A subtle proof that history repeats itself.

House of the Dragon has spent quite a long time promising to bring a bloody full-scale war with its second season, yet we’re already two episodes in and there’s still no war around the corner.

A promise is still a promise though, and the following episodes may potentially catch their viewers off guard with more action dropped when it’s least expected, yet the second season’s episode 2 already featured a small hint at the Targaryens clashing on the battlefield pretty soon.

Compared to a much bigger omen with Aegon II claiming to declare war, that short scene appears to be much more significant, and not many may have noticed it.

The second episode, titled Rhaenyra the Cruel, sees the Blacks’ Queen choosing a book to read in her library and eventually stops at one recounting the life of the legendary Queen Visenya Targaryen, Aegon the Conqueror’s sister-wife.

As Rhaenyra continues to turn the pages, the camera lingers on a very specific drawing depicting Visenya on her dragon that spits fire while his owner keeps busy taking a castle.

Though Rhaenyra may not know it at this point, lovers of George R.R. Martin’s novels surely do: not so much time will pass before Rhaenyra will do exactly what Visenya did, taking King’s Landing alongside her dragon Syrax.

Though the book’s Rhaenyra is obviously much more indifferent towards fighting on the battlefield herself, opting to stay in the castle, still wearing all of her elegant gowns and jewelries, House of the Dragon’s Rhaenyra will surely be the first to enter King’s Landing whether it happens sooner than we think or rather closer to the end of the season.

Additionally, the show’s Rhaenyra indeed has a huge potential compared to herself in the novel, considering that she and her dragon Syrax, one of the strongest creatures among all, are backed by Daemon, Rhaenys and Jacaerys with their own dragons who surely are able to dominate their fire-spitting relatives that will be fightong alongside the Greens.

House of the Dragon season 2 episode 3 will air on Max on June 30.