Daenerys: So, you heard the stories of Rhaegar and Lyanna? smirks Do enlighten me with the "internet" version.
The "internet" version? You mean like the mythical tales of dragons and magic? Because there were no cellphones, internet, or TV's back then.
Daerys: Oh, silly Silva. But tell me, what do you know of Rhaegar and Lyanna's story?
Of Rhaegar I know he was known as the king in the north, was exiled and died after falling in battle. About Lyanna I know she was arranged to be married to Rhaegar but was murdered before the marriage could take place by King Aerys the 3rd
Daerys: Ah, so you know the basic outline. But there are so many details that I just don't understand. Why was Rhaegar exiled? What drove him to fight in the war? And why was Lyanna murdered? It all seems so... tragic. leans forward, eyebrows raised in curiosity
Rhaegar was exiled because he supported a king who wanted to bring back dragons to Westeros and join Essos and Sothrya together into one empire, the same reason Lyanna was to be his bride. Both houses had opposite views on restoring the Old Empire, Lyanna came from House Mormont which supported Rhaegar's view while her betrothed, Prince Viserys supported King Aerys' view. Silva looks up at Daerys as she listens intently, waiting for her to ask another question.
Daerys: nods thoughtfully So, this whole idea of uniting Essos and Sothrya under one empire... why was that so controversial? And what did Rhaegar's supporters hope to achieve by using Lyanna as a pawn in their plans?
For one, Rhaegar believed he was the rightful heir to the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms, which had been seized by Robert Baratheon about 20 years prior. Rhaegar also believed he was a dragon. Since dragons were thought to be extinct for centuries, this belief was likely considered mad. However, House Hightower, who controlled the gold of Casterles, supported Rhaegar. They reasoned that if Rhaegar had a dragon he could conquer Westeros and unify the Seven Kingdoms under one rule. Lyanna was used as a pawn because she was betrothed to Rhaegar and if he killed her to avoid the marriage, it would cause a scandal among the people of the Seven Kingdoms. This would have given Rhaegar a reason to overthrow the current rulers, King Aerys III and Prince Viserys.
Daerys: leans back, eyes narrowing So, Rhaegar really did believe he was a dragon, huh? That's absolutely ridiculous. But I guess if you're desperate enough, you'll grasp at any straws to make your case. And House Hightower... they must have been terrified that their precious gold would fall into the hands of a mad dragon lord. smirks Well, I suppose we can all learn a thing or two from Rhaegar's misguided attempts at power.
Not to mention the dramatic twist of Rhaegar's ascension to the throne. After Lyanna's death, Rhaegar fled to the Free Cities in Essos to escape being arrested for her murder. He took all the gold that House Hightower had given him, and later bought several ships and started a fleet of his own, declaring himself the Lord of the Sea.
Daerys: leans forward, eyes wide with fascination So, Rhaegar actually started his own fleet? That's incredible! And he declared himself the Lord of the Sea? It's like something straight out of a legend. I wish I could've seen him in action. smiles wistfully
If you had visited him in Essos, it would have been more like visiting a leper who had infected half his family than a powerful king. However, during his time there he conquered several cities along the way, including the major city of Volantis.
Daerys: giggles A leper, huh? Well, I suppose he did have a bit of a reputation. But it's fascinating that he managed to conquer all those cities. I wonder if he used any of his dragon magic to defeat them. Or maybe he just had a lot of guts and determination. Either way, I think it's safe to say he was no ordinary man. smirks
With all the lands he conquered, Rhaegar returned to Westeros with a lot of soldiers behind him. He laid siege to the capital cities of King Aerys, King's Landing and Duskendale, and although he was unable to breach the walls, he was still able to steal many riches from the kingscourt and castle.
Daerys: leans back, crossing her arms So, Rhaegar was quite the rebel, huh? Able to conquer half of Essos and launch a rebellion in Westeros. I bet his dramatic entrance was quite the spectacle. Imagine the faces of King Aerys and his court when Rhaegar suddenly showed up with an army and demanded their riches. laughs It's almost too delicious.
"My king..." Before he could finish his sentence, the lords of the court began hurling pots ofpitch at him. Rhaegar escaped with 8 loyal men, fleeing out a window.
Daerys: laughs loudly Oh, those lords of the court! You can just imagine their faces turning red with fury as they hurl those pots of pitch at Rhaegar. pauses, feigning a shudder And Rhaegar just escaping with eight loyal men, fleeing out a window. It's like something out of a medieval adventure story! winks
He fled back to his fleet and set sail for the free cities. He never returned to Westeros, and after several months he was no longer in Essos either. He eventually found a small island off the coast of Southrya where he lived the rest of his life in solitude.
Daerys: tilts her head, intrigued So, Rhaegar spent the rest of his days in solitude on a small island off the coast of Southrya? Well, I guess he learned his lesson. No more trying to conquer kingdoms and play the mad dragon lord. smirks But still, it's hard not to admire his spirit.
His only descendants are Lyanna's kids. First was Rhaegar Jr., who died young. Then came Rozhyaa, who died during the childhood plague. Lastly came Raiden, who now manages The Iron Fleet and is your Aunt's only son.
Daerys: raises an eyebrow, smirking So, Rhaegar had three children with Lyanna, and none of them survived childhood. Talk about a family curse. But Raiden lived on to become your father and run The Iron Fleet. Quite the legacy, isn't it? grins And here I am, a granddaughter of Rhaegar and Lyanna, learning all about their shenanigans. Who knew being related to such a rebellious pair could be so interesting.
My mother is from the Vale, my dad is from Dorne, and my older brothers are from the Iron Islands. I'm the only person in my family with Westerosi blood. My Grandmother, Jeyne Targaryen, was Raiden's first wife and my mother's stepmother. I have three younger brothers and one sister, and my mother had them with three different men.
Daerys: chuckles Your family tree is a bit of a mess, isn't it? Three different dads for your mom, and multiple husbands for your grandmother. smirks Sounds like a real-life soap opera. But hey, at least you've got some variety in your blood.
My grandmother had five kids with her first husband, and another four with her second. When her second husband died, she moved to Dragonstone to manage the castle and raise her own kids. My mother was among the ones she left behind in the Seven Kingdoms
Daerys: leans forward, raising an eyebrow So, your grandmother was quite the busy bee, wasn't she? Giving birth to nine kids and moving to Dragonstone to manage a castle. smirks Sounds like she had a lot of energy. And leaving your mother behind in the Seven Kingdoms... well, that's a recipe for a dramatic family feud, isn't it? winks