Transcription
I, Viserys Targaryen, do hereby name Rhaenyra Targaryen heir to the Iron Throne.
(THRILLING MUSIC PLAYING)
The king will die, and if Rhaenyra succeeds him, war will follow. To secure her claim, she'll have to put your children to the sword. Criston Cole will be named Lord Commander of the Kingsguard.
I trust to you and to your loyalty.
I will not fail you.
RHAENYRA TARGARYEN: I need you, Uncle.
(SPEAKING HIGH VALYRIAN)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Rhaenyra, Aegon's dream. The Song of Ice...
(THUNDERCLAP)
VISERYS I TARGARYEN: ...and Fire. And the prince that was promised. Aegon.
ALICENT HIGHTOWER: Our son. I understand, my king.
♪ (MUSIC FADES) ♪
The king is dead.
♪ (MUSIC CONTINUES) ♪
ERRYK CARGYLL: Aegon is unfit to rule.
You tolerated the prince's proclivities for years.
Because it was my sworn duty, Arryk. When you install your grandson on the throne, remember, it was me who put him there.
ANNOUNCER: All hail His Grace. You are usurping the throne.
ANNOUNCER: Lord of the Seven Kingdoms -and protector of the realm!
(ALL CHEERING)
A war is like to be fought over this treachery, to be sure. I swear to ward the Queen. The enemy have declared war! What are you gonna do about it? You have the full support of our fleet and house.
RHAENYRA: Prince Jacaerys will fly north to Winterfell. Prince Lucerys will fly south to Storm's End. We must remind these lords of the oaths they swore.
♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪
(VHAGAR ROARS)
(ARRAX WHIMPERS)
RHAENYS TARGARYEN: The Greens are coming for you, Rhaenyra.
♪ (MUSIC FADES) ♪
JACAERYS VELARYON: War is coming. We cannot wage it without the support of the North.
CREGAN STARK: I have thousands of greybeards. If your greybeards can fight, the Queen will have them. They will fight hard, like Northerners. My Lord, a raven's arrived. Urgent news from Dragonstone.
(SYRAX WAILS)
DAEMON TARGARYEN: The Queen remains absent. She has been gone for days.
RHAENYS: She is grieving.
(SOBBING)
What news? My nephew, Lord Ormund, musters his forces from Oldtown. My letters to Rhaenyra. Has there been any answer? An apology for her dead son?
ORWYLE: None, Your Grace. We must presume that the princess has refused and that war is now inevitable. Hail King Aegon! Hugh, Your Grace. Iron costs have grown. To put it simply, we are struggling.
ANNOUNCER 2: Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen, first of her name. I want Aemond Targaryen.
♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
DAEMON: In your years as merchant of gossip, you surely accumulated spies within the Red Keep. You're to find and slay the Prince Aemond Targaryen.
What if we can't find him?
BLOOD: Who the fuck is she?
(LAUGHS)
She's the queen, she is. A son for a son.
CHEESE: Which?
ALICENT: Helaena! What's happened? They killed the boy.
(BELL TOLLS)
♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Behold the works of Rhaenyra Targaryen! It's a lie. Having lost my own son, that I would inflict such a thing. You struck down a child. It was a mistake. Do you accept me as your queen and ruler? Or do you cling even now to what you think you lost?
I cannot trust you, Daemon.
DAEMON: I will fly to Harrenhal and set our toehold in the Riverlands.
CRISTON COLE: Go to Dragonstone and strike down Rhaenyra in her own halls. Take Moondancer and keep a watch on King's Landing. I will be vigilant.
(WAILING)
ULF: Who are they?
SMALLFOLK: Ratcatchers.
OTTO HIGHTOWER: What have you done?
I had them hanged.
OTTO: Wives curse your name! Instead of judgement, you diminish us!
AEGON II TARGARYEN: Remove your badge, Ser Otto. Give it to Cole.
OTTO: I can't stay here.
ALICENT: While you're gone, I'll speak sense to him. In time, you may yet return.
♪ (TENSE MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
Soon, they will not even remember what it was that began the war in the first place.
SPEAKER: How fares Prince Daemon with our army? There has been no word.
