Directed By: Clare Kilner / Written By: Charmaine DeGraté

Original Airdate: September 18, 2022

Runtime: 60 minutes

While Prince Daemon returns to the Vale of Arryn with an unwelcome reunion from his lawful wife Rhea Royce, King Viserys and Princess Rhaenyra personally sail to the island of Driftmark in order to arrange the marriage between House Targaryen and House Velaryon. After Lord Corlys and Princess Rhaenys agree to the union between Rhaenyra and their son Laenor, the royal wedding is quickly organized in King’s Landing. Meanwhile, prior to leaving the capital following his dismissal as Hand, Ser Otto warns his daughter Queen Alicent that if Rhaenyra becomes queen, her children would be a political threat and they will all be in danger at Rhaenyra's mercy.

main cast

runestone

In the Vale of Arryn, Prince Daemon Targaryen confronts his estranged wife, Lady Rhea Royce, while she is out hunting alone near her family's castle of Runestone. Rhea mockingly asks Daemon if he has come to consummate their marriage, or if his brother, King Viserys Targaryen, has finally expelled him from court after disinheriting Daemon in favor of a girl. Rhea asks if Daemon intends to murder his niece, Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen to reclaim his former position, only to realize that Daemon has returned to the Vale solely to kill her, since as a widower, he would be free to marry again and could easily wed his niece in the tradition of House Targaryen in order to reclaim his former status. Realizing her peril, Lady Rhea tries to grab her bow, only for Daemon to spook her horse into throwing her from the saddle. Rhea is badly hurt in the fall when her horse collapses on top of her. Daemon briefly checks Rhea before making to leave, seemingly content in the fact that her injuries would eventually result in her death. Rhea, however, then taunts Daemon that he can't "finish" her, at which point Daemon then picks up a large stone and advances towards her.

driftmark

King Viserys sails to Driftmark, the island seat of House Velaryon, in order to propose a marriage between Princess Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon, Lord Corlys Velaryon's heir. He is accompanied by Lord Lyonel Strong, recently appointed as the new Hand of the King to replace Ser Otto Hightower. They find no welcoming party in the courtyard of High Tide, only Laenor sparring with his companion Ser Joffrey Lonmouth. Laenor's sister Laena Velaryon politely invites them in, informing them that Corlys was too "tired" from a recent voyage to meet them there. Viserys waves this aside, understanding that Corlys' pride was wounded when the king declined to marry his daughter Laena. Viserys proceeds to the main throne room which his filled with fantastical artifacts from the far corners of the world that Corlys brought back from his infamous voyages. Corlys receives Viserys and is clearly enjoying himself, for the king to come to him to request a marriage alliance to his son, but he stops short of outright arrogance. He also informs the king of Lady Rhea Royce's death. Princess Rhaenys Targaryen then enters the hall, still in riding gear from her dragon. Both sides are outwardly polite but the unspoken truth is that Viserys has come to beg them to unite again with the crown, and they make a show of false modesty. Rhaenys is concerned when she notices that her cousin has lost two fingers on his left hand, though Viserys insists that he is fine. Both sides quickly agree on terms: the firstborn child of Laenor and Rhaenyra, regardless of gender, will inherit the Iron Throne. Corlys also asks that, per Westerosi tradition, their children will take their father's surname. Bemused, Viserys asserts that he can't allow the Targaryen dynasty to end with him just because he had a daughter, but as a compromise, he offers that Laenor's children will take the surname "Velaryon," but after that Laenor's grandchildren will return to the surname "Targaryen". Corlys finds this an "equitable" solution, and the marriage pact is finalized. Meanwhile, Rhaenyra and her cousin Laenor are sent on a courtship walk along the nearby beach. Rhaenyra, however, is aware that both she and Laenor are in love with other people, and that he is no more enthusiastic about this marriage pact than she is. In a friendly conversation, she proposes a mutual arrangement: they will perform their duty for their respective families to marry and produce heirs, but otherwise they will both continue having their own private romantic relationships.

