Another time jump, another accusation against Rhaenyra’s kids' legitimacy.
Oh, you thought we weren’t getting another time jump?
Don’t you know what show you’re watching?
Ollie Upton/HBO
Let’s play catch-up.
He’s been at sea for years, with Princess Rhaenys (Eve Best) ruling in his stead.
Resigned to the fact that it will never be her, she names Lucerys Velaryon, son of Laenor.
Olivia Cooke’s Queen Alicent Hightower on ‘House of the Dragon’.Ollie Upton/HBO
It’s what Corlys wished.
“I am the Sea Snake’s own blood,” he says.
“My brother cares only for the history books, but what of the Velaryon line?”
Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) defends her son at court in ‘House of the Dragon’.Ollie Upton/HBO
He wants Driftmark for himself.
Rhaenys remains a wild card.
Daemon, on the other hand, is optimistic since she’s taken Baela under her wing.
Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen on ‘House of the Dragon’.Ollie Upton/HBO
Unfortunately, the delirious and drugged king is in no shape to affirm Lucerys as heir to Driftmark.
Lucerys, after all, can’t command a fleet if they go to war.
And war is looming.
But Alicent’s got other things on her mind.
A servant weeps at her feet, terrified to tell the queen that Aegon II sexually assaulted her.
Aegon II paints himself as the victim when Alicent reprimands him.
“I’ve done everything you’ve asked me to,” he spits.
“It’ll never be enough for you or father.”
Rhaenyra meets with Rhaenys, who’s also arrived at King’s Landing for the Driftmark petition.
Or will she advocate for herself?
She’s not lying, but she’s also not being entirely honest.
She makes an offer.
Rhaenys listens, but remains noncommittal.
The next day, everyone gathers in the Red Keep to discuss Driftmark.
Otto stands in for Viserys, who is nowhere in sight.
Vaemond, who speaks first, gets right down to business.
“The true and unimpeachable blood of House Velaryon runs through my veins,” he declares.
Rhaenyra is quick to play defense, claiming that Laenor’s Velaryon blood runs through her heirs.
Everyone knows it to be false, but will Vaemond risk treason by actually coming out and saying it?
Sick and withered, he limps to the throne, the crown slipping from his head.
Once there, he expresses confusion.
The succession, he says, is settled.
The only one able to offer insight into the desires of Lord Corlys is his wife, Rhaenys.
When she speaks, it is to affirm Lucerys.
She agrees publicly to Rhaenyra’s proposal to marry Jacaerys and Lucerys to be betrothed to Baela and Rhaena.
“The matter is settled… again,” intones Viserys.
“Don’t you dare tell me who deserves to inherit the name of Velaryon,” he says.
“I will not allow it.”
As Vaemond’s rage boils, Daemon senses his urge to speak the truth about Lucerys.
“Say it,” Daemon says.
“Her children are bastards,” he declares, “and she is a whore.”
An incensed but weak Viserys rises, knife unsheathed.
“I will have your tongue for that!”
The matter is settled.
(Though not for Rhaenys, who certainly did not want to see it go down this way.)
Before the petitions, Viserys instructed Otto to gather the entire family for dinner.
Despite the violence that just occurred, the meal goes on as planned.
A toast is made to celebrate the betrothal and Viserys is well enough to make a speech.
He removes his mask, revealing the extent of his facial rot.
The realm cannot stand, he says, “if the house of the dragon stands divided.”
Rhaenyra takes the opportunity to make amends.
She toasts to Alicent, offering an apology.
Alicent returns the favor, telling her old friend that she’ll make a “fine queen.”
There’s dancing and drinking.
Daemon and Alicent break it up and Rhaenyra offers to take the children back to Dragonstone.
But she promises to return on her dragon; perhaps they can mend what’s so long been broken.
“The king and I would like that,” says Alicent.
But peace never lasts in Westeros.
Earlier in the episode, Rhaenyra spoke to Viserys as he drifted in a state of delirium.
“The Song of Ice and Fire, do you believe it to be true?”
She thought she wanted to be queen, but the burden is too heavy.
Viserys, drugged and distant, didn’t respond at the time.
Unfortunately, his words come out garbled.
In scraps, he recounts the prophecy and mentions Aegon.
“It is you,” he mumbles.
“You are the one.
You must do this.”
“I understand, my king,” says Alicent.
How is she interpreting these words?
That’s what we’re left to wonder as the picture fades to black.
