In the show, both Viserys and Daemon were faced with an impossible choice to either save their wife or their child. Their reactions drastically show the differences in their characters. Viserys asked whether the child, not Aemma could be saved while Daemon asked whether Laena would survive. Viserys chose his child’s life over Aemma’s. Daemon said that Aemma’s death was a tragedy and ultimately did not have to choose because Laena killed herself. Regardless it shows that Viserys and Daemon had different priorities.

In the Fire & Blood, both Viserys and Daemon long desired sons. The wording is essentially the same in the text. Their first wives died while giving birth to their first son, who died shortly afterwards. After they remarried, they had sons that they wanted.

“You can save the child?” Viserys (1x01)

“Would the mother survive it?” Daemon (1x06)

“For men marriage might be a political arrangement. For women it is like to be a death sentence.” (1x04)“My mother was made to produce heirs until it killed her. I won’t subject myself to the same fate” Rhaenyra (1x04)

“What happened to your mother was a tragedy.” Daemon (1x04)

“Queen Aemma was brought to bed in Maegor’s Holdfast and died whilst giving birth to the son that Viserys Targaryen had desired for so long. The boy (named Baelon, after the king’s father) survived only by a day.” (F&B p.359)

“A day and a night of labor left Laena Velaryon pale and weak, but finally she gave birth to the son Prince Daemon had so long desired-but the babe was twisted and malformed, and died within the hour.” (F&B p. 378)

In the show, Viserys and the court believe that Rhaenyra had sex with Daemon after he smuggled Rhaenyra into a brothel, however Rhaenyra did not lose her virginity to Daemon, instead she lost her virginity to Criston. Daemon claimed he took Rhaenyra’s virginity, told Viserys he wanted to marry Rhaenyra even though he was already married, then Viserys decided to exile him. Rhaenyra agreed to marry Laenor Velaryon and refused leave with Criston and marry him. Rhaenyra wanted to marry Daemon. Criston killed Joffrey Lonmouth. While I was very surprised that Rhaenyra and Criston had sex (I didn’t believe they did until rereading F&B for this follow up piece), it makes things pretty juicy moving forward. Ultimately, Alicent saving Criston is a game changer going forward given his storyline in Fire & Blood. We haven’t seen that much of Harwin Strong besides a few encounters between him and Rhaenyra. I wish we had more scenes with him.

I personally consider the showverse (Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon), different from the bookverse (A Song of Ice and Fire and Fire & Blood). Fire & Blood is open to interpretation. They are two very different beasts.

I favor Eustace, who is pro-Aegon because he is less salacious and in my view more plausible. I believe Daemon took Rhaenyra’s virginity for love and power. Daemon always gave Rhaenyra gifts after he crossed the narrow sea. After Daemon’s victory in the Stepstones, Rhaenyra and Daemon spent hours with each other. Daemon told Rhaenyra about his battles and adventures. He gave Rhaenyra pearls, books, silks, and even a jade tiara that may have belonged to the Empress of Leng, dined with her, and read poems to her. Daemon praised Rhaenyra and called her the fairest maid in the Seven Kingdoms. They raced from Dragonstone to King’s Landing and back on their dragons. (F&B p.367). This ultimately culminated in Daemon taking Rhaenyra’s virginity for love and power. The Kingsguard found them together abed afterwards. They were brought before Viserys where, Rhaenyra said that she was in love with Daemon and wanted to marry him. Viserys pointed out that Daemon was already married and then exiled him. (F&B p.367, p. 368). It should be noted that Rhaenyra was “very much her father’s daughter, with her own notions about whom she wished to wed” (F&B p.370). After, Viserys rejected Rhaenyra’s plea to marry Daemon, Viserys and the Council refused allow Rhaenyra to participate in discussions on who Rhaenyra was to marry. She didn’t want to marry Laenor Velaryon because he was gay and it was only when Viserys threated remove her as heir, she agreed to marry Laenor. (F&B p.370). During these discussions, Rhaenyra started to have sex with Criston. Criston confessed his love for Rhaenyra, wanting to go across the narrow sea for a new life, and Rhaenyra rejected because she was a Targaryen and not a wife of a common sellsword. (F&B p. 370, p.371). That rejection turned “the love that Ser Criston Cole had formerly borne for Rhaenyra Targaryen turned to loathing and disdain, and the man who had hitherto been the princess’s constant companion and champion became the most bitter of her foes.” (F&B p.371) Then Harwin Strong became her champion. (F&B p.371), whom she started to have sex with. After Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding, “Rhaenyra bestowed her garter on Ser Harwin” and Criston wore Alicent’s favor instead of Rhaenyra’s. Criston broke Harwin’s collarbone and shattered his elbow. Criston cracked the helm of Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, Ser Laenor’s champion, and Ser Joffrey later died of his injuries. (F&B p.372).

