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 Melissa Blackwood, by Magali Villeneuve, as depicted in The World of Ice & Fire | ||||
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| Alias | Missy[1][2] | |||
| Title | Lady[1] | |||
| Allegiance | House Blackwood | |||
| Culture | Rivermen | |||
| Born | 156–161 AC[3] | |||
| Lover | King Aegon IV Targaryen | |||
| Issue | ||||
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Melissa Blackwood, nicknamed Missy, was a noblewoman from House Blackwood during the reign of Aegon IV Targaryen. She was the sixth of Aegon's nine mistresses, and the best loved of them.[1]
Appearance and Character
[edit]Melissa was slender of frame, and pretty.[1][2]
Melissa had a kind heart, was generous and modest,[1] and was well loved.[4]
History
[edit]
Melissa became the sixth mistress of Aegon IV Targaryen early in the king's reign, in 172 AC, replacing Lady Barba Bracken, who had been sent from court in disgrace. Even though she was Aegon's mistress, Melissa's kind heart and generosity led her to befriend Aegon's sister-wife Queen Naerys, her brother Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, and her son Prince Daeron.[1]
While Melissa was slender of frame, Barba had been buxom. When Barba was heard to joke that Melissa was flat as a boy, King Aegon, who previously had renamed the hills known as the Mother's Teats after Barba ("Barba's Teats"), renamed the hills for Melissa instead and granted them to House Blackwood.[2][1] Members of House Bracken still refer to the hills as "Barba's Teats", while members of House Blackwood continue to call them "Missy's Teats".[2]
Melissa was King Aegon's mistress for five years, during which she gave birth to three children: two daughters, Mya and Gwenys, and a son, Brynden Rivers. Brynden would later be able to maintain close relations at court, due to the fact that his mother had been well loved during her time there, even after her dismissal.[4]
Lord Bracken, with the help of his daughter Barba, groomed his younger daughter Lady Bethany to replace Melissa. In 177 AC, King Aegon visited Stone Hedge to see his bastard son by Barba, Aegor Rivers, and Bethany caught his eye and returned with him to King's Landing.[1]
A statue of Melissa can be found in the godswood of Raventree Hall, the seat of House Blackwood.[2]
Recent Events
[edit]A Dance with Dragons
[edit]In a cave beyond the Wall, the three-eyed crow tells Bran Stark that his mother gave him the name Brynden.[5]
Hoster Blackwood tells Ser Jaime Lannister that the godswood of Raventree Hall contains a statue of Lady Melissa, whom Hoster claims was much more beautiful than Barba Bracken. Hoster also tells Jaime the story of why the Brackens and Blackwoods call the Teats different names.[2]
Quotes
[edit]Hoster: Lady Melissa. Missy, they called her. There's a statue of her in our godswood. She was much more beautiful than Barba Bracken, but slender, and Barba was heard to say that Missy was flat as a boy. When King Aegon heard, he ...
Jaime: ... gave her Barba's teats.[2]
Family
[edit]
Behind the Scenes
[edit]In George R. R. Martin's notes, the character was originally named "Mylessa".[6][7]
Referencess
[edit]- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Aegon IV.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 48, Jaime I.
- ↑ See the Melissa Blackwood calculation.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The World of Ice & Fire, The Targaryen Kings: Daeron II.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 34, Bran III.
- ↑ So Spake Martin: More Targaryen Descriptions (December 24, 2005).
- ↑ So Spake Martin: The Great Bastards (December 26, 2005).