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 Daemon II Blackfyre, by Naomi Buttelo © | ||||
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| Aliases | ||||
| Titles |
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| Allegiance | House Blackfyre | |||
| Culture | Crownlands | |||
| Born |
189 AC[3] Westeros[4] | |||
| Died | 212–219 AC[3] | |||
| Father | Daemon I Blackfyre | |||
| Mother | Rohanne of Tyrosh | |||
| Lover | Lord Alyn Cockshaw | |||
| Coat of arms |
As John the Fiddler: an engrailed cross in gold on a blue field, with a golden fiddle in the first and third quarters, a golden sword in the second and fourth[2][N 1] (Azure, a cross engrailed or, clockwise 1st and 3rd a violin of the same, 2nd and 4th a sword of the same) | |||
| Books |
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Daemon II Blackfyre, also known as Daemon the Younger,[1] was the third son of Daemon I Blackfyre. He used the alias John the Fiddler, a hedge knight, while traveling incognito through the Seven Kingdoms. He led the brief Second Blackfyre Rebellion.[2]
Appearance and Character
[edit]When meeting Daemon under his alias of "Ser John the Fiddler", Ser Duncan the Tall thought of him as a young man, lean and lithe, with a handsome clean-shaven face and fine features. He had collar-length black hair, and sparkling eyes that caught the deep blue of his doublet. Dunk later recognized that he had "Egg's eyes", that is, dark purple. After revealing himself as the son of Daemon I Blackfyre, Daemon the Younger washed the black dye from his hair to reveal its true silver-gold color.[2]
As John the Fiddler, Daemon wore a doublet made of dark blue silk edged in gold satin. The doublet's chest was embroidered with gold thread to depict his sigil, an engrailed cross with a golden fiddle and golden sword in the opposite quarters. He also wore a white silk doublet had with dagged sleeves lined with red satin, so long their points drooped down past his knees, and a heavy silver chain studded with large dark amethysts whose color matched his eyes. He also owned a purple tunic that brought out the color of his eyes. John wore enameled blue armor with gilded ringmail,[2] and per a semi-canon source, his helmet was also gilded.[5] His horse's trappings were blue silk with golden fiddles and golden swords. After Daemon revealed himself, the trappings of his warhorse displayed the three-headed dragon of House Blackfyre, black on a field of red.[2] According to a semi-canon source, Daemon's armor was enameled red, with a red helm crested with a black dragon.[5]
According to Duncan, Daemon smelled of oranges and limes, with a hint of some strange eastern spice beneath.[2]
Daemon had a love of music and fine things. He had a close relationship with Lord Alyn Cockshaw and appeared to be attracted to Dunk.[2][1] George R. R. Martin has confirmed that Daemon was gay.[6]
Mercurial in temperament,[4] Daemon had prophetic dreams. He correctly dreamed that his brothers Aegon and Aemon would die, and that Dunk would become a knight of the Kingsguard. He also dreamed that a dragon would hatch from an egg at Whitewalls, but this turned out to be a metaphor for Aegon "Egg" Targaryen revealing himself as a Targaryen prince.[2]
History
[edit]Early life
[edit]
Daemon was born in Westeros,[4] the third son of Daemon I Blackfyre and Rohanne of Tyrosh. He was named after his father.[2] As a child, he became close friends with Alyn Cockshaw, and they were bullied by Daemon's older brothers, Aegon and Aemon. In 196 AC, when he was seven years old, his father began the First Blackfyre Rebellion. Daemon dreamed that Aegon and Aemon would die, and told them this, but they only laughed at him. After the death of Daemon's father and his older brothers at the Battle of the Redgrass Field, Daemon went into exile in Tyrosh with his surviving family and with his uncle Aegor "Bittersteel" Rivers.[2][7]
Second Blackfyre Rebellion
[edit]
In Tyrosh, Daemon dreamed that a dragon would be born at Whitewalls. Lord Gormon Peake, a Blackfyre supporter, somehow heard of this, and convinced Daemon to cross the narrow sea and make a play for the Iron Throne. The pretext for gathering other lords to support Daemon was a wedding tourney that Lord Ambrose Butterwell would hold in 212 AC, at which the grand prize would be Butterwell's dragon egg. However, Bittersteel did not think much of Peake's plan, and mistrusted Daemon's dreams (or perhaps was troubled by his homosexuality), and so did not give him his support nor the sword Blackfyre.[2][1]
Under the guise of the hedge knight Ser John the Fiddler, Daemon happened across Ser Duncan the Tall and Egg while heading to Whitewalls for the tourney. Daemon was very friendly to Dunk, and suggested he come to the tourney. During the wedding feast, he was given a place of honor on the dais, uncommon for someone who was supposed to be a hedge knight. During the bedding, John had Dunk carry the new Lady Butterwell upstairs to the bedroom. Afterwards, Daemon, still under the guise of John, approached Duncan and told him about the dreams he was having, about Duncan wearing a white cloak in the future. He tried to win Duncan over to his side, but Duncan remained unsure, and then they were interrupted by Lord Gormon Peake. Alyn Cockshaw, who had been ecstatic at Daemon's return to Westeros, deeply resented Dunk for the loss of Daemon's attentions, and became his secret enemy.[2]
