The beginning of House of the Dragon season 1, episode 1, "The Heirs of the Dragon," gives a glimpse into King Viserys' daughter, Rhaenyra's bond with the Hand's daughter, Lady Alicent Hightower. The princess who's just dismounted Syrax, rushes to her friend and offers her a ride on her dragon. "I believe I'm quite content as a spectator, thank you," says Alicent. A royal carriage takes the princess and her friend to the Red Keep, and they walk hand in hand through the courtyard and various halls, which signifies the close bond that they share. When an ambitious Rhaenyra visits her heavily pregnant mother, Aemma Arryn, she conveys her desire to serve as a knight and ride to battles than fulfill the expected childbearing role for the realm.
Rhaenyra also appears somewhat dissatisfied with filling wine goblets at her father's council, while men get to discuss conflict and war. The king meanwhile grows impatient to welcome his son (heir) into the world. Later, when Rhaenyra lounges with Alicent in the Red Keep's Godswood, she is unable to hide the distress resulting from her father anticipating his heir. Alicent, who knows the princess' quirks correctly points out that she is worried because the king is about to overshadow her with a son. Rhaenyra dismisses her, saying all she wants to do is fly with her friend on dragonback and see the great wonders across the Narrow Sea. But little does she know, she is to shoulder the responsibility of the realm right at the end of the House of the Dragon pilot episode.
Otto Hightower Sows Discord
The Heir's Tournament and Queen Aemma's labors occur simultaneously in the House of the Dragon pilot episode. The king is summoned to Aemma's chambers and informed that though there is a chance to save the heir, the resulting blood loss will likely kill the Queen. Viserys signals Mellos to bring the baby out through incisions, thereby agreeing to let Aemma bleed to her death. But as fate would have it, the boy (Baelon) dies shortly after. With his wife and heir gone, the council summons Viserys to resolve the impending question of his succession for the stability of the realm. He is made to choose between his younger brother, Daemon, and daughter, Rhaenyra. Viserys beaks away from precedent and decrees the princess as his heir, thereby sending shock waves across the realm. While this goes on, the king's cunning Hand, Otto plots a devious plan to place his blood on the Iron Throne. He sows discord by ordering Alicent to visit the king's chambers in order to worm her way into his heart. All the lords of the Seven Kingdoms swear fealty to Rhaenyra, meanwhile, Alicent and the king get closer to each other.
In House of the Dragon season 1, episode 2, "The Rogue Prince," Rhaenyra completely unaware of Otto's scheming, confides in Alicent the despair of watching men use her father as bait for political gains. "It's only been half a year since my mother died, and they already tried to marry my father off and replace me as heir," she says. But her friend brushes her off, saying she cannot worry about what goes on in the councils of lords and kings. As for the question of who betrayed whom - the answer is clear. Alicent, at her father's behest, betrayed her best friend's trust and went for the king. The night before Viserys announces his intention to marry Alicent Hightower, he sits with Rhaenyra and explains why the need arose. Without naming Alicent, he tells her while he can never replace her mother, or her as heir, he has to propagate the royal line. "But you are my only heir and our line is vulnerable, too easily ended. And by marrying again, I may begin to ensure that we are better defended," he adds. Viserys' decision estranges Lord Corlys as he had offered his daughter in marriage. Rhaenyra is taken aback and feels betrayed and Otto is the one who stands to gain from this marriage.
House of the Dragon season 1, episode 3 "Second of His Name," shows Alicent trying to fix her and Rhaenyra's relationship. While she still supports Viserys' choice of heir at this point, Rhaenyra continues to shun her. "But it needn't be. None of it need be this way, in truth, Rhaenyra," she says in vain at the party assembled in the honor of her firstborn, Aegon's second nameday. Viserys, meanwhile, struggles to make Rhaenyra a match, and the cunning Otto expresses his desire to betroth the princess to her half-brother and the king's firstborn from Alicent - Aegon. Viserys scoffs at the idea and tells Rhaenyra to find herself a match to strengthen her claim. He also assures her that she will not be supplanted.
Rhaenyra Lies And Alicent Crumbles Under Duty, Honor, And Sacrifice
Alicent feels antipathy towards her former friend because she gets to choose her spouse at will. She says getting scores of marriage proposals are romantic, but Rhaenyra scoffs, "How romantic it must be to be imprisoned in a castle and made to squeeze out heirs." Alicent's face falls and Rhaenyra is quick to apologize. Their ways of life draw parallels, and shortly after, Rhaenyra's autonomy becomes the root cause of Alicent's animosity toward her. She begins to crumble under the pressure of being Queen, putting up a public facade of decency and sacrifice, while Rhaenyra, in her opinion, gets to do what she wants. The two women do come close to reconciling many a time, but something gets in the way. First, it's the charge that Rhaenyra (a maiden) was seen beyond the walls of the Red Keep coupling with her uncle, Daemon in a pleasure house. Alicent confronts Rhaenyra, and the latter swears to her that she remains a maiden.
Later, Alicent learns through Ser Criston Cole that he and Rhaenyra engaged in behaviors unbecoming of a maiden, and her antipathy grows stronger. In the meantime, Viserys arranges for Rhaenyra to marry the Sea Snake, Lord Corlys' son, Laenor Velaryon, and dismisses Otto from his position. These developments take place halfway through House of the Dragon and they alter the course of Alicent and Rhaenyra's relationship. Alicent's children inherit the hate, thanks to Otto who makes a paranoid mother out of his daughter. Before leaving, he warns Alicent to either prepare her firstborn to rule or to beg Rhaenyra for her children's mercy in the evitable battle of succession that is to break out.
The many House of the Dragon time jumps reveal that Alicent and the rest continue to bring into question the paternity of Rhaenyra's children, and it's heavily rumored that Ser Harwin Strong fathers her three sons. Rhaenyra, meanwhile, makes a peace offering by proposing her eldest and heir, Jacaerys be betrothed to the Queen's daughter, Helaena. Little does she know, her former friend who rejects the proposal has become bitter, and wants nothing more than the king to name Aegon heir in her stead. Alicent finally acts out after Lucerys slashes out Aemond's eye in a fight in House of the Dragon season 1, episode 7 "Driftmark." She attacks Rhaenyra with a dagger, reacting in a manner that Otto calls the perfect catalyst to win the throne. Alicent laments upholding the kingdom and the law and accuses Rhaenyra of flouting rules. After Rhaenyra's second marriage to Daemon, Alicent's ever-growing paranoia, and finally, Viserys' death kick off the civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons. The factions in House of the Dragon fight the war for the throne and Alicent stealing Rhaenyra's right represents the trappings of women in power.