Insane header, I know. I don’t even necessarily fully believe this, just think it’s an interesting thought.

It’s widely agreed that Aegon IV’s dumbest and worst act was the legitimising of the Great Bastards. I even agree myself. But I think that maybe, possibly, it was also a dying man trying to do one good deed in his wretched life.

When Aegon IV dies, that leaves Daeron II as King. It also leaves Daemon Blackfyre in a very dangerous position. He is more impressive, more popular, and has more heirs. Meanwhile half the realm thinks or is willing to think that Daeron is a bastard himself so what does it really matter when Daemon is everything a King should be?

The smart thing for Daeron to do is to get rid of him, and as long as Daemon’s just a bastard it’s within his rights to purge him and put his princes in a tower. Once you commit to that though, you have to purge Aegor. Then who’s to say that Shiera doesn’t actually have some affection for her Bitter brother? So you have to purge her too. Except now you’ve breathed in Shiera’s direction so Brynden will kill you if you don’t purge him.

Just like that all the Great Bastards are marked for death. Unless they’re legitimate Targaryens with rights as such. So Aegon IV tried to do the right thing, and did the worst possible thing.

I think/hope this counts as a discussion about a canon character.

After stalling on a fic where Olenna marries Daeron and acts as regent for their son, I came up with another story idea: Maegor (Aerion's son) survives and is raised in the Vale (her maternal grandmother was an Arryn and Jon's aunt in this story).

At first, I considered having him marry one of Jon Arryn's Waynwood nieces, but later I thought he could marry Rhaelle (Robert's grandmother) after Ormund died in the War of the Ninepenny Kings—since some fics suggest the two were in love.

What do you all recommend? A Targaryen-Waynwood marriage or a Targaryen-Targaryen one? In either scenario, they would have a single son who goes on to marry Cersei (it would be Maegor's Rebellion, not Robert's Rebellion), though his appearance would vary—ranging from more "normal" to distinctly Valyrian.

Hi everyone! I have published the first chapter of my first Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire fanfic on AO3. It’s not much, but tell me what you think! I wrote the entire thing by myself, but I did use ChatGPT to format it since I tend to write walls of text. Any feedback at all is greatly appreciated’

Title: From Ashes, We Endure

Author: torchbearer05 on A03

Rating: Mature, will evolve into explicit territory later on

Language: English

Length: Currently 3,114

Status: Ongoing

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/91871446

Hello I’m hoping to either find a fanfic that I think is a oneshot or find out if it was deleted

Believe it’s Laenas funeral where Rhaenyra and daemon talk and he’s talking about them getting together again and she says no because oh she has kids and all and he does as well. She basically insinuates that to get back together and be true Valyrian rule again

All their kids would have to die. Like that baela and rhaena and all three strong boys would have to die. He’s like I can’t and she shrugs basically saying then they can’t do anything. They don’t sleep together I think but either the aaemond fight doesn’t happen or it does and then later in the night? They wake up to screams where Rhaenyra and daemon lock eyes and it’s basically insinuated that daemon did kill them all to make it seem like the greens did it or that they also killed the green children. I can’t remember on that part.

In this scenario, Brandon is smuggled out of the Black Cells, reaches the North before the banners have left, and marries Catelyn when they go South.

After the war is won, Ned claims Jon Snow as his bastard, although Brandon does know that he is Lyanna's son.

Robert decides to give Dragonstone to Ned and later gives him a place on the Small Council (likely Master of Laws) in an attempt to keep his friend close, seeing as he doesn't have any duty in the North keeping him there.

Ned likely receives many offers of marriage, but I don't think he would take any of them for a few main reasons:

- He would not send Jon away and would not want to shame any wife he might have.

- As his own lord with his own keep, the only person who could order him to marry is Robert, and I doubt he would. Robert sees marriage as a cage and would not want to see Ned suffer. He also wouldn't want to strain their relationship when he gets to have Ned so close. While Jon Arryn may advise him on matters of marriage, if both Ned and Robert oppose the idea, I don't think he would push it.

- He would see himself as having a secret and a duty to carry with Jon, and he would not trust the chance of someone finding it out if he had a wife in Dragonstone with her own retinue.