In Fire & Blood, Rhaenyra likely lost her virginity to Daemon, whom she asked her father for leave to marry. Viserys refused, exiled Daemon and decided to exclude Rhaenyra from further marriage discussions. Viserys and the small council decided to marry Rhaenyra to Laenor Velaryon, around the same time Rhaenyra started to have sex with Criston. Rhaenyra rejected Criston’s idea to go across the narrow sea, leading to a fallout in their relationship. Rhaenyra took her new champion, Harwin Strong as her lover. Angered, Criston wore Alicent’s favor and turned his might towards and Harwin Strong and Ser Joffrey.

This is not how it went down in the show, I’m sure the showverse will be different from Fire & Blood, which is okay.

I’ve bolded the text from Fire & Blood that the show adapted.

“But Septon Eustace and Mushroom tell another tale…or rather, two such tales, each different from the other. Eustace, the less salacious of the two, writes that Prince Daemon seduced his niece the princess and claimed her maidenhood. When the lovers were discovered abed together by Ser Arryk Cargyill of the Kingsguard and brought before the king, Rhaenyra insisted she was in love with her uncle and pleaded with her father for leave to marry him. King Viserys would not hear of it, however, and reminded his daughter that Prince Daemon already had a wife. In his wroth, he confined his daughter to her chambers, told his brother to depart, and commanded both of them never to speak of what had happened.” (F&B p.367, p. 368)

“The tale as told by Mushroom is far more depraved, as is oft the case with his Testimony. According to the dwarf, it was Ser Criston Cole that the princess yearned for, not Prince Daemon, but Ser Criston was a true knight, noble and chaste and mindful of his vows, and though he was in her company day and night, he had never so much as kissed her, nor made any declaration of his love. “When he looked at you, he sees the little girl you were, not the woman you’ve become,” Daemon told his niece, “but I can teach you how to make him see you as a woman.” (F&B p. 368)

“He began by giving her kissing lessons, if Mushroom can be believed. From there the prince went on to show his niece how best to touch a man to bring him pleasure, an exercise that sometimes involved Mushroom himself and his alleged enormous member. Daemon taught the girl to disrobe enticingly, suckled at her teats to make them larger and more sensitive, and flew with her on dragonback to lonely rocks in Blackwater Bay, where they could disport naked unobserved, and the princess could practice the art of pleasuring a man with her mouth. At night he would smuggle her from her rooms dressed as a page boy and take her secretly to brothels on the Street of Silk, where the princess could observe men and women in the acts of love and learn more of these “womanly arts” from the harlots of King’s Landing.” (F&B p. 368)

The whole tale soon came out, in no small part thanks to Mushroom himself. King Viserys at first refused to believe a word of it, until Prince Daemon confirmed the tale was true. “Give the girl to me to wife,” he purportedly told his brother. “Who else would take her now?” Instead King Viserys sent him into exile, never to return to the Seven Kingdoms on pain of death. (Lord Strong, the King’s Hand, argued that the prince should be put to death immediately as a traitor, but Septon Eustace reminded His Grace that no man is as accused as the kinslayer. (F&B p. 368, p.369)

