There is not a single HOTD episode that goes without Daemon doing something chaotic. Episode 5 opens up with Rhea Royce riding her horse alone while hunting, when she encounters her husband Daemon, who has never given her the time of day.
They first exchange bitter words, but it’s clear that the Rogue Prince is up to no good. He tries to startle Rhea’s horse, causing her to fall. But upon seeing that it has only injured her, he finishes the job by murdering her with a rock.
Sure, Daemon is no saint. But murdering someone (his wife, no less) without being provoked is a whole new level of sinister. So, what does he stand to gain from this?
In House of the Dragon Ep 5, Daemon kills his wife Rhea Royce with two objectives in mind: to inherit her claim to Runestone and to be able to remarry.
Like most marriages in Westeros, Daemon was married off to Rhea for a political alliance and to keep him locked away in the Vale. Both did not work out, as he abandoned his wife and station.
After being constantly denied his claim to the throne, being exiled twice, and failing to gain any more power, Daemon turned to the vile plan of murdering his own wife as it would kill two birds with one stone. (Quite literally!)
Claim to Runestone
I have to say, the little we got of Rhea Royce was not enough! She seemed like a totally badass character who did not deserve to die like this.
What’s darker yet is that in the books, she’s only known to die from her fall. There is no mention of Daemon’s malicious involvement. (In fact, he allegedly was in Bloodstone when it happened). So, this was quite an interesting layer to give to his character.
Still, with every episode, he is straying further away from the throne and this is making him desperate. By killing Rhea, he’s able to secure some form of power as she stood to inherit Runestone—all of which will be his through marriage. As you may recall, he makes a mention of the same to Ser Gerold Royce, who had accused him of Rhea’s murder.
In the books, Daemon is shunned by Lady Jeyne Arryn and cut off from gaining any power or money from the Vale. Since this happens immediately after Rhea’s death and not 10 years later (which is when Ep 6 takes place), I’m unsure how the show will depict this plot point. Maybe through a flashback or an offhanded comment? Keep a lookout.
Can Remarry/Take a Second Wife
Daemon was super careful to not consummate his marriage with Rhea, because he’s always wanted to get rid of her either through some Westerosi form of divorce or, well, death. With Rhea out of the picture, Daemon is finally free to remarry.
The most ideal candidate would’ve been his niece, Rhaenyra, who stands to inherit the throne. But by playing with her feelings, he’s currently lost her support. Plus, his big brother Viserys absolutely loathes the idea and even banished him for suggesting it.
So, who’s his next candidate? He’s got his eyes fixed on Laena Velaryon. Going by Episode 5, she’s quite interested in him too, and she’s not going to let her engagement to a Braavosi prince ruin that.
Fire and Blood suggests that Daemon might genuinely have some romantic feelings for Laena, but there’s no doubt that this alliance would be beneficial to his plan of taking over the Iron Throne. He also has an added advantage of a deep friendship with her father, the Sea Snake, Lord Corlys.
When we return to House of the Dragon in Episode 6, Daemon should already be married to Laena. Or the show may portray how they get together and Daemon fights a duel for Laena’s hand.
Daemon and Laena’s marriage was well received and celebrated by the realm, but I’d rather skip it—we all know how his last wedding turned out.
About House Of The Dragon
House of the Dragon is the prequel series to HBO’s blockbuster Game of Thrones based on George R. R. Martin’s book Fire & Blood.
Set three hundred years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon will show Westeros under the Targaryen family’s rule before the dragons went extinct. It will follow the Dance of the Dragons, the Targaryen civil war between siblings Aegon II and Rhaenyra, who fought for the throne after the death of their father, Viserys I.
Directed by Ryan Condall and Miguel Sapochnik, the show stars Paddy Considine as Viserys I Targaryen, Emma D’Arcy as Rhaenyra Targaryen, Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower, Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen, Tom Glynn-Craney as Aegon II Targaryen, Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower, Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Rhaenys Velaryon, Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria, Fabien Frankel as Criston Cole, and Graham McTavish.
No Comments on Why does Daemon kill Rhea Royce in HOTD?