Sometimes, TV shows will considerably change a storyline from the book. That was the case for Rhaena Targaryen in House of the Dragon Season 2.
In Fire & Blood by George R.R. Martin, Rhaena doesn’t do much during the Dance of the Drama. She remains in the Vale throughout the fight after initially heading there to take Prince Joffrey Velaryon to Gulltown for protection. Rhaena spent her time wishing for her dragonegg to hatch, as she still didn’t have a dragon to ride.
That would make for a rather boring story for Rhaena in the TV series. Is it that surprising then that the series opted to change things?
Rhaena has taken on the role of Nettles in House of the Dragon
It looks like Rhaena has taken on the role of Nettles in House of the Dragon Season 2. This is a disappointing change in a way, as it takes away the big thing that is Nettles’s storyline. She is the only none (at least known) dragonseed to claim a dragon. She claims Sheepstealer by gaining his trust by feeding him sheep.
At the end of House of the Dragon Season 2, we saw Rhaena rush off into the wilds of the Vale to find this dragon she had heard about. She came across the dragon, but we didn’t get to see her claim it or not.
This could be the start of Rhaena’s storyline in House of the Dragon Season 3. We could see her find a way to gain Sheepstealer’s trust through the use of sheep. I hope the show doesn’t take that part away, as it shows that there is a way to tame a wild dragon.
Could Rhaena fight by Daemon’s side in House of the Dragon Season 3?
Nettles’s storyline is connected to Daemon’s in Fire & Blood. The two end up riding around the Riverlands together. Daemon wants to kill Aemond. At the same time, he is protective of Nettles. There is a suspicion that Daemon and Nettles were having an affair, and when Daemon learned that Rhaenyra wanted to kill her, he got Nettles away and she was never seen again.
We could end up seeing Daemon and Rhaena fighting together. This would take out the affair storyline considering they are father and daughter, and that means it takes out Rhaenyra’s threat on Rhaena’s life. There would still be a reason for Daemon to be protective of his daughter, especially if he starts to see a lot of her mother Laena in her.
He’d be sure to send Rhaena away if he thought Aemond or someone to be a threat. This could get Rhaena back at Court when it comes to the rest of the Fire & Blood storyline after the demise of many of the Blacks and Greens.
Maybe we’ll see the death of Sheepstealer at some point in a battle. After all, Rhaena ends up with the last hatched dragon egg (before Daenerys in Game of Thrones), and I hope the series doesn’t take that miracle moment away!
Stay up to date with everything Outlander and more Facebook and Twitter