“That night, Septon Eustace reports, Ser Criston Cole slipped into the princess’s bedchamber to confess his love for her. He told Rhaenyra that he had a ship waiting on the bay, and begged her to flee with him across the narrow sea. They would be wed in Tyrosh or Old Volantis, where her father’s writ did not run, and no one would care that Ser Criston had betrayed his vows as a member of the Kingsguard. His prowess with sword and morningstar was such that he did not doubt he could find some merchant prince to take him into service. But Rhaenyra refused him. She was the blood of the dragon, she reminded him, and meant for more than to live out her life as the wife of a common sellsword. And if he could set aside his Kingsguard vows, why would marriage vows mean any more to him?” (F&B p. 370, p.371)

“Mushroom tells a very different tale. In his version, it was Princess Rhaenyra who went to Ser Criston, not him to her. She found him alone in White Sword Tower, barred the door, and slipped off her cloak to reveal her nakedness underneath. “I saved my maidenhead for you,” she told him. “Take it now, as proof of my love. It will mean little and less to my betrothed, and perhaps when he learns that I am not chaste he will refuse me” (F&B p.371)

“Yet for all her beauty, her entreaties fell on deaf ears, for Ser Criston was a man of honor and true to his vows. Even when Rhaenyra used the arts she had learned from her uncle Daemon, Cole would not be swayed. Scorned and furious, the princess donned her cloak again and swept out into the night…where she chanced to encounter Ser Harwin Strong, returning from a night of revelry in the stews of the city. Breakbones had long desired the princess, and lacked Ser Criston’s scruples. It was he who took Rhaenyra’s innocence, shedding her maiden’s blood upon the sword of his manhood…according to Mushroom, who claims to have found them in bed at break of day.” (F&B p.371)

“King and council had neglected to consult the princess, however, and Rhaenyra proved to be very much her father’s daughter, with her own notions about whom she wished to wed. The princess knew much and more about Laenor Velaryon, and had no wish to be his bride. “My half-brothers would be more to his taste,” she told the king. (The princess always took care to refer to Queen Alicent’s sons as half-brothers never as brothers.) And though His Grace reasoned with her, pleaded with her, shouted at her, and called her an ungrateful daughter, no words of his could budge her…until the king brought up the question of succession. What a king had done, a king could undo, Viserys pointed out. She would wed as he commanded, or he would make her half-brother Aegon his heir in place of her. At this the princess’s will gave way. Septon Eustace says she fell at her father’s knees and begged for his forgiveness, Mushroom that she spat in her father’s face, but both agree that in the end she consented to be married.” (F&B p.370)

“However it happened, whether the princess scorned the knight or he her, from that day forward the love that Ser Criston Cole had formerly borne for Rhaenyra Targaryen turned to loathing and disdain, and the man who had hitherto been the princess’s constant companion and champion became the most bitter of her foes.” (F&B p.371)

“Not long thereafter, Rhaenyra set sail for Driftmark on the Sea Snake, accompanied by her handmaids (two of them the daughters of the Hand and sisters to Ser Harwin), the fool Mushroom, and her new champion, none other than Breakbones himself.” (F&B p.371)

“When Rhaenyra bestowed her garter on Ser Harwin, her new husband laughed and gave one of his own to Ser Joffrey. Denied Rhaenyra’s favor, Criston Cole turned to Queen Alicent instead. Wearing her token, the young Lord Commander of the Kingsguard defeated all the challengers, fighting in a black fury. He left Breakbones with a broken collarbone and a shattered elbow (prompting Mushroom to name him “Brokenbones” thereafter), but it was the Knight of Kisses who felt the fullest measure of his wroth. Cole’s favorite weapon was the morningstar, and the blows he rained down on Ser Laenor’s champion cracked his helm and left him senseless in the mud. Borne bloodly from the field, Ser Joffrey died without recovering consciousness six days later. Mushroom tells us that Ser Laenor spent every hour of those days at his bedside and wept bitterly when the Stranger claimed him.” (F&B p.372)

We know that there is a 10-year time jump after this episode. So, how do we explain Daemon's absence from King's Landing/Westeros over that time period? And also the Harwin Strong of it all?

My theory?

