HBO's House of The Dragon is near the verge of fulfilling the words of the House of Targaryen: Fire and Blood. We first saw betrayal and deceit at their height on the show in The Green Council, the penultimate episode of the season. The king has passed away, and his queen, Alicent Hightower (Olivia Cooke), misunderstood his dying words to mean that she wanted their son Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) to sit on the Iron Throne. With the Black Queen's actions and preparation, war is on the horizon.
In episode nine, Ser Criston Cole, who was out of control, killed Lord Beesbury (Bill Paterson) at the Small Council while imprisoning Princess Rhaenys Targaryen (Eve Best) and dozens of attendants (Fabian Frankel). Aegon has been effectively installed as king by the Greens, the Hightower family's side, but his aunt Rhaenys spoils the occasion when her dragon emerges from the ground and confronts him. As promised, the season's last episode's trailer depicts Rhaenys traveling to Dragonstone after leaving King's Landing to inform Princess Rhaenyra (Emma D'Arcy) about the crisis. Rhaenys said that the Greens are coming for her and also for her kids.
The horror on Rhaenyra's face may have been brought on by the Targaryens' recent reconciliation. The princess appears to be debating going without bloodshed and bending the knee, contrary to what her husband Daemon (Matt Smith) suggests. The Rogue Prince declares that she cannot bow her knee to the Hightowers and that they took away her birthright.
His advice is straightforward: Let's go to war. On the other hand, Rhaenys appears upset as she muses over the advice being provided to Rhaenyra. She claims that 'every man' gathered around the Painted Table is pleading with her to start a war. As evidenced by the coronation, where she had the option of setting the Hightowers on fire if she so desired, Rhaenys clearly does not favor using violence as a first option. However, there is no appeal for moderation on the advice of Rhaenyra's war council. One lord commands, 'Lay siege to the Red Keep.' Even the princess's own son, Jacaerys Velaryon (Harry Collett), joins in. He asks the princess to send him and his younger brother, Lucerys (Elliot Grihault), on dragon back to the battle.
The next scene in the teaser depicts one of the young princes flying through the air while it is raining and another racing in the dark toward a dragon. A crown is visible as Ser Erryk (Elliott Tittensor) of the Kingsguard swears homage to Rhaenyra after assisting in the release of Princess Rhaenys at King's Landing. Daemon is then spotted singing in High Valyrian to a new dragon. Withal, the trailer contains a message when someone says, 'Your cause holds a power that has not been seen since the days of Old Valyria,' followed by Daemon singing in High Valyrian to a new dragon. The trailer ends with dragons flying and breathing fire and Daemon Targaryen fighting Otto Hightower (Rhys Ifans). Swords are drawn, and war is on its way.
The events that will unfold in the season finale of House of the Dragon, when the Dance of the Dragons starts, have been building over the whole first season. It will be interesting to see how Rhaenyra's reputation as a good yet powerful force manifests itself during a time of war. The House of the Dragon Season 1 finale will be exciting because she will be fighting King's Landing's power with the help of several dragons and Daemon.