongues of all who disagree. And if it became impossible for him to deny reality anymore, he would immediately pardon Nyra and Harwin and legitimize the Strongs, then promptly pretend that nothing happened. It would be infuriating, but also hilariously bad ngl.

👏👏👏

i don't really get how harwin won over criston in terms of quality of life.

criston, born a dornish stewards son, uses his talents to rise up in the world of knights and participates in many tourneys . after winning a fight with a prince, he is given a position in the kings guard. as a sworn celibate, he is put into an uncomfortable position when the crown princess attempts to have sex with him. he refuses at first, but they end up sleeping together- despite his protests- anyways. i guess the writers didn't learn anything from game of thrones and their questionable views on consent. he then later suggests that they marry and run away together so that he can preserve his honour. she tells him that he can remain a side piece, but that nothing will ever properly come of their relationship. not wanting that life, criston makes the decision to walk away. eventually the guilt over breaking his celibacy vows pushes him to attempt suicide. the queen catches him right before he stabs himself, and decides to appoint him to position of her sworn protector and shield. he forms a close bond with her and becomes like a second (or, well, a first considering viserys didnt do anything) father to her sons. he stays loyally by her side and trains her children in arms.

harwin, on the other hand, is born the son of the lord of harrenhal. being the first born male, he is heir to his homelands and set to inherit significant wealth. when we first meet him, he seems to have an interest in the princess. in a time jump, we find out that they have been sleeping together for many years and that they also have two sons. their children take after him and are viewed as obvious bastards by pretty much everyone but his boys (the catch on eventually). he has to watch another man raise his children while pretending to be nothing more than their trainer. his father is ashamed of the way he looks down upon low born people that have worked for the titles that he was handed at birth. at almost forty, he is still unmarried, depite being heir to a significant position. his younger brother murders him and his father in a brutal and horrific manner. he dies knowing that he'll never be able to tell his kids that he's their biological dad.

how on earth did criston miss out by not staying with rhaenerya???

Oh god literally none of them are good dads lmao

The only one who's possibly decent is Lyonel, but that's mainly because he's almost never on screen. Oh wait he's Larys' father never mind

No one ever said Aegon or Otto are ideal fathers, mind you. However, just remember that Daemon, Viserys and Corlys are exemplary fathers! This is why I don't take this fandom seriously.

House of the Dragon + in memoriam: Harwin Strong

You think you're strong? I always end up liking the most unnecessarily hated character/person.

And i WILL fight for them.

I just come here to cry...

Rhaenyra and harwin

Please if you re upload onto a different platform mark me the maker

I miss them...

YEAH WITH ALL THE CHAOS AND DRAMA, MENTALLY IM HERE.

I love them and i love this.

The Weirwood Files: Rhaewin (Rhaenyra x Harwin)

Subject: A defense of Harwin Strong and an analysis of his relationship with Rhaenyra.

I want my first real post to be a deep dive into the beautiful relationship that is Rhaenyra x Harwin, a relationship that team green considers shameful, while team black (mostly staunch daemyras), finds it shallow and boring. I believe both interpretations are incorrect, as even with their limited screen time together, Emma and Ryan managed to tell a beautiful love story, even in just the way they looked at one another. With a single look, so much was said without a word being spoken. 

One thing that Rhaewin has begun to get criticism for lately, is the idea that Harwin is no better than any other man in Rhaenyra’s life, that he too has groomed and taken advantage of her, that perhaps he is no “saint” as he seems to be treated by the fandom. 

The truth is, there is nothing within the canon to suggest this. The first moment we get between them is when we see Harwin giving Rhaenyra an encouraging look after she returns from killing the boar. Nothing here implies he is lusting after her. Instead, Harwin merely just stands out as being the only one at the hunt to look at her with admiration while everyone stares in confusion or judgment. 

The next two scenes we are given of them also definitely don’t have any hint of predatory behavior from Harwin. He runs into her after she snuck out with Daemon and presumably decides to keep her secret, and the one after that he carries her away out of the chaos during her wedding after being given permission by his father, the hand. 

There is no canon evidence to support Harwin groomed her. Grooming implies a pattern of behavior over time that we do not see from Harwin. He and Rhaenyra have no pre existing relationship before they conceive Jace, Harwin does not even put himself forward for her hand during her marriage tour. Harwin does not commit any predatory actions towards Rhaenyra. 