CRISTON: The Riverlands are the key to the war. Harrenhal is the key to the Riverlands.
♪ (THRILLING MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(CARAXES VOCALIZES)
I'm claiming Harrenhal. Apparently so. I, Ser Simon Strong, pledge fealty to Rhaenyra of House Targaryen. Ser Criston, may I present my brother, -Ser Gwayne Hightower. -Ser Criston.
ALICENT: Ser Gwayne has volunteered to accompany you into battle. Lord Larys, my father always said he had no use for a Master of Whisperers. I find myself wanting for one. You honor me, Your Grace. What do you know of the movements of Alicent Hightower?
If war can be averted, it is my duty to avert it.
(GASPS)
I must speak with you. I saw the King that night. Did you betray him at the very last?
I have been at times unkind, but never untrue. He spoke Aegon's name. He said he was... The prince that was promised to unite the realm. He spoke to you of the Song of Ice and Fire? Do you think me capable of such naked deceit? A terrible war is looming. And even victory may be so bloody as to be counted a loss.
There has been no mistake.
-It's too late, Rhaenyra.
-Alicent!
There are omens here for those who seek them.
RHAENYRA: Always coming and going, aren't you? And I have to clean up afterwards.
(CLANGING)
Our victory depends on the efforts of the smallfolk. The King has promised us some relief.
Did he say when?
RHAENYRA: I've decided to send Joffrey to ward with my cousin, Lady Jeyne Arryn. Aegon and Viserys will accompany him. I need you to be the mother to them that I cannot. Guard them as a dragon guards her eggs.
RHAENA TARGARYEN: You misled me, my lady.
There is a large dragon in the Vale. It is large, but alas, wild. So you've come here after quarreling with your wife. I mean, does it please you that her legitimacy is contested as you stand here with a castle and a dragon?
(DRAGON VOCALIZES)
Your false queen, Rhaenyra, is a kinslayer.
(GRUNTS)
(DISTANT YELLING)
Ser Willem Blackwood of House Blackwood, Your Grace.
WILLEM BLACKWOOD: Once you and your dragon bring the Queen's justice to the Brackens, our armies will be yours.
AEMOND TARGARYEN: Cole is already preparing his attack.
AEGON II: The two of you have been plotting without my authority. They don't care what I think. Do you think simply wearing the crown imbues you with wisdom? Cole marches on Rook's Rest.
-Send me.
-No! You must send me, Your Grace. This was your secret plot, Cole? For the King himself to lay ambush -and mayhaps die in the attempt?
(FRUSTRATED GROAN)
CRISTON: No!
Dracarys!
No!
(GASPS)
(MELEYS GROWLS)
CRISTON: Where is His Grace?
(BREATHING SHAKILY)
What I saw at Rook's Rest...
(ALL SCREAMING)
We have given the war to the dragons.
ALFRED BROOME: Our largest dragon has been killed. We still have no ground army but the one we hope that Daemon will raise. Go to Harrenhal. Find out his state of mind. Whether he means to raise a host for me or for himself. When I take King's Landing, Rhaenyra is welcome to take her place by my side.
You do not think I can win this war. I believe you are meant to be queen. Queen Rhaenyra wishes to name you Hand. To serve with the Sea Snake is to make your fortune. Brother, he owes you. He owes us. A king cannot rule in his sleep. Now we must name a regent to take his place. Aemond is the next in line.
(THUNDERCLAP)
ALICENT: You know what he is. What he has somehow become.
ORWYLE: The smallfolk, many are fleeing the city.
AEMOND: Then let the gates be closed. The people see an ill omen. And you think they will turn to me?
MYSARIA: There is more than one way to fight a war. I have an errand for the Lady Mysaria.
AEMOND: I'll see my brother.
What do you remember?
(PAINED GROANING)
I remember... nothing.
MYSARIA: The smallfolk of King's Landing are listening. They are hungry. Our gift is sent.
(COMMOTION)
Give it to me!
RICKARD THORNE: Your Graces, we must leave.
(SMALLFOLK BOOING)
RICKARD: Let's go. 'Tis the Queen of Fishes! Long live Queen Rhaenyra!
