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The House of the Dragon Episode 5: Who killed Dameon Targaryen's wife, Rhea Royce? What happened at the Royal Wedding? Whom did Ser Criston Cole kill in the Royal Wedding and why? What happened to King Viserys?
The House of the Dragon Episode 5: Who killed Dameon Targaryen's wife, Rhea Royce? What happened at the Royal Wedding? Whom did Ser Criston Cole kill in the Royal Wedding and why? What happened to King Viserys? (Image Credit: HBO MAX)

The House of the Dragon Episode 5: Who killed Dameon Targaryen’s wife, Rhea Royce? What happened at the Royal Wedding? Whom did Ser Criston Cole kill in the Royal Wedding and why? What happened to King Viserys?

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The House of the Dragon Episode 5: Who killed Dameon Targaryen’s wife, Rhea Royce? What happened at the Royal Wedding? Whom did Ser Criston Cole kill in the Royal Wedding and why? What happened to King Viserys?

If you have watched the latest episode of The House of the Dragon Episode 5 and are still unsure about the events in episode 5, then do not worry. This article will explain everything in detail.

Who killed Dameon Targaryen’s wife, Rhea Royce, and why?

Dameon Targaryen, the Rouge Prince, himself killed his first wife, Rhea Royce.

The House of the Dragon Episode 5 starts with Daemon Targaryen’s journey to Runestone, where he comes across his wife, the Lady of Runestone, and the head of the House Royce, Rhea Royce.

The two do not like each other. Rhea remarks about Daemon’s impotence, resulting in Daemon Targaryen throwing her wife out of her horse, resulting in Rhea Royce damaging her skull and neck and dying a couple of days later.

Daemon Targaryen runs away after that incident.

We think Daemon killed Lady Rhea because he seeks to inherit all of Runestone, which Lady Rhea had owned as they do not have a child; therefore, by the passing of Lady Rhea, everything that Rhea possesses will be passed on to Prince Daemon.

Rhaenyra Targaryen
Rhaenyra Targaryen (Image Credit: HBO Max)

What happened to King Viserys? How ill is he?

As showcased in The House of the Dragon Episode 5, King Viserys goes to Iron Island to propose the marriage between Princess Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon.

King Viserys believes it will going to unite the two strong houses.

King Viserys again becomes ill; as suggested in the show, the King is suffering and is on the verge of dying.

He might just have a few years left.

We have discussed King Viserys’ illness in one of our previous articles. You may go through that for more details.

Do Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen accept the marriage proposal of Princess Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon?

While Corlys and Rhaenys accept the marriage proposal of Princess Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon, Rhaenys still has this concern.

Rhaenyra’s succession will be challenged as soon as King Viserys dies.

But Corlys Velaryon states they are the two most powerful houses in Westeros, and there is no way that people will be going oppose them,

Corlys dismisses this by saying the marriage will combine the two most powerful armies in Westeros; no one will oppose them.

Rhaenyra will be the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, and both their houses will rule all of Westeros for the next 100 years to come.

The House of the Dragon Episode 5: Who killed Dameon Targaryen's wife, Rhea Royce? What happened at the Royal Wedding? Whom did Ser Criston Cole kill in the Royal Wedding and why? What happened to King Viserys?
The House of the Dragon Episode 5: Who killed Dameon Targaryen’s wife, Rhea Royce? What happened at the Royal Wedding? Whom did Ser Criston Cole kill in the Royal Wedding and why? What happened to King Viserys? (Image Credit: HBO MAX)

What terms of marriage did princess Rhaenyra and Laenor Velaryon discuss?

Rhaenyra and Laenor also spoke about their terms of marriage as both of them are aware that this marriage is just for a political alliance between the two houses, and both do not wish to marry, as they do they love each other.

Therefore, Rhaenyra states that they will obey their duty to the realm and have children with one another but not out of love.

Rhaenyra was also aware of Laenor’s interest in men, so she also stated that outside their marriage, they would follow their interests, which means Laenor will continue his romance with Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, and Rhaenyra wishes to continue her relationship with Ser Criston Cole.

Ser Criston Cole revealed the truth to Alicent Hightower
Ser Criston Cole revealed the truth to Alicent Hightower (Image Credit: HBO MAX)

Did Princess Rhaenyra take Ser Criston Cole’s advice to leave and marry each other outside the realm?

While returning to King’s Landing, Ser Criston Cole expresses his feelings to Rhaenyra and tells her to run away with him so they can get married outside the realm and be away from all this mess.

But Rhaenyra does not agree with that.

She tells Cole that she and Laenor have made arrangements for their marriage where she can still be with Cole even after her marriage with Laenor.