This quote by Sara Hess is the closest we have to an official canonical description of Harwin, and while granted, Hess has said her fair share of questionable things in the past, there is nothing in the canon that disputes what she said. 

“He’s one of the more unambiguous characters, he’s just a good dude. You don’t see him off doing morally questionable things, which almost everybody else is doing. They’re so flawed and human and messy. He was able to be a paragon of decency and generosity and handsome strength. He’s one of the guys you could just love and feel great about loving and then he’s ripped from you too soon, before he does anything that could fuck that up for you. He’s our perfect angel.”

With this settled, I want to move on to their actual love story. We know they did not have much time together before they conceived Jace, considering the timeline of events. What we can put together at least, is that Rhaenyra was in a vulnerable position with Laenor. After they tried several times to conceive and failed, she needed to secure her position quickly and found solace in Harwin, who proved himself to be one of the only trusted figures she had in court. 

The next time we see Rhaewin is after the time jump. They have already had two beautiful sons together and another has just been born. Despite this implied intimacy, they have to hide their affections, only able to give each other coy smiles and a playful line here and there. Harwin holds their newborn son and Rhaenyra looks at the sight with adoration, yet also a hint of sadness, as if she is thinking of a world where they could be open about their love. In the night, they are in each other’s arms and make sons, princes of the realm. Yet in the day, these stolen moments are all they can afford.

The next time we see Harwin, he points out Criston Cole’s lack of care in his son’s training. He attempts to teach Jace as distantly as he can, and it is very clear he is increasingly frustrated with only being able to go so far in his son’s teachings. In the end, Cole still provokes him, and Harwin unleashes his anger on him. All the pain and frustration of only being able to love Rhaenyra and their children from afar is let out in the form of this beatdown on Cole. 

It would not follow without consequence however. Harwin is ordered to leave his position as Commander of the City Watch and go back to Harrenhal, away from Rhaenyra, away from their sons. Ryan Corr does an amazing job in this scene and you can just feel his utter devotion when he says one of my favorite lines from the show “you have your honor, and I have mine”. 

In a world where conceiving bastards is considered sinful and shameful, Harwin sees their union as one of love and honor. His sons are not treacherous reminders of sin and lust, but worthy princes born of love.

Rhaenyra and Harwin’s final scene together is one of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show. Rhaenyra is losing one of the only trusted figures she has in court, the man she sought comfort in and who fathered her three sons, and Harwin is losing everything that means the most to him. And once again, despite the privacy, despite the fact that this is their last moment together, they still cannot be open about their love. There is no final kiss goodbye, not even a hug. There is only a single look between them that says all we need to know, and a hopeful promise that Harwin will return. 

One of the most tragic things about this scene is that Jacaerys picks up on everything between them. He sees the looks shared between them, the desire for a hug or a kiss, he sees it all and he knows what it means. His mother and father have a love story that they can never tell anyone about, not even their own son. 

TL;DR: Rhaewin is a beautiful yet tragic twist on the knight and princess love story trope. Those that see this relationship as shameful have had their brains rotted by team discourse who buy into the “bastardphobia” present in universe (despite the fact that that is constantly criticized by the narrative itself), and wave it away as a “mistake”. There is nothing at all shameful about their relationship, and their sons were not made of sin, but of love. Rhaewin is also far from boring or shallow, to say this is to insult the work done by Emma and Ryan. There is a very beautiful, and rich love story between these two characters for those that have eyes to see it.

This got me out of my writers block.

Rewatching HOTD and my GOD it is UN-FUCKING-BEARABLE HOW ATTRACTIVE HARWIN GOT WHEN HE TURNED ON DOBERMAN MODE TO SAVE RHAENYRA FROM THAT BRAWL AT THE WEDDING FUCK OH MY GOD

if he picked me up to save me, I'd be clinging to him for dear life and then ask what we are

lord may this kind of man find me

Me with rhaewin, they will always be canon to me, fuck daemyra and rhaenicent, y'all are nothing to me.

“they’re queerbait this, they’re not canon that” they’re whatever i want them to be on ao3 actually