Rest in peace, Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was. I’m still not sure why exactly you flew back toward Vhagar’s open jaws ..
. I’m sure you had a good reason. Except for that slip-up, you were one of this show’s wisest and most dignified characters, and your presence will be missed.
At any rate, let’s break down “A Dance of Dragons,” Episode 4 of Season 2 of House of the Dragon : The showrunners had been setting up a rift between Aemond and Aegon since last season, and the payoff was fantastic. This week, Aemond betrayed Aegon, first by waiting to join him in battle, then by recklessly hitting him with a blast of Vhagar’s dragonfire. Aemond has just enough plausible deniability to say he was trying to take out Rhaenys—but it was pretty clear that he wouldn’t mind his older brother becoming a tragic casualty in this conflict.
Heck, when the battle was over and he was standing near Aegon, he even had his sword out ...
for some reason. This isn’t quite how the Battle of Rook’s Rest takes form in Fire & Blood . In the book, Aegon and Aemond arrive at the keep together—Criston Cole’s trap involves both brothers, not just the younger one.
And in the tangle of wings, teeth, and claws, there is no mention of Vhagar attacking the king. Here’s the relevant passage: Princess Rhaenys made no attempt to flee. With a glad cry and a crack of her whip, she turned Meleys toward the foe.
Against Vhagar alone she might have had some chance, but against Vhaga.