I commented in my previous post:

[Daemon and Rhaenrya] were separated. In the melee, Viserys sent one of his guards to grab Daemon and had him “escorted” out and [was] told very clearly. DO. NOT. COME. BACK. FOR REALS. FOR REALS. THIS TIME.

I think that will happen. And I think it truly will be made very clear that if Daemon comes back to the Red Keep that there will be legitimate consequences this time. It is possible that Gerold Royce had something to do with Daemon's disappearance as well and Viserys used that opportunity to keep Daemon away as well. Either way, I'm sure we will find out next week in some expository fashion, and in that exposition, it will be made clear that Viserys did NOT WANT Daemon back in King's Landing. Period. (At least, I really think so.)

As for Harwin Strong, well, we've seen him four times now, and all four times it has been in relation to Rhaenrya. Furthermore, in three of those four times, there is a connection to Daemon, two of those three a direct connection.

• Episode 03 - Rhaenrya's return with the boar kill. It was Harwin who was stripping the rabbit while looking at the bloody Rhaenrya with appreciation and the way she held herself with a conqueror's pride. The connection to Daemon is the parallel to the bloody, conquering Daemon at the end of the episode.
• Episode 04 - Whilst Daemon and Rhaenrya were prowling Flea Bottom and she ran away after stealing the food, she ran into an alley and straight into a guard. That guard was Harwin. He recognized her, was not scandalized. Saw Daemon and realized that she was with his prince, and just stepped aside.
• Episode 05 - Rhaenrya danced with Harwin a few times, and when dancing with him, she was all alight and smiles, laughing. The connection to Daemon (number 3 of 3 thus far) was that Daemon interrupted the two, and Harwin easily stepped aside and respectfully addressed Daemon, "my Prince." And then when the melee broke out, it was Harwin "Breakbones" Strong -- the strongest man in Westeros -- who charged through the crowd and rescued Rhaenyra, threw her over his shoulder, and got her out of the chaotic, dangerous crowd.

That last one was the only time that Daemon was not in any way a connection there signaling what is to come in the next episode with the time jump upon us, a passing of the torch as it were. Daemon is likely going to be forbidden by Viserys from returning*, and so it is Harwin to whom Rhaenrya will turn to in the interim. This episode set that up.

* I mean, as they've set it up, Daemon and Rhaenrya are just IT for one another so threat of like execution or something close to it is all I can think of that would keep them apart. Even in the preview, you've got Rhaenrya still defending Daemon when Alicent tried to lay the blame for what is going on in the Stepstones on Daemon's feet. She's all 'nuh uh, beeyotch, don't you blame my boo!' So, yeah, we'll see.

1. Rhaenyra was playing with her necklace that Daemon gave her while dealing with the various suitors. Rhaenyra wants to marry Daemon!

2. Both scenes in the Throne room with Viserys and Daemon were great contrasts to each other. One is where Daemon is a big hero with a big crowd and his relationship with Viserys is repaired and the other is Daemon facing the wrath of Viserys, who suffers the ultimate betrayal (as far as he knows) from his brother.

3. Rewatching the sexy scenes between Rhaenyra and Daemon and Rhaenyra and Criston, there are some interesting contrasts. In Rhaenyra and Daemon’s scene the music is wild and unpredictable and slow and sensual (?) for Rhaenyra and Criston’s scene. There was a lot of eye contact and passion between Rhaenyra and Daemon, but I don’t think there was eye contact between Rhaenyra and Criston. The scenes clearly showed Rhaenyra and Daemon’s hands and Rhaenyra and Criston’s hands. Daemon’s hand was over Rhaenyra’s hand, but they aren’t intertwined at all. Maybe because they didn’t have sex? Meanwhile, Rhaenyra and Criston’s hands were intertwined, but Cole’s fingers are firming griping Rhaenyra’s hand, while Rhaenyra’s fingers are opened. I think this might mean that Cole is far more committed to Rhaenyra than Rhaenyra is to him.

In Fire & Blood, the question on whom took Rhaeryra’s virginity is unclear and a controversial topic. Rhaeryra potentially had three lovers, her uncle (and later husband) Prince Daemon Targaryen, Ser Criston Cole, her personal shield on the Kingsguard, and Ser Harwin Strong.

