[TWOIAF SPOILERS] what was in Prince Nymor's letter to Aegon the Conqueror?

[Wmarshal]

If it was written in Rhaenys' hand, wouldn't that count as proof? Rhaenys was responsible for many marriages in the realm, and I suppose that there would be quite some lords and ladies in the realm with a letter in her hand in their possession, to compare the handwriting.

And Maegor... from text, especially from the Fire and Blood reading, it seems quite clear that Aegon did not want to name Maegor heir of anything..

Also, should it truly be the case that Aenys wasn't Aegon's, and the dornish manage to convince Westeros, who's going to believe that Maegor is Aegons? If Aegon can't father a child on the wife he spends almost all of his nights with, in a marriage of 12 years or more, why would anyone believe he can father a child of the wife he spends barely any time with, and to whom he had been married for 15 years at least, at that point?

But the burning of everything in Dorne which isn't Sunspear occurs before Aegon reads the letter..

Well no not really, she was considered dead, and unless they have her churning letters by the minute, the letter in Aegon's hand is all they got.

From the text it looks he treated him like your regular second son. If push came to shove and it was make his other son king other then I don't see him giving in. How would they do that? They have nothing to prove it, a letter by Rhaenys in Aegon's hand isn't really going to spread like wildfire. Well, one, Maegor was basically a meaner bigger sadist verison of Aegon.

[MizasterJ]

I don't think any of the options suggested in the book are probably correct.

Some of the other theories I've seen in this thread seem more likely to me. That the letter somehow poisoned Aegon rather than ensorcel him is intriguing. Imagine Aegon opening the letter and reading something like, "Opening this letter has poisoned you. As proof, your hand should start bleeding immediately. You only have hours to live. Fly immediately to Dragonstone and agree to end this war or you will die in agony. Last regards, Meria." Ha!

No that wouldnt work because. 1. lets say Aegon felt the poison was real went signed the treaty took the antidote. Now what? you dont think he isn't going to hold a grudge against them for putting him in that situation? You think a piece of paper is going to stop him from getting revenge? No F'in way.

2. Even if Aegon died from the poison the Targs would seek vengeance.

bottom line, poison is not "binding" which is what the letter had to be.

[MizasterJ]

Lets say in the off chance that the antidote of the letter poison had to be taken in incriments that only Dorne could supply, whats to stop Aegon from capturing Dornishman and forcing them to deliver the antidote to him or face a life of torture?

The poison theory just doesnt work. it had to be something long lasting and binding.

[SeanF]

I don't think we need to search for complicated reasons for Aegon to make peace. Rhaenys being alive and held in torment - with the threat that it was for Aegon to decide if that torment would continue or come to an end - would be sufficient to induce him to make peace, in my view.

Leaving aside the question of whether Rhaenys was tortured, she might have been left alive but hideously injured due to her fall. If say, she was paralysed and in agony, she might very well be begging the Dornish to "end her suffering.". Aegon would have no reason to take revenge on the Dornish, as his wife's suffering was down to her and his own behaviour.

[Fire Eater]

I don't think we need to search for complicated reasons for Aegon to make peace. Rhaenys being alive and held in torment - with the threat that it was for Aegon to decide if that torment would continue or come to an end - would be sufficient to induce him to make peace, in my view.

That would be more like to anger him, knowing they had been torturing his wife all those years. He would have demanded her back. Say that his wife would be further tortured until he relented he would probably respond by threatening to turn Sunspear into a smoking ruin.

Leaving aside the question of whether Rhaenys was tortured, she might have been left alive but hideously injured due to her fall. If say, she was paralysed and in agony, she might very well be begging the Dornish to "end her suffering.". Aegon would have no reason to take revenge on the Dornish, as his wife's suffering was down to her and his own behaviour.

I think that is more plausible, she was comatose or such. Or maybe she suffered a number of broken bones and injuries from her fall, and she was in bed slowly dying with her last request being a pen, paper and ink to write down a letter to Aegon. They never got a chance to give Aegon the letter until then as he was busy burning every castle, keep and holdfast in Dorne.

