Chapter Summaries

Rhaegar and Aemond searched Sheepstealer’s lair and found a hoard containing two viable dragon eggs. After discovering signs of an unknown wild dragon on Dragonstone, Rhaegar ordered the Dragon Guard to patrol the island and capture it or summon him to hunt it with Cannibal.

• Rhaegar and Aemond climbed to Sheepstealer’s cave, where they found a nest and a hoard of treasure among bones and dragon dung.
• Aemond discovered two viable dragon eggs, one green and one pale purple, and Rhaegar took them along with the gemstones and gold.
• Sheepstealer reacted to something on a cliff, where Rhaegar found large claw marks that he believed belonged to an unknown wild dragon.
• Rhaegar gave the dragon eggs to a Dragon Trainer to secure beneath Stone Drum Tower and ordered the Dragon Guard to patrol Dragonstone Mountain and the East Coast.
• Rhaegar told the elderly Dragon Trainer to send a raven if the wild dragon appeared so he could hunt it with Cannibal.

Rhaegar explained to Aemond why the Targaryens needed to control dragons, eggs, and information about dragonseeds, including the three stolen eggs of Dreamfyre. After the brothers returned to King's Landing on Cannibal and Sheepstealer, Viserys arrived at the Dragonpit riding in the Pale Wheel Palace with Vermithor.

• Rhaegar told Aemond that dragonseeds and descendants of Valyrian Dragonlord families might tame dragons, so the Targaryens had to secure every dragon and egg.
• Rhaegar revealed that Dreamfyre's three missing eggs had been stolen by Elissa during Jaehaerys's reign and that he had placed bounties on dragon-related information across Essos.
• Rhaegar and Aemond flew toward King's Landing on Cannibal and Sheepstealer, carrying Marisanne, Elen, Floris, and Cassandra.
• Cannibal and Sheepstealer circled above King's Landing before landing at the Dragonpit, where the Dragon Trainers led them into the cavern.
• Viserys stepped down from the Pale Wheel Palace beside the Dragonpit as Vermithor was guided forward.

Viserys left King's Landing with Alicent after entrusting the city and Small Council to Rhaegar, who began organizing reforms and assigning a garrison. The chapter ended with Rhaegar spotting Tormund among the arriving Dreadfort soldiers and inviting him into the royal carriage.

• Viserys told Rhaegar that Rhaenys had arranged Aemond's escort of the Four Storms back to Storm's End and would help secure Cassandra's succession and marriage alliance.
• Viserys left for Jonquil's Pool with Alicent aboard Vermithor, placing Rhaegar in charge of King's Landing for two days.
• Rhaegar warned Aemond to treat the ailing Four Storms properly, but Aemond insisted they would wait for Ser Steffon.
• Rhaegar met the first thousand Dreadfort soldiers and ordered Lyonel to build them a barracks on Steel Street, where they would serve as King's Landing's garrison.
• Rhaegar recognized Tormund among the arriving soldiers and invited him into the royal carriage.

Rhaegar appointed Tormund Master of Whisperers and brought him into the Small Council, despite the members’ objections. After reaching the Red Keep, he met Robb Rivers and Samwell Blackwood and asked Lyonel to stay for a private discussion.

• Tormund reported that construction at Harrenhal was nearly complete and that Maester Trullo had left for Oldtown.
• Rhaegar revealed that Tormund was a warg, then appointed him Master of Whisperers and a member of the Small Council.
• Tormund’s remark about admiring Otto unsettled him, and Rhaegar ordered the wheelhouse back to the Red Keep.
• At the Red Keep, Rhaegar greeted Robb Rivers and Samwell Blackwood and learned from Grey Worm that three hundred Unsullied and two thousand Dreadfort soldiers remained at Harrenhal.
• Rhaegar asked Lyonel to wait for a private discussion and greeted the three Kingsguard on duty.

Rhaegar removed a drunken Royal Guard commander, appointed Robb in his place, and proposed candidates to fill the vacant Kingsguard position. He then confronted Larys over Borros Baratheon’s death and exposed a list of other crimes, leaving Lyonel furious with his son.

• Rhaegar had Robb kill the drunken commander of the Royal Guard and named Robb his successor, then ordered him to screen the guards and increase their ranks.
• Rhaegar recommended Samwell, Joffrey Grafton, and William Royce as candidates for the vacant Kingsguard position.
• Rhaegar summoned Larys to the Sacred Wood Forest and accused him of playing a major role in Borros Baratheon’s death.
• Rhaegar presented Larys’s medicines and Tormund read out evidence of Larys’s smuggling, torture, and child trafficking.
• Lyonel kicked Larys in the chest and angrily demanded to know what his son had done behind his back.