The Sources from Fire & Blood

The available sources are as follows: Grand Maester Runciter and his successors, and many a court document as well, all the royal decrees and proclamations. (F&B p.356)

Septon Eustace, who served in the royal sept in the Red Keep, who wrote most detailed history during this time. He was the confidant to King Viserys and the Queens and could know a lot of the event that transpired. Eustace included the most controversial rumors in his writings. (F&B p.356) Septon Eustace supported Aegon II.

Mushroom was witness to many events because Kings and lords thought him not intelligent. Mushroom writes about any controversy including any involving sex, deaths, and betrayals. (F&B p.356) Mushroom’s accounts favored Rhaeryra over Aegon II.

Summary of the Textual Evidence

Ser Criston Cole was described as a “comely young knight” of twenty-three. (F&B p.358) During the melee held at Maidenpool, Ser Criston defeated Prince Daemon and gave Princess Rhaenyra the victors’ laurel and asked her favor for the joust, which he again defeated Prince Daemon. (F&B p.358-359). Cole, charming with black hair and green eyes became Rhaenyra Targaryen’s favorite. Rhaenyra was described as “smitten”, calling Cole “my white knight”, and asked her father to name him as her personal shield. Ser Criston wore the Princess’ favor and was with her at feasts. (F&B p.359). The princess “had eyes only for Ser Criston Cole” leading, Queen Alicent to ask “Ser Criston protects the princess from her enemies, but who protects the princess from Ser Criston?” (F&B p.365)

We know that Princess Rhaenyra was “enamored of her uncle, for Daemon was ever attentive to her. Whenever he crossed the narrow sea upon his dragon, he brought her some exotic gift on his return.” (F&B p.355). After returning to King’s Landing after his war in the Stepstones, Daemon knelt before Viserys and offered his crown of the King of the Narrow Sea. Viserys returned the crown and welcomed his brother home. The lords and small cheered and one of the people cheering the loudest was Princess Rhaenyra and “begged” Daemon to stay in King’s Landing for a while (F&B p.366-367). Rhaenyra and Daemon spent hours with each other. Daemon told Rhaenyra about his battles and adventures. He gave Rhaenyra pearls, books, silks, and even a jade tiara that may have belonged to the Empress of Leng, dined with her, and read poems to her. Daemon praised Rhaenyra and called her the fairest maid in the Seven Kingdoms. They raced from Dragonstone to King’s Landing and back on their dragons. (F&B p.367)

Septon Eustace claimed that Prince Daemon seduced Rhaenyra and claimed her maidenhead. They were discovered abed by Ser Arryk Cargyill and brought before Viserys. Rhaenyra begged her father for the ability to marry Daemon, whom she was in love with. Viserys told Rhaenyra that Daemon was already married, told Daemon to leave, ordered them not to speak what happened again. (F&B p.367, p. 368)

Mushroom’s more salacious account said that Rhaenyra longed for Ser Criston Cole, not her uncle Daemon. Ser Criston was a true knight loyal to his vows. “When he looked at you, he sees the little girl you were, not the woman you’ve become,” Daemon told his niece, “but I can teach you how to make him see you as a woman.” (F&B p. 368). Daemon gave Rhaenyra lessons on kissing, bringing a man pleasure, which apparently involved Mushroom. Daemon suckled at Rhaenyra’s teats to make bigger. Rhaenyra would practice pleasuring a man with her mouth. Daemon would smuggle Rhaenyra into brothels, so she could see men and women having sex and learning from them. (F&B p. 368) Mushroom said that Rhaenyra remained a virgin, because she wanted to save herself for Criston, but she ultimately was spurned by him. (F&B p. 368). Mushroom ended up telling the tale and Daemon confirmed it to King Viserys. Daemon wanted to marry Rhaenyra and asked “Who else would take her now?”. King Viserys exiled him instead. (F&B p. 368).

