"Leave Me Again At Your Peril": House Of The Dragon Foreshadows A Brutal Rhaenyra & Daemon Twist

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

Summary Daemon's departure to the Riverlands tests his bond with Rhaenyra yet again in House of the Dragon.

The Targaryen civil war leads to Daemon leaving Rhaenyra again after their season 2 finale reconciliation.

Despite Daemon's renewed commitment to Rhaenyra, the couple face tragic fates in House of the Dragon's future.

Though Rhaenyra warns Daemon never to leave her again after House of the Dragon season 2, his recent stint at Harrenhal isn’t the last time they’ll be separated. Daemon and Rhaenyra have had a tumultuous relationship since the time he seduced her as a teenager, which was followed by Daemon advising against Rhaenyra’s marriage to Laenor and leaving for Pentos, Rhaenyra and Daemon sleeping together at Laena’s funeral, and the niece/uncle eventually marrying and having two sons. However, their marriage’s biggest test arrives when Daemon leaves Rhaenyra and ignores her while considering usurpation at Harrenhal.

After Daemon struggles to accept Rhaenyra’s authority as the rightful Queen, he flees to Harrenhal and amasses an army in the Riverlands – potentially for his claim instead. However, Daemon’s visions of Daenerys Targaryen, the Night King, his own death, and Rhaenyra on the Iron Throne compel him to abandon his personal ambitions and fully dedicate himself to her cause. When Rhaenyra and Daemon reunite in House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale, she warns him in High Valyrian, “Leave me again at your peril.” While he jokingly agrees that he cannot after already trying, this isn't entirely accurate.

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Daemon Technically Does Leave Rhaenyra Again In The Dance Of The Dragons

Daemon Returns To The Riverlands Without Rhaenyra In House Of The Dragon's Future

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As George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood book reveals, Daemon does, in fact, leave Rhaenyra again during the Targaryen civil war. While Daemon will join on Caraxes when Rhaenyra takes King’s Landing, their reunion while she sits on the Iron Throne will be very short-lived. Once Rhaenyra officially claims her birthright, Daemon sets back out on Caraxes to the Riverlands, where he intends to seek out Aemond Targaryen and Vhagar and eliminate them as a threat to Rhaenyra’s rule.

Just as Rhaenyra couldn’t trust Daemon when he was at Harrenhal in House of the Dragon season 2, his journey back to the Riverlands strains their relationship further.

In the book, Daemon brings Nettles and Sheepstealer with him to find Aemond, though it’s unclear whether this will happen given House of the Dragon has seemingly cut Nettles and replaced her story with Rhaena’s. However, his time with Nettles in the Riverlands is important in contributing to the couple’s marital issues, as Rhaenyra becomes very paranoid about Daemon and Nettles’ relationship and a potential betrayal by them. Just as Rhaenyra couldn’t trust Daemon when he was at Harrenhal in House of the Dragon season 2, his journey back to the Riverlands strains their relationship further.

Daemon will likely return to the Riverlands to search for Aemond early in House of the Dragon season 3, which means breaking his promise to Rhaenyra about leaving her shortly after making it.

Daemon & Rhaenyra Can't Have A Happy Ending In House Of The Dragon

Both Daemon & Rhaenyra Die While Separated In House Of The Dragon

Regardless of whether Daemon actually has an affair or considers betraying her when he leaves Rhaenyra for the Riverlands again, the couple is tragically doomed in House of the Dragon. When Rhaenyra eventually becomes suspicious of all the “dragonseeds” after Hugh and Ulf betray her for Aegon, Daemon brings his focus to the duel he has long awaited with Aemond. When Daemon and Aemond finally do face one another, they both die dueling in the Battle Above the Gods Eye outside Harrenhal.

Related Why Daemon Changes His Mind About Rhaenyra In House Of The Dragon Season 2, Episode 8 Finally, Prince Daemon Targaryen officially changes his mind about Rhaenyra's purpose on the Iron Throne in House of the Dragon's season 2 finale.

In House of the Dragon’s season 2 finale, Daemon’s visions at the weirwood tree include seeing himself drown in the Gods Eye, which is the same death Helaena warns about for Aemond. While there are rumors in Fire & Blood that Daemon may have survived, as his body is never found in the Gods Eye, this doesn’t mean that he’s able to escape and reunite with Rhaenyra. Shortly after Daemon’s death, she flees King’s Landing for Dragonstone, where Aegon kills Rhaenyra Targaryen by having her burned and devoured by Sunfyre – confirming an inevitably tragic ending for the couple.