Part one catch up: the funeral of Laena Velaryon also brought rivals, Rhaenyra Targaryen and her former friend and now queen, Alicent Targaryen. Young Aemond Targaryen has his first dragon ride on Vhagar, former dragon of Laena, and the largest dragon alive in Westeros! Rhaena wakens Jace about the theft of Vhagar. Also, awake is Rhaenyra after a night with her uncle, Daemon. They see the dragon and Vhagar lands next to the castle, High Tide. Aemond steps down from Vhagar and the Velaryon sisters (with Jace) confront him. Baela says Vhagar was her dragon, but the dragonrider pushes her aside, and punches Rhaena! Jace joins the fight, Aemond is still the tough guy, so Rhaena also attacks him! They get in some good punches, but Jace just bashes Aemond until he stands up with a rock.
He taunts him that his father, Harwin, died in flames, a petty boy. Luke, bullied by Aemond at the dragon pit, takes out a dagger! Aemond is still able to knock the brothers back, he is able to bash Jace, but he throws sand in his face. Luke scrambles to find the dagger and slashes the bully’s face! Aemond screams the coward’s scream, but his hand pours with blood! Ser Criston ends the fight along with the rest of the Kingsguard. He checks on the wound and Ser Harrold is stunned. Viserys now rages and asks what happened, Ser Harrold tries to explain, but the king is angry that they had oaths to protect his family. Criston tries to say princes were fighting princes, not acceptable, especially to Viserys. Alicent questions the Grand Maester Mellos who has stitched the wound. He says the eye is lost. She slaps Aegon for being drunk.
Lord Colys and Lady Rhaenys enter and then Rhaenyra and Daemon. Luke’s nose is broken. The children start to argue. Otto and Daemon stay out of it. The arguments have to be stopped by the king. Jace says the maimed prince called them bastards. Alicent says her bully should speak first. Rhaenyra says that her boys were insulted. Otto leans forward. Rhaenyra says her boys legitimacies were questioned. The others are silent. Rhaenyra says to the king that are in line for the throne so this is treason. She wants Aemond questioned. Alicent says it was just an insult. Viserys asks Aemond where he heard it. Alicent tries to explain that there many in the training yard. Viserys repeats the question.
The bully is silent so Alicent brings up Ser Laenor. Really it should be if Aemond doesn’t speak, then he can’t take any action for the other boys, that might loosen his tongue. Rhaenyra says she went out for a walk, half-true. Alicent says he was entertaining squires, really she should be sent away, Ser Criston smiles caught by Ser Harrold. Again, Viserys asks the question, the coward blames it on his brother, Aegon. He screams at his other son who says everyone knows and tells the king to look at their faces. Where’s Lord Larys? We see Corlys and his children. Viserys rages that he is tired of the fighting and demands apologies be made. Alicent says that Aemond’s lost eye demands that one of Rhaenyra’s son’s eye removed. This is after the king just said they should apologize and no one did. Viserys says she must not act out of anger. Alicent tries to use her power as queen to order Ser Criston to take Lucerys’ eye!
Everything is on the table now. Viserys says the matter is over again. He declares that anyone who says Rhaenyra’s sons are illegitimate will lose their tongue! Alicent takes the king’s dagger and rushes to attack Rhaenyra. Her sons should take her eyes. Daemon stops Ser Criston. Otto finally speaks and tells Alicent to drop the dagger. Alicent blames Rhaenyra for taking Aemond’s eye? Just acting out of anger. Rhaenyra tells the queen that everyone can see she is self-righteous. Alicent slashes Rhaenyra’s arm. They are divided. Lord Corlys is by his daughter-in-law. Aemond speaks and says it was a “fair exchange” since has the dragon. Viserys walks away, Ser picks up the dagger, it looks like we have the two sides of the Dance of the Dragon; Daemon stands with Rhaenyra, her sons, and Corlys Velaryon, on the other side, Ser Criston, Aemond, and Alicent. Later, Otto meets with his reckless daughter. She admits that she disgraced herself, attacked the next ruler, and rumors are going around about her madness. All true, Otto says Alicent showed her determination to win, the Game of Thrones?
Dragon Saddle, The House of the Dragon: The Targaryen Dynasty, Natural History Museum Los Angeles County, photo by the author.
He tells her act forgiving and the king eventually will give in. Rhaenyra’s arm is painfully stitched up by the Grand Maester Mellos. Laenor walks in and his wife sends everyone away. He says, “I should have been there” which Rhaenyra says should be their house motto, funny! He failed to protect his sons, his wife, and his marriage. Laenor brings up their arrangement, Rhaenyra says he has a good heart and that’s rare, she is kind. He says Ser Qarl is going to fight in the Stepstones and that he will dedicate himself to her. The royal procession leaves High Tide. Alicent tries to apologize, it seems like the king has already forgiven her. Corlys and Rhaenys watch the royal ship leave. Vhagar flies over Rhaenyra and towards the ships. Daemon joins Rhaenyra and the talk about fire and the sea. Larys talks to Alicent spreading his poison. I think Otto had hired him to spy while he was sent away.
Larys offers to get that eye that she wanted, but Alicent refuses and instead wants him to be of use later. Rhaenyra in High Valyrian says that she needs Daemon to marry and solidify her claim to the throne. He says, Matt Smith hasn’t spoken much in this part, that Laenor would have to be dead. At the harbor, Daemon in cloak, speaks to Ser Qarl. He notes across the Narrow Sea, Essos, that only cares about gold not a person’s titles. Daemon wants him to make a “quick death” with witnesses. Laenor is surprised that Qarl is at Corlys hall and the knight says he was always “looked down” upon. He draws his sword and they duel. Corlys rushes with his knights, but Laenor’s charred body is pulled from the fireplace. Rhaenyra says she will be blamed by the Velaryons. Daemon helps her realize that others will not know what she will do next. Rhaenys cries at the loss of her only son. Rhaenyra cuts her hand as does Daemon and they clasp their hands together. Their children are there to witness the wedding, the blood drink, and bloody kiss. House of the Dragon goes back to the Game of Thrones viciousness even funerals are dangerous.
Four Dragon Saddles out of Five!
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