In Episode 6 of House of the Dragon Rhaenyra grows increasingly frustrated with her council and her son, Jace. She feels disrespected and paralyzed, unable to act the way she wanted. But one person showed her that “there is more than one way to fight a war,” and that person was Mysaria. The newest Team Black member proves to be resourceful and creative in her mission to undermine Team Green and win the Smallfolk to Rhaenyra’s side.

Throughout this episode, the audience witnesses how Mysaria and Rhaenyra grow a lot closer to one another. Rhaenyra shares her fears about Daemon, and Mysaria tells Rhaenyra about her father’s rape and its consequences. Rhaenyra, deeply moved by her story, walks up and embraces her. Moments later, the two women share a passionate kiss, interrupted by the Queen’s Guard with urgent news. Rhaenyra leaves, and the audience ponders what will happen next.

A Ghost From Daemon’s Past Threatens to Derail His Future

The mysterious Mysaria had a colorful life story. She worked her way up from being a sex worker to her role as the White Worm. While in King’s Landing, she met Daemon and became his mistress. The Rogue Prince even took her to Dragonstone in Episode 2 after King Viserys banned him from court. When Otto and Rhaenyra show up in Dragonstone to retrieve the dragon egg that Daemon stole, the audience learns that Daemon is using Mysaria to provoke his brother Viserys. He claims he wants to marry Mysaria and implies she is carrying his child. When Rhaenyra calls his bluff, Mysaria storms off in anger. Back in the castle, Mysaria tells Daemon she wants liberation from fear, but Daemon abandons her shortly after. Once again, Mysaria feels used and betrayed.

In Episode 4 of Season 1, Daemon and Mysaria cross paths again after he leaves Rhaenyra in a pleasure den behind. Their relationship has cooled significantly. Now known as the White Worm, Mysaria has gained power and supplies Otto Hightower with knowledge in exchange for money. In the penultimate episode of Season 1, Mysaria hides Aegon. She uses him as a bargaining chip to pressure the crown to end the child fighting pits. Mysaria barely escapes with her life after Larys Strong sets her house on fire. When she arrives in Dragonstone and faces Daemon, he is angry that she sided with the Greens in exchange for money. Their affections towards one another seem to have waned entirely. Daemon wants to keep her prisoner but then uses her to orchestrate Blood and Cheese.

The Complicated Dynamics Between Rhaenyra and Daemon

Daemon’s motivations and emotions have always been a mystery, perhaps even to himself. In his first interaction with teenage Rhaenyra in Episode 1 of Season 1, he gives her a Valyrian steel necklace. The tone of his voice and how he puts his hands on her clearly show that Daemon has feelings for Rhaenyra. But these feelings are mutual. Rhaenyra reacts like any teenager having her first crush. She smiles and shows signs of excitement whenever she encounters the Rogue Prince. Their “coupling” seems inevitable, and in Episode 4, it almost comes to fruition when Daemon takes her to a pleasure den. In Episode 7, years after separation, Rhaenyra confesses to Daemon that she always wanted him. Daemon, now a bit more mature, hesitates but gives in to desire when she kisses him.

The dramatic events at Driftmark lead to a Valyrian wedding between Rhaenyra and Daemon. And while they seem happy for a time, their differences slowly creep up to the surface. Rhaenyra, now a woman, has changed in her demeanor. She acts more like Viserys once crowned in Dragonstone. While Daemon still supports Rhaenyra, the fans witness a shift in him. He feels less connected to his wife. He does not understand her reluctance to begin the war for the throne. The girl he once fell in love with would have been fierce and impulsive, whereas the woman is reluctant and cautious. Daemon and Rhaenyra gradually drift apart. After the botched assassination attempt, Rhaenyra confronts her husband. The audience experiences an ugly fight that ends with Daemon leaving Dragonstone without a word.

