The Point of the Ironborn

[AegonFan322]

I admit this post does not have that much evidence behind it, but hear me out.

One question that everyone is currently having is what role the Ironborn are meant to play in "A Song of Ice and Fire." This is especially noticeable as currently:

1. Victarion is about to become a major ally of Daenerys Targaryen.

2. Euron is ransacking the Reach.

3. Asha is in the North with Stannis.

What if Victarion is meant to be a reverse of Quentyn Martell? What if he's the kind of suitor Daenerys would love? He's a warrior, a killer and a known sociopath. These are the traits she loves in her men:

1. Khal Drogo is, by any standards, a horrible person. He is a murderous slaver, a man who sacks innocent Lhazarene villages, and generally a bad guy.

2. Daario murdered his fellow captains to get into Dany's pants. These men were probably his friends, if not respected companions in battle. After that, when he and Daenerys took over Meereen, he advocated a "Red Wedding"-style massacre of the Masters of Meereen.

3. Even her dragons fulfill this type. They are highly destructive and hard to control. Note that in her opening chapter of "A Dance with Dragons," Drogon, her favorite dragon, burns and eats a small child.

My point is, all of these traits demonstrate something about Daenerys, particularly in regards to her tastes in followers: She has a tendency to surround herself with violent sociopaths. This is going to be key when she goes to Westeros.

Why? Imagine if you will, you are an ordinary Westerosi, who has lived through the horrors of the War of the Five Kings. You have heard horror stories in the West as the Ironborn under Euron Greyjoy have been reaving and pillaging. If you are a Northerner, you hate the Ironborn for sacking Winterfell. Now, imagine that Daenerys, a woman you don't know, comes across the Narrow Sea, with the Ironborn in tow. How many will support her? In contrast, how many will support Aegon Targaryen, who does not have a reputation for sacking everything in his way yet? To put it bluntly, an alliance with Victarion Greyjoy will ensure Daenerys will never sit the Iron Throne.

[John Doe]

Her dragons alone will probably be more destructive than any Ironborn.

[Ser Hyle]

To put it bluntly, an alliance with Victarion Greyjoy will ensure Daenerys will never sit the Iron Throne.

"We'd rather be burned to death by dragonfire than bend the knee to someone who's allied with Victarion Greyjoy!"

- says nobody, ever.

[Taenqyrhae]

"We'd rather be burned to death by dragonfire than bend the knee to someone who's allied with Victarion Greyjoy!"

- says nobody, ever.

"I'd rather fight and die for Aegon than bend the knee to someone who's allied with Victarion Greyjoy!" DOES sound like something a lot of nobles would say, though.

 

[AegonFan322]

"I'd rather fight and die for Aegon than bend the knee to someone who's allied with Victarion Greyjoy!" DOES sound like something a lot of nobles would say, though.

 

Add to this the question of who Aegon marries. If Aegon were to marry, say, Sansa Stark and deal with the Freys, that would rally the North and the Riverlands behind him. Daenerys arriving with the hated Ironborn would just drive them further into Aegon's camp.

[purple-eyes]

i think there is a decent chance dany will fall in love or at least desire euron. She will likely marry him if the prophecy can be trusted. 

Euron is crazy and handsome and cunning and cruel, exactly her type. Grrm had put some preparations for him to show us he is quite attractive to woman. Such as wife of victarion, falia flowers. Etc. 

But euron will do something really bad eventually and teach daenerys a lesson about "fire" guy, then she will switch to a plain and sad jon snow. 

 

 

[Makk]

There are a lot of assumptions here which may or may not end up being true.

 Victarion is about to become a major ally of Daenerys Targaryen.

He seemingly intends to blow a mystical horn which may or may not gain power over her dragons. He also intends to take her as his bride. His view of her as a bride is probably a lot more like a saltwife, I can't see him willingly having her as even an equal partner despite the fact Danearys's personal power and influence will be much higher before the marriage. I simply can't see how you can say he will be a major ally with any degree of certainty.

1. Khal Drogo is, by any standards, a horrible person. He is a murderous slaver, a man who sacks innocent Lhazarene villages, and generally a bad guy.

While he sold slaves it was basically his cultural norm. He was savage to an extent but he never struck me as a particularly horrible person. I don't think it is too important to clarify him as bad, because you could simply say dangerous men of action, and that does fit her tastes. She does tend to like men of action but you only really have two examples of it and you have to realise her character arc has her changing significantly from when she was married to Khal Drogo. While she was involved with him, she started to develop her hatred of slavery, so saying she would immediately fall for another slaver is a bit of a stretch if she has a decision.

Then you have prophecies like 

No. Hear me, Daenerys Targaryen. The glass candles are burning.

Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal."

Now although the Kraken part is possibly more directed at Euron, I don't think you can disregard it. I still feel Victarion is little more than Eurons puppet. Even though he thinks he is rebelling, and has found a way to bypass the horn ownership, I have a feeling he is doing exactly what Euron wants. Because of this I think the warning applies to Euron and Victarion.

Even if she does end up with Victarion as an ally, it still doesn't mean she will be an ally of the greater Ironborn. There is obviously conflict to come within the Ironborn as a whole. Definitely between Euron and Victarion, but also possibly throw in Aeron, Asha and even Theon. It's possible there will be Ironborn on every side in the next civil war.