House of the Dragon Episode 18: The Queen Who Ever Was

Aemond, enraged by Rhaenyra's new dragonriders, flies Vhagar to the Black-allied port town of Sharp Point in the Crownlands and incinerates it with dragonfire.

In King's Landing, Aemond demands complete control of the harbor from Lord Jasper Wylde, scorning the smallfolk's needs, and orders his sister Helaena to ride her dragon Dreamfyre into battle; when she refuses, he manhandles her until Alicent intervenes, berating him for his recklessness and for endangering Helaena while hurting innocents instead of protecting the realm. Alicent later visits Helaena, who expresses confusion over why everyone hates them despite not ordering the blockade, and wistfully says she was happier before becoming queen; Alicent offers to help her leave. Alicent then visits Grand Maester Orwyle for secretive help. Larys Strong plots an escape for Aegon amid Aemond's volatility and growing concerns for Helaena's safety.

During Criston Cole's march on Harrenhal in the Riverlands, Gwayne Hightower spots Alicent's handkerchief on him and accuses him of breaking his Kingsguard vows; despondent, Criston regrets past choices and laments that they march toward annihilation by Rhaenyra's dragons.

At Harrenhal, Ser Simon Strong sends word to Dragonstone warning of potential treachery, as Lord Oscar Tully's bannerman Ser Willem Broome urges Daemon to declare himself king over Rhaenyra to better defeat the Greens; Daemon approaches the Iron Throne in a vision induced by Helaena's weirwood paste, seeing Rhaenyra on the throne, scattered dead dragons, an army of the dead, his own drowning, a figure with three baby dragons, and Helaena telling him it's all a story where he knows his part and what he must do; he withdraws his hand and hears her repeat the command. Alerted, Rhaenyra confronts Daemon, who bends the knee to her in High Valyrian, securing his army's loyalty.

At Driftmark, Corlys Velaryon urges Rhaenyra to exploit her new dragonrider advantage quickly; he tries bonding with Alyn, who rebuffs him bitterly for ignoring him and his brother Addam as bastards while favoring his legitimate children. Corlys and Alyn set sail on his flagship, the *Queen Who Never Was*, to join the Velaryon blockade.

At Dragonstone, Jace threatens to hang the insolent Ulf and warns the new dragonriders—Addam, Hugh, and Ulf—about Aemond's cruelty at Sharp Point. Baela empathizes with Jace's concerns over civilian deaths, as does Rhaenyra, but Mysaria counsels her to stay strong with their tactical edge. During supper, Rhaenyra promises knighthood to Addam, Hugh, and Ulf if they serve well and announces departure in two days to attack Lannisport and Oldtown.

Late at night, Alicent secretly arrives at Dragonstone, admits her faults in sparking the war, and offers to open King's Landing's gates in three days after Aemond leaves for the Riverlands, allowing Rhaenyra peaceful entry in exchange for her and her children's lives; Rhaenyra insists on taking Aegon's life to end the war, and Alicent seemingly accepts before departing. Rhaenyra prepares to claim the Iron Throne as Alicent gazes at the sea.