[JonCon's Red Beard]

That would be more like to anger him, knowing they had been torturing his wife all those years. He would have demanded her back. Say that his wife would be further tortured until he relented he would probably respond by threatening to turn Sunspear into a smoking ruin.

Unless she wasn't in Sunspear.

"We have your wife. We'll torture her until you agree peace"

"Whoresons, I'll destroy all of Dorne until I get her back"

"She's not in Dorne. You will never know where she is. Attack Dorne and we'll make sure she lost more limbs".

crackpot: she was sent to Essos, alive. She became the mother of Young Griff's ancestors.

[SeanF]

That would be more like to anger him, knowing they had been torturing his wife all those years. He would have demanded her back. Say that his wife would be further tortured until he relented he would probably respond by threatening to turn Sunspear into a smoking ruin.

I think that is more plausible, she was comatose or such. Or maybe she suffered a number of broken bones and injuries from her fall, and she was in bed slowly dying with her last request being a pen, paper and ink to write down a letter to Aegon. They never got a chance to give Aegon the letter until then as he was busy burning every castle, keep and holdfast in Dorne.

The precedent set by Ramsay Bolton makes me think of Nymor sending body parts through the post, accompanied by a gloating message.

But, that would go completely against the point of returning Meraxes' skull, and sending his own daughter to negotiate peace, as gestures of goodwill. Behaving like Ramsay would surely have put his own daughter in danger.

So, it was probably something a good deal more subtle.

[SeanF]

We should also keep in mind that Aegon had a good relationship with Deria during his later reign and even visited her with Aenys in Sunspear. I don't believe that would have been possible if the letter contained some kind of cruel threat like ordering a FM to kill Aenys.

It's hard to imagine him visiting Sunspear if the Martells had been cutting Rhaenys into pieces, as well.

[Maid So Fair]

I think any threat of violence (or ending violence) would ultimately be counter-productive as it destroys the goodwill necessary to secure a lasting peace and only kicks in the cycle of vengeance. That's why I quite like my own personal crackpot theory of Rheanys bearing a child in captivity - it explains both why she wouldn't want to return to court (Dorne is much more understanding about children born out of wedlock) and why Aegon wouldn't demand it. It creates the closest thing to a marriage alliance between Dorne and the Targs. It also explains why Aegon would visit Sunspear - he would want to see Rheanys/her child occasionally. Since he loved her he would be both deeply upset by her decision to choose her child over him and wish her happiness.

[Fire Eater]

Unless she wasn't in Sunspear.

"We have your wife. We'll torture her until you agree peace"

"Whoresons, I'll destroy all of Dorne until I get her back"

"She's not in Dorne. You will never know where she is. Attack Dorne and we'll make sure she lost more limbs".

crackpot: she was sent to Essos, alive. She became the mother of Young Griff's ancestors.

I never said she was in Sunspear, but it is the seat of the Martells who would be having control over the fate of Rhaenys, and it is the one castle that was spared. I thought that was obvious enough.

If that was a threat then why bring back Meraxes's skull as a sign of goodwill as SeanF said? You're basically talking about threatening a guy with two large dragons and the rest of the realm behind him. Taking her out of Dorne would be a bad idea as it makes it easier for her to be taken back. I doubt few of the Free Cities would want to risk the wroth of the last dragonlords.

[Faint]

I would have expected much more time to pass before the theories grew this ludicrous but here I am proven wrong.

[Wmarshal]

I think any threat of violence (or ending violence) would ultimately be counter-productive as it destroys the goodwill necessary to secure a lasting peace and only kicks in the cycle of vengeance. That's why I quite like my own personal crackpot theory of Rheanys bearing a child in captivity - it explains both why she wouldn't want to return to court (Dorne is much more understanding about children born out of wedlock) and why Aegon wouldn't demand it. It creates the closest thing to a marriage alliance between Dorne and the Targs. It also explains why Aegon would visit Sunspear - he would want to see Rheanys/her child occasionally. Since he loved her he would be both deeply upset by her decision to choose her child over him and wish her happiness.

It really doesn't, Aegon would have assumed rape and/or them lying through their teeth, or torture. Aegon didn't visist Sunspear, he went to Dragonstone.

