| DRAGON | S1/ S2 | HOUSE OF DRAGON FF

EPISODE 2

RHAENYRA THE CRUEL

After the attack on the young heir, King Aenys ordered the royal guard to find the assassin. He quickly left to prevent his son from taking rash actions against the servants.

"I'll kill them. Traitors and villains. They dare strike at me!" Aegon shouted angrily, his face flushed with rage. "Aegon! Aegon, listen to your king!" Aenys pleaded, trying to calm his son. "Traitors and villains. Fire from the sky. This is war! I declare war!" Aegon roared, his fury uncontained as Aenys struggled to restrain him.

Meanwhile, Aemond had returned to Helaena's room, searching for clues. He found a coin that resembled one given by Daemon.

"The gates have been shut. The search progresses. The villain will be found," Aenys said sadly to his wife. "The child is dead," he added, his voice heavy with grief. "His pain is ended. But what they've done to my girl," Alicent began to cry, her anguish palpable. "Yes, and they will pay for this," Aenys said, wrapping his arms around his wife in a comforting embrace. "Who?" Alicent asked through her tears. "Whosoever hand did this or caused it to be done," Aenys replied, his resolve hardening. "And what if the hand that did it is not who must be blamed? The gods punish us. They punish me," Alicent sobbed. "Listen, Alicent, that's not your fault. We will mourn as we must, but some good may yet come of this," Aenys reassured her as he returned to confront his son.

"And where were the members of this council while the murderer threatened their king?" Aenys demanded, his frustration evident. "Were you also threatened, Your Grace?" Ser Criston Cole asked. "I could have been!" Aegon shouted, his anger unabated. "My son is your legacy. My son is your heir. And where were the Lord Commander of my Kingsguard?" Aegon continued, his voice rising.

"I was abed, Your Grace, having ordered the Night's Watch. Abed. Instead of safeguarding the sanctity of my family!" Aegon seethed. "This is not the time for accusations, Your Grace. We'll know who did this soon enough," Aenys said, trying to calm his son. "Who did this? Is there any question who did this? Who would do this save the bitch queen of bastards, the smug cunt of Dragonstone? There she sits across the bay, on her rock, laughing at me. She's fucking laughing at me!" Aegon exclaimed in fury.

Lord Larys entered the room just then. "Aegon, my son, listen to what Lord Larys has to say," Aenys said, signaling Larys to speak. "The guard has detained someone. The man we apprehended is known to us. He's a gold cloak, noted for his brutal nature. We caught him fleeing the Gate of the Gods with the child's head in a sack," Lord Larys informed them. "I'll kill him myself," Aegon said angrily as he stormed out of the council room.

"We'd do well to get what information we can from the blackguard," Otto suggested, his tone measured. "I trust in the mastery of your trade, Lord Larys," Otto added. "Oh, always studying, always protocol. We know our enemy!" Aegon exclaimed. "Father, why did you listen to him again?" Aegon asked, his frustration growing.

"A king may have more than one enemy. We would do well to ascertain if this is my sister's hand or if there is a serpent nestled closer to our bosoms," Aenys explained. "I suppose you're right, Father. It could be anyone. It could be any one of you in this room," Aegon said, glaring around.

"You're father is correct. In one sense, we must determine what happened and if we in the Keep are still in peril. In another sense, of course, it doesn't matter," Otto said thoughtfully, his mind clearly on Rhaenyra. "You mean to blame my sister. My sister will not do this. The only person who could do this is Daemon," Aenys said to his son.