Tensions escalate in the Riverlands and King's Landing as Rhaenyra and the Greens maneuver for power, while secret betrayals and shifting loyalties threaten both sides.
Key facts
- •Criston Cole kills Lord Petyr Piper during an ambush in the Riverlands.
- •Alicent Hightower consumes an abortifacient to deceive Mysaria about her intentions for Helaena.
- •Lord Ormund Hightower is minting coins featuring Daeron Targaryen to bolster his claim.
- •Aemond Targaryen is left without his dragon, Vhagar, after she leaves Harrenhal.
- •Rhaenyra pledges Harrenhal to multiple parties, including Lady Sabitha Frey, to secure support.
In the fifth episode of House of the Dragon's third season, Rhaenyra Targaryen's forces struggle to navigate the Riverlands due to sabotaged crossings. Meanwhile, Criston Cole continues his effective campaign of sabotage against the queen's men. In King's Landing, Alicent Hightower attempts to secure her daughter Helaena's future, while secret plots involving the Gold Cloaks and the city's leadership deepen the instability of the realm.
Conflict in the Riverlands
Rhaenyra's army, sent to challenge Lord Ormund Hightower at Tumbleton, faces significant delays caused by destroyed bridges. Lord Roderick Dustin and Oscar Tully clash over strategy, while Criston Cole successfully ambushes and kills Lord Petyr Piper. As the campaign continues, Criston and Ser Gwayne Hightower discover their supply lines and movements are being disrupted by hidden traps, suggesting their enemies are operating with unexpected cunning.
Plots in King's Landing
Alicent Hightower attempts to provide Helaena with a remedy to end her pregnancy, fearing the child could become a political rival to Rhaenyra. Helaena refuses the drink, leading to a confrontation between the two. Later, Mysaria confronts Alicent regarding the remedy, forcing Alicent to drink the abortifacient herself to maintain the deception that she is the one who is pregnant and seeking to hide a secret affair.
The Strategy of Ormund Hightower
Lord Ormund Hightower, having seized Tumbleton, manages a campaign of psychological and physical warfare. He uses his ward, Daeron Targaryen, to symbolize a new potential leader, minting coins with the boy's likeness. Ormund views the ongoing chaos in the capital and the Riverlands as part of a larger strategy to outwit Rhaenyra, comparing his methods to the historical tactics of Meria Martell.
Harrenhal and the Dragons
At Harrenhal, Aemond Targaryen suffers from nightmares about his brother Aegon. Alys Rivers remains at the castle, offering cryptic counsel as Aemond struggles with his isolation. The episode also highlights the unpredictable nature of the dragons, as Vhagar departs from Aemond during the night, leaving the prince vulnerable.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Elle.
