"Then the storm broke, and the dragons danced."
Following the death of King Viserys, Westeros is thrust into a bloody civil war. The "greens," supporters of Aegon II, and the blacks, the supporters of Rhaenyra, launch into conflict over a disputed claim to the throne. This description is both literal and figurative in that the dragons do fight each other, but also the "dragons," meaning the members of the Targaryen family, are also engaged in vicious combat. The use of the word "dance" offers a graceful description of what was actually a brutal war.
“Treasonous actions deserve punishment. Foolish words are another matter.”
This quote serves to highlight Jaehaerys calm demeanor and thoughtful approach to ruling. In this particular instance, he refers to the way in which Rogar Baratheon attempted to influence him and do damage to his marriage. However, as he sees it, much of Rogar's behavior amounted to "foolish words" and not actual attempts to do harm. He makes the distinction between speaking thoughtlessly and committing real treason. The thoughtfulness displayed in his quote reveals why he was such a diplomatic and judicious ruler, as he did not waver in the face of conflict but did not pursue unnecessarily harsh punishments for more minor offenses.
“Words are wind, but wind can fan a fire. My father and my uncle fought words with steel and flame. We shall fight words with words, and put out the fires before they start.”
Once again, Jaehaerys recognizes the importance of dealing with conflict head-on, without taking overly drastic measures. In this quote, he notes that his father Aenys and uncle Maegor chose to fight words of dissent with "steel and flame," appearing unafraid to go to war over minor issues. Jaehaerys's comment indicates that he believes that treasonous words must be fought with words, not violence. It is another instance in which his thoughtful nature is on display.
"From that day to this day, Torrhen Stark is remembered as the King Who Knelt... but no northmen left his burned bones besides the Trident, and the swords that Aegon collected from Lord Stark and his vassals were neither twisted nor bent."
Torrhen Stark is one of the only kings in Westeros who bends the knee without conflict. He does so after witnessing another army losing badly to Aegon in a particularly bloody battle. He decides to spare the lives of his men and swear fealty without a fight. Aegon in turn shows him respect and mercy, leaving the swords he takes from Torrhen's men unbent. This moment highlights the way in which peaceful negotiation can occur in the book when matters of pride are set aside.
"King Aenys knew these rebels had to be put down, but seemed unable to decide where to begin. Grand Maester Gawen wrote that the king could not comprehend why this was happening. The small folk loved him, did they not?"
This quote reveals how out of touch with the kingdom Aenys is. Despite his rule being plagued with small rebellions, he is constantly wondering where all this tension and strife comes from. His lack of understanding points to the larger problem of his leadership style, as he is constantly trying to make people love and admire him, but rarely handles matters directly or thoughtfully. This shortcoming eventually leads to serious problems for him.
"Maegor the Cruel" he was called and 'kinslayer' as well, though it was death to say either in his hearing."
The nickname mentioned in this quote is indicative of the kind of ruler Maegor was, cruel to the point of killing his nephew without remorse. The additional detail that calling him either of these nicknames in his hearing was a death sentence shows that Maegor became increasingly paranoid over the course of his rule. His behavior also indicates that he was unaware of how his murderous actions impacted people's perception of him.
"The accomplishments of King Jaehaerys are almost too many to enumerate. Chief among them, in the view of most students of history, are the long periods of peace and prosperity that marked his time on the Iron Throne."
Where Aenys was ineffective and Maegor brutal, Jaehaerys is remembered as a wise and gracious leader, ushering in an era of stability and peace. This quote indicates why Jaehaerys is held in such high regard and also suggests the way in which different kings accumulate a historical reputation as a result of scholarship. His reign is also a brief respite from the many instances of infighting that engulf the dynasty over the generations.
"And here we must digress to say a word about our sources, for much of what happened in the years that followed happened behind closed doors, in the privacy of stairwells, council rooms, and bedchambers, and the full truth of it will never likely be known."
This quote indicates the incomplete nature of the history that Gyldayn is writing. He points out that while he strives for completeness, there are limitations to what can be fully known as fact, as many of the conversations and events depicted took place in private spaces. While this quote occurs in the specific context of the Dance of Dragons, it indicates more broadly that there are limitations to what can be verified about the period.
"The Dance of Dragons entered a new stage after the death of Lucerys Velaryon in the stormlands and the murder of Jaehaerys before his mother's eyes in the Red Keep. For both the blacks and the greens, blood called to blood for vengeance."
This quote shows how the conflict spiraled out of control following the deaths of Lucerys and Jaehaerys. The line "blood called to blood for vengeance" indicates how these killings were a point of no return for both families, as they were a cause for violent retribution. As the book shows repeatedly, this desire for revenge only led to more conflict and casualties, as neither side ever felt satisfied with the harm done to the opposition.
"With the infallibility of hindsight, we now look back through the centuries and say the Dance was done, but this seemed less certain to those who lived through its dark and dangerous aftermath."
This is another moment in which Gyldayn takes a wider view of history, pointing out that while the death of Aegon II was the end of "the Dance," it did not initially appear to be that way at the time. The "dark and dangerous aftermath" of this period involved the lengthy reconciliation of the realm largely led by Cregan Stark. This quote also more broadly suggests that the past is often broken up into discrete periods in the present, but that those who experienced it do not see it as neatly.
