After 13 episodes of build-up, the long-awaited Dance of the Dragons has formally kicked off in House of the Dragon with “The Red Dragon and the Gold.” While there’s been no shortage of tension and children-killing already, this episode marked the first true clash between Targaryen dragon riders. Not just two dragons, but three.

In what was looked at as an insignificant castle, Rook’s Rest was the sight of this fateful event. Criston Cole and Aemond Targaryen saw Rook’s Rest as advantageous given its proximity to Dragonstone and its lord, Simon Staunton, who was on Rhaenyra Targaryen’s council. While Rhaenyra and her council feared this was a stepping stone for taking over Harrenhal, where Daemon Targaryen is stationed, it was in truth a trap to lure out a response. “The Queen Who Never Was” Rhaenys Targaryen took to the skies on her dragon Meleys to defend Rook’s Rest and ultimately died in the ensuing fight. Was Rhaenys’ death preventable?

Rhaenys’ Fateful Decision

Why Rook’s Rest?

A member of Rhaenyra’s council is lord there.
It’s not far in proximity to Dragonstone.

To further amass an army for Harrenhal.
To lure out a dragon.

As Rhaenys tries to eliminate Cole’s army, a dragon comes to his aid. It wasn’t Aemond on Vhagar as Cole had planned, however, but instead the prideful King Aegon II Targaryen on Sunfyre. Aegon II, tired of being pushed aside and disrespected, desired a triumphant moment of glory so his council would begin to take him seriously.

This did not go well for Aegon II as Sunfyre struggled in his bout against Meleys. Aemond finally decided to join the fight and, seemingly, took this as an opportunity to eliminate both one of the strongest dragons on Rhaenyra’s side and also Aegon II. Aegon II and Sunfyre crashed into the nearby forest where Aemond pursued. Aemond appears to try to finish Aegon II before being spotted by Cole.

Rhaenys has plenty of time to regroup and flee. As she surveyed the scene, it initially appeared as if she was going to learn. However, Aemond and Vhagar emerge. Instead of fleeing and living to fight another day, Rhaenys chose to fight, which quickly resulted in the death of Meleys, leaving Rhaenys to fall to her death. This begs the question: Was Rhaenys’ decision a heroic one or a foolish one? Are her potential reasonings enough to justify her decision?

Rhaenys Previously Had The Opportunity To End Things

Heroic?
Foolish?

Takes responsibility to right a wrong.
Knows what needs to be done, now.

 

Personal reasoning.
Not logically driven.

 

Despite being one of the most liked House of the Dragon characters, this isn’t the first time Rhaenys’ decision-making has been the subject of controversy. Toward the end of Season 1, the Greens had successfully usurped the Iron Throne meant for Rhaenyra. During Aegon II’s coronation, Rhaenys snuck into the Dragonpit to retrieve Meleys. On Meleys, Rhaenys emerged from below the coronation ceremony. This led to the death of many within the coronation audience.

Rhaenys found herself staring face-to-face with Alicent Hightower and Aegon II with a chance to end the Dance of the Dragons before it even began. However, Rhaenys granted mercy, preferring to send a threatening message rather than taking advantage of the opportunity. Rhaenys and Meleys left to join Rhaenyra in Dragonstone to inform her that her throne had been taken away from her.

With each subsequent event, Rhaenys decision gets put under a sharper microscope. Daemon even questioned it early in Season 2. It’s possible that this decision haunts Rhaenys and she grows more and more regretful for her decision. She appeared to have no qualms with trying to kill Aegon II and Sunfyre at Rook’s Rest, after all. Rhaenys may have felt this was an opportunity to right a perceived wrong. A chance to end the war she could’ve ended weeks earlier. If so, this could mean her decision was personal and emotionally driven as opposed to logically driven, leading to her not taking into account the potential ramifications of the aftermath. This would then be a foolish endeavor and another in a growing list of escalations that could have been prevented had selflessness, logic, and strategy won out.

It Was As Good Of Opportunity As Any To Take Out Vhagar

Heroic?
Foolish?

Vhagar’s death could change the course of the war.
There might not be another chance.
Meleys’ size, speed, and experience is advantageous.

 

Multiple dragons are better than one.
Misplaced confidence can be deadly.
Daemon could have better positioned Aemond into a trap.

 

Vhagar is an absolute menace. A straight-up cheat code. For all the dialog devoted to strategy at Aegon II’s council, their plans often amount to simply “send Vhagar.” Vhagar, and the brilliant mind of Aemond that rides her, have proven to be the MVP of the Dance of the Dragons so far. The outlook of this war would’ve been drastically different otherwise as much of Rhaenyra’s strategies has the massive shadow of Vhagar looming over it.

