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game of thrones - Why does Daenerys trust the prophecies of those who betray her?


This question has spoilers from the early books of A Song of Ice and Fire. Read on warily.





In AGOT - Chapter 68, Mirri Maz Duur tells Daenerys Targaryen that Drogo will return...



When the sun rises in the west and sets in the east. When the seas go dry and mountains blow in the wind like leaves. When your womb quickens again, and you bear a living child. Then he will return, and not before.



Daenerys proceeds to burn Mirri Maz Duur for betraying her by sacrificing her son for the life of Drogo. However, this "prophecy" is mentioned many times throughout the rest of the book series, and it seems that Daenerys takes it quite seriously. (I don't have exact page references but I think her belief in the prophesy is fairly clear.)


Similarly, in ACOK - Chapter 48, the Undying tell Daenerys, among other things:



. . . three treasons will you know . . . once for blood and once for gold and once for love . . .



Shortly after, the Undying attack Daenerys, only failing because she has one of her dragons with her. Yet this prophecy about treasons seems to pop up in nearly every subsequent Daenerys chapter. Daenerys is convinced that Mirra Maz Duur was the first treason.



My question is, why does Daenerys trust in these prophecies given to her by people who betrayed her or tried to kill her?


It makes no sense. Mirri Maz Dur and the Undying clearly have some sort of magical powers, and they may be capable of telling prophecies, but why should they tell true prophecies if they only meant Daenerys harm? Why would Daenerys have any desire to trust such prophecies? Are prophecies so sacred?


(Daenerys also seems to have faith in the cryptic words of Quaithe, but at least she never did any harm to Daenerys. See Daenerys' dreams and prophecies.)


I'm mainly asking this in regard to the books, not the show.




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