House of the Dragon star Olivia Cooke has explained why Alicent swims in the lake in season 2, episode 7, breaking down the importance of her key character moment. During House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7, the queen goes into the Kingswood to clear her mind after Aemond removed her from the Small Council. During her time beyond King’s Landing, she decides to swim in a lake, floating on her back without anyone else around to see her. This showcases how different things are now, while potentially hinting at what’s to come.

Speaking with TIME, Cooke explained the reasoning behind Alicent swimming in the lake during House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7. The actor unpacked it as symbolic of rebirth, a reprieve that allows her to decide what she’ll do after everything that’s transpired. Check out what Cooke had to say about the decision below:

There’s a theme with her feeling shamed and unclean throughout the season. We saw Alicent with Ser Criston Cole and what happened in the aftermath of her being romantically involved with him. She never felt pure from that moment on. There’s this compulsion to scrub her skin raw in order to purge the rot from what she did and how she feels she is to blame. This felt like a baptism. Stripping the outer layer, and that f***ing collar [laughs]. Her getting into the lake on her own is embryonic, in a way. It’s weirdly a coming-of-age moment for Alicent—the start of the rest of her life, what she’s about to do, and the woman she’s possibly about to become.

What’s Alicent’s Next Move In House Of The Dragon Season 2?

As Cooke illustrates, Alicent is currently at an impasse, having been a key part in escalating a war she now has no official role in influencing. By swimming in the lake, the baptism symbolism indicates the version of her we see going forward will be a renewed person, forged by everything that’s happened to her this season. She’ll need her determination for her next move as well, considering House of the Dragon season 2, episode 7 ended with Rhaenyra now having two more dragons at her disposal.

While it’s unclear what Alicent is going to do next, it’s likely whatever she decides will allow her to gain more power over the Greens as their war continues. Perhaps she will try to make amends with Aemond and Ser Criston, proving her worth to them by suggesting a new strategy that can help them perform better in the war. Another choice would be to run from her side now that she’s been cast out of the Council, going to Rhaenyra in a vain attempt at stopping the conflict. However, neither choice seems like it will quell the inevitable bloodshed.

Since the House of the Dragon season 2 finale trailer is teasing a major conflict ahead, it doesn’t seem Alicent is going to get a chance to halt the war anytime soon. This makes her role going forward mysterious, as she will likely prove herself a worthy adversary for the Blacks in some way that’s not yet clear. Whatever happens to her, though, it seems like it will involve the escalation of the war, and the consequences such heightened stakes brings. It remains to be seen what this means for her future.