Lyonel confronted Larys over his crimes, and Rhaegar spared him from execution by sending him to the Wall after cutting off his twisted leg. Meanwhile, Aemond took revenge on Aegon by threatening to mutilate him, then left him unconscious and mocked.

• Lyonel beat Larys and asked Rhaegar how he should be judged, but Larys denied responsibility and requested trial by combat.
• Rhaegar rejected a public trial, then agreed to send Larys to the Wall after cutting off his twisted leg; Lyonel prayed to the Old Gods as Larys was taken away.
• Aemond left the grieving Four Storms and secretly brought two men into the Red Keep to help him confront Aegon.
• Aemond had the men restrain Aegon and threatened to cut off his manhood unless he apologized.
• Aegon begged for mercy and fainted when Aemond struck the mattress with his dagger; Aemond laughed, paid off the men, and rested beside his unconscious brother.

Rhaegar punished Aemond for hiring men to attack Aegon, then handled court business involving the Citadel, Daemon’s raids, and a Red Priestess’s warning about the Red Comet. The chapter ended when Benella’s dragon hatched and she named it Moon Dance.

• Rhaegar had Aemond hung in the Red Keep’s courtyard and confiscated his money for hiring two smallfolk to ambush Aegon.
• A week later, Rhaegar and Rhaenyra discussed the Citadel’s choice of a new Grand Maester and a letter about Daemon raiding ships in the Stepstones.
• Rhaegar refused to let R'hllor’s faith spread in Westeros but agreed to let Salladhor bring a Red Priestess for a visit to discuss the Magic Tide.
• Rhaegar told Rhaenyra that Aemond had left to escort his betrothed, Cassandra, back to Storm’s End, and they reviewed plans to clear more Crownlands farmland.
• Benella’s dragon egg hatched in the meeting hall, and she named the pale green dragon Moon Dance.

Rhaegar oversaw Tessarion’s training and welcomed the great lords arriving at Harrenhal for the tourney. The reunion with Jeyne and the arrival of Margaery were interrupted by dragons, while more guests continued to enter the castle.

• Rhaegar ended Tessarion’s training and helped Daeron out of his armor before preparing to welcome the lords.
• Rhaegar and Daeron waited at Harrenhal’s gate as Tormund reported that the arriving procession had been sighted.
• Rhaegar greeted Old Tully, then welcomed Jeyne and the Vale women who had inherited lands and titles.
• Margaery Tyrell arrived and greeted Rhaegar and Jeyne, who soon moved back to Rhaegar’s side.
• A Bronze Dragon and a pale-blue dragon flew over Harrenhal, while Dreamfyre’s roar startled the gathered nobles and Margaery fell into Rhaegar’s arms.
• More guests arrived, including Jaehaerys Lannister, Mund Hightower, and a black-haired lord riding with a striking young man.

Rhaegar welcomed the visiting northern and Stormlands lords to Harrenhal, then slipped away from the gathering and checked on Rhaenyra and his young daughters. The chapter left him concerned for Dawn, the frail dragon in Rhaenia’s arms.

• Rhaegar greeted Bennard Stark and thirteen-year-old Cregan Stark, then reminded Bennard that the Duke of Winterfell should pay his respects first.
• Aemond arrived with Cassandra and her family, while Rhaegar noticed two suspected Baratheon bastards standing beside lords from House Swen and House Targaryen of Blackwater City.
• Viserys and Alicent arrived, and Alicent asked Rhaegar to fetch Rhaenyra before he quietly left the gathering.
• Rhaegar passed Aegon sparring with Arryk Cagell and advised Aegon to keep his feet planted.
• Rhaegar found Rhaenyra eating desserts in her chamber and saw Benella and Rhaenia tending their young dragons, Moon Dance and the weak Dawn.

Rhaegar worried over Rhaenyra’s sudden hunger and emotional swings, but Orvel found no illness or signs of pregnancy. After Rhaenyra fell asleep in his arms, Rhaegar dreamed of her as a child caring for him as a baby and learned that she had once tried to pinch his nose.

• Rhaegar sent the twins away and tried to stop Rhaenyra from eating sweets, but she smeared cream and cake on him.
• Rhaegar had Orvel examine Rhaenyra, and the maester found her healthy with no signs of pregnancy.
• The Red Priestess offered to examine Rhaenyra and urged Rhaegar to consider R'hllor, but he refused and sent her away.
• Rhaenyra cried in Rhaegar’s arms and revealed her long-held resentment and jealousy before falling asleep.
• Rhaegar dreamed of young Rhaenyra pinching his baby nose, then feeding him goat’s milk and playing with him.

