These amazing gifs were made by tumblr user ser-jorah-the-andal
Before the moment that OP so gorgeously giffed, this is what Jorah said to her:
“You have a good claim. A title. A birthright. But you have something more than that. You may cover it up and deny it, but you have a gentle heart. You would not only be respected and feared, you would be loved. Someone who can rule and should rule. Centuries come and go without a person like that coming into the world. There are times when I look at you and still can’t believe you’re real.”The Ghosts of Harrenhal’ (2×05)
David Benioff, Dan Weiss, Bryan Cogman and now even Miguel Sapochnik want us to believe that Daenerys was always on this track to madness.
This is misogyny at it’s finest and many people have written wonderful metas on that subject. These are my thoughts specifically about those who follow and love Daenerys as a queen. More specifically, the MEN who choose to kneel to a QUEEN.
Jorah Mormont met her at her wedding. He saw her as a frightened girl who had no choice and no agency. He gave her books, and later, he gave her what advice he could to help her deal with Khal Drogo and the Khalasar. He encouraged her, and his allegiance changed. Jorah had sworn allegiance to “the true king of Westeros,” Daenerys’ brother Viserys. But later, seeing Viserys’ true colors, and seeing Daenerys’ true colors, he refused to stand aside and let his “true king” steal the dragon eggs given to Daenerys. Even when she was helpless and abused, Jorah saw greatness in her.
When Barriston Selmy was disdainfully dismissed by Joffrey, he left to “serve the true king.” He sought out Daenerys. In the show, he openly declared his loyalty to her. In the book, he hid his identity for a time, to study her. And found “no taint of madness in her.” Barriston was a man who served not only Rhaegar but Aerys. He knew the different between a mad Targaryen and a good one. And he chose, both book and show, to serve DAENERYS TARGARYEN whole heartedly.
Daario Naharis served Daenerys as well. He was a lowly sellsword, but he knew that she was great even if he did serve her for reasons that were slightly skewed. “You were never meant for a Throne. You’re a conqueror.” Perhaps because of his life he had no other way to describe her. Perhaps he meant “revolutionary” because I believe that he is right about that. Daario’s only knowledge of those who sat on thrones were of people who suppressed the poor. And certainly he was right in that Daenerys was never meant for that. Daario betrayed his own captains to serve Daenerys, but he never betrayed her. Because those he served with previously were only in it for profit. But Daenerys was freeing the oppressed and he enjoyed her displays of might and power. Rightly so. A powerful woman is a beautiful thing, when using said power to do what Daenerys did.
In the above gifs, both Jorah and Daenerys are stunned and breathless after his declaration to her. Once more, what he said to her was,
“You have a good claim. A title. A birthright. But you have something more than that. You may cover it up and deny it, but you have a gentle heart. You would not only be respected and feared, you would be loved. Someone who can rule and should rule. Centuries come and go without a person like that coming into the world. There are times when I look at you and still can’t believe you’re real.”STRONG MEN RECOGNIZED HER AS THE RIGHTFUL AND PERFECT RULER. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER LIKE DAENERYS TARGARYEN.
These men who loved and followed and protected and advised and served her, who intelligent, good men in their own right. They were not brainwashed, or coerced, or stupid, or deluded. They served her for good reason. So D&D and HBO and everyone else who says that Daenerys “was always going to go mad” can fuck right off the edge of a cliff.
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