House of the Dragon: That’s why Rhaenys leaves Aegon II and the Hightowers alive

• In the ninth episode “House of the Dragon”, Rhaenys could have prevented the fate of House Targaryen.
• At the coronation of Aegon II, the Velaryon princess enters the dragon pit and is able to free her dragon, Meleys.
• With meleys she threatens the royal family and the wrong heir to the throne, but she decides against killing them. In doing so, she prepares the way for war.

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During her escape from King’s Landing in the 9th episode of “House of the Dragon”, Rhaenys Velaryon has a unique opportunity to prevent the approaching “Dance of the Dragons” war. But she decides against it, and for good reason.

In the eighth episode, Rhaenys Velaryon travels to King’s Landing to support her grandson Lucerys’ claim to the throne of Driftmark. Unlike her grandchildren, however, she does not return directly after the king’s judgment and remains at the royal court for the time being.

After the death of Viserys I Targaryen, Rhaenys is imprisoned in her chambers. Only later does Alicent Hohenturm come to her to inform her of her cousin’s death. The queen enlists the support of House Velaryon to place Aegon II on the Iron Throne.

But Rhaenys refuses because she believes that this will not change anything in Westeros. She is then imprisoned again until Ser Erryk Cargyll helps her escape. Chaos in the streets drives Rhaenys to the Dragon Pit to witness Aegon II’s coronation. In an unobserved second, she takes the chance and sneaks down to the dragon’s cages.

There, Rhaenys unleashes her dragon, Meleys, interrupting Aegon II’s coronation celebrations. The dragon opens its mouth and hints that it will burn the new king and his family, but nothing happens. Instead, the dragon and rider turn and flee the city.

Rather than ending the looming war before it broke out, Rhaenys was merely demonstrating their dominance. She showed Alicent and the Greens that she could have killed them. In doing so, she leaves Rhaenyra the decision to start the war between the Greens and Blacks.

What would have happened if Rhaenys had destroyed the Greens?

Had Rhaenys killed Alicent, Aegon II, Aemond, Helaena, Otto, and Kriston, there would be no more Targaryens to oppose Rhaenyra’s reign as queen. However, the Targaryen Princess’ reign would have started under a tyranny.

In the seventh episode, Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen have decided that they want to avoid tyrannical rule at all costs. They want to clarify the conflict diplomatically first. By refusing to wipe out the Greens, Rhaenys shows the lords of other houses that the blacks are wise and merciful. The Greens, on the other hand, already committed high treason when they usurped the throne.

Rhaenys also knows that burning the Greens would reflect badly on Rhaenyra. Had the Velaryon acted so impulsively, Rhaenyra would probably have executed them, for war has not yet been declared.

But the “Dance of the Dragons” will come. But the blacks will not shed the first blood.

Where does Rhaenys fly after she escapes?

After escaping the Dragon Pit, Rhaenys flies to Dragonstone. Rhaenyra does not yet know of her father’s death, nor that her brother has been crowned king. It’s up to Rhaenys to tell her cousin Daemon and her second niece about the events in King’s Landing.

What becomes of Rhaenys during the “Dance of the Dragons”

During the war between the green and the black, Rhaenys fights alongside her dragon alongside Rhaenyra. When she is called to support the Black armies, Aegon II and Aemond on their dragons ambush her. Rather than flee, Rhaenys fights and is killed.

However, since “House of the Dragon” has caused some surprises so far, the Velaryon Princess may have survived this. According to George RR Martin’s book Fire and Blood, her body was discovered so disfigured that it could have been someone else’s. Like Laenor Velaryon faking his death.

With the coronation of Aegon II, the “Dance of the Dragons” begins. Rhaenyra will also have herself crowned in response to the heist, escalating the quarrels. We’ll see how the war begins in the upcoming second season.

The final episode of the first season of “House of the Dragon” will be released next Monday on Sky Atlantic and the streaming provider WOW.