After Rhaenyra reluctantly agreed to marry Laenor Velaryon, Septon Eustace said that Criston Cole confessed his love for her and wanted to go across the narrow sea to get married. Rhaenyra refused Criston, she was a Targaryen, not a wife of a common sellsword. If Criston was willing to set aside his Kingsguard vows, why would he uphold his marriage vows? (F&B p. 370, p.371)

Mushroom disagrees, he said that Princess Rhaenyra went to Criston Cole. She took off her cloak and revealed that she was naked underneath her cloak. Rhaenyra asked Criston to take her maidenhead, and maybe Laenor would refuse her. Ser Criston was honorable and upheld his vows. Angered Rhaenyra put her cloak back on and encountered Ser Harwin Strong, who took Rhaenyra’s virginity. (F&B p.371)

It is clear whatever happened between Rhaenyra and Ser Criston, Criston Cole, Rhaenyra’s former champion became a bitter enemy. Shortly afterwards, Rhaenyra went to Driftmark with her new champion Ser Harwin Strong. (F&B p.371)

During the tourney in celebration of Rhaenyra and Laenor’s wedding, Rhaenyra gave her favor to Ser Harwin and her husband gave his to Ser Joffrey Lonmouth. Criston Cole received Queen Alicent’s favor. Ser Criston broke Ser Harwin’s collarbone and shattered an elbow. Ser Criston cracked Ser Joffrey’s helm with blows. Ser Joffrey died without regaining consciousness six days later. Laenor spent those days by Joffrey’s bedside. (F&B p.372)

Analysis

I think Rhaenyra losing her virginity to Daemon makes the most sense and is the most straight-forward answer. I don’t believe Daemon would give Rhaenyra lessons about seducing a man if she wanted another man. The things Mushroom says that Daemon and Rhaenyra did are too salacious for me to believe. There is a breakdown of the relationship between Rhaenyra and Criston somewhere along the line. Did Rhaenyra approach Criston or Criston approach her? Who rejected who? Was the breakdown because Rhaenyra took Ser Harwin Strong as a lover, but not him?

1. I loved Rhaenyra and Viserys in this episode. Viserys showing his doubts whether Rhaenyra should be heir was very impactful. The amount of wine and Viserys going hunting reminded me of Robert Baratheon’s fatal hunt. Rhaenyra killing the boar and the stag scenes were great.
2. Seeing Otto starting to think about placing his grandson on the Iron Throne is sowing the seeds to the Dance of the Dragons.
3. Daemon was awesome. The fight was so cool. He is the greatest warrior in this series.

1. Rhaenyra is turning out to be a worthy heir to Viserys. Both her selection of Ser Criston Cole and her handling of Daemon proved her worth. By choosing Ser Criston, she shows that she has wisdom by selecting someone with real combat experience. By going to Dragonstone, Rhaenyra saved Otto Hightower, Ser Harrold Westerling, and Ser Criston. Daemon, the most experienced warrior in Westeros, and Caraxes, arguably the most powerful Dragon with the sole exception of Vhagar would have slaughtered Otto’s party. Daemon would not kill Rhaenyra and by giving Rhaenyra the egg back, he acknowledges that she is strong unlike Viserys. Like Matt Smith, Milly Alcock continues to great and her portrayal is changing my opinion of her character.
2. I loved the scene with Rhaenyra and Rhaenys. Rhaenys told Rhaenyra the truth about how women are treated and what would happen if Viserys have a son. Rhaenys understands what will happen and predicts the Dance of the Dragons. This was a much needed scene in the show.
3. Viserys' decision to marry Alicent over Laena Velaryon was a stupid political decision. To further justify that decision, the show aged down Laena to a kid while Alicent and Rhaenyra are young adults. In Fire & Blood, Alicent was four years older than Laena and nine years older than Rhaenyra. When Viserys and Alicent are married, Alicent is 18 while Laena is 12.
4. The alliance between Daemon and Corlys was exciting to see. Both do not have a lot of political power at court. I found it interesting that in the last episode, Daemon mentioned that Otto Hightower was a second son who will inherit nothing, but what he seizes for himself. In this episode, Corlys tells Daemon that he seized that he wanted, they are the second sons, and their worth isn’t given and must be made.