Cole thinks that Rhaenyra was asking him to be her w#ore; hence he decides to end the relationship with Rhaenyra and follow his duty as Queen’s guard.

Queen Alicent Hightower in the House of the Dragon Episode 5
Queen Alicent Hightower in the House of the Dragon Episode 5  (Image Credit: HBO MAX)

What was Otto Hightower’s advice to Queen Alicent Hightower?

Back in Red Keep, Queen Alicent Hightower bids goodbye to her father, Otto Hightower, Otto Hightower, before leaving, tells her that if Queen Rhaenyra becomes the Queen, her succession will be challenged against Aegon.

Therefore if the time comes, Rhaenyra might even kill all her sons Aegon II Targaryen, Aemond Targaryen, and Daeron Targaryen to keep her succession safe.

So to keep her sons and daughter safe, she must choose a side now. Else it might surely put all of her children in danger.

Later in the courtyard, Larys Strong, son of the King’s new hand, tells Queen Alicent Hightower that her father was not wrong cause just after the night of the incident with Daemon and Rhaenyra, there was a tea potion delivered from the King himself to Rhaenyra’s chamber.

This reveals that her father Otto Hightower was right Rhaenyra did couple with Daemon, and King also knows that very well.

Upon questioning Rhaenyra’s maiden (an unmarried young woman who is a virgin), he was removed from the hand of the King.

After that, when Ser Criston Cole was summoned to Queen’s room and was questioned that night.

Ser Criston Cole didn’t understand the context or the direction of the question from Alicent, and he thought that Queen knew about him and Rhaenyra’s lovemaking; hence he revealed the truth that he slept with Rhaenyra.

This disclosure from Cole put doubt on Alicent’s mind.

She realizes that Rhaenyra can’t be trusted as when she had asked her, Rhaenyra disagreed with all the charges, so now Alicent finally understood her father’s advice; hence she decides to raise his son Aegon as the Ruler and challenge Princess Rhaenyra’s claim as she can’t be trusted.

The House of the Dragon Episode 5-Dameon Targaryen
The House of the Dragon Episode 5-Dameon Targaryen (Image Credit: HBO MAX)

The House of the Dragon Episode 5 Ending Explained: What happened at the Royal Wedding? Whom did Ser Criston Cole kill in the Royal Wedding and why?

At the Royal Wedding, Rhaenyra and Laenor perform the traditional waltz, a tradition of Royal Houses before marriage.

Laenor’s boyfriend, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, also informs him about the secrets of Rhaenyra, that he and Cole had intercourse with one another; as Rhaenyra knew Laenor’s secrets, Lonmouth thought of informing Laenor about hers.

Later on, Joffrey Lonmouth also confronted Cole about Rhaenyra.

Joffrey tells Cole that he knows about him and Rhaenyra, and unlike him and Laenor, both must protect their partner’s secrets so that they shouldn’t endanger them. 

Daemon also arrives at the Royal Wedding and takes his chance to impress princess Laena Velaryon.

Soon Daemon gets an opportunity to confront Rhaenyra in the middle of the waltz and asks her if this is what she wants.

Rhaenyra challenges Daemon, telling him that if he loves her so much, he should slay all of her father’s Kingsguard, take her to the Dragonstone and then marry her.

As Daemon initiates to smooch Rhaenyra, Cole sees this and moves in to stop Daemon, breaking a fight between Laenor’s men and Cole.

Laenor’s boyfriend, Ser Joffrey Lonmouth, comes to save Laenor, but then Cole beats Joffrey Lonmouth to death because of his personal grudge and the confrontation between them that took place earlier.

Rhaenyra was almost caught in between the massive fight, but Harwin Strong pitched in and saved her from catastrophe.

Harwin Strong will be one of the most important characters in the series as he will be the lover interest of Rhaenyra. 

It is believed that the three sons that Rhaenyra had with Laenor (Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon) were fathered by Harwin Strong himself, not Laenor. 

This means we could also see the relationship between Harwin Strong and Rhaenyra Targaryen as the series progresses.

As Joffrey Lonmouth dies, Laenor crawls over to his body and screams.

Later, the marriage party was called off, and a private ceremony was held where Rhaenyra and Laenor were married.

Ser Criston Cole now thinks of killing himself with the knife, but Alicent stops Ser Criston from doing so.

I now believe Alicent will bring Criston Cole on her side to raise her firstborn to be the King and to keep him safe.

Soon after the marriage is over, King Viserys collapses and falls to the ground; what will happen in the next episode? Well, tune into HBO Max every Sunday to stream The House of the Dragon.

Only five episodes of The House of the Dragon are remaining, and it will surely be a treat for the fans. 

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