Rhaenys had what may be one of the few opportunities to fight Vhagar and Aemond one-on-one in an open field. Meleys was the second eldest and one of the largest dragons at Rhaenyra’s disposal. Meleys was arguably one of the few dragons that could’ve stood a chance one-on-one. What she lacked in strength could’ve been made up with speed. While the result didn’t go well in hindsight, it was a strategy worth considering in the heat of the moment. If Rhaenys was successful, then Rook’s Rest would’ve been the beginning and the end of the Dance of the Dragons. Vhagar would be dead. Aegon II and Sunfyre are severely damaged and, at best, hanging by a thread. The injured and staggered Cole could’ve easily been hunted down. The Greens would have no choice but to surrender after the fact as they would have no truly viable Targaryen leader capable of continuing the war. No one else would have to die.

It was an aggressive strategy. “You come at the king, you best not miss” comes to mind, albeit ironically considering what became of the actual king during this battle. Rhaenys could’ve fled and regrouped. With how powerful Vhagar is, it could have been better to send multiple dragons after her at a later time. Increase the chances of victory. The question then becomes, will there be an opportunity? Would Aemond put himself and Vhagar in a position where they’ll need to fend off multiple dragons? Not every encounter is going to be Rhaenyra falling into a strategic trap, after all, and Aemond would likely prefer to eliminate the opposition one by one. It comes down to whether or not Aemond could be outsmarted, which would take time to ascertain. The one man who could lure Aemond into a trap is confronting his past in Harrenhal with absolutely no indication of when he’d return to provide his input. While not an ideal setup, this may have very well been the best chance to take out Vhagar.

There’s Glory In Dying In Battle

Heroic?
Foolish?

Not a cowardly death.
Prevents someone like Jace from dying very young.
Damage was done to the Greens.

 

The desire for an early dragon rider’s death takes precedence over a more sound strategy.
Her death deals a blow to Team Black both in terms of ability and wisdom.
Vhagar still lives.

 

Dying a warrior’s death is a key component in Westeroisi culture, especially for Targaryen dragon riders. When Laena Targaryen was on the verge of death due to childbirth complications, she elected to be incinerated by her dragon, coincidently Vhagar, instead of accepting her impending death. With a war about to ignite, the bravery of all involved will be tested. It’s a big reason why Aegon II charged into battle unannounced. He doesn’t want to be known as a weak, lazy, and inept king. Of course, he also wasn’t ready to die, either, considering his relief of Aemond’s arrival during his clash with Rhaenys.

Rhaenys was faced with a fight or flight choice. If she ran and Vhagar still caught up, she’d be dying a cowardly death. Facing Vhagar head-on, despite the odds against her, provided her with an honorable dragon rider’s death no matter how foolish many will argue it was. Rhaenys went out on her terms and did so for a cause she believed in – Queen Rhaenyra’s claim.

It’s possible Rhaenys always knew the outcome of her mission going in. Rhaenys has long advocated for a pacifist approach, which in part led to her mercy at Aegon II’s coronation. She felt peace could still be negotiated and knew how devasting this war could be. She decided to fly out to battle almost immediately after coming to terms that war was a necessity. Maybe it was to inspire strength, or maybe it was because an early death would prevent her from seeing even further bloodshed, including those she loves and cares for.

This might be why she talked down Rhaenyra from being the one to go to Rook’s Rest. She felt it was her time. Her children are dead, at least so she thinks, and she had just learned of her husband’s bastard children who could be legitimized, providing hope for the future of House Velaryon. She’s lived a long life and she will likely never again be as strong as she was on that day as opposed to someone like Jace Velaryon who could still grow into an elite dragon rider. If this is true, the only way Rhaenys’ death was preventable was by preventing her from embarking on the mission in the first place. Rook’s Rest allowed her to go out in a blaze of glory while doing as much damage as possible to the Greens. With a king and his dragon potentially dead, along with a chunk of the Green’s army, Rhaenys was arguably successful even if the biggest threat was still on the board.

The truth of the matter is that it’s still too early to gauge whether or not her decision was heroic or foolish because the aftermath has yet to be made known, in the show at least. For those wondering, Rhaenys’ death is a little different in the books as she fought both Aegon II and Aemond at the same time and died when the three dragons crashed into the ground, so no dramatic and controversial decision. While House of the Dragon continues to prove that being driven by selfish and emotional motives often makes things worse for that character’s respective side, Rhaenys still found success in her mission.

Even in death, Rhaenys is still an incredibly easy character to respect, and her death is one of the show’s most heartbreaking. Her decision-making will continue to be questioned as future events unfold, but it’s tough to deny she went out like the badass she’s always been. That just may be enough to find her decision a heroic one in the eyes of fans.