Back at the castle, Corlys privately expresses concern to Rhaenys that perhaps he was too haughty with Viserys, but Rhaenys feels it was Viserys who humiliated himself begging for an alliance. When Corlys asks how Laenor and Rhaenyra are getting on, Rhaenys states as well as can be expected, bluntly telling her husband that they both know of their son's "nature". Embarrassed, Corlys waves it off, insisting that Laenor is just young and will "grow out of it". Rhaenys is instead worried that they have forced Laenor into a dangerous alliance, particularly if the lords of Westeros violently oppose Rhaenyra ascension. Corlys then embraces his wife and declares that this is their chance to set things right after the lords of the realm wronged her and their children by rejecting her as queen as the Great Council. Rhaenys, however, claims that she made peace with this long ago, as she can't be robbed of something she didn't have in the first place. Meanwhile, Laenor sits in private among the beach dunes with Joffrey Lonmouth, revealing that they are actually lovers. Joffrey chides Laenor for still being so worried, as the meeting with Rhaenyra went well beyond their wildest hopes: a bride for Laenor who is fully aware of his relationship with Joffrey who will not only allow it to continue, but isn't even offended, as she intends to have private lovers of her own. Laenor gives him a light shove but the tension breaks and they soon kiss each other passionately.

KING’S LANDING

On a rainy day in King's Landing, Ser Otto Hightower prepares to ride out of the Red Keep with his household guards and return to Oldtown, now that he has been replaced as Hand. His daughter, Queen Alicent Hightower, pleads with him that she believes Rhaenyra's claim that she is still a virgin, and that his dismissal is the culmination of pushing too hard for her son Aegon Targaryen to be named heir. Otto gravely chides her for her naivety and presents her with the cold logic of the situation: Viserys's health is failing and when he dies, Rhaenyra will have to kill Alicent's children simply to ensure her own survival. Alicent therefore has only two choices: either start plotting to secure her position at court or fully commit to ingratiating herself with her stepdaughter and hope that when Rhaenyra takes the throne, this will make her merciful enough towards Alicent. Unable to express in words that he loves her, Otto gives Alicent a desperate final embrace and then rides out of the castle. Afterwards, Alicent visits the godswood where she encounters Larys Strong, the crippled and soft-spoken son of Lord Lyonel. Larys remarks on flowers from Braavos that were removed from their native climate, which have nonetheless managed to thrive there. He then makes a back-handed inquiry into Rhaenyra's health, "accidentally" revealing that the same night Daemon was exiled, Rhaenyra was presented with a medicinal tea brewed by Grand Maester Mellos. Alicent realizes Larys’ implication that Rhaenyra must have received the abortifacient drug, and therefore must be lying to her.

Meanwhile, as they sail into the capital, Ser Criston Cole confronts Princess Rhaenyra on the deck. He tells her he knows she doesn't love Laenor and for years she's talked about her fear of being trapped in a loveless arranged marriage. Instead, he pleads with her to flee with him into exile beyond Westeros, where they can be married. Rhaenyra gently insists that she still has duties to her family and to the realm itself, so she can never leave or marry him, but she doesn't consider this a problem because she just worked out an "understanding" with Laenor. Criston, however, shifts tone and angrily says that he doesn't just want to be Rhaenyra's "whore": he came from nothing and his honor as a Kingsguard is all he has, honor that he forever sullied when he broke his sacred vow of chastity with her. He says that his hope was to restore at least a part of his honor by lawfully marrying her. Rhaenyra begins to explain again that this is impossible, but Criston storms off.