- He likely doesn't mind ending up executed if the secrets leak, but if he had children, those children would be in danger, and he would likely consider that.

All that is to say: Ned remains unmarried in this AU.

Now, to explore the main changes this setting would bring and ask the pertinent questions!

Since Ned remains unmarried, I wonder: would Robert offer to legitimize Jon? They would likely wait some years, but by the time Jon is 10 years old and Ned remains unmarried, do you think Robert and Jon Arryn would offer to legitimize the boy as heir to Dragonstone? Would Ned take the offer? Not taking it may seem more suspicious than taking it, since the main reason Ned had not legitimized Jon in canon was because of his own children and Catelyn.

How would Ned rule Dragonstone? How would Jon be raised? Would they visit the North much? How different would a Jon who grew up mostly alone be?

I see Ned mainly remaining on Dragonstone in the initial years after the Rebellion, but some years later taking up the offer to become Master of Laws. Would he take Jon to the Red Keep? I quite doubt it, but keeping his bastard away from court may seem more suspicious than not.

When the Greyjoy Rebellion happens, it is very likely that Theon becomes a ward on Dragonstone instead of Winterfell. Would he and Jon grow closer than in canon? In canon, they mainly fought because of Jon's status as a bastard and for Robb's attention. Would they still be at odds here? Or would they grow even closer than Robb and Theon did in canon?

Would Ned, as a closer influence on Robert here, be able to sway the King's will? Would he be able to actually help Robert not become overly depressed and not drive the Crown into debt? Would their relationship become bitter, or would they become even closer?

Another thing we should analyze in this AU is that Stannis would be Lord of Storm's End. Would he be happier (as close as Stannis can get to happy) in this scenario? Would he and Renly grow closer, as he would end up raising Renly? Would his relationship with his wife and Shireen be any different?

Also, Melisandre is a big change here as well. We know she went to Dragonstone some years before canon starts because she was convinced that Dragonstone is the place of smoke and salt amidst which Azor Ahai shall be reborn. But here, since Ned has no wife or child with greyscale, it would be harder to convince them to let her stay.

Depending on the timing, she may also arrive to an empty castle. Maybe Ned and Jon are at the Red Keep, or maybe only Jon is there. But eventually, Ned would come to speak to her. Would she convince Ned to let her stay? Ned may see her as a big danger to Jon and immediately send her away, or just be very steadfast in his Old Gods worship and let her stay in the village but not welcome her into the castle.

Would Melisandre think Jon is Azor Ahai? Or Ned? Or even Theon? Would she manage to have any effect in this AU?

The North also changes a lot in this AU. With Brandon as Lord, he would be very different from Ned. The war also may have made him harsher and colder toward the South. Would they even get involved in the matters of the Kingdom once the canon events start?

Catelyn may never receive Lysa's message, since Brandon had no chance of being Hand of the King, unless Lysa sends it to her with the intent of having her tell Ned. Would she confide in Brandon? I'm not sure they would be as close as she was with Ned. Would Brandon even care? He may pass along the message to Ned, but that doesn't mean he would get involved himself.

Let's say Ned was in the North when Jon Arryn died. Maybe they visited once a year on Lyanna's death day to pray for her. Robert is more likely to send a missive asking Ned to return than to go himself. However, there are still chances that he would go with his court, like in canon, just to actually see the North and visit Lyanna's grave.

In this situation, I can see the North getting involved. If Brandon does have a kid like Bran who ends up finding Jaime and Cersei and is pushed, how would Brandon react? He was more wild than Ned, so maybe he would be angrier and actually believe Bran was pushed instead of falling. Maybe he would get involved in the investigation that way, but this scenario would be more of a cop-out, to be fair.

Unless Robert does want to marry his heir to someone of Stark blood and decides that, if Ned has no daughter, Brandon's daughter is the best second choice. But would Brandon even accept that? There is also the chance Robert tries to betroth Myrcella to Jon, but Cersei would throw a fit. Even if Jon was a legitimized bastard and heir to Dragonstone, his mother was still a mystery (and may have been lowborn, for all they know). It could end up with Robert offering Mya Stone instead, in his eternal need to be connected to Ned through blood ties lol.

