Many quotes express Westeros’s violent and unforgiving world in ‘Fire and Blood.’ From those about politics and the lust for power to ones of love, hatred, and loss, the novel dives deep into the people’s minds in this era and shows how their environment governs their actions. It also showed how the actions and inactions of leaders changed the landscape of the Seven Kingdoms forever. Starting with Aegon the Conqueror, the quotes also showed the leaders’ perception of their people and how much they had value in the eyes of the smallfolk and the Lords who served them.
From dragonstone, the Conqueror rode atop his dragon Balerion and led a conquest of the Seven Kingdoms, a conquest that led to massive bloodshed but unity. At the end of his campaign, Aegon became a man who achieved what no one thought was possible. He had successfully become the sole King of every kingdom on the Western continent. However, his victory came at a cost, as he lost loved ones. Even after his death, his legacy lived on.
Wars and Conquests in Fire and Blood
When the sun sets, your line shall end.
The story of Aegon’s ascension to the Iron Throne began with a decision made by King Argillac Duraandon. After proposing to wed his daughter to Aegon, the then Lord of Dragonstone rejected the offer, stating he already had two wives. He instead offered to betroth Argilac’s daughter to his rumored bastard half-brother, Orys Baratheon. Being a proud man, King Argillac felt insulted by the offer and amputated the envoAegon sent, leading to the Targaryen Lord marching to Westeros.
The quote above explains one of the most epic events in the Conquest. When King Harren the Blak learned Aegon was coming with his dragon, he took his family into Harrenhal and barred the gates. He then began mocking Aegon Targaryen, telling him that not even his dragon could bring down the castle he wasted lives building.
Pumped for action, Aegon promised to end Harren’s bloodline. Aegon flew so high into the sky that many claimed he became a faint black dot. Then, with black fire, he returned to the Earth and burned Harrenhal. The fires were so great that Harren and his entire family cooked within the castle.
Ours are Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. You may burn us, my lady, but you will not bend us, break us, or make us bow. This is Dorne. You are not wanted here. Return at your peril.
Even after destroying all the mighty Kings that stood in his way, Aegon met a confrontation that cost him almost everything. Towards the end of the Wars of Conquest, Queen Rhaenys Targaryen flew to Dorne and ordered Princess Meria Martell to bow to her husband.
However, the Princess of Dorne gave an answer that surprised the Targaryen Queen. She refused to bow to Aegon, no matter what happened. Aegon reciprocated with the usual fire and destruction. However, the Dornish people retreated into hiding, and only a few died.
Thinking he won, Aegon’s soldiers retreated, only to be ambushed. Later, his wife, Rhaenys, was killed by a scorpion while she was on her dragon; this sent her husband into a blood rage. For the next nine years, the Iron Throne entered a brutal war that led to countless deaths, assassinations, and destruction. The Dornish people’s refusal to bow to anyone eventually led to a peace treaty.
They had hardly reached King’s Landing before Dorne erupted behind them. Dornish spearmen appeared from nowhere, like desert flowers after a rain.
The quote above perfectly encapsulates the fighting style used by Dorne in its war with Aegon. Knowing they were no match for dragons, they decided to fight dirty, using guerilla tactics. Though it was dishonorable to many people, their style gave them a massive advantage over Aegon’s army.
Friendship
The Prince of Dragonstone had many companions through the years, but no true friends. He was a quarrelsome boy, quick to take offense, slow to forgive, fearsome in his wroth. His skill with weapons was unmatched, however.
Even though Maegor Targaryen was exceptionally skilled with the sword, he failed at making friends. He was so cruel and cold-hearted that he had no real close friends; this made him only lose favor in people’s eyes, as no one wanted a ruler who had no one to defend him with their life. Maegor’s lack of friends only increased his cruelty and cut him off from reality; this made most of the Lords who served him after he ascended the throne abandon him.
The Quest for Glory
Let us not bandy words,’ Maegor told him. ‘Swords will decide this matter.
After Aenys’s death, Maegor returned from exile in Pentos to claim the Iron Throne. He met with resistance from Ser Damon Morrigen, who challenged him to combat. Lustful for glory, Maegor accepted the challenge, and a brutal fight ensued. In the end, the Targaryen stood victorious even though he fell unconscious.
The Price of Pain
I have seen enough death,’ she said. ‘So have we all. Put up your swords, Sers. What is done is done, and now we all must needs live with it. May the gods have mercy on the realm.
When Princess Alyssane Targaryen learned she was getting betrothed to Oryn Baratheon, she went to meet her brother, whom she loved, Jaehaerys I Targaryen. On learning his sister would be married to someone else, the King took his guards and headed for Dragonstone, where he held a small marriage ceremony.
However, Jaehaerys’s mother arrived with the Hand of the King, Rogar Baratheon. Rogar tried to break the newlyweds apart when they learned what had happened, but a confrontation occurred. Alyssa then instructed everyone to calm down, saying she had seen enough bloodshed to want another problem. Those who have seen conflict know the hefty price it comes with.
The Duality of Man
All men are sinners, the Fathers of the Faith teach us. Even the noblest of kings and the most chivalrous of knights may find themselves overcome by rage and lust and envy, and commit acts that shame them and tarnish their good names. And the vilest of men and the wickedest of women likewise may do good from time to time, for love and compassion and pity may be found in even the blackest of hearts.
Humans are weird creatures who have a duality within them. They can be good or evil, and sometimes, their duality may trickle to the surface. The quote above explains that no matter who a person is, they still have, deep within them, the capacity to do good and evil.
Being a Leader
A realm with two kings is like a man with two heads.
No kingdom can have two Kings, and no one can serve two masters. The above quote explains the phenomenon because humans are wired to follow only one person they deem worthy of service. It also portrays that two Kings can never rule at once as competition and the lust for glory among the human species will never allow it.
The Cost of Happiness
Many years from now when we are old and grey, we shall look back upon these days and smile, remembering how happy we were.
In the World of Ice and Fire, happiness was a rare gift almost no one had. Because there were always wars, rebellions, and more wars, people had no time to be happy, and the only time they could have experienced a glimpse of it was in their childhood when they did not care about the details of the world.
Blind Hatred
You only lost one eye,’ he is reported to have said. ‘How could you be so blind?
The quote above was made when Prince Aemond Targaryen returned with the news of what he did to Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys. On telling his mother how he killed the little boy, her face fell as she knew her son had officially started a war that was going to be bloody. Aemond’s blind hatred of his nephew led to retaliation that would end the life of his brother’s son, Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen.
Revenge
An eye for an eye, a son for a son.
On learning what happened to Lucerys, Prince Daemon Targaryen made the statement above, signifying he would get revenge. He then hired two assassins who snuck into the Red Keep and killed Jaehaerys Targaryen, King Aegon II Targaryen’s son, while his mother watched.
The Game of Thrones
Thrones are won with swords, not quills. Spill blood, not ink.
King Aegon II Targaryen made the statement above to Ser Otto Hightower. With the commencement of the Dance of the Dragons, the King wanted the Blacks dead at all costs. When Otto continued writing letters to gain allies, the young King became impatient and thought the Hand of the King was doing nothing. He eventually removed him from the position, replacing him with Ser Criston Cole, whom he felt was a war nut eager to lead an army.