Upon Ser Criston’s arrival in the capital, Alicent summons him to her chambers. She is hesitant and carefully chooses her words, starting to inform him that she has heard rumors that Rhaenyra is no longer a virgin, though not specifying who she had sex with. Overcome with guilt and distraught at Rhaenyra's rejection of his marriage offer, Criston confesses that the rumors are true, because he is the one who had sex with Rhaenyra. This surprises Alicent, as she had assumed the culprit was Daemon. Criston declares that even if Rhaenyra initiated things, it is still his own fault for abandoning his Kingsguard vows. Criston pleads that if Alicent is a merciful queen, he only makes the small request that he be granted a quick death by execution, instead of any drawn-out torture that by right the king will subject him to. Alicent, however, is utterly stunned at Rhaenyra's betrayal, realizing that she used a lie of exact words to swear on her dead mother Queen Aemma’s memory that she never had sex with Daemon, yet still lost her virginity. While some of the details were inaccurate, Otto was fundamentally correct to suspect Rhaenyra of jeopardizing the impending marriage alliance, thus Rhaenyra indirectly cost Alicent's father his high-ranking position at court. Her heart hardening, Alicent surprises Criston by quietly telling him to go and return to his duties without punishment.

Following King Viserys’ stumble in the courtyard, he is rushed to his private chambers and recovers in a bathtub while being attended to by his maesters. Amputating two of his fingers only slowed the advance of the persistent infection, and now after several more years it has once again continued to spread along much of his forearm. Grand Maester Mellos insists on another round of leechings, but his new aide Maester Orwyle instead suggests that a new mixture of medicines might be more effective. The conservative Mellos scoffs at this, stating that his leechings have always improved the king's condition. After Mellos departs, Orwyle hands Lord Lyonel a new medicine anyway and declares that drinking it will help Viserys sleep. Now alone, Viserys laments to Lyonel that he doesn't think he'll be much remembered as king, as he wasn't a great warrior and made no glorious conquests, but neither did he suffer any major defeats. Lyonel states that many would consider the latter a good legacy. A pained Viserys smiles but says that a peaceful reign isn't the stuff of epic songs retold at feasts. He then ponders wistfully, that if some great crisis had occurred when he was younger, it's possible he might have risen to the occasion and in that crucible been forged into a better man. Rather than humour him, Lyonel says many yearn for that test but in truth most men faced with crisis wish it hadn't come to them. Viserys respects his honesty, but can't help but think of another life he may have had and wonder about his legacy.

Some time later, the long-awaited royal wedding ceremonies finally begin: first a grand feast in the Red Keep, to be followed by seven days of tournaments and spectacle, culminating with the marriage ceremony. The Velaryons arrive on their dragons with Laenor on Seasmoke, and his mother Rhaenys on the older and larger Meleys. Meanwhile, Lord Corlys and the full Velaryon fleet arrive in the harbor, as the city's bells toll out to greet them for the festivities. Inside the throne room, envoys from all the major noble houses of the realm are announced by Ser Harrold Westerling as they enter, such as Lord Jason Lannister and Lord Hobert Hightower. King Viserys and Princess Rhaenyra sit at the middle of the high table in front of the throne's base and receive each noble house, though Queen Alicent has noticeably yet to arrive. The entire room comes to a halt for the entrance of the stunning entourage of House Velaryon, dressed in extravagant gold tracery. Corlys, Rhaenys, Laenor, Laena and Ser Vaemond then take their seat on the high table. The assembled guests are surprised, however, with the arrival of Prince Daemon, as he had been exiled for a second time and was commanded by Viserys never to return. As Daemon was Corlys' partner in the capture of the Stepstones, however, they are the only faction at court where he is somewhat welcome. After a tense moment, Viserys silently welcomes his brother back, as it seems Daemon is appearing out of courtesy for his niece's wedding. Viserys orders another chair brought up to the high table for Daemon, next to Lyonel Strong at the opposite side from the Velaryons. After the moment with Daemon has passed, Viserys rises to give a speech in praise of House Velaryon as the crown's most faithful and powerful allies, and that this marriage will unite both families as one. Just then, Queen Alicent enters through the main doors, intentionally interrupting the king in the middle of his speech. As Alicent dons in a striking green dress, Larys notes to his brother Ser Harwin Strong that when House Hightower calls its bannermen to assemble for war, the watch fire in the Hightower is set to burn a green color: in effect, green is the Hightowers' color of war. Alicent silently makes her way through the feast hall as all, save for Daemon, rise for her presence. When she reaches the high table, she gives Viserys a curt peck on the cheek and coldly congratulates Rhaenyra, referring to her only as "stepdaughter". Her fixed, sharp glares and dramatic entrance make it clear to Rhaenyra that she knows she was lied to, and their friendship is over. Viserys returns to his speech, concluding with his hope that, just as the Velaryons have followed the Targaryens since the age of dragons in Valyria, this new union will usher in a second age of dragons in Westeros.

