by In the episode, The Burning Mill, we get an off-screen battle between the Blackwoods and the Brackens. It seems like it started because one of them supports Queen Rhaenyra and the other one is calling her a king slayer for Jaecerys’ murder. That was an excuse to fight each other as the Brackens and the Blackwoods have always hated each other and disputed over borders, even before Aegon the Conqueror took over. For example, in season 1 when Rhaenyra is looking for suitors to take her hand, young Willem Blackwood makes his case and shortly after gets mocked by Jerrel Bracken, who is then killed by Willem.
This battle was the perfect opportunity to seize the first castle, Harrenhal and to gain support for the claim to the throne. Everybody wanted to take hold of the castle, but Daemon got there before Ser Criston Cole and Gwayne Hightower. Harrenhal is a key Castle and even the most important even though it is falling to pieces after the Blackwood vs Brackens battle, and because Larys Strong previously burned it.
It is of great importance because it is in the Riverlands, where the Brackens vs the Blackwoods already fought, and it is between the Westerland controlled by the Greens, and the Vale controlled by the Blacks. It is also the biggest castle in Westeros, and it is close to Kingslanding. Nonetheless, the castle has an intriguing history as it is said to be cursed.
One of the early kings of Harren Castle, Harren Hoare, spent 40 years building it as he wanted a fortress. Harren was a tyrant and the castle’s construction was finished the day Aegon the Conqueror arrived. The houses surrounding House Harren united with Aegon against Harren Hoare, also known as the Black Harren. He hid in his castle knowing not even a million men could trespass it, but he never foresaw the castle needing a dragon-proof quality. With Aegon’s support, Harrenhal got destroyed and began an era of architectural ruin. Years later the Riverlands kept fighting one another over who was the true heir to Harrenhal. Eventually, King Aenys Targaryen took control of the castle and granted it to his hand, Lucas Harroway, who married his daughter, Alys, to Maegor Targaryen. When Maegor became king, he was despotic and violent, known as Maegor the Cruel. Alys couldn’t give him healthy children, so her father sent different men to her chambers for her to get pregnant and pretend Maegor had finally gotten a healthy heir. Unfortunately, when Maegor found this out, he killed all the Harroways and ended the house’s lineage for good.
Decades later, nobles kept fighting, dying, and losing ownership of Harrenhal until no one could inherit it. Therefore, King Jaeherys I (Viserys and Rhaenys’ grandfather) gave Bywin Strong control of it. It was inherited within House Strong to Larys after the fire that killed Lyonel and Harwin Strong. Then, Larys passed control to his uncle, Simon Strong, to cover his tracks for causing the fire. Therefore, the castle’s cursed nature is rarely questioned.
130 years after it was built, Daemon Targaryen arrives and seizes the castle. Simon Strong doesn’t even second-guess his support for Rhaenyra and Daemon. He allows Daemon to take over peacefully and accepts his fate. When Daemon doubts such a generous offer, Simon explains he supports the Blacks because he knows Larys Strong was responsible for the fire that killed his relatives. We also meet Alys Rivers who seems mysterious and observant. She doesn’t say much, but when Daemon is lurking around and hallucinating, he finds a Weirwood tree and she says “you’ll die in this place”. Without spoiling upcoming events based on the book, Fire and Blood, Alys will surely get more screen time as she becomes a key role in the story, being similarly gifted as Halaena. Do you think her visions will be telling or delusional? Will Daemon die at Harrrenhal? And, will he see Rhaenyra again and overcome their differences?
Although this series are about war, destruction, fire, dragons, and family feuds, we enjoy a little romance here and there. We all fell in love with Rhaenyra and Daemon’s tension in the air. As soon as they wed each other, the fandom was fighting for its life. The Game of Thrones universe is master at providing excellent battles with all ranges of emotions, but we rarely get a romantic story. When we do it’s as compelling as Rob Stark falling for Talisa Maegyr and their devastating ending at their Red Wedding.
Daemon and Rhaenyra have fallen out, just as in several marriages in real life. People change whereas some never do, creating dissonance in the relationship. This time, Rhaenyra has changed. She has grown into a more composed and reflexive woman, but Daemon is strapped to his old vices. For example, seeking superiority, hence demanding Simon Strong to address him as “Your Grace”. He has always been very independent and self-reliant, as soon as things at court don’t work out for him, exile does. Even though Daemon is a stubborn hot-headed egotistical man, there is only one person he can consider as much as himself, Rhaenyra. Just as he won the Narrow Sea for Viserys he is now gaining Harrenhal for the love of his life.
He contemplates her, hence the vision of young Rhaenyra sowing little Jaecery’s head. I think the imagery of this scene represents how Rhaenyra outgrew her rebellious impulses for a strategic and collected head, which Daemon didn’t. Rhaenyra is now sowing Jaecerys’ head as a way of fixing Daemon’s blow. He couldn’t keep up with the responsibilities of being heir to the throne, proving he would never be fit to rule. Milly Alcock’s return proves many things, for once Daemon regrets his mistake. Even though he didn’t order Jaecerys’ death, he acted without Rhaenyra’s approval, and this questioned the legitimacy of his support and allegiance. It also represents Daemon reminiscing about his young and fierce wife who admired him, and who didn’t grasp the entirety of Daemon’s faults.
Back then, Daemon could control Rhaenyra and how she viewed him. Adult Rhaenyra no longer looks up to Daemon but accepts his errors and true self, an ambitious man who is even capable of harming her. Although he loves her deeply, his callous nature glared when he choked her, ignored her during her violent miscarriage, and hurt her reputation as a tender and understanding queen who deserves to sit the Iron Throne. Compared to other arrogant and vicious relatives of his, he knows his hands are dirty and he is perfectly aware and introspective enough to know his true essence, and perhaps he is facing that at Harrenhal for the first time in his life.