[Lord Varys]

The idea Free Northman Reborn and I accidentally developed in another thread - I think it's the one breeding dragons - is that the weapon against dragons Princess Meria allegedly bought from Lys was a magical horn like Dragonbinder, and the Martells threatened to use Rhaenys' blood to mess with Aegon's dragons.

This could easily have threatened everything Aegon has built up to this point, and should have been enough of threat to get him to back down. Whereas I agree that the 'kill Rhaenys' theory did not make all that much sense. Especially considering that he could have continued the war afterwards, or would have wanted firsthand proof that Rhaenys was indeed still alive (a letter from her could have been written years before, after all). The idea that the Dornish would have brought Rhaenys to Dragonstone for Aegon to see would also make little sense. She would then have been in his power.

[Maid So Fair]

It really doesn't, Aegon would have assumed rape and/or them lying through their teeth, or torture. Aegon didn't visist Sunspear, he went to Dragonstone.

Not if the letter is in her hand and not if he gets a chance to speak to her (during his sojourn to either Dragonstone or some other nearby location). He visits Sunspear after the peace is made IIRC.

[Lord Varys]

If Aegon had met Rhaenys, she would not have been killed. And Aegon would have certainly not made peace with Dorne if they had indeed tortured and broken her - and then killed her or turned her back (then they would have had no leverage).

Anything Rhaenys may have confessed about Aenys' conception or Aegon's capability to father children would not have caused that much trouble, even if it had been written in her own hand, as it would have been clear to anyone that Rhaenys had confessed this only under torture.

Even if this had caused trouble, Aegon could have changed the succession in favor of Maegor, as considering that he was conceived and born in 11/12 AC, that is, after Rhaenys' (alleged) death in Dorne. She could have known nothing about the conception and birth of Maegor.

[SeanF]

If Rhaenys had been badly tortured, or left paralysed after her fall, she may not have been able to write anything. But, she would have had a signet ring, and Aegon would recognise her seal, if she dictated a letter to him.

I'm inclined to think that if Nymor had threatened to torture Rhaenys to death, Aegon would have threatened the same to Deria, and Nymor would never have put his daughter into such danger. Whatever deal was offered, it must have been a genuine bargain, rather than a threat.

[Dornish Vinegar]

I think any threat of violence (or ending violence) would ultimately be counter-productive as it destroys the goodwill necessary to secure a lasting peace and only kicks in the cycle of vengeance. That's why I quite like my own personal crackpot theory of Rheanys bearing a child in captivity - it explains both why she wouldn't want to return to court (Dorne is much more understanding about children born out of wedlock) and why Aegon wouldn't demand it. It creates the closest thing to a marriage alliance between Dorne and the Targs. It also explains why Aegon would visit Sunspear - he would want to see Rheanys/her child occasionally. Since he loved her he would be both deeply upset by her decision to choose her child over him and wish her happiness.

DARKSTAR AS RHAENYS DESCENDANT 2K14

[JonCon's Red Beard]

I think any threat of violence (or ending violence) would ultimately be counter-productive as it destroys the goodwill necessary to secure a lasting peace and only kicks in the cycle of vengeance. That's why I quite like my own personal crackpot theory of Rheanys bearing a child in captivity - it explains both why she wouldn't want to return to court (Dorne is much more understanding about children born out of wedlock) and why Aegon wouldn't demand it. It creates the closest thing to a marriage alliance between Dorne and the Targs. It also explains why Aegon would visit Sunspear - he would want to see Rheanys/her child occasionally. Since he loved her he would be both deeply upset by her decision to choose her child over him and wish her happiness.

Maybe that child was actually Aegon's.

MEGASUPERUPPERDUPPERULTRAARCHICRACKPOT:

Aenys isn't Aegon's son, but this new child is. Rhaenys and Aegon's son were sent away to Essos, with a Dornish escort.

Aegon/YG comes from that line.

[Wmarshal]

Not if the letter is in her hand and not if he gets a chance to speak to her (during his sojourn to either Dragonstone or some other nearby location). He visits Sunspear after the peace is made IIRC.

It was stated Aegon travelled across is realm, i don't remeber it being said he travelled through Dorne.

[Red Tiger]

DARKSTAR AS RHAENYS DESCENDANT 2K14

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