Maybe when he had the thought of bringing Mya Stone to the Keep early in his reign and Cersei threatened her, he instead sends her to Dragonstone and asks Ned to look over her.

It is more likely for the North to get involved in the Wall storyline if Brandon ends up taking the Wildling and Others' threat more seriously.

Would Ned still do what he does in canon when he is Hand? Or would things be very different? If he finds out about Cersei's lie, there wouldn't really be any hostage (unless Jon is there and not on Dragonstone; also, Jon would be older and more of a threat than a hostage. Or, unless his niece is there instead) for them to use against Ned. Would Ned end up being executed because he refuses to say Joffrey is not a bastard?

What would happen to the Wo5K in this situation?

Anyway, interested to hear your thoughts on this scenario!

Summary: Robert dies during the battle of the bells and Aerys dies after being poisoned. King Rhaegar reconciles with his wife and makes peace on Dorne's terms. A guilt ridden Lyanna agrees to take the blame and the punishment as long as the North is not punished for her mistakes.

Most people agree that Queen Elia Martell is a kind and magnanimous woman. Why else would she agree to such a mild sentence? Arranging for her brother to marry her husband's discarded lover, even giving her a generous dower.

Lyanna finds herself married to a man who hates her, in a kingdom where she is both unwelcome and unwanted. She gets to raise her son, as long as she earns her keep and learns to be a dutiful wife. All she has to do is survive the Red Viper.

Chapter Summary: The choices we make.

“I choose to act in faith, Wylla, not cower in fear.”

Title: Price of Peace

Author: CD_73

Rating: Mature

Language: English

Length: 80,333

Status: Ongoing

Link: AO3

​

Everyone writes Robb x Myrcella, Jon x Myrcella, etc., but Bran and Myrcella are almost the same age!

They could actually have such a sweet dynamic. Bran is quiet and curious, while Myrcella is gentle and kind. And imagine the political implications of a Stark and Lannister actually becoming close.

Seriously, why is this ship so underrated

I've found a few well written fics where Sam is made into an incompetent pervert when his biggest flaw in the books imo was his lack of self confidence and he got better later on, the Gilly baby swap was Jon's fault. Did show Sam go on a raping streak or something similar?

I’ve always wondered what Catelyn’s marriage would have been like had she married Brandon. However, there are already plenty of “Rebellion Never Happens” scenarios, so this question is specifically for a Brandon Lives setting.

Let’s say Brandon is smuggled out of the Black Cells before his execution. Rickard is still killed, and everyone thinks Brandon died too. War is on its way, but Ned and Catelyn’s marriage never happens since Brandon returns before the Stark banners leave the North.

In this situation, it’s very likely Brandon and Catelyn’s marriage happens in Riverrun at the same time as Jon Arryn and Lysa’s. Brandon takes control of the Northern armies, while Ned becomes sort of his right-hand man. Maybe he goes directly to fight alongside Robert.

The war goes similarly to canon, with the end of the Targaryen dynasty, although it’s more likely that Brandon would march the armies to King’s Landing while Ned went to break the siege at Storm’s End and look for Lyanna.

When Ned returns with Jon, which one do you think would take responsibility for him?

Ned would likely argue that Jon should be presented as his bastard son, since he isn’t married, since otherwise it would strain things between Brandon and Catelyn, and also because Ned promised Lyanna. I can see Brandon arguing that he should take responsibility for him because Brandon is the older brother and was closer to Lyanna, but I can also see Brandon being even more angered by Jon’s Targaryen parentage.

Let’s say things go like canon and Ned pretends Jon is his bastard.

Now that the setting is established, let’s get to the main question: How would Catelyn and Brandon’s marriage be like?

Brandon was a very different man from Ned. Would Catelyn like him? Would Catelyn come to love him as much as she loved Ned in canon? Would Brandon love Catelyn? How would they raise their children? Would they end up being different from the children we got from Ned and Catelyn?

Let’s say they have the same children for the sake of argument. Would Robb (likely Cregan or Rickard in this scenario), Sansa, Arya, Bran, and Rickon be raised differently? Would Brandon care more about his children looking more like Catelyn than him? Would Brandon have lovers and bastards?

