| Maester Aemon Targaryen | Robert Baratheon |
|---|---|
Who was she? I could tell you everything about her, Who she was, how we met, The color of her eyes, and the shape of her nose, I can see her, right in front of me, She's more real than you are. | You want to know the horrible truth? I can't even remember what she looked like, I only know she was the one thing I ever wanted... Someone took her away from me, and seven kingdoms couldn't fill the hole she left behind. |
The contrast between Robert and Aemon here is actually pretty profound.
Robert's lust for Lyanna (it would be folly to describe it as love) obviously played a large part in his eventual usurpation of the throne. Aemon passed over the throne and decided to take the black instead.
It's difficult to say which impulse, Robert's lust or Aemon's love, worked out better for either man.
Robert was king for seventeen years and led his life to the fullest, albeit dying prematurely as a result. Aemon is probably the oldest character we've seen up to this point, which is an achievement unto itself.
Robert died at 35. Aemon died at 102.
Love beats lust but duty beats love.