During the tourney, Daemon first drew Ser Kirby Pimm and later unseated Ser Franklyn Frey and Ser Galtry the Green, but Dunk discovered that Peake had been bribing Daemon's opponents so that he would win the tourney. The dragon egg went missing, and Ser Glendon Flowers, who had turned down Peake's bribe, was charged with its theft and taken away to be tortured. Duncan learned of Daemon's true identity via Alyn Cockshaw and Maynard Plumm, and that evening approached him at the feast, publicly addressing him as "Daemon" and "Your Grace", to tell him that Glendon had been framed. Daemon decided to prove his tourney skills, and also give Glendon the power to defend himself against the charges, through a trial by battle with Daemon himself. While Daemon chose a war lance, Duncan suggested to Glendon that he use a tourney lance instead because of its longer length (as he had learned from Prince Baelor Targaryen in his trial of seven at the Ashford Tourney). Glendon, though still suffering from the effects of the torture, unhorsed Daemon in the first tilt of their joust. Daemon landed in a mud puddle, gaining the epithet "the Brown Dragon".[2]
News quickly spread that Lord Brynden Rivers, Bloodraven, was marching on Whitewalls to end what had become the Second Blackfyre Rebellion. Daemon tried to inspire the armsmen who were within the castle, but they had no intention of fighting for such a weak warrior who did not even have Blackfyre. Daemon met the oncoming army alone and challenged Bloodraven to single combat, but was instead arrested by Lord Rivers.[2]
Later life
[edit]Bloodraven kept Daemon alive as a hostage to prevent Aegor Rivers from crowning Daemon's younger brother, Haegon.[2] However, Daemon the Younger died a few years later while a hostage in the Red Keep, and Haegon and Bittersteel launched the Third Blackfyre Rebellion.[1]
Family
[edit]Quotes by Daemon
[edit]
"John": I dreamed that you were all in white from head to heel, with a long pale cloak flowing from those broad shoulders. You were a White Sword, ser, a Sworn Brother of the Kingsguard, the greatest knight in all the Seven Kingdoms, and you lived for no other purpose but to guard and serve and please your king. You have dreamed the same dream, I know you have.
Dunk: It makes no matter what I dream. Only a king can make a Kingsguard knight.
"John": I suppose that means I'll have to take the throne, then. I would much rather be teaching you to fiddle.[2]—Daemon and Duncan the Tall
Dunk: You're drunk.
"John": Wonderfully drunk. Wine makes all things possible, Ser Duncan. You'd look a god in white, I think, but if the color does not suit you, perhaps you would prefer to be a lord?
"John": Now you mock me. A true knight would never mock his king.[2]
Dunk: No, I'd sooner sprout big blue wings and fly. One's as likely as t'other.
—Duncan the Tall and Daemon
This pale white castle, you, a dragon bursting from an egg, I dreamed it all, just as I once dreamed of my brothers lying dead. They were twelve and I was only seven, so they laughed at me, and died. I am two-and-twenty now, and I trust my dreams.[2]
—Daemon to Duncan the Tall
"John": Where are you going, ser?
Dunk: To my bed, to sleep. I’m drunk as a dog.
"John": Be my dog, ser. The night’s alive with promise. We can howl together, and wake the very gods.[2]
—Daemon and Duncan the Tall
Daemon: They cannot cow us, for our cause is just. We'll slash through them and ride hell-bent for King's Landing! Sound the trumpets! We'll make another Redgrass Field today.
Squire: Piss on that, fiddle boy. I'd rather live.[2]—Daemon and a squire
—Daemon to Brynden Rivers
Quotes about Daemon
[edit]
Daemon's mine. I will command his Kingsguard. You are not worthy of a white cloak.[2]
I wept when Bittersteel carried him off to exile, and again when Lord Peake told me he was coming home. But then he saw you upon the road, and forgot that I existed.[2]
There have always been Targaryens who dreamed of things to come, since long before the Conquest, so we should not be surprised if from time to time a Blackfyre displays the gift as well. Daemon dreamed that a dragon would be born at Whitewalls, and it was. The fool just got the color wrong.[2]
Notes
[edit]- ↑ While The Mystery Knight does not state outright the field color of John the Fiddler's sigil, it is denoted by his blue doublet that was embroidered with gold charges. Furthermore, in Westeros heraldry, George R.R. Martin lists the order of quarters clockwise rather than the traditional 1-2/3-4 across (see also Harrold Hardyng), so the symbols are in opposite quarters rather than above each other. The Mystery Knight: The Graphic Novel depicts this correctly in the pages that "John" appears with his embroidered doublet.[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aerys I.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 The Mystery Knight.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 See the Daemon II Blackfyre calculation.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 George R. R. Martin's A World of Ice and Fire, Daemon II Blackfyre.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Mystery Knight: The Graphic Novel
- ↑ YouTube: Ideas at the House: George R.R. Martin, Lena Headey & Michelle Fairley - 'Game of Thrones' (November 11, 2013)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.