Episode 3 of House of the Dragon opens with a banner aflame, its fiery silhouette silhouetted against the night sky. The banner hangs from a ship, its wooden hull consumed by ravenous flames that lick and dance in the darkness. The scene shifts to the Crabfeeder, a vile figure engaging in his wicked deeds amidst a crowd of terrified sailors.
Suddenly, Daemon appears, riding his dragon alone, intent on wiping out the Sellswords. But these mercenaries are now well-prepared to face the dragon's wrath. The Crabfeeder manages to slip away into a nearby cave, sheltered from the flames, while archers perched on a clifftop keep the dragon at bay. The battle ends in a tense stalemate, leaving both sides unscathed.
Two years have passed in the world, and while the conflict at the Stepstones continues to rage, Viserys has welcomed a son into his life with Alicent. The child is now two years old, a reminder of the changing tides in the royal court. Otto, ever the puppeteer, continues to manipulate the strings of power behind a veil of deceit.
During the celebrations marking the prince's birthday, the lingering issue of the Stepstones finally comes to Viserys' attention. But with his mind divided between the festivities and the weighty matters of state, he only half-heartedly listens to the concerns raised. His thoughts are instead drawn to the whereabouts of Rhaenyra.
Outside, Rhaenyra is engrossed in a book, accompanied by a bard whose strumming fills the air with melody. Her solitude is interrupted by the arrival of a pregnant Alicent, who persuades her to join the festivities. Rhaenyra is reluctant, but she acquiesces and appears before her King and father.
Viserys urges Rhaenyra to join him on an upcoming hunt, part of the royal celebrations. But she is sullen and withdrawn, her heart heavy with the knowledge that the throne now seems destined for her younger half-brother. Her ambitions have been dashed, and she finds herself increasingly drawn to matters of war and strategy.
The talk around the court is all of Daemon's valiant fight at the Stepstones. There is a consensus that the crown should intervene and destroy the Crabfeeder once and for all. But Viserys remains stubbornly resistant to the idea, a decision that may come back to haunt him in the future.
Meanwhile, Rhaenyra's path crosses with Jason Lannister. He attempts to woo her with his power and charm, declaring her his queen...and potential bride. But Rhaenyra is unimpressed, her smile a polite mask as she thanks him for a glass of wine and walks away. Her message is clear: "No thank you."
Rhaenyra stormed towards her father, their altercation escalating in the midst of all present, centered on the arranged marriage. She stood her ground firmly, declaring her aversion to the union, but Viserys pressed on, striving to persuade her that duty outweighed personal wishes. Instead of yielding, Rhaenyra snatched a steed and fled the scene. Ser Criston gave chase, eventually managing to pacify her with his calming presence.
After the hunt concluded, Jason Lannister renewed his vow to Viserys, offering Rhaenyra a throne. However, Viserys swiftly corrected him, emphasizing that Aegon was not the next in line; Rhaenyra was, and he did not make such promises lightly. Viserys' ultimate desire was for his daughter's happiness, but the politics surrounding the throne were a heavy burden.
Otto proposed a solution that would seemingly resolve the conflict once and for all: Rhaenyra should wed Aegon, despite his tender age of two. Such arrangements were not unheard of among the Targaryens, but Viserys was weary of the constant political maneuvering and chose to drown his sorrows in wine instead.
Viserys' situation was indeed precarious. On one hand, he sought to appease his daughter while maintaining the traditions of his people, which included strategic marriages to strengthen their claims. On the other hand, he was acutely aware of the kingdom's obsession with the prospect of a male heir, a fixation that only pushed Rhaenyra further away from him.
Deep in the woods, Criston Cole and Rhaenyra were ambushed by a wild boar. Criston valiantly slew the beast, while Rhaenyra, brandishing a knife, stabbed repeatedly at the creature, spraying herself with its blood in the frenzied attack.
In the wee hours of the morning, Viserys emerged from the dense woods, stumbling upon a scene where his soldiers had captured a magnificent stag. It wasn't the mythical white stag they had hoped for, but it was a worthy quarry indeed. The task of delivering the final blow fell upon Viserys' shoulders, yet his strikes were clumsy and it took several attempts before the beast finally succumbed to his blows.
Intriguingly, it was the elusive white stag that made its appearance before Rhaenyra, a creature often regarded as a symbol of wisdom, glory, and even prophecy. While its exact meaning remains a mystery, its presence certainly added an intriguing layer to the tale, one that promised to unfold in the chapters ahead.
That evening, beneath the dancing flames of the fire, Viserys was persuaded - partly by the gentle nudging of Alicent - to send reinforcements to assist Daemon in vanquishing Crabfeeder. Rhaenyra, however, remained unsettled, especially as the topic of marriage continued to loom large over their conversations. Viserys argued for marriage as a strategic alliance, yet Rhaenyra was quick to counter, pointing out that he himself had deviated from this rule by not wedding Laena, who would have been a more suitable choice for the realm. And indeed, her argument carried a certain weight.
News reached Daemon that reinforcements, men and boats alike, were on their way from Viserys, a gesture intended to mend the rift between them. Daemon, however, was not one to be placated so easily. After roughly dismissing the messenger, he made his way to the desolate battlefield, facing Crabfeeder and his mercenaries. With a white flag in hand, he feigned surrender, offering up his sword in a show of submission. But it was all a ruse, as Daemon suddenly lunged forward with a hidden knife, dispatching one of the mercenaries and fighting his way out of the range of the archers.
Daemon fought valiantly, but his luck ran out when a stray arrow found its mark. As the mercenaries closed in for the killing blow, a rescue arrived in the nick of time. Corlys' men emerged from the shadows, ready to engage in battle. Suddenly, a dragon appeared, its fiery breath swinging the balance of power, incinerating scores of men.
While the chaos unfolded on the battlefield, Daemon pursued Crabfeeder into the depths of the caves. When he emerged, it was with a grisly trophy - the severed carcass of Crabfeeder, a symbol of his victory in the bloody skirmish.