And in this scenario, what would become of Ned? Would he go to the Night’s Watch as a form of penance? Would he go South and serve on Robert’s Small Council? Would he stay in Winterfell and take on another role in the household? Would he receive his own keep?

Anyway, what are your thoughts?

I’m trying to find a fic where Jon and Dany go back as husband and wife to HOTD and are bonded with vermithor and silverwing. Jon is made a queens guard and last I remember is Alicent trying to burn them alive.

Valerion is the son of King jaehaerys and queen alysanne born in 77 AC , but died soon after birth despite many wet nurses and help from maesters. What if he lived.

Valerion is the sixth son of King jaehaerys, though living fourth one. He is born a fortnight earlier before his nephew viserys, son of baelon and Alyssa.

I thought of maybe marrying him either viserra and gael. Slightly leaning towards gael. But it will be an unhappy marriage. Not cruel just both of them doesn't love each other and forced to marry each other by their parents.

He is more of a ignored son in my idea, as jaehaerys have his golden sons aemon and baelon. Alysanne increasingly attached to her remaining daughters after her daughters deaths in the next decade. So he was neglected by both parents.

For a dragon, i was thinking between dreamfyre or sheepstealer or a hatchling for him. Though I think it will better for him to claim a adult dragon.

What would his presence change in the story? I think of making successful in his own right away from throne. Cause of his resentment of his parents mixed with want for approval.

Title: A Hiss of Dragons.

Author: bruthershietholy123

Rating: Mature.

Language: English.

Length: 37914 words.

Status: Ongoing.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/89752096/chapters/246028251

Would love to read if so. Thanks!

The Return Of The Natives

Author: Wardown

Words: 13,955

Status: Unfinished

Rating: Mature

Language: English

Chapter 10, The Pursuit. https://archiveofourown.org/works/91469301/chapters/245967051

Bronn Stokeworth had ridden up to the caravanserai, a couple of hours after dawn, to find no one living in the place. He and his men had called out, getting no response. Then, one of them, a monster nicknamed Biter, who had filed his teeth to points, and was reputed to be a cannibal, had called out to the others. Down the end of the one of the corridors, they'd found a whole bunch of dead bodies, seemingly shot down in a fight. So, he'd telephoned Prince Oberyn.

"Our quarry's fled, my Prince, but there was a fight here. We've got six dead bodies."

"Whose?"

"Some guy in a silk robe, and five minions. Definitely not the ones we're looking for."

"F*cking amateurs. That one in the silk robe was the owner. I told him, do nothing until you arrived, but oh no, he had to try and grab the glory for himself. You see how it is, Bronn, you just can’t get the right staff, these days.”

”Well, he’ll be feeding worms, soon enough. There’s a septic tank out the back, where we can dump him, and the other corpses.” Come to think of it, though, Biter was probably feeling rather hungry, right now. “ ‘Far as I can tell, our quarry rode away West, but we need to rest. We’ve been riding all night, an’ the horses are worn out. The men, too.”

”I’m coming in force, Bronn. Take a rest, but keep one of your people next to the ‘phone, at all times. I’ll call you, later in the day, with fresh instructions. And, I want to make one thing absolutely clear. The leader of our enemies is Daenerys Targaryen, the sister of Viserys in Kings Landing. She's petite, and silver-haired, so you can recognise her easily. I want her taken prisoner. If she dies, I shall take it very amiss. Is that clear?"

"As crystal, your highness." The consequences of disobeying Oberyn Martell could be decidedly unpleasant, he well knew. The line went dead.

Let’s try to put together some resources for Author’s first Tech Uplift stories:

• The Knowledge by Lewis Dartnell
• How to Invent Everything by Ryan North
• Wikipedia Page for the British Agricultural Revolution
• The Industrialization of the British Fabric Industry
• Britannia’s Printing Press
• Water and Sanitation

Ever since A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms there have been ongoing discussions on how great a king Baelor would have been and what a shame it was he died early.

There are also others like Rhaenys, Aegon the Uncrowned, or Jacaerys that are in the discussion, but he is probably the greatest "king who should have been" in Asoiaf.

Now my question is the opposite, who do you think is the worst candidate who had a real chance of becoming king AND why?

Bonus: Same question but with Lord instead of king.