The tournament at God's Eye Lake began, with Rhaegar and Rhaenyra arriving on Cannibal and Syrax and drawing the nobles' attention. The opening joust between Cregan Stark and Criston Cole ended on its first pass with a lance shattering.

• Viserys and the nobles gathered at the new tournament ground, where Cannibal and Syrax flew overhead and Rhaegar and Rhaenyra arrived together.
• Rhaegar greeted Viserys, then Margaery kissed his cheeks; Rhaenyra told him to leave the lipstick on until sunrise.
• Viserys gave the tournament's opening speech, and the judge announced Cregan Stark and Criston Cole as the first jousters.
• Cregan and Cole charged toward each other on horseback, and one of their lances shattered on impact.

Cole defeated Cregan in a grueling joust, and Rhaegar entered the tournament to face Harwin Strong. As Rhaenyra prepared to give Rhaegar her garland, Helaena arrived on Dreamfyre to cheer him on, leaving Rhaenyra holding the garland.

• Cole and Cregan clashed repeatedly, breaking lances and shields before Cole knocked Cregan from his horse on the ninth charge.
• Rhaegar left the high platform and rode into the tournament grounds as the crowd welcomed him.
• Rhaegar chose Harwin Strong as his first opponent after initially spotting a knight bearing the Baratheon stag.
• Tormund caught Rhaegar's attention with a gesture that seemed connected to Harwin, though Rhaegar did not learn what had happened.
• Helaena arrived on Dreamfyre and offered Rhaegar a flower garland, but he said the place was reserved for Rhaenyra, who then approached with her own red garland.

Rhaegar defeated Harwin in a joust and a brutal fight with battle-axes after Harwin tried to trip his horse. As the victorious Rhaegar prepared to leave, Daemon arrived on Caraxes and Vhagar descended over the tourney grounds, leaving uncle and nephew staring each other down.

• Rhaegar won the first jousting charge against Harwin, and Rhaenyra and Helaena encouraged him from the stands.
• Harwin tried to trip Rhaegar's horse during their second charge, but Rhaegar evaded the attack and Viserys condemned the dirty trick.
• Rhaegar unseated Harwin on their third charge, then took up a battle-axe when Harwin demanded to continue with swords.
• Rhaegar wounded Harwin with repeated axe blows and broke his leg before the judge and squires stopped the beating.
• Daemon arrived on Caraxes as Vhagar descended over the tourney grounds, and Rhaegar and Daemon exchanged hostile looks.

Rhaegar faced Daemon at the tourney as several dragons arrived, then learned that two bastards were seeking Storm’s End and that Larys Strong had supposedly died in the Neck. Rhaegar and Tormund suspected Larys had survived and was hiding in the Red Keep.

• Cannibal landed beside the tourney grounds, while another gray dragon appeared near God’s Eye Lake, and Laena joined the royal platform.
• Daemon teased Rhaegar about Margaery’s lipstick marks, then left to find Viserys after the two men dismounted.
• Tormund told Rhaegar that Pollon Storm and Arno Storm were seeking legitimization and support from nobles across several regions.
• Tormund reported that a dragon had burned a group of prisoners in the Neck, including a corpse that appeared to be Larys Strong.
• Rhaegar doubted Larys was dead and concluded with Tormund that Alicent and Otto had likely hidden him in the Red Keep.

Rhaegar navigated the tension between Rhaenyra and Jeyne by sitting between them at the tourney, where the team melee ended with Aemon wounded and Edmure dead from poison. The murder caused an uproar, and Viserys began managing the shocked crowd.

• Rhaenyra and Jeyne exchanged pointed remarks, and Rhaegar sat between them to defuse the tension.
• Rhaegar watched the team melee as the Tullys, Arryk, Cregan Stark, and Arno Storm fought among the fifty knights.
• Aemon was betrayed and wounded, while Edmure pursued him and was ultimately forced to yield after Aemon seized his dagger.
• The melee ended with Cregan, Arno, Arryk, Aemon, and Edmure as the five survivors.
• Edmure spat black blood and died, prompting Rhaegar to rise in shock as Viserys calmed the spectators.

After Edmure died from poison at Harrenhal, Rhaegar investigated a suspected plot involving Myles and the Faith while searching for Larys. He found Larys hiding in a secret passage beneath the Widow’s Tower and confronted him.

