Why the Rhaenys of the House of Dragon didn’t kill the king (just everyone else)

house of the dragonThe ninth installment of was on the quieter and more contemplative side until it wasn’t anymore. After the death of Viserys, a lockdown of the castle, and the coronation of a new king, there were certainly some dissenting voices, and the loudest among them was Rhaenys Targaryen, the youngest Westerosian, who declared her loyalty to Princess Rhaenyra and the Blacks.

But while the motivation behind Rhaenys’ theatrical performance at the new king’s coronation isn’t hard to overlook, the reasons behind her carefully intimidating departure could be as follows. While she had a chance to make a fiery escape and end a few conflicts on the fly, Rhaenys also knew that the fate of Westeros isn’t as easy as a few burned bodies.

[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for House of the Dragon episode 9.]

King Aegon II’s reign began on a less auspicious moment when, at the height of his praise from the residents of King’s Landing, Rhaenys Targaryen broke through the domed roof with her dragon Meleys, no doubt crushing dozens of pawns. Meleys then approached the stage where the royal family was standing to threaten Aegon and the others. game of Thrones Fans might expect the scene to end with a quick death, but rather than toast the whole party, Rhaenys and her dragon just leave. The reluctance has a remarkable reason.

The greatest of these reasons is practical: a whole audience of people cheered the newly crowned king, and to murder him and his host there would be regicide, no matter who the legitimate or supposed heir actually was. Sure, Rhaenyra could have stepped into the power vacuum, but The Realm’s Delight would have been immediately viewed as a terror and the Queen Who Never Was as a murderous accomplice with not a shred of honor.

With one act, Rhaenys would have plunged the entire Targaryen dynasty into a moment of profound weakness across the continent they rule. And an act of open violence and betrayal could have plunged King’s Landing (not to mention the rest of Westeros) into total chaos. This type of conflict is why wars are fought, and winning should only be worth it if what you’re fighting for is still there when you’re the last one standing.

Aside from the political ramifications of toasting the royal family, there’s also an equally strong superstitious reason why Rhaenys didn’t kill Aegon: kin murder. According to Westerosi tradition, none are cursed like a kinslayer, which means that those who kill members of their own family are often struck by terrible tragedy and viewed as monsters.

When the full Targaryen Civil War erupts, kin murder will be an almost inevitable side effect, but for Rhaenys it’s possible that the idea of ​​killing so many of her own family in such a short amount of time in front of thousands of onlookers was just too much to bear. While eventual death and the consequences of letting everyone live may seem obvious, a simple act like this proves that the traditions of Westeros aren’t all fallen away, no matter who sits on the throne – at least for now.

While we do not know the exact reasons for her temporary mercy, it is clear that Rhaenys’ actions during Aegon II’s coronation were a sign of defiance against the new crown and the perceived betrayal of Queen Alicent, her father, and children have to be engaged. While no members of the royal family died, Rhaenys’ light act (and her probable murder of many of King’s Landing’s citizens) are the first real pictures of the Dance of the Dragons and the greater war to come.