“The Heirs of the Dragon”

With both sons dead, old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen convenes a Great Council to choose an heir. The Westerosi lords select Jaehaerys’ eldest grandson, Prince Viserys, over his eldest grandchild, Princess Rhaenys. Nine years into his reign, King Viserys organizes a tournament to celebrate Queen Aemma Arryn’s pregnancy, confident she is carrying his long-awaited male heir. The Small Council disregards Master of Ships Lord Corlys Velaryon’s warning that the Triarchy, an alliance of Essos’ Free Cities, threatens to cripple Westerosi shipping lanes. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto Hightower, criticizes Viserys’s brother and heir, Prince Daemon, for his brutality as the City Watch commander. At the tournament, Ser Criston Cole, a common-born knight, outcompetes Daemon, while Aemma dies in childbirth. Her newborn son, Baelon, dies shortly after. Viserys refuses the council’s pleas to appoint a new heir until Otto reveals that Daemon mockingly styled Baelon as, “The Heir for a Day.” Outraged, Viserys banishes Daemon from King’s Landing and appoints his only living child, Princess Rhaenyra, heir to the Iron Throne, revealing to her Aegon the Conqueror’s dream that inspired him to unify Westeros.

“The Rogue Prince”

Six months after Rhaenyra is named the heir, Daemon has illegally occupied Dragonstone, supported by loyal City Watch guards. When Prince-Admiral Craghas Drahar, known as the Crabfeeder, menaces the Stepstones archipelago at the Essos Triarchy’s behest, Rhaenyra suggests showing force. The Small Council dismisses this and instead relegates Rhaenyra to appointing a new Kingsguard knight. Ignoring others’ advice, she chooses Ser Criston, the only knight with actual battle experience. Ser Otto sends his teen-aged daughter, Lady Alicent, to privately console the grieving king; she advises that Viserys and Rhaenyra should discuss his kingly duty to remarry. Lord Corlys and his wife, Princess Rhaenys, propose that Viserys unite their Valyrian houses by marrying their twelve-year-old daughter, Laena. Meanwhile, the Small Council learns that Daemon, proclaiming himself the true heir, stole a dragon egg and intends to marry his mistress, Mysaria, as a secondary spouse. Otto and a small detachment sail to Dragonstone to retrieve the egg. Rhaenyra follows on her dragon, Syrax, and forces Daemon to renounce his false claims and give her the egg. Viserys weds Alicent, angering Corlys, who approaches Daemon to propose an alliance.

“Second of His Name”

For three years, the Stepstones conflict has escalated. Lord Corlys and Prince Daemon battle Craghas Drahar and his pirates without the Iron Throne’s support. Meanwhile, King Viserys plans a great hunt to celebrate his and pregnant Queen Alicent’s son Aegon’s second birthday. Rhaenyra resents her father’s excessive attention towards her half-brother, Aegon. The ailing king insists that Rhaenyra, now seventeen, must marry to form a strong alliance and protect their lineage. Among the suitors is Lord Jason Lannister of Casterly Rock, a match Rhaenyra opposes. Even two-year-old Prince Aegon is proposed. Lord Lyonel Strong recommends Ser Laenor Velaryon, Lord Corlys’ son, to mend the rift between the two houses. Overcoming his previous doubts, Viserys assures Rhaenyra she will remain his heir and can choose her consort. Meanwhile, brothers Hobert and Otto Hightower secretly scheme to make Aegon the successor, furthering their family’s power and prestige. After Ser Vaemond Velaryon pleads for the king’s help, Viserys agrees to send aid to the Stepstones. Seeing his brother’s support as ending his chance to prove himself, Daemon acts as bait to ambush the Triarchy warriors, killing the Crabfeeder and winning the ensuing battle before the crown’s forces arrive.

“King of the Narrow Sea”

