House of the Dragon

Aeron Bracken, worst horseman among us.

Must be my swordsmanship.

Can you even get that thing up?

Well enough for killing Blackwoods.

Bracken!

Put the boundary stones back.

We didn't move them.

Did they move themselves, then?

Just rolled their way over so Bracken cows can fill their bellies

- on Blackwood grass? - The assize at Riverrun...

Fuck the assize

and fuck you.

This is our land.

It's Bracken land.

- Babe-killer. - What did you say?

Your false queen, Rhaenyra, is a kinslayer.

Your uncle declared for Aegon, did he?

Well then, let me tell you

Aegon Targaryen is no true king

just as you are no true knight.

You're both craven, little cunts!

You wouldn't dare.

He is the basest of villains.

He sullies the grave of his brother.

I cannot fault him for keeping his oath.

And what of those who sent him?

Otto Hightower would never have allowed this.

Hotter blood has prevailed, I think.

The young men have taken the bit in their teeth.

They wish to punish, to avenge.

Soon they will not even remember what it was

that began the war in the first place.

That is easy enough. They usurped my throne.

That is one answer.

Or was it when the child was beheaded?

Or when Aemond killed Luke

or when Luke took Aemond's eye?

We teeter now at the point where none of it will matter.

And the desire to kill and burn takes hold

and reason is forgotten.

There may be another way.

Alicent Hightower.

When last we met, Alicent said I would make a fine queen.

You've seen what has happened since then.

She came to me in the hours after your lord father's death.

She knows war is coming

and that it'll be savage beyond all compare.

There is no war so hateful to the gods as a war between kin.

And no war so bloody as a war between dragons.

- I do not believe she wants it. - She sent a raven.

I do not care to read her message.

What she did...

It is not her but the men around her who seek bloodshed.

She permitted it.

As you permitted the murder of a little boy in his bed.

Alicent is in King's Landing. Her son sits my throne.

There is nothing more to be said.

Is all well, lord Hand?

Only they'll be waiting.

...there have been tidings in...

Good morrow, Your Grace. My lords.

- Forgive my lateness. - Important business, no doubt.

You've appointed new knights to the Kingsguard, Your Grace.

To replace those we lost.

The last one needlessly, some might say.

Ser Arryk was awarded the great duty of ending Rhaenyra's challenge.

He failed to discharge it.

He failed because the scheme was rash.

Perhaps, Your Grace, but we cannot all hide in our castles

waiting for war to come to us.

As now it surely will.

As, now, it already has.

House Bracken took it upon themselves to attack the Blackwoods,

who declared for the pretender.

Lord Samwell Blackwood himself is slain.

Good. First blood in our name.

Both sides took heavy losses, Your Grace.

I'm not entirely certain we can declare this a victory.

The Blackwoods and the Brackens have feuded for centuries.

This is nothing more than an excuse for them to indulge

their ancient grudge. It's no true war.

Call it what you will.

I call it war.

And so will Dragonstone.

The question is, what are we going to do about it?

We send a raven to Lord Tully.

These houses are his vassals, are they not?

He must control them.

Lord Grover Tully is a flaccid, old fool

who couldn't control his cock in a cunny.

Begging your pardon, Your Grace.

Do you have any better suggestions, Lord Jasper?

Your lord uncle Ormund marches from Oldtown

at the head of a great host, Your Grace.

And your brother Daeron's dragon nears fighting age.

Call on them to suppress the Riverlands.

Alas, they are months away.

My lord brother Jason is raising a great army at Casterly Rock.

In a matter of weeks, he will be able to harass the Blackwoods from the west.

Should we not aim to unite these armies and then strike as one?

The great military mind of the Citadel.

- I served the realm... - Do remind me,

which link in your chain denotes the art of war?

This council must rediscover the discipline it lately had

if it's to be of any use.

The Riverlands are the key to the war.

Harrenhal is the key to the Riverlands.

I will ride out with those I can muster here.

Men I know, men I've trained.

You need time to raise the numbers to challenge the Rivermen.

Speed is my ally.

I will turn the Crownland houses who declared for Rhaenyra to our cause.

We will add their numbers to our own and then turn west.

Where I will enlist the Brackens, subdue the Riverlands, and take Harrenhal.

So impatient to ride with so few men.

So like to be destroyed by the first stronghold you meet.

- A bold scheme indeed. - Well, the gods favor the bold.

They did not favor Ser Arryk.

What say you, my king?

And you'll take Aemond and Vhagar?

Vhagar will remain here

to defend the city.

Good. To war, then.

- I'll come, too, with Sunfyre. - Aegon.

- Your Grace. - You'll need a dragon.

My plan is not to draw attention.

And what will you do if you encounter one or more

of Rhaenyra's dragons?

She'll want to answer for Ser Arryk.

We will be more like to encounter one if we field one of our own.

That is precisely why you must remain, brother.

It's a brave thought, but we cannot risk your loss.

I'm as fearsome as any of them.

I was told you turned back from your ship to bring warning.

I was not believed at first.

You saved my life.

What is the life of a queen worth these days?

You wish to be rewarded.

As, I would think, you would wish to reward me.

What price would you set?

A place at your court.

You said your earnest desire was to flee Westeros.

And you let me go.

You showed me grace when you could have withheld it.

I'm not often surprised.

One turn for another, then.

I know the workings of the Red Keep

and the movements of those who serve there.

That is worth more than gold to you now.

And what is my worth to you?

I would punish the Hightowers for what they have done.

To me, to those who served me.

But more than that, I know the struggles of the smallfolk of King's Landing.

They will be ruled either by you or by the usurper.

And only one of you has shown yourself to be merciful.

Well, I hope you do not confuse mercy with pliancy.

Are they always like this?

Seasmoke, my late lord husband's dragon.

He's grown restless of late.

- We cannot know why. - Maybe he's lonely.

Rhaena.

Your Grace.

I've decided to send Joffrey to ward with my cousin, Lady Jeyne Arryn.

She has pledged an army in return for a dragon

so she will have one.

Aegon and Viserys will accompany him until a place of greater safety can be found.

Tyraxes is but a hatchling.

- And Stormcloud... - I want you to go with them.

The Red Keep is in disarray.

They have sent one assassin in the night

and their dragons are ever a short flight away.

You must take the little ones further. To Pentos, I think.

Where my mother died.

It is safer than anywhere in Westeros.

Write to Prince Reggio. If he will have you, then go to him.

I am sorry to put this upon you.

It breaks my heart to send my boys away, not knowing when I will see them again.

But you have seen what may befall them here.

Rhaena,

I need you to be the mother to them that I cannot.

Teach them, train them, guard them as a dragon guards her eggs.

And my sister?

- I need Baela here. - Because she has a dragon.

I cannot promise to make you happy.

But I ask you: make this sacrifice willingly, for all of us.

Your Grace.

Dragon!

Halt!

I'm claiming Harrenhal.

Apparently so.

I, Ser Simon Strong, Castellan of Harrenhal,

pledge fealty to Rhaenyra of House Targaryen,

First of Her Name.

I swear this by the old gods and the new.

Supper is venison with black cabbage and peas.

No redcurrant. Sorry about that.

That venison is well aged.

Shame to let it waste.

I've survived many a battle.

I do not mean to be felled by poisoned peas.