While in Harrenhal, Daemon has visions of young Rhaenyra wearing her father’s crown, ill-fitting for her head. She taunts him in High Valyrian about her father’s choice to name her heir instead of Daemon. Her first line is very telling:

“In my eyes, you were a god, Daemon Targaryen.”

Rhaenyra goes on to call Daemon out for many of his wrongdoings, including his exploitation of her innocence and refusal to acknowledge his culpability after the fact. In his many visions, Daemon never sees the adult Rhaenyra, another clue that he cannot relate to her anymore. Daemon felt a kinship with the girl, but as a grown woman, she had become a different person. He does not know how to feel about her anymore. When Alys Rivers speculates that the burden of wearing a crown might be better suited for someone who does not want it, he replies that Rhaenyra never took it seriously. It is implied that Daemon’s visions might come to an end very soon, and perhaps he returns to Rhaenyra’s side to support her claim after all. But what will happen when he does?

A New Challenge for Rhaenyra

If Daemon returns to Dragonstone, he will find himself in an interesting situation. His wife Rhaenyra seemingly moved on, and Mysaria, now a fixture on Rhaenyra’s side, might throw him for a loop. While Daemon wouldn’t be surprised if Mysaria was still on Dragonstone, he certainly does not expect her to be his wife’s closest counselor, let alone her lover. Daemon’s absence has created an opening for the White Worm, and he will not take this lightly. Rhaenyra implies as much by telling Mysaria that he “wished to possess” her but not to be possessed. Daemon will perceive this as an attempt to undermine him, perhaps even as an act of revenge by Mysaria to alienate Daemon and strip him of his power.

Daemon is hot-headed and demanding. This new budding relationship will make him feel slighted, just as his brother Viserys did when he named Rhaenyra his heir. Daemon’s biggest insecurity comes from the fear of being rejected by the ones he loves. He always felt strongly about those questioning him. All Daemon ever wanted was to be loved and appreciated. While he might have liked Mysaria, their relationship was based on her support towards Daemon. Once Mysaria resisted his plans, she became irrelevant to him, and he left her behind in Dragonstone.

In their recent conversation on Dragonstone, Daemon insinuates that Mysaria is a sellout, providing her services to the highest bidder. Daemon will assume that Mysaria is insincere, using Rhaenyra to gain power and undermine him. While Daemon has an open mind regarding sexual freedom, like most Targaryens, he will see this relationship as a threat. After all, Mysaria was his lover first, and getting involved with Rhaenyra could be seen as betrayal from both women in Daemon’s eyes.

Mysaria Might Become a Trojan Horse

Mysaria, on the other hand, might worry about her role with Daemon back on the team. While her feelings towards Rhaenyra could be genuine, she knows that Daemon’s return potentially diminishes her influence over the queen. Daemon is selfish and demanding, and Rhaenyra needs him and Caraxes on her side. Furthermore, Daemon’s history with Rhaenyra runs deep, and he always had a strong hold over her. Daemon is charming and charismatic. The Rogue Prince could convince Rhaenyra to cast Mysaria aside or force her into choosing him over her. In turn, her darker sides might come to the surface. In her conversation with Rhaenyra, Mysaria reveals her trust issues, perhaps a foreshadowing of turning on Rhaenyra. The White Worm has quite a network and is no stranger to turning to the most valuable person available when one resource runs dry.

Rhaenyra could face a difficult decision. While having a strong woman on her side is a confidence booster, losing Daemon over it might cost her the war. Daemon is feared in the Realm, and his dragon, Caraxes, is Rhaenyra’s most valuable asset in the fight against Vhagar. Even if the Dragonseeds succeed in claiming additional larger-sized dragons, it remains to be seen if they will be loyal to the queen. Daemon is her blood. He values his family above all else. No matter what happens between them, they are two halves of the same coin. Rhaenyra’s priority is winning this fight, not for the sake of power, but for the sake of the prophecy “A Song of Ice and Fire.” While she could try to maintain a relationship with both, it is highly unlikely for the threesome to work out as a team.