Who Did Blood and Cheese Kill? Unraveling the Tragedy at Maegor’s Holdfast
**Blood and Cheese killed *King Aegon II Targaryen’s* young son and heir, **Prince Jaehaerys, and brutally assaulted his mother, *Queen Helaena Targaryen*. The ramifications of this horrific act ignited even further the already raging Dance of the Dragons.
The Seeds of Revenge: A Bloody Pact Forged
The murder of Prince Jaehaerys, an event forever etched in the annals of Westerosi history, was born from the burning desire for vengeance. The Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war, had already claimed several lives on both sides, but the death of Lucerys Velaryon at the hands of Prince Aemond Targaryen sparked a particularly virulent strain of bloodlust within Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. Feeling the grief of a mother, and understanding the stakes, she demanded, and obtained a very dark solution.
The Unlikely Assailants: Blood and Cheese
To carry out this unthinkable act, Rhaenyra turned to Daemon Targaryen, known for his ruthlessness and cunning. Daemon, in turn, tasked two unlikely figures:
- Blood: A former butcher of the city watch, known for his brute strength and brutality.
- Cheese: A former ratcatcher in the Red Keep, possessing intimate knowledge of the castle’s secret passages and hidden corridors.
This odd couple, with their grim skills, proved to be surprisingly effective in infiltrating the heavily guarded Red Keep. The choice of these two men was purposeful: they were expendable, loyal to Daemon, and understood the gravity and the danger of the mission.
The Horrific Scene at Maegor’s Holdfast
Blood and Cheese managed to sneak into Maegor’s Holdfast, where Queen Helaena resided with her children, Jaehaerys and Jaehaera. They ambushed Helaena, bound and gagged her, and presented her with a horrifying choice.
They demanded she choose which of her sons would die. Overcome with terror and desperation, Helaena, in a desperate attempt to save her younger son, Maelor, named him. However, Blood, showing no mercy, murdered Jaehaerys anyway, ensuring the death of the heir to the Iron Throne. The assault left Helaena traumatized and broken, adding another layer of tragedy to the already devastating war.
The Fallout: Fueling the Dance of the Dragons
The murder of Prince Jaehaerys had profound consequences:
- Escalation of the War: The act of filicide, the killing of one’s own child, shocked the entire realm and further hardened the resolve of both sides. Compromise became even less likely.
- Helaena’s Descent: The trauma completely shattered Queen Helaena. She suffered a complete mental breakdown, losing the ability to care for her remaining children and eventually took her own life.
- Fueling Aegon’s Rage: Aegon’s grief and fury at the murder of his son pushed him to even greater extremes in his pursuit of Rhaenyra, further prolonging the Dance of the Dragons and leading to even more devastation.
- Loss of Innocence: The death of an innocent child, particularly one destined to be king, exposed the brutal reality of war and the lengths to which individuals would go to secure power.
| Consequence | Description |
|---|---|
| War Escalation | The murder solidified the hatred between the two factions. |
| Helaena’s Trauma | The Queen was utterly devastated, losing her mind. |
| Aegon’s Rage | Aegon, mad with grief and anger, continued his campaign. |
| Loss of Innocence | Showed the brutal and terrible nature of war. |
A Pyrrhic Victory?
While the murder of Prince Jaehaerys struck a blow against Aegon II’s claim to the throne, it ultimately proved to be a pyrrhic victory for Rhaenyra. The act was widely condemned, alienating potential supporters and ultimately contributing to her downfall. The Dance of the Dragons, fueled by such acts of cruelty, resulted in the near extinction of the dragons and a devastating loss of life across Westeros.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blood and Cheese
Who ordered Blood and Cheese to kill Prince Jaehaerys?
The order came, ultimately, from Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. While the plot was hatched by Prince Daemon Targaryen, it was Rhaenyra who authorized the action, driven by her grief and desire for revenge for the death of her son Lucerys.
Why was Prince Jaehaerys targeted specifically?
Prince Jaehaerys was the eldest son and heir to King Aegon II Targaryen. His death effectively removed the immediate successor to the Iron Throne, creating instability within the Green faction and potentially weakening their claim to power.
What was the fate of Blood and Cheese after the murder?
Blood was captured and tortured to death. Cheese was killed in the Red Keep while trying to escape, but not before revealing the details of their mission to a gold cloak, Ser Perkin the Flea.
How did Blood and Cheese manage to infiltrate the Red Keep?
Cheese, having worked as a ratcatcher, possessed intimate knowledge of the Red Keep’s secret tunnels and passages. This, combined with Blood’s brute strength, allowed them to bypass the heavily guarded main entrances and gain access to Maegor’s Holdfast.
Was Queen Helaena complicit in her son’s murder?
Absolutely not. Queen Helaena was a victim of the attack, forced to make an impossible choice under duress. She was not complicit in her son’s death and suffered immense trauma as a result of the ordeal.
What role did Daemon Targaryen play in the Blood and Cheese affair?
Daemon Targaryen masterminded the entire plan, choosing Blood and Cheese and giving them their instructions. He saw the assassination as a necessary act of retribution and a strategic move to weaken Aegon II’s position.
Did the murder of Prince Jaehaerys turn the tide of the Dance of the Dragons?
While the murder didn’t immediately win the war for Rhaenyra, it intensified the conflict and further polarized the factions. It fueled Aegon II’s rage and hardened the resolve of both sides, leading to more bloodshed and destruction.
Why were Blood and Cheese considered such unlikely assassins?
They were chosen precisely because they were unremarkable and expendable. Their roles as a butcher and a ratcatcher didn’t arouse suspicion, allowing them to move relatively freely within King’s Landing. They were also assumed to be blindly loyal and easy to control, willing to carry out a terrible deed without question.
What was the public’s reaction to the murder of Prince Jaehaerys?
The murder was met with widespread horror and condemnation, even among some of Rhaenyra’s supporters. It was seen as a barbaric act that crossed the line, tarnishing Rhaenyra’s reputation and alienating potential allies.
Did the death of Prince Jaehaerys lead to any changes in succession within the Green faction?
Yes. After Jaehaerys’ death, Aegon II was forced to name his brother, Aemond Targaryen, as his heir. This created further tension within the Green faction, as some preferred Aegon’s daughter, Jaehaera, to inherit the throne.
Could the Dance of the Dragons have been avoided if Blood and Cheese had not occurred?
It is highly unlikely. The Dance of the Dragons was rooted in the long-standing animosity between Rhaenyra and Aegon II and their respective supporters. While the murder of Prince Jaehaerys certainly exacerbated the conflict, the war was likely inevitable.
What is the long-term legacy of Blood and Cheese in Westerosi history?
The story of Blood and Cheese serves as a grim reminder of the horrors of war and the depths to which individuals can sink in pursuit of power and revenge. It is a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked ambition and the devastating impact of violence on innocent lives. The name Blood and Cheese became synonymous with brutality and senseless violence in Westeros.