Episode 9 of House of the Dragon opens with the serene melody of birds chirping, echoing through the misty, still morning. It's a serene prelude to the chaos that's brewing, as whispers of a dire event begin to circulate within the castle walls: the King is dead. Viserys the Peaceful has passed into the realm of shadows.
Alicent, her heart heavy, confides in her father, revealing that Viserys had confided in her his final wish: that Aegon should ascend the throne. "It is the truth spoken with his own breath," she whispers, tears glistening in her eyes. But we all know the truth behind his words - he spoke of Aegon the Conqueror, and as foretold, this revelation will ignite a flurry of conflict.
The council convenes in haste, and Otto Hightower stands before them.He declares that the late King's final desire was for Aegon to become the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Given that Jace was meant to succeed Rhaenyra, Otto and his compatriots move swiftly to set the wheels of succession in motion.
Those loyal to Daemon within the City Watch are summarily replaced, the machinations of power playing out like a well-oiled clockwork. Alicent is stunned to learn that these plans have been brewing for some time. Lord Lyman Beesbury stands alone in his belief that this is a betrayal, that something sinister is afoot.
Ser Criston turns on Lyman, his rage unleashed. He slams the lord's face into the table, allowing his blood to drip slowly onto the wooden surface. The grisly scene is left undisturbed, a symbolic warning that more blood will be spilled in the days ahead.
Otto and the others now turn their gaze towards Rhaenyra and her family. They must publicly swear allegiance to the new King. Any refusal will result in imprisonment. Alicent knows that Daemon and Rhaenyra will not bow to this new order, and Otto, too, has made plans to eliminate them if they refuse. The stage is set for a clash of wills and a battle for the throne that will shake the foundations of the realm.
Alicent, the unwavering voice of reason amidst the chaos, adamantly refused to allow such a tragedy to unfold. Deep in her heart, she knew that Viserys would never consent to Rhaenyra's demise. Even the Lord Commander of the King's Guard, a man of honor and duty, refused to obey Otto's commands. Otto, eager to restore order, suggested rallying the men and heading to Dragonstone. But the Lord Commander, his face etched with resolve, declared, "Until there is a rightful King, I have no place here," and he strode away, leaving Otto's orders hanging in the air.
Meanwhile, Aegon had vanished from his chamber, his whereabouts unknown even within the castle walls. Aemond and Criston Cole, both men of action, set out into the city to search for him, their hearts heavy with the knowledge that time was running out. For Aegon was not the only one hunting him; the twin knights, Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll, loyal to Otto, were also on his trail.
The situation was fraught with danger and uncertainty, made all the more precarious by Aegon's reckless behavior. It was whispered that he had "spread his seed" across the town, fathering children with blonde hair who were now forced to fight in barbaric pits for entertainment.
Aemond, with his eyes fixed on the throne, nursed his ambition to be King. Believing that his possession of the largest dragon made him the most deserving ruler, he was ready to seize what he deemed his destiny.
Back at the castle, the bannermen and women were divided, torn between their loyalty to Rhaenyra and the temptation to switch allegiance to Alicent and the new King. Some bowed their heads in fear, while others did so out of a sincere belief in the King's claim. Those who stood their ground and refused were forcibly escorted out of the chamber by soldiers, their defiance crushed underfoot.
Finally, Alicent appeared before Rhaenys, her face a mask of resolve. She revealed that Aegon would be the new King, and she sought Rhaenys' support. But Rhaenyra and Daemon, their hearts heavy with disdain, were far from willing to acquiesce. Alicent, in a bid to sweeten the deal, offered Rhaenys Driftmark and the promise that it would be passed down to her granddaughters. But Rhaenys, her eyes flashing with defiance, threw back a challenge, asking if Alicent had ever dared to dream of sitting on the Iron Throne. The question hung in the air, unanswered, as the tension in the room reached a breaking point.
That silence spoke louder than words, a profound dialogue about the profound power of men, without resorting to gender bashing. Otto Hightower met the enigmatic White Worm, a woman who seemed to possess knowledge beyond comprehension, including the mysterious death of the King. As he handed her a stack of golden coins, she confirmed that the Prince was "safely hidden away."
To secure Aegon's return, the White Worm demanded an end to the brutal exploitation of children in Flea Bottom's barbaric fighting pits, a spectacle we had witnessed earlier in the episode. Otto pledged to investigate and rectify the situation.
And so, Aegon was discovered and found himself facing his brother, Aemond, in a tense skirmish. It was not a bloody spectacle but a clash of wills. Aegon pleaded with his brother to abandon their current path and join him in escaping on a ship, sailing away to a new life.
With Aegon's return, Alicent locked horns with her father, each insisting on their own course of action. She was steadfast in her decision to extend conciliatory terms to Rhaenyra on Dragonstone, terms that Rhaenyra could accept without any taint of humiliation. Otto, however, saw this as a perilous move, fearing that it would embolden Rhaenyra to rally support for her cause.
Alicent, undeterred, also made the bold choice to appoint Criston Cole as the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, and announced that Aegon would be crowned at the break of dawn. She intended to make the occasion a grand spectacle, with the entire city of King's Landing bearing witness to his ascension.
As they made their way to the Keep, Aegon chuckled mockingly at the thought of Viserys reversing his decision and naming him King. "He didn't like me," he muttered. Alicent, handing him the dagger, admonished him not to follow in Otto's footsteps and rule with coldness and cruelty.
Meanwhile, Rhaenys had been smuggled out of the castle and was now mingling with the common folk as they were ushered into the great chamber to witness the coronation of the new King. As the crown was gently placed upon Aegon's head, the crowd whispered in anticipation, wondering what lay ahead.
Then, applause erupted across the chamber as Aegon lifted his sword skyward, silencing the cheers with a single gesture. It seemed a new era had dawned... but suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled. A dragon burst forth, its scales glistening in the torchlight. It was Rhaenys!
The doors were slammed shut, and the dragon roared, but not with fire. Instead, it turned and flew off, presumably to warn Rhaenyra of what had transpired. The chamber fell into a stunned silence, and for a moment, no one moved. Then, slowly, the crowd began to disperse, each person carrying the weight of this unexpected turn of events in their hearts.