Rhaenyra returns to King’s Landing, prematurely ending an unsuccessful months-long tour to choose a consort. Daemon also returns after conquering most of the Stepstones and being named, “King of the Narrow Sea”. Daemon swears allegiance to Viserys and hands over his crown. As the reunited brothers celebrate, Alicent confides her loneliness to Rhaenyra, who misses their friendship. After dark, Daemon and Rhaenyra sneak out to explore King’s Landing, drinking, attending a bawdy play, and visiting a brothel. Daemon seduces a willing Rhaenyra, but unable to consummate their affair, he abandons her there. Returning to the Red Keep, Rhaenyra entices Ser Criston into having sex. Informed by the White Worm’s spy, Ser Otto tells the king about Daemon and Rhaenyra’s carousing. Alicent overhears them and privately questions Rhaenyra, who denies having sex with Daemon. Viserys confronts Daemon who, hungover and disheveled, seemingly confirms the accusations and proposes he wed Rhaenyra. Viserys claims Daemon only wants the crown and exiles him to the Vale. To avoid scandal and strengthen the throne, Viserys orders Rhaenyra to marry Ser Laenor Velaryon. Viserys dismisses Otto as his Hand after Rhaenyra alleges that Otto manipulates him for personal gain. Grand Maester Mellos gives Rhaenyra a precautionary abortifacient tea at Viserys’ request.

“We Light the Way”

In the Vale, Daemon murders his wife, Lady Rhea Royce. Rhaenyra and Ser Laenor Velaryon are betrothed, mollifying Lord Corlys. Understanding Laenor’s homosexuality, Rhaenyra proposes fulfilling their duty, then take lovers. Rhaenyra declines Ser Criston’s proposal to elope to Essos and assume new identities. Her wish to continue their sexual liaison upsets Criston. Before departing King’s Landing, Ser Otto warns Queen Alicent that Rhaenyra becoming queen makes Alicent’s children a threat to the crown. Alicent questions Criston about Rhaenyra and Daemon, but misunderstanding, he confesses to being Rhaenyra’s lover. During Rhaenyra and Laenor’s betrothal celebration, Alicent arrives late, interrupting Viserys’ speech, wearing a green gown, the signal color for House Hightower’s call to arms. Daemon unexpectedly arrives. Confronted by Rhea’s cousin, Daemon denies murdering her and wants to inherit her lands. Laenor’s lover, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, surmises Criston is Rhaenyra’s paramour. When Criston believes Joffrey is threatening blackmail, he brutally kills him, devastating Laenor and horrifying guests. Rhaenyra and Laenor privately wed late that night. Viserys collapses after the ceremony. Meanwhile, Alicent intervenes as Criston is about to kill himself.

“The Princess and the Queen”

Ten years later, Rhaenyra has given birth to three sons—Jacaerys, Lucerys and newborn Joffrey. All lack the Targaryen/Velaryon silver hair, but Viserys rejects Alicent’s assertion that Laenor is not their father. Alicent tells Aegon he must prepare to one day fight Rhaenyra for the throne. Daemon and his wife, Laena Velaryon, visit Pentos with daughters Baela and Rhaena. The Prince offers them a lordship in exchange for an alliance against a resurgent Triarchy. Unable to give birth after an agonizing labor, Laena commands her dragon Vhagar to incinerate her. Ser Criston, now serving Alicent, goads Ser Harwin into attacking him by implying that Harwin fathered Rhaenyra’s children. To ease family strife, Rhaenyra proposes Jacaerys marry Helaena, Alicent’s daughter, which Alicent rejects. Viserys rejects Ser Lyonel Strong’s resignation as Hand of the King. Viserys permits Lyonel to escort the disgraced Harwin to Harrenhal. Harwin bids Rhaenyra and her children an emotional farewell. Alicent confides to Larys Strong that she wishes her father, Ser Otto, was still the king’s Hand. Larys then recruits three condemned criminals who then set a fire at Harrenhal, killing Lyonel and Harwin. Rhaenyra moves her household to Dragonstone, also bringing Laenor’s lover, Ser Qarl Correy.

“Driftmark”

King Viserys and his court attend Lady Laena’s funeral in Driftmark. Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite and are physically intimate. Viserys tries but fails to reconcile with Daemon. Prince Aemond claims Vhagar as his dragon, causing an altercation with his cousins and nephews in which Lucerys slashes Aemond’s eye with a knife. Wanting retribution, Queen Alicent lunges at Lucerys with Viserys’ Valyrian steel dagger in an attempt to gouge out his eye. Rhaenyra blocks Alicent but her arm is wounded. After claims that Rhaenyra’s children are bastards, Viserys decrees anyone questioning their legitimacy will be silenced. Hand of the King, Otto Hightower later tells Alicent they will prevail, while Rhaenyra and Daemon unite against Alicent and her supporters. To continue the true Velaryon lineage, Princess Rhaenys urges that Lord Corlys pass his title through their granddaughter, Baela, claiming Laenor did not sire Rhaenyra’s children. Ser Qarl appears to murder Laenor, with Rhaenys and Corlys believing a charred body is their son’s. Daemon and Rhaenyra privately marry in the old Valyrian Dragonlord tradition to perpetuate the pure Targaryen bloodline. After faking his death, Laenor secretly flees Driftmark with Qarl.

