House Of The Dragon’s S2 Finale Teases a Shocking Traitor for S3

Contains spoilers for “House of the Dragon” Season 2 Episode 8

In the season finale of “House of the Dragon,” two old friends meet in the middle of a devastating, bloody war fought between family members — and the reunion takes a very unexpected turn that could set up something extremely shocking down the line.

Cloaked and downtrodden, the dowager queen Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke) secretly makes her way to Dragonstone to meet with her childhood friend turned enemy Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy). Rhaenyra has declared herself queen — as the eldest heir of Alicent’s late husband King Viserys I Targaryen (Paddy Considine) — in direct opposition to Alicent’s son King Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney).

As Alicent’s Team Green wages an all-out war against Rhaenyra’s Team Black, the Hightower heiress starts to realize she might be in over her head. Especially after watching Aegon get attacked and disfigured by her other child, Aemond Targaryen (Ewan Mitchell), in a battle that wiped out Rhaenyra’s fierce ally Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best).

The meeting in the finale is crucial because Alicent offers to have her own son, the king, killed in order to appease Rhaenyra. Alicent claims she can talk Aegon into surrendering the kingdom to Rhaenyra, but Rhaenyra responds furiously, saying the only way the war can truly end is with Aegon’s head delivered to her door. Alicent nods, promising to return to King’s Landing to do what must be done so that Rhaenyra can conquer the Westerosi capital.

In “Fire & Blood,” George R.R. Martin describes the Fall of King’s Landing as somewhat anti-climactic. The city seems easy to conquer, especially because Rhaenyra has new dragonriders on her side.

Martin notes that Alicent tried to reason with Rhaenyra: “Septon Eustace, a witness to what followed, tells us that Queen Alicent attempted to treat with her stepdaughter,” the text reads. “‘Let us together summon a great council, as the Old King did in days of old,’ said the Dowager Queen, ‘and lay the matter of succession before the lords of the realm.’ But Queen Rhaenyra rejected the proposal with scorn. […] ‘We both know how this council would rule.’ Then she bade her stepmother choose: yield or burn.”

After ceding the city to Rhaenyra, Alicent certainly does not offer to behead her eldest son and heir in exchange for peace. Instead, she threatens Rhaenyra, making it clear that Team Green will make her reign short. “Bowing her head in defeat, Queen Alicent surrendered the keys to the castle and ordered her knights and men-at-arms to lay down their swords,” Martin’s text says. ‘”The city is yours, Princess,’ [Alicent] is reported to have said, ‘but you will not hold it long. The rats play when the cat is gone, but my son Aemond will return with fire and blood.'”

The on-screen version of Alicent is clearly ready to commit the darkest possible act to end the war and, as she says, escape the kingdom entirely with her daughter Queen Helaena (Phia Saban) and grandchildren. However, Aegon has his own plan, involving running away from King’s Landing entirely.

Early in the season finale, Aegon is visited by Larys Strong (Matthew Needham), likely the most cunning and conniving player on Team Green. Larys tells the young and devastatingly injured king that they need to vacate the capital for Aegon’s safety. Despite Aegon’s severe injuries from his brother’s attack atop his enormous dragon Vhagar, Larys suggests that without Aegon, Aemond and Rhaenyra will wear each other’s armies out. This would give Aegon a chance to return and reclaim his throne as a peacemaker and rebuilder.

Aegon is swayed by this plan, as he and Larys are seen leaving King’s Landing in a private carriage, and most importantly, Alicent has no idea. This will make it challenging for her to carry out her plan.

The implications of Alicent’s deal with her stepdaughter are huge and will almost certainly be a significant part of the show’s third season. Alicent offering Aegon’s head to Rhaenyra shows her desperation to end the bloodshed. She is visibly wary of Aemond and his violent impulses. As the acting regent in Aegon’s absence, Aemond removes his mother from the Small Council, stripping any power she has left. Aemond may think his mother will back him no matter what, but Alicent’s willingness to betray both of her children to end the war shows otherwise.

Whether Aegon or Aemond will find out about Alicent’s intended betrayal in Season 3 remains to be seen. Based on how secrets travel in Westeros, it’s likely they will hear about it. Aegon might be incapable of fighting anymore, but Aemond is a formidable warrior and could seek to punish his mother for her treason. Fans will have to wait and see how this pans out, but offering her kingdom to Rhaenyra will not sit well with her sons.

“House of the Dragon” is streaming on Max now.