House Of The Dragon's Alys Teases An Aemond Targaryen Mystery I've Been Confused About For 6 Years

WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5 and George R.R. Martin's Fire & Blood book, on which the show is based!

Summary Alys Rivers and Daemon Targaryen's interaction sets up a mysterious Aemond Targaryen story in House of the Dragon.

Alys' season 2 role centers on influencing Daemon's visions and adding to his psychological torment at Harrenhal.

A relationship between Alys and Aemond develops in the future, and she later claims to have his trueborn son in Fire & Blood.

A subtle Alys Rivers and Daemon Targaryen interaction in House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5 teases a long-standing Aemond Targaryen mystery left by George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book. While it’s still difficult to pin down her true supernatural abilities and origins, House of the Dragon’s Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin) is certainly among the most mysterious and powerful characters introduced in season 2. So far, Alys’ role has primarily consisted of influencing Daemon’s visions at Harrenhal and contributing to his psychological torture at the cursed castle.

While Daemon interacts with Alys Rivers the most in House of the Dragon season 2, her biggest story is tied to a different member of House Targaryen’s family tree. Alys already knows much more about the Targaryens than would be expected of a mysterious Harrenhal woman, and her potential ability to see the future adds irony to Daemon’s caution about his family. In House of the Dragon season 2, episode 5, Daemon warns that Alys should “pray [she] never meets [Aemond],” as he would “cut [her] down.” However, as Daemon will eventually discover, Aemond and Alys do end up meeting.

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Daemon Teases Alys & Aemond's Future Relationship In House Of The Dragon

Alys & Aemond Will Meet Soon In House Of The Dragon

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Daemon ironically tells Alys she should hope that she never meets his nephew Aemond Targaryen, but he just so happens to be the most important character in her House of the Dragon story. After Daemon leaves Harrenhal and Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, Aemond Targaryen takes the Rogue Prince’s place at the castle in the Riverlands. When Aemond arrives at Harrenhal, he executes Simon Strong and his family, but spares Alys and begins an affair with her at the castle.

Related Alys Rivers, The Woman With Daemon At Harrenhal, Is A Ghost: This HOTD Theory Is Very Convincing Alys Rivers is House of the Dragon season 2's most mysterious character and is messing with Daemon Targaryen's mind, but is there more to her?

Though Daemon also believed that Aemond would attack and likely kill Alys if they were to meet, this is far from how their relationship is described in Fire & Blood. Rather, Alys is actually influential in convincing Aemond to have mercy on certain members of Team Green while he holds Harrenhal. It’s clear that Alys and Aemond have a unique relationship that’s more romantic in nature than her connection to Daemon, which leads to some claims in George R.R. Martin’s book that could very well change what’s known about House Targaryen’s lineage after the Dance of the Dragons.

When they begin a relationship in Fire & Blood, Alys is described as being around 40 years old while Aemond is approximately 20 years old.

When Aemond and Vhagar leave Harrenhal to burn the Riverlands, Alys remains at the castle and claims to be pregnant with his child. Aemond even brings a pregnant Alys with him to face Daemon at the Battle Above the Gods Eye, which ends with the deaths of Aemond Targaryen, Daemon Targaryen, Vhagar, and Caraxes. After witnessing the two Targaryen princes’ deaths, Alys becomes the ruling “Witch Queen” at Harrenhal, further claiming that she married Aemond prior to his demise and bore his trueborn son. However, I’m still waiting for an answer to the truth about these claims after Fire & Blood.

I'm Still Confused About The Truth Of Alys & Aemond's Son After Fire & Blood

Alys & Aemond's Son Would Have A Strong Claim To The Iron Throne

Image via Max

Martin’s Fire & Blood book was published in 2018, and I’m still not certain that the truth about whether Alys’ son is actually Aemond’s child will be answered before House of the Dragon ends. Alys and Aemond’s alleged son is a huge mystery in Fire & Blood, who could have played a huge role in complicating the succession of the Iron Throne after King Aegon II Targaryen’s death. The Dance concludes after Aegon is poisoned by his own men, with Rhaenyra’s son Aegon the Younger inheriting the throne as the only known living male Targaryen heir.

Related What Alys Rivers Made Daemon Drink May Have A Connection To Bran Stark & Gross GOT Book Theory Alys and Daemon’s scenes in House of the Dragon have been quite mysterious, and their latest interaction may tie into an old Bran Stark book theory.

However, if Alys’ son really is Aemond’s and they married before his death, then he would have a strong claim to the Iron Throne. Considering Aegon hadn’t intended for Rhaenyra Targaryen’s children to be in his line of succession, I’m skeptical about why Team Green doesn’t name Aemond’s “trueborn” Targaryen son the heir. Fire & Blood also reveals that Alys claims her son is the rightful king of Westeros and not Aegon III Targaryen, with messengers at Harrenhal supposedly seeing a dragon at Harrenhal.

With a Targaryen father and a “Witch Queen” mother, Aemond’s son would likely possess a great source of magic and power that could make him a bigger threat to King Aegon III Targaryen.

If true, then I’m curious about why Fire & Blood largely and inconclusively ignores Aemond’s son just two years after the war ends. Additionally, with a Targaryen father and a “Witch Queen” mother, Aemond’s son would likely possess a great source of magic and power that could make him a bigger threat to King Aegon III Targaryen. After the upcoming storyline of the "dragonseeds," House of the Dragon’s characters would know to not underestimate the claims and power of a Targaryen bastard – especially one that could potentially be trueborn.

Targaryens Still Alive At The Dance Of The Dragons' Conclusion Name Targaryen Relations Aegon III Targaryen Rhaenyra & Daemon's son Viserys II Targaryen Rhaenyra & Daemon's son Baela Targaryen Daemon's daughter Rhaena Targaryen Daemon's daughter Jaehaera Targaryen Aegon & Helaena's daughter Alys Rivers' son Allegedly Aemond's son

Fire & Blood Doesn't Reveal What Happens To Alys' Son After The Dance

Fire & Blood Ends Before Revealing The Fate Of Alys' Son

George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book ends when King Aegon III Targaryen’s regency is over, just five years after the Dance of the Dragons concludes. Consequently, the ultimate fate of Aemond and Alys’ son isn’t revealed in the book, and it likely won’t be addressed in House of the Dragon’s timeline. However, I’m certain that he’s still alive at this point; otherwise, Fire & Blood would have mentioned his death. What becomes of Aemond’s supposed son and his rumored dragon is still a mystery, but I’m hoping Martin’s upcoming Fire & Blood Volume 2 book will finally solve it.

New episodes of House of the Dragon season 2 release Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.