“The Lord of the Tides”

Six years on, Corlys Velaryon, Lord of the Driftmark, is severely wounded fighting in the Stepstones. His brother, Ser Vaemond, petitions King’s Landing to name him Corlys’ heir, proclaiming Rhaenyra’s son, Lucerys, illegitimate. Rhaenyra and Daemon return to the capital to defend Lucerys’ claim. They find King Viserys is bedridden, disfigured, and mentally muddled. Queen Alicent and King’s Hand Otto Hightower oversee royal matters. Alicent covers-up Prince Aegon raping a handmaiden. Rhaenyra proposes two marriage arrangements to gain Princess Rhaenys’ support. She implores Viserys to defend her succession, quoting Aegon the Conqueror’s dream about the Prince That Was Promised. As Vaemond’s petition is presented at court, Viserys, barely ambulatory, enters and declares Lucerys the Driftmark heir. Daemon beheads Vaemond when he denounces Rhaenyra as a whore and her children bastards. The family appears to reconcile during a feast, but after Viserys departs, Aemond incites a fight by insinuating Rhaenyra’s three eldest sons are illegitimate. Meanwhile, Alicent’s lady-in-waiting, Talya, regularly provides Daemon’s former mistress, Mysaria, with information. Viserys, near death, mutters parts of Aegon the Conqueror’s dream, which Alicent believes refers to their son, Aegon.

“The Green Council”

After Viserys’ death, Ser Otto and the Small Council plot to crown Prince Aegon. Ser Criston kills Lord Beesbury for protesting Rhaenyra being usurped. Kingsguard Lord Commander Harrold Westerling resigns in protest. Otto keeps Viserys’s death secret to fortify the council’s position, then coerces the noble houses to switch their allegiance to Aegon. Those resisting are imprisoned or hanged. Otto and Alicent disagree on whether to kill or spare Rhaenerya and try to influence Aegon, who is absent and is searched for by two separate parties: Otto sends Kingsguard brothers Ser Erryk and Ser Arryk Cargyll, while Alicent sends Criston and Prince Aemond. The Cargylls find Aegon, but Criston and Aemond forcibly take him. Lord Larys tells Alicent that spies, including lady-in-waiting, Talya, are within the Red Keep. Alicent approves eliminating the head spy. Aegon resists being king, but Alicent persuades him otherwise. King’s Landing citizens are herded into the Dragonpit to witness Aegon’s coronation. Princess Rhaenys, refusing to support Aegon as king, is held captive but eventually freed by Erryk. She enters the Dragonpit caverns and astride her dragon Meleys breaches the grand hall, causing mayhem and casualties; she confronts the royal usurpers before leaving on dragonback.

“The Black Queen”

On Dragonstone, Princess Rhaenys announces King Viserys’s death and that Prince Aegon usurped the throne. Shocked, Rhaenyra goes into premature labour and suffers a stillbirth. Prince Daemon, believing Viserys was murdered, urges war. Ser Erryk brings Viserys’ crown and Rhaenyra is declared queen. Ser Otto presents Aegon’s terms for Rhaenyra’s concession; she prevents Daemon from killing Otto and delays answering. Privately, Daemon is angered that Rhaenyra may concede to unify the realm against the threat foretold by Aegon the Conqueror’s dream. Rhaenys persuades Lord Corlys to pledge House Velaryon’s allegiance to Rhaenyra’s “Black” faction; Daemon plans to recruit more dragonriders, and awakens the large dragon Vermithor. Rhaenyra sends Princes Jacaerys and Lucerys as envoys to secure Houses Arryn, Stark, and Baratheon as allies. Lucerys meets with Lord Borros Baratheon, who refuses to support Rhaenyra, saying she offered him nothing. Prince Aemond is also present, who, under Aegon’s arrangement, would marry Borros’ daughter. Aemond demands an eye from Lucerys as retribution. Lucerys leaves on his dragon, Arrax, but Aemond pursues him on Vhagar. The fractious dragons defy their riders’ commands; Arrax burns Vhagar; incensed, Vhagar kills Lucerys and Arrax, stunning Aemond. Daemon informs Rhaenyra of Lucerys’ death.