Episode 8 of House of the Dragon opens with a leap forward in time, six years having passed. Lord Corlys, once the pillar of strength, lies gravely injured after a fierce battle. In his absence, Rhaenys has valiantly taken up the reins of power. However, the shadow of uncertainty looms large as Vaemond, Corlys' brother, stirs the waters of succession. He poses a pointed question: Who will inherit the mantle of Lord of the Tides if Corlys' life slips away?
Corlys' heart desired that Lucerys Velaryon, Laenor's son, be named his heir. But the road to this coronation is not without its pitfalls. Lucerys' lineage is not pure Valeryon, a fact that Vaemond finds abhorrent. He covets Driftmark for himself, declaring, "The winds have shifted. The crown has every reason to tilt its favor towards me."
Meanwhile, Daemon embarks on a perilous expedition, securing three precious dragon eggs from Syrax. His men scurry to transport them to the warming chamber, while Daemon receives an urgent message from Lady Baela on Driftmark. Upon his return to his wife, Daemon joins her and their children, delivering the note. The legitimacy of Luke and Jace is called into question, and the succession of Driftmark becomes a topic of heated debate, threatening to alter the fate of countless individuals in the realm. It is a matter of utmost gravity, and the only recourse seems to be a swift journey to King's Landing to confront these claims head-on.
Alicent, meanwhile, continues to preside over the council meetings with a steadfast resolve. It seems that the turmoil in the Stepstones has temporarily stabilized, allowing for a resumption of prosperous trade. However, she must still grapple with the antics of her children, particularly Aegon, who has stooped to the level of sexually assaulting a maid. The queen hastily pays the maid off to silence her and offers her a soothing cup of tea.
Alicent is enraged and confronts her son, who, now married, has brought disgrace to their house. Viserys, already weakened by a series of misfortunes, lies bedridden, his head and eye wrapped in bandages. Daemon and Rhaenyra visit him, bringing news of the petition regarding Driftmark, a weighty matter that hangs over their kingdom like a dark cloud.
Rhaenyra gracefully introduced her father to the two young princes, Aegon and Viserys, offspring of Daemon and herself. Notably, the latter bore the same name as their esteemed patriarch. As Viserys' health began to deteriorate, the two princes were unexpectedly accompanied by the presence of Alicent. Daemon, quick to react, confronted her about the transformation taking place in King's Landing, particularly the prominent religious symbols of the Seven, including the stars, which hinted at larger shifts within the realm.
Suddenly, Vaemond appeared and engaged in conversation with Alicent and Otto. Otto, sensing the looming threat of war, was convinced that they must act swiftly to quell the unrest.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Rhaenyra encountered Rhaenys. With utmost cunning, she assured Rhaenys that she had neither ordered nor been involved in the death of her son, a truth from a particular perspective. To seal their alliance, Rhaenyra proposed a deal: if Rhaenys supported Lucery's claim to the throne, Rhaenyra would arrange betrothals between Jacaerys and Lucerys with Baela and Rhaena. This would ensure the Velaryon bloodline reigned over both the Seven Kingdoms and Driftmark. Although Rhaenys recognized the desperation in the offer, she kept her thoughts hidden, merely hinting that the first strike would be made the following day.
As Viserys' condition worsened, Otto Hightower stepped in to represent the King as the Hand of the King. Arguments flew back and forth, with Ser Vaemond sneering as Rhaenyra challenged his ambitions. However, her speech was interrupted by the arrival of a visibly ill Viserys, his face partially covered by a golden mask. Assisted to the throne, he cast a shadow over the proceedings, stating that only Rhaenys truly understood Corlys' wishes. She spoke up, defending Rhaenyra's proposal and Corlys' desire to see Lucerys ascend the Driftwood Throne.
Vaemond's face twisted into a livid mask. "No," he growled, his voice raspy with fury. "I refuse to acquiesce." He proceeded to insult the children, branding them bastards, and Rhaenyra, a whore. Viserys, his patience strained, threatened to silence the man, but Daemon, faster than a striking snake, slashed off Vaemond's head in an instant.
As they gathered for dinner, the tense atmosphere seemed to dissipate slightly as Viserys raised his cup in a toast, extolling the strengthened bonds among them. Yet, his eyes betrayed a sadness, reflecting the growing distance between them all. He reminded them, his voice heavy with foreboding, that his time was limited and in his absence, they must stand united, for the sake of the House of the Dragon. If not, war would erupt, and chaos would descend upon the Kingdom like a dark storm.
Rhaenyra broke the silence, her voice clear and strong as she raised her cup to Alicent. She praised her for her unwavering loyalty and dedication, standing steadfastly by Viserys' side through the years. In contrast, Alicent's toast to Rhaenyra was softer, yet no less sincere, declaring that she would be a queen worthy of the crown.
As the children took turns toasting each other, the tension began to rise again, particularly between Aegon and Jace. But for the moment, they managed to mask their animosity, and their smiles were genuine as they enjoyed this fleeting moment of unity. Viserys watched them fondly, seemingly content in this fleeting moment of peace. It seemed to be his final memory of them, and thankfully, it was a good one...until Aemond spoke up.
As Viserys withdrew from the chamber, Aemond raised his cup in a toast, praising the "strength" of Jace and Luke, a veiled reference to their formidable father. The young ones were then separated, and Rhaenyra, sensing the tension escalating, made the decision to return to Dragonstone. Notably, she promised to revisit Dragon to see Alicent, a gesture that hinted at deeper complexities beneath the surface.
That evening, Viserys's conversation with Alicent revolved around the looming menace that threatened their realm - the White Walkers, not the infamously disappointing scripts of Game of Thrones' later seasons. Their exchange contained words that would soon ignite a war across the land. However, Viserys, clouded by his medications and garbled speech, struggled to articulate his true intentions.
He spoke of the Song and Ice of Fie, mentioning Aegon, referring to the Conqueror, but Alicent mistakenly interpreted it as referring to their son. "It is you. You are the one. You must do this," Viserys rambled.
Alicent replied, "I understand my King," but her comprehension was far from accurate. As Viserys passed away unseen on his deathbed, his words would become a catalyst for chaos.
Viserys's wish was for Alicent to assume his mantle as the realm's protector and unite the houses. But Alicent clearly interpreted it as a directive to usurp the succession and place Aegon on the throne. Oh, the drama that awaited!
