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Would Stannis bend the knee to Daenerys or Aegon?


Gingerly Grumkin

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Stannis is only fighting because he belives himself to be the heir to the Iron Throne. The hardest decision Stannis said he ever made was taking up arms against Aerys, which he only did for the "love" he had for Robert. But alas Robert is dead, Stannis is weak and Dany and Aegon are coming to Westeros. So would Stannis bend the knee?

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He might, but it would have to be through an appeal regarding the Others, not one concerning the Iron Throne.

In other words, if Dany or Aegon base their claim to the crown as one of right, Stannis would resist, as well he should.

But it Dany (it would have to be her, because dragons) argues that she should rule because she is best equipped to confront the Others, then sure Stannis would kneel for that

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I was wondering that at well. If Dany comes over with her Dragons and joins Aegon it is a possibility.

Im just hoping that Dany does what she should have done to begin witth and sacks Mereen, and comes away richer than any man likely in the world and brings her entire force over. At this point I think Stannis would join his strength to her.

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Hmm ... Stannis bases his claim on being Robert's brother, knowing that Robert took the Iron Throne by force, taking it from who was considered the rightful heir, Viserys. Stannis didnt acknowledge Viserys' rights, so it seems not logical he would acknowledge Dany's rights.

This should be the same for Aegon (if alive and real) and Jon (if alive and legit).

But it would depend on the circumstances, I guess. Who has the dragons. Maybe he would take a knee, while grinding his teeth loudly, after listening to some wise counseling by Davos. Maybe if Aegon was able to put his daughter on the throne, who knows.

But I think he would rather make Edric Storm legit and go for a Baratheon king and queen.

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He said to Davos how agonizing a decision it was to choose blood over duty during Robert's rebellion. I think he would be inclined to bend the knee, except he thinks he's the prince that was promised. The only way he bends the knee is if Dany's dragons convinces him that Melisandre had misinterpreted the prohpecy, and he's just an ordinary lord again.

While the evidence there is stacked against him, psychologically, that's a much harder thing to accept because it means not only admitting you're wrong, but that your life is now as meaningless as anybody else's. I think the more interesting question is whether Melisandre can accept Dany (or Jon, or Aegon, depending on which theory you subscribe to) is Azor Ahai instead of Stannis.

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Not unless they defeated him militarily and/or killed him. He would not bend the knee just because they were Targaryens. If Stannis gave a fig about Targaryen legitimacy, he wouldn't have sided with Robert against them in the first place. He didn't support them and actively opposed them when he was young and had no good shot of ever being king. Why on earth would he change his mind now, when he actually is a king?

ETA: If Stannis gets that far only to bend the knee to a Targ brat, my respect for him will drop to zero. Luckily I don't see him doing that. ;)

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Is this really such a difficult question? If he thought saving the realm from the Others required him to throw his support to Dany and her dragons, OF COURSE HE WOULD KNEEL. I doubt he would do it through gritted teeth, or only after being talked into it. Actually, I have a suspicion he would be glad of it.

Necessity to confront the Others is a good reason for him to support Dany. What is not a good reason is the notion of House Targaryen being the sole rightful rulers of Westeros, now and forever.

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Well, at this moment Stannis can't give up, as he believes his claim to be just. But as it is hinted in the text that he also knew that his brothers rebellion was not right and he had a hard time deciding if he should join or not, I don't believe it impossible that he would bend the knee to a Targ.

However, I think he would be very suspicious toward Aegon, and I also agree with JKeats, that it would take more then a claim and an army marching for King's Landing to gain his support.

So it apears more likely that he would bend his knees to Dany, if she does not go to KL but marches north to meet with him and fight the Others.

After this I see him gladly bending his knee (also I think he would nod with approvale if Dany would tell him that it took her so long to come the Westeros because she was freeing slaves), but just a claim and appearing after the battle against the Others would not be enough to make him kneel.

But I think he would rather make Edric Storm legit and go for a Baratheon king and queen.

Hm, I don't know. To me, Stannis appears like someone how does want to gain respect, if he can get this (and keep his claim on the Stormlands and is guarranted the security and succession of Shireen), I think he can accept being "just" a Lord again (and the Warden of the East/South maybe?)

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The key to me is the analysis of Stannis' place amongst the Baratheon brothers: "Stannis is pure iron, black and hard and strong, yes, but brittle, the way iron gets. He'll break before he bends."

To Stannis, he is now the rightful heir to the throne, period. Once he is settled on that question, it's the end of the matter.

He even instructed the knight he sent off across the Narrow Sea to hire mercenaries to put Shireen on the throne even if he were to be killed.

I'm sorry, but I think poor old Stannis would die before acknowledging a superior claim.

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