• Maesters determined that Edmure had died from poison on the dagger he used against Aemon, and Tormund identified Myles as a suspect.
• Rhaegar suspected that Larys had arranged Edmure’s death and ordered Tormund to search Harrenhal for him.
• Old Tully rejected Myles and the septons’ claim that Myles should inherit Riverrun, then told Rhaegar that his promised payment remained unchanged.
• Rhaegar questioned Daemon about Larys’s disappearance, and Daemon advised him that a guilty man gave himself away.
• Aegon told Rhaegar that Myles had sought help from the Faith of the Seven and that the Faith was connected to Mund Hightower.
• Rhaegar and Grey Worm searched the Widow’s Tower, uncovered a secret passage, and found Larys hiding in an underground room.

Rhaegar learned that Otto and Mund Hightower had arranged Larys's rescue and killed Larys after questioning him about the dragons involved. At the feast, nobles challenged female heirs, and Rhaegar later dreamed of Rhaenyra holding two babies.

• Larys told Rhaegar that Otto and Mund Hightower had arranged his rescue, and that Dreamfyre and Sheepstealer had helped him escape.
• Larys warned Rhaegar that the previous Sea King's death in Braavos was suspicious, and Rhaegar killed and burned him.
• At the feast, Rhaegar checked on Viserys and watched nobles press the claims of Baratheon bastards and challenge female inheritance.
• Rhaegar found Rhaenyra asleep in their bedchamber and went to sleep beside the fireplace.
• Rhaegar dreamed that Rhaenyra held two silver-gold-haired babies, and he saw that one was a boy.

Rhaegar realized Rhaenyra’s hunger might be connected to their unborn children, then joined his family as the Targaryens arrived at the tournament with their dragons. Viserys proclaimed that Rhaegar and Daemon would meet in the final duel, leaving uncle and nephew eager to fight.

• Rhaenyra woke hungry, and Rhaegar ordered a large breakfast for her after suspecting she was eating for the twins she carried.
• Rhaegar and the other Targaryen Dragonriders arrived at the tournament on eleven dragons, stunning the assembled nobles.
• Viserys and his family gathered on the dais and presented the Targaryens’ power to the cheering crowd.
• Viserys announced that Rhaegar and Daemon would defeat the other contenders and face each other in the final duel.
• Rhaegar and Daemon exchanged smiles as Cannibal and Caraxes roared and breathed dragonflame above the tournament grounds.

At the tournament, Viserys settled the terms of Cassandra and Daeron’s future marriage and inheritance before Daemon and Rhaegar prepared to joust. Rhaegar showed Lyonel and Otto a clue connecting Larys to the hidden conspiracy, but he suspected Larys had concealed part of the truth and planned to question Helaena.

• Viserys and Lady Erryn agreed that Cassandra and Daeron would marry in five years, with their children bearing the Targaryen name until an heir inherited Storm’s End and took the Baratheon name.
• Jeyne publicly affirmed Cassandra as Storm’s End’s heir, and the gathered nobles applauded the arrangement despite some Stormlands lords’ anger.
• The archery contest ended, and Daemon left the dais as Caraxes circled above the tournament grounds while Cannibal’s imposing presence awed the crowd.
• Rhaegar showed Lyonel the golden cicada he had found in Widow’s Tower, then dropped it into Otto’s cup, prompting Lyonel to suspect Otto had been involved in Larys’s escape.
• Rhaegar considered the dragons’ movements and Otto’s reaction, concluded that Larys had not told the whole truth, and decided to question Helaena.

Rhaenyra began to suspect she was pregnant after Laena described the signs and she retched at the taste of wine. Meanwhile, Rhaegar rejected Daemon’s suggestion to attack the Three Daughters and reflected on the rival branches of the Targaryen family before entering the tourney to face Garwin Hightower.

• Laena suggested Rhaenyra might be pregnant, and Rhaenyra realized her period was late before retching after drinking wine.
• Daemon challenged Rhaegar to eliminate opponents and raised the possibility of invading the Three Daughters, but Rhaegar advised him to take the idea to the Small Council.
• Rhaegar considered the Greens, the legitimate line, Daemon, and the Velaryons as competing forces within the royal family, and worried about how to give his relatives clear roles and duties.
• Daemon unhorsed a knight from House Tarly, and Rhaegar was called to joust against Garwin, Otto’s eldest son.
• Rhaegar rode into the field as Viserys watched, Alicent joined Rhaenyra, and Otto worried about the Crown Prince and Lyonel countering him.