Once the tension subsides, the wedding feast begins in earnest. Musicians begin to play as Rhaenyra and Laenor begin the first dance of the evening, and they are then joined by dozens of other couples in a large-scale ballroom dance. Alicent leaves the high table and approaches her uncle Hobert, who affirms Oldtown's support. Ser Gerold Royce then approaches the high table to openly accuse that Daemon killed his cousin Rhea Royce, as her riding skill is so well known she couldn't possibly have died in an accident. Daemon warns him that such accusations are not only serious but have little evidence, but he will have time to hear them out again when Daemon goes to the Eyrie to present Lady Jeyne Arryn with his claims over his dead wife's inheritance of Runestone. Ser Gerold leaves, and from across the table Daemon exchanges glances with Lady Laena. When Laena joins the nobles on the dance floor, Daemon cuts in to pair with her, and they exchange flirtations. Meanwhile, from observing how Rhaenyra and Ser Criston keep glancing at each other, Joffrey Lonmouth accurately deduces to his paramour Laenor that Criston is her secret lover. Ser Joffrey then speaks with Criston of their informal alliance, and how both of them should protect the secrets of their betrothed lovers. Viewing this as a veiled threat, Criston is on the verge of a complete breakdown. On the dance floor, Daemon cuts in to dance with Rhaenyra and they speak in High Valyrian to keep their conversation private from those around them. Daemon urges that she hasn't married Laenor yet, and though he thinks he's a good man and brave knight, he will "bore" Rhaenyra in their sham marriage, so she has this one last chance to run away with Daemon now that his wife Rhea is dead. Rhaenyra, however, feels spurned by Daemon and suspects that he only wants to marry her to gain political power for himself. As they exchange fiery words, they come close to kissing. King Viserys angrily observes Daemon through the crowd, but just then they are interrupted by a piercing cry from a different part of the feast floor. A brawl has broken out in the packed room, but it becomes clear that at the center of it Ser Criston has begun pummeling Joffrey Lonmouth. Laenor manages to struggle his way through to them and tackles Criston but the enraged knight punches out the groom. Rhaenyra is nearly trampled on but Harwin Strong tosses and punches the crowd aside to reach her, then slinging her over his shoulder and wades out to safety. Ser Joffrey pulls out a dagger but Criston blocks it and snaps his arm. Criston then flies into a dark fury, shouting and continually punching Joffrey while the crowed is too stunned to intervene. When Criston finally relents, it is revealed that he has beaten Joffrey’s face in to the point of death. Criston silently rises and slowly walks out of the throne room, the other guards too terrified to stop him. As the guests clear the floor, Laenor regains consciousness and rushes over to his lover, wailing in anguish while cradling his body. The stress is too much for Viserys' already delicate health and he begins to bleed copiously from his nose. Ser Criston makes his way to the godswood, and slowly removes his blood-stained cloak and armor. He then kneels in front of the sacred heart tree and deliberately draws his dagger, preparing to kill himself. At the last moment, Alicent appears and calls out to him, preventing his suicide. Rhaenyra has ended this day with two enemies bitterly opposed to her. Some hours later, Viserys has cancelled the seven days of festivities leading to the ceremony. Instead, determined to finish this as quickly as possible, the king has called in the High Septon to wed Rhaenyra and Laenor in a private exchange of vows in front of their respective parents and advisors. Rhaenyra and Laenor are still in shock and crying, as they go through the rote exchange of vows on their ruined wedding day. Once the High Septon pronounces them officially married, Viserys, who had been holding himself together on pure adrenaline, drops to the floor in a faint. His aides rush to tend to him, while on the other side of the throne room, rats lick at the pools of the deceased Joffrey’s blood.

*Episode descriptions from GOT Wiki