ALYS RIVERS: There are older things in this world than you or I or living memory. You are not the player, but a piece on the board. If you have any counsel for dealing with the Riverlords, I'd be glad of it.
ALYS: Tully is their Lord Paramount. Without him, they will never raise their banners as one.
(EXHALES)
CRISTON: I thank Your Grace for her blessings. Prince Reggio will take you to Pentos. The Riverlands are held together by oaths.
DAEMON: Then we shall go to face your vassals and you will call your banners to war.
OSCAR TULLY: There is a problem. They all hate you. The old ways call for justice to be done. Seize him. He must now rectify his grievous error.
No, no, no! It crushes whoever wears it.
(PAINED GROANING)
ORWYLE: I push him on your instruction. He is spent.
LARYS STRONG: It will be long before he may rest again. Jason Lannister is marshaling to the West. We need to check him before he reaches Riverrun. Aemond will not wait long to press his advantage. I need dragons.
ADDAM OF HULL: You saved his life, brother. Do you never think about what could be ours?
(SEASMOKE SCREECHES)
♪ (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING) ♪
(SEASMOKE ROARS)
(SYRAX SCREECHES)
You stand with a dragon of House Targaryen! This dragon came to me. The lowborn cannot go around seizing dragons. With these riders, we can end a needless war. House Targaryen is the blood of the dragon. If any may lay claim to it, what are we then? They're looking for Targaryen bastards.
RHAENYRA: Each of you has left behind a life to which you might never return. If you survive, you will be transformed. The dragons Vermithor... and Silverwing.
(LAUGHING)
RHAENYRA: Let us raise an army of bastards.
(SYRAX SCREECHES)
We will make an alliance with the Triarchy. I've had enough of this cursed blockade. You cannot mean to treat with the Free Cities.
AEMOND: The Triarchy will delight in the chance to terrorize the Sea Snake again. Break the blockade, and it will benefit you.
TRIARCHY MEMBER: The commander of our fleet must agree to go with you. Admiral Lohar. To the Gullet on the morrow! And let the Sea Snake rue the day we meet again.
(CHEERING)
You now have a great advantage. But Daemon, he will be angry, desperate. Vhagar is not his only dragon. The third brother is untested, and his dragon is younger than Vermax.
CORLYS VELARYON: You must strike quickly while the Prince Regent mulls his next action.
LARYS: We must leave King's Landing quickly.
I am the king. Why must I run?
Because the Prince Regent is going to kill you. I was happier before I was queen. What would you think about leaving this place?
CRISTON: The dragons dance and men are like dust under their feet. To die will be a kind of relief. Don't you think?
To our new riders, serve me well and I will make you knights of the realm.
What must we do?
RHAENYRA: Oldtown and Lannisport and their armies, all must be subdued.
GERARDYS: There is a message from Harrenhal. Daemon has raised his army, but Ser Simon fears treachery.
ALYS: All your life, you've sought to command your own fate. But today, you are ready.
(ICE CRACKING)
(BABY DRAGONS SCREECHING)
HELAENA TARGARYEN: It's all a story. And you're but one part in it. You know your part.
AEMOND: I need you to fly with Dreamfyre to battle.
And if I refuse, will you burn me as you did Aegon?
-That is a lie.
-I saw it. Aegon will be king again. And you... you'll be dead.
♪ (MUSIC INTENSIFIES) ♪
To whom are you sworn? The realm's only hope is a leader who can unite it. We fight for our queen!
(ALL CHEERING)
I wish to set out on good terms with my first mate.
ADDAM: Do you know what it was like for us to grow up fatherless? Now, now you remember I live. Why have you come here? Aemond will soon fly to the Riverlands. Helaena as queen will be the crown's authority. We will open the gates. We will shed no blood. If I am to take the throne, I must take Aegon's head. For all to see. You know this. Will you shrink from what you set out to do? Or will you make your sacrifice? A son for a son.
We must strike while we have the advantage.
♪ (MUSIC SWELLS) ♪
(DRAGON ROARING)
♪ (MUSIC FADES OUT) ♪